News

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 11, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – An episode of NBC’s “Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” which was taped on January 10, 2007 and aired early this morning, featured a character called “the homophobic country western singer.”

“Our last new character’s heart is in the right place, even if he’s a complete idiot,” said show host O’Brien in his introduction. “Please welcome the homophobic country western singer.”

  A middle-aged man wearing country western clothing comes out from behind a curtain. He begins to play a guitar and sing:

  Oh I love you Jesus
  But only as a friend.
  You touched my heart but I hope
  That’s where the touchin’ ends.

  You’re always lookin’ over me
  When I need a higher power.
  But you better look at somethin’ else
  When I’m in the shower.

“The idea that anyone would think about the Son of God in this way is simply appalling,” Douglas R. Scott, Jr., president of Life Decisions International (LDI) said. “The inferences that permeate the song are utterly disgusting.”

“We wonder if O’Brien’s description of the character as a ‘complete idiot’ is based on the man’s ‘homophobic’ beliefs or if it is because of the inference that Jesus could be sexually interested in seeing the man naked,” Scott said. “I don’t know if the man is a complete idiot, but I do suspect that the writer of the segment is a complete bigot.”

  Scott has written a letter to Kevin Reilly, president of NBC Entertainment, objecting to the airing of this material. “I notice the song was not about a Rabbi. I notice the song was not about Buddha. I notice the song was not about Muhammad. If it had been about any of these, the network would surely have disallowed the airing of such garbage,” Scott said in the letter. “But since the song was about Jesus Christ, nothing was done.” Scott’s letter was copied to Mr. Robert C. Wright, chairman & CEO of NBC Universal, which owns NBC Entertainment, as well as Jeffrey R. Immelt, chairman & CEO of General Electric, which owns NBC Universal.

  Mr. Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112; phone: (212) 664-4444

  Mr. Robert C. Wright, Chairman & CEO, NBC Universal Inc., 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112; phone: (212) 664-4444

  Mr. Jeffrey R. Immelt, Chairman & CEO, General Electric Company, 3135 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield, CT 06828; phone: (203) 373-2211