to think I have a right to hear Tim Minchin's 'Magic Woody Allen Jesus on Jonathan Ross?

[NormanTebbit]

I'm a grown up. Why has it been decided i shouldn't be able to watch the brilliant Tim Minchin on Jonathan Ross? Surely Christians can cope with an alternative view? There was nothing offensive in the song

magic woody Allen Jesus

Can't be much of a religion if it can't stand up to a little criticism, cwtch.

I don't suppose any christians were offended. But the producers of the programme know that Ross has form and that any transgression, any hint of controversiality, will be leaped on by the tabs and they'll have a problem on their hands if there is so much as one complaint to the network. It's a pre-emptive measure for PR reasons.

And it really is very, very tame.

I think this 'PR disaster' fear is something that takes on a life of its own. I think the general public are much more sensible about a bit of gentle satire at Christmas than perhaps ITV's highly paid Par advisers think.

It just wasn't funny. And not "accurate" as Minchin said either.

Scarlett, I agree it's always important to be able to take the mickey out of religions and I would have been a bit if it had been cut from a normal show. But this was a Christmas special. Running it would be like turning up to someone's birthday party then taking the piss out of them all night.

Fwiw, Minchin seemed to be out to cause offence - why else write a story comparing Jesus to a vampire zombie for a Christmas show? Now he's got the fuss I reckon he wanted.

Yeah - go on and flame me for daring to say that ITV were right to edit the song out of the show. No one who has a faith should be respected anyway and everyone can freely mock Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed etc.

What is so wrong about showing a bit of tolerance to Christians who are celebrating the birth of Christ? I would expect ITV to do the same if it had been a song about Mohammed at Eid.

I'm sure the general public couldn't give a rat's ass. However, advertisers can be a sanctimonious bunch when it suits them and all it would take is Twitter campaign by one of these 'we told you everyone hates christians' pressure groups. Ross' salary is paid by the advertising revenue & making Jesus jokes at Christmas (and I haven't seen the clip) is therefor a risk that the producers feel, on this occasion, it's not worth taking.

I think this is just a publicity stunt to get Ross some sympathy and more viewers.

The song is pretty tame, and though I love Minchin, I can see that it is not especially in the cheery spirit of Christmas and the season of goodwill etc, so the producers probably thought that in cutting it, they did not lose much but would gain plenty of free publicity once the footage had been leaked.

Now they've got a free ad for Ross' show on youtube

Minchin gets to be seen as edgy

his fans get to revel in righteous indignation

everyone's a winner

Holly - cynical but true

Silly idea to cut it. It's funny, and if you don't want pointed jokes about religion, don't ask a man who writes them to come on the show!

It's what he does!

My favourite song of his is 5 Poofs and 2 Pianos
v
v
funny

Well, it's certainly managed to generate a lot of publicity controversy.
I like Tim Minchin but not overly keen on Jonathan Ross. I'm sure this can only increase the viewing figures though.

I'm a Christian. Not heard the song, but can't imagine being offended...Tim Minchin is brilliant.

I find Scarlettcrossbones unnecessarily confrontational though...do you display the same attitude to all religions or is it just Christians who are fair game as usual?

'Why shouldn't we offend Christians?' ...for the same reason that most decent human beings try not to offend anyone...tolerence, acceptance of cultural differences, etc.

Tim Minchin story is on the Daily Mail site. Loads of publicity there then.

I love him.

I wont bother watching JR tonight cos I dont get Downton Abbey. IMO they have cut the only part of the show worth watching.

What was the point of giving Tim free choice on what to write just to pull it?

If they wanted him to stay away from religion then that should have been explained beforehand. All musicians want to provide their very best work & to have it pulled before it airs must have been a real kick in the teeth for him.

I blame the show for not being clearer about their expectations beforehand!

They were well aware that they would get more publicity from pulling it, if they saw fit to do so. Win- win.

Tim is well known for taking the piss out of religion, if that's not what they wanted then why ask him to write something new? They could have asked him to do White Wine in the Sun which is much less contentious. I think the song is great, and certainly suited to Ross' brand of humour. It's hardly like it was This Morning

Anyone who wants to hear it, can. And as a result of dropping it, many more will probably listen to it anyway.

I think it's quite a nice, sweet, quietly funny song.

I was just quite taken aback by them editing out what is fairly tame fare. When you consider this is the channel which screened Spitting Image and -let's face it - pseudo-porny acts from Rhianna on XFactor at tea time.

I just watched about half of it. Stopped because I thought it was boring and not very funny. And I'm an atheist...

Oh bugger I've been fanny-deep in wrapping paper and sellotape all day, I missed this.

I won't bother watching it if the Minch isn't on

YAVVVVVVVVVDDDDDDDNNNNNNNBBBBBBBUUUUUUUUUU

God bless ya OP for linking this.
Have had a thoroughly shitty day and this has more than made up for it.
Thanking you xxx

YANBU. Pity that Tim Minchin (who really is talented) doesn't get aired, he's a genius.
On the other hand, mainstream, bland comedians (Mc Intyre) are huge!

I saw Tim Minchin at a show in London a couple of weeks ago. Brilliant.

[twirl]

formerly mybrains

now i never have to namechange for halloween or xmas ever again

sadly
magicwoodyallenzombiesupermankimododragontelepathicvampirequantum
-hovercraftmejesus

was already taken was too long.

Happy Christmas x