# Adult Swim, you bunch of craven cowards
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-swim-you-bunch-of-craven-cowards/173125
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [May 5, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-swim-you-bunch-of-craven-cowards/173125 "2003-05-05T04:01:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-swim-you-bunch-of-craven-cowards/173125/1 "2003-05-05T04:01:34Z")
Tonight’s Family Guy was “Road to Rhode Island”, a send up of the classic traveling buddy pic, one of the better episode of the show, actually. Early on, and remember, this predated 9/11, there was a scene of Stewie getting through airport security by destracting the guards by singing “Good Ship Lollypop”. It works, and as he shoulders his pack ( full of nefarious devices that had gone through the xray machine unoticed because the guards were watching him sing), he mutters under his breath " better hope Osama bin-Laden dosen’t know any showtunes", followed by a quick clip of ObL singing “I hope I get it” from A Chorus Line. Funny stuff.
And the Adult Swim bastards cut the entire scene. Instead of retroactively wincing and avoiding any mention of something that pertains to 9/11, perhaps we would have been better served if the point being made in the show had been taken more seriously, hmm?
9/11 was a national tradgedy. That dosen’t mean that it’s a forbidden topic, or even one that can’t be the butt of an ocasional joke, especially if the joke predates the attack. The “WTC Onion headlines” thread certainly helped me adjust to and accept what had happened post 9/11. Wincing and dancing around things dosen’t help anyone, IMHO.
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### Author:  [@Fibber\_McGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibber_McGee)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-swim-you-bunch-of-craven-cowards/173125/2 "2003-05-05T04:18:44Z")
Well, this _is_ the same network that has been waffling for months over showing the hilarious (to me anyway) Don Hertzfeldt short _Rejected_ because of the presence of the phrase “Sweet Jesus!” which Hertzfeldt refuses to let them edit out. I’ve also noticed that they edited the word “Jesus” as spoken by Dr. Zoidberg out of several episodes of Futurama, a show that originally aired at 7pm. On FOX yeah, but still . . .
And all of this in their supposedly adult after 10pm lineup. Rather pathetic really.
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### Author:  [@Fibber\_McGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibber_McGee)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-swim-you-bunch-of-craven-cowards/173125/3 "2003-05-05T04:22:40Z")
Seriously, there has never been anything in Cartoon Network’s “Adult” Swim lineup that just about any other network wouldn’t feel comfortable air much earlier in the evening in unedited form, yet they still feel the need to warn us against the possibility of extreme violence, sexuality, harsh language, etc.
There’s harsher language in an average episode of Touched By An Angel or Seventh Heaven than there is on anything Adult Swim airs. Nice to know CN so trusts the ability of adults to watch cartoons with objectionable content without needing someone to play nanny for us . . .
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### Author:  [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-swim-you-bunch-of-craven-cowards/173125/4 "2003-05-05T04:50:47Z")
They probably do it because they don’t really think Adults are the main audience. I know that if I was the person in charge of Cartoon Networks, I’d be pretty damned careful. the last thing they need is some wacko parent freaking the fuck out because little Johnny heard a naughty word on the _Cartoon_ Network, because they don’t get the concept that some cartoons are _not_ meant for Children.
It’s not about playing nanny for _us_, it’s about protecting their asses from the Insane Parent Brigade.
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-swim-you-bunch-of-craven-cowards/173125/5 "2003-05-05T04:57:19Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Tonight’s Family Guy was “Road to Rhode Island”, a send up of the classic traveling buddy pic, one of the better episode of the show, actually. Early on, and remember, this predated 9/11, there was a scene of Stewie getting through airport security by destracting the guards by singing “Good Ship Lollypop”. It works, and as he shoulders his pack ( full of nefarious devices that had gone through the xray machine unoticed because the guards were watching him sing), he mutters under his breath " better hope Osama bin-Laden dosen’t know any showtunes", followed by a quick clip of ObL singing “I hope I get it” from A Chorus Line. Funny stuff.
That’s one of the funniest things I’ve ever heard. And you know something? It’s one of the first jokes I’ve ever heard that’s funnier BECAUSE of September 11. I hope I can find someone with a copy of this episode. What season is it from? Maybe I’ll ask for it on DVD…
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### Author:  [@Fibber\_McGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibber_McGee)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-swim-you-bunch-of-craven-cowards/173125/6 "2003-05-05T05:03:35Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by pepperlandgirl \*
> \*\*They probably do it because they don’t really think Adults are the main audience. I know that if I was the person in charge of Cartoon Networks, I’d be pretty damned careful. the last thing they need is some wacko parent freaking the fuck out because little Johnny heard a naughty word on the _Cartoon_ Network, because they don’t get the concept that some cartoons are _not_ meant for Children.
> It’s not about playing nanny for _us_, it’s about protecting their asses from the Insane Parent Brigade. \*\*
And what, airing the shows after 11pm isn’t protection enough? In the case of Family Guy and Futurama we’re talking about shows that aired much earlier in the evening on a broadcast network.
If some “Insane Parent” obejects to Cartoon Network airing mildly offensive and/or racy content, Cartoon Network could counter by asking, “What the fuck’s your kid doing watching tv at midnight anyway?” Shut them up right quick.
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### Author:  [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-swim-you-bunch-of-craven-cowards/173125/7 "2003-05-05T05:09:18Z")
Well, yeah, I know. That’s what I think too. I’m not saying that the parents are right or that’s how it should be, _but_ I’ve already seen some places online where people are complaining that their children are seeing shows on the Cartoon Network of all places (horror!) that they don’t approve of.
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### Author:  [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-swim-you-bunch-of-craven-cowards/173125/8 "2003-05-05T05:15:41Z")
Okay, I can understand if Cartoon Network is skittish about airing shows with bad words and sex in them.
But what does that have to do with the scene that was cut from _Family Guy_? Are they worried that toddlers watching the show will start to blurt out “Osama Bin Laden” at embarrassing moments?
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### Author:  [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-swim-you-bunch-of-craven-cowards/173125/9 "2003-05-05T05:25:45Z")
LOL, maybe. I know _I’m_ worried about shouting out “Osama Bin Laden” at embarassing moments. 😉
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-swim-you-bunch-of-craven-cowards/173125/10 "2003-05-05T05:37:07Z")
I think that’s gonna start happening anyway. 😛 If anyone remembers who he is by the time today’s infants start talking. 😛 😛
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### Author:  [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-swim-you-bunch-of-craven-cowards/173125/11 "2003-05-05T05:38:50Z")
Don’t necessarily blame Cartoon Network for the edit. See [this article](http://www.journalnow.com/wsj/entertain/MGB6M69NXED.html):
> [@](#):
>
> There was a debate over whether to include the bin Laden joke in the episode for the DVD release. “I’m very anti-censorship,” [series creator Seth] MacFarlane said, “but in this particular case, because of the nature of the joke and the magnitude of the event, it really, at the end of the day… would have served to bring a halt to the comedy.”
It looks like the decision to edit out the bin Laden joke was made at a higher level than the Cartoon Network brass.
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### Author:  [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-swim-you-bunch-of-craven-cowards/173125/12 "2003-05-05T06:12:56Z")
Yep. I have the DVD and can confirm that the X-ray scene is indeed cut. I’m guessing the decision was with whoever maintains the shows for syndication and video release (the studio, I guess.)
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### Author:  [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-swim-you-bunch-of-craven-cowards/173125/13 "2003-05-05T06:14:37Z")
I heard elsewhere (the IGN dvd page) that Seth MacFarlane was supposed to be on one of the 9/11 planes, but cancelled. Can anyone confirm that?
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### Author:  [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-swim-you-bunch-of-craven-cowards/173125/14 "2003-05-05T06:15:57Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Fibber McGee \*
> \*\*Seriously, there has never been anything in Cartoon Network’s “Adult” Swim lineup that just about any other network wouldn’t feel comfortable air much earlier in the evening in unedited form, yet they still feel the need to warn us against the possibility of extreme violence, sexuality, harsh language, etc.
>
> There’s harsher language in an average episode of Touched By An Angel or Seventh Heaven than there is on anything Adult Swim airs. Nice to know CN so trusts the ability of adults to watch cartoons with objectionable content without needing someone to play nanny for us . . . \*\*
The target audience of the Cartoon Network is children. Period. It’s really not that complicated. I don’t know how the demographics break down, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised that they get as many or even more adults watching than kids. Especially if you include the stoner demographic. But the fact remains that a majority of their programming is devoted to kids.
To go from airing “Hamtaro” and “Dragonball Z” during the day to “Sealab 2021” at night, with no explanation, would be just irresponsible. It’s not a question of accountability; sure, they could see how much they can get away with before people complain, and then turn the argument back on them, asking why they have kids watching at that hour – but why? It’s a lot more responsible to avoid the complaints in the first place.
Y’all can complain about censorship and pandering and all that, but I respect their discretion. If somebody can’t be funny without saying “Jesus” or making jokes about terrorism, then it’s a cop-out to blame it on the editor.
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-swim-you-bunch-of-craven-cowards/173125/15 "2003-05-05T06:34:42Z")
> [@](#):
>
> The target audience of the Cartoon Network is children. Period. It’s really not that complicated.
How many kids are watching a program that starts at… what is it, 11 at night? It’s not the same audience that watches DragonBallZ after school.
> [@](#):
>
> If somebody can’t be funny without saying “Jesus” or making jokes about terrorism, then it’s a cop-out to blame it on the editor.
That’s kind of stupid, and also not the point. The editors are to blame for pointlessly censoring the programs.
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### Author:  [@Fibber\_McGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibber_McGee)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-swim-you-bunch-of-craven-cowards/173125/16 "2003-05-05T06:36:33Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by SolGrundy \*
> \*\*
> Y’all can complain about censorship and pandering and all that, but I respect their discretion. If somebody can’t be funny without saying “Jesus” or making jokes about terrorism, then it’s a cop-out to blame it on the editor. \*\*
And if Cartoon Network is uncomfortable airing something as mildly objectionable as the use of the word “Jesus” out of its religiously proper context even after 11pm, maybe they should use that discretion you so respect to find another show to air in that timeslot.
Cartoon Network has done all the ass-covering it needs to by airing the show after 11pm and including a discretionary warning before every airing. Anything further just seems ridiculous. Why have an adult lineup at all if you don’t trust that adults can handle the occasional utterance of an objectionable (but in this case not obscene) word or the occasional joke about a serious or touchy subject?
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### Author:  [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-swim-you-bunch-of-craven-cowards/173125/17 "2003-05-05T06:40:52Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by ElwoodCuse \*
> \*\*I heard elsewhere (the IGN dvd page) that Seth MacFarlane was supposed to be on one of the 9/11 planes, but cancelled. Can anyone confirm that? \*\*
The very article I linked to above says the following:
> [@](#):
>
> For MacFarlane, the joke struck close to home. On Sept. 10, he had gone back to Rhode Island to speak at his alma mater. He showed that particular episode, “Road to Rhode Island,” to the audience during his lecture.
>
> The next day, he was late catching his plane at Logan International Airport in Boston.
>
> “They told me they had just closed the gate,” he said. “In the past, I’ve made a stink to get on board a flight, but I had a bit of a hangover.”
>
> The flight he missed, American Airlines Flight 11, was one of the planes that was hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center.
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### Author:  [@Mr\_Sherbet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Sherbet)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-swim-you-bunch-of-craven-cowards/173125/18 "2003-05-05T06:43:03Z")
Anyone have the episode number of the Family Guy episode?
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### Author:  [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-swim-you-bunch-of-craven-cowards/173125/19 "2003-05-05T09:54:37Z")
The Futurama line is: “Sweet zombie Jesus.” which is said by Dr. Farnsworth.
Why the need is found for censoring that line I cannot fathom.
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### Author:  [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-swim-you-bunch-of-craven-cowards/173125/20 "2003-05-05T10:03:10Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Mr Sherbet \*
> \*\*Anyone have the episode number of the Family Guy episode? \*\*
213
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