Friday February 25, 2005

Leave Your Message at the Bleep

It’s Friday. You know what that means. The weekend? Well, that, and it’s time to make sure you’re TiVoing Jimmy Kimmel Live. I never thought I’d say that either, but last week — completely by accident — I happened to catch Kimmel’s weekly bit “This Week in Unnecessary Censorship.” Genius.

The segment takes wholesome TV footage — of the President, Dr. Phil, Sesame Street — and adds bleeps and mosaics until it seems absolutely filthy. It’s both clever and, in today’s puritanical climate, elegantly subversive. You can catch up with previous installments on the show’s homepage.