Sophie Bennett
What a Cartoon! Cow & Chicken: No Smoking! is the pilot episode of the Cow and Chicken series, which aired as part of the What A Cartoon! showcase on November 12, 1995. The episode was banned after its original airing due to its depiction of Hell, the Devil, and an underage character smoking. In the episode, Cow catches her brother Chicken smoking and threatens to tell their parents if he doesn't play with her. Meanwhile, the Devil, known as the Red Guy in this episode, decides to take Chicken to Hell and force him to smoke a giant cigarette. Despite criticism, the episode was well-received by fans, and the series went on to have a successful run with multiple awards and merchandising deals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Episode name | No Smoking |
| Episode type | Pilot |
| Episode length | 30 minutes |
| Series | Cow and Chicken |
| Production company | Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. |
| Animation studio | Rough Draft Studios |
| Air date | November 12, 1995 |
| Characters | Cow, Chicken, Mom, Dad, Red Guy/Devil, Cerberus |
| Plot | Chicken is sent to Hell for smoking, and Cow transforms into Super Cow to save him |
| Taboo elements | Smoking, Hell, Devil, underage smoking |
| Banned | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Cow and Chicken's debut
Cow and Chicken made their debut in the pilot episode of the Cow and Chicken series, titled "No Smoking". The episode aired as part of the What a Cartoon! showcase on November 12, 1995. The entire pilot was animated by David Feiss, who created Cow and Chicken as a story for his daughter. The episode was later banned due to its controversial content, including depictions of Hell and religious figures, as well as its portrayal of Chicken smoking cigarettes. Despite the ban, the pilot gained popularity, leading to the development of a full series.
In "No Smoking", Cow catches her brother Chicken smoking and threatens to tell their parents unless he agrees to play with her. Meanwhile, in Hell, The Devil, also known as the Red Guy, is looking for someone to torture and decides to target Cow and Chicken. He offers Chicken a cigarette pack and kidnaps him to Hell, where he forces him to smoke a giant cigarette. Cow transforms into SuperCow and saves her brother from The Devil's torment. The episode also reveals the full bodies of Cow and Chicken's parents, Mom and Dad, who exist only from the waist down.
The series Cow and Chicken focuses on the misadventures of two anthropomorphic animal siblings, Cow and her older brother Chicken, who are raised by human parents. The characters often find themselves in eccentric and surreal situations, with humour based on traditional childhood worries and anxieties. The show is known for its grotesque and repulsive humour, with bizarre storylines and crude jokes.
The full series of Cow and Chicken premiered on July 15, 1997, and ran for 52 episodes until 1999. The series was produced by Hanna-Barbera and Cartoon Network Studios, with Charlie Adler voicing the leading roles of Cow, Chicken, and the Red Guy. Cow and Chicken: Super Cow Adventure, a mobile game based on the series, was also released in 2007.
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The Devil and Hell
In the episode, the Red Guy, who is known as the Devil, is looking for people to take to Hell. He decides to target Cow and Chicken, as suggested by Cerberus. The Devil watches Cow and Chicken playing in their backyard on his TV screen. He then rides an elevator to their backyard and tempts Chicken with a cigarette pack. Despite being underage, Chicken accepts the cigarettes, and the Devil kidnaps him and takes him to Hell.
Once in Hell, the Devil forces Chicken to smoke a giant cigarette. When the cigarette ashes get into Chicken's beak, the Devil attempts to clean them out using exaggerated and torturous methods. Cow, who is disgusted by the Devil's actions, transforms into Super Cow, a Spanish-speaking superhero. Super Cow saves Chicken from the Devil's clutches, preventing him from being tormented and tortured forever.
The episode was banned after its original airing due to its depiction of Hell, the Devil, and an underage character smoking. It was considered too heavy for a children's show, and the network received criticism for these elements. Despite the ban, the episode remains notable for its introduction of Super Cow, Cow's alter ego, and for revealing the full appearance of Cow and Chicken's parents, who exist only from the waist down.
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Smoking and its consequences
In the pilot episode of the animated series Cow and Chicken, titled "No Smoking", Chicken is sent to Hell for smoking. The episode was banned after its original airing due to its controversial content involving depictions of Hell, religious figures, and Chicken smoking cigarettes. This episode serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of smoking, a habit that has serious health consequences.
Smoking is the act of inhaling smoke from burning plant material, specifically tobacco leaves in the case of cigarettes. The practice of smoking is harmful to overall health and well-being due to the presence of harmful substances such as nicotine, tar, and other chemicals. Nicotine, a highly addictive component of tobacco, acts on the brain by creating a relaxing and pleasurable feeling, making it challenging for individuals to quit the habit. However, the consequences of smoking are severe and far-reaching.
Smoking is a major risk factor for various types of cancer, including lung cancer, as the carcinogens in smoke cause cells to grow abnormally. It is also linked to an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and lung diseases such as emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The smoke and tar from cigarettes irritate the throat and lungs, leading to a persistent "smoker's cough" and reduced lung function.
Furthermore, smoking has negative effects on dental health, causing tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth discolouration. It also affects sensory functions, reducing the sense of smell and taste over time. Smoking damages the eyes and can lead to macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness. It also increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and exacerbates health conditions related to type 1 diabetes, including kidney disease and poor circulation.
Additionally, smoking weakens the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to bacterial and viral infections. It reduces blood flow throughout the body, impairing wound healing and contributing to circulatory problems. Smoking is also a risk factor for osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones. The habit can lead to fertility issues, affecting sperm quality and making it more difficult to conceive.
In conclusion, the Cow and Chicken episode "No Smoking" highlights the dangers of smoking through its depiction of Chicken's journey to Hell after being tempted by cigarettes. Smoking has severe consequences on both physical and mental health, and quitting smoking is crucial to improving overall well-being and reducing the risk of premature death.
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Cartoon Network bans episode
Cartoon Network has banned episodes of several shows, including Cow and Chicken and Sunday Pants.
Cow and Chicken
Cow and Chicken is an animated series that first aired in 1995 as part of the What a Cartoon! showcase on Cartoon Network. The pilot episode, titled "No Smoking", was banned after its original airing due to its controversial content. The episode featured Chicken smoking cigarettes and included depictions of Hell and religious figures such as the Red Guy and Cerberus. Despite the creators' intentions to convey an anti-smoking message, the network deemed the subject matter "too heavy" for a children's show.
Sunday Pants
Sunday Pants was an animated anthology series that aired on Cartoon Network in 2005. Only five episodes of the planned 11-episode season were broadcast, and the show was ultimately cancelled. The remaining six episodes were unaired until they were uploaded to YouTube and Vimeo. The adult content of the show may have contributed to its cancellation and the decision to not air all episodes.
Buffalo Gals
An episode of Cow and Chicken titled "Buffalo Gals" was also banned by Cartoon Network due to its content. The episode featured a biker group called the Buffalo Gals, and it included verbal and visual innuendos suggesting that the group members were lesbians. The network received a complaint from a parent about the episode, and it was replaced with another episode in future airings.
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Pilot episode and series premiere
"No Smoking" is the pilot episode of the Cartoon Network original series, Cow and Chicken. The episode originally premiered on What a Cartoon! on November 12, 1995, two years before the first episode of the first season. The episode was animated by David Feiss, who created the show for his daughter, and was produced by Hanna-Barbera.
The episode starts with Cow interrupting Chicken's television program, wanting to play a game. Chicken eventually accepts when Cow threatens to tell their parents that she has discovered his cigarettes. Meanwhile, in Hell, The Devil (referred to as the Red Guy in this episode) is looking for new people to torture and decides on Cow and Chicken, after a suggestion from Cerberus. The Devil travels to the siblings' backyard and tempts Chicken with a cigarette pack. He then kidnaps Chicken to Hell for trying to smoke tobacco products underage. In Hell, the Devil forces Chicken to smoke a giant cigarette and uses exaggerated and torturous methods to clean the ashes from his beak. Cow then transforms into Supercow, a Spanish-speaking superhero, and saves Chicken from the depths of Hell.
The episode was banned after its original airing due to its depiction of Hell, the Devil, and an underage character smoking. The creators insisted that the episode was not intended to encourage children to smoke, but rather to teach them that smoking is wrong. Despite this, the network still banned the episode, believing it to be "too heavy" for a children's show.
The full series of Cow and Chicken premiered on July 15, 1997, and ran until July 1999. The show was known for its black comedy, gross-out jokes, and surrealism, appealing to both adult and child audiences.
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Frequently asked questions
In the "No Smoking" episode, Cow catches Chicken smoking and threatens to tell their parents. The Red Guy, also known as the Devil, decides to kidnap Chicken and take him to Hell. Cow transforms into Super Cow, a Spanish-speaking superhero, and saves her brother.
The "No Smoking" episode was banned due to its depiction of Hell, the Devil, and underage smoking. Chicken is shown to be around 11 years old, which is too young to be interested in smoking. The episode also shows the Devil forcing Chicken to smoke a giant cigarette, which is considered inappropriate content for children.
The "No Smoking" episode of Cow and Chicken was released on November 12, 1995, as part of the What a Cartoon! showcase. It served as the pilot episode for the series.
