2x2 Russian Cartoon television network censored one of the South Park episodes, editing out a scene where an American businessman calls up Vladimir Putin to ask his help in shipping a giant whale to the moon. This time, we see the logic behind the cut.

Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet head of state, responsible for the most reviled and admired political act of the 80's -- the prohibition -- called on national television for the government to limit production and sales of liquor. Russians are way to drunk, apparently. According to Gorbachev, the nation "is dying out because of alcohol." During the last Soviet years, alcohol production reached the unprecedented levels of 14 liters per person. In 2008, it reached 17 liters (4.5 gallons) per person.