Welcome to Comic Book Legends Revealed! This is the six hundred and forty-seventh week where we examine comic book legends and whether they are true or false.
Click here for Part 1 of this week's legends. Click here for Part 2.
COMIC LEGEND:
X-Men The Animated Series received a whole lot of notes from Standards and Practices, including not allowing them to destroy the Eiffel Tower.
STATUS:
I'm Going With False True. Just a typo there. The perils of cutting and pasting.
The X-Men cartoon series came out at a strange time for cartoons, as there was a MAJOR backlash to how violent cartoons were getting. It was an even bigger deal with the Spider-Man cartoon series that launched AFTER the X-Men series, but it still affected the X-Men series, as well.
The way that episodes were handled is that the writers would have to hand in to Broadcast Standards and Practices (BS&P) an episode outline, a first draft, storyboards and a final script (typically once you were past the outline and the first draft, their issues had been addressed so there were less notes).
BS&P were the censors who honestly did serve a major purpose, as they kept the shows on the air by making sure that no one protested them. The issue, of course, is that they were EXTREMELY sensitive to anything that could get the show in trouble.
One of the longtime writers on the show, Stephen Melching, shared some notes he received on a few episodes he wrote for the show to demonstrate just what the censors would do. It's a pretty hilarious read, especially when they save the Eiffel Tower from being destroyed...
Episode: "Longshot"
Episode Outline
Page 4: It will not be acceptable for Mojo to call anyone "numb nuts." Also, he should not pick Spiral up by the head.
Page 10: Either show that the hunters Rogue buries are robots, or do not bury them past their necks.
Page 11: Please substitute for Longshot's two uses of the word "killed." Something like "destroyed" or "take their lives" would be acceptable.
Final Script
Page 3: Please delete or substitute for Spiral calling Longshot "Lover," since we would not want to give their encounter sexual overtones
Page 6: Longshot should not appear "wounded" or bloodied. Also, what does "you sure you got guy" mean? It will not be acceptable for a wolf to "slash" Wolverine in the back, nor for Wolverine's claws to connect with any of the wolves.
Page 23: It will not be acceptable for Jubilee to "blast Jan in the face." Please revise.
Page 25: Please substitute for the boulder Rogue hurls at the two hunters, since this would injure them severely. Please incapacitate them with something less harmful.
Page 27: Please delete or substitute for Rogue's use of the term "scale butt." something like "scale face" would be acceptable.
Page 29: Caution that Slagg not backhand Wolverine in the face.
Pages 31 and 35: Caution that no one is hurt by the raptors.
Page 32: Please show that the bounty hunters are alive after the facade falls on them.
Page 36: Please keep the kiss between Longshot and Jubilee brief.
Episode: "Sanctuary - Part One"
Episode Outline
Page 1: Please do not have the Astronaut say "My God."
Page 7: Please avoid having Cortez call Magneto his "savior."
Page 8: Please avoid calling Magneto's followers "acolytes."
Page 9: Please do not refer to the objects as "killer satellites."
Page 11: Please do not have Cortez accuse the X-Men of "assassinating" Magneto. Also on this page, Magneto's compartment should not look as though it is burning, nor should Magneto be surrounded by flames -- no "fireball" with him inside it. Perhaps the compartment could break up or eject Magneto before it explodes.
Also, please change the villain's name from "Cortez" to something non-Hispanic. There are no prominent Hispanic X-Men to provide balance for this kind of negative character.
First Draft Script
Page 16: Please show that the Magistrate in the hovercraft is alright when the craft is knocked out of the sky.
Page 17: Please show that Delgado is alright immediately after the Sentinel's blast.
Page 26: Please do not show Amelia with suitcases in her hands when she leaves Xavier.Revised Draft
Page 26: As also mentioned previously, please do not show Amelia with suitcases when she leaves Xavier.
Episode Storyboard
Page 127: Caution that, as it appears here, the hovercraft is only about six feet off the ground when Cortez hurls the pilot out.
Pages 141, 167 and throughout: Please ask the producers to forward models of the new Mutants in this episode. All women, including Unuscione, should be modestly dressed -- no low-cut costumes, please. Also, what will the "skinsuited" Genoshan slaves look like?
Page 145: Please show that the two guards are alright after they are blasted off their feet.
Page 159: Please show that the two mutants hit by advancing Genoshan guards are alright afterwards.
Page 212: Please do not show a suitcase in Amelia's hand when she leaves.
Page 257: Please do not give the two Nomads such large, hooked noses.
Episode: "Sanctuary - Part Two"
Episode Outline
Page 2: Another funeral for another person who isn't really dead? Please could you just show the X-Man talking informally about Magneto over coffee or something, not have another death ceremony in the garden.
Also on this page, it will not be acceptable to show or imply that Gambit is being tortured. Please remove the electrodes. He may be imprisoned, and Cortez could threaten never to release him, or some such. Let's discuss alternatives. (Again, his name should not be "Cortez.")
Page 4: Please do not have Xavier state overtly that there's "a good chance some of them won't be returning from this mission." We would prefer emphasis on the importance of the battle, not its potential for fatality.
Page 5: It will not be acceptable to destroy a landmark such as the Eiffel Tower. Perhaps Cortez could blow up a mountain, or some such. Also on this page, Gambit should not be bruised or appear to have been beaten.
Page 8: Please do not have Gambit grab Cortez by the face or neck.
Page 10: It will not be acceptable to imply that Magneto injures or kills Cortez here. Please devise a way to show Cortez escaping.
Final Script
Page 14: Please do not identify the location of the attack as Nevada, nor the dam as Hoover Dam.
Page 21: Please show that Chrome is only trapped behind the heavy equipment, not crushed under it.
Page 25: Please ask the producers to send me a model for Unuscione, including what she looks like with her "exo-skeleton projected. And what does Wolverine mean, "she'd be a handful on a date"?
I believe this desert scene is the one that replaced the Eiffel Tower scene...
Episode: "Weapon X, Lies, and Videotape"
Episode Outline
Page 5: Please do not refer to Maverick as Wolverine's "drinking buddy."
Page 8: Please substitute for the use of "Shiva," a Hindu god. A name from Greek mythology, or some such would be acceptable.
Page 9: It will not be acceptable for Sabretooth to say he wants to "kill" Wolverine.
First Draft Script
Pages 1 and 13 (flashback): Silver Fox may be in jeopardy, but she should not be lying on the floor injured. Also, please lose either Sabretooth's "...and tasty," or "just like..." to avoid a suggestive reference to Silver Fox.
Pages 2 and 16: Please do not show Wolverine and Sabretooth "trading blows" (socking each other with their fists).
Pages 3-5: Please do not have Wolverine intentionally slash the support for the lights so they strike Cyclops, and do not have Cyclops seriously hurt or knocked unconscious. Cyclops and Xavier should not require hospitalization or monitoring afterwards.
Page 9: It will not be acceptable for Wolverine to say "I almost killed Scott." Something like "I was completely out of control when I attacked Scott" would be acceptable.
Page 14: Please do not have Wolverine attack Sabretooth first.
Page 15: Caution to make all the weapons futuristic.
Page 17: Please delete or substitute for Sabretooth calling Silver Fox "squaw."
Page 20: Please limit the shots fired in the "Andre" scene. Each person should fire no more than one blast.
Episode: "Hidden Agendas"
Page 2: Please keep the flames well away from Sam and Pa.
Page 13 and throughout: Please check with your Legal regarding the many references to a "mutant Peace Corps."
Page 14: Please have Gambit use his powers (not tools) to short the sensor and open the hatch lock, or keep all of his actions off camera so they are not instructive.
Page 17: Please do not have the Captive Mutant cry out. Also on this page, do not have the truck come close to hitting Paige andSam.
Page 19: Please delete or substitute for Kenny's "dang mutie."
Page 20: Please delete or substitute for Gambit's "...tell you where you can put dat."
Page 25: Please do not show a cigarette butt igniting the gasoline.
Page 27: Please do not show anyone in the mob carrying a gun.
Page 29: Please do not show glass breaking after the sonic boom.Page 30: The "Shock Troopers" should clearly be robots, not people in flying armor.
Page 31: Do not have Beast shocked by the Trooper.
Pages 32-33: Please have Unit One just freeze in place, or some such, not fall to the ground and grab his head, as if he is in pain. Also, please eliminate Sam blasting another Trooper and Rogue hurling a Trooper toward Gambit, and delete the action of Sam blowing up the train, which plays as excess for BS&P.
Episode: "The Phalanx Covenant - Part One"
Final Script
Pages 1-3: As noted at outline stage, a fight will not be acceptable in the teaser. Sabretooth may not slam into Wolverine, who may not be hurled into a brick wall and knocked unconscious, Rogue may not be "smashed," Beast may not slam into Sabretooth, and so on.Find a way to show Sabretooth's capture without depicting violence -- no blows that connect, no injuries.
Page 7: Please delete or substitute for the underlined in Sabretooth's "look who finally got up off his butt."
Page 8: While "Sabretooth" may morph into Jean, she should be in standard costume, not a bath robe, and please delete or substitute for the line "is this how you want me?"
Episode: "The Phalanx Covenant - Part Two"
Episode Outline
Page 30: Please do not have the townspeople "splatter" when Sinister blasts them. They may melt, or some such.
Page 1: Caution that it is clear that no Morlocks are injured, only captured or transformed by the Phalanx, in the Teaser.
Page 5: Please show that Moira is alright, although "assimilated" by the Phalanx.
Final Script
Page 11: Please do not show hospitalized patients being grabbed by tentacles.
Page 24: It will only be acceptable for Amelia to blast Hodge's head if this looks like a mechanical object is hit.
Page 30: Again, please have Warlock's torso separate in a mechanical way, rather than looking like a human injury.
Amazing.
Thanks to Stephen Melching for sharing all of these!
Check out some legends from Legends Revealed:
Was Monopoly Once Ruled a Generic Term and Thus Not Protected by Trademark?
Was Mel Blanc, the Voice of Bugs Bunny, Allergic to Carrots?
Was AC/DC Named After a Slang Term for Bisexuality?
OK, that's it for this week!
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Was Superman a Spy?: And Other Comic Book Legends Revealed
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