By Mark O’Neill
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

The Russian parliament, the Duma, is to begin hearings to decide whether to revoke the license of a cartoon TV network because they showed episodes of the Simpsons, Family Guy and South Park.

These three popular US cartoon programmes are being targeted by the Kremlin for termination, but it seems to be South Park which is the main target.  It has been described by Russian politicians as ”pornographic, extremist and immoral” and one episode in particular seems to have got their vodka bottles in a twist – “Mr Hankey’s Christmas Classics“.

In the episode, Mr Hankey leads a show of various Christmas songs with the lyrics all changed to poke fun at organized religion.  The Russian Government feels this “incites religious hatred” and “offends religious people”.

But wait!   They have more complimentary things to say about Eric Cartman and his chums!

There are full of scenes of mutilation and infliction of physical and moral suffering that evoke fear, panic and terror in children.

This media product is of low moral and ethical content and has an extremely negative effect on children, it perverts their moral orientation and increases the danger of panic and neurotic ailments.

So if Mr President-Prime Minister Putin gets his way and there’s no South Park, Simpsons or Family Guy in Russia anymore, what will there be on TV to laugh at instead?

The Russian parliament has decreed that if the cartoon licence is revoked the American cartoons will be replaced with programmes that will teach children patriotism, respect for family values, and the importance of sport.

To quote Cartman, “WHAT?! GODDAMMIT! YOU’RE GOTTA BE KIDDIN’ ME! YOU’RE BUSTING MA BALLS!”

And to show you what all the fuss is about, here’s a clip of “Mr Hankey’s Christmas Classics”.   Don’t send me all the flames.   I didn’t make this episode! I’m merely reporting it.

Russia to ban Simpsons and South Park – Daily Telegraph
Russia attempts to ban South Park – Guardian news blog