European TV Stations Now Pulling Simpsons Episodes Involving Nuclear Jokes

by Jon Bershad | 2:43 pm, March 28th, 2011

» 14 comments

A few weeks ago, I was in Universal Studios theme park in Orlando riding the ride based on The Simpsons, which has a plot based partly around a nuclear accident in the fictional town of Springfield. With most of the globe watching anxiously and nervously to see the full extent of Japan’s nuclear problems, jokes involving the cartoon Professor Frink desperately trying to warn Krusty the Clown about a dangerous nuclear reactor were suddenly less funny. Clearly, I’m not the only one to notice the tricky issue of the long-running series’ prevalent radiation-based humor (after all, Homer Simpson works in a nuclear power plant), as European TV networks are now going through and picking out certain episodes to stop airing until the danger subsides.

The Hollywood Reporter has the details on some of the episodes that are being pulled:

“Austria’s ORF has already pulled two episodes set to broadcast: Episode 66, Marge Gets a Job, which features scientists Marie Curie and Pierre Curie dying of radiation poisoning; and Episode 346, On a Clear Day I Can’t See My Sister, in which characters joke about a nuclear meltdown. Tagesspeigel says ORF has held back eight Simpsons episodes until the end of April, when it will review its Springfield disaster policy.

So far, neither [Germany's] Pro7 nor Swiss network SF have pulled any Simpsons episodes but both channels say they are screening shows for ‘unsuitable’ references to nuclear disaster.”

In America, Twentieth Television, which syndicates the series, has offered a list of episodes that contain jokes that may be objectionable, giving stations the choice of whether or not to air them. Al Jean, the series’ executive producer, spoke to Entertainment Weekly and said he understands the issue, comparing it to the New York episode that had all references to the World Trade Center removed after 9/11 (which, in a fun side note, some…um…interesting folks believe The Simpsons predicted). And, he points out, considering how many episodes of the show there are, losing a few for a while isn’t the worst thing in the world.

He also promised that the issue won’t affect any upcoming new episodes.

From Entertainment Weekly:

“Jean assures that no upcoming Simpsons episodes ‘even approach’ the subject. ‘Some of them are workplace shows, but they are just about Homer being at work,’ he says. ‘They’re not about nuclear power.’ And in case you were wondering, there are no plans to have Homer leave his job at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. ‘He’s still going to work there,’ says Jean. ‘We have a rich universe in which we can do a million things and not touch on that.’”

(h/t AV Club)

Japan, nuclear emergency, The Simpsons

Thelonious Funk

They should pull all the episodes since season 9 for being unfunny.
Mr.Papshmer

I haven’t watched The Simpsons since about their 50th season back in the ’80′s, but still, Europeans for the most part are such a bunch of politically correct douche.
illusive man

I think the last time I laughed at the Simpsons was back in 96 when I was 10.
Why do the writer’s still have a job there if they fail at writing funny lines? ( Watching the Simpsons is like watching Saturday Night Live)
And more importantly, Why do people still watch that show? (Simpsons/ Saturday Night Live)
George C

“Nucular, it’s pronounced Nucular…”

Homer Simpson
nice_thought

Thelonious Funk said:
They should pull all the episodes since season 9 for being unfunny.

They stay same, you just grew up. ;)
nice_thought

illusive man said:
I think the last time I laughed at the Simpsons was back in 96 when I was 10.
Why do the writer’s still have a job there if they fail at writing funny lines? ( Watching the Simpsons is like watching Saturday Night Live)
And more importantly, Why do people still watch that show? (Simpsons/ Saturday Night Live)

Again, what you used to laught at while you were 10 seem benign when u grow up. It’s nobody’s fault.
Thelonious Funk

nice_thought said:
They stay same, you just grew up. ;)

I doubt that’s the case. I don’t think there is any part about me that is even remotely mature.
illusive man

nice_thought said:
Again, what you used to laught at while you were 10 seem benign when u grow up. It’s nobody’s fault.

Not true, I still laught at south park ( first show in 97) and at Family Guy ( first show in 99). It all has to do with the creativity of the writing.

I don’t know about you but I can only watch so many Simpson episodes about Marge and Homer’s marital problems and not be bored.
nice_thought

Thelonious Funk said:
I doubt that’s the case. I don’t think there is any part about me that is even remotely mature.

:)
nice_thought

illusive man said:
Not true, I still laught at south park ( first show in 97) and at Family Guy ( first show in 99). It all has to do with the creativity of the writing.

I don’t know about you but I can only watch so many Simpson episodes about Marge and Homer’s marital problems and not be bored.

True. South park is still funny. The genius of that show is matt and Trey is that they created so many main caracters over time, they can easily develop a new episode without looking stale.
jackthere

South Park is funny, but relies on a bit more “shock-value” to compliment the satire. But let’s not forget that The Simpsons is what gave us every other animated show on primetime today. I can’t watch the Simpsons anymore because the writing sucks, but until about 1999 there wasn’t a funnier, more intelligent piece of television satire. Ever.

And yeah, Europe = politically correct douchery
Bill Huggins

illusive man said:
Not true, I still laught at south park ( first show in 97) and at Family Guy ( first show in 99). It all has to do with the creativity of the writing.

I don’t know about you but I can only watch so many Simpson episodes about Marge and Homer’s marital problems and not be bored.

Yeah. Like I can only watch so many pop culture references that have nothing to do with plot for so long(The excruciating Family Guy).
illusive man

Bill Huggins said:
Yeah. Like I can only watch so many pop culture references that have nothing to do with plot for so long(The excruciating Family Guy).

yeah, You are right about that.
Leckan

There were huge demonstrations in Germany just a few days ago in favour of reducing the need for nuclear power plants etc, so it’s probably the politicians having a hand in the candy bag if the shows get shut down, because they don’t want nuclear power plants to be put in a negative light. I would go banonzo if that happened in my country due to the politicians so clearly using the media to sway public opinions in their favour.

And no I don’t agree that “Europe = politically correct”, first, politically correct might often be a good thing and Europe is a heck of a lot more diverse than the US (which I hope all here know) so it’s pretty impossible for all here to be politically correct.