BBC Pull "Anti-Catholic" comedy.

mike65

Jesus H -

BBC Three has decided not to show a cartoon set in a fictional Vatican over concerns it would offend Catholics.

The channel's controller said the comic impact of Popetown did "not outweigh the potential offence it will cause".

"There is a fine judgement line in comedy between the scurrilously funny and the offensive," Stuart Murphy said.

The BBC said it might recoup some costs through broadcast and video sales by BBC Worldwide and the series' creator, independent production firm Channel X.

Mr Murphy said shelving the ten episodes of Popetown had been an "extremely difficult and complex" decision to make.


"I knew when we developed the series that there was risk involved but unfortunately, once we saw the finished series, it became clear that the programme fell on the wrong side of that line."

Channel X's managing director, Alan Marke, said: "I am incredibly disappointed about this decision as I am very proud of this project and all the talent involved.

"But I understand the world has changed since the series was originally commissioned and sympathise with the difficult decision the BBC has had to make."

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales welcomed the decision to withdraw the programme.

The Right Reverend Crispian Hollis, Bishop of Portsmouth and spokesman for the conference said: "I am delighted that this has been withdrawn.

"It was obviously going to be a controversial programme which would have caused offence, not least among the Catholic community who hold the person of the Holy Father in the highest regard and affection.

"Any attempt to belittle or diminish his status as the leader of the Catholic Church is totally unacceptable, and not only to Catholics," he added.

So what do we think? Sounds like the idiotic fuss in the States with Bob, the Devil and God. (btw that does'nt scan!)

Mike.

sceptre

Popetown

Great title

Anima

What happened with Bob, the Devil and God? That was pretty good.

mike65

They made 13 episodes I think only 3 got shown in the States before the crosses hit the screen. I await RTEs transmission of them



Mike.

flogen

Bob, the devil and god... I can't remember if I liked that... I think I did...

flogen

eggshapedfred

ah for god's sake. its on BBC3. catholics shouldn't have digital tv, its the tool of the devil....

doh.ie

mike65 wrote:

They made 13 episodes I think only 3 got shown in the States before the crosses hit the screen. I await RTEs transmission of them

Mike.

Wait a sec... I thought RTE *did* show this... Wasn't it on Network 2 a few years ago, typically after midnight, but still... I've certainly seen it, and I don't remember it being on a satellite channel.

Elmo

I think that you will find that the main reason Bob The Devil and God was axed was because it was placed againist WWTBAM? in the States thus it got no viewers.

Anyone know if you can get it on DVD?

Yeah Network 2 had the series about a year before C4 and it was on after Rodge And Podge on Monday nights.

mike65

I stand corrected! They'll show Life of Brian next!

Mike.

vibe666

can't see the big fuss tbh, just show it and wait for the complaints to come rolling in. these things do wonders for ratings, and it's not like they're going to upset any right wing catholic extremists is it? it's not like it's allahtown or anything (apologies to any muslim extremists who may be offended by this post, but it wasn't me, somoene else logged in with my username;)).

doh.ie

vibe666 wrote:

can't see the big fuss tbh, just show it and wait for the complaints to come rolling in. these things do wonders for ratings, and it's not like they're going to upset any right wing catholic extremists is it? it's not like it's allahtown or anything (apologies to any muslim extremists who may be offended by this post, but it wasn't me, somoene else logged in with my username;)).

What kills me about this kind of thing is the rent-a-mob group of protesters who often come out of the woodwork, picketing or protesting about something they (in almost all cases) have never seen!

Fair enough, in this case, it was the Beeb who pulled the plug in this case, but you can be sure that if it had been planned to air, there'd still be a Catholic group who would have decried it from on-high. Reminds me of the embarrassing protests around the country when The Last Temptation of Christ was released (item was on "Reeling In The Years" during the summer.) Those protesting hadn't seen a frame yet they decided to picket outside cinemas and screech at the blasphemers who went in to see it!

mike65

doh.ie wrote:

. Reminds me of the embarrassing protests around the country when The Last Temptation of Christ was released (item was on "Reeling In The Years" during the summer.) Those protesting hadn't seen a frame yet they decided to picket outside cinemas and screech at the blasphemers who went in to see it!

etc.

Mike.

Elmo

Did any catholics complain about Fr. Ted? I don't think so. But then it wasn't anti-catholic really. Just a long joke about an Irish Priest.

As Micheal Moore stated Catholics (and the irish) can take a joke.

Have you seen the amount of Irish Jokes on The Simpsons and on Family Guy.

I mean the episode with the Pope on family guy is a classic.

Cactus Col

Yes ... but instead of Catholic .. read Jewish ... would anybody go out of their way to mock the head of the Jewish religion (don't know much about it at all so just assuming there is a head) ... having him pogoing around a temple shouting oi vay .... I bet there'd be uproar (and rightly so)

Fysh

Cactus Col wrote:

Yes ... but instead of Catholic .. read Jewish ... would anybody go out of their way to mock the head of the Jewish religion (don't know much about it at all so just assuming there is a head) ... having him pogoing around a temple shouting oi vay .... I bet there'd be uproar (and rightly so)

That's like assuming a piss-take of George Bush is "anti-american". It's natural that the figurehead of a world-famous institution will be an easy target for comedy - this does not make all possible jokes instrinsically offensive unless you are incapable of viewing said institution in a light-hearted or non-serious way. Which, it appears, is the case for Catholic leaders:

The Right Reverend Crispian Hollis wrote:

"Any attempt to belittle or diminish his status as the leader of the Catholic Church is totally unacceptable, and not only to Catholics," he added.

I mean, sure, the show may or may not have been considered generally offensive. But if Hollis hasn't seen it, how would he know?

SF1

eggshapedfred wrote:

ah for god's sake. its on BBC3. catholics shouldn't have digital tv, its the tool of the devil....

Catholics should have digital,how are we ment to see the POPE on ewtn.

LFCFan

The Catholic Religion (actually, all religion) is a Joke anyway, so making a cartoon that makes fun of it is only natural