Chavez Bans Simpsons, Brings in Baywatch Babes

Hugo Chavez has bumped pudgy Homer Simpson from Venezuela's airwaves, reports the Times of London, opting instead for the decidedly more fit and furry David Hasselhoff. The dysfunctional Simpsons were deemed "inappropriate" for kiddies watching the morning TV lineup, but were replaced with the entirely, er, wholesome "Baywatch Hawaii."

“It had to be taken off,” said a station spokeswoman of "The Simpsons." Government officials reportedly believed the cartoon, which had the highest ratings in the state-run channel's history, promoted "messages that go against the whole education of boys, girls, and adolescents." No word on the educational merit of bouncing bikini-clad lifeguards. (More censorship stories.)