South Park's creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker deserve a lot of credit for being willing to point out blatant hypocrisy wherever they see it — even if it comes from the folks who sign their checks.
Calling it exactly like they saw it, Parker and Stone lashed out at Comedy Central during the second installment of their Cartoon Wars episode. (The first part is available on iTunes and it will be interesting to see if the second makes it there, too.)
Initially, the two had wanted to include a scene with the Muslim prophet Mohammed, but were censored by the network. Following orders, they cut the scene from the episode, but instead ran a title card that said "Comedy Central has refused to broadcast an image of Mohammed on their network."
The episode went on to depict images of Jesus defecating on the American flag and President Bush. These images were allowed by the network.
Part of the episode was originally meant to poke fun at the hysteria that followed a Danish newspaper's publishing of political cartoons depicting Mohammed. Instead, it showed that hypocrisy (or fear) exists even in the network that's known for pushing the envelope.
The sad fact of the matter is the episode also showed that if members of a group riot, protest, and threaten, they will get results.
Evidently, Comedy Central thinks it's okay to offend Christians during the Holy Week. It's perfectly fine to "bleep" on America. Bashing Bush is in vogue. But, heaven forbid Muslims get offended. It seems that in the land of the free and the home of the brave, and the First Amendment, freedom of speech and the right to equal opportunity lampooning have limits.
Did Parker and Stone cross a line? You bet. In fact, they probably overshot it by a mile or two. Did they get their point across? I sure hope so.
Although the offending episode hasn't hit iTunes yet, Comedy Central is replaying it this week. We'll keep you posted for its arrival on iTunes.
Article comments
1 - Guppusmaximus
I agree... But, welcome to America where it's okay to trample the integrity of the Catholic/ Christian faith especially during a holiday that major corporations exploit and non-believers get off from work,our government can overlook over a million people committing crime and the FCC can abuse their power to implement their will but if we speak up, it's an atrocity! We should all be lambs and just go with the flow,right?? It's just the way it is nowadays...anything with substance gets pushed aside for shallow, materialistic interests. South Park has always picked on everyone and everything, so why are the Muslims left out?? Just like when Tom Cruise had their Scientologist episode banned! I guess if you take part in any kind of whacky,pyscho cult then you'll be protected by the media...
2 - Douglas Mays
Interesting, that episode was for real. Way mass cool! Good job, South Park.
peaceloveguidance
3 - Tim
The whole thing was just another in a series of increasingly innane South Park stunts. Trey and Matt may cry about censorship but I'll bet dollars to donuts that it doesn't keep them from cashing their checks.
4 - Timmy O
Sign the Petition to demand Comedy Central shows Muhammad!
Come and sign the petition
Please announce this petition everywhere
5 - RJ Elliott
South Park has definitely become less funny in recent years, but their deep political satire more than makes up for the humor deficit.
LONG LIVE SOUTH PARK!
6 - Douglas Mays
I agree with comment #5
7 - zingzing
i don't remember the last time i got easter sunday off. and yeah, christians should turn the other cheek. the attack on christianity was a political comment on islam. the connection is made quite clear. when something goes as far as the episode did, you really have to look beyond what they are showing before you can figure out what they are saying. otherwise, you can just sit there and be offended.
8 - Maximillian
It's all well and good that "Comedy Central has refused to broadcast an image of Mohammed on their network." Doesn't mean to say that they haven't in the past... like in the South Park season 5 episode "The Super Best Friends" which depicted Mohammed as a cartoon character.
I guess there'll be no more re-runs of that particular episode?
9 - Joanie
Congrats! This article has been placed on Advance.net
10 - Nathan E.
Islam forbids depictions of Mohammed. Christianity (with exceptions for certain denominations) does not have the same ban on pictures of Jesus. Yes, the image Jesus was offensive, but the idea behind not showing Mohammed has nothing to do with whether the pictures are offensive or not.
I'm not saying the pictures of Jesus were ok, but I am saying it's a seperate issue than the Mohammed censorship. What I see coming from the Comedy Central controversy is essentially, it's ok to make fun of religions, but it's not ok to purposefully do what the religion bans. Words vs. actions.
11 - Nathan E.
Another possibility:
Comedy Central may be lying through their teeth; when I watched that episode and saw the black screen, my roommate and I cracked up. It seemed a natural part of the episode, and was hilarious. I'm guessing Comedy Central did this on purpose, and is claiming it was censorship just to garner controversy and attention. Jon Stewart, if I recall correctly, showed some of the real cartoons on his show. Why would they censor one of their shows but not another?
12 - Heloise
I did not record that episode but I happened to record the new "Oprah" and "Million little fibers" episode. I must admit I never thought that satire could be so evil. I know that Oprah will ignore it but that episode was the most downright ugly and sick that I have ever seen.
Good thing they did not spoof Mohammed because if they did to him what they did to Oprah the Jihad would have come to their doors!!!
I do believe in free speech and hate PC, but what about taste South Park creators? Oprah should sue them for defamation of character just for the hell of it.
Heloise
13 - Heloise
Oh yea, and it wasn't even funny. South Park SuCKs...
14 - Jambi
If it sucks why do you record it?
15 - jake
i didnt read all the commments but i heard some losersbash south park. heres what i got 2 say.. if u think south park is gay..then ur just a fuckin retards who doesnt understand the messeag. south park is not only hilarious, it always has a good message. so stop being little pussies and getting offended by everything.
LONG LIVE SOUTH PARK
(but yes, i will admit, it has gotten less funny over the years tho =[ )
16 - Ronnie
I never knew about a Million Little Fibers...lol
Hats Off to Parker & Stone I LOVE that Oprah got nailed. She is a two faced bitch that built her fame and fortune on a feminism platform, made a lot of money and remained unbiased on all things political. Then when Obama enters the election she throws her support behind him and plays the race card...apparently the civil rights platform is a bit crowded with Sharpton and Jackson so she makes her money pretending to champion women's issues.
A Million Little Fibers is comedic brilliance at its best...
NO
H8