Insight: If DC Universe & Disney+ Continue To Censor Their Adult Animation Then Netflix Is Gonna Be The Streaming King

Tonight kicks off a massive marathon for The Simpsons on FXX. Two weeks of the longest-running animated series in primetime will set, yet, another record for most consecutive episodes broadcast in one marathon and will also include The Simpsons Movie and Longest Day Care as part of the showings. That’s 661 episodes as part of the “Plus+Size Holiday Marathon,” which will celebrate 30 seasons that are all part of Disney+ currently streaming in the incorrect aspect ratio and will end with the 11 greatest episodes as voted by the show’s producers. And less we forget that December 17th @ 8 pm ET marks the 30th anniversary of when The Simpsons debuted and FXX will actually show the Mimi Pond-written “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” episode to help commemorate this unheard of accomplishment.

Fortunately, despite Danny Elfman’s best efforts, Yeardley Smith aka “Lisa Simpson” says that the show is only about halfway through it’s completion which is great because we’re all going to need something to watch when the ice caps melt. In the meantime, and I mean this with all sincerity, if Disney+ and other streaming services don’t stop censoring their original series, subscribers are going to bounce leaving just HBO proper and Netflix to survive.

Aside from the aspect ratio gaffe, any episode of The Simpsons featuring attempts at using any one of the “7 Dirty Words” are being bleeped out and we all know about “Stark Raving Dad” not being included which is also pissing off fans of the long-running series. And The Simpsons isn’t the only one being censored, Alex Hirsch, creator of Gravity Falls and currently producing a series for Netflix, has noted that Disney+ is censoring that series as well which is also ridiculous.

Other streaming services have followed suit. Warnings on older content and even DC Universe being nabbed last week for censoring the word “cunt” from Harley Quinn are leaving subscribers baffled as to why this is even happening. Unlike on basic television where the FCC and shit groups like the Million Moms have a say on what gets broadcast, these groups, much to the displeasure of the PTC which has been trying, have no bearing on what a streaming service can depict. This leaves Netflix as the lone wolf in understanding this, which is why series like Big Mouth or BoJack Horseman can truly hit the jugular and not experience any pushback. Yes, every network has notes, but Netflix makes it a point not to take the teeth out of it’s original programming here in the United States and will go to bat for their producers. Netflix’s biggest issue is bloat which you can read more about here.

With the increasing number of streaming services, older tech like cable TV and home releases are starting look more attractive. TV because after you add in the cost of all of the streaming services, you’re basically at the cost of a cable bill. Home release, because, at the very least, the sanctity of the original series is very much left in tact and can’t be altered or changed in the future. Family Guy, The Simpsons, and South Park have all had home releases that have featured episodes that were at one point adapted for television viewing or, in some cases, not shown at all and are instead given new life elsewhere. Streaming services that attempt to self-censor will continue to experience creative challenges moving forward while US-based Netflix will get to reap the benefits.