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Contact: Cindy Roberts (662) 844-5036 ext. 227
For Immediate Release:  2/3/2006 10:18:03 AM

Pressure Builds Against NBC To Pull “Will and Grace” Episode “Cruci-fixins”

(Tupelo, MS) - The American Family Association (AFA) says the reason NBC has not publicly announced they are removing a segment from “Will and Grace” that mocks the crucifixion of Jesus is that the network is under pressure from the show’s producers to keep the segment.

Donald E. Wildmon, AFA chairman, says that is the only reason NBC has not already announced the withdrawal of the segment. AFA was successful in getting NBC’s “The Book of Daniel” cancelled because of lost revenue and low ratings.

He said he is basing his views on feedback that AFA supporters are getting from NBC affiliates.

The network announced earlier this week that the April 13 episode of “Will and Grace” would feature Britney Spears as a conservative Christian who contributes a cooking segment called “cruci-fixins.” NBC said they would air the episode on Maundy Thursday, the evening before Good Friday when Christians mourn the crucifixion of Christ.

“NBC has been bombarded with calls from their affiliates concerning the program. They have refused to publicly say they are dropping the segment. If they don’t drop the segment the network stands to lose millions of dollars in advertising revenue and have the episode dropped by about 40 percent of their affiliates,” Wildmon said.

But if they do drop the segment, it puts them at odds with the producers and Hollywood for bowing to pressure from what they say is a tiny number of rightwing fundamentalists. Do they offend Christians or do they offend Hollywood?” Wildmon asked.

Wildmon said his guess is that the network will pull the segment. “They don’t want to suffer another defeat as they did with ‘The Book of Daniel.’”

American Family Association is a pro-family advocacy organization with over two million online supporters.

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