Russian channel to censor 'The Simpsons'

Image credit: Fox[/caption]

First Pussy Riot, now Itchy and Scratchy.

A Russian national TV channel is going to censor The Simpsons. In light of a new law banning displays of violence, drinking, and smoking on TV before 11 p.m., the young adult-targeted channel 2×2 will remove all scenes with the show’s ultra-violent spoof cartoon The Itchy & Scratchy Show starting Friday.

“We will retouch in an ironic way all the programs where there are scenes that fall under the new law,” the channel’s general director Lev Makarov told AFP. ”For example, we will black-out the screen and write a joky message in a rolling caption.”

Makarov said the animated series South Park, on the other hand, will not be aired before 11 p.m. because creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone insist on killing Kenny in almost every episode.

The law, which went into effect in July, is aimed at “protecting children from information causing harm to their health and development,” but has faced criticism.

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