irish smokng ban on "the simpsons"

[chris]

I don't know how long it takes for US TV to catch up with you folks in Ireland, but keep an eye out for last Sunday's episode of "The Simpsons". They go to Ireland and are dismayed by the charmless "New Ireland" ("Yuprichauns!") and yearn for the old. Homer and Grandpa get drunk and get suckered into buying an empty pub--the previous owner offers "everyone got jobs" as the reason. Our heroes consult Moe for advice and he says "Let people do what they can't do anywhere else." Up to this point I thought they'd totally ignore the smoking ban, but then they show a bunch of smokers refused entrance to a drinking establishment and the boys decide to open a smokeasy.
The next scene shows the pub full of people, music and conversation--and smoke. One Irish guy thanks the Yanks profusely for "blackening our lungs with joy once again.'
Naturally the gardai bust in to spoil things and at the trial "Simpsons" creator Matt Greoning throws a bone to the Antis. Homer tesitifies, "Smoking doesn't hurt anyone except smokers, those around them, and the pregnant women who come to 'Expectant Mothers Drink Free' night".
And they end up deported
An altogether welcome surprise.

[Mark]

I saw it chris, a great episode. They began work on this episode over a year ago and based it on observations various people working on the show who were familiar with ireland had made on visits here. Boy did they get it right identifying what an asshole this country had become.

[chris]

Any sign revolt in the culture of Ireland? I saw a movie last week with Jamie McAvoy as a guy in a wheelchair, partially funded by the Irish Film Board and not a hint of a fag throughout.

[Mark]

It would not surprise me if anything funded by the irish film board insists there can be no smoking scenes.

[emma]

hee hee hee .......they flew here on an airline called derry air.......derriere....french for backside......mo mistaking they saw that ireland has turned into an ashole of a country