Top Iranian Children's TV: Ahmadinejad and the Stuffed Monkey

According to The Guardian:

So there is this kids' programme in Iran called Amoo Pourang (Uncle Pourang), watched by millions three times a week. The presenter is talking to a young caller, who says his father has given him a stuffed monkey for good behaviour.

"What is the monkey's name?" asks the presenter.

"Well, my father calls him Ahmadinejad."

Result? After a seven-year run, the final episode of Amoo Pourang will air next week. It has been cancelled because of the "high financial and spiritual damage" it has caused, including the incident in which "a child in a live telephone line compared its doll to one of the well-known authorities and managers".

The monkey named Ahmadinejad may have been the breaking point for Amoo Pourang, but it pales in comparison with another incident. This time, the well-meaning presenter asked a child to hand the phone to his father or mother.

"They are in the shower," was the reply.

Comments

[Mo]

I've just read this piece. The show was shown live on TV today and I haven't seen any of the mentioned clips on you tube, my sons cell phone,...showing what the Guardian claims to have happened.

If anyone has the clips, I'd be interested to see them. However, what does that have to do with the show and whether it will continue to be shown? There are many live programs on Iranian television channels and radio programs.

It's a bit weird to see the Guardian quote Jahan News which is not a well known website (I had never heard of it before) as evidence. I'd also like to know who said: It has been cancelled because of the “high financial and spiritual damage”... Who are these unnamed sources that the Guardian uses to 'show' a British audience Iran's 'abnormal' world.

In general, of course, a lot of western reporting on Iran seems weird to me...