X-rated TV

So last night on Channel 4, pretty known to be the channel that pushes all the censor buttons and has the most American programming (Simpsons, Friends, etc) and overall makes an effort to be the ratings catcher with glitz, smut and shock, had a program about the MOST Controversial and/or X-Rated things ever shown on TV. First of all, I found it ironic to have a show about all the things TV shows can't show! Second, I quickly discovered that they DID in fact show all the things they weren't supposed to show. But first, I have a side story.

We were invited over to John and Mary’s flat for a wee bit of bubbly as sort of a post birthday (Mary’s 57th was last Friday) drink and to discuss there travels to the Mull of Galloway. They described this wonderfully scenic, hilly and vibrant coast as they travelled this peninsula, which, on a map, appears to look like a flaccid penis. (John made this leap for us, go figure.) Well, you can imagine the commentary about going up and down on this, pen-ninsula and all the 12 year old humour flying about the room…

Pan to an hour later in our flat. Tim and I are watching this TV Show, X-Rated: The TV They Tried to Ban. This was a Feature-length documentary charting the most contentious, controversial and scandalous TV moments that have outraged and offended the moral guardians of our nation over the last 40 years. What is hysterical is that they, of course you know it was coming, show all of these moments! It was pretty much your gay kisses and gratuitous nudity. Some of the issues that made it a little closer to the top of the list were the gay sex scenes from Queer as Folk, set in Manchester, and an “Animal Passions” show; yes, bestiality. Okay, I need to interject with a comment here… can I just say, that a phone caller excerpt that they included about “Animal Passions” show basically said “this is disgusting… … what will they show next, gay sex?!?!”. I was like “Oye!!! How rude is that bastard for saying that!!” I wasn’t too impressed for the producers to edit that portion that way, but what the hell can I do! The top three MOST controversial, ended up being less about sex and more about religion. #3: a show that had college students in a “live” oiuja board reading summoning Satan and others (that ended up to be a hoax). #2 a show poking fun of sending a paedophile off to space in a capsule (and oops, an 8 – year old child accidentally got locked in there too). #1 Jerry Spring’s Opera, opening on Jan. 5, 2005: depicted Jesus as an overweight gay man and swearing A LOT during his struggles with Satan and other issues. Awe, gotta love the Brits.