TOTALLY CARACAS

A sure sign that your country is confused, over-defensive and basically in the shitter is when it starts having a pop at the TV gold that is 'The Simpsons'. Many years back George Bush Sr. lamented that the USA should embrace 'The Waltons' rather than 'The Simpsons' and he was rewarded by being voted out of office and then having Homer glue a massive day-glo afro wig onto his cartoon head.

Now Venezuela is the latest country to suffer from a deficit of irony. After three or four irate viewers complained to Venezuela's version of the ITC they decided against showing the cartoon again. Elba Guillen, a spokesperson for the only TV station in Caracas brave enough to air such cutting-edge satire, declared that 'The Simpsons' showed...

"Messages that go against the whole education of boys, girls and adolescents."

It's unlikely they'll be showing any Dennis Potter series in the near future, I'd imagine. One problem, the Venezuelans bleat, is that the show was being shown at 11am. Perhaps that's because it's a cartoon series which appeals to adults and children alike? The single greatest cartoon series in history, but a cartoon nonetheless. So with which upstanding, child-friendly vehicle have they replaced 'The Simpsons'?

A series called 'Baywatch: Hawaii'. Yes, the one with women and men running around with their bits wobbling under tight swimwear. No doubt the sight of a dozen male and female camel-toes per episode is less morally corrupting than Homer Simpson swallowing some plastic and saying "Mmmm, pointy!