That's Entertainment?

When the movie version of Jesus Christ Superstar opened in New York City this month, Jewish organizations were outraged. Most outspoken was the American Jewish Committee. The committee's watchdog for anti-Semitism in Christian materials, Presbyterian Gerald Strober, called the film "much worse" than the play. For one thing, said Strober, the mob at Jesus' trial is specifically labeled as "you Jews" in the film script. And as on the stage, the Jewish high priests are deep-dyed villains.

Rabbi Marc Tanenbaum, interreligious affairs director for the committee, conceded that the "Christ killer" image of the Jews "has lost its power" in the U.S. But, he said, it is still a danger to Jews in some countries where the film will be shown. Actually, the film is such a screaming, witless enterprise (TIME, July 30) that religion and stereotypes aside, it probably deserves Strober's appraisal as a "catastrophe." In other respects, the criticism seems exaggerated; it is doubtful that anyone not already a confirmed bigot would be swayed by the film. As for criticizing the Temple's high priests, Superstar is hardly the first to do that. Far angrier words against the priests are found in the Book of Malachi, part of the Hebrew Bible.

While Jews assailed Superstar, Roman Catholics were mounting an intensive--and remarkably successful --campaign against Maude. At issue were two rerun episodes of the CBS television series that sympathetically portray Maude's decision to have an abortion when she finds herself unexpectedly pregnant. First aired last fall, the shows were attacked by the Roman Catholic press and hierarchy at the time, but with neither the force nor the effectiveness of the current campaign.

Bishop James S. Rausch, general secretary of the United States Catholic Conference, led off by charging that the CBS decision to rebroadcast the two shows was "irresponsible and gratuitous." The principal Catholic objection: "Advocacy of abortion is unacceptable in a situation-comedy format aired ... when children are a large part of the audience."

Other Roman Catholic bishops conducted a nationwide campaign to halt local showings of Maude or discourage sponsors from buying time on the show.

Last week, when the first segment of the two was shown, at least 39 out of 198 local CBS affiliates--including stations in Milwaukee, New Orleans, Indianapolis, Salt Lake City and Seattle --dropped the program. Out of six half-minute commercial spots available during the first show, none were sold.

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