Posted on 06/11/2002 2:14:05 PM PDT by vannrox
The bleeped Jesus on "The View" has drawn the ire of the Rev. Jerry Falwell, some conservative media watchdogs and even the women whose on-air conversation was altered.
"It is political correctness run amok," said Elizabeth Swasey, spokeswoman for the Media Research Center.
On the May 23 edition of "The View," Meredith Vieira noted that the daily weigh-ins of her dieting co-host, Joy Behar, had ended.
"Yes, and thank you, thank you, Jesus, is all I have to say," Behar replied.
Her words were aired live in much of the country, but when ABC broadcast a taped version of the show on the West Coast, "Jesus" was edited out.
ABC spokeswoman Julie Hoover said the use ran afoul of a pretty clear standard. The network has no problem with Jesus Christ's name if it is used in a "prayerful and respectful manner," she said. (ABC's Peter Jennings anchored a highly rated news special, "The Search For Jesus," in July 2000.)
But ABC does not allow Jesus' name to be used in an exclamation.
"Under the circumstances, we were concerned it would be offensive to our audience," Hoover said.
The incident comes at a time broadcasters in general are pushing the boundaries of language and content. Expletives rarely allowed on the networks were used this year, for instance, on a May "ER" episode on NBC and on CBS' March special using video from inside the World Trade Center.
ABC's broadcast of a racy Victoria's Secret fashion special in November prompted complaints to the Federal Communications Commission, which ruled that it did not violate indecency regulations.
Five days after the Behar incident, hosts of "The View" noted they had received about 100 letters of complaint.
"It was stupid to beep that," co-host Star Jones said. "They let us say all kinds of things on TV, but they beep Jesus? That makes no sense."
Falwell, in a newspaper column, said he believed ABC's action was wrong. What makes it worse, he said, is that many cable television networks are habitually blasphemous.
"Conservative Catholics and evangelical Christians are expected to accept this double standard and keep our mouths shut," he said.
Hee hee
No, I'm not. One only has to live in the "Bible Belt," as I do, to see what I'm talking about.
Bumper stickers, tatoos on "Christian" rock band members, billboards, plastic figurines on the dashboards of automobiles, flashing neon signs, belt-buckles, you name it.
Their "much repetition" is everywhere, and I'm weary of it.
My personal faith includes a bit more sacred mode of expression toward deity than rote-muttering "bless *****" every time a lottery number comes up.
And they name their daughters Maria, too!
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