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NBC-MADONNA Oct-20-2006 (370 words) xxxn
Singer Madonna won't be shown on cross in her NBC concert special
By Mark Pattison
Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Madonna will not be shown on a cross during her planned Nov. 22 NBC special, according to the network.
The sequence, from the song "Live to Tell," will be replaced by other footage filmed during the song, taped at a summer concert at Wembley Stadium in England. The singer was bound to a shimmering cross while wearing a crown of thorns during the song.
"We had upwards of 15 cameras at Wembley," NBC spokeswoman Cameron Blanchard told Catholic News Service. "Obviously we will take other shots of that portion (of the song) where she is on the cross. When she comes off the cross, we will cut to Madonna."
Some concern had been expressed by NBC affiliates as to the special's content. Blanchard said that Madonna, as executive producer of the special, would have had to approve any changes affiliates wanted.
Madonna's summer European concert tour had been sharply criticized by Catholic and other religious leaders for her use of Christian imagery in her performance.
"Madonna is exploiting Christian symbols ... and attempting to mix human passions, including her own personal ones, with something sacred," said a spokesman for the Russian Orthodox Church prior to a September concert in Moscow.
Her August concert in Rome drew disapproval from an Italian cardinal, an official of the Italian Muslim League and a spokesman for Rome's Jewish community. They called the use of the religious symbols offensive.
The possibility that the concert special would include the cross imagery prompted an editorial, titled "Desire to make money not a license to offend," in the Oct. 6 issue of the Pittsburgh Catholic, newspaper of the Pittsburgh Diocese. "NBC might see Madonna as a ticket to bolster ad revenues and ratings. All have the right to their alleged artistic integrity, but there is also the simple matter of human decency," it said.
"It may be the way the Material Girl wants to make buck today. But NBC should know that it is neither entertainment nor good business," it said.
Nov. 22 is part of the "sweeps" rating period, which helps set the rates networks can charge for advertising for the following three months. The Madonna special is scheduled to air 8-10 p.m. EST.
END
Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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