Bolivia Might Have the World’s Most Devoted ‘Simpsons’ Fans · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

A protester holds up a Bart Simpson head during a rally calling for Unitel to bring back “The Simpsons”. Screenshot from YouTube.
Bolivian TV channel Unitel probably didn't imagine that a decision some weeks ago to move “The Simpsons” out of its usual time slot to make room for reality show “Calle 7” would provoke demonstrations in several cities in Bolivia.
Marcha convocada en Facebook en contra de Calle 7 pidiendo Los Simpsons en La Paz y Santa Cruz. ¡Duh! http://t.co/3KzTSzzPyr
— Marcelo Durán V. (@bithumano) January 29, 2015
March organized on Facebook against Calle 7 asking for The Simpsons in La Paz and Santa Cruz. D'oh!
Marches were held on February 6 in La Paz, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba, and they drew hundreds of noisy fans of the popular series.
I liked a @YouTube video http://t.co/MqcbtMCiQo Coro”Muera calle 7″ Marcha los simpsons Bolivia
— Carlos F. Barba (@karedsito) February 7, 2015
I liked a YouTube video: Chanting “Death to Calle 7″ The Simpsons march Bolivia
But demonstrators also protested against so-called “trash TV” and asked for more cultural programs on local television.
Marcha por Los Simpsons, contra el programa Calle 7 que se emite en @unitelbolivia y la Tv Basura – #SantaCruz http://t.co/Ut8uqhYhl6
— La Pública BO (@LaPublicaBO) February 10, 2015
March for The Simpsons, against Calle 7 program that airs on Unitel and against Trash TV #SantaCruz
As could be expected, not everyone agreed that protesting for a television program was the best use of time when there are more important issues:
Debemos creer que se trata de un chiste…. Donde quedo la “descolonización cultural”. Ja ja ja. http://t.co/lkTiZHWIN5
— BusesBolivians (@BusesBolivians) February 6, 2015
We believe that this is a joke…. Where did “cultural decolonization” end up. Ha ha ha.
La gente del pueblo va a hacer una marcha por los simpsons,Pero nadie dice nada de la delincuencia.. Bien Santa Cruz..Bien
— David C Valda (@DcValda) February 3, 2015
Local people will march for The Simpsons, but nobody says anything about crime.. Good Santa Cruz..Good
The demonstration succeeded in convincing Unitel, the station airing “The Simpsons”, to return the series to Bolivian screens on March 9.
Vuelven Los Simpson tras masiva e insólita protesta en tres ciudades (Y Delius no más en TV, grandes logros) http://t.co/okRnPt2u0U
— Marcelo Durán V. (@bithumano) February 8, 2015
The Simpsons are back after a massive and unprecedented demonstration in three cities (And Delius no longer on TV, great achievements)
However, some people were suspicious about the whole thing:
@juanjosebolivia el problema es precisamente ese: armar protestas (Simpson) con fines comerciales (UNITEL) = manipulación
— juan carlos pereira (@jcpereirasta) February 13, 2015
@jcpereirasta why? Rather shows something that always occurs in Bolivia: if you do not like something, protest, I love it.
@juanjosebolivia the problem is just that: organizing demonstrations (Simpson) for commercial purposes (Unitel) = manipulation
Even “The Simpsons” themselves showed their appreciation for Bolivian fans’ loyalty on their Facebook account: