Disney Video Takes Dig at Garden State

TRENTON, N.J. - New Jersey has long been a target of comedians' gibes about organized crime, toxic landfills and the scenery along the turnpike. Now Disney is taking a crack.

The newly released "The Lion King 1 1/2" DVD includes a prequel to the popular movie, deleted scenes, music videos and numerous games, including one entitled "Who Wants to be King of the Jungle?"

In the takeoff on the TV show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" host Meredith Vieira tries to explain the rules, when one animated contestant interrupts: "The rules are taking longer than the game - I'm not from New Jersey, I got it, I got it. Let's play!"

Nancy Byrne, head of the state's Travel and Tourism Office, calls the joke "silly, unfounded and not funny." In a radio interview, a spokesman for Gov. James E. McGreevey harrumphed: "You wouldn't catch Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck taking a swipe at New Jersey like that."

New Jersey officials have always been quick to take umbrage at jokes about the state, often dashing off letters to offending jokesters, with copies to the media.

In 2001, Gov. Donald T. DiFrancesco raised a stink when a Mennen deodorant ad featured a map of New Jersey and the caption: "Unfortunately, there are some smells even we can't do anything about."

In 1997, Gov. Christie Whitman got Mitsubishi to yank an ad encouraging viewers to buy a car to outrun bad smells along the New Jersey Turnpike.

Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Disney's home video division, said the DVD characters were just kidding around.

"We're very proud of this record-setting video premiere movie and ensure that none of the comedic references within the DVD itself were intended to insult or offend anyone," a statement said.