FIRST OFF . . .

As anticipated, animator Ralph Bakshi excised 3 1/2 seconds of a “Mighty Mouse” cartoon that some media watchdogs claimed showed the cartoon character snorting cocaine. CBS announced Monday that Bakshi insisted his cartoon was “absolutely innocent,” but made the cut to put the issue to rest. The Rev. Donald Wildmon, head of the conservative American Family Assn., said Monday that the editing was a victory for morality, but said he would continue his efforts to have Bakshi ousted as producer of the Saturday morning show. “This is a de facto admission that indeed Mighty Mouse was snorting cocaine,” said Wildmon, a fundamentalist preacher who is also involved in protests against the unreleased film, “The Last Temptation of Christ.” The 11-minute Mighty Mouse cartoon, “The Littlest Tramp,” due to be rebroadcast soon, involves Mighty Mouse’s efforts to save poor little flower seller Polly from villainy. Just before his triumph, Mighty Mouse either inhales the aroma of flowers “in typical cartoon fashion” (according to CBS), or sniffs cocaine (according to Wildmon).