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Ads pulled as risque TV show throws up problems for Ten |
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NERVOUS advertisers have distanced themselves from the Ten Network's risque new hit series Californication, which has prompted religious groups to threaten a boycott of companies sponsoring the show. Holden and Holeproof, which had advertisements placed by the network during the first episode screened last Monday, said they would ask Ten not to use their ads on the program again. The premiere of the show featured a fantasy sequence involving a nun offering to perform fellatio on the show's main character, a Hollywood writer played by David Duchovny of The X-Files fame.
The second episode on Monday night showed Duchovny smoking marijuana, having sex and vomiting on a work of art. Jim Wallace, managing director of the Australian Christian Lobby, called for a boycott of the show's advertisers. ``I think it's reasonable that if their sponsorship is allowing this program to be shown, they should take responsibility for that,'' Mr Wallace said. He did not accept that viewers could turn off their televisions if they were offended. ``There are some things which are not helpful and healthy for the community to have out there,'' he said. A spokesman for Holden said yesterday that the company was not aware of the show's content before its advertisement appeared and it would not be supporting the show. A spokeswoman for Holeproof also said it would not be supporting the show following customer feedback. A spokesman for the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney said: ``This program is an insult to the values and teachings of many faiths, including the Christian faith. It presents distorted ideas about love and sex.'' The first two episodes of the show were watched by almost a million viewers. |
