Californication

USA / 2007

This U.S. TV series premiered on Channel Ten on August 27th 2007. The PILOT episode contained a scene where David Duchovny's character prays in front of a crucifix whilst receiving oral sex from a nun.

It didn't take long for Christian groups to begin their whining.

 

Episode One: PILOT

Californication labelled pornographic. The Age 29.08.07

The Australian Christian Lobby said the scene was unacceptable.

"We have 64 per cent of Australians identify themselves as Christian, and yet you have a program like this that is trying to mock them or insult them," spokeswoman Glynis Quinlan said.

"Australians love a joke and there's nothing wrong with that, but that doesn't mean you should take it to the point of demeaning situations and trying to ridicule people's faith.

"Where is the humour in that?"

Ms Quinlan accused Ten of using shock tactics to boost ratings.

"As far as I can tell this program is only about sex, sex and more sex," she said.

"There's no excuse for having four sex scenes in the first episode, including one involving violence and statutory rape.

"What we're seeing is more and more programs put on TV that push the boundaries further and further, with the idea obviously to get the ratings by shock tactics."

Californication attracted 981,000 viewers on Monday night, but snagged 40 per cent of younger viewers in the 18-49 year-old bracket in its timeslot.

Ms Quinlan called on the program classification watchdog, Free TV Australia, to investigate whether Californication complies with the standards.

"We've been looking up the classification standards, and it actually says ... on the mature audience classification standards that a program will not be acceptable where the subject matter serves largely or wholly as a vehicle for gratuitous, exploitative or demeaning portrayal of sexual behaviour or nudity," she said.

"And I would say well that doesn't seem to fit with that guideline to me, from what I can see the program is all about gratuitous sex.

"So you wonder if there may be a breach of that classification standard there and I would hope this is something the regulators will be looking into."

Ten said Californication may not be to everyone's taste, but it complied with the code.

"Californication has absolutely hit the mark with Ten's audience and we couldn't be happier," said chief programming officer David Mott.

"It is the kind of edgy programming our audience demand from us."

Ms Quinlan said the Christian Lobby were also concerned about the graphic imagery in the Seven Network's new police drama City Homicide, and offensive content in comedian Chris Lilley's new mockumentary, Summer Heights High, which starts on the ABC next Wednesday.

 

Californication shocks TV viewers. Herald Sun 29.08.07

Family and church groups have slammed two new programs -- Network Ten's much-hyped US import Californication and Channel 7's homegrown cop drama City Homicide -- for showing too much violence and sex.

On Seven, a movie-length City Homicide served up gruesome scenes of headless corpses, bodily fluids and burning children.

Viewers saw one of the most graphic crime scenes in local cop-show history when actor Aaron Pedersen's character vomited violently following his shocking discovery of a severed head.

Australian Christian Lobby spokeswoman Glynis Quinlan accused television executives of trying to shock their way to ratings success.

"It really shows how much the TV stations are chasing ratings at the expense of standards," she said.

"It doesn't belong on our TV screens.

"It should be a concern to everybody."

Ms Quinlan called on script writers to stop taking "cheap shots" at Christian symbols.

"There are other countries where those sorts of portrayals of religious icons would be treated very badly," she said.

"But wherever we are in the world, it's in very bad taste.

"They don't have to do it -- they're just doing it to shock and to make people cringe."

Ms Quinlan said Californication was a threat to community standards.

"It's been promoted as the filthiest show on Australian TV. The idea clearly there is to get the viewers in. These sorts of programs are all against family values.

"We all love a joke in Australia, but humour or the guise of entertainment doesn't excuse gratuitous sex or violence.

"And it's just getting worse and worse."

Australian Family Association spokeswoman Angela Conway said it was odd that Californication characters were spouting family values in one scene and having sex with minors in another.

"There's a certain amount of explicitness, which wasn't necessary."

The Ten Network reported only "a handful" of complaints about Californication and insisted the content met community standards.

Seven Network programming manager Graeme Hill said there were no complaints about violence on City Homicide and only one about language.

"From the feedback today, the viewers like what they see," he said.

But Family First senator Steve Fielding said the complaints process and the industry codes were flawed.

"Family First is concerned that it is very difficult for families to get action against such programs," he said.

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Episode Two: HELL-A-WOMAN

The second episode, Hell-A Woman, premiered on Channel Ten on September 3rd 2007. The chorus of complaints continued.

Family group plans Californication boycott. The Australian 04.09.07

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.”

 

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ACL Complaint to Channel Ten

Here is what the ACL had to say in their complaint to Channel Ten on September 5th.

COMPLAINT SUMMARY 

The Australian Christian Lobby believes that Californication breaches the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice in the following regards:

• Section 2, Appendix 4, section 5.2 states that, “a program or program segment will not be acceptable where the subject matter serves largely or wholly as a vehicle for gratuitous, exploitative or demeaning portrayal of sexual behaviour or nudity.” 

o ACL believes that Californication breaches this provision by its frequent displays of sexual behaviour and nudity. The first episode featured four sex scenes in a program that ran for less than 40 minutes: as this leaves very little time for the development of a storyline, ACL believes that the subject matter does serve largely or wholly as a vehicle for gratuitous portrayal of sexual behaviour and nudity; 

o The lead character commits statutory rape, which was depicted as an acceptable act, thus breaching the provision against exploitative portrayal of sexual behaviour; 

• Section 2, Appendix 4, section 5.3 states that, “The use of very coarse language must be appropriate to the story line or program context and not overly frequent or impactful.” 

o This program could be cut down to about 15 minutes if every use of the F word was removed. 

• Section 1.8.6 states proscribes programs that “provoke or perpetuate intense dislike, serious contempt or severe ridicule against a person or group of persons on the grounds of age, colour, gender, national or ethnic origin, disability, race, religion or sexual preference.” 

o The opening sequence of the first episode takes place in a Catholic church where a nun performs oral sex on the lead character in front of a Crucifix. This shows serious contempt for the Christian religion (claimed by 64% of Australians in the 2006 census), and the Catholic church in particular. The provisions of section 1.9 do not excuse this in ACL’s view as the material was not shown in good faith: it was shown to provoke a shock reaction, increase ratings and offend the religious sensibilities of Christian viewers. I doubt Channel 10 would ever show a similar scene which mocked Muslim faith by having a burqha-clad woman performing oral sex on the lead character in a mosque.

 

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Holden and Holeproof run scared.

Ads pulled on Ten's risque new show. The Australian 05.09.07

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.

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."

 

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ACL thanks Holeproof and Holden

Australian Christian Lobby
Media Release
September 5, 2007 

ADVERTISERS PRAISED FOR DROPPING CALIFORNICATION 

The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) today praised the action of Holden, Holeproof and Spotlight in removing their advertisements from the Channel Ten program ‘Californication’ and urged other advertisers to follow suit. 

ACL Managing Director Jim Wallace said that the program is full of gratuitous sex and nudity and goes well beyond the bounds of normal viewing standards. 

“Channel Ten is clearly trying to chase ratings through promoting the program’s sexual explicitness, comfortable in the knowledge that the self-regulation of the television industry is a toothless tiger,” Mr Wallace said. 

“It is therefore up to the community to draw a line against declining television standards by complaining about this program and imploring companies not to support it. By removing their advertising from the program, Holden, Holeproof and Spotlight have shown their respect for community standards and hopefully given Channel Ten a wake-up call that they will understand – in the pocketbook. I urge all the rest of the program’s advertisers to do the same.” 

Mr Wallace said that the ACL will be alerting program advertisers to the fact that they are financially supporting a program which is detrimental to society and demeans the Christian faith. 

“I would also seriously question whether the program should be allowed an MA15+ rating,” Mr Wallace said. The Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice classification states: “However a program or program segment will not be acceptable where the subject matter serves largely or wholly as a vehicle for gratuitous, exploitative or demeaning portrayal of sexual behaviour or nudity.” 

Mr Wallace said that there are many Christian and community groups which are concerned about the program and that Channel Ten would have received a large number of complaints, despite claims to the contrary. He added that the solution to these concerns isn’t as simple as having individuals turn their television sets off. 

“We live in community, not in isolation,” Mr Wallace said. “We have a community responsibility to preserve its standards, and it is good to see Holden, Holeproof and Spotlight meeting their corporate social responsibility in this regard.” 

 

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Holeproof and Holden admit being scared of moralising Christians

Advertisers withdraw after Californication chastised. news.com.au 06.09.07

Both the Holden and Holeproof companies yesterday confirmed they had pulled advertisements from the show after they aired in the first episode.

Spokesmen for both advertisers said they made the decision after customer complaints and were yesterday praised by Christian groups for doing so.

But other companies contacted by The Daily Telegraph were unaware their commercials had appeared in Monday's second episode.

That included film distributor Buena Vista, Flora Pro-Activ, Wrigley's, and Tooheys New beer-maker Lion Nathan.

Buena Vista had placed ads for its Pixar children's animated film Ratatouille, about a rat working as a chef in a Parisian restaurant.

"That's a surprise to us and obviously that program does not fit the demographic we are chasing," a spokeswoman said. "We should have been alerted."

The situation arose because the companies had booked "spot" ads, which Ten would place in different programs aimed at target demographics.

While agencies would have been alerted which shows their ads would air in, none of the above firms knew until alerted by The Daily Telegraph.

A Lion Nathan spokeswoman said it was happy to have its beer promoted during the show and said complaints should be directed to Free TV Australia.

 

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John Birmingham's Opinion Piece

Check-out John Birmingham's piece on the Christian bleating.

JB's open letter to moralising nimrods and God-botherers everywhere. Brisbane Times 06.09.07

You know, if you don't like it, you got a perfectly good censor button right there on your remote. It's called the off switch. In fact, you got a whole bunch of them. Turn over or turn off because I got some sour news for you preachy gimps, not everyone is as easily offended as you. In fact, some of us are vastly amused and entertained by Mr Duchovny smoking dope and having sex and generally behaving in manner we'd all like to become accustomed to.

I'm hacked off with you, but I'm even more hacked off with Holden and Holeproof for pulling their ads from the series at the first whiff of grapeshot from the good ship lollipop. So here's a plan. How about you sanctimonious hypocrites - yeah, that's right, don't think I haven't been paying attention to all the extracurricular nookie you and your kind have been scoring - how about you get the hell out of my lounge room and TV pit and don't let the door hit you in the arse on the way out. And Holden? And Holeproof? Why don't you grow a pair and kick these losers out of your place of business and pay some attention to the ratings for this show.

 

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ACL Contact the Advertisers Campaign

The Australian Christian lobby ran a campaign to have companies pull their advertising from the show. They claimed to have some success, with a number of companies doing just that. See below for the list. 

Here is an extract from the ACL's campaign page. What is amazing is how much time and effort was put into putting it all together, and contacting each individual company. Guess it is better to spend the time doing something really Christian like policing morals, than helping the poor.

 

Article from the Australian Christian Lobby Website. 14.09.07

Californication - contact the advertisers

Abstract: Many companies have been quite shocked to find out that their ads were screening during Californication. Many have withdrawn their ads in response to ACL's request but others are still showing their ads and we need to encourage them to reconsider advertising during this program.

ACL has many concerns about Californication. We have complained to Channel 10 about the program and ask you to join us in contacting the advertisers too, asking them to withdraw their ads which help to fund the program.

Sponsors who have withdrawn their advertisements from Californication Many companies have been quite shocked to find out that their ads were screening during Californication. The following companies have responded positively to complaints and have withdrawn their advertisments from Californication. ACL wishes to express thanks to the following companies:

Captain Snooze 
Duck Magic Scrub - made by S C Johnson & Son. 
ACTEW AGL 
McLean's Toothpaste 
Arnotts 
Harvey Norman 
Holden 
Holeproof 
Bridgestone 
Spotlight 
NetAlert 
Subway 
GE Money 
Mitre 10 Hardware 
WOW Sight & Sound 
Aussie Car Loans 
Listerine Mouthwash - made by Johnson & Johnson 
Milo 
Perth Royal Show 
Blackmore's Joint Formula Bank SA 
Antarctica - A Different Adventure (Jason Kimberly)

 

Companies which have refused to remove their ads 

Unilever and Reckitt Benckiser Unilever and Reckitt Benckiser have flatly refused ACL's requests to remove their advertisements from Californication.

Transworld Enterprises Pty Ltd Their justification includes the following ( ? Freudian slip ? ) It is incumbent upon the individual to structure their life around entertainment that they believe to be immoral.

 

Companies that have declined to respond to ACL's request to remove their ads You may wish to contact them to encourage them to remove their ads.

Victorian advertisers
Virgin Blue
Metamucil Made by Procter and Gamble.
Mitsubishi Triton
Uncle Ben’s ‘Boil in the bag rice’
KFC - Ultimate Burger Meal
L’Oreal Casting Crème Gloss - Hair colour
Loveable Underwear
Price Attack

ACT advertisers
Dick Smith Powerhouse
Kia Motors 
Free West Papua
Commonwealth Bank 
Finish Powderball Tablets 

Queensland advertisers
Loveable Underwear 

NSW advertisers
Pito's Potato Chips Made by Unisnack 
|NSW Cancer Institute's 13 QUIT 
Just Car Insurance
Red Rooster
Olay - Total Effects competition 
Volkswagen
L’Oreal Casting Crème Gloss - Hair colour 
Loveable Underwear 
A League Soccer 
Gillette Fusion 

West Australian advertisers
Debit Mastercard 
Pitos Spicy Chips 
Milo 
RAC Rent Insurance 
Perth Royal Show
V8 Fruit and Veg Juice 
Eat Red Meat 
Shiels Jewellers 

 

Companies that advertised on Monday September 17 
Due to resource constraints, ACL has not contacted these companies

NSW advertisers

Domestos Pantene KFC Lovable Virgin Blue - Velocity Rewards Volvo XC90 Malteasers Pitos Pita Chips - Unisnack Head and Shoulders from Chemmart Energiser Domayne Herbal Essences Visa Unwired unwired.com.au Quitline - NSW Cancer Institute and NSW Government Harpic White and Shine Domayne Olay Kanya West CD ad Bonjela mouth ulcer gel HCF Red Bull Easy Off Bam Nova 96.9 ad for The Kingdom - Universal Head and Shoulders from Chemmart Toyota AFL grand finals

ACT advertisers

Mastercard Phati Skiboard GE Money Betty Crocker Floriade Kelloggs Nutrigrain NSW Nurses Association Dodo CFS Solicitors AFL Canberra Tooheys Gecko, Fyshwick Shower Power Toyota Bunnings Red Bull HCF Care

Qld advertisers

Nivea KFC Harvey Norman Jay Jays Bonjela (Baby teething gel) Baby love nappies Cash Converters Hungry Jacks Olay Lovable underwear Mazda 2 Just Jeans Pine O Clean Snickers AFL

Tas advertisers

Eyelines Carpet Choice Elite Appliances 911 Bottleshops Republic bar & café Euro Central Sanctuary Health Club Freedom Furniture Neil Buckby Motors Brierley Hose & Handling Cooper Automotive Heat Woodfired Pizza Factory Blinds Portofino Sodium Pets Domain

 

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ACMA give into moralising Christians

ACMA to investigate Californication. news.com.au 11.10.08

The heated response to the Monday night show included complaints from more than 40 companies, and Holden, Arnotts, Nestle and Woolworths pulled their ads.

ACMA, in a letter to Festival of Light Australia, a Christian community group advocating family values, confirmed an investigation would be launched.

The letter, signed by Andrew Power, the authority's assistant manager of assessment content, said the inquiry could take several months.

The Festival of Light claimed a first-round victory in its effort to have the show taken off air.

"This is a show on cable in the US and not free-to-air like here in Australia," Festival of Light spokeswoman Roslyn Phillips told AAP.

"There is still a long way to go. We made our complaint in writing, and Channel Ten responded to the complaint, but ACMA will launch an investigation.

"We are happy with this move but not happy with the show," she said.

"We don't like the way the Catholic Church is treated, it's beyond the pale.

"The show can't be shown late, it has to be pulled. The way it's treating religion and sex is just harmful."

Network Ten said the show was a ratings winner consistently attracting close to one million viewers.

A network spokeswoman said the show abided by all codes and practices.

"Californication may not be to everyone's taste but complies with the code," she said.

 

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Californication: The Devil's Threesome - Censored by Channel 10

Perhaps feeling the heat a little, Channel 10 censored The Devil's Threesome episode.

The Chopping List
Channel 10 censored the episode of Californication that aired on 29/10/2007. The scene in question involved Hank and his agent having a threesome with a female boxer. When she came, she supposedly squirted on the agent's face just as his wife and Karen walked into the room. The actual squirting moment was cut out, leaving audiences wondering how the agent got his face drenched. Not surprisingly, this episode was written by the show's creator, Tom Kapinos.

 

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Season 1: MA15+ from the Classification Board

In April 2008 the first season was passed with an MA15+ (Strong sexual references and sex scenes, Strong drug use and frequent coarse language) rating. 

CALIFORNICATION SEASON 1 - PILOT / HELL-A-WOMAN / THE WHORE OF BABYLON / FEAR AND LOATHING AT THE FUNDRAISER / LOL / ABSINTHE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER / GIRLS INTERRUPTED / CONT... Film (DVD) 
Classification MA 15+ (Not suitable for people under 15. Under 15s must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian) 
Consumer Advice Strong sexual references and sex scenes, Strong drug use and frequent coarse language 
Category Film - Sale/Hire Version 
ORIGINAL Duration variable 
Date of Classification 18 April 2008 
Author STEPHEN HOPKINS, SCOTT WINANT, MICHAEL LEMBECK, TUCKER GATES, JOHN DAHL 
Publisher TOM KAPINOS, LOU FUSARO 
Production Company SHOWTIME, PARAMOUNT 
Country of Origin USA 
Applicant PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT 
File Number T08/1323 
Classification Number 5171257F