Tom & Jerry in trouble for smoking

Reuters ^ | 08/20/06

[presidio9]

They chase each other at high speed wielding axes and hammers. But the famous cartoon duo of Tom and Jerry are in trouble for smoking on screen.

Media regulator Ofcom received a complaint from a viewer who took offence at two episodes involving smoking.

In one, "Texas Tom", the hapless cat Tom tries to impress a feline female by rolling a cigarette, lighting it and smoking it with one hand. In the other, "Tennis Chumps", Tom's opponent in a match smokes a large cigar.

In a bulletin posted online, Ofcom noted "concerns that smoking on television may normalise smoking", and said that the Turner company, licensee for Boomerang which aired the cartoons, had agreed to edit some smoking scenes out of Tom and Jerry.

"The licensee has ... proposed editing any scenes or references in the series where smoking appeared to be condoned, acceptable, glamorised or where it might encourage imitation," Ofcom said, adding that "Texas Tom" was one such example.

But it would not cut all smoking scenes, it added.

Ofcom said it recognised smoking was more generally accepted when cartoons were produced in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, but noted that the threshhold for including such scenes when the audience is predominately young should be high.

[ECM]

Wow, not even noon and this might already be the most idiotic thing I read today.

[texas_mrs]

Maybe it would be acceptable if he flashed her a condom.

[Karliner]

Are there any "photoshopped" pics of these guys?

[basil]

There seem to be a lot of folks in this world who have nothing to do but worry about stuff like this. What an awesome waste of life.

[Vaquero]

ping

[TheBigB]

[Oztrich Boy]

"We need the help of the greatest anti-smoking celebrity that ever lived. Rob Reiner."

[txroadkill]

Yet the axes and hammers seem to be no problem.

[presidio9]

Wow, not even noon and this might already be the most idiotic thing I read today.

We aim to please.

[Ueriah]

Remember, kiddies - splitting the skull of your enemies with a large axe and ripping out eyeballs is just fine, but smoking can hurt you!

[JRios1968]

Or if Tom and Jerry were gay partners...then it would be fine for the idiot who complained.

[Kirkwood]

Popeye is in real trouble. Not only does he smoke a pipe, he endorses candy cigarettes for the kiddies.

[Vision]

Islamic terror is not an issue. But smoking in a cartoon from 40 years ago is worthy of a news story.

[JamesP81]

Media regulator Ofcom received a complaint from a viewer who took offence at two episodes involving smoking.

Never underestimate the power of human whininess.

[doyle]

Don't let them exterminate Tom and Jerry like they squashed Fred and Barney. Remember this? http://www.askmen.com/video/2004_nov/nov04_flintstones_cigs.html

[Kirkwood]

I remember those.

[SheLion]

Thanks for the ping. Stupid, eh?

[Mrs.Nooseman]

What next?

This is stupid.