A RUSSELL PETERS CHRISTMAS Clippings Report Thursday, Dec. 1 at 9 p.m. ET on CTV and Saturday, Dec. 10 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Comedy TOTAL OF 95 MEDIA HITS from Monday, Nov. 28, 2011 at 11 a.m. ET and Friday, Dec. 2 at 3 p.m. ET (in addition to the 131 media hits garnered between Nov. 14 and Nov. 28) NEWSWIRE: 1. Canadian Press – December 1, 2011, Cassandra Szklarski, “(VIDEO): Behind the scenes of Russell Peters Christmas special” *Appeared on globeandmail.com, ca.news.yahoo.com, metronews.ca 4. Canadian Press – November 29, 2011, Cassandra Szklarski, “Pam Anderson, Michael Buble join Russell Peters in holiday TV throwback” *Also appeared on: CTV.ca, Cape Breton Post, Pentincton Herald, Hamilton Spectator, cjob.com, allvoices.com, silobreaker.com, aolnews.com, thespec.com, celebedge.ca, interceder.net, catcountry995.ca, cjdccountry.com, cknw.com, 680news.com, Macleans.ca, news1130.com 21. Canadian Press – December 1, 2011, “Buble to co-host Live! With Kelly” *Appeared in The Daily News (Kamloops), The Telegram (St. John’s), Toronto.com, ctv.ca, cp24.com, metronews.ca, thechronicleherald.ca, winnipegfreepress.com, mysask.com, inmusic.ca, brandonsun.com, 680news.com, cjob.com, Warterloo Region Record 35. Postmedia News – December 1, 2011, Bill Brownstein, “A brown Christmas, but not Charlie’s” *Also appeared Montreal Gazette, montrealgazette.com, Prince George Citizen, Windsor Star, Canada.com, timescolonist, theprovince.com, vancouversun.com 43. Postmedia News – December 1, 2011, Jon Dekel, “From Charlie Brown to It’s a Wonderful Life, celebrate the season with TV classics” *Also appeared on Ottawacitizen.com Calgary Herald, telegraphjournal.com, leaderpost.com, indiatimes.com, thestarphoenix.com 49. Postmedia News – November 29, 2011, Alex Strachan, “TV Fine Tuning for Thursday, Dec. 1” *Also appeared in Canada.com, Dose.ca, dailygleaner.com, vancouversun.com, ottawacitizen.com, calgaryherald.com, thestarphoenix.com, The Daily News (Truro), The Daily News (Nanaimo), Edmonton Journal, Vancouver Sun, Calgary Herald, Times & Transcript (Moncton), The Daily Gleaner (Fredricton), The
Leader-Post (Regina), Times Colonist (Victoria), edmontonjournal.com, montrealgazette.com, newscanadanews.com 68. Postmedia News – November 29, 2011 (*additional pick-up from Nov. 26 wire story), Chris Lackner, “POP Forecast: Twelve Days of Christmas” *Also appeared in Alaska Highway News, Dawson Creek Daily News, TelegraphJournal.canadaeast.com, 680news.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com 73. QMI Agency – November 29, 2011 (*additional pick-up from Nov. 21 wire story), Bill Harris, “Peter hosts Christmas Special” *Appeared in London Free Press 74. Associated Press – December 2, 2011, “Michael Buble making pre-holiday TV blitz” *Appeared in The Daily Courier (Kelowna), The Hamilton Spectator DAILIES: 76. National Post – December 1, 2011, “The Month Ahead” 77. The Globe and Mail – December 1, 2011, John Doyle, “A Russell Peters Christmas: Ho, ho ... no” *Also appeared on globeandmail.com 79. Winnipeg Free Press – December 1, 2011, Brad Oswald, “Hey, Russell, we weren't THAT naughty” *Also appeared on winnipegfreepress.com 81. National Post – December 1, 2011, “Today’s Letters: Channel-surfing Christians” (2) Letters re: Letter to the editor (Nov. 30) *Also appeared on NationalPost.com 83. Toronto Star – November 30, 2011, Russell Peters (Special to The Star), “Russell Peters’ best and worst presents” *Also appeared on thestar.com, Toronto.com 86. National Post – November 30, 2011, Scott Stinson, “May the force be with you this season; What not to do when planning a TV holiday special” *Also appeared on NationalPost.com 88. National Post – November 30, 2011, “Today's letters: 'More naughty than nice'” (2) Letters re: Rex Murphy’s Column (Nov. 26, 2011) *Also appeared on NationalPost.com 90. National Post – November 29, 2011, “Today's letters: Is Rex Murphy wrong about Pam Anderson?” (5) Letters re: Rex Murphy’s Column (Nov. 26, 2011)
*Also appeared on NationalPost.com MAGAZINES: 92. Hello Magazine – November 17, 2011, “Exclusive Interview with Pamela Anderson” ONLINE: 93. NationalPost.com (Holy Post blog) – November 29, 2011, Charles Lewis, “Get it straight: we do animal sacrifices but do not worship idols” 94. TorontoLife.com – November 30, 2011, Kevin Hamilton, “Holy mother of God — Pamela Anderson is Russell Peters’s Virgin Mary” TV: 95. etalk – December 1, 2011, Interview with Russell Peters and exclusive outtake FULL ARTICLES: 1. Pam Anderson, Buble join Russell Peters in holiday throwback Canadian Press November 29, 2011 Cassandra Szklarski TORONTO — When it comes to Christmas, Canada's comedy giant Russell Peters is a traditionalist at heart. The standup superstar throws together an old-fashioned TV variety special this week featuring plenty of carols, mirth by the fire, wishes for Santa, and unabashedly cheesy skits involving his mother, Maureen, and baby girl, Crystianna. "This is a real family affair, (including) Momma and baby. Did you see my daughter? How cute is she?" Peters gushed recently from the Toronto set, admitting he's taking every opportunity to show off his nearly year-old offspring. "Even if she never wants to be in show business ever again at least I got footage to show her and go, 'Who didn't want to be in show business then?"' Besides baby schmaltz, "A Russell Peters Christmas" features famous friends Michael Buble, Pamela Anderson, Jon Lovitz, Scott Thompson, Faizon Love and
"The Love Boat"'s Ted Lange, as well as a bevy of lingerie models to help ring in the season. Thompson says the mix of stand-up, sketch comedy, stop-motion animation and musical performances harkens back to holiday specials of yore. "I think if a white guy did it, it would be like, 'Wow, this is too much of a throwback.' But with him it seems kind of hip," Thompson says of the show's Indo-Canadian host, who peppers the special with trademark jokes about race and culture. "And I think people will go, 'Oh my God, so he's a Christian. I wasn't sure."' Anderson says she offers up a pretty convincing take on the Virgin Mary for a nativity scene, in which Peters plays "Joe" and Thompson, Lovitz and Love portray "Wisemen" named Abe, Mel and Jermaine. "I love all this Christmassy stuff," says the former "Baywatch" bombshell, gesturing to a TV studio decked out with snow drifts, pine trees and lights. "Everyone says I kind of overdo it for Christmas, I overdo all the holidays so my house kind of looks similar to this -- much smaller, but lots of lights and lots of twinkling things." A real blast from the past comes from an appearance by Lange -- a cultural touchstone for a select generation that grew up watching him play Isaac the bartender on "The Love Boat" in the late '70s and '80s. "I just loved the show," says Peters. "He was the only black guy on the show and back then when you're a brown kid watching TV you always identify with the one non-white person." Lange says he's a big fan of Peters' as well, and is flattered to think he helped paved the way for the Brampton, Ont.-bred funnyman. He recalls that it wasn't always easy to be part of an integrated TV series when the industry itself was still grappling with race issues. "There were a couple of situations when they would write (something) where you say, 'Hey, this isn't really a good idea. Can we rethink this?' Because they were just writing funny and sometimes the funny was like, me sticking my finger in my eye," says the L.A.-based Lange, who has written 23 plays and now directs television. "I was very fortunate the writers were sensitive to that when I would bring it up."
Peters admits he's a bit of a softie when it comes to the holidays, describing his annual traditions as centred on turkey and "a couple Indian dishes just to give it a little kick." "It lives up to the festivity of it all, you know, with the Christmas music and the egg nog and the food," he says, despite the fact his Christmas won't be snowcovered this year -- he'll be in Los Angeles on Dec. 25 with his family. "It's fun, it's a nice hang." "A Russell Peters Christmas" airs Thursday on CTV and repeats Dec. 10 on The Comedy Network. Also Thursday, George Canyon, Chantal Kreviazuk, Barenaked Ladies and Great Big Sea unite for a one-hour special to raise awareness about hunger in Canada on CMT. "Gift of Giving" will air throughout December on CMT, YTV, W Network and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network (Canada). Other specials across the dial include CTV's "A Michael Buble Christmas" on Dec. 6 featuring Justin Bieber, Kellie Pickler and more; the holiday sequel "Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice" on Dec. 5 on CTV; and a swath of seasonal movies on CTV and CTV Two running throughout the month. A jolly menu is also on offer over at Food Network Canada, where holiday programs are being served up nearly every day until Christmas. Highlights include "Chuckmas," from Montreal chef Chuck Hughes of "Chuck's Day Off" on Dec. 10, and seasonal treats from celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver, Ina Garten, Giada De Laurentiis and Paula Deen. 16. TV Fine Tuning for Thursday, Dec. 1 Postmedia News November 29, 2011 Alex Strachan A Russell Peters Christmas gets off to a rousing beginning, with a highstepping, toe-tapping music-and-dance number on ice to the tune of Decks the Halls that, in little more than a minute, will have you laughing and singing in tune at the same time. The lyrics are helpfully closed-captioned on the screen, so you can chortle along with the chorus' rendition of verses like, ``It's a Russell Peters Christmas/It's the most fun that you can get'' and ``If you disagree then you can kiss this/When the song is over we're not done yet.'' Fun, yes - if you're in the spirit of the season, and your taste in humour runs to the slightly risque.
A Russell Peters Christmas plays a little like a Great White Northern take on A Colbert Christmas, but rougher `round the edges. The moment when Peters skates onto the ice pond, decked out in a Hefner-esque burgundy bathrobe and beaming like he just hit the jackpot, will bring a smile to your eyes. Unless you're in a Grinch-like mood, that is, and you find Peters to be about as funny as root canal. The relentless laugh track can be distracting, but comes with the territory. A Russell Peters Christmas is part variety telethon, part sketch-comedy show and part live performance. Peters is fearless, and unafraid to offend. This is not a ``holiday special'' or ``a non-denominational special,'' he tells his appreciative audience during a brief, show-opening standup routine, but a full-blown Christmas special. ``You don't have to be white to pretend you're Irish.'' Christmas specials are all about the guests, and Peters has lined up a nifty guest list, once he gets the (slightly overlong) standup out of the way. Scott Thompson and Jon Lovitz drop in uninvited, as it were, even as Peters tells his audience that he's not looking to do ``one of those cheesy Christmas where I self-promote and use my family as props,'' and then holds up his book and introduces his real-life mother and baby daughter. There's are funny bits about mall Santas, Christmas movies, Boxing Day sales and a scenery-chewing gag involving the Three Wise Men and ageappropriate gifts for a virgin birth. Pamela Anderson appears as the Virgin Mary scene - talk about an attention grabber - in the aforementioned Nativity scene opposite Peters' crabby, too-hipfor-the-room Joseph, and Michael Buble drops by later in the show, SCTV-style, to croon his way through a couple of holiday classics. It's in colour, too! Yes, that's a joke. And, yes, it's right there in the show, in the opening credits, along with the line, ``Watch it now in High Definition/Before the nerds post it on the Internet.'' Sure, it's ``kinda corny and sentimental,'' to use Peters' words - a more uncharitable person might say puerile - but the tone fits. Peters may be shameless, but he's fun, no matter what the Grinches say. And before you complain it's a little early to be celebrating Christmas, just remember this: At least Peters has the class, style, wit and goodtaste to wait until December before breaking out the mistletoe. (CTV, 9 ET/PT)
Three to See * If you like your Christmas specials on the warmer, more reverent side, then grab a seat for the Country Music Association's two-hour holiday special, CMA Country Christmas, hosted by Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles. It features performances by Faith Hill, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Martina McBride, American Idol winner Scotty McCreery - not lip-synching this time, one presumes - and Vince Gill in a very special performance with Miss Piggy. (ABC, 9 ET/PT) * Despite its exotic-sounding name, Waking the Green Tiger is not a Christmas special. It's Vancouver filmmaker Gary Marcuse's Nature of Things documentary profile of the burgeoning environmental movement in China, and a grassroots campaign to block a massive dam project on the Upper Yangtze River. Tonight's program, which some listings flagged last week, includes archival footage never before seen outside China. (CBC, 8 ET/PT) * The feud resumes. Faithful followers of Stephen Colbert know that, based on past appearances by Colbert's scheduled guest tonight on The Colbert Report, this one could be a keeper. Sir Richard Branson is able, ready and willing, but this time he won't just toss a glass of cold water on Colbert. Been there, done that. (Comedy Network, 11:30 ET/PT; CTV, 12:35 ET/PT) 17. Pop forecast: Twelve Days of Christmas Postmedia News November 29, 2011 Chris Lackner […] TV - Russell Peters Christmas (Dec. 1, CTV, 9 ET/PT). The Brampton comic will likely be more naughty than nice on this new holiday special featuring standup, sketch, stop-motion animation. 22. Peters strikes appropriate balance; CHRISTMAS SPECIAL The London Free Press November 29, 2011 Bill Harris The last thing Russell Peters wants is to take the Christmas out of Christmas.
The well-known Canadian comedian makes that plain at the start of his new hour-long TV special A Russell Peters Christmas, which premieres Thursday on CTV. "This is not a holiday special or a non-denominational special; this is actually a Christmas special," says Peters, the Catholicraised son of Indian immigrants. "In all fairness, I wouldn't want another coloured Santa," Peters continues. "I want a white Santa. I want a big, fat, white Santa Claus. "You can't have a brown guy with a long beard sneaking into your house and leaving packages. You're calling the bomb squad immediately." That's typical of Peters' brand of humour. He has made a lucrative career out of saying things that would get you into trouble in any other setting. Of course, that's what made the announcement that Peters would be hosting his own Christmas special so intriguing. What would the tone be? Hosting a Christmas special is tricky. It's like hosting the Oscars. If you're a well-known comedian, as Peters is, people expect you to make fun of things. But anyone watching a Christmas special probably likes Christmas. How do you strike the balance? Peters makes an effort to combine his comedy with Christmas warmth. It's corny at times, but that's kind of what viewers want, isn't it? We aren't looking for Peters to torch Christmas. The guests on A Russell Peters Christmas are a random crew: Pamela Anderson, Michael BublĂŠ, Scott Thompson, Jon Lovitz, FaizonLove, Ted Lange, Goapele and members of the Peters clan. "I don't want to do a cheesy Christmas special where I self-promote and use my family as props," says Peters, sporting a wide grin and holding up his infant daughter. In one skit, Anderson plays the Virgin Mary, who is hiding something from her husband, Joseph (Peters). One thing I wanted to see more of was the bit where Peters is dressed as Santa and talking to kids. It would have been easy to give that more time and cut down on some other stuff.
All things considered, though, Peters makes a decent stab at toeing the line between crude and cornball that a Christmas special requires. A Russell Peters Christmas actually is a Christmas special, literally and figuratively. IF YOU WATCH What: A Russell Peters Christmas When: Thursday, 9 p.m. Where: CTV Michael Buble making pre-holiday TV blitz Fri Dec 2 2011 Source: Associated Press NEW YORK -- Canadian crooner Michael Buble will be all over the dial in December. A news release says the charismatic Burnaby native will be the guest co-host on Live! With Kelly on Dec. 15 and Dec. 16. Then on Dec. 17 he'll be the musical guest on Saturday Night Live. That's in addition to his previously announced appearance in Thursday's special A Russell Peters Christmas on CTV and his profile on 60 Minutes on CBS on Sunday. Next Tuesday the three-time Grammy winner will also host his own Christmas special, which will air on NBC and CTV. Buble recently released the hit holiday album Christmas as well as the book Onstage Offstage. Š 2011 The Okanagan Valley Newspaper Group. All rights reserved.
23. Russell Peters’ best and worst presents Toronto Star Russell Peters (Special to The Star) November 30, 2011 Russell Peters hosts a Christmas special on Thursday, and he has promised an irreverent but not "unholy" take on the season. In honour of that, we asked the comedian to recall his five worst and five best Christmas presents ever: WORST 1. Sock and tie set. I was 8. I wasn't working at a call centre.
2. Microscope. I wanted a telescope. 3. A 3,000-piece Lego set. I was 4. 4. Hand-me-down clothes from my brother. He was a "husky" boy. 5. Christmas cake from my uncle. It weighed, like, 10 pounds. Who eats this stuff? BEST 1. My daughter. This is her first Christmas at home. 2. My Super GT Snow Racer sled. I was 10. 3. A bicycle. Great gift. Wrong time of year. 4. Time off from being on the road all year. 5. My Christmas special: A Russell Peters Christmas (despite all the protests from people who haven't even seen it yet and who also assume that I'm not Christian because of how I look and where my family comes from ... ) A Russell Peters Christmas, with guests Michael BublĂŠ, Jon Lovitz, Scott Thompson, Pamela Anderson and more, airs Thursday at 9 p.m. on CTV. 26. May the force be with you this season; What not to do when planning a TV holiday special National Post Scott Stinson November 30, 2011 It is that time of year when families gather around the warming hearth, by which I mean the television, to enjoy the traditional favourites. Charlie Brown and his little tree. Rudolph and the misfit toys. Itchy the Wookiee and his eroticized dream featuring Diahann Carroll. No dice on that last one? Your family does not roast up some chestnuts and settle down for a seasonal viewing of The Star Wars Holiday Special? That's understandable, since it only aired once: in 1978. I missed it the first time around, possibly because I was five years old and not on top of the TV listings, but the Internet being the world's depository of strange detritus that it is, one can now easily view the two-hour extravaganza in its entirety. It's something all Star Wars fans should do once. But just the once. There is a reason that George Lucas has squelched all references to the Holiday Special in
the Star Wars universe, making it about the only thing he hasn't repackaged and resold in a slightly modified form time and again: It is exquisitely bad. Almost impossibly so. As we enter the season when networks cram whatever random bits of caroling and comedy they can rustle up under the guise of a Christmas special, it's worth noting that the bar for what can happen when things go poorly was permanently set at its lowest point 33 years ago. The Star Wars Holiday Special will not be outdone. Here is a synopsis, which I promise is not made up: Chewbacca is trying to make it home for the holidays. Except, seeing as how Wookiees are not Christian, there is no mention of Christmas. Chewbacca's family, wife Malla, father Itchy and little son Lumpy - again, I stress, NOT MADE UP - are instead preparing for Life Day. No one ever really explains what Life Day is about; the humans just say things like "Happy Life Day!" to the Wookiees and leave it at that. There's a closing song from Princess Leia (not made up) in which she references the Tree of Life, so perhaps that's the basis for Wookiee spirituality. Or perhaps the producers were looking for a way to skirt the whole God issue. Regardless, it turns out that Han Solo is having trouble flying Chewie back home because he's being chased by those no-good Imperials who, it should be noted, are not on holiday staffing for Life Day. (Maybe the Galactic Empire grants daysin-lieu.) And as Malla, Lumpy and Itchy wait for Chewie to return to their home, which would not look out of place on The Brady Bunch, weird stuff happens. Seriously weird stuff. Art Carney appears as a trader who tries to sell knickknacks to an Imperial trooper. Malla watches a cooking show in which Harvey Korman, in alien drag, does a Julia Child routine. The Empire for some reason decides to broadcast footage from Tatooine into all homes, which gives everyone a reason to watch Bea Arthur, as a bartender at the Mos Eisley Cantina, deliver a lengthy rendition of a song that sounds like a mash-up of One For My Baby and Those Were The Days. You know, just your typical seasonal crooner/traditional Russian ditty. And, yes, Itchy is given a virtual-reality helmet, with which he sees Diahann Carroll, who performs a sultry number for the crotchety Wookiee, but only after she gives some comehither moans and says things like "My, aren't we excited?" It's a wonder poor Itchy didn't have a heart attack. There's an overarching strangeness to all the individual bits of crazy on display in The Star Wars Holiday Special, and that's the lack of a point to any of it. They didn't want it to be too Christian, but something like the reasonably secular Jingle Bells would have made a lot more sense than whatever that monstrosity by Princess Leia was called. (Watch it and tell me that Harrison Ford doesn't look relieved he wasn't forced into singing anything.)
The point, of course, was to try to capitalize on the huge success of Star Wars with something. Anything, apparently. Happy Life Day, everyone. In other holiday special news: A Russell Peters Christmas managed to increase its publicity exponentially by putting Pamela Anderson in the role of the Virgin Mary for one skit. She is dressed demurely as the mother of Christ, but those who found offence in her casting won't likely be placated by the brief segment, which includes Peters playing Joseph as a Jersey Shore-style goomba named "Joey." Anderson's inclusion was meant to attract attention to the special, which makes even more sense having viewed the rest of it, since it's fairly routine as such specials go. There's a monologue, some skits, and a handful of musical interludes, including one from Michael Bublé, who has a new Christmas album (and an upcoming Christmas special of his own) to promote. Does Peters mock Christmas? It doesn't seem that way to me, unless you consider all of the holiday's religious elements, such as the Nativity scene, off limits for comedy. Give credit to Peters for one thing: He says in his monologue that the special is not nondenominational. It's a Christmas special. That's more than George Lucas could say. ? A Russell Peters Christmas premieres Dec. 1 at 9 p.m. on CTV; A Michael Bublé Christmas airs Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. on CTV; The Star Wars Holiday Special, which is not made up, can be found on YouTube. sstinson@nationalpost.com Illustration: • / Russell Peters and Pamela Anderson as Joseph and Mary is one thing, but what if they were replaced by Chewbacca and his wife Malla? Hmmm. 28. Today's letters: 'More naughty than nice' National Post | Full Comment November 30, 2011 Section: Full Comment Byline: Paul Russell Re: What The Tolerant Must Tolerate, Rex Murphy, Nov. 26. I am of Anglo-Indian ancestry and Catholic. And I'm just a little bit older than Russell Peters. I could be his older sister. My daughter is a member of the Bach Children's Chorus, which was selected to appear on A Russell Peters Christmas. She was unable to participate in the chorus on the day the special was filmed, since that taping fell on Thanksgiving Day.
At the next chorus practice, a friend told my daughter that there were "strippers" in the Christmas show. I subsequently learned that they were women dressed in Victoria Secret style underwear. And now I read that Pamela Anderson will play Virgin Mary, and that this show is being touted as "more naughty than nice." Our choir administration was led to believe that this show was going to be a family-oriented Christmas special. It is obvious that family-oriented it will not be. Shock value seems to be the new cheap thrill. Doesn't the 2,000-year history of Christmas deserve to be portrayed as more than a run of cheap thrills? If Mr. Peters and CTV are looking to break stereotypes, then why keep making programming for the boys with beer bellies? Anything tasteless to do with Christmas just doesn't cut it as entertainment in my house. My family and I will not be watching this "Christmas special." Cathy Naus, Toronto. Offended Christians can just change the channel With regards to Rex Murphy's column on Christian victimhood, let's imagine a guy named Fred. Fred is a card-carrying socialist. He believes in the principles of socialism so thoroughly that it is fused to his identity. Do his views deserve any special sanctity, reverence or sensitivity simply because he holds them dear? And when his views are (invariably) held up to mockery and outright resentment in these very pages, are his rights being trampled? Perhaps if he is carted off to a gulag in the middle of the night, but otherwise, it is simply a matter of free speech, regardless of how offended he, or scores of other people, might be. Second, there is validity in Mr. Murphy's claim that Christianity takes more hits in our society than other religions. Perhaps this is unfair; I'll be the first to say that I find all religions equally absurd. That said, the fact that Christianity is a prime target of ridicule speaks more to its place of privilege in our culture, rather than repression. It's natural for people to target the biggest lightning rod, and it is logical insofar as people feel their lives are disproportionately affected by more dominant forces in their society. Christians do have recourse, especially in this case of a comedy Christmas spoof - they can simply change the channel. Mark Sudworth, Ottawa. 30. Today's letters: Is Rex Murphy wrong about Pam Anderson? National Post | Full Comment November 29, 2011 Full Comment
Re: What The Tolerant Must Tolerate, Rex Murphy, Nov. 26. Rex Murphy's column gives a voice to the millions who don't quite know how to put into words a defence against attacks on our Christian faith. I wrote a letter to Russell Peters ("who has invited Pamela Anderson, pinup queen and soft porn actress, to play the Virgin Mary"), expressing my displeasure at his lack of sensitivity, sound judgment and, well, basic decency. It is comforting to know that Mr. Murphy feels the same. Angelyn Dee, Vancouver. As a tolerant Catholic Christian, I am often amazed at the double standard that prevails when it comes to how Christian values are treated, compared to how other religions' values. Rex Murphy's fine column highlights that double standard, it educates and therefore it enriches our society. Kathleen Higgins, Delta, B.C. Rex Murphy's column reminded me of Jesus Christ's words that if we are faithful to His message, we will never be at rest on this world. That's OK; it keeps me alive. In that same line, Saint John's Gospel also recounts words ("the truth shall make you free") spoken by Jesus regarding the truth and how it will set us free but not free of persecutions and of being ridiculed. The events described by Rex Murphy are occasions to sharpen our weapon and use it with wisdom, so that it be clear that faith and reason are not contradictory. They are the lungs that make us breath, giving us spiritual energy to battles as true Christians. Monique David, Montreal. Why is it that listening to Rex Murphy is the equivalent of a gentle breeze rolling in off the Atlantic? It has something to do with truth spoken, whether it's popular or not. Remarkably, Mr. Murphy has the courage to say it over and over again to his politically correct Canadian audience, and still keep his job. Open the windows while you can, Canada, Rex Murphy is blowing in again. Mark Mallett, Tramping Lake, Sask. . but is it all hot air? Rex Murphy has blundered uncharacteristically in his denunciation of those who regard Christianity as an invitation to ridicule. By assuming that only those with a "single digit" IQ are entertained to see Pamela Anderson (right) in action as Virgin Mary, Mr. Murphy exposes his true elitist attitude. He should realize that a
majority of male Canadians still find her enticing, even when they don't admit it. I would argue that a good percentage of female Canadians also enjoy the fact that she thumbs her nose at traditional "Christian" niceties and conventions. Going on to say that Christians are a tolerant group further belies reality. A quick glance at the U.S. presidential race with regular Christians denouncing Mormons as a "sect" will quickly dispel the notion of "tolerance." Ms. Anderson's portrayal of the Virgin Mary is delightfully on the mark for those of us for whom the notion of a virgin birth is patently ridiculous, and deserving of scorn. Mr. Murphy also notes: "Occupy brethren in London . have turned St. Paul's Cathedral into a public toilet and used its sacred walls as a crude bulletin board." The walls of St. Paul's Cathedral are no more sacred than the walls of my basement. Yes, it is a beautiful edifice worthy of preservation and cleanliness, but to say that it is somehow "sacred" is nonsense. I can't condone defecating in a public place, other than a designated toilet, but go to London on any Saturday night and you'll find human excreta within a 100-metre radius of most popular pubs and clubs. Ian Lucas, Fonthill, Ont. 32. Exclusive Interview with Pamela Anderson HELLO! Magazine November 17, 2011 ***full article attached** 33. Get it straight: we do animal sacrifices but do not worship idols NationalPost.com – Holy Post (blog) Charles Lewis November 29, 2011 When I read Rex Murphy’s column on Saturday, “What the tolerant must tolerate,” I was elated. The first sentence hit home in an instant: “To be a serious Christian in modern Western culture,” he wrote, “is to be the favoured easy target of every progressive thinker and every half-witted comedian.” Mr. Murphy’s point is one that has been made by scores of writers but this column somehow managed to get to the essence of the subject with a kind of clarity I have rarely seen.
I began to e-mail the column to those friends who have long complained of having to listen to religious commentary by people who know nothing about religion. Despite the elegance of Mr. Murphy’s writing, and the truth of his message, it did not take long before discussion about the column began to detach itself from reality. Mr. Murphy used two examples: the casting of Pamela Anderson as the Virgin Mary in an upcoming Canadian comedy special — “Pamela Anderson as Mary the Immaculate: I know — the wit, the daring, the originality — hell, the bravery of it all”— and the general lack of concern that St. Paul’s Cathedral in London was literally used as a toilet by members of the Occupy London movement — “However, there was no vast outcry at the appalling disrespect, the deep contumely such acts represent.” I feel safe in saying that Mr. Murphy’s point was about the lack of tolerance towards Christians in Western society and not about casting calls or the toilet habits of idiots. On the John Oakley radio show the discussion bogged down as to whether it was proper to cast Ms. Anderson as the Holy Mother of God. Justin Trottier, everyone’s favourite on-air atheist, wondered why Ms. Anderson could not be cast against type and play a more holy role. An excellent point. He also raised the issue of Christian forgiveness — as in why can’t Christians forgive Ms. Anderson for whatever she did in the past and let her play Mary. Another excellent point. One caller helpfully suggested that Christians do not understand the Bible so their ideas about Mary are somehow screwed up. The caller noted he practiced no religion himself but has read the Bible. An expert. He then criticized Christians for worshiping idols. He was close: we actually practice animal sacrifice but worshiping idols is so B.C. A letter writer in Tuesday’s National Post helpfully pointed out that the walls of St. Paul’s Cathedral “are no more sacred than the walls of my basement.” Maybe he lives in the basement of St. Peter’s in Rome but I do not think that is the case. He also cheered the fact that Ms. Anderson “thumbs her nose at traditional ‘Christian’ niceties and conventions.” Maybe she does or maybe she just needs the job. Canadian TV exposure can be a real boost to an acting career.
Unrelated to the column was a piece on CNN’s web site this morning by contributor Roland Martin. It is another example of criticizing religion without pausing to think. Mr. Martin is angry because several U.S. dioceses are refusing to train girls as altar servers. Fair enough to be annoyed at this but here is what he wrote: “If there is one institution that has made a point of desperately trying to keep women in their place, it’s organized religion. “Whether it’s Christianity, Islam or Judaism, women are often relegated to secondary roles, their contributions seen as insignificant. “In the Catholic Church, that is taken a step further by refusing to even allow women to become priests. Now, some Catholic churches are alienating women by refusing to allow girls to serve as altar servants.” It is not exactly news that the Roman Catholic Church refuses to allow women to become priests. That step was taken roughly 2,000 years ago. And not to be a “know it all,” but they are called “altar servers” not “altar servants.” As for the secondary role of women … In some traditions of Judaism there are female rabbis. In the Catholic Church, women are professors, theologians, heads of parish councils, lectors and altar servers — just to name a few insignificant roles. There are many young women now becoming nuns or entering lay religious orders who are not even being coerced. Anyone who has ever spent 30 seconds in a Catholic Church would know that the role of women in Catholicism is not secondary. Catholics could not make a bigger deal about Mary if they tried. And it is not because of her stylish clothing. And do not get me started on the number of great female saints, some of whom are even called “doctors of the Church.” But what the hell do I know. All I have to base my opinions on are few silly facts and a little bit of Bible reading. 34. Holy mother of God—Pamela Anderson is Russell Peters’s Virgin Mary November 30, 2011 Kevin Hamilton TorontoLife.com It’s not exactly an immaculate casting choice: Pamela Anderson will be playing the Virgin Mary in A Russell Peters Christmas Special, described as an irreverent 1970s-style variety show. She’ll be acting alongside Russell Peters himself, who plays a “guido” Joseph (like Jersey Shore, you see—very timely). Peters
told CTV News he picked the actress because “hey, Pam Anderson is Canadian,” and not for the infamy she garnered from Baywatch, Playboy and, um, a leaked home movie that was filmed on a boat. “I didn’t even think of the other side of Pam Anderson, which is so long ago,” Peters said. “It’s like, come on, give the chick a break already.” Give us a break, Russell. Even with plastic surgery, she’s still the sex symbol she used to be—although Peters joked that he was hoping to have a kissing scene (sorry, she’s no Whore of Babylon). Viewers hoping for some Bethlehem burlesque when the show airs tomorrow will have to be satisfied with the troupe of dancing lingerie models surrounding Michael Bublé, and we’re fairly confident that never happened in the Gospels either.