Cosmetics company Mary Kay has announced it will no longer be buying commercial airtime during episodes of Desperate Housewives.

According to a report on E! Online, Mary Kay took the decision following criticism from the conservative pressure group the American Family Association. The group had asked how Mary Kay, which has as its official company philosophy "God first, family second and career third," could advertise on a show that the AFA said "promotes infidelity, seduction and promiscuity."

A Mary Kay spokesperson said that the company has changed its advertising plans for the rest of the year, and that after receiving a number of calls from concerned employees and customers, they will "have Desperate Housewives in that mix." This marks the American Family Association's biggest success since last fall, when it succeeded in making companies such as Lowe's, Tyson Foods and Kellogg's pull its ads from the ABC show.

Desperate Housewives is not the only TV show to be targeted by conservative watchdog groups. Television's other monster hit, the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation franchise, is a frequent target of the Parents Television Council. In earlier years, ABC's NYPD Blue often attracted the ire of such organisations. However, the practical effect of those protest actions has always been limited, due to the popularity of the shows in question -- for now, Desperate Housewives will still be one of the shows commanding the highest advertising rates for the coming season.

For the original E! Online story, please follow this link.

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