Jerry Springer: The Opera

[mrph]

I didn't see it. But I'm amused (and a little unsettled) by the fuss surrounding it. The BBC 'Have Your Say' pages, in particular, have some gems: "If only the people who post their messages here in support of this production, were aware of the consequences of such blasphemy."

Er, yes.

And then there's Stephen Green's what-a-surprise-I-never-expected-that reaction to people harassing BBC staff after his Christian Voice website published their home phone numbers and addresses. Basically, he denies any such intent: "We totally abhor stuff like that, it does no credit to the cause of Christ," and "But I was a bit naive in thinking perhaps our website would only be visited by Christians."

Um. So it's all the non-Christians visiting his site who are threatening BBC staff because of perceived blasphemy? Riiiiight.

Comments

[deliberateblank.livejournal.com]

Hmm.

I didn't actually realise this was being shown on TV - I saw various people talking about it beforehand but assumed it was something on at the cinema or something. Probably would have watched it if I'd known.

47,000 complaints before it was even aired. 900 complaints post broadcast, 500 supporting calls.

From the BBC site, The Sun says: "ONLY 1.8million viewers watched [...] Jerry Springer: The Opera [...] Despite all the pre-publicity, it pulled in just 10.8 per cent of viewers."

The Guardian says: "The controversy surrounding the televising of the expletive-laden Jerry Springer - the Opera attracted 1.8 million viewers to BBC2 on Saturday night.

The programme drew 300,000 more viewers than normally watch BBC2 at 10pm on Saturday - 10.8% of the available audience, according to unofficial figures."

Amazing what a little spin will do to a story.

Now. 900 against, 500 for. Presume the pre-broadcast complaints will be ignored by all right thinking controllers. They say people will only write to complain, never to support. Can we do something about that? (The post-viewing figures are already more pro than is usual for a genuinely unpopular programme.)

Blasphemous Libel is still technically against the law. Anything that can be done to show opposition to it is surely a good thing.

The 500 for were "people calling or e-mailing in support". How'd they do that? It's difficult to find a direct feedback link on the BBC site itself, although posting a public comment at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/4154385.stm may be noticed.

http://www.christianvoice.org.uk/Springer1.html has a bunch of direct action links. That site wants people to post complaints - intead use the same channels to show your support. www.rejesus.co.uk also has some contact details.

If that is what you believe, then send of a quick email to let them know that this is exactly the kind of interesting, witty, challenging programme that you believe your license fee ought to be paying for. Then encourage other people to do the same. You'll be fighting 47,000 people who made their decision before the programme was even shown, and didn't want you to even have the choice to see it or not.

[deeply-spurious.livejournal.com]

I emailed in support - just sent an email to info@bbc.co.uk - there is also a phone number but I don't have it to hand - ironically I got them from the media watch site!

The key point here is that the complaints did not, for the most part, just spontaneously emerge from random Christians across the country - it was a carefully coordinated process - and most of the people who dutifully did what their 'leaders' suggested admitted to not having seen the thing...

As for the Sun, they will stick the boot into the BBC every chance they get regardless of the principles involved (usually they are very supportive of free speech) because of the cynical interests of their proprietor...

[lougarry.livejournal.com]

I was just thinking - why don't they attack the Tsunami for making people question whether god [1] exists?

[1] refering to many different gods here and not any one in particular.

[deborah_c]

As opposed to the American preacher who not only said that the Tsunami was God's punishment on that bit of the world world for mostly being muslim, but also rejoiced in it and said he hoped it killed all 20000 Swedish people out there, say?

Frankly, I'm sickened.

[lougarry.livejournal.com]

well, of course all third world countries are second class citizens...doncha know...evil people they are ;)
Apparently one of the paintball teams have been told to change their name from Tsunami or else!
I'm sorry...come again...

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

I have to say, if I were Christian I'd be considering starting a new religion with the same principles and beliefs just so as not to be associated by name with people like that.