TV station bans penis puppeteers

An American TV station has refused to air Jay Leno's popular Tonight Show, because it featured the Puppetry of the Penis stars.

Australians David Friend and Simon Morley, who fashion their genitals into shapes such as a hamburger or the Eiffel Tower, appeared on the show last night.

The duo - who shot to fame after an Edinburgh show and West End run - did not perform their 'genital origami', but just discussed their New York run.

However the Salt Lake City NBC affiliate KSL TV, which is owned by the Mormon church - refused to broadcast the late-night talk show.

Jim Yorgason, the station's vice president, told the Salt Lake Tribune: said: "It's inappropriate and something I'm not comfortable with."

The station also refuses to carry long-running satire show Saturday Night Live for fear of upsetting viewers.

NBC said no other affiliates had voiced concerns about the Leno show.

Published: 10 Oct 2002