'The Playboy Club' Anti-Porn Groups Boycott: Pink Cross, Morality In Media Protest NBC Show
NBC thought they'd be getting a major hit with this coming fall's new stylized 60s drama, "The Playboy Club." So far, the early returns have mostly involved some major controversy.
Of course, when it comes to TV, the latter often leads to the former.
Starring Eddie Cibrian as a shady yet charming lawyer and Amber Heard as a new employee at the original Chicago Playboy Club, the show is an hourlong drama meant to mimic the style and feel of "Mad Men."
Having already weathered the storm of KSL, a Church of Latter-day Saints-owned Salt Lake City affiliate refusing to air the show (it was eventually picked up by a MyNetworkTV affiliate in the city), NBC has been hit with concurrent protests by two religious, anti-porn groups, who are calling for viewers to sign petitions against the show's broadcast, and promising to boycott advertising sponsors.
Pink Cross, "a faith-based IRS approved 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to reaching out to adult industry workers offering emotional, financial and transitional support," which was founded by former adult star-turned-religiously rehabbed anti-porn crusader Shelley Lubben, is participating in an online petition against the show.
"What's shown in 'The Playboy Club' is not real--Playboy definitely damages people. It's pornography, it's sex trafficking and it exploits women," Lubben told Fox411.com. "The series looks like it's all cute, taking place back in the old days -- it seems harmless, but then they show a quick clip of three people going at it in the bathroom. NBC is breaking the law with this show -- they're not meeting FCC standards."
Of course, when it comes to TV, the latter often leads to the former.
Starring Eddie Cibrian as a shady yet charming lawyer and Amber Heard as a new employee at the original Chicago Playboy Club, the show is an hourlong drama meant to mimic the style and feel of "Mad Men."
Having already weathered the storm of KSL, a Church of Latter-day Saints-owned Salt Lake City affiliate refusing to air the show (it was eventually picked up by a MyNetworkTV affiliate in the city), NBC has been hit with concurrent protests by two religious, anti-porn groups, who are calling for viewers to sign petitions against the show's broadcast, and promising to boycott advertising sponsors.
Pink Cross, "a faith-based IRS approved 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to reaching out to adult industry workers offering emotional, financial and transitional support," which was founded by former adult star-turned-religiously rehabbed anti-porn crusader Shelley Lubben, is participating in an online petition against the show.
"What's shown in 'The Playboy Club' is not real--Playboy definitely damages people. It's pornography, it's sex trafficking and it exploits women," Lubben told Fox411.com. "The series looks like it's all cute, taking place back in the old days -- it seems harmless, but then they show a quick clip of three people going at it in the bathroom. NBC is breaking the law with this show -- they're not meeting FCC standards."
