SELECTIVE INTOLERANCE
South Park, television's morally questioned comedy apparently went "over the line" in a recent episode. The particular episode in question makes fun of John Travolta, Tom Cruise and derides Scientology in general. This prompted Isaac Hayes, who does the voice of one of its' main characters "Chef", to quit the show. Hayes was reported to have said, "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."
The problem with this argument is that South Park has not left anything, or anyone, or any religion from being the target of its' satirical wit, prompting James Taranto of Opinion Journal to quip, "[A]fter all, it's one thing to mock Jews, Muslims, Mormons, Catholics, Evangelicals, blacks, gays, whites, Mexicans, Asians, Canadians, Frenchmen, people with birth defects, women, transsexuals, Democrats, Republicans, lawyers, cops, cows, people with red hair and freckles, goths, the handicapped and fat kids. But satirizing Scientology - that's just intolerant!"
Matt Stone, one of South Park's creators, isn't buying into that excuse either. Said Stone, "This is 100 percent having to do with his [Hayes'] faith in Scientology... He has no problem -- and he has cashed plenty of checks -- with our show making fun of Christians."
And now, it is being reported that the creators of South Park are "digging in their heels" against the celebrity-endorsed religion of Scientology. Why, you ask? Because the "controversial" episode, at the last moment, and without warning, was dropped from its regularly scheduled Wednesday time slot.
Rumors abound that "covert warfare by Tom Cruise" led to the episode's sudden demise. This brought a battle cry from creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, "So Scientology, you may have won this battle, but the million-year war for Earth has just begun!"
Okay conspiratorialists, how could Tom Cruise pull this off?
Ponder this. South Park runs on Comedy Central. Viacom owns Comedy Central. Viacom also owns Paramount Studios. Tom Cruise threatened (allegedly) not to promote the upcoming release of "Mission:Impossible 3" if the offending episode ran. So guess who is putting out the movie? Paramount.
I think you can connect the dots.
Of course, as one would expect, Arnold Robinson, Mr. Cruise's agent, is denying that Sir Thomas made any such demands.
Ahhhh.... Hollywood. Don't you just love 'em?
The problem with this argument is that South Park has not left anything, or anyone, or any religion from being the target of its' satirical wit, prompting James Taranto of Opinion Journal to quip, "[A]fter all, it's one thing to mock Jews, Muslims, Mormons, Catholics, Evangelicals, blacks, gays, whites, Mexicans, Asians, Canadians, Frenchmen, people with birth defects, women, transsexuals, Democrats, Republicans, lawyers, cops, cows, people with red hair and freckles, goths, the handicapped and fat kids. But satirizing Scientology - that's just intolerant!"
Matt Stone, one of South Park's creators, isn't buying into that excuse either. Said Stone, "This is 100 percent having to do with his [Hayes'] faith in Scientology... He has no problem -- and he has cashed plenty of checks -- with our show making fun of Christians."
And now, it is being reported that the creators of South Park are "digging in their heels" against the celebrity-endorsed religion of Scientology. Why, you ask? Because the "controversial" episode, at the last moment, and without warning, was dropped from its regularly scheduled Wednesday time slot.
Rumors abound that "covert warfare by Tom Cruise" led to the episode's sudden demise. This brought a battle cry from creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, "So Scientology, you may have won this battle, but the million-year war for Earth has just begun!"
Okay conspiratorialists, how could Tom Cruise pull this off?
Ponder this. South Park runs on Comedy Central. Viacom owns Comedy Central. Viacom also owns Paramount Studios. Tom Cruise threatened (allegedly) not to promote the upcoming release of "Mission:Impossible 3" if the offending episode ran. So guess who is putting out the movie? Paramount.
I think you can connect the dots.
Of course, as one would expect, Arnold Robinson, Mr. Cruise's agent, is denying that Sir Thomas made any such demands.
Ahhhh.... Hollywood. Don't you just love 'em?
posted by HeavyHanded at
6:59 PM
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