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March 17, 2006

What happened?.?.? Tom Cruise happened. . .

"So, Scientology, you may have won THIS battle, but the million-year war for earth has just begun! Temporarily anozinizing our episode will NOT stop us from keeping Thetans forever trapped in your pitiful man-bodies. Curses and drat! You have obstructed us for now, but your feeble bid to save humanity will fail! Hail Xenu!!!"

-Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Servents of the Dark Lord Xenu

So goes the rather unusual press release by the creators of South Park regarding Comedy Central's decision to yank one of their episodes that criticizes Scientology and specifically, Tom Cruise. The episode, which has aired previously, is causing more of a stir since Isaac Hayes, who voices the character of "Chef" recently decided that he needed to grab some headlines and block for his fellow Scientologist Cruise who's not only dumped little Katie, but has a big budget mega-movie coming out (Mission Impossible 3).

Media control and manipulation is a game in Washington, but it's high art in Hollywood where entertainment reporters and studios/production houses/networks/publicists and actors all work hand in hand to create the "hollyworld" that is Big Entertainment.

Yes, kiddies, just like Big Oil, and Big Pharma, there is a "Big Entertainment", accept this as a truism and your world will become a better place seemingly overnight. Once you realize that BE is merely after those rectangular pieces of paper with green ink smeared all over them which your evil government prints but doesn't guarantee that you have enough of to spend on your every whim or donate to each Sally Struthers appeal for Cheesy Poofs for Africans, you'll be better off, mentally, physically and emotionally.

When I first read that Chef was leaving South Park, I immediately thought it was a practical joke, or a publicity stunt for the rebroadcast of the Scientology episode. The lead-up to the new season is underway and Comedy Central is replaying all the most "controversial" episodes in a heavy rotatation with lots of commericals for the first season. The "Chef leaving" story just seemed to fit with something Parker and Stone might try to pull off, and while it may still be a stunt, I'm going to have to run with the idea that suddenly Chef saw the upcoming re-run of the Scientology episode as a threat to his religion, offensive or some such. Personally, I think it's bollocks, or more appropriately, Chef's Salty Bollocks, but whatever.

South Park, like Carlos Mencia (most excellent comedian by the way, catch him on Comedy Central as well), is an equal opportunity offender. Parker and Stone are two after my own head and heart and I have laughed, cried and even . . . well, lets just say, I was waiting for a commercial, then started laughing and well. . . . new pants. Yeah, their stuff can be that funny. It's also, HIGHLY OFFENSIVE to damn near everyone at one point or another, but that's part of it's genius. It's offensive, but with a message, and 99 times out of 100, that message is overwhelmingly positive.

We've seen the South Park kids tackle Islam, Judasim, Fundamental Christianity and most of the other "Big Religions", we've seen them attack the far left and the far right, the celibate, gays and straights have all been their targets, you name it, they've probably blasted it (TIMMAY!!!!!). If they haven't? Just wait, it's coming in a future episode, don't worry. (TIMMAY!!!)

So is Chef grabbing headlines for himself, blocking for Tom Cruise, playing martyr for L. Ron Hubbard, in on the joke or is he just trying to end his ten year run on South Park in a way that his agent thinks will absolve him in the eyes of Big Entertainment for all the years of slams and digs he was a part of while cavorting with Parker and Stone? Who knows.

I'm more interested in the "over the top" way that Parker and Stone will dispose of Chef's character. I'm certain they won't take this lying down and it'll be painful (in a good way) to see what they do to Chef, and I can't wait. Although apparantly I'll have to wait, as the next season is in the can and we won't see Chef written out until the following season comes. Which on a good note gives some time for the controversy to die down and Isaac Hayes can come back as a Guest Star to voice Chef's demise. That is, of course, assuming that Isaac Hayes does in fact share Chef's Chocolate Salty Balls.

BUT. . . . .

This Comedy Central yanking of the Scientology episode is just STOO-PID. Or genious, who knows, but I do know that Parker and Stone are coming out on top of this one eventually. For any Scientologist to try to "go after" South Park is a HUGE mistake. It's a totally unwinnable fight to defend a religion created as fiction and then hijacked by some actors to set up a perpetual pyramid scheme of "yes people" funneling money back and forth to one another through "religious donations" is not something that can be defended when the light of day is shined upon it.

If any Scientologists decide to pursue this, in even the slighest way, it'll be the "jump the shark" moment for the nutball religion of Travolta and Cruise. Personally I think it's JtS moment was long ago, but it seems to hang on.

It's simple really, Parker and Stone could care less who's offended and who's happy with their work, they love the work and they love the characters just as much as they think their messages are important. They do the work first and put the soapbox second, that's what makes the HONESTY of their positions come through and resonate with the viewers. While the soapbox is integral to what is "South Park", the soapbox never takes over the work and warps the entire production. Parker and Stone have reached a balance point with their viewers between message and amusement, and I, for one, am a better person for it.

Yes, I am a South Park Republican.

--Jason

PS - And now, without further ado, lets have that South Park Scientology episode, shall we???

Click that triangle in the circle above and the episode will play in a few moments.

NOTE: Please drop me a note in the comments if the video quits working so I can take down the player. Currently, as of 9A Monday, it's working. It can take up to a minute to start playing so please be patient.

-JC

Posted by JasonColeman at March 17, 2006 9:44 AM

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Comments

Posted by: Ike at March 17, 2006 1:16 PM

Posted by: Jason Coleman at March 17, 2006 9:58 PM

Posted by: Wild Thing at March 28, 2006 9:41 AM

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