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Drugs, sex and vomit prompt Californication boycott call

By Mark Schliebs

September 04, 2007 01:14pm

Article from: NEWS.com.au

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  • Racy show leaves some groups outraged
  • Planning boycott of all advertisers
  • If you don't like it, don't watch it, says Ten

OUTRAGED family groups will be calling for a national boycott of any sponsor of the Ten Network’s drugs, sex and vomit-laden program Californication.

Following last night’s episode - which depicted two characters smoking marijuana and having sex before one vomited - furious community groups have said they are hoping something can be done to get the show off the air.

Where does TV go from here? Should TV script writers continue breaking taboos or should they pull their heads in and focus on less offensive material such as the US series of The Office? Post your comments below.

Instead of calling for just a boycott of the program, the Australian Christian Lobby’s managing director Jim Wallace is calling for advertisers to be “held accountable” for their support of the controversial show.

“There will be calls to boycott sponsors of the show,” Mr Wallace said. “And I’ll be leading the calls.
“(If they are concerned about standards) they should not be sponsoring this show.”

He said that he had organised someone to record last night’s episode in order to identify all advertisers.

He said the lobby group will also call on the sponsors to stop advertising during the show.

While last night’s episode was being broadcast, the Catholic Church’s Father John Fongemie was leading a candlelight vigil outside Ten’s Sydney office.

Fr Fongemie said that the number of people praying with him last night was larger than last week, and that he hoped to see even more people in the coming weeks.

“We had 30 people the first night, and (last night) it was larger than last week,” Fr Fongemie said.

A Ten spokeswoman said the title of the show should “alert parents that it is not suitable for children” and that each episode adheres to its rating M or MA rating.

“Every episode is reviewed by expert classifiers to ensure compliance with the (television) Code (of Practice),” the spokeswoman said.

Californication may not be to everyone’s taste but it complies with the Code.”

A spokesman for the Australian Communications and Media Authority said the watchdog had not received any complaints from viewers.

However it added that concerned viewers must first bring any problems up with the network, which then has 30 days to respond to individual complaints.

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Californication / Noel Kessel
Concern ... a vigil was held outside the Channel 10 office in Sydney as the program went to air / Picture: Noel Kessel

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Latest Comments:

its true. people have sex do drugs and vomit... leave it alone

Posted by: jon of canada 10:04pm October 16, 2007

The usual applies - if you don't like it don't watch it, if it's not suitable for your kids don't let them watch it. If you believe you have a right to determine other people's viewing preferences, get a clue - your opinion is just that and nothing more. Californication is quite entertaining for open minded people and I really can't figure out what is in the show that I haven't seen (often worse) in reality. It strikes me that a lot of people must lead very sheltered lives, but I guess ignorance is bliss.

Posted by: Jason of Melbourne 6:00pm September 26, 2007

How is it a Canadian Company (which Channel 10 is now) can import such trash in the form of sexual abuse, soft- porn and anti-Christian venom to the moral detriment of Australian families.

Posted by: C.Bennett of Sydney 11:40am September 18, 2007
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