Jerry Springer the Opera

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On Bravo in ****d* tonight.I saw the show in London and didn't like it I thought the songs were pisss-poor. I went with a friend who's a devout but cool and broad-minded Catholic and she just couldn't take the blasphemy. We left at the intermission. But not before I bought the baseball cap which I think is way cool: black, with a topless angel logo.I don't watch television, I think it destroysthe art of talking about oneself.Stephen Fry

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[nq:1]On Bravo in ****d* tonight. I saw the show in London and didn't like it I thought the songs ... not before I bought the baseball cap which I think is way cool: black, with a topless angel logo.[/nq]
It's hilarious, I loved it. Anything non-PC is a breath of fresh air.

I'm currently in a big argument with Woolworths UK at the moment. They decided to take the DVD off the shelves because a group of Christian Fundamentalists complained, especially with Xmas coming up. Apparently there were 10 complaints. The other shop (Sainsbury's) it appears will be stocking the DVD after Xmas, but Woolworths still are being stubborn, saying it's what their customers want whilst actually 100 or times as many compaints are being received about failing to stock it than those few trying to get it removed.
It all started from this.
You may have read about this. It's in the Independent http://tinyurl.com/ce2z7
If you go to the excellent Mediawatchwatch blog, you'll see the story there and the links the blog's monitor has put will take you direct to
both Woolies' and Sainsbury's customer feedback pages.

It would be ironic if the
complaints against the DVD remained at ten while those who want it back on the shelves were thousands!
I got a fairly good reply from Sainsbury's, in which I originally told them I was ripping up my Nectar loyalty card and recommending to all my friends and work-colleagues that they boycot Sainsbury's until they replace Jerry Springer The Opera back on the shelves.

But at least it was fairly positive... they'll look into it. (but wait for Woolies one further down this email).
Here's what Sarah Rose, Sainsbury's Customer Services, wrote to me:

* * *
Dear Mr White,
Thank you for contacting us. I am concerned to hear you are unhappy with our decision to no longer sell Jerry Springer, the Opera DVD?s in our stores. I can understand how disappointed you must feel and I hope you will accept my sincere apologies.
Our entertainment range is particularly important at Christmas and we take many factors into consideration when deciding which titles to stock. Ultimately, the most important factor is what our customers want. In response to some to some of the feedback we have received, we have decided not to sell the Jerry Springer DVD?s this Christmas.

I have passed your comments onto our marketing department. I would like to assure you they have taken your comments seriously and will bear them in mind for the future.
Once again thank you for contacting us. I hope that despite your disappointment you will continue to shop at Sainsbury'?s in the future. May I take this opportunity to wish you merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Kind regards,
Sarah Rose
Sainsbury's Customer Services
* * * *
At least she was polite, wished me
a merry Christmas, hoped that I will return to Sainsbury's, and said they will take my complaint seriously. It seems that they may be putting it on stock after Christmas - there certainly seems to be a "not until after Christmas" feeling to that email response. So I'm hopeful. But wait for Woolies....
I wrote them a similar letter, telling them that " as someone who believes vehemently in the freedom of speech, and who enjoyed immensely JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA, I am disgusted that Woolworths has bowed down to pressure from a small group of Christians and is not stocking any more this wonderfully funny opera. I shall definitely not be using Woolworths again until this decision is reversed and I will be recommending that my friends and colleagues
do the same."....
Here's the response:
* * * * *
Dear Tristan,
Thank you for your e-mail.
Woolworths is not a censor and does not wish to act as one. Like any other retailer, it is guided by government legislation with regard to film certification.
However, we also listen to our customers and their feedback. On this occasion we have received numerous complaints and it is clear to us that our customers would prefer us not to stock this product.

As a result it has been removed from sale.
Regards
Danny Myers
Customer Support Advisor
* * * * *
I hope you like my response. And I urge all of you to write and complain (in your own way).
* * * * *
ATTN: DANNY MYERS
Thank you for replying.
You say that because you have received numerous complaints your "customers" would prefer it that you do not stock this title.

Rather, you should say that just those complaning customers would prefer that you do not stock it. The vast majority would prefer that you did. We are not (thankfully) living in a country where freedom of expression is governed by religious fanaticism. You say that Woolworths is guided by "government legislation with regard to film certification" - that is fine. It has been passed by the government with an 18 certificate just like "The Passion of the Christ" has been, and numerous other films you sell. So please do not use that excuse.

How many more complaints about removing "Jerry Springer the Opera" must Woolworths receive before they take those complaints more seriously than the fundamentalists who have clearly complained about it? Because I will quite happily start a massive negative campaign of complaints and letter-writing if I have to.
5,000 enough for you? 10,000? More?
Please let me know.
TRISTÁN WHITE
.

Jerry Springer the Opera

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