I put this in dvd because that's pretty much where I watch all my episodes now. Anyone feel free to move this to a more appropriate place.
Anyway, I think Parker and Stone are fucking brilliant. I love this show.
I was watching that episode yesterday, where Jesus is doing his talk show, and that black guy comes up to him and says "it's okay, Montel. We all think about touching little boys every now and again". Classic. Can't get it out of my head. I keep laughing out loud, and people look at me funny.
And those little intros they do before each show, I piss my pants. The one where they're playing thrasher death metal on acoustic guitar for the senior citizens.... I dunno, where do they come up with this gold?
Anyone know when season 3 comes out? I can't wait very long.
Please list some of your fav episodes. I think mine would be: Bebe's Boobs, The Aspen episode, and Lemmy Winks. Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride would be up there too. John Stamos' brother Richard is one talented bastard.
the episode with all the black rich people moving to south park only to be descriminated for being rich is my favorite i think.
'oh, well hi william!'
South Park is such a great show, it's not as big as it was when it first started (it kinda lost its edge) but I still love it and watch it whenever I can. Hard to pick my fav overall but these are some of my favs:
Season 1- Mr. Hankey
Season 2- Not Without My Anus
Season 3- Cat Orgy
Season 4- Trapper Keeper
Season 5- Scott Tenorman Must Die (the most morbidly funny episode you'll ever see)
Season 6- Jared's Aids
Season 7- Toilet Paper, so far....
BTW the movie is great too.
I have almost all of them on my computer or taped on VHS. You're right, they're so brilliant.
My favorites:
103 - Volcano
"IT'S COMING RIGHT FOR US!" (rat-a-tat-tat)
"SCUZZLEBUTT!"
(Kenny has just chugged gasoline) "Now that's one dirty little bastard!" (hiccup)
107 - Pink Eye
The carnage in this episode was just delicious.
206 - The Mexican Staring Frog of Southern Sri Lanka
It's a frog that if you catch its stare, it will kill you. And it's Mexican. And it's from Sri Lanka. What more could you want?
207 - City on the Edge of Forever (Flashbacks)
I love flashback episodes when they're done well. Mrs. Crabtree's rising comic prowess, her appearance on Leno, and Eric's fucked up dreams are all great.
208 - Summer Sucks
Best ending ever. Chef is hilarious. And I love the parody of Dr. Katz.
214 - Chef Aid
All the cameos, and just the character of Chef in general is so great.
217 - Underpants Gnomes
Phase One: Collect Underpants.
Phase Two: ?
Phase Three: Profit!
303 - The Succubus
Cartman not being able to see anything just made this all the more priceless. And it teaches a valuable lesson, as does every episode: "...and never let poontang come between you and your friends."
410 - Do the Handicapped Go To Hell?
411 - Probably.
These two episodes are so priceless. The whole Hell thing drags on a bit too long, but the orientation where the leader says "The correct answer was 'Mormon.' That's right, 'Mormon.'" is priceless.
417 - A Very Crappy Christmas
First time I can remember they sent up another cartoon; this time, it's Peanuts. They seemed to mock it more than they did with other stuff, like Bugs Bunny, or The Simpsons, but it's still nice to see the references.
501 - Scott Tenorman Must Die
The most morbid episode of South Park ever. See it to believe it. What a way to start off the fifth season. And it show you why you just don't fuck with Cartman.
509 - Osama Bin Laden Has Farty Pants
South Park sending up Bugs Bunny cartoons just made me have all the more respect for Trey and Matt. They know their roots.
603 - Asspen
You've just gotta love 80s movie nostalgia.
611 - Child Abduction Is Not Funny
And, is it just me, or did this remind anyone else of Ran a whole lot, what with the Mongolians and all? I know the characters in Ran aren't Mongolian, but the costumes were a little similar. I did just get finished watching Ran for the first time a few weeks after I saw this, so that might be it.
Six of seven episodes from season seven have been great, especially the 100th episode. This season has been so strong so far. They're all great. The weak link was the one where they picked on Jennifer Lopez. It's just so tiresome now. Yes, J-Lo sucks. We. Get. It.
Worst Episodes, IMO:
305 - Jakovasaur
Ugh, so annoying. Season three really did kind of suck, except for Rainforest Schmainforest.
307 - Cat Orgy
The premise is nice, but it's just tiresome with only Cartman. The ending helped a little but not too much.
508 - Towelie
At least Trey and Matt knew the episode was awful and made fun of it themselves.
There's more episodes that I love and hate, like and dislike, of course, but that's enough for now. Yes.
EDIT: I realize with #208, I said it had the best ending ever. There are some other great endings, though. Like in the episode "My Future Self and Me" at the end when Cartman is about to reform, but then changes his mind. Or the one where Cartman is about to apologize to Stan and Kyle for something, but they cut to black right before he does so. It's just PERFECT. Also, the whole "Shit" episode is great, too.
Are my friend and I the only ones who truly love the Towelie episode?
"That's it!"
"The code?"
"No, the melody to Funky Town..."
Hehehe. Great character. I like in a later one where he's trying to play Stairway To Heaven on guitar, and keeps fucking up. Classic.
i LOVE the towelie episode!
trey and matt know the fact that weed smoking towels are funny.
the cow days episode is also true classic.
The Towelie episode is halarious, especially the end when they're playing the video game.
"I have no idea what the hell is goin on"
"You're the worst character ever towelie!"
Did I imagine it, or is there a South Park episode where it rains frogs? One of the characters says something like, "What else could possibly happen?" then he steps outside and there's the frog rain. It only went on for, like a second: I don't think I'm making this up am I...?
Quote from: children with angelsDid I imagine it, or is there a South Park episode where it rains frogs? One of the characters says something like, "What else could possibly happen?" then he steps outside and there's the frog rain. It only went on for, like a second: I don't think I'm making this up am I...?
screenshots (http://ptanderson.com/latestnews/archives/2001/jun.htm)
Quote from: cecil b. dementedQuote from: children with angelsDid I imagine it, or is there a South Park episode where it rains frogs? One of the characters says something like, "What else could possibly happen?" then he steps outside and there's the frog rain. It only went on for, like a second: I don't think I'm making this up am I...?
screenshots (http://ptanderson.com/latestnews/archives/2001/jun.htm)
'ey...! :-D
oh, onamota... whatever the fuck your name is. i love the j lo episode. taco taco, burrito burrito! it's not that it's j lo, it's that cartman jerks off ben affleck.
and i love towelie too. i love them all. but you're right, season three did suck.
So what's everyone thinking about the "new season" (and I use that term loosely) so far?
1) Crab People and stuff ... metrosexuals ... they've done better.
2) The whole Christian rock thing was okay ... but still, they've done better.
3) Old people ... I'm skeptical. It starts in about an hour and twenty minutes from now.
Let's have a pool -- what group do you think Trey and Matt are going to lampoon next? They've done metrosexuals (well-deserving target), Christians (really lame that they'd pick on religion yet again, but whatever), and now the elderly. I love South Park, but this season has been weak so far.
It wasn't the religion they lampooned that past time, it was music and the RIAA business
but they could have done a lot better
It all seems so predictable now
I think Towlie rules in everything he's been in!
i think the new episodes have been great. I thought the crab people were fucking hilarious. But the hardest ive ever laughed is over the
"How about tree fity?
I'd have to say that the metrosexuals episode is maybe my very most favorite South Park episode... ever.
Seriously.
metrosexuals was really funny. when they go into the queer eye theme song to give kyle the crab makeover i lost it.
however, the old people episode wasn't really good. i chuckled, a little, but really...it seems like they weren't even trying.
they did have a character named paul tom, and there was an episode where frogs fell from the sky. i have a feeling trey and matt are pta nerds.
a few more great episodes not mentioned:
Meccha Streisand
Tom's Rhinoplasty
Chef's Salty Chocolate Balls
Sexual Harassment Panda
Chinpoko Mon
NAMBLA
Red Hot Catholic Love
Free Hat
The Biggest Douche in the Universe
and of course Succubus and anything with Chef's parents
Quote from: freakerdudeRed Hot Catholic Love
that episode was so great.
priest: "does this mean we wont be able to have sex with our little boys anymore?"
another priest "father, having sex with boys is part of the catholic priest way of life."
hehehehehehe....
yeah, that is for sure one of my favorites.
Bebe's Boobs is probably the best tho, followed by South Park In Aspen.
"ah-tah..."
Quote from: SoNowThenhehehehehehe....
yeah, that is for sure one of my favorites.
Bebe's Boobs is probably the best tho, followed by South Park In Aspen.
"ah-tah..."
now that i think off i ti, i'm allmost sertain i misquoted the episode.having sex should be making love. that's even better.
the bebes boobs episode was funny, alot of references.
"Crab people, crab people... Tase like crabs, talk like people."
"...suck it out of a hose?"
"oh yeah, right out of a hose"
So who's been digging the new season so far? The last episodes last year were really lame, but these first two have been pretty good so far. I really liked the premiere, with the whole anime motif, and the second one was good with the whole Special Olympics/steroids fiasco. Butters is just Matt's and Trey's bitch.
Southpark is great. At least once during each episode I say, "How do they get away with this?"
That Scott Tenorman Must Die episode. Wow.
Yeah, and I love the underwear knomes one too. :-D
haha, that chinese guy "Damn Mongolians knock down shitty wall!"
A quote from southpark that I use entirely too much is, "Whatever, It's my body, I can do what I want!" -Cartman
i think that the run from "South Park is Gay" to "Christmas in Canada" that aired back in November and December was the worst run that they have ever had. Aside from the La Casa Grande episode, which was one of their completely off the wall and non satirical episodes, each show picked on a really easy topic, and the jokes were forced like never before...it just seemed like Matt and Trey weren't really having any fun with the show. But the main thing that that run had going against it was that the previous run (with the J-Lo ep, the Santa and Jesus go to Iraq ep, the Lemmywinks ep, the Earth is a Reality Show ep, etc.) was by far the best run ever. This year so far, the anime episode was very good, and the special olympics episode was pretty average (except for the whole scene where Jimmy beats his girlfriend and his mom and then lays in the hallway crying...that was fucking incredible). I am really looking forward to the Passion of the Christ episode, because I think that they have an oppertunity to really do something special, but they could fuck it up too, we will just have to see. I love South Park to death, but I think that the show finally hit its peak, and a steady decline seems eminent.
Quote from: freakerdudeSexual Harassment Panda
Just saying that is great. "Sexual Harassment... Panda"
Also, of course, "tree fity" is one for the books.
"I need 'bout tree fity"
"Tree fity"
"That damn Lock Ne' Monsta..." :lol:
Quote from: RoyalTenenbaumQuote from: freakerdudeSexual Harassment Panda
Just saying that is great. "Sexual Harassment... Panda"
Also, of course, "tree fity" is one for the books.
"I need 'bout tree fity"
"Tree fity"
"That damn Lock Ne' Monsta..." :lol:
Hahaha, everyone I know thinks that shouldn't be funny, especially after it's repeated for the 5th time, and yet when pressed, all must admit it actually gets funnier!
I think it's tied with "soooo small" (Japanese guy), for best repeated South Park line.
It's interesting that the Sexual Harrassment Panda ep is thought of as a bad one. I listened to the commentary-mini included on the Season 3 DVD, and it's just fun to listen to them talk about how tired they were and defending why it might be a sucky episode. Then about 4 minutes into it, they say, "You know what, this episode is really good." It's pretty funny.
I LOVE the episode, myself. I repeated "Sexual Harrassment... Panda" several times... like most people who saw that episode.
TOO funny.
The Cat Orgy is actually part of a sort of experiment they were doing. I didn't know that until I saw the DVD. They stay with Cartman, then the next episode followed only Stan, then the next followed only Kyle. They all were a different point of view on the same night. It was actually pretty interesting, but only when viewed all together.
Another great episode was the "Starvin' Marvin in Space" episode. "Marclar? Marclar."
That actually makes the DVDs somewhat worth looking into. Still, thought, Season 3 did suck, but now I can see why it did, and it's good to see they were actually experimenting in a Rashomon-esque way. Not to sully Kurosawa's name or anything.
And I thought the Sexual Harassment Panda episode was good.
what are the mini commentaries?
are they full episode length?
no, they're about 5-7 minutes each, but they're hilarious. i wish they'd do full commentaries. there's one point during the episode "the succubus" in the commentary where they're ready to move on to the next episode, and then mr. derp comes on and they go, "oh man! i completely forgot about derp!" and tell this really funny story about how they came up with him. it ticks me off that there are probably lots more stories they could have told and remembered if they had just not been so fucking lazy.
Haha I cracked up just reading the name "Derp."
... hahaha...
... heh...
... hmm...
Okay, that new episode of South Park about The Passion just kind of sucked. They're back to old, predictable formulas again. I did admire the joke about Stan and Kenny getting their money back for BASEketball, though.
I liked the Passion episode. I guess it can be argued that they took some easy shots at Gibson by putting his face on a completely insane character, but I enjoyed it when they did it to Osama bin Laden, and I thought it was funny this time too. When Gibson is driving the truck and he screams "give me back my 18 dollars!" and then they show that pouty face, i almost lost it. And they have now had two episodes this season with someone shitting on someone else. I also thought that they really hit the nail on the head in regards to the movie itself, about how it is really just a snuff film and that it guilts people into having faith. The Cartman stuff was kind of weak though. By no means was this a classic or profound episode, but it was kinda funny. Unfortunantely, that makes all three episodes so far this year as just "kinda funny".
According to southparkstudios.com, season four on June 29th, probably with mini commentary.
YES! season 4 has some of my favorite episodes.
yeah, south park has been kind of lacking lately. i don't like the preachy attitude they've been taking with it. it's like, keep me entertained, but please don't push your morals on me. it's annoying.
Season three rocked and I think so far, this season rocks. The Ninja episode was fucking awsome. I loved the Passion episode. The topical humor is great.
well, i think that the "you got served" episode was the best in the last year...best of this season for sure...best use of Chef in ages. "Achey, Breaky Heart", Butter's tap-dancing disaster, Stan's dad getting served in the pelvic region...brilliant and funny. Matt and Trey have become pros at making faux dramatic episodes, and this one was done perfectly.
And next week...LEMMIWINKS!!!!
I really thought the episode was weak except for the Butters segments. Seems as if they're totally out of original ideas, and now they're just recycling or going after obvious targets. But, the whole tap dancing thing, like I said, was priceless. "The O.C. team is dead, so the winner is South Park!"
(https://xixax.com/images/avatars/1332687224407586617466b.gif)
?
Noooo!!!
get Sherman back
Haha, he's back.
And so is South Park. Saw the new episode last night. I wasn't expecting too much because they were working their asses off on Team America, and have made it clear they only spend a week or two on each episode, and have done so for the past couple years. I think this is a horrible way to work, and it's shown in the quality of the show. The scripts are weaker and weaker, pale shadows of what's made the show good. A pattern has developed on the show, which even Parker and Stone have acknowledged exists. I would hoping they'd break that pattern this year, but it doesn't seem to be the case.
Still, some credit should go to them for last nights episode. Again, I like how the episode seemed to be about one thing, and then slowly took a turn for something greater. That duck-billed creature that moaned "kill me!" was hilarious. P-Diddy is an idiot. PETA can be foolish too. So no credit to them for taking aim at easy targets, though that is what they do best.
I hate how the animation for the show is becoming. Compare it with the first episodes, with the construction paper. It had this raw, unpolished feel that gave the show its charm. That's gone now, replaced with smooth computer graphics. The show is even more plastic now, with all traces of imperfection removed. The characters just look flat, and shiny, and without... character. They should find a way to at least in some way acknowledge their roots and make the animation less perfect and manufactured. Just because they're using computers doesn't mean the show has to look that way.
If South Park airs and no one watched it, does it make a sound?
I don't know, but the past few weeks have actually been decent. I missed a couple weeks (stopped watching, temporary loss of interest) after the horrible first few episodes of the season (can't believe this show has been nominated for an Emmy this year -- for an episode, "Christmas in Canada," that I didn't see, but still). Anyway, this week's episode is one of the most demented I've seen since Scott Tenorman Must Die. It's pretty clever. It starts out as this traditional Christmas story, and well, it turns on itself, as all great South Park episodes do. And this one finally gets away from the lame formula where Trey and Matt try not-so-transparently to lampoon whatever's going on in current events -- unless you consider Christmas a current event. Now that they're away from all that glut, things should get better.
I have no comment.
I've only seen a few episodes (literally, probably 7 eps) But I saw this one about some people from the future stealing some rednecks jobs and it was hilarious. Just the way the rednecks would say they took our jobs was hilarious. God, soutch park rules.
Tonight's episode, the first SP I've seen in a while, was fucking hilarious. The play on Christmas narrative was so funny, the critters were great.
South Park came out when I was a freshman in college, and it consumed my life for quite some time-- that is, until it became uncool since everyone was watching it. I've managed to catch a couple episodes here and there since, but was never the same fan I was... that being said, on some random impulse I shelled out some of my tax refund to take advantage of Best Buy's deal last week (all five seasons on dvd for about a hundred bucks) and I am now officially a full blown fan again. Sooooo many good episodes, so many laughs. I literally spit coke (beverage, not powder) all over my tv during 'Cripple Fight.' I'm about to watch 'Scott Tenorman Must Die'... I can't wait!
Love the Clyde Frog.
South Park. Best. Show. Ever.
Quote from: Weak2ndActI'm about to watch 'Scott Tenorman Must Die'... I can't wait!
One of the best episodes. Radiohead, dude. Radiohead.
Anyone else ever hear of this (http://gorillamask.net/princess.shtml)?
Wow. Pretty funny, and pretty fucked up.
It's VERY fucked up. Thank you very much for showing me this.
The way "Princess" is said in the song is the funniest thing in the whole thing, though.
I love mr. garison's new persona as a woman
favorite line from the new season:
Mr. Garison at an abortion clinic "So are you gonna vaccum it out or just scramble its brains so i can queef it out later?"
Fuck million dollar baby...fuck the lord of the rings...south park knows where its at....
now who wants to pound this hot vag?
i liked it when xixax wasn't dominated by idiots.
Quote from: cronopioi liked it when xixax wasn't dominated by idiots.
You know... there are a lot more South Park fans than... you know... than there are... you. So, that doesn't necessarily make us smarter for agreeing, but is the enjoyment of South Park the mark of our intelligence?
In all fairness, it is a pretty sophisticated show, considering the humor types they manage to mix in to attract all sorts of audiences.
I think he was just saying squints isn't too bright.
Oh.
In that case...
Yeah. You're right, cron.
squints is a worthless drunk...
squints is a worthless drunk...
squints is a worthless drunk...
What will tonight bring i wonder? Last week's was great, Stan's dad keeps getting more insane.
Comedy Central orders more 'South Park'
Comedy Central has inked a deal with the creators of "South Park" to bring the long-running animated series back for three more seasons, the network announced Thursday. Executive producers Matt Stone and Trey Parker will write, direct, and edit 42 more episodes of "South Park." Currently in its ninth season, "Park" will stay put through 2008. "I was at Comedy Central when we launched the first season of 'South Park' and I am thrilled to see them continue through 2008," says Herzog. "Matt and Trey are creative geniuses and a huge part of the Comedy Central family and we look forward to continued success." A new season of "South Park" begins Oct. 19. The series started in 1997.
Quote from: MacGuffinComedy Central orders more 'South Park'
Why?
Because it's great.
Oh.
Tom Cruise should come out of the closet
I didn't think it was that spectacular. Unless you didn't Scientology was a hoax, this episode didn't really come off as edgy. The closet joke was buried deep in the ground, and the best part was the retelling of Scientology's history with the "SCIENTOLOGISTS ACTUALLY BELIEVE THIS" on the screen, that was really funny. Everything else was kinda "ok, big deal?"
The "Margarine" episode has been my favorite from this season...i always love seeing the Pet Cemetery guy and watching butters crying and playing with his hair in the bathroom saying "you said i was flat" made me laugh a lot
I guess I'm the rightful person to post this.
http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=412127
Criterion....South Park....works for me.
Only if true.
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fen%2Fthumb%2Fb%2Fb7%2FSpkids.PNG%2F800px-Spkids.PNG&hash=a08134c20d3a96aa90080e6142b6023a92133aea)
Isaac Hayes Wants Out Of 'South Park' Due To Religious Jokes
Voice of Chef upset with show's 'growing insensitivity.'
Source: MTV
After nine seasons, more than 100 episodes and thousands of hot lunches served, Chef is apparently hanging up his apron and leaving the tiny town of South Park, Colorado.
Or at least the man who cooks up Chef's voice is. On Monday (March 13) Isaac Hayes — who's provided the booming baritone for "South Park" 's cafeteria employee and resident ladies' man since the show began in 1997 — released a statement announcing his desire to be released from his contract with "South Park," blaming the program's "growing insensitivity towards personal spiritual beliefs."
"There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry towards religious beliefs of others begins," Hayes wrote in the statement. "Religious beliefs are sacred to people, and at all times should be respected and honored. As a civil-rights activist of the past 40 years, I cannot support a show that disrespects those beliefs and practices."
"South Park" has taken potshots at just about every religion (episodes include such titles as "Christian Rock Hard" and "All About the Mormons?"), but the breaking point for Hayes might have been "Trapped in the Closet," a November 2005 episode that makes several scathing attacks on Scientology, the religion he practices.
A spokesperson for Hayes confirmed to MTV News that the soul legend is a Scientologist but would not elaborate on whether or not the "Trapped in the Closet" episode had any impact on his decision to leave "South Park." Spokespeople for Comedy Central could not be reached for comment.
In an interview published in GQ earlier this year, show co-creator Trey Parker said, "To be honest, what kept us from [parodying Scientology] before was Isaac Hayes. We knew he is a Scientologist and he's an awesome guy. We were like, 'Let's just avoid that for now.' ... Finally, we just had to tell Isaac, 'Dude, we totally love working with you and this is nothing personal, it's just we're "South Park," and if we don't do this, we're belittling everything else we've ripped on.' "
The "Trapped" episode is slated to air again at 10 p.m. Wednesday on Comedy Central. The 10th season of "South Park" begins March 22.
sad to hear. Chef will never be the same.
I would guess they will write him off rather than replace the voice.
10th season? Never in a million years would I have guessed this would have lasted this long.
They'll write him off like they did with those girl characters that were done by that woman that died. Chef was hardly ever used since South Park started becoming a current events satire show anyway.
I don't know if this should go in this thread or the Tom Cruise one...
SCIENTOLOGIST TOM CRUISE BLACKMAILS VIACOM INTO PULLING THE "TRAPPED IN THE CLOSET" EPISODE OF SOUTH PARK
Sources from inside Paramount and South Park Studios report that parent company Viacom pulled last night's scheduled repeat of the high-rated "Trapped in the Closet" episode after the humorless Scientologist movie star Tom Cruise threatened to cancel all publicity for Mission Impossible:3 if Comedy Central aired the episode that satirizes Scientology and mocks his sexuality again.
Not only is this the first time that the South Park creators have been officially censored in their ten hit seasons with Comedy Central, Viacom officials also reportedly ordered Matt Stone and Trey Parker not to discuss the reason why their episode was cancelled.
The South Park boys are said to be angry, but will probably get revenge with the manner in which they deal with Scientologist Isaac Hayes' departure from the show.
http://hollywoodinterrupted.com/cblog/
Quote from: Ginger on March 16, 2006, 07:19:28 PM
I don't know if this should go in this thread or the Tom Cruise one...
SCIENTOLOGIST TOM CRUISE BLACKMAILS VIACOM INTO PULLING THE "TRAPPED IN THE CLOSET" EPISODE OF SOUTH PARK
haha seriously? if he hadn't said anything, everyone would have forgotten about the episode just like they've done with the million other topical gimmick episodes they've done in the past whatever years. the south park joke is that it's only relevant for a week and then you may as well never watch it again. it's funny for that week tho, but it's not sumthing tom cruise should give a shit about.
the reason no one can believe south park is up to 10 seasons is cos no one can even remember the last 7.
'South Park'-Scientology Battle Rages On
"South Park" has declared war on Scientology. Matt Stone and Trey Parker, creators of the animated satire, are digging in against the celebrity-endorsed religion after a controversial episode mocking outspoken Scientologist Tom Cruise was yanked abruptly from the schedule Wednesday — with an Internet report saying it was covert warfare by Cruise that led to its departure.
"So, Scientology, you may have won THIS battle, but the million-year war for earth has just begun!" the "South Park" creators said in a statement Friday in Daily Variety. "Temporarily anozinizing our episode will NOT stop us from keeping Thetans forever trapped in your pitiful man-bodies... You have obstructed us for now, but your feeble bid to save humanity will fail!"
The Internet blogger hollywoodinterrupted.com said Thursday that Cruise threatened to not promote "Mission: Impossible 3," a surefire summer blockbuster, if the offending episode ran. Comedy Central is owned by Viacom, as is Paramount, which is putting out the film.
But Cruise's representative, Arnold Robinson, told The Associated Press Friday that the mega-star made no such demands.
"Not true," Robinson said. "I can tell you that he never said that."
A call by The Associated Press to a Paramount representative was not returned Friday.
The episode in question, "Trapped in the Closet," which first aired last November, shows Scientology leaders hailing Stan, one of the show's four devilish fourth-graders, as a savior. A cartoon Cruise locks himself in a closet and won't come out. An animated John Travolta, another famous Scientologist, enters the closet to try to get him out.
The battle began in earnest earlier this week when Isaac Hayes, another celebrity Scientologist and longtime show member — voicing the ladies' man Chef — quit the show, saying he could no longer tolerate its religious "intolerance and bigotry."
Stone and Parker didn't buy that either.
On Monday, Stone told The Associated Press, "This is 100 percent having to do with his faith in Scientology...He has no problem — and he's cashed plenty of checks — with our show making fun of Christians."
A Comedy Central spokesman said Friday that the network pulled the controversial episode to make room for two shows featuring Hayes.
"In light of the events of earlier this week, we wanted to give Chef an appropriate tribute by airing two episodes he is most known for," the spokesman said.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2006-03-21T003203Z_01_N20282496_RTRUKOC_0_US-LEISURE-SOUTHPARK.xml&archived=False
South Park" Chef back after Scientology skirmish
Mon Mar 20, 2006 7:32 PM ET14
By Steve Gorman
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Soul singer Isaac Hayes may have quit his job as the voice of Chef on "South Park" after a disagreement over religion, but his character will live on when the satiric cable TV cartoon returns to Comedy Central this week, the network said on Monday.
Hayes and his "South Park" alter ego are at the center of an ongoing flap over an episode last November that poked fun at the Church of Scientology and its celebrity adherents, including actor Tom Cruise.
The tenth season of "South Park" will launch on Wednesday with a new episode titled "The Return of Chef!", marking the "triumphant homecoming" of lusty school cafeteria cook James "Chef" McElroy to the show, the network said in a statement.
Hayes, 63, himself a follower of Scientology, surprised producers a week ago by announcing he was leaving the series because he objected to its "inappropriate ridicule" of religion, though he made no reference to the show's spoof of Scientology last fall.
Two days later, Comedy Central abruptly pulled a scheduled repeat of that episode, titled "Trapped in the Closet." Sources close to the show said the rerun was canceled after Cruise threatened to boycott promotion of his upcoming film, "Mission: Impossible III," for sister studio Paramount Pictures.
Representatives for Cruise and the studio denied this. But "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone fed the furor by issuing a statement suggesting the Church of Scientology was behind the decision to scrap the rerun.
The network has also noted that various religions including Christianity, Judaism and Islam have been targets of the show's satire since its inception.
The network statement announcing Chef's return for the "South Park" season premiere this Wednesday was a clear sign that Parker and Stone planned to use the Hayes imbroglio as further grist for their comedy.
"Knowing these guys as I do, I can't imagine that they're not going to do just that," Comedy Central spokesman Tony Fox told Reuters. He added that the producers routinely "turn around" new episodes in just six days, leaving them ample time to incorporate last week's dust-up into their season debut.
Fox said he assumed someone besides Hayes would supply Chef's voice. Details of the new episode were vague.
But a network synopsis said the fictional town of South Park, Colorado, is "jolted out of a case of the doldrums when Chef suddenly reappears," leading to new antics by the group of foul-mouthed fourth graders who are the show's stars.
"While Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman are thrilled to have their old friend back, they notice that something about Chef seems different. When Chef's strange behavior starts getting him in trouble, the boys pull out all the stops to save him."
Both Comedy Central and Paramount are owned by Viacom Inc..
© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.
I thought they handled the situation quite well.
But i wish hayes leaving would've been completely amicable. It probably would've made for a better episode.
Quote from: squints on March 22, 2006, 09:35:39 PM
I thought they handled the situation quite well.
But i wish hayes leaving would've been completely amicable. It probably would've made for a better episode.
Considering that it was one of the best episodes they've ever done, I doubt it.
I knew off the bat that they would be making obvious use of Chef soundbites but what they did with it... amazing. The downside is that the episodes they do under duress are always the best ones and this one was so good that I can only guess that the rest of the season won't be as good.
Quote from: Garam on March 23, 2006, 12:02:24 PM
I thought the Scientology episode was shitty.
You must be a scientologist
Quote from: Garam on March 24, 2006, 12:52:52 PMWhen was the last time they wrote an episode that wasn't relevent to the news at the time? I really think South Park has jumped the shark.
did you watch last season? it wasn't the best but very few episodes had anything to do with current events. unless i missed the headlines that said elementary school girls have invented a device that tells the future, or that killer whales are actually aliens from the moon.
I think that the most recent episode (Chef joining the Super Adventure Club) is one of the funniest episodes in South Park history.
Quote from: Walrus on March 25, 2006, 12:00:34 AM
I think that the most recent episode (Chef joining the Super Adventure Club) is one of the funniest episodes in South Park history.
i, too, thought it was great. the death scene was amazing.
Quote from: Xidentity Crixax on March 28, 2006, 11:26:50 PM
Quote from: Walrus on March 25, 2006, 12:00:34 AM
I think that the most recent episode (Chef joining the Super Adventure Club) is one of the funniest episodes in South Park history.
i, too, thought it was great. the death scene was amazing.
we saw the same episode?
yeah the death scene was good, as was the use of the soundbytes, but... eh? chef as darth vader? didn't some college kids do that on photoshop like eight years ago? i don't know. i was just looking over some season nine episodes and there were some REALLY funny ones in there. they got very overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the scientology episode and the virgin mary bleeding out her ass episode (which were only kind of funny compared to other episodes of last season). i think south park just needs to do shit to grab media attention (like this chef episode, which got a lot of publicity) and then go on to do what they do best. if episodes like "two days before the day after tomorrow" and "marjorine" are any indicator, i'm sure the show still has a little spunk left in it. this chef situation was just something they had to take advantage of and they knew it. i thought it was done a little bit half-assed, just to get it out of the way, and i assume the rest of the season will be much better.
Quote from: bonanzataz on March 29, 2006, 01:18:23 AM
Quote from: Xidentity Crixax on March 28, 2006, 11:26:50 PM
Quote from: Walrus on March 25, 2006, 12:00:34 AM
I think that the most recent episode (Chef joining the Super Adventure Club) is one of the funniest episodes in South Park history.
i, too, thought it was great. the death scene was amazing.
we saw the same episode?
yeah the death scene was good, as was the use of the soundbytes, but... eh? chef as darth vader? didn't some college kids do that on photoshop like eight years ago? i don't know. i was just looking over some season nine episodes and there were some REALLY funny ones in there. they got very overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the scientology episode and the virgin mary bleeding out her ass episode (which were only kind of funny compared to other episodes of last season). i think south park just needs to do shit to grab media attention (like this chef episode, which got a lot of publicity) and then go on to do what they do best. if episodes like "two days before the day after tomorrow" and "marjorine" are any indicator, i'm sure the show still has a little spunk left in it. this chef situation was just something they had to take advantage of and they knew it. i thought it was done a little bit half-assed, just to get it out of the way, and i assume the rest of the season will be much better.
i couldn't agree more. This last episode wasn't the "best episode ever" by far. I'll take the "Good Times With Weapons" Anime episode over the topical shows any day.
I guess I consider it one of the best because of the timing, the fact that we all saw it, or should've seen it coming, yet it was still a "oh my god, they actually did it" kind of moment. The Darth Vader thing was pretty stupid, I'll admit. The only other dumb part of the episode was the "Know what you call Jewish women's boobs? Joobs."
Otherwise, I found it quite hilarious.
Quote from: squints on March 29, 2006, 01:23:32 AM
I'll take the "Good Times With Weapons" Anime episode over the topical shows any day.
This is my choice for the best episode ever. That one cut from anime back to real life--you know the one I'm talking about--is the single funniest cut I have ever seen. And I KNEW it was where the scene was going! That only made it better. I flopped around on the floor for 10 minutes or so in front of my friends. Followed by ANOTHER one of those gigantic laughs when Cartman moves across the stage naked. Two gigantic laughs from me in one episode? Unheard of until this episode. My friends said that they had never seen me laugh so hard.
I also agree that episodes like that are better than topical episodes, which lose sight of the premise of the show--naive kids doing or saying awful things because they don't know any better.
Which season is that anime show in? I will buy the season for that episode alone.
Quote from: Walrus on March 29, 2006, 01:46:04 AM
The only other dumb part of the episode was the "Know what you call Jewish women's boobs? Joobs."
That was actually my favorite joke in the episode. The timing of it, given that they're walking across a rope bridge to a menacing place filled with child molesters, made it brilliant because it's exactly the sort of joke an 8 year old would HAVE to tell his friends as soon as he thought of it, no matter how out-of-context or inappropriate it might be. That's why we fell in love with Cartman to begin with.
The only problem with this episode is that anyone who didn't watch the episode the week it was on is not going to get the full experience. 20 years from now, you'll have to explain to your kids why they killed off Chef. Over time, the more "topical" episodes will probably fall by the wayside because of their reliance on knowledge of current events at the time, but if you're there when it's first on, it's pure genius.
Quote from: matt35mm on March 29, 2006, 02:20:26 AM
Which season is that anime show in? I will buy the season for that episode alone.
It was the first episode of Season 8, which i'm guessing will be out around the same time as Season 11 premieres.
Quote from: squints on March 29, 2006, 10:51:46 AM
Quote from: matt35mm on March 29, 2006, 02:20:26 AM
Which season is that anime show in? I will buy the season for that episode alone.
It was the first episode of Season 8, which i'm guessing will be out around the same time as Season 11 premieres.
Thank you, sir.
George Clooney's acceptance speech caused a smug storm so bad it made San Fransico disappear into its own asshole.
better?
When you say it like that, it's not funny.
from Southparkstudios:
"Cartman and Kyle are at war over the popular cartoon, 'Family Guy.' Kyle loves 'Family Guy' and hates Cartman. The two boys embark upon a mad chase across the country and the fate of 'Family Guy' lies with the first boy to reach Hollywood."
--------------------------------------------
This sounds interesting. Cartman would probably kill Stewie and feed him to his family.
SIMPSONS DID IT!
Quote from: Garam on April 05, 2006, 01:57:29 PM
South Park isn't much better than family guy these days
Good episode. They nailed Family Guy's entire shtick in 30 seconds, touched on the ridiculousness of starting a holy war over a cartoon, and called Comedy Central out for pulling the Scientology episode. Is this the final season?
Quote from: MacGuffin on September 08, 2005, 04:41:05 PM
Comedy Central orders more 'South Park'
Comedy Central has inked a deal with the creators of "South Park" to bring the long-running animated series back for three more seasons, the network announced Thursday. Executive producers Matt Stone and Trey Parker will write, direct, and edit 42 more episodes of "South Park." Currently in its ninth season, "Park" will stay put through 2008. "I was at Comedy Central when we launched the first season of 'South Park' and I am thrilled to see them continue through 2008," says Herzog. "Matt and Trey are creative geniuses and a huge part of the Comedy Central family and we look forward to continued success." A new season of "South Park" begins Oct. 19. The series started in 1997.
nope
That was BEFORE the Scientology episode.
Garam, why do you even watch the show anymore?
Quote from: Garam on April 06, 2006, 12:59:38 PM
I hate to sound like a negative Nancy all the time, but that really was a chore to sit through. The Family Guy parody was accurate and funny, and the Muslim guy saying 'Seriously, Family Guy isn't all that good' was funny also, but it would've made more of an impact if South Park hadn't become equally predictable and tired. Matt and Trey are too smug and self-referential these days. South Park spends 22 minutes (44 minutes if this indeed a double episode) to make a satirical point that the Simpsons would've made in 30 seconds in its prime.
The Family Guy parody was spot-on, the heads-in-the-sand-thing and the overwrought HW film score were funny. The episode didn't gel as a whole though. Its as if they had two different things they wanted to parody and put them in the same episode and they didn't quite go together. But South Park has enough quality under its belt from past seasons that they're allowed to make fun of Family Guy.
The FG parody was so close to the truth that it can hardly be called a parody.
They also mocked themselves with Cartman's lines about making fun of a religion.
i really want to see this damn FG parody but i never am able to catch a SP episode.
Cartoon Wars torrent (http://ts.searching.com/torrent/675840/South_Park_1003_Cartoon_Wars_DSR_XviD_LOKi_avi)
Little Danny Pocket
Quote from: Garam(but I did laugh the first time I saw the chicken bit on Family Guy.)
That's because the chicken bit WAS funny the first time. Family Guy has its moments, but gets stupider with each passing day. The older episodes have the best moments, and everything else is a rehash of stuff it's already done, or stuff other shows have done. First time around, the joke made sense in context of what was happening (which everyone knows is a rarity for Family Guy). It made it a seminal moment for the show, and that's why MacFarlane (who's proving himself to be more and more of a dumbass) saw fit to ape it when the show was revived. The second time around, the chicken bit was stupid because there was no reason for it -- the chicken just popped up out of nowhere.
Anyway, still waiting for the second part to download. I gave up on South Park a second time a year or so ago, but we'll see if this apparent resurgence in quality makes it worth it again. Doubtful.
Quote from: onomabracadabra on April 13, 2006, 02:04:23 PM
Quote from: Garam(but I did laugh the first time I saw the chicken bit on Family Guy.)
First time around, the joke made sense in context of what was happening (which everyone knows is a rarity for Family Guy).
Peter doesn't take a coupon from a guy in a chicken suit and says "Not after last time" cut to the extensive chicken fight. How the hell does that make sense in the context of what was happening (the end of the world because of the year 2000)? It was just another one of those weird family guy moments and lately those moments have been getting weirder and weirder (and not funny most of the time).
Quote from: onomabracadabra on April 13, 2006, 02:04:23 PMAnyway, still waiting for the second part to download. I gave up on South Park a second time a couple years ago, but we'll see if this apparent resurgence in quality makes it worth it again. Doubtful.
I don't understand this "resurgence in quality". I think the show has been consistantly funny for the past few seasons, hell, for the entire series (and i've been an avid fan since day 1). The Scientology episode wasn't the funniest of last season and the new season doesn't even compare to season 8 (Paris Hilton, the anime episode, michael jackson episode, "they took are jobs" episode, jimmy on steroids, cartman stealing an idea from the farrelly brothers, the boys robo-tripping, and the Woodland Critter Christmas). With the new season i think they've said what they needed and wanted to say about Issac Hayes leaving and the whole Scientology/tom crusie debacle, so hopefully they'll move on. Probably.
Quote from: Garam on April 13, 2006, 01:57:09 PM(which is ironic, as dogs don't have souls.)
Debatable.
squints, complete sentences: they're your friends. Otherwise, your argument makes no sense. So until that, I stand by what I said about Family Guy (re: the chicken). I was a fan of the show ever since it got kicked around in '99. It seems as if I was the only one who knew how great it was (and it was great at first), one of the first to have the DVD, etc. So the quality decline is disappointing. I look to Futurama for consistency, and await new eps, if it ever happens, though that's beside the point. Point is, what I said remains about the randomness working for Family Guy when there was some point to it. But what caused it to stop working was the writers being aware of it, and only basing their humor on other episodes of the show instead of what is funny in the world. That's why the second go-'round for the chicken didn't work and the first was brilliant. It was one of those surreal, exaggerated moments cartoons are known for using in moderation to great effect -- Critic's done it, too. I'm no expert on the Simpsons, so I'm unaware if they have, but it's a valid technique as long as that moderation is observed.
http://xixax.com/index.php?topic=2440.msg131529#msg131529 <-- That's when South Park started to suck for a second time. It's sucked since then except for a few good episodes here and there. But really, nothing can touch the first four or five seasons anyway. Anything else after that is pretty much extraneous.
I'll agree that The Passion episode was one of the worst. It was one of those instances where they tried to mock something that was happening probably as they were writing the show and it didn't work out for them. I think there would've been a lot more clever of a way to take jabs at Gibson instead of making him smear poop on everything. But that was the SINGULAR episode of season 8 that was not that funny. Every single other episode from that season was gut-bustingly hilarious. So your argument that it went downhill around then is bullshit. at least, IMO
'South Park' Creators Skewer Own Network
NEW YORK - Banned by Comedy Central from showing an image of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, the creators of "South Park" skewered their own network for hypocrisy in the cartoon's most recent episode.
The comedy — in an episode aired during Holy Week for Christians — instead featured an image of Jesus Christ defecating on President Bush and the American flag.
In an elaborately constructed two-part episode of their Peabody Award-winning cartoon, "South Park" creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker intended to comment on the controversy created by a Danish newspaper's publishing of caricatures of Muhammad. Muslims consider any physical representation of their prophet to be blasphemous.
When the cartoons were reprinted in newspapers worldwide in January and February, it sparked a wave of protests primarily in Islamic countries.
Parker and Stone were angered when told by Comedy Central several weeks ago that they could not run an image of Muhammad, according to a person close to the show who didn't want to be identified because of the issue's sensitivity.
The network's decision was made over concerns for public safety, the person said.
Comedy Central said in a statement issued Thursday: "In light of recent world events, we feel we made the right decision." Its executives would not comment further.
As is often the case with Parker and Stone, they built "South Park" around the incident. In Wednesday's episode, the character Kyle is shown trying to persuade a Fox network executive to air an uncensored "Family Guy" even though it had an image of Muhammad.
"Either it's all OK, or none of it is," Kyle said. "Do the right thing."
The executive decides to strike a blow for free speech and agrees to show it. But at the point where Muhammad is to be seen, the screen is filled with the message: "Comedy Central has refused to broadcast an image of Muhammad on their network."
It is followed shortly by the images of Christ, Bush and the flag.
A frequent "South Park" critic, William Donohue of the anti-defamation group Catholic League, called on Parker and Stone to resign out of principle for being censored.
"The ultimate hypocrite is not Comedy Central — that's their decision not to show the image of Muhammad or not — it's Parker and Stone," he said. "Like little whores, they'll sit there and grab the bucks. They'll sit there and they'll whine and they'll take their shot at Jesus. That's their stock in trade."
Parker and Stone did not immediately respond to a request through a spokesman for comment.
It's the second run-in over religion in a few months for the satirists. Comedy Central pulled a March rerun of a "South Park" episode that mocked Scientologists. Isaac Hayes, a Scientologist who voiced the Chef character on the show, resigned in protest over the episode.
"South Park" again got the last word last month with an episode where Chef was seemingly killed and mourned as a jolly guy whose brains were scrambled by the "Super Adventure Club," which turns its members into pedophiles.
Only last week, "South Park" won broadcasting's prestigious Peabody. Awards director Horace Newcomb said at the time that by its offensiveness, the show "reminds us of the need for being tolerant."
Quote from: Garam on April 13, 2006, 01:57:09 PM
- the two minute slap sequence. It's one of those 'jokes that start funny, then go on too long, then become funny again because it's been on too long!' except it wasn't funny the first time. All of these jokes stink of crappy writing to me (but I did laugh the first time I saw the chicken bit on Family Guy.)
- That they didn't attempt to take a jab at the Simpsons. If nothing is indeed sacred, I'd think Matt and Trey wouldn't pass up an opportunity to critique the downfall of the Simpsons.
At your first point: Family Guy is rife with that type of humor. It was sparingly at first and was tolerable. But now it happens everal times an episode where a joke will run on for far too long. It is much rarer that a South Park joke will drag on for so long (if it ever has happened). This joke seemed like a clear jab at Family Guy, even with the Terence and Phillip thing where they reminisced together. It was random, it went on too long, and was very comparable to the repititous, dry new style of Family Guy.
At your second point: The worst critique you'll hear of Family Guy, through popular mediums, is that is copied Simpsons, but there will always be that other voice saying "Family Guy might be imitating the Simpsons, but it's funnier." Granted, Family Guy is funny sometimes, but never on more than one level. Simpsons also had a very unique style of humor and Family Guy, while trying to remain separate, clearly dug its fingers into the Simpsons method a lot. The critique of the Simpsons is very apparent in general. After so many seasons, the well will run dry occasionally. There isn't much you can say about the Simpsons, as their longevity has proven a little more powerful than a fad.
Quote"The ultimate hypocrite is not Comedy Central — that's their decision not to show the image of Muhammad or not — it's Parker and Stone," he said. "Like little whores, they'll sit there and grab the bucks. They'll sit there and they'll whine and they'll take their shot at Jesus. That's their stock in trade."
I think this is one of the first times South Park seemed to side with Christianity. They showed us that Muhammed can't be shown, even in the context of a brief non sequitor, but it's clearly OK (since we saw the events almost back to back) to show Jesus taking a shit on George Bush. Why will networks allow some jokes about some holy figures, but not all? Albeit unconventional, the point was made.
Quote from: onomabracadabra on April 13, 2006, 02:29:40 PM
squints, complete sentences: they're your friends.
I. Will. Agree. With this.
The problem I have with most criticism of Family Guy is the implication that there is only one good type of humor, and everything else is somehow underdeveloped and dumb. Random jokes and absurdism can be funny. Obscure pop culture references can be funny. Jokes that go on past the point of discomfort can be funny. There's no law of thermodynamics that states "All humor must be relevant to the plot and derived from the characters and situations at all times." For god's sake, just watch an episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus to know that's not the case.
The point is, comedy is not monolithic. And it would get really boring really fast if it was.
Quote from: polkablues on April 13, 2006, 09:17:41 PM
The problem I have with most criticism of Family Guy is the implication that there is only one good type of humor, and everything else is somehow underdeveloped and dumb. Random jokes and absurdism can be funny. Obscure pop culture references can be funny. Jokes that go on past the point of discomfort can be funny. There's no law of thermodynamics that states "All humor must be relevant to the plot and derived from the characters and situations at all times." For god's sake, just watch an episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus to know that's not the case.
The point is, comedy is not monolithic. And it would get really boring really fast if it was.
Yes, but Monty Python is a sketch comedy show and Family Guy isn't. Family Guy generally has some sort of a plot in its episode, which Python rarely had (the bicycling tour and Mr. Neutron are the ones that come to mind), so Python going off into whatever makes sense in the context of the show.
Why can't Family Guy be a sketch comedy show, though? Is it because it's a cartoon sitcom that it's not allowed to break the barriers? The random humor was fine in latter season 2 and season 3, but they're overdoing it now to the point of just trying to surprise the audience with how obscure it is, rather than the joke itself.
I don't think the funniness is up for debate. That's more subjective. The intelligence of it is easier to debate, and as of late, FG is pretty fucking stupid.
Quote from: Walrus on April 13, 2006, 10:17:33 PM
I don't think the funniness is up for debate. That's more subjective. The intelligence of it is easier to debate, and as of late, FG is pretty fucking stupid.
But intelligence is almost completely beside the point. You can have good dumb comedy just like you can have good smart comedy (and bad dumb comedy and bad smart comedy). It's just trying to be funny, and the only critique that matters is whether it is or not. Which, like you said, is pretty subjective.
And I wasn't trying to make a side-by-side comparison of Monty Python and Family Guy. I was just saying that, by the standards that South Park laid out in the Cartoon Wars episodes, Monty Python would not be considered good comedy either, which we all know is ludicrous.
Part II was stronger than the first. The manatee tank was a better criticism of the FG style than Cartman just telling us about their style in part I. I'm kind of surprised they didn't go after Seth MacFarlane himself, but that might have been too similar to the Passion episode.
The extended fight slapping scene was funny because of the matter-of-fact lameness of it. And that they break into the King of the Hill studio and nobody bats an eye. No musical score, just slapping sounds and their voices. Whereas I found both chicken scenes in FG to be unbearably long.
And the Osama bin Laden cartoon was funnier than Family Guy.
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg129.imageshack.us%2Fimg129%2F6104%2F261rz.jpg&hash=eea755bcc08917f323f69dae19abf2dd7b2af269)
Quote from: polkablues on April 14, 2006, 12:11:35 AM
But intelligence is almost completely beside the point. You can have good dumb comedy just like you can have good smart comedy (and bad dumb comedy and bad smart comedy). It's just trying to be funny, and the only critique that matters is whether it is or not. Which, like you said, is pretty subjective.
This is exactly why I don't understand Garam's breakdown of the episode like it was a state of the union address. Though, polka... about the Monty Python thing, they may not have specified but obviously they're not talking about sketch comedy.
Quote from: Ravi on April 14, 2006, 12:50:45 AM
Part II was stronger than the first. The manatee tank was a better criticism of the FG style than Cartman just telling us about their style in part I. I'm kind of surprised they didn't go after Seth MacFarlane himself, but that might have been too similar to the Passion episode.
The extended fight slapping scene was funny because of the matter-of-fact lameness of it. And that they break into the King of the Hill studio and nobody bats an eye. No musical score, just slapping sounds and their voices. Whereas I found both chicken scenes in FG to be unbearably long.
And the Osama bin Laden cartoon was funnier than Family Guy.[/img]
:yabbse-thumbup: :yabbse-thumbup: :yabbse-thumbup:
Thank you both for talking some sense.
This episode also had a better satire of the whole Mohammad cartoon controversy. The shot of all the heads in the sand was a particularly evocative summation of the whole thing. And the fact that they can show Jesus taking a crap but not Mohammad standing there.
The one south park season I watched consistently was season 8, and I remember loving it. It's one of those shows that when I watch I wonder why I don't watch it more. The fact that it mocked FG makes me like it a little more, too.
The "uncensorded" muhammed
http://wwtdd.com/index.php?type=box&p=sp2.shtml
You know, I've been sticking up for Trey and Matt for the last couple of weeks and then, for my troubles, they deliver far and away the worst episode in the show's history. They had to have done this on purpose.
After the whole thing in the last episode about how jokes should be derived from the characters and situations at all times and should be relevant... they write an episode largely about Oprah's talking vagina and asshole, which goes against ALL of that.
The "point" that James Frey's book touched people's lives so who cares how much was true or not, I agree with that, but, as opposed to other topical episodes they've done, THIS is a case where everything you guys say is wrong with those kinds of episodes actually is wrong. No one really gives a shit about James Frey anymore, regardless of where you stood on him, so it's already aged. And it just wasn't funny. Cartman had it right: "You're the worst character ever, Towelie."
for the record/to get it off my chest i've thought/realized since team america that trey parker/matt stone are amazing at concepts, but absolutely horrible at writing the actual scenes. and after cartoon wars part one i think they're not as good at concepts anymore. maybe it's because they've been sticking with south park for so long. but the bury heads in the sand thing isn't good. the adults are becoming unreasonably stupid.
Quote from: picolas on April 19, 2006, 10:29:28 PM
the adults are becoming unreasonably stupid.
Simpsons did it.
shitty simpsons?
also there's no reason for only cartman/kyle to know that pulling one episode starts a chain reaction/it's all speculation and no actual stakes.
I was referring to how Homer got more and more idiotic each season (except, in his case, it grew funnier, whereas I only really find the adults freaking out funny sparingly).
i think in the simpsons homer's levels of stupidness in the good seasons made sense is the difference. like the clip highlighted in the 138th episode spectacular where he's about to hit a chestnut tree is 'stupid' but hilarious because he's so enthused by getting out of work that he doesn't notice he's about to hit a chestnut tree and yet he does and weaves it into the song he's singing. that makes so much sense. and yet it's the stupidest thing he could've done.
Quote from: picolas on April 19, 2006, 10:29:28 PM
for the record/to get it off my chest i've thought/realized since team america that trey parker/matt stone are amazing at concepts, but absolutely horrible at writing the actual scenes. and after cartoon wars part one i think they're not as good at concepts anymore. maybe it's because they've been sticking with south park for so long. but the bury heads in the sand thing isn't good. the adults are becoming unreasonably stupid.
The adults are becoming unreasonably stupid... just like in real life. The biggest crime the show is guilty of is preaching to the converted; most of their viewers know that things like the James Frey situation are ridiculous, otherwise they wouldn't still be watching. But the thing with them is that the jokes are usually good enough to cover up the weaknesses of the satire. It usually is still good for a laugh but episodes like last night's are just plain lazy. Maybe they're wearing down because they've done it for so long but I still stand by them managing to put in at least one joke every episode that makes it worthwhile (last night being an exception).
I'm sure the appeal was to attack a "sacred cow" like Oprah (please believe me, no pun intended) but it wasn't done well. This wasn't like Cartman's hand being mistaken for Jennifer Lopez or Christopher Reeve sucking stem cells out of dead fetuses... context was missing. What do Oprah's nether regions have to do with the James Frey situation at all?
Pussies and assholes, man. I mean, I guess that's what the connection is. Pretty dumb, if so. The absurdity was funny, but the episode was terrible.
Quote from: Gamblour le flambeur on April 20, 2006, 10:17:18 AM
The absurdity was funny, but the episode was terrible.
I only found myself laughing at the sheer idiocy of the whole concept. It definitely lacked at least one
really funny joke or something extremely gross (i.e. actual footage of a sex change operation) that usually "saves" the episode, or at least makes it memorable. . Towlie is an awful character and I wish i had been high when i saw it. It just might have been funny that way.
This week's episode was pretty funny. Not so much for the Manbearpig or Al Gore (that was outta no where), but anytime i see cartman more overweight than normal..i'm in stitches.
I thought the towelie episode was pretty dern amusing. I'm not familiar with the James Gern (?) story, but I just found the absurdity of the plot hilarious. The muddled English accents of the pussy and asshole were damn funny.
But the Al Gore episode wasn't very good. Does anyone care about Al Gore anymore?
'South Park' Creators' "Favorite Memo"
The photo of a memo purportedly sent by South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker to the MPAA ratings board to get their South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut passed with an R rating in 1999 was posted on several websites Tuesday. (Among the points listed in the memo: "We put a new storyboard in for clarification in the scene with Sadaam (sic) Hussein's penis. The intent now is that you never see Sadaam's real penis, he in fact is using dildos both times." Also: "We left in the scene with Cartman's mom and the horse as per our conversation. This is the one joke we really want to fight for." Stone's "P.S.": "This is my favorite memo ever." South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut received an Academy Award nomination for Best Song, for "Blame Canada."
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I love that... also, apparently the original title of the movie was "South Park: All Hell Breaks Loose", which was rejected by the MPAA because of the word Hell, a word which a quick IMDb search reveals has been used in over 600 titles previously. So they changed the title to a dick joke, which the MPAA either didn't get, or was totally cool with.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060713/ap_en_tv/tv_south_park_scientology
'South Park' Scientology episode to re-air
27 minutes ago
LOS ANGELES - "Trapped in the Closet," the controversial "South Park" episode that skewers Scientology and its popular proponent
Tom Cruise, is hitting the airwaves again.
Comedy Central plans to air the Emmy-nominated episode on July 19. It was last scheduled to rerun in March but was abruptly pulled by the network.
The network rotates its 150 episodes of "South Park" in and out of the broadcast schedule, spokesman Tony Fox said Wednesday.
"This episode just happens to be rotating back in," he said.
The show's co-creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, were told in May that the episode was pulled from the schedule to appease Cruise and his partners in "Mission: Impossible III," according to reports.
"If they hadn't put this episode back on the air, we'd have had serious issues, and we wouldn't be doing anything else with them," Stone said in Wednesday's edition of the trade paper Variety.
TV News: SOUTH PARK CREATORS GIVE FINAL WORD ON ISAAC HAYES LEAVING THE SHOW OVER THE SCIENTOLOGY EPISODE
They suspected Hayes would quit over the "Trapped in the Closet" episode, but proceded with it anyway
THE SKINNY: Isaac Hayes may have quit SOUTH PARK because of the Scientology-based episode "Trapped in the Closet," but the creators of the series, Trey Parker and Matt Stone revealed yesterday at the Summer Television Critics Association that they expected there would be trouble when they decided to tackle Hayes' religion.
"We did the Scientology episode and Isaac came to our office the next week to see us and I had a two hour meeting with him," recalls Stone. "And he was really upset because as you know by now, he's a Scientologist. He wasn't doing anything underhanded. He really loves Scientology and he really loves SOUTH PARK and those two things were at odds. This was right after the episode aired in November. He asked us to pull the episode off the air and to go to the network and pull the episode off the air and don't ever make it into a DVD. We said, 'No, we're not going to do that.' He said, 'okay,' and he left. And then we didn't hear anything. That was really our last contact with him."
Months later, Parker says that's when they heard Hayes was quitting the show.
"We were at the office and we heard Isaac's quitting and we're like, 'well, you know, we knew that might happen when we made the episode," admits Parker. "But we didn't want to be hypocrites. We always say, 'Hey, it's all okay to make fun of or none of it is. Everything has to be okay.' So when we had this good idea for a Scientology episode, we were like, 'You know what – this could piss Isaac off.' And we're like, 'Yeah, but you know what, we're hypocrites if we don't make it for that reason.' So we knew he might quit, and we got this letter and we're like, 'Okay, he quit.' To be honest, Chef hasn't been a big part of the show for five years, so it wasn't like a devastating blow or anything. We were bummed, out, but it was 'okay, he has totally a right to do that, and that's great,' and that was sort of going to be the end of it. But then this press release came out, whether it was sent by Isaac's people or Isaac or whatever, but it said, 'Isaac has left the show. I can no longer tolerate [it],' and 'Trey and Matt are bigots' and all that stuff. It was so crazy because we got along so well and that's where we were like, 'Wow, you really thought the show was fine until we did your religion, and now we're bigots.' So that's why we were like, 'Okay, game on mother f*cker.' And we did that first episode."
I guess they're contractually bound by Viacom to not suggest that Viacom is allowing the episode to run again since people stayed away from MI3 specifically because of Tom Cruise.
Quote from: hackspaced on July 14, 2006, 10:08:25 AM
since people stayed away from MI3 specifically because of Tom Cruise.
But if South Park never made fun of him, we'd all respect him for the classically trained thespian that he is?
Quote from: Walrus on July 16, 2006, 02:11:48 AM
Quote from: hackspaced on July 14, 2006, 10:08:25 AM
since people stayed away from MI3 specifically because of Tom Cruise.
But if South Park never made fun of him, we'd all respect him for the classically trained thespian that he is?
Wasn't the deal that either Comedy Central pulls the episode or Tom Cruise doesn't do press for MI3? Then MI3 didn't do so well because most people were sick of Tom Cruise. So he's not the hot shit he used to be and they're running the episode again.
I have to be honest, Walrus. Your avatar scares me.
Quote from: hackspaced on July 17, 2006, 12:15:04 PM
I have to be honest, Walrus. Your avatar scares me.
you're a braver man than me to face the fear which has, along with his jokes, led me to avoid his posts altogether.
Ad didn't take aim at Gibson
Source: Los Angeles Times
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"C'mon Jews," the ad exhorted, "show them who really runs Hollywood." Hint: It's not Mel Gibson.
In Tuesday's full-page ad in Daily Variety, placed by Comedy Central, the answer is clear from the cartoon showing "South Park" characters next to the Scientology headquarters.
Though the ad appears to be a humorous and timely takeoff on Gibson's widely reported tirade against Jews during last week's arrest in a drunk driving case, the timing is "pure coincidence," Comedy Central spokesman Tony Fox said Tuesday.
In fact, the ad congratulates "South Park" on its Emmy nomination for the episode "Trapped in the Closet" and refers to another controversy altogether — the still unresolved question of whether Tom Cruise influenced Comedy Central to pull a scheduled rerun of the Scientology-satirizing episode in March.
"It's a little bit of an inside joke at our expense for pulling the Scientology episode," Fox said.
"South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have said they submitted that particular episode for Emmy consideration as a reproof to executives who initially refused to re-air the show, originally televised last November. Now it will compete for best animated program at the Emmy's creative arts ceremony Aug. 19.
Though Cruise was widely rumored to have asked that the episode not be replayed — an allegation he denied — Fox said: "We've never commented on that.... We were aware the 'South Park' guys were unhappy. We told them we would put it back on the air."
"Trapped in the Closet" re-aired last week for the first time.
Fox said Tuesday's ad is in the Comedy Central tradition of being "topical and a bit of a thumb in your eye." Still, it wasn't as topical as it appeared, since the ad was designed and approved weeks before Gibson's arrest on Friday, he said.
"South Park" previously made fun of Gibson's film "The Passion of the Christ" in an episode called "The Passion of the Jew." In that show, the characters visit Gibson at home when they can't get their money back at the box office.
'South Park' comes of age, sort of
"South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone weren't sure the series would last beyond its initial order of six episodes. But the irreverent comedy show, which first aired Aug. 13, 1997, begins a new season Oct. 4.
So how long can they keep it going?
"We've said in a lot of interviews, 'There's no way we're going to be 35 or 40 doing this show,' and here we are at 35, and we're doing the show," Stone said. "Now we'll say, 'There's no way we're going to be 45 to 50 doing this show.' "
"I think when I have kids, it'll be over," Parker added. "Because that'll be the day, we'll have kids, and then one of us will come in the office and be like, 'I think we should take the show in a different direction. I think we offended some people last night, and I don't know that that's good.' "
Stone: "Once we have kids, we'll do the George Lucas thing, and we'll go back and change all the old episodes."
Parker: "All the guns out of people's hands and stuff."
Stone: "Get all weird and wimpy."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6093802.stm
South Park defends Irwin sketch
The TV network behind controversial cartoon South Park has defended the latest episode which makes fun of the death of TV naturalist Steve Irwin.
The episode shows a bloody Mr Irwin with the stingray that killed him in September hanging from his chest.
John Beyer, of TV watchdog Mediawatch, called it "grossly insensitive".
Comedy Central said: "The South Park guys do inappropriate things all the time...Their goal is to make people laugh, not to offend people."
In the episode, shown on Comedy Central in the US this week, Mr Irwin is at a Halloween party hosted by the devil.
Other guests include Hitler and Diana, Princess of Wales, but Irwin is thrown out because he is not in fancy dress.
Tony Fox of Comedy Central said: "We recognise that they [the South Park creators] do a lot of provocative things - is this one of them, probably yes.
"They are largely free to do what they like in terms of creativity and kinds of subject matter, and this is perhaps just another example of that."
The expletive-heavy humour of the cartoon, created by Matt Stone and Trey Parker, is considered too close to the bone for many people but loved by many others.
Previous episodes have also caused controversy by making fun of actor Tom Cruise and Scientology, the Virgin Mary and the Prophet Muhammad.
But Mr Beyer said of the Mr Irwin sketch: "Mr Irwin's family are obviously still grieving about their tragic loss and it seems inappropriate to me that South Park should be trying to make some capital out of it.
"To lampoon somebody's death like that is unacceptable, and so soon after the event is grossly insensitive and shows a great deal of disrespect for his family."
The 44-year-old naturalist - known as the Crocodile Hunter - died after being struck in the chest by the stingray's barb while filming a documentary on Queensland's Great Barrier Reef.
He was mourned by thousands of people in Australia, who considered him as a national hero because of his conservation work.
Tributes and donations to his charity Wildlife Warriors also flooded in from around the world and more than 5,000 people attended a memorial service at Mr Irwin's Crocoseum stadium in Queensland.
Quote from: Ravi on October 28, 2006, 02:35:11 PM
Tony Fox of Comedy Central said: "We recognise that they [the South Park creators] do a lot of provocative things - is this one of them, probably yes.
"They are largely free to do what they like in terms of creativity and kinds of subject matter, and this is perhaps just another example of that."
commitment phobe.
I find it amusing that showing Irwin is taboo, yet the episode also features priests that have naked boys on leashes-- which will not raise an eyebrow.
Last night's episode was fairly brilliant.
When Ms. Garrison was explaining evolution....
i don't know if i've ever laughed so hard.
"South Park" duo ink lucrative deal
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.
"Three more years of 'South Park' will give us the opportunity to offend that many more people," Stone said. "And since Trey and I are in charge of the digital side of 'South Park,' we can offend people on their cell phones, game consoles and computers too."
Stone and Parker already have negotiated a share of the hundreds of millions of dollars "Park" has poured in to the network via the backend, not to mention a robust licensing and merchandising revenue stream.
But this time around, they are poised to haul half of the unknown -- but up to now quite modest -- sum awaiting them on the Internet, where "Park" footage has been a fixture of Comedy Central's dot-com strategy, not to mention illegal file-sharing.
Also part of the deal is the formation of a digital animation studio launched jointly with the Viacom-owned channel, which would participate in any new programming spawned under the venture. South Park Digital Studios would come under the Web site it launched earlier this year, Southparkstudios.com.
The deal represents a coup for Kevin Morris, attorney for Parker and Stone, and Doug Herzog, president of MTV Networks Entertainment Group, who ran Comedy Central when "Park" became the channel's first breakout hit. Parent company Viacom also could use a boost in the digital domain, where the company has been criticized on Wall Street.
Abel Lezcano, a lawyer at Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein & Lezcano whose clients include "Desperate Housewives" creator Marc Cherry, was less impressed by the ad split than the total value of the pact.
"To me that's not as big a deal as if Comedy Central had given them a share of ad revenue from TV broadcasts, but the total amount is pretty big," he said. "The Big Four networks still won't let you share in any form of advertising (broadcast or Internet) because they sell ads across all platforms and don't want to separate it out, so in that respect, it's different."
Dan Black, partner at Greenberg Traurig in Santa Monica, agrees that this is not a precedent-setting deal.
"I've seen deals like that before with Web site revenue splits," he said. "The paradigm is familiar, but the $75 million is recognition of the success of the show."
But with the ink still drying, speculation already has begun as to what will be the next TV franchise to command a payday of similar scope. Bigger franchises from "The Simpsons" to "Saturday Night Live" also have established online presences that could complicate future negotiations.
Sameer Mithal, consultant for media and content at BusinessEdge Solutions, believes that only A-list content players will get a slice of the digital pie. "A lot of people are going to ask for it, but very few are going to get it," he said. "Someone just starting out doesn't have the leverage of the 'South Park' guys."
Lightning may well strike twice at Comedy Central, which already may be negotiating with another Internet darling: "The Daily Show" anchor Jon Stewart, whose current four-year contract expires at the end of 2008. The current deal for "Park" was also scheduled to elapse late next year.
James Dixon, who manages Stewart, applauded the "Park" pact but said his client is not concerned. "We'll see what happens with his next deal, but 'Daily' is a different animal than an animated series," he said. "A lot more than digital needs to be discussed."
Did anyone see the season premiere?
HOLY SHIT. this is the funniest show on television ever.
not the funniest episode ever, but butters at the urinal was classic.
It was a pretty funny episode, and South Park is one of the few shows I can count on to deliver time and time again.
Not every single episode is good, but I feel like I'm in good hands when I tune in, and I understand when they can't hit it out of the ballpark every time. My feeling is based on how, after so many years, it's clearly still two guys putting up what's funny to them. I always know that they're not going to try to sell me something that they wouldn't buy (unlike the majority of sitcoms and, ahem, The Simpsons now). And so when there's a mediocre episode on, that doesn't mean that there's not a brilliant episode on the horizon. Trey and Matt have, overall, not lost a single bit of edge, because they still approach their work with intelligence and honesty. And they're still fucking funny.
please tell me someone watched this. (don't look!! if you didnt')
I have to admit last week's episode sucked but...
Michael Bay, M. Night Shamalamalamlan, crazy Mel Gibson and his story structure, dragonheart, saving private ryan/ronald mcdonald . This is why they won an emmy (albeit they didnt' have much competetition). A trilogy? It is as if the show has no restrictions in a showtime/hbo sort of way. Prestige television indeed.
:shock: fuckin amazing...
all the cameos were great! :bravo:
i feel like i need to see it again because i spent the entire time looking in the background to see who i could recognize.
i thought this episode was really bad other than the scenes with bay and shyamalan. most of the jokes in the episode were references to pop culture, a writing style which they spent a two-part episode blasting last season.
i think they're overreaching here, it's just not funny. i hate when the show becomes more about the premise than its characters, b/c that's when the show is strongest. not when they create fancy new backgrounds and animate the most ridiculous things they can. when it gets too crazy, the show suffers. why do you think big budget comedies like evan almighty bomb? they're spending all their time on special effects and wacky scenarios and they forget to be funny. i was looking forward to new episodes, instead i get three weeks of this shit (but maybe they'll prove me wrong. they have in the past).
Bonza i almost feel the complete opposite...
Besides Lost's season finale i thought these 3 episodes were by far the best of television in 2007... (episodes 2 and 3 especially)
I just found it so clever, so epic and so fuckin hilarious. I felt like this was the unofficial sequel to the movie. I enjoyed the hell out of it, and i thought it was a nice change of pace from the "normal" episode arcs.
I thought it was mediocre. I was intrigued by the trilogy idea, and indeed there were a lot of good ideas throughout the whole story, but too much of it felt like they were just throwing in whatever. They have to make each episode so quickly, and I have the feeling that dedicating 3 episodes to one story effectively gave them less time per episode for story construction. It seems like they had to pretty much come up with the entire story in one week and then spend the next three weeks animating it.
But whether or not any of that is true, I just didn't think it was as funny as I'd hoped. It felt a bit sloppy and random. I liked the first episode of this trilogy, but was unimpressed by the second and third. So I guess I liked the idea of it more than where they ended up going with it.
I find that I tend to like their less outlandish episodes better... the ones based around either Cartman or the adults as a mob taking an idea way too far. When Bono and Imaginationland come into the mix... well, I guess I agree with Taz that the show is better when based on character than on clever premises.
I still love the show though, because these are just problems that are impossible to avoid when you have a week to create an episode, and I can understand that. If anything, I respect the show even more for taking these bizarre risks that sometimes just don't pay off. As long as they keep trying stuff, I'll be watching.
Anyone watch Woodland Critter Christmas? It may have been the most fucked up episode ever. Which means it was really funny.
their inspiration for the blood orgy came from Event horizon. Hail satan!
There was a There Will Be Blood reference in last night's episode.
You won't believe what happened to my car yesterday. You just won't believe it. I mean... wow.
Kanye says 'South Park' put him in check
NEW YORK – "South Park" may have accomplished the impossible — getting Kanye West to check his ego.
The Comedy Central show skewered the famously self-important rapper on its show Wednesday night, painting him as a narcissistic figure so out of touch with reality he couldn't even take a (very politically incorrect) joke.
West's love of himself and his work has been almost as integral to his image as his music: Just last year, he told The Associated Press that he was the "voice of this generation." Also recently, he was quoted as saying his greatest regret was not being able to see himself perform live.
Yet, on his blog Thursday, West appeared chastened, and ready to turn over a new leaf.
In typical all-caps mode, he wrote: "SOUTH PARK MURDERED ME LAST NIGHT AND IT'S PRETTY FUNNY. IT HURTS MY FEELINGS BUT WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM SOUTH PARK! I ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON MY EGO THOUGH. HAVING THE CRAZY EGO IS PLAYED OUT IN MY LIFE AND CAREER."
West said that he started stroking his ego long ago to build up his self esteem — but he now realizes he needs to "GET PAST MYSELF."
In the self-reflective post, he said that people won't take him seriously if he keeps it up (perhaps referring to his well-documented meltdowns at awards shows when he didn't win what he expected).
"I JUST WANT TO BE A DOPER PERSON WHICH STARTS WITH ME NOT ALWAYS TELLING PEOPLE HOW DOPE I THINK I AM," he said.
And perhaps to show that he's really serious about making that change, he provided a link to one of the most biting moments from the "South Park" show, and thanked the writers as well.
a classy guy
Quote from: MacGuffin on April 11, 2009, 11:25:10 PM
"I JUST WANT TO BE A DOPER PERSON WHICH STARTS WITH ME NOT ALWAYS TELLING PEOPLE HOW DOPE I THINK I AM," he said.
...and extremely intelligent as well.
I knew it, Kanye West speaks in all caps.
I have to admit it, but I can no longer watch South Park. It's just too stupid. Not only are the set ups to the jokes just blindly dumb and getting worse, but they look really bad because the end of show preaching is still there. I never liked the preaching, but I could ignore it before because the rest of the episode was funny. It's odd, but I now like Family Guy more when I hated it before. The show has no plot or points most of the time, but I ignore the dissolving of plot and really like some of the random allusions for their funniness or charm. You don't have to believe in the stories. You just have to find the characters entertaining. South Park wants you to believe in the story and meaning behind the satire and I just can't anymore. I know people who say Family Guy offends their sensibilities. South Park annoys mine these days and I'm probably beyond forgiveness.
There are two types of people in the world, those who like South park and those who like family guy. Now you can like them both, but at some point you have to make a choice, and that tells you who you are. South park has kept its original two writers the whole fourteen years its been on the air. I just think that says it all, the show is a well oiled machine, it pumps out the funny, its anti- establishment. It will probably go down as a touchstone in comedy cartoons after the simpsons before family guy ever will. My opinion of family guy ( like a lot of points of view actually ) is basically whats said in the first Cartoon wars episode. Its not even a well written show, the jokes are interchangable and irrelevant to the plot. You can go out there and be as edgy as you want, but you better come back to the story, and thats what South park has and always will do. I don't blame people for not liking South park or thinking its stupid, they're right! But that just tells me what kind of person you are, probably the less ballsy type that likes their entertainment spoon-fed to them
Quote from: Reelist on April 30, 2010, 09:17:02 AM
that just tells me what kind of person you are, probably the less ballsy type that likes their entertainment spoon-fed to them
I'm not coming down on one side of this debate (I like both, or at least I liked early Family Guy - haven't seen any for ages), but I was just wondering: how is it more ballsy and less spoon-fed for a show to always have a strong, classical story structure? Surely the opposite would make more sense. It makes it more well-formed and rounded, yes, but more ballsy...? (Though South Park probably IS more ballsy for other - i.e.: political - reasons.)
Quote from: Reelist on April 30, 2010, 09:17:02 AM
But that just tells me what kind of person you are, probably the less ballsy type that likes their entertainment spoon-fed to them
OK, this is a personal jab, but let me not be too reactionary. I like the idea of South Park more. The show just isn't what it used to be. I try to watch new episodes and I want to kill myself for how much the show drags through the standard set ups. As soon as you get a topic, you get a very dumb and irrational plot to suggest its stupidity. Since these things are too dumb to connect to anything known as satire, they are as interchangeable as the dumbest aspects of Family Guy. Then when the plot unwinds, you get some funny things because elements of the story are coming together, but then you get ridiculous preaching. As Salman Rushdie says, preaching is the worst thing any story can do. I'll take Family Guy stupidity over it any day.
I can watch a bad Family Guy episode and generally enjoy it if I am bored. A bad episode of South Park is nails on the chalkboard for me.
Quote from: children with angels on April 30, 2010, 09:36:18 AM
how is it more ballsy and less spoon-fed for a show to always have a strong, classical story structure?
Because South park sticks to the point okay? If there is a running joke on the show, its because some character or topic is the cause of that show, so there is a formula and the funniness is almost never random or stupid like family guy, the humor just makes sense and I think if you can stand by what you think is funny based on your loyalty to a show it just makes you ballsy, and you're as invested in watching it thrive as the people who make it.
I can kind of agree with Golden Trumpet about the status of South park not being what it used to, but it still manages to touch on such a wide range of topics every season that I think its just grown a bit more, I love how you know what you're going to get when you watch it and it doesn't sway from its politics or try to be goofy for its own sake. Best cartoon show on Tv.
Oh shit, I'm glad i found the South Park thread; Finally, I found out what i've been misssszzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
I just don't want to talk about this show if it's going to be compared with Family guy. Compare it to the Simpsons. Compare Family guy to Robot chicken
At least Robot Chicken presents itself as a sketch show, and doesn't ask for any emotional connection between its characters and the audience.
Quote from: Reelist on May 08, 2010, 04:45:53 PM
I just don't want to talk about this show if it's going to be compared with Family guy. Compare it to the Simpsons. Compare Family guy to Robot chicken
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You don't have to like South Park to realize how important it is to the media in general. They have occasional off-episodes that aren't as funny, but they are more than made up for when they strike the pulse of society's problems at large.
It's pretty awesome to see where the show has started and where it's come to now.
'South Park' Creators Apologize for Lifting Dialogue Off of CollegeHumor Website
Source: THR
South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker have apologized to the makers of a CollegeHumor video for using dialogue from the Web short for an episode of the Comedy Central show that ran Wednesday.
The South Park episode "Insheeption" and the CollegeHumor video "Inception Characters Don't Understand Inception," which was posted online in August, both parodied the complex language and theories of the hit film "Inception." The two projects featured the exact same line, "Sometimes my thoughts of my dead wife manifest themselves as trains," as well as other similar wording.
Stone explained the gaff to the New York Times Friday, saying that when he and Parker couldn't get a hold of the actual movie for reference they turned to the Internet and mistakenly thought the dialogue used in the CollegeHumor video were taken directly from the Christopher Nolan picture.
Stone told the Times, "It's just because we do the show in six days, and we're stupid and we just threw it together. But in the end, there are some lines that we had to call and apologize for."
Dan Gurewitch, who penned the CollegeHumor parody with David Young, wrote on his blog Friday that Stone was "extremely nice and apologetic" about the incident, and that there were no hard feelings. Gurewitch said, "All is well, and we're going to meet with Matt and Trey when they're in New York."
i saw that episode last night and it wasn't as poignant as a south park parody usually is.
inception's a fucking good movie.
this ish is pretty funny y'all
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not really..
i'd rather hear more about the broadway musical. anyone want to chase up some info on that?
I'm going to see it next week. I'll let you know how it is. :yabbse-grin:
Zachary Adam Chesser ( AKA Abhu Talha Al-Amrikee), 21, who posted online threats against South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker for their depiction of the Prophet Muhammad, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Feb. 24th. Chesser Pleaded guilty last October to three felonies.
In his blog he wrote:
"We have to warn Matt and Trey that what they are doing is stupid and they will probably wind up like Theo Van Gogh for airing this show," Al-Amrikee wrote. "This is not a threat, but a warning of the reality of what will likely happen to them." Some responses to Al-Amrikee's blog posts talk about the sick and gruesome killing of Parker and Stone.
Al-Amrikee also posted the addresses of Comedy Central, Parker and Stone's California production office and a Colorado retreat owned by the two animators.
Oh man he would've made a good Oz character
Quote from: Reelist on March 03, 2011, 11:43:37 AM
Zachary Adam Chesser, 21, who posted online threats against South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker for their depiction of the Prophet Muhammad, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Feb. 24th. Chesser Pleaded guilty last October to three felonies.
In his blog he wrote:
"We have to warn Matt and Trey that what they are doing is stupid and they will probably wind up like Theo Van Gogh for airing this show," Al-Amrikee wrote. "This is not a threat, but a warning of the reality of what will likely happen to them." Some responses to Al-Amrikee's blog posts talk about the sick and gruesome killing of Parker and Stone.
Al-Amrikee also posted the addresses of Comedy Central, Parker and Stone's California production office and a Colorado retreat owned by the two animators.
very confusing report because it was not clear that the person had two names.
Here's the confusing part, "this is not a threat, but..."
gtfo.
The 'super friends' episode already showed Mohammad, am i wrong here?
The one with moses, jesus and co. If my memory is right.
What a fucktard, 25 years for a blog post?!?!?!?!
25 years because he threatened to kill those two guys who are always offending everyone? And he did it on a blog post?
SERIOUSLY?
What should have happened...
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebolg.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F01%2Fjudge.jpg&hash=0afcc3e35b6c823bab97f50376865881f833ae0e)"lol. But really, just leave those two nerds alone. If you don't like what they say on their penis and fart cartoon show, just don't watch it, okay? I'm going to give you a $60 fine and a two-hour anger management class on a Saturday morning. Just leave each other alone. Act like adults, please."
home addresses make a difference, I suspect.
that and the fact that we're all making conclusions based on one paragraph of news pulled from somewhere.
and the fact he tried to take/kidnap his son in order for them to join some terrorist jihad thing in Somalia.
hear the Book of Mormon musical in its entirety (http://www.npr.org/2011/05/09/136054170/first-listen-cast-recording-the-book-of-mormon), link goes to a page where you can play the whole thing streaming (1hr 8min 23sec) or you can choose individual tracks and there's also a short article about the whole thing.
For anyone who hasn't seen (and is planning on seeing) the actual play, I'd hold off. The songs are total SPOILERS!
Also: the play is amazing. (http://modage.tumblr.com/post/3790676791/the-book-of-mormon)
Though I haven't seen that many, "The Book of Mormon" was probably the best Broadway musical I've ever seen. Written by the "South Park" duo Trey Parker and Matt Stone, along with "Avenue Q" co-creator Robert Lopez, the show centers on a pair of Mormons sent from Salt Lake City to complete their 2 year Mission in Uganda. When they arrive they find the people are riddled with poverty, AIDS and controlled by a warlord, so finding new converts is not going to be as easy as they expected.
The show is expectedly hilarious but what I didn't anticipate is that the show is also a very sincere musical. It doesn't set out to trash Mormons or religion in general, it definitely points out some ridiculous elements but doesn't do so at the expense of the characters. The show plays by Broadway conventions but also tweaks a few of them along the way. It's hilarious from beginning to end, the cast is great and it's not likely to offend anyone you'd ever want to hang out with.
Did SP just call it quits? That last ep really got to me, it was weird. I had to re-watch it as soon as it was over...
It'd be crazy if they went full story arch with the last 6 episodes, i know Trey and Matt have it in 'em to really write some powerful stuff...
they should just go for it, along with Book of Mormon, and do a total 180, not losing any of their bite, just focusing more on taking it seriously. They really do seem like two genuinely smart guys, i bet they could totally top themselves and peak again.
It seems that way, right? I'd be completely fine with this being the last season.
What's going on?
Someone catch me up.
I haven't been paying attention for the past ten years.
72teeth - 7 episodes.
It's in no way "quits." The creators are just kind of burned out, what with being busy with their musical. This last episode (only halfway through this current season, the second half to resume in the fall) was about Stan turning 10 and being faced with an ailment where everything his friends like (music, movies, video games, etc.) sounds like shit to him. His mom stops him from listening to a CD his friends gave him. His dad takes it, and listens, trying to prove he's still young and hip. He ends up playing bad music in some dive with a Stevie Nicks soundalike (they love to pick on her -- they once compared her to a goat). Eventually, Stan's friends start avoiding him, and Stan's parents grow apart and separate, saying they've grown tired of rehashing the same things over and over again. The episode ends with Stan spiraling down further and further in his funk where everyone he sees who says anything to him spews shit instead of saying anything intelligible. At least that's when the DVR cut off. Or here, Wiki usually does it better: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27re_Getting_Old
I wasn't prepared for that 180 at the end and it actually really got to me. Suddenly I realized "holy shit... they're talking about themselves", it was actually kind of... profound? They seem to be acknowledging that the well is dry and that they'd rather go out strong rather than let it drag on and on (because hey, Simpsons did it)
i loved it, south park has always held a special place for me, probably too much for a show mostly about poop jokes. But ever since i saw that first episode at 9 years old in 1995 i've been hooked. I'd rather it go out this way, with a little more weight to a story than that whole Mint Berry Crunch bs from last season.
be it as it may, i prefer a weak south park episode over a weak simpsons ep (does the term weak even apply anymore), although that's an unfair comparison. i'd compare parker and stone to persons of uncompromised honesty and craft like bill watterson or charles shultz, and matt groening to somebody like his greedy boss rupert murdoch or napoleon.
matt groening hasn't made a creative decision on that show for like 15 years (maybe that was your point?)
I think you missed his point.
It was a really good one, eloquently put.
Amusing "The Shining" homage on this Halloween episode. Coulda done without the Honey Boo Boo from a few weeks ago, but the Hawaiian theme last week was a little more well executed, and it was nice seeing Kenny and Butters in an episode together.
Here's some of the better homages:
http://www.reddit.com/r/southpark/comments/1244yk/south_park_vs_shining_xpost_from_rgifs/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBexa5iANl8
Is anyone watching this season? I haven't kept up with the show in years, but kept hearing this was the best season in years so figured I'd check it out. It's pretty damn good. Of course there are a few dud epsiodes, but of the 8 I've seen so far, they're mostly a hit. I'm in the middle of "Sponsored Content" now and it is certainly a highlight of the season so far.
Most recent eps available to watch online for free here: http://southpark.cc.com/
Just finished the final ep last night. At least I think it's the last one? 10 episodes is kinda short by their standards. Regardless, I like what they've done with it. Taking the plot continuation between episodes a lot more seriously. It seems like a definite, at least temporary departure from their usual trends. Although you could also see it as continuation of what they did with season 18. I've had trouble gathering any "point" from a lot of the episodes, although I live in the backwoods of the planet and a lot of the things they're parodying are foreign to me.