It was first used on the oddball comedy "Arrested Development," when one of the characters quipped: "I think I'm going to go get one of those 'Corndog Crosses' -- with all the 'Crucifixins'"
"The Simpsons" cartoon also used the term in an episode that described a church ice cream social led by a character called Rev. Lovejoy. Lovejoy offered "Crucifixins," with flavors like "Blessed Virgin Berry," "Commandmint," and "Biblegum."
As far back as 1991, the term popped up in Advertising Age magazine, as part of an entry for a lighthearted contest to predict McDonald's next slogan intended to "pack in the pilgrims" at its new location in Lourdes. "Try our new Crucifixin's Bar" won an "honorable intention" award.
Since the term was coined on Fox, it has popped up across the Internet on blogs and other postings. The satirical "Faithway Foods" site offers "Crucifixins Table Seasoning."
After NBC began promoting the April 13 "Will and Grace" episode, which was to air on the day before Good Friday, the most solemn day on the Christian calendar, the American Family Association (AFA) posted a "special alert" at the top of its web page with the headline, "NBC to mock the Crucifixion of Christ." The story line of the episode had the fictional Out TV network being bought by a Christian network. Spears played the co-host of a cooking segment called "Cruci-fixin's."
The AFA viewed the "Will and Grace" episode as an intentional mocking of Christians, following a similar Christian uproar that led to NBC canceling "The Book of Daniel." Donald Wildmon, founder of the AFA, accused NBC of a "deep-seated anti-Christian bias."
A new press release from NBC said the original release was erroneous and the Spears episode had not yet been written. "We value our viewers and sincerely regret if this misinformation has offended them," the network stated.
The original announcement of the "Cruci-fixins" episode had generated press around the world.
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