Christmas Trees & Pie (South Park)

I can't hear O Holy Night without hearing Eric Cartman of South Park singing it. I just can't.

Church of Scientology Investigated South Park Creators

Matt and Trey, from source, Huffington Post

I might be able to understand why the Church of Scientology would be investigating Matt Stone and Trey Parker. . .if I understood why an ostensibly religious organization would be investigating anybody.  Hopefully, if they do L. Ron, The Musical! they're as spirited as they were on South Park.

[Excerpt]

Church Of Scientology Investigated 'South Park' Creators Matt Stone, Trey Parker: Report 

For Matt Stone and Trey Parker, nothing is holy or immune to satire. And since the launch of their groundbreaking animated TV series "South Park," they've skewered a multitude of world religions, pointing out hypocrisies, inanities or just playing with ridiculous stereotypes. One of their most famous religious satires, 2005's Scientology-targeting "Trapped In The Closet" episode, allegedly struck such a nerve with the church's leaders that the group responded by targeting Stone, Parker and their friends in a long-term covert investigation. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Trey Parker & Matt Stone Discuss The Book of Mormon, Their Broadway Show

I'm not a big theater fan (though I did see "Cats" at the Winter Garden. . .does that count?). But I really like skewering sacred cows, I consider religion in general, but Mormonism in particular to be preposterous, and I love Trey Parker and Matt Stone (but when did Stone become the cute one?). ABC's Jake Tapper interviewed the South Park creators about their Broadway creation, and the result is highly entertaining. Enjoy.



Found at: Joe.My.God.

The Simpsons (Kinda) Supports South Park

This was nice to see. I know that there is a bit of rivalry between the two shows, so to see some support (and in such a timely way) was pretty cool.

[Excerpt]

The Simpsons Stand Behind South Park with Help of Bart’s Chalkboard

The Simpsons and South Park have made fun of each other in the past, but tonight’s Simpsons opened with a quick but touching show of inter-cartoon support, courtesy of Bart’s chalkboard. . .

Read more (with video) at: Geekosystem

Jon Stewart Sends a Big Go F(Bomb) Yourself to South Park Hating Muslim Group

A fitting coda to the FOX "News" smack-down the other night.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
South Park Death Threats
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South Park Censored by Comedy Central

Grrr.  This is a rather stupid capitulation by Comedy Central (or Viacom, or whomever). Obviously, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of South Park were not worried about the reaction to their episode. The storyline of their 200th (and 201st) anniversary shows basically crammed every celebrity and religion that has been offended by the show into one story.  Anyone taking it seriously would have to have a screw loose. Waitaminute. . .Okay, I can see why the powers-that-be may have been wary.

But the whole storyline was about the ridiculousness of being immune from criticism. By censoring every mention of the word "Muslim," and by covering up the depiction of Mohammad--a character that has appeared before, mind you--they wrecked the whole idea.  The irony of course, is that there wasn't any criticism of Mohammad or Islam in the whole story. Just the appearance of the character.  If Muslims can't depict an image of Mohammad, fine. Parker and Stone are not Muslims.  

[Excerpt]


Has 'South Park' gone too far this time?




Nothing is sacred on "South Park."

This is a show, after all, that once painted God as a gap-toothed rhinoceros-monkey, portrays Satan as a simpering milquetoast and regularly features Jesus as a superhero -- the kind who's not afraid to ignore the peaceful teachings of the Sermon on the Mount to smite his opponents. The show has mocked Jews, Catholics, Mormons, Scientologists and atheists, among (many) others. . .

Read more at: CNN

South Park's Trey Parker & Matt Stone Threatened by Muslims

Image from BloggerExperiment.com

Really? That's a great way to win good will. South Park is irreverent to everything reverent. Mormons, Christians, Scientologists and Christians, not to mention feminists, Canadians, gays, blacks, Mexicans, fat people, and much more have been lampooned for over a decade now.  Muslims are somehow immune from criticism? And fairly tame criticism at that. The irony of course is that South Park has featured Mohammad years ago, with no fanfare whatsoever. Late to the party much?

[Excerpt]

Muslim Group Issues "Warning" to "South Park" Show 


A U.S. Muslim group has issued a dire Internet "warning" to creators of the satirical animated TV show "South Park" over a depiction of the Prophet Mohammad in a bear outfit.

"We have to warn Matt (Stone) and Trey (Parker) that what they are doing is stupid and they will probably wind up like Theo Van Gogh for airing this show," said a posting on website RevolutionMuslim.com. . .

Read more at: New York Times

South Park to Feature Eric Cartman in Blackwater

Thanks to Stupid Monkey Planet for pointing out this inevitible story.

[Excerpt]

‘South Park’ to Show Eric Cartman Signing, Blackwater-like, for 500 AK-47s




On Feb. 23, I broke a story about how the Senate Armed Services Committee determined that Blackwater employees in Afghanistan signed for hundreds of AK-47s and pistols using the name “Eric Cartman,” evidently a reference to the popular “South Park” character. . .

Read more at: The Independent

South Park Creators Respond to Blackwater Story

Image from source, Huffington Post

I've been a big fan of South Park almost since the beginning. I say "almost" because the first episode--while funny--didn't really grab me at first. For one thing, I had a hard time understanding what the kids were saying. But it's kind of like watching a British sitcom like Absolutely Fabulous. Once you get what the show is, and recognize the speech patterns of the characters, it all comes together.

Part of the fun of South Park is that they go after everybody. If it's ridiculous and it's in the news or in pop culture, creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone will skewer it. Every once in a while, they'll cut a little close to the bone and tick me off. But there isn't a viewer of the program who hasn't had that happen to them as well. Much like Family Guy (which Parker & Stone famously lampooned), the whole point is that somebody is going to have their sacred cow gored. Every once in a while it will be yours.

[Excerpt]

Matt Stone & Trey Parker Are Not Your Political Allies (No Matter What You Believe)

News broke this week that a Blackwater subsidiary was arming violent drug users in Afghanistan. They took hundreds of weapons intended for the Afghan National Police and at least one of them (probably more) signed for the shipments with the name "Eric Cartman."

When I asked "South Parks"'s creators what they thought of these men co-opting their character they were completely unfazed. "It makes perfect sense. It's the name I would use," Trey Parker said. "Our first reaction to any story is 'How do we put this into the show?' and the second reaction is 'Did Cartman do that?' because he's so real to us it's like 'I bet Cartman did that. . .'"

Read more at: Huffington Post

Glenn Beck Loses Mind; Barks Like a Dog

Sorry for two Glenn Beck posts in a row, but I just have to say something. This man is a nut job. His strange "school teacher" persona, but with a bag of crazy schtick puts him squarely in cartoon character territory. Mr. Garrison of South Park territory, to be precise. I wouldn't be surprised to have him introduce "Mr. Hat" and "Mr. Slave"-like characters. It certainly wouldn't be any nuttier. He's already got me uttering Mr. Slave's catchphrase: "Jesus Christ."

South Park Shows Us How Treasury is Run

Trey Parker and Matt Stone aren't your typical political comedy writers. You can't peg them as right or left wing. They're as likely to make fun of liberals as conservatives, and just as likely to support one or the other--or both--in the same episode. And they always manage to view any current event from an angle nobody else ever thought of.

Sure, one of us might be able to come up with a concept of a the Treasury throwing darts at a board with various solutions on it. Office Space had a "jump to conclusions" mat. But the method of picking random solutions here is gross, funny and inspired.

Holiday Cheer: Merry F'n Christmas (South Park)

I was dismayed to realize that I haven't listened to the South Park Christmas album this year, nor have I posted any songs from it on the blog. So, before the holiday fades, here is my last chance to post something. Please enjoy the warm holiday tidings from Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the demented geniuses behind South Park. Not Safe For Work (NSFW) obviously. . .

Merry Fucking Christmas

All About the Mormons (South Park)

With all of the talk about Mitt Romney's big religion speech a couple of days ago, I got to wondering about The Mormon Thing. Living in Las Vegas, I've known a few Mormons. One was a girl I worked with who called herself a "Jack Mormon." Sure, she said things like "oh my heck!" like a normal Mormon, but she also drank coffee, swore, and had a terrible work ethic.

Then there are several others I know (I've even dated one) who due to The Gay Thing cannot participate in The Mormon Thing. So my first-hand knowledge of the religion from an actual, practicing Mormon is a little thin. I know about the "magic underwear," the Garden of Eden having been in Missouri, and no caffeine or smoking, but what's it all really about?

Luckily, I happened upon a documentary on the subject called (of all things) South Park. They explained it all fairly neatly! Unfortunately, these three videos don't encompass the whole story, so look for this episode from season 7 at your library or video store. If not, you might be dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb! Heh. Just watch. . .



Continued (Click "If post says "Continued," click here! " to see the other two videos!)

"South Park" Might Outlast Simpsons

Photo from source, Reuters.com

Hat tip to AmericaBlog.com, which is where I first saw this news, even there a little late. But welcome news anyway, to somebody who likes his political satire liberally sprinkled with fart jokes. Yay, Matt & Trey!!! Keep it up!

[Excerpt]

"South Park" duo draw up lucrative deal

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - An animated series is redrawing the lines of television mega-deals.

The eye-popping $75 million pact announced Monday by Comedy Central and the creators of "South Park" may be the most prominent example of the Internet as a bona fide backend window alongside syndication and DVD. The duo of Matt Stone and Trey Parker will get a 50-50 ad split on digital platforms but not on television.

The new extension will bring three more 14-episode seasons -- the same volume Stone and Parker re-signed for in 2005. "Park" is in place now through 2011, bringing its stint at Comedy Central to 15 seasons going back to 1997.

Read more at Reuters.com

And, like I need an excuse. . . Why South Park is superior to Family Guy