Larry Harmon, who created and played Bozo the Clown, threatened legal action against New York City's Transit Authority unless it removed billboards calling drivers bozos for not using mass transit. "I am greatly distressed when my beloved character, Bozo, is thought to be a pandering buffoon rather than a great humanitarian," said Harmon.

[Ed.: Mr. Harmon criticized Bob Dole for referring to Bill Clinton as a bozo during his 1996 presidential bid: "It irks me when people use the character's name in a demeaning way. It's like attacking motherhood and apple pie, for heaven's sake."]

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