Bugs' "Censored 12"

[Jon Cooke]

For those of you who are curious, here are the 12 cartoons which have been officially pulled from June Bugs. :(

1- Hiawatha's Rabbit Hunt
2- All This and Rabbit Stew
3- Any Bonds Today?
4- What's Cookin' Doc?
5- Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips
6- Herr Meets Hare
7- Which is Witch?
8- A Feather In His Hare
9- Frigid Hare
10- Bushy Hare
11- Horse Hare
12- Mississippi Hare

What a revoltin' development THIS is!!

-Jon

[Thad Komorowski]

Well this sucks! Sheesh, I've been counting on this for a whole year and then the moron boss chickens out! Thanks CN! For NOTHING! :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: They're not showing "What's Cookin' Doc?" I guess CN finally relized that the "Hiawatha's Rabbit Hunt" scene is offensive. Oh well, I have almost all of those titles on tape any way, but it still would've been cool to see that little logo in the corner. Also, nothing's kept
them from showing "Frigid Hare" and "Horse Hare" in the past.

-Thad

[Bum]

I'm as disappointed as everyone else about this news, but not the least bit surprised. As I stated several months ago, "I'll believe it when I see it." Although I held out hope, never did I actually believe the two most controversial of those cartoons would ever be shown....even in a late-night timeslot. But now "Herr Meets Hare" is not going to be shown??? I guess it's for the best; we wouldn't want to offend any nazis, would we!?!

[Sveven Dvorking]

The ones I have already:
Hiawatha's Rabbit Hunt (seen on 9pm Bugs & Daffy on 11/22/00)
All This and Rabbit Stew (received on video Uncensored Cartoons)
What's Cookin' Doc? (airs regularly on TV, why was this pulled?)
Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips (downloaded from Goopy Geer)
Herr Meets Hare (downloaded; it will air on Toonheads, right?)
A Feather in his Hare (seen on 3am Bugs & Daffy on 02/15/01)

The ones I don't have:
Which is Witch? (1949)
Frigid Hare (1949)
Mississippi Hare (1949)
Bushy Hare (1950)
Horse Hare (1960)

So Bugs Bunny created his own censored 11...
Any Bonds Today doesn't count because it is not a LT or MM.
What offensive scene is in Frigid Hare?
If Mississippi Hare was edited properly, it could air.

[Goopy Geer]

I hate to toot my own horn (TOOT! TOOT!), but four of those 12 censored Bugs cartoons can be seen on my rare cartoons page! "All This and Rabbit stew", "Any Bonds Today", "Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips", and "Herr Meets Hare". Maybe I'll add some of the other ones now. :cool:

[Jack]

You should make a "Banned From June Bugs" page, with all 12 "offensive" cartoonies.

"Frigid Hare" is banned because Bugs calls an Eskimo a "Big Baboon" (even though that isn't a racial slur against Eskimos). Too bad, I love Playboy Penguin...

The "Censored Eleven" is outdated, it's more like the "Censored 100" now.



Jack:(

[snowpeck]

Good grief! Just the one line is all that is preventing them from showing it? Why couldn't they just snip it? That's what they do with everything else! Oh brother!

gcb

[Jack]

I forgot, the Eskimo also has buck teeth (GASP!). At least, that is what the article says. I never noticed of any of that, I just enjoyed the cartoon. If they don't like that one line, they could always dub over it with "Big Maroon" or something because baboon and maroon use about the same mouth movements, and they ryme, so it wouldn't seem toooo awkward.


Jack:(

[snowpeck]

Buck teeth! How horrible to portray anyone with buck teeth! Oh wait, I have buck teeth! Geez. People really have buck teeth! It's ok to to show it on TV. It's not stereotypical of Eskimos to have buck teeth. Sheesh!

gcb

[Larry T]

Pffft- Am I the only one who's beginning to think that almost ANYTHING is sure to offend SOMEONE in SOME way?? :mad: It's DISGUSTIPATIN!!

I almost hate to say it, but cherish those TV recordings, kids, because with every passing day it looks as if the Censored 11 is getting closer to becoming the censored 1003 (is that the count of Warner Brothers cartoons produced???).

Well, in the long run, it looks like CN really doesn't want to STAND out by making television history.... better SELL out instead to the lowest common factor, limited television animation.

Quote (Krusty the Clown) "COMEDY?? What do television producers know about comedy? Why, the know-nothing old dinosaurs wouldn't know comedy if it bit them in the .... HEY, HEY (Krusty laugh...)"

[PorkyandDaffy]

What's the difference between calling an Eskimo a "baboon" and calling an Eskimo a "maroon" (although "maroon" does sound more like something Bugs would say).

Speaking of which, that's a silly reason to ban that cartoon anyway! Crazy censors! And why the hell is MISSISSIPPI HARE banned? Is it because of that one little part that shows black cottonpickers? All they have to do is edit it out. It's not that essential to the plot.

[Jon Cooke]

Bugs also refers to the Eskimo as...... ready for this..... a "big palooka"! :eek:


Shocking, isn't it??


-Jon

[Jack]

Maroon is a common Bugs response, he says it to white hunters, and some people actually don't know it means "moron". I don't recall anything offensive about the cotton pickers, I don't even think they had lips.


Jack:D

[happyheathen]

And why the hell is MISSISSIPPI HARE banned? Is it because of that one little part that shows black cottonpickers? All they have to do is edit it out. It's not that essential to the plot.

the Col. Shuffle playing 'Camptown Races' in blackface while Bugs tap-dances is why MS Hare is a no-no.

For the young-uns:
'Camptown Races' has long been considered a 'black' song.
In the 20's and 30's black music was called 'race' music by the white music industry. The title may have been a play on words - don't know.

As to censorship/spineless executives/whatever you want to call it - the entertainment industry is being run by bean-counters - they are extremely adverse to ANYTHING which might lessen revenue - controversy of any kind might lessen revenue, so - 'no controversy, no problem' is the general principle.

[Jack]

Col. Shuffle was in blackface? Doesn't look like it.

[barnyarddawg]

Not all black faces had enormous pink lips.

http://www.mdle.com/ClassicFilms/FeaturedVideo/birth.htm

[happyheathen]

Originally posted by Goopy Geer
I hate to toot my own horn (TOOT! TOOT)

Verily, he who tooteth not his own horn; the same shall not be tooted.

(really, REALLY old one)

[Matthew Hunter]

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Not to mention that "Frigid Hare", as well as"Horse Hare", and, I believe, "What's Cookin' Doc", aired uncut last year on the exact same marathon. I never thought anything was offensive about "Hiawatha's Rabbit Hunt" or "A Feather In His Hare", and these aired recently as well. I think what we have here is a bunch of chickens. They have no chance of losing money or viewer support if they run a big disclaimer at 3AM, and air the cartoons only once that way. That will be my point if i write a letter to them. Besides, how can you defame or tarnish the reputation of Bugs Bunny? It just doesn't make sense. the only one I would possibly see as offensive, (It must be if even I have never seen it) is "All This and rabbit Stew", but come on, it's a CARTOON. And even if these were offensive as hell, why not edit out the ELEMENTS that are (like the crap-shooting or the "big Baboon" line.) This is r-i-d-i-c-u-l-o-u-s. Warner/Aol has enough money to last anyone a lifetime and then some, you'd think a marathon of old cartoons wouldn't be so touchy. And this is the USA, there should not BE a "politically correct". Has anyone ever heard a song by the band SR-71 called "politically correct"? I'll take punk music in small doses, but listen, that song really exemplifies the point. I have already written via email to the toonnet@aol.com address, (which usually does nothing) with this idea:
Why not let the VIEWERS decide? Why don't they put a poll up at www.cartoonnetwork .com, and also post titles and plot synopses of the 12 cartoons, plus the gags that they find "offensive". Then, let each title get voted "on" or "off". That's the fairest way I know to do it, and that may get a "censored 4" as opposed to a full twelve.
-Matthew

[Randy Watts]

Given the tone of that Wall Street Journal article, it seems safe to presume that the chances of ever seeing the cartoons in question on future home video releases are slim to none. This is assuming, of course, that there are ever going to be any future DVD releases here in the U.S.

Granted, I wasn't surprised when they pulled titles like "Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips" and "All This and Rabbit Stew," but some of what they did withdraw seems ridiculous. "Frigid Hare"?!

Sigh. It's a dark day for animation lovers.

[Thad Komorowski]

That poll idea isn't so bad. In fact, I like it. The only ones I knew that probably wouldn't make it were "All This and Rabbit Stew" and "Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips". "BBNTN" is pretty anti-Japanese, since Bugs kills just about every single one in the picture!!! :eek: Nick played "Which is Witch" and "Bushy Hare" during the day on a regular basis, I must point out. Nothing's stopped them EVER from playing "Horse Hare" or "What's Cookin' Doc?" on June Bugs. Oh well, look on the bright side! We still have ALL of those ABC Bugs shorts to play, and I could use them to replace the ABC versions I own.

-Thad

[Jack]

They most definately will not release the titles in question on DVD, they even recalled "The Golden Age Of Looney Tunes" when someone complained about Bugs Bunny Nips The Nips being on it.


Jack:(

[Patrick McCart]

Those MORONS!

I was actually looking forward to June Bugs!

If this is their idea of trying to put on a good show, they're damn insane!

I know someone must have emailed WB/CN about this and complained....

It's a real shame that people can't watch TV that's worth watching anymore....

I bet they'll cancel the WWII special as well...

Look on the bright side, WB will be jack-asses and not ever release the cartoons on DVD....

They'll become public domain and someone could buy the negatives from them....

For heaven's sake, WB could sell the "banned" cartoons to Lions Gate Films!!!!

CN is going to get a ton of complaints for not showing them all since they said they would before....

CN was really starting good....now they show all classics in the middle of the night...now this!

There's one good thing about this....I won't be buying no 25 tapes for June 1-3....I'll be watching ANOTHER channel!

[happyheathen]

Originally posted by Patrick McCart
Look on the bright side, WB will be jack-asses and not ever release the cartoons on DVD....

They'll become public domain and someone could buy the negatives from them....



Uh...

review section 17 - copyright law, as modified by our moron friend, sonny bono -
THEY WILL NEVER BECOME PUBLIC DOMAIN - EVER!


as the little lady said: 'get it while you can'

[Patrick McCart]

Wouldn't the original prints of cartoons be public domain since they were renewed as Blue Ribbons?

For example, Goldilocks and the Jivin' Bears was made in 1944, but the Blue Ribbon version was made in early 50's probably...

That 6+/- year difference could make the ORIGINAL print be public domain (or is already) while the BLUE RIBBON version was renewed in 1956 (AAP), 1968(UA), and 1986(Turner).

This is probably why Cartoon Network doesn't allow the original print of A Wild Hare to be aired since it's not the renewed version.

Turner got away with "renewed" versions with the dubbed versions and WB got the renewed colorized versions.

There's a huge list of public domain cartoons...so it could make a great DVD collection if good prints were found...



:D ;) :p

[ChrisWinston]

Heya. This whole Censored 12 deal is bugging me and man, i really really really wanna see these cartoons on DVD someday. Don't you? You don't have a DVD player? You might someday! You already have all the cartoons on video? What will their quality be like in 20 years?

I think what needs to be done is folks who want these cartoons released need to put pressure on the execs in charge. A letter writing campaign is in order. People who have Bugs Bunny/Looney Tunes websites should devote a page to the cause so people can know what to do.

I'm going to be writing them myself and not just once but i'll write again and again and again. What I'm asking for, what I'd like to see, is the release of the ENTIRE Bugs Bunny collection on DVD. I'll also mention I'd like to see other collections to follow: Elmer, Daffy, etc and ULTIMATELY they'd put all the Looney Tunes on DVD in different volumes. I will mention my unhappiness with the Censored 12 not appearing on June Bugs and why they SHOULD not be left to rot, but should be included on the DVDs. Heck, they can put a small disclaimer on the packaging. The # of people who will buy the DVDs to see the "controversial" cartoons will be greater than the # of people who wouldn't buy them because they might think it would be supporting racism/discrimination/whatever.

Another thing to maybe mention but really isn't as important is the extras they can add to the DVDs such as behind the scenes documentary type stuff including interviews with Mel Blanc, Tex Avery, Bob Clampett, Robert McKimson, Friz Freleng, Chuck Jones, Carl Stalling, etc.

All this will get done a lot easier and sooner if folks get involved and voice their opinions to WB and not just on internet message boards. Spend a few bucks on stamps and envelopes and a pen if you don't have one 'cause all you do is type email! Even if you don't have a DVD player yet i say you should still get involved. The entire Bugs Bunny collection on DVD would be an amazing thing to have. Other collections and ultimately all Looney Tunes would be a goldmine. It won't happen by itself.

[DR. BELCH]

--"Mutts to You" has the Three Stooges as Chinese laundrymen, in "No Dough, Boys" they imitate bucktoothed Japanese soldiers, and "Corny Cassanovas" has two blackface gags. So if it's live-action it's acceptable, but if it's animated--no dice. Strange. Seems the executives at AMC have some cojones--more that the CN'ers, anyway (even if they won't attempt to buy the other 60 or so shorts they need for the full Stooge package for another couple of years)...so this overreactionary nilly-willy slice-and-dice mentality hasn't affected all the networks. Be grateful for that, at least.

[Bobby B]

Originally posted by DR. BELCH
--"Mutts to You" has the Three Stooges as Chinese laundrymen, in "No Dough, Boys" they imitate bucktoothed Japanese soldiers, and "Corny Cassanovas" has two blackface gags. So if it's live-action it's acceptable, but if it's animated--no dice. Strange. Seems the executives at AMC have some cojones--more that the CN'ers, anyway (even if they won't attempt to buy the other 60 or so shorts they need for the full Stooge package for another couple of years)...so this overreactionary nilly-willy slice-and-dice mentality hasn't affected all the networks. Be grateful for that, at least.


A couple of years ago, Turner Classic Movies actually aired the infamous Amos'n'Andy movie "Check and Double Check", in which virtually the entire cast appeared in blackface. (Okay, they aired it in the middle of the night, but still...)

[PorkyandDaffy]

Speaking of MUTTS TO YOU, did anybody catch it on AMC earlier today? Somebody told me that they edited the ending where the parents are smiling when their baby is being spanked by the hand machine. But they never edited this scene before. Why'd they edit it now? And if this is now edited, are more edits going to follow? Curly's "Japanese Band Man" song from SOCK A BYE BABY? The Stooges Hirohito-Mussolini-Hitler segment in GENTS WITHOUT CENTS? All of Dudley Dickerson's classic scenes? Please don't let these scenes go to waste, AMC!!!

Censors is the cwaziest peoples!

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by Bobby B



A couple of years ago, Turner Classic Movies actually aired the infamous Amos'n'Andy movie "Check and Double Check", in which virtually the entire cast appeared in blackface. (Okay, they aired it in the middle of the night, but still...)

TCM is much more "purist" than AMC (they're far more likely to show widescreen movies letterboxed than is AMC). Instead of just complaining to CN we might write to TCM; maybe they could be prodded into showing the censored cartoons (even "Coal Black"?) if we batted our eyelashes hard enough.

[Argus Sventon]

Originally posted by Maxie Zeus


TCM is much more "purist" than AMC (they're far more likely to show widescreen movies letterboxed than is AMC). Instead of just complaining to CN we might write to TCM; maybe they could be prodded into showing the censored cartoons (even "Coal Black"?) if we batted our eyelashes hard enough.

That's what I've been saying for months. If not CN, why not TCM?

[Joe Tully]

That sounds like a good idea. While I don't get TCM, it would be nice to know that these cartoons are showing somewhere. TCM sounds pretty classy and might be convinced into doing a historical look at cartoons, maybe hire someone to introduce each and explain the context. TCM also doesn't have to worry about the kid audience as much either, not that CN should have to at 3 AM. Maybe the recent press would help convince them too. Does anyone else think that this might work?