Why Bill Cosby and Laura Bush really hated ‘The Simpsons’

nypost.com:

Easily offended sensibilities and hand-wringing over every pop culture moment seem to characterize the times we’re living in, but such battles have been brewing for centuries.

In his new book, “Outrageous: A History of Showbiz and Culture Wars,” Kliph Nesteroff looks at nearly 200 years of controversies to help us understand the present moment.

In this excerpt, he looks back at the hysteria around “The Simpsons” and “Beavis and Butthead.”By 1991, Fox had enough credibility to land the broadcast rights to the Emmys.That year, the category for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program was presented by comedian Gilbert Gottfried.

At the last minute, he decided to ignore the teleprompter and deliver a series of jokes about the recent arrest of Pee-wee Herman in an adult movie theater:Y’know, I’ll tell you something, ladies and gentlemen, I sleep a lot better since Pee-wee Herman has been arrested.[audience laughter] Masturbation’s a crime — I should be on death row![audience laughter]Masturbation’s against the law — I should have been sent to the electric chair years ago.[audience laughter]To think that by age fourteen I was already Al Capone. [audience laughter]Gottfried got big laughs for his spontaneous patter, but producers backstage were “buzzing about the bad taste of it” and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences — the organization responsible for the Emmys— considered it an affront. “I was angry to no end,” said the academy president. “I could have gone on and hung him right there.” Kenny Solms, head writer of the Emmy ceremony, said, “We were looking for a bit more decorum and wit.