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2008-07-07
| Alteratiby Lefty Give Speech A Chance Online zine Alterati covers a Central Park Free Speech event on Independence Day, 2008. 2008-06-19 | Gothamist by Jen Carlson Mermaid Declares Hunger Strike! Reverend Billy and Savitri D have been named King Neptune and Queen Mermaid of the 2008 Coney Island Mermaid Parade, taking place this Saturday, and they're using their power to save Coney "from the gentrifying apocalypse of RETAIL ENTERTAINMENT HELL!" 2008-06-24 | Gothamist by Jen Carlson Coney Island's Future Bitterly, Colorfully Contested Last night’s Coney Island Public Scoping Meeting was the place to be, as activists like political performance artist Reverend Billy turned the meeting into a carnival, leaping up on a chair with repeated cries of “Coney-lujah!” 2008-06-23 | Gothamist by Jen Carlson Savitri D., Mermaid Savitri D., normally acting as director of the Church of Stop Shopping, became a mermaid this past weekend. After marching in the Mermaid Parade on Coney Island as Queen, and attending the Ball later that night, she began a hunger strike. She now sits in a storefront on Coney Island, fasting until a scoping meeting tomorrow regarding the fate of the area. You can see her on a livecam that's been set up; she talked to us after her fast began about her cause. 2008-06-21 | New York Daily News by Jeff Sederstrom Mermaid Queen on hunger strike She's just scales and bones. 2008-06-22 | 1010 WINS by Terry Sheridan Coney Island Celebrates 'Mermaid Parade' It was a popular celebration from 1903 to 1954, before the Coney Island Mardi Gras faded away. Since 1983, it has been brought back to life and is now known as the 'Mermaid Parade.' 2008-06-22 | New York Times by Dennis Holt Rite of Summer Turns a Little Serious The Mermaid Parade in Coney Island on Saturday had its usual array of sequined mermaid tails, long trains of fish netting, tiny clamshell bikinis and strategically placed plastic swordfish. But this year’s celebration also included a large number of performers with a cause. 2008-05-29 | The Villager by Jefferson Siegel Performance preacher calls pavilion sacred space Reverend Billy preached through his megaphone after popping inside the Union Square construction fence last week, above. Below, cutouts of “Union Square heroes” that Billy’s disciples held during the protest. 2008-06-04 | Brooklyn Rail by Ben Shepard "Union Square is Not For Sale" Declare Activists The streets and corners, alleys and parks, apartments and buildings of New York undergo constant reinvention. Go away for a week and return to find your favorite watering hole closed, signs for a building permit in front of a familiar street corner, or a fence with a “Keep Out” on a once inviting public park. 2008-06-13 | The Villager by Jefferson Siegel Washington’s and Robeson’s spirits haunt pavilion plan Last Thursday, the Union Square Partnership held its Annual Meeting and Networking Reception in the W Hotel on Park Ave. South. A block away another decidedly less sedate gathering was coalescing. A rally to protest the building of a restaurant in the park’s north pavilion attracted scores of locals, greensward lovers and free-speech proponents. 2008-06-05 | Huffington Post by Charles Shaw Viewing Consumer Culture Through the Lens of Addiction "An addict is someone who uses their body to tell society that something is wrong." --Stella Adler (1901-1992) 2008-05-27 | USA Today Pop Candy by Whitney Matheson Cool stuff on DVD this week Check out today's release list, then rearrange your Netflix queues accordingly... 2008-05-30 | EURweb by Kam Williams EUR DVD REVIEW: What Would Jesus Buy? Super-Size Jesus: This tongue-in-cheek documentary questions the degree to which America has commercialized Christmas. 2008-04-13 | Box Vox by Randy Ludacer Reverend Billy on Packaging Seems like an appropriate time to share my interview with Reverend Billy. (This being Sunday and all.) Following the thread of my earlier Dieline post about package designers striving to be good, Reverend Billy and his “Church of Stop Shopping” should be of interest to any package designer aspiring to an ethical “higher ground.” 2007-11-22 by Gary Moskowitz Prepare For the Shopocalypse A timely documentary chronicles one man's zany quest to spread a simple message: "Stop Shopping." 2008-02-07 | DebtHacker by Mark Keep That Charge Card in Your Wallet Saith the Lord Did you know that God wants you to be debt free? Well, according to the Reverend Billy Talen at St. Mark’s Church in Manhattan, He does! This from an article on CNNMoney.com titled Stay away from the mall, say Hallelujah! that profiles Reverend Talen’s unique ministry. As the founder of the Church of Stop Shopping (yes, I am serious), the message is as spirit-filled as it would be with any other modern Evangelical congregation but the message is about how to free one’s self from the hell and suffering of finances run amuck. 2008-02-05 | The Observer by Lysandra Ohrstrom The Afternoon Wrap: Tuesday Reverend Billy and his "Stop Shopping Gospel Choir" summon the gods to protect mom-'n'-pop shops from the clutches of developers. On Saturday they camped near St. Mark's Church in a plea to save the 45-year-old Angelo Fontana's shoe repair shop. Jeramiah's Vanishing New York. 2008-01-20 | LAist by Lindsay William-Ross Dude! Today's The Doo Dah Parade! Forget the pageantry and regal demeanor of the Rose Parade, the 31st Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade is the ultimate antidote. 2007-12-11 | Village Voice by Lynn Yaeger Leading Reverend Billy Into Sin Lord, he is consumed. Forgive him those great sweaters and pants he hath bought 2007-12-10 | The HooK by Claiborne Thompson Durkee returns… with anti-splurge film Don’t know what to get your best friend, cousin Elmer, or significant other for Christmas this year? Worried about spending too much money? Well, two Charlottesville natives have some words of wisdom for distressed holiday shoppers. 2007-12-10 | San Francisco Chronicle by David Ian Miller Reverend Billy preaches the gospel of the church of stop-shopping The holiday shopping frenzy is upon us, but before you race to the mall to claim your new PlayStation 3, iPod or giant flat-panel TV, you might want to heed the words of the Rev. Billy, a.k.a. performance artist Bill Talen. 2007-12-07 | Baltimore Sun by Michael Sragow It's easy to 'Buy' into message (B+) My nomination for a new Christmas perennial: What Would Jesus Buy? President Bush says the terrorists will win if we stop shopping. This documentary says humanity loses if we keep hocking our future possibilities to purchase goods and services. 2007-12-08 | Knoxville News Sentinel by Betsy Pickle Film offers antidote to yule spending mania One of the best presents you could buy yourself this holiday season is a ticket to "What Would Jesus Buy?" 2007-12-07 | Salt Lake Tribune by Sean P. Means Review: What Would Jesus Buy? Speaking of Bill O'Reilly, his phony-baloney "War on Christmas" has nothing on the real assault being mounted by corporations who have transformed Jesus' birthday into a consumer feeding frenzy. 2007-11-02 | New York Observer by Chris Shott Shott On Location: Corner of Thompson and West 3rd Streets "CAN AH GETTA SHAIKH-ALLUJAH?!?!" No, Astor Place isn't getting another Starbucks. Yet. 2007-12-07 | Washington Post by Anna Hornaday Don't Shop, and Ye Shall Be Saved! 'WWJB' Preaches Against Pitfalls Of Consumerism 2007-12-07 | Philly.com by Carrie Rickey What Would Jesus Buy? Directed by Rob VanAlkemade. With Bill Talen, Savitri D and James Solomon Benn. Released by Warrior Poets Productions. 1 hour, 30 mins. PG (adult themes, mild oaths). Playing at: Ritz at the Bourse. 2007-12-06 | Santa Barbara Independent by Amy R. Ramos What Would Jesus Buy? Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir star in a film directed by Rob VanAlkemade. 2007-12-06 | Colorado Springs Independent by KIRK WOUNDY Super $ave Me In perhaps Morgan Spurlock's best big-screen moment, he's lurching out his car window, kecking a just-eaten double Quarter Pounder with Cheese and fries onto the asphalt. When Billy Talen gets recognized, it's often as "the guy I saw the cops ripping out of Starbucks." 2007-12-03 | New West by J. Gelband No Shopping for Holiday Gifts This Year “So three of my neighbors brought over Christmas cookies this weekend,” my friend Rachel griped Monday morning. “They were big and green and red and wrapped up all fancy. And I panicked because now I have to give them cookies in return and you know I don’t bake. So I have to go get something at Albertsons today.” 2007-12-03 | Daily Cardinal by Mark Riecher ‘WWJB?’ examines the Shopocalypse 'What Would Jesus Buy?' takes a look at the consumerism that surrounds the Christmas season. 2007-11-29 | Chicago Tribune by Jessica Reaves 'What Would Jesus Buy?'--3 stars A sharp look--and poke--at holiday commercialism 2007-11-29 | Seattle Post Intelligencer by William Arnold 'What Would Jesus Buy?' is an entertaining reality check Joining the flurry of Christmas-themed movies already in the theaters this week ("Fred Claus," "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, "This Christmas") is the entertaining and eye-opening Christmas documentary "What Would Jesus Buy?" 2007-11-28 | Hartford Courant by SUSAN DUNNE Condemning Christmas Money Machine The Rev. Billy isn't a real reverend. Bill Talen is a performance artist on a mission, and it's an admirable one: to encourage people to resist the commercialization of Christmas. The documentary "What Would Jesus Buy?" travels with Billy and his red-robed choir from state to state in a bio-fueled bus, pulling in periodically to try to stop Christmas shopping in its tracks. 2007-11-28 | SFist by Emily Cox Interview: Reverend Billy As you walk around and see stores decorated for Christmas before Halloween, it’s hard not to think that consumerism has gone out of control in this country. Unlike other problems, there’s a relatively simple solution to this. Bill Talen, aka the Reverend Billy simply says: “Stop Shopping”. 2007-11-28 | Sante Fay Reporter by Emiliano Garcia-Sarnoff Happy B-Day Jesus, it’s just what you always wanted! Happy B-Day Jesus, it’s just what you always wanted! 2007-06-18 | USA Today Pop Candy by Whitney Matheson Put these 10 docs on your radar So here's a roundup of all of the movies I watched at the Silverdocs documentary festival. 2007-11-27 | For The Love by Kristen Campbell Church of Stop Shopping "What Would Jesus Buy?," a new documentary by director Rob VanAlkemade and producer Morgan "Supersize Me" Spurlock, is a ferociously satirical and cynical take on consumer culture, pegged to America's most sacred spending season, Brian Braiker writes. 2007-11-27 | Inside Bay Area by Mary F. Pols Not just same old stuff in 'What Would Jesus Buy?' WHAT DID you do Friday? Did it involve consumerism, angst over your holiday shopping list and tired feet? The retail industry calls the day after Thanksgiving "Black Friday," but for most of us, it's the beginning of a month-long marathon of angst, confusion and over-spending. 2007-11-26 | Church Central by Rebecca Barnes Should saints be out shopping? Like about 147 million other Americans I hit the stores over Thanksgiving weekend to start my Christmas shopping. I wasn’t doing my part to boost the economy, just getting a head start on a long list of gifts to buy. 2007-11-23 | NYC Indymedia by Trevor Jones Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping's Buy Nothing Day March! Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping are on a mission: to spread the word about the evils of global capitalism, consumerism and wasteful spending by the good people of America. To counter the lemming-like behavior that is "Black Friday", the Reverend, his choir and band of striking elves walk down 5th Avenue and over to Times Square, between 12pm and 1pm. 2007-11-23 | NovoMetro by Kwam Booth Your Oakland Weekend Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir have a serious beef with Wal Mart and all of its big-box shopping brethren. 2007-12-22 | Toronto Star by Stephen Scharper Reverend Billy's crusade against `shopocolypse' A homespun preacher, equal parts Borat, Jimmy Swaggart and Michael Moore peddles his anti-consumer message to Mall America 2007-12-20 | Media Rights by Shira Golding Change-a-lujah! A Conversation with What Would Jesus Buy? Filmmakers Morgan Spurlock and Rob VanAlkemade I got my first glimpse of the impending "Shopocalypse" a few years ago when I joined Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping in Times Square on Buy Nothing Day. Referred to by the unconverted as Black Friday, it's the day when Americans flood the malls to spend vast amounts of money on holiday gifts... 2007-12-20 | US News and World Report by Kimberly Palmer So, What Would Jesus Buy? If you're feeling overwhelmed by shopping this month, What Would Jesus Buy? is the movie for you. By equating elaborate gift giving with consumerism gone wild, it will help you justify the impulse to stop buying presents altogether. 2007-12-19 | San Gabriel Valley Tribune by Janette Williams Anti-consumerism `reverend' will lead Doo Dah Parade The man in the white polyester suit parading along Colorado Boulevard come Jan. 20 won't be a Tournament of Roses leftover. 2007-12-20 | The Valley Advocate by Jack Brown Cinema Dope: What Would Jesus Buy? It’s either an inspired bit of programming or a surefire flop, but whatever the outcome, you have to admire the chutzpah of Amherst Cinema: in the four days leading up to Christmas, they’ll be screening the fire and brimstone anti-consumerism film What Would Jesus Buy? 2007-12-18 | Couric and Co. by Anthony Mason Step away from the cash register Bill Talen is a quintessential New York City street performer. He lived in Times Square during the 1990’s when the city cleaned out a lot of the seamier elements to make way for the more tourist-friendly retail establishments. 2007-12-18 | Plenty Shopping for Green Just in time to avoid the jam-packed malls: What Would Jesus Buy?, a documentary about Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir, produced by Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me). 2007-12-14 | Hartford Courant by Buying A Message Of Giving Documentary can't settle on a theme A polite Greenwich billionaire wants you to donate instead of shop this buying season, but it's a manic performer by the name of Rev. Billy of the Church of Stop Shopping who has me rethinking my sinning, consumerist ways. 2007-12-12 | The Villager by Scoopy's Notebook What’s not in your wallet? We called Bill Talen a.k.a. Reverend Billy on his cell phone on Monday to get his take on a new kind of Starbucks we’d just seen in Midtown at 42nd St. and Third Ave., where a NorthFork bank branch literally shares the same space and entrance with the coffee chain store. 2007-12-14 | St. Louis Post-Dispatch by Joe Williams What Would Jesus Buy? Asked what the son of God would want for Christmas, several straight-faced interview respondents say "an Xbox 360." Therefore, because even churchgoers have forgotten the meaning of the holiday, a new kind of clergyman rides to the rescue: Rev. Billy, the anti-profit prophet of the Church of Stop Shopping. 2007-12-13 | San Diego Union-Tribune by David Elliott 'What Would Jesus Buy?': Shop, drop, repent Cheekiness bulges from “What Would Jesus Buy?,” an amiable but also angry documentary starring Bill Talen, who calls himself Rev. Billy and preaches an anti-consumerist message with a shaming emphasis on holiday hoggery. 2007-12-13 | Sign On Sandiego: Street by FILM: It's the Shopocalypse! FILM: It's the Shopocalypse! In his 2004 film "Super Size Me," director Morgan Spurlock ate nothing but McDonalds, three times a day, for an entire month. He gained about 25 pounds and severely strained his internal organs. His latest film, "What Would Jesus Buy?," isn't quite as gross, but it does takes a similarly fun approach in examining U.S. consumer culture during the holiday shopping season. 2007-12-16 | Revolution In Jesusland by Zack Interview With The Church Of Stop Shopping Zack interviews Savitri D about how she came to the Church, its message, and how the Community keeps her going 2007-11-16 | Orlando Sentinel by Laura Brost What Would Jesus Buy? That's the question asked in a new documentary film (titled the same) produced by Morgan Spurlock who stirred up controversy -- and calories -- with his film Super Size Me in 2004. 2007-11-21 | Seattle Post Intelligencer by Amy Goodman Jesus would consume less, will you? Reverend Billy wants you to stop shopping. "Black Friday" is the name retailers have given to the day after Thanksgiving in their attempt to make Christmas synonymous with shopping... 2007-11-23 | Associated Press by Ryan Pearson Holiday Consumerism Targeted by Humor LOS ANGELES (AP) — Buy Nothing Day is getting a Jesus jolt. Performance artist Bill Talen assumes the persona of Reverend Billy, often accompanied by a gospel choir, to use the histrionics and cadences of a televangelist (think Jimmy Swaggart) in an anti-consumerism effort to convert people to his "Church of Stop Shopping." 2007-11-22 | New York Times Dot Earth by Andrew C. Revkin A Fresh Advertising Pitch: Buy Nothing As millions of Americans brace for the jammed parking lots and mobbed closeout racks that come with the holiday shopping season, a small but determined network of antishopping activists is girded for action as well. 2007-11-23 | San Francisco Chronicle by Kelly Zito Not all buy into Black Friday - some make point of sitting it out This morning, as cash registers buzz and throngs of Bay Area shoppers pony up for iPods, Hannah Montana dolls and flat-screen TVs, John Perry and his family will be 80 miles away hiking the Sonoma County coast. 2007-11-23 | Alternet by Emily Wilson The Commercialization of Christmas: What Would Jesus Buy? A camera crew followed the Reverend Billy across the country as he preached against our shopping-hungry culture. His message is just in time for the holiday frenzy. 2007-11-23 | The Daily Green by Olivia Zaleski Black Friday? Thou Shalt Not Shop Church of Stop Shopping Calls Holly War on Consumerism 2007-11-24 | Alternet by Danny Schechter The Holiday's Shopping Season Can't Stop the Coming 'Severe Recession' The media is complicit in "shop-apocalypse," as consumers go wild in a shaky economy. 2007-11-21 | Huffington Post by Olivia Zaleski Black Friday: What Would Jesus Buy? Hi. My name is Olivia. I'm a recovering shopaholic. I used to work in the corporate headquarters of a massive retailer. The mall was my spot, shopping a leisure sport, weekends an all out paycheck-annihilating bender; birthdays and Christmas justified a binge. This Friday is going to be especially difficult for me. It's Black Friday, also known as "the day after Thanksgiving," or "the biggest shopping day of the year." I'm scared. 2007-11-24 | IFC.com by Alison Wilmore Morgan Spurlock on "What Would Jesus Buy?" "What Would Jesus Buy?", a new documentary on anti-consumerism activist Bill Talen, a.k.a. the Reverend Billy, and his Church of Stop Shopping, finds Spurlock trying his hand at producing films that, like "Super Size Me," pair a message with humor and entertainment. 2007-11-24 | Lawrence Journal-World by Terry Rombeck The price of consumerism Local documentary with local ties asks, “What Would Jesus Buy?” 2007-11-23 | SFist by Rita Hao The Day of Stop Shopping Black Friday, the Friday after Thanksgiving, the day where big retail shoppers traditionally break even for the year! Traditionally considered the biggest shopping day of the year! Is it retail therapy? ....Or is it kowtowing to the gods of capitalism and binding the workers who long to be free? 2007-11-14 | The Villager by WILL McKINLEY Reverend Billy’s traveling salvation show If you want to give someone you love a present this holiday season, take them to see “What Would Jesus Buy?” The new documentary from producer Morgan Spurlock, of “Super Size Me” fame, makes the most compelling case for consumption reduction I’ve seen since my last MasterCard statement. 2007-11-20 | The Nation (online) by Laura Flanders What Would Jesus Buy? There is one thing the Church of Stop Shopping's Reverend Billy wants you to buy this season: a ticket to his new movie, "What Would Jesus Buy." Make that purchase now and you'll add anti-media-monopoly oomph to your personal buying-power... 2007-11-22 | AOL Political Machine Blog by Tommy Christopher What to Buy Jesus For Christmas It is the annually overhyped clustershop known as "Black Friday", the first official day of Christmas shopping, so it seemed the perfect opportunity to put together a list of great gifts for the conservative in your life. But then,as I researched that premise, I came across this AP story about the new Morgan Spurlock-produced film, "What Would Jesus Buy?" 2007-11-24 | San Jose Mercury News by Mary F. Pols Rev. Billy wants to say bye to buying What did you do Friday? Did it involve consumerism, angst over your holiday shopping list and tired feet? The retail industry calls the day after Thanksgiving "Black Friday," but for most of us, it's the beginning of a monthlong marathon of angst, confusion and overspending... 2007-11-16 | KillerMovieReviews.com KillerMovieReviews.com: What Would Jesus Buy? The question raised by WHAT WOULD JESUS BUY?, and it’s a loaded one, isn’t the eponymous one, but rather why it is that it’s a performance artist that is the one protesting against the commercialization of Christmas, and not the actual ministers of the kid from Nazareth. 2007-11-16 | Film Journal by Frank Lovece Film Journal Review of What Would Jesus Buy? Political guerrilla theatre dates back to at least the 1960s—even further if you count the Boston Tea Party... 2007-11-16 | Christianity Today by Brett McCracken Christianity Today Review Of What Would Jesus Buy? With Christmas shopping right around the corner, this edgy new documentary merges "Christian" forms with an anti-consumerist message. 2007-11-16 | New York Press by Eric Kohn NY Press "What Would Jesus Buy?" Review Early in the new documentary What Would Jesus Buy? (opening this weekend at Cinema Village), New York City staple Reverend Billy holds up a stuffed Disney character and declares, “Mickey Mouse is the Antichrist!” to a very bemused department store crowd. Preachers love to parse the curious nature of sin, but few pundits have honed a unique and broadly appealing stance of the caliber put forth by the heated founder of New York’s Chuch of Stop Shopping... 2007-11-16 | New York Times by Laura Kern What Would Jesus Buy? Review For some of the parents interviewed in Rob VanAlkemade’s fast and funny documentary “What Would Jesus Buy?” the answer to the question posed by the title is simple: whatever gadget of the moment their spoiled-rotten kids are craving. 2006-12-01 | The Brooklyn Rail by Matthew Vaz Black Friday with Reverend Billy “I told Michelle. I said I’m not comin’ in today. She said why not? I said it’s black people Friday. I’m stayin’ home to celebrate,” explains Denise Parish of Crown Heights, as she rings up items on a cash register in an express lane at Target inside the Atlantic Center complex, in downtown Brooklyn... 2007-10-29 | Sojourners by Walter Brueggemann What Would Jesus Buy? Rev. Billy and his "Church of Stop Shopping" preach the gospel of love, anti-consumerism, and radical neighborliness. 2007-10-27 | Radar by Kate Torgovnick Altar Ego Can this fake missionary's position on corporate greed save the world? 2007-10-19 | USA Today Pop Candy by Whitney Matheson CMJ report: Can't stop the music Three nights down, two to go. The CMJ Music Marathon really is an endurance test. As you can tell from my Twitters, the action never stops. Each night I have to force myself to go home even though bands play until all hours, and then I feel guilty for not waking up at the crack of dawn to experience more music. 2007-10-18 | Gothamist by John Del Signore Reverend Billy, Performance Activist Performance artist and activist Bill Talen, AKA Reverend Billy, has been raising hell in New York City for so long now it’s hard to imagine this town without him. Since first seizing his sidewalk pulpit in the late 90s to combat the Disneyfication of Times Square, the reverend has been consistently down with a host of local and international progressive causes. With the help of his raucous Stop Shopping Gospel Choir, he also puts on a hilarious and inspirational theatrical show. (Not to take anything away from Other Love, his quite moving solo piece.) November will see the release of a documentary concerning the cross-country travels of Reverend Billy and his choir, What Would Jesus Buy?, produced by Morgan Spurlock of Supersize Me fame. Tonight the Reverend brings his righteous lefty heat to Gothamist House; all are invited to come on down and testify. 2007-10-18 | 10 Zen Monkeys by RU Sirius Reverend Billy Wants You To Stop Shopping You may want to start shopping more, just to increase your chances of running into the brilliant and hilarious anti-consumer performance artist Reverend Billy and his mad crew. But if you're averse to hanging in malls, you now have another option — you can watch What Would Jesus Buy?, a new film directed by Rob VanAlkemade and produced by Super Size Me director Morgan Spurlock. The film follows Billy and his "Church of Stop Shopping choir" on a trek across America, between Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2005, as our protagonists try to inject a little bit of genuine holiday spirit into the frenzy of the Xmas shopping season. (You know — love thy neighbors, help the needy, give peace a chance...) 2007-08-28 | Haleakala Times by Jon Letman Paradise Denied A Q&A with Reverend Billy from the Hawaii. "Developers have stolen the idea of prosperity, the idea of future, and have copped the idea of growth, and people get waltzed into believing them. Now we know, and it has been proven, their idea of future is deadly." 2007-12-17 | USA Today Pop Candy by Whitney Matheson My top 100 people of 2007 Does anyone else feel like this year went by way too quickly? 2007-07-15 | Los Angeles Times by Erika Hayasaki Preaching the anti-shopping gospel "I want you to take your little family away from this den of iniquity!" Under the guise of the Rev. Billy, activist, actor and writer Bill Talen targets consumerism and big corporations. 2007-06-18 | Washington Post by By Randall Mikkelsen What Would Jesus Buy screens faces Hard Sell How do you sell a film documenting performance artist Rev. Billy and his Stop Shopping Gospel Choir on a guerrilla U.S. tour against consumerism? 2007-05-14 | Daily News by rush, molloy, cristina kinon Some dislike the 'Way' Starbucks fills its coffers Former child soldier Ishmael Beah loves the way Starbucks has turned his memoir, "A Long Way Gone," into a best-seller - making legions of frappuccino fanciers aware of the plight of Sierra Leone. But not everyone thinks the coffee chain's motives are so pure. 2007-05-03 | United Press International by Bernard Starr What would Jesus buy? Column "You have to see Reverend Billy this Saturday — he'll blow you away." So I decided to go. Despite the accolades from two sources, I thought it might be a lot of sophomoric, over-the-top silly banter. I couldn't have been more wrong. 2007-03-23 | New York Times by George Hunka A Sermon On Corporations, Neighborhoods and Loss "Reverend Billy takes full advantage of the parodic possibilities, running through all the sacred tropes of the tent revival. But more, the tent is across from a Victoria’s Secret branch, Victoria’s Secret being the Reverend Billy’s particular bête noire this time around." 2006-10-04 | NEXT Magazine by Events Let's Pray From Brother Derrick: "If there were ever any doubts that our message is being heard by an array of different communties, put them to rest...we received a thumbs up listing in NEXT - one of the popular gay weekly circuit magazines. If history proves anything, once the gays embrace anything, the masses are soon to follow..." 2006-11-08 | The New Yorker by Ben McGrath Holy Rollers Critical Mass under the microscope, interviews with the Reverend and many friends of the Church 2005-05-29 | RES Magazine by Jesse Ashlock Shopocalypse Now!: Q+A with Reverend Billy Billy talks about the upcoming Soft Skull book, the CD, and (of course) removing Starbucks and Disney. 2006-06-27 | e-misferica by Jill Lane Do I Have a Witness? 2007-03-23 | The Villager by Lincoln Anderson Reverend Billy’s Seaport panty raid 2006-08-01 | Stores Magazine by Janet Groeber Preaching with the Choir "Shopping as an activity is addictive, Talen asserts. While that leads to potential personal financial ruin, there’s a larger issue that affects everyone. It’s just not a good idea, he says, to base an economy on buying -- particularly goods not made in this country." 2006-11-29 | City Belt by Matt Hunger Cultural Karate Even while covering our SoHo Buy Nothing Day Parade, a reporter for the New Jersey progressive magazine battles sinful thoughts of holiday purchases. "At this point I really wish I had some clue as to where we’re headed, what the good Reverend has planned for us. And then we’re stopped in front of a building, but there are too many of us and I can’t even see what store it is. The Reverend enters and we, the dutiful churchgoers, follow and I can finally see where we are: a Victoria’s Secret department store. " 2006-09-24 | New York Times by Steven Kurutz Queasy Rider Write-up on Critical Mass with a cameo by the Rev 2006-05-10 | Associated Content by Timothy Sexton Quit Worshipping the Almighty Dollar A witty and insightful article about the joys of Not Buying and Backing Away. Excellent sidebar material. 2006-11-18 | Brooklyn Downtown Star by Medi Blum Reverend Billy and the Coming Shopocalypse A peek into our Brooklyn Lyceum show, includes interviews with members of the audience. An overview of the Shopocalypse tour 2006-12-11 | East Valley Tribune by Editorial Team A preacher’s plea to stop the ‘Shopocalypse’ The Tribune Editorial Team harvests a nice writeup from our website. Scottsdale! Stop Your Shopping! 2006-11-10 | New York Times by Manny Fernandez Opponents Try to Lock Up Bronx Before Wal-Mart Knocks Article about Bronx coalition of Wal-Mart resistors 2005-06-04 | OrganicConsumers.com by Global Exchange Rev. Billy Preaches to San Francisco Supervisors to End Sweatshops! 2005-06-02 | The Vallejo Times-Herald by J.M. BROWN 'Rev. Billy' visits Wal-Mart to conduct colorful protest Vallejo daily writes about the Rev and Choir at Wal-Mart. Play along at home by counting the mis-spelled names and backhanded compliments! 2005-04-08 | The Boston Phoenix by Camille Dodero Annals of Free Trade: Reverend Billy descends on Starbucks 2004-04-21 | San Francisco Bay Guardian by Lynn Rapoport Heal thyself 2007-03-23 | Downtown Express by Rachel Breitman The Gospel According to Reverend Billy 2006-01-10 | Cleveland Plain Dealer by Molly Kavanaugh Are We Naughty Or Nice When We Shop Til We Drop? -- As the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir belts out a round of hallelujahs," the Rev. Billy comes clean. He, too, is a sinner. Just look at his dyed blond 'do. It has way too many petroleum products. The preacher then imagines the new Xbox and the deep discounted Christmas sales he will have to resist, and nearly faints. He wipes his brow with a handkerchief as the red-robed choir uplifts him. "Stop shopping. Start living," they sing as an enthusiastic crowd, mainly Oberlin College students, cheers... 2006-04-10 | Dayton Daily News by D.L. Stewart Repent, for thou has spent California non-shoppers look to Reverend Billy for spiritual guidance 2004-07-23 | The Wall Street Journal by Jay Nordlinger The Reverend Is Irreverent | The Village Voice by Alisa Solomon Stage Left [PDF] 2006-01-10 | Chicago Tribune by Rex W. Huppke Street Sermons of Fire and Boycott Faux cleric speaks loudly about avoiding consumerism as he wields a big shtick... 2006-01-10 | Chicago Reader by Mark Engler Jesus Christ, Stop Shopping Reverend Billy is leaning against the counter of a Starbucks in Northridge, California. Dressed in a white suit and clerical collar, his gelled, dyedblond hair swept skyward in a John Travolta pompadour, he could easily pass for a real man of the cloth -until he opens his mouth. 2007-03-23 | The New York Times Sunday Magazine by Jonathan Dee Reverend Billy’s Unholy War One of the definitive pieces, an in-depth study of the Church, its practice and politics. 2007-03-23 | Village Voice by Sarah Ferguson Rev. Billy Tells Victoria's Dirty Secrets 2007-03-23 | The Revealer by Brad Tytel The Reluctant Religion of Reverend Billy "Whether this is theater or religion remains an open question. I have come to see a man expound a moral truth to a crowd of believers while his choir sings hymns from the dais behind him -- in a church no less. So how is that different from any religion?" | back to media::about us | 2008-06-26 | Gothamist by Jen Carlson Rev. Billy Rallies Against Privatizing the Pavilion Reverend Billy climbed to the roof of the Pavilion building in Union Square last night around 6:30 p.m. to hang a banner reading: Not For Sale... 2008-02-01 | The Age by Ross Honeywill A new mantra - buy less, spend more CONSUMERISM dominates the world's developed economies, but a revolution is rising up, with passionate pockets of dissent demanding we buy, not more, but less. 2008-02-02 | The Times Of London by Reverend Billy Reverend Billy praises Dave Gorman's America Unchained The anticorporate preacher Reverend Billy praises Dave Gorman and his search for a chain store-free America 2008-01-31 | SvD by Lena Karvik Frälsaren i månglartemplen Korståg. Diskussionen om köphets och överkonsumtion är ingalunda ny. Amerikanen Bill Talen har iklätt sig rollen som pastor och rest runt i tio år och predikat om shoppingens fördärvlighet. Humor är hans vapen, även i hans nya film. 2007-12-01 | Financial Times by Trevor Butterworth 'Stop, stop shopping' If the multitudes that arrived in midtown Manhattan last Friday - the post-Thanksgiving start to the US holiday shopping season - had resigned themselves to a Broadway darkened by striking stagehands, there was some amusement to discover that the stagehands weren't the only strikers in New York. 2007-12-17 | Stuff by Philip Matthews Trimming the merry excess Can the consumerist frenzy of Christmas have any relationship to the modern idea of "ethical" living? 2007-12-16 | The Age by Stephanie Bunbury Check the malls (and fill my trolley) It seems all everyone wants for Christmas is more stuff, and more stuff means more debt. But as Australians increasingly turn to the plastic solution, economists are wondering, where will it end? 2007-11-24 | The Times of London by Suzy Jagger Revving up Americans to drop their obsession with shopping Under the dog collar, Bill Talen is trying to spread a serious message about the influence of global corporations 2007-07-02 | AP by Tom Hays NYC man held for reciting 1st Amendment "It feels so good to be back on the very spot where I was denied my First Amendment rights by reciting the First Amendment," he told reporters over the din of an NYPD helicopter hovering overhead. 2007-06-24 | Pagina 12 by Natali Schejtman Vade Retro Inc. A principios de junio, Buenos Aires fue copada por artistas, activistas y académicos de distintas partes de América para discutir la relación entre la política, el arte y el cuerpo. Mientras las mesas redondas hervían en el Centro Cultural Recoleta, las performances salieron a la calle y entraron al teatro. Radar entrevistó a dos invitados ilustres que exorcizaron un McDonald’s y anunciaron la invasión latina en Estados Unidos. 2007-06-17 | Independent Online by Fred Kockott Shopocalypse now! Into the dark heart of debt 2007-04-16 | Toronto Globe and Mail by Simon Houpt From the Billy Pulpit You don't often witness overt displays of religion down on the Lower East Side these days, now that the old Jewish community has died off or decamped to Florida to let the cool kids rule the neighbourhood. But last Monday night an old-time preacher sparked a revivalist chorus of shouted hallelujahs among an ad hoc congregation of folks who don't normally go to church. 2007-04-06 | The Independent---UK by David Usbourne Shopocalypse Now: Rise of an anti-retail campaigner He's stormed everywhere from Starbucks to the Capitol preaching his gospel of Stop Shopping. As Morgan Spurlock brings the unorthodox anti-capitalist's message to the world, David Usborne is granted an audience with the Reverend Billy 2006-10-04 | Times Of London by Reverend Billy The Parable of the Non-Shopper Reverend Billy reviews NOT BUYING IT: My Year Without Shopping - by Judith Levine 2006-11-08 | Folio - Neue Zuercher Zeitung by Von Marc Pitzke Die Shopokalypse From Folio magazine, a monthly supplement to Zurich's quality newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung. Each issue is dedicated to a main subject, this month's subject is shopping. 2006-06-07 | FM4 by Christian Lehner Kirche gegen Konsumwahn und Wal-Mart FM4 online write-up with many comments. 2006-01-06 | Le Monde by NEW YORK CORRESPONDENT La shopocalypse selon Billy PDF screenshot of Le Mond article 2006-04-16 | The Times Of London by Bridget Freer A Life In The Day: Reverend Billy [PDF] The Rev, in his own words, takes us through a day in the Talen/Durkee household. 2006-01-10 | UK Guardian by Gary Younge Preaching Against Corporate Space Invaders Holiday 2005 article about the Church pushing back Starbucks and other trans-nationals. 2002-11-23 | The London Observer Magazine by Jessica Berens Thou shalt not shop 2004-12-01 | El Pais by Barbara Celes D'Amico El Mesias 'Stop Shopping' Writeup from Reverend Billy and Savitri D tour in Barcelona 2006-04-16 | Corporate Watch UK by Sophie McAdam The Shopocalypse Is Coming! The Reverend Billy creation myth with some excellent quotes from Billy. | back to media::about us | 2007-11-30 | Movie Natters by Euan Kerr Reverend Billy poses a provocative question "What would Jesus buy?" aims to provoke... 2007-11-28 | Pacifica Radio Network by Ursula Rudenberg Rev Billy Asks "Will You Be Saved From The Shopocalypse This Christmas Season?" Will You Be Saved From The Shopocalypse This Christmas Season? - A Full-Length Service of Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping. 2007-11-16 | Marketplace by Lisa Napoli Shopocalypse now Reverend Billy has a message for you: the end is near for our consumer culture. Marketplace's Lisa Napoli enters the fold of the Church of Stop Shopping to bring us the gospel. 2007-11-21 | Democracy Now! by Amy Goodman “What Would Jesus Buy?” As Holiday Buying Frenzy Begins, New Film Tracks Anti-Consumerism Gospel of Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping 2007-06-22 | NPR by Michele Martin Tell Me More/ NPR Michele Martin with Rev and Savitri 2007-04-27 | BBC world by BBC World service Thou Shalt Not Shop! America is arguably the world's pre-eminent consumer society. 2006-10-09 | Traprock Peace Center by Traprock Peace Center Audio From Hampshire College Show Brother Charlie Jenks recorded about an hour of audio from the Rev and Choir's performance in April 2006. 2007-01-05 | Sprouts Radio by Ursula Ruedenberg Recording of Save Christmas Show at Cooper Union Great recording of Reverend Billy's sermon delivered to Cooper Union's historic Great Hall on December 10, 2006. Thanks to Ursula and Sprouts! 2007-01-04 | Swedish National Radio by Katarina Andersson Buy Nothing Day 2006 On National Swedish Radio Audio from a piece filed for Swedish national broadcasting, recorded at the Buy Nothing Day Parade in 2006. 2007-01-04 | Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping by Stop Shopping Gospel Choir Stop Shopping mp3 An mp3 of "Stop Shopping" performed by the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir. DRM-free, download and share with your friends. 2007-01-04 | Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping by Stop Shopping Gospel Choir Remove Starbucks and Disney mp3 An mp3 of the Church of Stop Shopping performing "Starbucks and Disney." DRM-free and ready for download 2006-11-29 | CityScape Radio by Jody Avirgan Stopping Our Shopping With WFUV Audio From Our Staten Island Show, and a chat with the Rev | Majority Report on Air America Radio First Ammendment Mobs | BBC London The Smoking Gun 2005-06-11 | Shopocalypse Tour "On Your Call Radio" KALW by Host: Laura Flanders Interview With Billy, Savitri D and the Choir 2005-06-11 | BBC Radio 4 And Retail Intervention by Paric O'Brian Invisible Theater With The Reverend And Crew BBC Radio 4's "You and Yours" sit in on an evening of retail interventions with Reverend Billy, Church players, and a cluster of Starbuckses in The Village. 2006-09-27 | Democracy Now! by Amy Goodman Democracy Now! Interview Reverend Billy, fresh from Disney detainment, recounts the Shopocalypse tour to Amy Goodman | back to media::about us | 2007-07-03 | YouTube by FluxRostrum The Fear Stops Here Preaching and singing the FIRST AMENDMENT at Union Square! 2007-12-21 | Sojourners' SojoTube Church Of Stop Shopping Interview With Sojourners Click Here For Video Clips from Bill and Savitri at a WWJB? screening for Sojourners magazine. 2007-12-16 | RUMUR.TV Battle Of Brooklyn Rev Billy and the Church make an appearance in this short documentary about the community defenders working to stop the Ratner real estate boondoggle from leveling Brooklyn's Atlantic Yards neighborhood 2006-11-21 | Freedom Fries by Carl Christman Freedom Fries: And Other Stupid Stuff We'll Have To Explain To Our Grandchildren Filmmaker Carl Christman's lighthearted documentary FREEDOM FRIES: AND OTHER STUPIDITY WE'LL HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO OUR GRANDCHILDREN takes an embarrassed look at the xenophobic hysteria that permeated American culture in the wake of 9/11 and the War on Terror, including such unfortunate incidences as the boycott of French wine and the irony of Chinese-made American flags. 2007-07-15 | you tube by flux The Fear Stops Here 2006-10-08 | Google Video by Church of Stop Shopping SoHo Victoria's Secret Intervention 2006 Sister Julie's video of the Church spreading Victoria's Dirty Secret at their SoHo store in Manhattan. 2006-09-28 | YouTube by Sister Barbara 2006 9/11 Anniversary Reverend Billy at Ground Zero for the fifth anniversary of 9-11 2006-09-28 | Rob Vanalkemade Preacher With An Unknown God Our film director Mr. Rob VanAlkamade, emerged from our collision with a semi to find his short PREACHER WITH AN UNKNOWN GOD selected by the Sundance Festival. As Rob rose from the Toledo Trauma Center, he found the festival audience shouting Change-a-lujah! 2006-07-04 | Shopocalypse 2004 Tour Video by Big Noise Films Day One - Vallejo 2006-09-26 | Shopocalypse 2004 Tour Video by Big Noise Films Day Two - Santa Cruz 2003-09-01 | DeeDeeHalleck.org by Dee Dee Halleck Reverend Billy's Peace Revival "You are trapped in a bubble of bourgeois society" shouted Reverend Billy in a Starbucks... it took 90 seconds for the manager to call the police. 2007-02-04 | Sidamo Prayer Campaign by Julie Talen: Editing | Camera: Michael O'Neil Astor Place Starbucks Exorcism And Arrest, 02/03/2007 Rev and Choir Preach At Astor Place For Ethiopian Coffee Trademarks, Exorcise Cash Register To Send Money Back To Exploited Farmers 2007-02-16 | Irish Greens by Irish Greens What Is This Democracy For? Supporting the Green movement in Ireland 2007-03-02 | Sidamo Prayer Campaign by Michael O'Neil - Camera and Editing Dub Hay, Comedian First they ignore you, then they laugh at you...The Rev and Choir explain Starbucks VP of Coffee Acquisition Dub Hay's new act. 2007-02-23 | Sidamo Prayer Campaign by Michael O'Neil: Video Week 3, East Village Preach Crawl! With a security detail rivalling that of some foreign embassies, the Astor Place Starbucks posed a hard target for Reverend Billy, the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir and our beloved congregation. So we took the show on the road... 2007-02-16 | Sidamo Prayer Campaign by Julie Talen: Editing | Camera: Michael O'Neil Week 2 At The Astor Place Starbucks Video of the Rev and Choir by the Astor Place Cube, Rev asks a police officer what evil lurks at the bottom of his coffee cup, and a laying on of hands at the Astor Place Starbucks 2006-12-22 by RAP/GOLES Retail Action Project Rally Video of the Church in action with Retail Action Project and Good Old Lower East Side against the crooked owner or Yellow Rat Bastard in SoHo. 2006-09-26 | Shopocalypse 2004 Tour Video by Big Noise Films Day Three - City Hall 2006-09-26 | Shopocalypse 2004 Tour Video by Big Noise Films Day Four - Bolinas 2006-09-26 | Shopocalypse 2004 Tour Video by Big Noise Films Victoria Theater - Part 3 2006-09-26 | Shopocalypse 2004 Tour Video by Big Noise Films Victoria Theater - Part 2 2006-09-26 | Shopocalypse 2004 Tour Video by Big Noise Films Victoria Theater - Part 1 2006-09-15 | Playloud! Productions by Dietmar Post and Lucia Palacios Reverend Billy and The Church of Stop Shopping Early Reverend Billy doc. 2005-05-28 | Google Video by Big Noise Films Party At Angel Orensanz Center Video from the Church's party and performance at the Angel Orensanz Center. | back to media::about us | 2008-06-26 | NY1 News Coney Island Residents Speak Out Against Proposed Development Coney Island residents spoke out at a Tuesday meeting on plans to redevelop their neighborhood. 2008-06-21 | My Fox5 Coney Island's Mermaid Parade Coney Island's wonderful and wacky Mermaid Parade strutted through the streets of Brooklyn on Saturday. 2008-06-21 | WNBC 4 New York Mermaid Queen On Hunger Strike, But Parade Marches On Bystanders saw the colorful marchers in the annual Mermaid Parade on Sunday, but the parade was a bit different this year. Why? 2008-06-21 | NY1 News Annual Mermaid Parade Floats Through Coney Island A sea of mermaids made their annual return to Coney Island Saturday to celebrate the start of summer. 2008-01-20 | CBS 2 LA Pasadena's Doo Dah Parade Kicks Off The 31st Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade will celebrate all things wacky Sunday in Old Town. The Doo Dah, the irreverent sister to the staid Tournament of Roses Parade, will be led by Reverend Billy and Savitri D of the Church of Stop Shopping and will include a cast of wacky groups ranging from the Benzedrine Monks to official house band, Snotty Scotty & the Hankies. 2007-12-04 | ABC Nightline by VICKI MABREY and URSULA FAHY Taking on Christmas Consumerism Click Here For Video 'Buy Less, Give More': 'The Rev.' Billy Talen and the Church of Stop Shopping 2007-11-23 | CNN by AP 'What would Jesus buy?' film asks Buy Nothing Day is getting a Jesus jolt. 2007-12-03 | CNN - The Marquee by Todd Leopold |
