NBC-TV SHOW ANGERS CATHOLICS NATIONWIDE

Catholic League ^ | February 24, 2005 | William Donohue

[NYer]

During the February 22 episode of the NBC-TV sitcom, “Committed,” two non-Catholics are mistakenly given Holy Communion at a Catholic funeral Mass.  Nate, who is Jewish, and Bowie, a Protestant, don’t know what to do with the Eucharist, so they make several failed attempts to get rid of it.  For example, they try slipping it into the pocket of a priest, dropping it on a tray of cheese and crackers, etc. 

 

At one point, the priest, who is portrayed as not knowing the difference between the Host and a cracker, goes to grab the “cracker” from a tray of appetizers; he initially balks when he discovers that it is the last one.  Then he changes his mind, saying, “Oh, what the hell.”  By far the most offensive scene occurs when Nate and Bowie accidentally flush what they think is the Host down the toilet.

 

Catholic League president William Donohue commented on this today:  

“It’s been quite a while since we’ve been deluged with as many complaints as this episode of ‘Committed’ fielded.  To say that Catholics are angry about this show would be an understatement—the outrage is visceral and intense.  The complaints have come from bishops, college chaplains, pastors and the laity, and they have come from all over the country.  With good reason: NBC has made a direct frontal assault on Roman Catholicism, choosing to mock, trivialize and ridicule the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. 

 

“What happened was deliberate.  According to a January 2 story in the Cincinnati Enquirer, the writers for the series, Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline, have been encouraged by NBC executives ‘to push the limits of comedy.’  For obvious reasons, the writers of ‘Roseanne,’ ‘Murphy Brown’ and ‘Ellen’ chose not to push the buttons of homosexuals (or some other protected group), so they decided to play it safe and stay in good standing with their bosses by bashing Catholics. 

[ViLaLuz]

The networks would never get away with a show like that ridiculing Islam or homosexuality.

[Russ7]

Anyboby have a list of sponsers? I will not buy one thing they make or sell.

This is beyond insulting.

[Warrior_Queen]

"Anyboby have a list of sponsers? " Keep in mind that NBC is owned by General Electric. I contaced GE last fall over the incident with Kevin Sites trying to smear the Marines. If enough people also boycott GE maybe they'll get tough with their networks.

[Bostton1]

and fat people.

[Future Useless Eater]

Father Frank's homily on Terri Schiavo

[AliVeritas]

Catholic Ping.

Thanks I am all over this.

[AliVeritas]

Catholic Ping

[xsmommy]

not remotely the point that the actual wafers were not consecrated, it is the lack of respect demonstrated. NO WAY they would do something like this with any other religion or interest group as the butt of it.

[Republican Red]

I've never watched this show and will continue to watch it.

There is definitely a move in Hollywood/Media to bash Christians and anything Republicans. It has gotten to the point that you can;t turn on a tv show without some "social issue" being weaved into the plot. The Simpsons and Law & Order have turned into the DNC talking points show. ER has become unwatchable. ER should be a show about an ER in Chicago. Why in the heck are the plots centered on gay marriage and war in Africa? A few weeks ago an ER episode went to the extreme in their anti-Christian rhetoric in dealing with homosexuality.

It has gotten to the point where I am watching less and less tv because it is not entertainment. Reality shows get bashed by many but at least I don't have to hear politics from American Idol and The Amazing Race.

[yer gonna put yer eye out]

God bless all who have posted their indignation here.
These two women who have written for such mega-hits as "Ellen" and "Roseanne" are to be pitied.

I know...before you flame me, hear me out.

Even the small amount of script and dialogue available here indicates these two have absolutely the shallowest understanding of what they have maligned...

I doubt if either has spent an more time than necessary inside a church other than to gather just enough background to write their masterpiece.

Think this through with me...
These two will finally stand before God, and have to give an account to Him about how they willfully trivialized the painful, selfless death and disfigurement of His Son

Anything we mortals could do or say to them now would be insignificant to that moment......

[finnigan2]

If the two writers of the show, Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline, are running low on ideas for new episodes, I have two hot suggestions:
1) Paddie, an ignorant Catholic newly arrived from Ireland, lands a job as a servant in the home of a family of ultra orthodox Jews. Much hilarity ensues when Paddie mixes up the silverware and the menu and the family unknowingly dines on breaded pork using dairy knives.
2) Billie Bob, an ignorant evangelical newly arrived from Appalachia, finds a copy of the Koran accidentally left on a city bus. Unable to read the quaint script and unaware of the book's importance, much hilarity ensues when Billie Bob takes it home and uses it like his grandpa used to do with old Sears catalogs.

[TheGeezer]

I stopped watching MSM networks years ago. I'd say that is true 90% true most of the time anyway, what with DirecTV's offerings. Just boycott all of them all the time...

[trisham]

This is unbelievable.

[marty60]

This may be the answer to why reality tv is popular. I would rather watch someone eat ground up rat ,then listen to some political BS disquised as a PrimeTime Drama.

[Torties]

Watched this once...stupid show. Casual sex shows should be illegal.

[ladiesview61]

Forgive them, for they know not what they do.

[Happygal]

I see the potential. :-)

[Rutles4Ever]

What's this "television" you speak of?

Put it this way, in the last twelve months, my free-time spent watching television has gone from 75% probably down to 5%. I got rid of the cable and turned the TV off completely last Lent. Nowadays I watch the local news for the weather report and that's about it. I can't stomach much else.

[cynicom]

Everyone makes fun of us rednecks, did'nt you know???? No one cares.

[joyful1]

are you kidding? Catholics don't get mad, they tolerate.

the holy sees will try to understand those who disagree with them, then bend to conform