Germans Demand Poorly-Produced Papal Comedy
British television channel BBC Three dropped the 10-part show in 2004, arguing that its comedy value was not enough to offset the potential offence it could cause to Catholics.
A successful argument. But I knew the cocktail of ostentatious German-abasement (which Germans take judiciously, like a tonic) and punchline-free humor would prove too tempting for the Teutonic palate. The people are the voice of God, and they have spoken thus: give us more of this meaningless, three-years-expired series.
Offensive, parodic, over-the-top -- but is it entertaining? No one seems to care, and in the meantime, the Vatican is boosting Popetown's run with ill-fated attempts to get it off the air. Of course, the bizarre pope of the series is 1/10th Ratzinger at best, and you'll be on the outside of a English private joke that wasn't funny to start whenever you hear his/her voice. If you're still in the mood for another Family Guy knockoff (a Plagiarismo Di Plagiarismo?) or you simply want utero-Catholic fantasy about a place you are attached to but know little about (Americans, just think your country of origin), then Popetown just might be the scandal for you.