Boycott Californication says Family First

UPROAR: Plans to screen raunchy new television show Californication in New Zealand are causing controversy.

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Californication, a controversial new drama show on TV3, is causing outrage before it has even been screened.
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Family First has called for families to boycott companies advertising during the first episode of what it described as the drug, sex and vomit-laden Californication on Thursday night.

And New Zealand's Catholic Church has branded the show as evil.

"Television programmers are simply using shock tactics to increase their ratings but families are sick and tired of this offensive type of programming," said Bob McCoskrie, national director of Family First NZ.

"If companies are concerned about declining standards in our communities, they should not be associated with this show."

New Zealand Catholic Church national director of communications Lyndsay Freer told the Sunday News the show was "crass, it's desecration, it's seriously sick and actually evil".

Episodes of Californication include explicit sex scenes - one involving violence and rape, and another involving a nun performing a sex act in front of statue of Christ on the cross - nudity, teenage drug use and constant foul language, the inclusion of a child who is exposed to the worst effects of her father's sexual antics, and an episode depicting two characters smoking marijuana and having sex before one vomits.

Mr McCoskrie said it was time New Zealand linked some of the increase in sexual offences, the degrading treatment of women, drug use, and disrespect and abusive language in communities with such programmes, "attempting to be passed as so-called entertainment".

"The Broadcasting Standards Authority and the Censorship Board have failed dismally to protect our communities and children from this type of offensive and pornographic material," Mr McCoskrie said.

Family First intends to publish the names of companies who advertise during the programme and ask families to boycott them and go to their competitors. A number of other family groups have also expressed their support for the boycott.

But TV3 is confident there is a market for Californication in new Zealand.

"TV3 has a reputation for being edgy and pushing the boundaries a little," marketing and communications director Roger Beaumont told Sunday News.

"We certainly will be responsible with warnings on this show to flag it to people who may be offended by it.

"If they still choose to watch it, they do so by their own choice."

-NZPA