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Only a small number of viewers have complained to TV3 about last night's screening of controversial new show Californication.
The series includes explicit sex scenes, nudity, teenage drug use and bad language. It created controversy before it even went to air.
A scene in last night's episode showed a nun performing oral sex in front of a statue of Christ. It was labelled "reprehensible" by a nun at the Carmelite Monastery in Christchurch.
Sister Teresa told The Press that kind of image was not just offensive to Christians, but to anyone of moral standing.
She said depicting a nun in a sexual way was "highly offensive" and would only do harm by spreading misconceptions.
TV3 marketing and communications director Roger Beaumont said the channel had not received any written complaints, but by mid-morning today about 10 people had called, most of whom "weren't in favour" of the show.
He was quite comfortable with the 9.30pm time slot and the detailed censor's warning which screened.
"We think we were very responsible with the very explicit warning which was on the front of the show," he said.
"People would have watched it of their own free choice."
TV3 was confident there was a market for Californication in New Zealand, Mr Beaumont said.
"TV3 has a reputation for being edgy and pushing the boundaries a little."
Last week, New Zealand Catholic Church national director of communications Lyndsay Freer described the show as "crass, it's desecration, it's seriously sick and actually evil".
The Wellington Council of Christians and Jews urged its congregations to boycott TV3 for one week after the premiere of the show.
Sister Teresa said the nuns could not participate in the boycott as they did not watch television.
Family First has called on viewers to boycott advertisers screened during the show.
- NZPA
