bloodrayne
02-23-2004, 06:02 PM
Parody Program of Satanic Rituals Stirs Controversy in Knoxville
Satanarchy, a self proclaimed satirical puppet show mocking Satanism, aired on Knoxville's CTV.
KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- Offensive language, Satanic images, even talk about burning down churches. You'll find it on Knoxville's community television and a 6 News investigation found out why you paid for it.
Turn on community television of Knoxville during the day and you'll find the latest in home-grown religious programming, community calendars and public meetings.
But turn on CTV after midnight and you might find this. A program with puppets that say, "For now, I want you to take this can of gasoline and I want you to burn down the Methodist church up the street."
Bill Housley stumbled across Satanarchy, a self proclaimed satirical puppet show mocking Satanism, in the middle of the night. "I thought it was right cute you know when I saw the puppets. And then it didn't take but seconds for the 'F' word to come out, you know."
There's also Satanic symbols and talk of sacrificing animals. "I wish to follow the left-handed path of pure evil and join your Satanic cult," another puppet says. It's a 15-minute show you pay for through tax dollars and cable franchise fees.
WHAT YOU PAY FOR
Taxpayers provide CTV with free office and studio space in the Andrew Johnson Building.
Knox County also gives CTV a grant. This year it was for about $39,000.
The rest of CTV'S funding comes from the franchise fee on cable bills.
"I think if the proper authorities knew what was being put on the air there, I think they'd have something to say about that," Housley said.
Knox County Mayor's Spokesman Mike Cohen watched the program for less than two minutes before stopping it. "I mean virtually anyone who watches that is going to find it patently offensive."
Yet, 6 News found there isn't much you can do about it, besides calling your cable company to stop CTV from coming into your home. You can also change the channel or file a lawsuit. But you may not get results.
CTV General Manager David Vogel explained why. "You may find programming offensive. Offensive is not illegal. You may find it boring. Boring is not illegal. You may find it disgusting. Disgusting is not illegal."
As long as it isn't considered obscene, programming like Satanarchy is protected under the first amendment.
And Satanarchy producer Bryan Davis said he's a fierce protector of that amendment. "I mean, currently we're at war with certain religious groups who would have our rights taken away. So with that in mind, I want to make sure I have those rights. What good are they if I don't use them?"
The people behind Satanarchy say they aren't promoting Satanism. In fact, they say they're laughing at it.
But county spokesman Cohen isn't. "If there's a way we can legally stop stuff like this, then we'll be glad to do it. But ultimately, a lot of stuff is going to fall under the first amendment and the first amendment is a good thing, even though some bad things come with it."
In the meantime, Bill Housely is going to exercise one of his rights. "As a taxpayer, I just want to stand up and say I resent it, you know. If they're going to do that I don't have to tune in to that program. That's why I have the remote control."
UT journalism professor Mark Harmon said offended people can take action in another way. "The answer to bad speech is more speech. If you're offended by a program that you find on the air at 3:00 in the morning, make a program of your own. Anyone can go down to public access television and make one. I've hosted them. I've been on them, on my own, briefly. It seems like cable access is literally something else on the soapbox. Guess what, you can jump up on the same soapbox."
Satanarchy had a limited run and is over, for now. The producer says he hopes to re-run the segments.
Cohen sent the show to the District Attorney General's office for review. Assistant DA John Gill said the program isn't considered obscene, which means shows like it can continue to run.
Some viewers asked why the Federal Communications Commission doesn't forbid bad language and offensive images on CTV. The answer is, the FCC doesn't regulate cable programming.
Satanarchy, a self proclaimed satirical puppet show mocking Satanism, aired on Knoxville's CTV.
KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- Offensive language, Satanic images, even talk about burning down churches. You'll find it on Knoxville's community television and a 6 News investigation found out why you paid for it.
Turn on community television of Knoxville during the day and you'll find the latest in home-grown religious programming, community calendars and public meetings.
But turn on CTV after midnight and you might find this. A program with puppets that say, "For now, I want you to take this can of gasoline and I want you to burn down the Methodist church up the street."
Bill Housley stumbled across Satanarchy, a self proclaimed satirical puppet show mocking Satanism, in the middle of the night. "I thought it was right cute you know when I saw the puppets. And then it didn't take but seconds for the 'F' word to come out, you know."
There's also Satanic symbols and talk of sacrificing animals. "I wish to follow the left-handed path of pure evil and join your Satanic cult," another puppet says. It's a 15-minute show you pay for through tax dollars and cable franchise fees.
WHAT YOU PAY FOR
Taxpayers provide CTV with free office and studio space in the Andrew Johnson Building.
Knox County also gives CTV a grant. This year it was for about $39,000.
The rest of CTV'S funding comes from the franchise fee on cable bills.
"I think if the proper authorities knew what was being put on the air there, I think they'd have something to say about that," Housley said.
Knox County Mayor's Spokesman Mike Cohen watched the program for less than two minutes before stopping it. "I mean virtually anyone who watches that is going to find it patently offensive."
Yet, 6 News found there isn't much you can do about it, besides calling your cable company to stop CTV from coming into your home. You can also change the channel or file a lawsuit. But you may not get results.
CTV General Manager David Vogel explained why. "You may find programming offensive. Offensive is not illegal. You may find it boring. Boring is not illegal. You may find it disgusting. Disgusting is not illegal."
As long as it isn't considered obscene, programming like Satanarchy is protected under the first amendment.
And Satanarchy producer Bryan Davis said he's a fierce protector of that amendment. "I mean, currently we're at war with certain religious groups who would have our rights taken away. So with that in mind, I want to make sure I have those rights. What good are they if I don't use them?"
The people behind Satanarchy say they aren't promoting Satanism. In fact, they say they're laughing at it.
But county spokesman Cohen isn't. "If there's a way we can legally stop stuff like this, then we'll be glad to do it. But ultimately, a lot of stuff is going to fall under the first amendment and the first amendment is a good thing, even though some bad things come with it."
In the meantime, Bill Housely is going to exercise one of his rights. "As a taxpayer, I just want to stand up and say I resent it, you know. If they're going to do that I don't have to tune in to that program. That's why I have the remote control."
UT journalism professor Mark Harmon said offended people can take action in another way. "The answer to bad speech is more speech. If you're offended by a program that you find on the air at 3:00 in the morning, make a program of your own. Anyone can go down to public access television and make one. I've hosted them. I've been on them, on my own, briefly. It seems like cable access is literally something else on the soapbox. Guess what, you can jump up on the same soapbox."
Satanarchy had a limited run and is over, for now. The producer says he hopes to re-run the segments.
Cohen sent the show to the District Attorney General's office for review. Assistant DA John Gill said the program isn't considered obscene, which means shows like it can continue to run.
Some viewers asked why the Federal Communications Commission doesn't forbid bad language and offensive images on CTV. The answer is, the FCC doesn't regulate cable programming.