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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2008 > January > 29 > Entry
Controversy over cutting of ‘Boondocks’ episodes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sooner or later, any satirist who wins a Peabody Award for re-animating the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and having him denounce “Soul Plane” runs the risk of upsetting corporate America.
That’s one theory being floated this week as “The Boondocks” creator Aaron McGruder informs faithful viewers of his edgy, irreverent Adult Swim series that Cartoon Network has unexpectedly shortened the ‘toon’s second season from a planned 15-episode run to 13.
Fifteen episodes were in fact produced but two, titled “The Huey Freeman Hunger Strike” and “The Ruckus Reality Show” aren’t currently scheduled to air, allegedly due to controversial material targeting Black Entertainment Television executives.
On his Myspace.com page, McGruder has posted the following message to fans: “Okay, so … maybe it’s a 13-episode season.” More cryptically, links to YouTube clips said to contain content from the episodes posted on McGruder’s Myspace page have been mysteriously taken down (when users click on the links to the clips to view them, a “We’re sorry, this video is no longer available” message pops up instead).
Cartoon Network public relations senior vice president James Anderson confirmed to us Tuesday that the two episodes in question “will not be airing on Adult Swim.” Anderson graciously declined further comment on the issue.
Since it’s practically impossible for a YouTube video clip to suddenly vaporize on the Internet (Buzz has been trying unsuccessfully to get footage of our third-grade spelling bee yanked for weeks …), we’re surmising that lawyers may have been introduced into the dust-up.
Conspiracy-minded, blogging “Boondocks” fans online are now busy posting endless theories and wondering whether the two episodes will be included in the show’s second season DVD set, tentatively due out later this year.
At deadline Tuesday, it remained unclear whether or not the content would eventually become available at retail or online.
One thing’s certain: controversy has never exactly been bad for business regarding McGruder’s work or for Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim brand.
And this time, a large chunk of Boston didn’t have to be shut down …
TOUCHING DOWN ON ‘RACHAEL RAY’
Sure, this season has been the stuff of nightmares (not to mention hangovers) for the Atlanta Falcons and their fans.
But hey, at least Falcons quarterback Joey Harrington got to meet Rachael Ray.
Harrington, along with New York Giants legend Ottis Anderson and New York Jets offensive tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, turns up on Friday’s episode of the Food Network fixture’s syndicated daily talk show, “Rachael Ray” (seen locally on WXIA at 3 p.m.). The trio and Ray demonstrate Super Bowl party recipes. The cookoff judge: Mario Batali.
We’re told that Harrington dazzled Ray by whipping up his recipes for homemade baby back ribs and a corn potato mash-up. Viewers will have to tune in to see if Harrington wins the competition.
OVERSCENE
“Bones” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” actor David Boreanaz hanging at Thrive nightclub and restaurant downtown. … Country singers Billy Ray Cyrus and Joe Nichols performing separate lunchtime concerts sponsored by Kicks 101.5 FM at Trilogy restaurant in east Cobb County. On Tuesday, Nichols, the singer behind “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off,” downed a few gallons of java and performed an hourlong set for fans. Later, he treated himself to a BLT salad, a sloppy jose (jalapeno cornbread topped with braised, shredded skirt steak), skillet beans and some chili lime tilapia.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actor Gene Hackman is 78. Actress Vanessa Redgrave is 71. Singer Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship is 66. Musician Phil Collins is 57. Actor Charles S. Dutton (“Roc”) is 57. Comedian Brett Butler (“Grace Under Fire”) is 50. Actor Christian Bale is 34. Singer Josh Kelley is 28. Actor Wilmer Valderrama (“That ’70s Show”) is 28.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I probably would have gone back to college and taught acting or taught dramatic literature in some way. I could have lived in Atlanta and worked in the great theaters there. That would have made me feel really happy. That’s what my goal was: to find a city that had good regional theater, move there and be part of a company and have a family.”
“Juno” actress and Georgia Shakespeare Festival alum
Jennifer Garner (above) in the U.K.’s Independent newspaper.
SICK BAY
Wallace recovering from surgery
Mike Wallace is recovering from triple heart bypass surgery he had last week, reports CBS News. Wallace, who will turn 90 this spring, already is walking. Doctors are calling the operation “a great success,” the network said. The veteran “60 Minutes” correspondent recently interviewed Roger Clemens about allegations of steroid use.
Contributing: News services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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