Watching "The Sopranos" in Bangkok

Are you a fan of "The Sopranos"?

I have to admit, up front - I do not have cable, much less HBO, so I had never seen "The Sopranos", although I have certainly heard a lot about the show. (I do subscribe to Entertainment Weekly, so I feel like I've seen every episode!)

I was in Bangkok on business, staying at the Penninsula Hotel (Bangkok is probably the only place in the world that I could actually afford the Penninsula!) Unfortunately, unlike Hong Kong, there isn't alot available in English on TV. I think there was one channel, which mostly showed CNN programs and an occasional network or other entertainment program.

I was taking a bath and watching the TV above the tub (this is the Penninsula, remember), and "The Sopranos" came on. Since it was the only show available, and I'd heard so much about it but had never seen it, I of course started paying attention.

I wish I could tell you fanatics exactly which episode it was, but I didn't have a clue about what was going on. Tony had a few scenes with his mistress, Carmela was depressed about something - I honestly don't remember much about the plot.

What struck me, however, was the editing.

Thailand can be pretty conservative about a lot of things, and there was a lot of "cable" content in the show - swearing, violence, Tony's affair, drinking, etc. The show was in English with Thai subtitles, so I don't know how the language was edited for the locals, but it did not seem to be edited in English - there was a lot of swearing going on!

Anyway, at one point there was an execution-style killing (I suppose that happened fairly often, being a show about a gangster). Again, no apparent editing.

Then there was a card game. Drinking, swearing, gambling (I think) - and smoking.

OK, here's where it gets a bit strange.

When someone lit up a cigar, the CIGAR was blacked out. Like the faces of witnesses on Court TV.

The CIGAR.

The CIGAR.

Now, I'm not a fan of smoking, but COME ON......the CIGAR?!?!?

Especially when you consider that most of Asia smokes like a chimney.

I don't really have a moral to this story - just something I thought was strange and funny and worth sharing.

Has anything strange happened to you on your travels?

Send me your stories and I'll include them here!

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