NBC might drop Madonna's descent

They're quite touchy about religious offence in the offices of the American TV networks, which is why NBC are probably less thrilled at having won the rights to broadcast Madonna's tour film Live To Tell now they know she kicks things off by pretending she's like Jesus being crucified, only with a sparkly cross of crystals and much more gusset than Jesus would have had on display.

Now they're lumbered with having to decide how much they're going to cut - and even if they can come up with a solution to the god-baiting bits, there's the equally sensitive would-be sexy bits to worry over. The guys at NBC don't want to risk a Janet Jackson style fine, do they?

NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly has suggested that--like it or not--what may be right for a concert venue may not be suitable for prime time, and the pop icon is keenly aware of that.

"She's not revising her act," he told a gathering at the annual Television Critics Association press tour in July. "We've discussed what content will be in and what is out, and we've come to a healthy place that represents her show but is appropriate for television."

Reilly said they'll decide later on which numbers would be included in the special. "We're not going to make any piecemeal edits," he added.

Buying a Madonna gig, and then cutting out the sixth-form salaciousness is a bit like paying for Thora Hird's collected works and fast-forwarding through the religious bits.

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