Britain goes Jerry Springer CRAZY.. (even by burning things!)

[JakeB]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 2:59pm

Wow, you guys are missing all the fun over here. Jerry Springer the Opera is causing a storm!

Basically, to sum it up for you if you're not following it on various internet sites (bbc.co.uk/new Entertainment section has lots on it), Jerry Springer the Opera is being broadcast tomorrow night on TV at 10pm with all its swearwords in tact, about 250 swear words including lots of c*** and f***.

What's the problem you might ask? Well, it's being shown on the BBC, which people are OBLIGED to pay for, about $220 a year. They say they're breaking new ground by showing it, catering for new audiences, blah blah blah, but the Christians of the country have gone absolutely haywire. The BBC have received about 20,000 complaints. They usually get 150 for swearing. There are protests going on outside BBC Television Centre and people are burning their TV licenses to protest.

Can't WAIT for the show tomorrow night. Should be great fun.

[JakeB]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 3:04pm

Breakfast TV debate here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4154071.stm#http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4154071.stm#

Head of BBC defends show ("I am a practising Christian but there is nothing in this which I believe to be blasphemous," Mr Thompson said):

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4154071.stm#http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4154071.stm#

Complaints pour in:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4152433.stm

Have your say:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/4154385.stm
Updated On: 1/7/05 at 03:04 PM

[JakeB]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 3:07pm

Great TV news feature:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolavconsole/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_4150000/newsid_4155200/nb_rm_4155239.stm

[pattifan2]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 3:22pm

I cannot wait now til this is aired tomorrow. Haven't had this much fun since Celebrity Big Brother!!!

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 3:46pm

Does anyone know if this is going to be available in the US anytime(like on DVD)? I am really curious to see the show.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 4:06pm

Attention all residents of Ohio:

Please get the name of a British citizen that watches the BBC and write them a letter telling them to boycott watching the BBC because watching this station will cause immense suffering throughout the world.

It's payback time!!!!!!!

[Kris2]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 4:08pm

I'm in NY and have satellite TV. I get the BBC. Cool.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 4:12pm

someone tape it for me...

[jczelyph]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 5:26pm

I'm a Brit and I'm pleased that the BBC has decided to show the performance (even if it is maybe the only night I've had at the theatre I didn't enjoy - I hated the show, maybe I'm the only person in the world who didn't like it). The BBC has suddenly become hyper-cultural and started showing musicals. Which is fantastic. But this crazy Christian business gets me down. It's like we're in America!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 5:33pm

crazy christians. Quite sad.. pathetic even.

Posted: 1/7/05 at 5:38pm

I must admit vicarous joy watching this debate unfold. Here in the liberated colony, a woman's bare back can earn Michael Powell's ire (and three actual letters of complaint can bring millions of dollars in fines) and in staid old England they are going to broadcast over 250 uses of the "C word" on Public Airwaves!

What happened over there? When ever we want to label something unnecessarily uptight we call it "Victorian." Maybe y'all should start calling needless moralising as a "Bushian" attitude?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 5:42pm

my BBC channel isn't showing it. what's up with that??? lame a$s...

[DAME]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 5:42pm

Hey; I have BBC america but I don't see it anywher on the schedule

[jczelyph]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 5:55pm

BBC America is a weird hybrid of Britain's two main BBC channels as well as other terrestrial channels like Channel 4 that we have here. For example, So Graham Norton is a show entirely produced and created by and for Channel 4 but it's sold to the BBC for broadcast on BBC America. There are 8 BBC channels here but what you get on BBC America is a little pick and mix of those channels. So it's unlikely you'd be lucky enough to get Jerry on the same night we do, but ya never know, it might turn up in a few weeks.

It's crap that there's a protest over this show (the footage of the 'protest' outside Manchester's BBC studio showed two or three middle-aged Christians waving a dull placard - so not that major) but when compared to the furore over Janet's solitary boob (relatively bland compared to Jerry) we look positively liberal.

[JakeB]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 6:34pm

Lol. If there is controversy in Britain, do you really think they'd show it on BBC America?

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 6:36pm

Heck no!

[DAME]

Posted: 1/7/05 at 6:41pm

Is the controversy having any effect on the shows box office?

[jczelyph]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 6:34am

I don't really know. The show is closing sometime soon I think (to make way for Hairspray! Hurrah!) because before this it wasn't doing so great. I think the novelty has worn off.

[timote316]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 11:43am

This does sound like America lol

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 11:57am

This would not show in America. BBC America is under the control of the US FCC (as is every other station that broadcasts). They wouldn't allow it through.

[Addicted2Seaweed]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 12:22pm

I think it's strange what things the FCC allows and what they don't. Frankly I think commercials for alcohol is just as bad as having a woman drop her towel for a man. Everyone was like FOOTBALL IS FOR FAMILIES. Well, I don't know how it is in other cities but I've been to foot ball games here in Philly and let me tell you, our fans scream obsenities nonstop at our players and the other team. And what about alcohol commercials? Do they ever portray women as sexual objects? Uh yeah. So I really do not think football is family time.

But in England I think they have less rigid rules. When I was there over the summer there was a lot more sex and swearing.

[jczelyph]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 1:12pm

Hurrah for sex and swearing! God Save The Queen!

[Addicted2Seaweed]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 1:16pm

Lol yup! England has some of the funniest shows I've ever seen tho... There was this one where everyone had these fake chins and it was called like Bamtastic 4.0 or something. It was freaking hilarious! Slightly disturbing...but hilarious!

[DAME]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 1:16pm

When I saw the show a few weeks ago the theater was packed. And I am surprised hairpsray is going in there. It is such a small house.

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 1/8/05 at 1:20pm

As BBC America complying with FCC regulations. Aren't they considered a premium digital chanel and therefore can broadcast whatever like IFC and Encore?


If not can't they pull a Comedy Central Midnight Stash and play this at 1 in the morning on a saturday/sunday?