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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Theater Puppet Cleavage Freaks out Colorado Springs

Posted by Brendan Kiley on Wed, Feb 24, 2010 at 4:42 PM

Enjoy some songs from Avenue Q as you read this post.

Once again, grown adults are gathering their skirts and shrieking about... puppets. Last month, some Christians convened an emergency prayer circle in the lobby of Seattle Children's Theater after seeing Pero, a Dutch play for six-year-olds about a baker's sentimental education.

Now an advertising company in Colorado Springs has censored a bus-shelter advertisement for Avenue Q, the Tony Award-winning puppet musical that toured to Seattle two Junes ago. (Read Christopher Frizzelle's enthusiastic review of the clever show here.)

Lucy the Slut has proudly displayed her cleavage all across the country, appearing in posters that feature her voluptuous bosoms barely contained in a glittery brassiere.

But Lucy, one of the puppet stars of the risque Broadway show "Avenue Q," won't get the same exposure in the conservative bastion of Colorado Springs, Colo., where her ample — if also pink and fuzzy — endowment has proved too much for a billboard company.

As an account executive at Lamar Advertising said: "If I have to explain it to my 4-year-old or my grandmother, we don’t put it up."

So... you have to explain breasts to your grandmother? And a four-year-old shouldn't be allowed to see what is, basically, a woman in a bikini? (And haven't many, many four-year-olds just graduated from

And a quick look around Lamar's website shows plenty of busty images available for "outdoor advertising campaigns," especially via their partners at Shutterstock ("these images can be emailed to you if requested for an outdoor advertising campaing [sic]").

They'd probably pitch a fit if we posted the photos without their permission, but follow the links to find bustiness: Marilyn Monroe, Beyoncé, "handsome man ironing attractive brunette," "beautiful girl standing in a big paint container," and, uh, "crowd bikini models."

Instead of Lucy's cleavage, Avenue Q is running head-shots of other characters—including Rod, the neurotic Republican closet case.

Comments (14) RSS

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Because most 4 year olds and grandmothers wouldn't at all be confused by the handsome man ironing the attractive brunette. ?!?!?

Posted by Jenny

on February 24, 2010 at 4:54 PM

Lamar Advertising is headquartered in Baton Rouge, LA since 1902. That should explain a lot.

I went to high school there and some of the VPs are former classmates. Party boys, all.

Posted by Jakey on February 24, 2010 at 5:08 PM

Well, I don't know about you guys, but I've always wanted to iron an attractive brunette.

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty

on February 24, 2010 at 5:12 PM

It's not exactly Meet the Feebles. Miss Piggy wore dresses cut lower than that 30 years ago during traditionally family-oriented time slots. We're heading in the wrong direction here.

Posted by Dougsf on February 24, 2010 at 5:41 PM

Beware these puritanical Tea-partying Palinites. A couple of missteps, a few too many conincidences, the proper alignment of things, and they'll be bringing us the real deal, full-on American Nazi era.

Posted by zombie eyes on February 24, 2010 at 5:49 PM

You have to know Colorado Springs. Home of the Air Force Academy, New Life Church (of Ted Haggard fame), Focus on the Family.....you know you're in trouble when the military academy is the most liberal player on the local scene.

Posted by attitude devant on February 24, 2010 at 7:26 PM

you guys forgot to add "internet is made for porn"

Posted by apres_moi on February 24, 2010 at 7:48 PM

Doesn't this just end up being great advertising for Avenue Q? If I were in Colorado, I'd be hopping to go!

Posted by Toad in the Hole on February 24, 2010 at 8:02 PM

"Handsome man ironing attractive brunette" is a work of genius.

Posted by john t on February 24, 2010 at 8:19 PM

As any parent who has taken growing children to movies, plays and other stuff "for kids" knows, there are a lot prurient "in jokes" peppered around just to keep Dad from falling asleep.

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe

on February 24, 2010 at 8:50 PM

Um, why are they even bothering to go there? Really, aren't there other places that warrant a visit from Avenue Q? Isn't this akin to dragging a risque version of "Cabaret" to Branson, Missouri?

Send 'em "Starlight Fucking Express" and say "Fuck you very fucking much."

Posted by bucket on February 25, 2010 at 6:43 AM

i can't tell you how much the phrase "emergency prayer circle" tickles me. thanks.

Posted by rara avis on February 25, 2010 at 8:47 AM

Colorado Springs REALLY should not be turning down any form of revenue streams right now. They're completely bankrupt. Might as well be morally bankrupt while their at it. ;)

http://infiniteteatime.blogspot.com/2010…

Posted by captdrastic on February 25, 2010 at 9:13 AM