VIDEO: Mormon-owned Salt Lake City TV station bans Ryan Murphy’s “The New Normal,” about two gay guys wanting a baby
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — “The New Normal,” NBC’s new comedy from “Glee” creator Ryan Murphy set to premiere on Sept. 11, has been banished from the fall lineup of KSL in Salt Lake City.
The TV station is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and has a history of censoring network programming. Last year, KSL banned “The Playboy Club.”
Apparently the plot of “The New Normal” was offensive to KSL’s owners: It is about two gay men in a loving relationship who want a baby via surrogacy, and their crazy nuclear family. The cast includes Andrew Rannells, Justin Bartha, Georgia King, Bebe Wood, Ellen Barkin and NeNe Leakes.
“From time to time we may struggle with content that crosses the line in one area or another,” Jeff Simpson, CEO of KSL’s parent company, Bonneville International, told The Salt Lake Tribune. “The dialogue might be excessively rude and crude. The scenes may be too explicit or the characterizations might seem offensive.”
For Utah residents who show a little more enlightenment and tolerance, they will be able to watch “The New Normal” on another TV station.
“We will air it on the weekends” on Channel 30, said Matt Jacquint, general manager of KUCW and KTVX. “We’re looking for a time slot right now.”
