SPRINGER SHOW GOES AHEAD

[seriousstan]

BBC executives were tonight under guard after the controversial show Jerry Springer - The Opera was aired on BBC2.

The corporation said it had received threats from individuals who objected to the programme's "blasphemous" content.


It is believed Roly Keating, the controller of BBC2, and Jana Bennett, the director of television, are among those who have been given private security guard protection.

A BBC spokesman said executives' families had been subjected to "a large number of abusive and unpleasant calls".
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13279769,00.html

[rooboy]

1. God hates fundies. n/t

[Amigust]

2. 3,168 "f"-words and 297 "c"-words

Who ever cared about imagination anyway?

[nagbacalan]

3. KISS OF DEATH

Any associaion between asshole Springer and Dems is absolutely lethal. As much distance as possible, please, between Dem aspirations and the panelists on "Would You Sleep with Your Husband's Murderer?"

[ConsAreLiars]

4. So you advocate more splits among Democrats?

It seems to me that sowing division among the ranks is "the devil's work." Why do you think the left should join the right in attacks on Springer or any well known figure who whom they denounce?

(edit typo)

[Deja Q]

7. I second that! Springer's rubbish is akin to Maury Povich's. And Maury's a

self-serving exploitative repuke.

I was, in fact, surprised to hear that Springer was a Dem. All he is is an exploiter who preaches vague catchphrase talking points at the end that both political parties use.

[stlsaxman]

8. Springer is, i believe, a lifelong, diehard democrat.

Like his schtick or not, Springer has somehow kept his personal politics completely out of his show.

Oh, that MSM would practice such journalistic ethics.

[velvet]

5. sigh

"Jerry Springer The Opera" is a satirical musical, I have a pal that worked on it. As BBC vice-president Terry Sanderson points out "Jerry Springer - The Opera is an award-winning show, and the fact it has run for two years in theatres demonstrates its popularity. It is the BBC's formal duty to reflect society and bring such plays to a wider audience who might not otherwise be able to see them at a theatre. Viewers have a right to see it. Those who are likely to be offended have a similar right to turn it off." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4152433.stm

Here's a statement from the director, correcting a few facts'n'figures: http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/Jan05/springer030102.php

And here's the show's website - already been attacked, but all better now: http://www.jerryspringertheopera.com/jerry_opera.html

[IndyOp]

6. Free Speech is Free Speech is Free Speech...

I have a hard time with this concept when it comes to allowing people to print racist material, pornographic material with violent content, and other types of 'hate speech' -- but Free Speech is Free Speech is Free Speech. The ACLU defends the rights of all left wing and right wing loonies to say what they want to say - 'tis up to the beholder to decide what they want to believe.

:kick:

[Amigust]

10. Free speech my ass.

It's pretty clear that some speech will land you in Leavenworth or put you on a terrorist watch list.

How is hate speech such as that spewed by the Phelps loonies, Swaggart and other Christian Taliban any different? It all encourages behaviour that can cause anything up to and including lethal harm to other people.

[velvet]

9. Just to clarify

This musical is not the ghastly Springer's doing - it's a send-up, a parody of his tv show.