WTF? Simpsons butchered for Arab nations...

[Rev Scapegoat]

ABC NEWS
by JAKE TAPPER and AVERY MILLER
Oct. 18, 2005 — After 17 seasons of entertaining U.S. audiences, "The Simpsons" can now be seen on Arab television. While U.S. foreign policy is not always a hit overseas, there is a huge audience for American popular culture.
So the Arab satellite network MBC is bringing the cartoon saga of Springfield to the heart of the Arab world. "The Simpsons" has been exported overseas and is now called "Al Shamshoon."
The new take on the cartoon classic debuted this month, just in time for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, as first reported by "The Wall Street Journal."
With Omar instead of Homer, and Badr substituting for Bart, MBC hopes to win coveted young viewers. After all, 60 percent of the Arab world is 20 years old or younger.
"I think 'The Simpsons' will open new horizons for us to the future by creating a new genre of programming that will appeal to young adults in the Middle East," said Michel Costandi, MBC's director of business development.
But with a show that is so disinctly American, Arab media experts say, it's not enough to just translate the language.
"Translating the show linguistically, as well as culturally, as well as socially so that it appeals to the audience that's watching it here, I think there's a lot of details that one has to pay attention to," said Nadia Rahman, a professor at the Zayed University Media Center in the United Arab Emirates. "How does the mother dress? How does the sister dress?"
So MBC is making some changes as the characters go from American to Arab. They will remove references to things forbidden by the Koran, such as bacon, beer, and other references that might be construed as offensive.
From American Beer to Arab Soda
Homer Simpson's ubiquitous Duff beer will now be soda in the Arab version of the show.
Hot dogs will become Egyptian beef sausages, and donuts will become popular Arab cookies called "kahk." Moe's Bar has been completely written out of "Al Shamshoon."
With characters who are Jewish (like Krusty the Clown), Hindu (like Kwik-E-Mart owner Apu) and Christian (like the family's pastor, Rev. Lovejoy), Al Jean — "The Simpsons" executive producer — says those changes mean they aren't "The Simpsons" anymore.
"If he doesn't drink and eat bacon and generally act like a pig — which I guess is also against Islam — then it's not Homer," Jean said.
Some on the Arab street agree. Many bloggers have also expressed discontent.
"It's different," one Arab viewer told ABC News. "We are a totally different culture, so you can't be talking about the same subject and in the same way."
One thing didn't change, according to Costandi. Omar Shamshoon still says "D'oh!"

My view?
What the hell do they think they are doing? This is sheer intolerance, and somewhat arrogant.

You wanna watch the Simpsons? Watch the Simpsons.
If it offends you... don't watch it.

Write your own damn show.

[Stew]

Always happens though man.

For example, in Germany when it's shown - the foreign exchange kid is Swiss and not German.

(Had a german flatmate.)

[Rev Scapegoat]

See, that kinda makes sense, given that they are in Germany. To change stuff like that, or to change stuff where a joke just isn't funny ( Very specific cultural references and the like ) are kinda alright - but to totally change so many vital parts of the show, because "they are offensive" just stinks.

[Stew]

Yeah - totally altering the show in ways to make it sell in other countries is taking the piss.

[TSR]

how can it be a hit when Homer 'gets drunk on soda'????

should have made a whole new show.....either that or sent them Futurama!

[Stew]

Send them Family Guy, that'll go down well.

[Rev Scapegoat]

Aye, right.
Bender on Pepsi, yeah?

[TSR]

bender's a robot and is drinking the alcahol for fun, not leasure. he's also a bit of an arse, thusly telling arab kiddes "alcahol baaaad!"

family guy!! haha!

[Rev Scapegoat]

"drinking the alcahol for fun, not leasure"
Huh?

[Stew]

Originally Posted by Rev Scapegoat

"drinking the alcahol for fun, not leasure"
Huh?

Drinking the alcohol for fuel, not for leisure.

[TSR]

errrr....that "fun" should have been "fuel"
my bad

[Quiz Bhoy]

Is it just an urban myth or was Chekov the captain in Star Trek when viewed in Russia?

[Robb]

Originally Posted by Rev Scapegoat

Aye, right.
Bender on Pepsi, yeah?

Yeah, 'cos it's impossible for robots to get drunk on anything other than alchohol, right?

Originally Posted by Rev Scapegoat in THE OFFICE AMERICAN REMAKE!! THREAD

WHY?!?!

Just watched this, and it's pretty much a shot-for-shot clone, with American accents!

The "Tim" character even copies Martin Freeman's facial expressions and mannerisms!

Pointless waste of time. The Yanks'd have been better just watching the BBC DVDs!

Yes, it's fucking stupid to recreate a show such as The Office for America shot-for-shot. Would it be acceptable to recreate it for an Asian market though? African? Blatantly the answer is YES, MAN! Shot for shot? Fuck off. Get some creativity in and settle it in for it's new market.

Now, The Simpsons. If the changes help it settle in over there than who gives a shit? It's a completely different culture. The "hard-core!" Arab Simpsons fan will just Torrent the shit, wont they? "The Simpsons go Arab!" is merely a strategy ploy by FOX. They could have created a new show, yes but now they can be lazy bastards, change names, fix the jokes and leave the show running on the brand name. I think you're directing your tirade against the wrong people, turn it around, mawn.

[Stew]

Nah!

[Wreakin_Havok]

What's Apu gonna be called if Omar is Homer and Badr is Bart - John?