crucify

From the 'I Told You So' department comes this shocker: NBC is refusing to show the portion of Madonna's concert where she crucifies herself on a giant, disco-style cross. As I reported in September, the network and Madonna had been feuding over what NBC wanted to edit out of the concert, but apparently both sides have come to an agreement and Madonna is allowing the crucifixion scene to be edited out. I'm kind-of surprised that Madonna would allow the editing to happen. She's always sold herself as provocative and cutting edge. Madonna says the crucifixion scene is actually part of an appeal to get audiences to donate to AIDS charities.

The (edited) two-hour concert, called Madonna: The Confessions Tour -- Live from London, airs November 22nd at 8 pm.

Surprise, surprise. NBC is reportedly getting cold feet over plans to air a Madonna concert in which she crucifies herself. The New York Daily News reports that NBC is being pressured by the American Family Association to censor the explicit portions of Madonna's concert. Of course, Madonna does not like to be censored and she is threatening to pull her concert off the air entirely. The crucifixion is in her Confessions tour and Madonna says the point of it is not to shock the audience, but it's a plea for people to help one another.

Madonna must be just as desperate for fans as NBC is for viewers. OK, that's probably not true. No one is as desperate as NBC. The Material Girl has agreed to let NBC film her summer concert tour, called "Confessions on a Dance Floor", and edit it for a primetime audience. I think that means they'll leave the part where she crucifies herself on a disco cross on the cutting room floor. But, what about the S&M number (pictured)? Wait. How much of any Madonna concert is acceptable for a primetime network audience? There's a reason these things air on HBO.

Of course, I am a child of the '80s so I will probably be watching. I imagine this will garner at least one night of hot ratings for NBC this fall.