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NBC Pulls Episode of Drama Series as Boston Bombing Has Networks Re-Examining Programs

Apr 19, 2013  •  Post A Comment

TV programmers are feeling the repercussions of the Boston Marathon bombing, with NBC the latest network to make a programming move related to the attack.

The Hollywood Reporter’s Live Feed reports that the network pulled an especially violent episode of the freshman drama “Hannibal” that had been scheduled to air next week.

The episode, the series’ fourth, “includes such disturbing content as a character played Molly Shannon persuading children to kill other children,” the story reports. “The decision to shelve the episode originally was suggested by series creator Bryan Fuller. And while the episode still will run overseas, there are no plans for a stateside bow.”

A rep for NBC confirmed to THR that “Hannibal” will now conclude its season one week earlier than previously planned, wrapping June 20.

ABC announced previously that it was rescheduling an episode of “Castle” with a bomb theme, as we reported yesterday. THR notes: “The episode focuses on Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) triggering a pressure-sensitive bomb and spending the hour trying not to detonate it. The episode currently is planned for April 29, though it could be pushed back further.”

The report adds: “’Castle’ caused a stir elsewhere Thursday night, when TNT aired a syndicated episode of the series that featured another bomb storyline. The cable network has since apologized.”

Attention centered on an earlier episode of “Family Guy” soon after the Boston bombing, as we reported earlier this week. That episode, which directly referenced the Boston Marathon and also contained references to bombs, was pulled from the Web.

THR adds: “Fox also chose not to air a repeat of ‘New Girl’ that had its characters suspecting one of Jess’ (Zooey Deschanel) students of a murderous plot.”

One Comment

  1. When NBC wants to know why ratings are down for Hannibal, this is why. Myself and a number of friends were into the show. But if they cut episodes permanently, I cut the show. That is plain stupid. Back to The Following and a network that understands its viewers and wants to keep them.

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