Shakespeare Programme, The

Synopsis: Christian television late-night talk show with a humorous take on current issues, hosted by Steve and Kathy Gray and broadcast from Kansas City. Described on the show’s website as ‘a Christian show that connects the un-churched, the un-saved, and the un-interested to Hope and a Future’. In this episode Steve argues that God reads Shakespeare as he [God] speaks in Elizabethan English through prayer. Pictures of four celebrities (Mike Tyson, Paris Hilton, Hillary Clinton and Arnold Schwarzenneger) appear on the screen with a Shakespeare quotation beneath, Tyson’s caption is ‘Friends, Romans and Countrymen lend me your ears’. There follows a modern rendition of a scene from Romeo and Juliet in cod-Eizabethan English where feuding religions are represented by Juliet (Baptist) and Romeo (The Baptist) with Paris as ‘a run of the mill Christian’. The programme is truly awful but the audience appears to enjoy it.
Series: Steve and Kathy Show, The
Language: English
Country: United States
Medium: Television
Technical information: Colour / Sound
Transmission details: 16 Dec 2006
Duration: 29 mins
Availability: No distributor found (5/2008).

Producer

Writer

Cast

Steve Gray (2)	Romeo
Kathy Gray	Juliet

Production type: Sitcoms/Variety
Plays: Romeo and Juliet
Keywords: religious broadcasting; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Elizabethan English

Notes: The episode may be viewed at http://www.veoh.com/videos/v7039624D3BbbjWK (accessed 5/2008).
History: Episode 34, season 1. Transmission channel unknown.

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British Universities Film & Video Council