South Park: Chef Returns

Posted by: loren

South Park: Chef Returns - 23/03/2006 03:09

WOW. Have any of you guys been following this? MTV.com has a good synopsis. Just watched the season premiere... man. That was just amazing. Sorry, had to say SOMETHING to SOMEONE!
Posted by: canuckInOR

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 23/03/2006 05:04

Yeah, I've been following it. Scientology is just messed up. I haven't watched any South Park in *years*, but I did see closet episode on the web. I'm hoping the new one gets distributed, too...
Posted by: Schido

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 23/03/2006 08:05

Quote:
Scientology is just messed up


But i got the t-shirt!

Posted by: SE_Sport_Driver

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 23/03/2006 11:00

I wish I would have known about the controversy when the episode originally ran... I had it on Tivo and could have put it on DVD (the closet one)...
Posted by: BartDG

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 23/03/2006 12:03

You can watch the closet episode here...

I thought it was pretty good.
Posted by: JeffS

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 23/03/2006 12:24

I'm not a fan of SP- in fact I find it offensive. Which is why I don't watch it (makes sense right?). Obviously there are some who are not offended, so that's cool. We all make personal decisions.

Hayes is obviously out of line- he should have just said "I won't participate in something that makes fun of Scientology." At least that would have been honest. What he did choose to say ("Religious beliefs are sacred to people and at all times should be respected and honored.") is just laughable- sure you find it offensive to make fun of various religions when YOU are the target. If you find the concept offensive now, you should be apologizing to every group who the show has offended, because you were a part of that show. If you didn't see that it might offend people then, but do now that it's YOUR religion, then all the more reason to apologize for your shortsightedness. But the last people you need to target are the ones who you joined in with as long as it was only other people being ridiculed.

Having said all of that, I do wonder if Hayes was forced to leave by Scientology. With their history of handling criticism, I can't imagine they'd be too happy about his involvement in the show. He might not have had much of a choice- except to denounce his religion.
Posted by: Ezekiel

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 23/03/2006 12:27

You know that Matt & Trey knew there'd be repercussions, since there are no names listed in the ending credits for that episode.

-Zeke
Posted by: Dignan

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 23/03/2006 12:27

Quote:
I wish I would have known about the controversy when the episode originally ran... I had it on Tivo and could have put it on DVD (the closet one)...

I didn't hear much controversy when the original ran. It was only when they wanted to re-air it that ol crazy boy Tom put up a fuss. I'm definitely with the South Park guys on this, and I'm very disappointed in Isaac Hayes. What a hypocrite.

Did anyone see that press release that Trey and Matt wrote?

*edit*
Found it:
Quote:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

-- Trey Parker and Matt Stone, servants of the dark lord Xenu
Posted by: tman

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 23/03/2006 13:30

Quote:
You know that Matt & Trey knew there'd be repercussions, since there are no names listed in the ending credits for that episode.

Not sure. Leaving the credits off doesn't really mean that much considering they could just look at another episode. They'd only need to start hassling Matt & Trey anyway.
Posted by: tman

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 23/03/2006 13:33

Was Chef actually in the episode? I'm at work so can't watch it.
Posted by: tonyc

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 23/03/2006 13:47

Yeah, he was prominently featured. They sliced and diced his voice from previous episodes to create his lines for this one. I thought it was definitely an entertaining episode, and a much-needed punch in the nose to the Cult of Scientology.
Posted by: DWallach

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 23/03/2006 14:50

Quote:
Not sure. Leaving the credits off doesn't really mean that much considering they could just look at another episode. They'd only need to start hassling Matt & Trey anyway.

The last lines spoken by Stan in that episode were basically "go ahead, sue me", which can certainly be read as a direct provocation from Matt & Trey to the Scientology people. By replacing all the credits with "Jane Smith" and "John Smith", they're clearly taking all the responsibility themselves.

Of course, the Scientology people would be fantastically stupid to actually sue, since that would only generate more publicity for South Park and get the episode more widely watched. It's brilliant, really.
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 23/03/2006 15:06

But they are remarkably litigious. That would be their standard position. Just ask our friend Julf.
Posted by: ithoughti

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 23/03/2006 17:19

Quote:
You know that Matt & Trey knew there'd be repercussions, since there are no names listed in the ending credits for that episode.

-Zeke



This is more of a commentary on how litigious Scientology has really become. They are VERY aggressive when it comes to 'protecting' themselves.

I've been following the story pretty closely as I am a huge SP fan. Parker and Stone are getting more and more of my respect every day.

Here is a fantastic article from Rolling Stone on Scientology:

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/9363363/inside_scientology

it's a long read, but well worth it.
Posted by: hybrid8

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 23/03/2006 17:57

Scientology is not a religion any more than Nike or PepsiCo is.

South Park has been , since its premiere in 1997, one of the best 30 minutes of programming on TV in North America. That's my opinion, and I'm sticking with it. Religion is definitely something that should always be open to humor and mockery.

Parody is protected in the US, so I'm not sure what grounds Co$ would have for taking Parker & Stone to court.

Now implying Tom Cruise and John Travolta are homosexual is another matter... But they danced around that quite a bit and I'm not sure it would count, or cross the line into, as hate, libel or slander. Besides, the last two have to involve false statements

We're way behind on SP here in Canada, but I did see the Co$ episode when it was originally aired (up here) a few months ago. The season has been stalled up here for weeks and I have no idea when new episodes will be on. There may have only been two since the Co$ airing actually.

Bruno
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 23/03/2006 18:08

Past lawsuits have involved suing over publication of private intellectual property in the form of church teachings. However, as a result of one of their lawsuits, a good portion of that entered the public domain when it was entered as evidence in the court case, so I don't think they can fall back on that anymore. They seem to be very creative when coming up with their grounds, though. Even so, you needn't have solid grounds to sue someone, just deep pockets, if your intent is to ruin the person you sue.
Posted by: JeffS

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 23/03/2006 18:15

Quote:
Parody is protected in the US, so I'm not sure what grounds Co$ would have for taking Parker & Stone to court.
I think the grounds would be over revealing "trade secrets", as laughable as that might be. Only Scientologists are supposed to know their beliefs, and only then after spending some time/money earning that privelage. From what I understand (and I didn't see the episode), a number of Scientology's beliefs were directly stated in the program, moving from parody into education- and therefore revealing privelaged information.
Posted by: JeffS

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 23/03/2006 18:16

Quote:
Even so, you needn't have solid grounds to sue someone, just deep pockets, if your intent is to ruin the person you sue.
Fortunately, I do believe Parker & Stone have deep pockets as well- maybe not as deep, but they certainly aren't struggling to get by . . .
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 23/03/2006 18:21

Quote:
I do wonder if Hayes was forced to leave by Scientology

Well, I'm sure that episode got Matt and Trek marked as "Suppressive Persons" or "SPs". Scientologists are not allowed to associate with SPs, a process they call "disconnection". (I have a strong feeling that the reason that Nicole Kidman doesn't speak out about Scientology is because she would be "disconnected" from her children.) I'm sure you can find a lot of information on your own with those search terms, but pay attention to the "Fair Game" policy. It states:

Quote:
May be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologist. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed.

You might also want to check out the Suppressive Person Defense League.
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 24/03/2006 00:33

Quote:
I thought it was definitely an entertaining episode

Really? I just watched it and thought it was pretty dull. The only interesting part was Kyle's speech at the end where he reminds everybody that we shouldn't hate the victims of a cult, but hate the cult itself.

Oh, and when Stan's dad skips out of the bar after Chef.
Posted by: hybrid8

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 24/03/2006 02:16

I spent way too much time in the 90's reading about $scientology and their battles with countless netizens. Some funny, much scary. A number of tales (perhaps combined) would probably make for a pretty interesting movie. I'm thinking "The Net" and "The Davinci Code" combined.

Well, here's hoping that Katie Holmes' contract is up soon. Does anyone know how many seasons she's supposed to be attached to Cruise for?

Bruno
Posted by: webroach

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 24/03/2006 05:07

Quote:
A number of tales (perhaps combined) would probably make for a pretty interesting movie.


It's called Battlefield Earth and it was anything but interesting.



And yes, I know you meant the conflict between the COS and the netizens.
Posted by: julf

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 24/03/2006 08:41

Quote:
A number of tales (perhaps combined) would probably make for a pretty interesting movie.


Only if they get George Clooney to play me, and Catherina Zeta-Jones to play Karin
Posted by: boxer

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 24/03/2006 09:07

Quote:
Only if they get George Clooney to play me, and Catherina Zeta-Jones to play Karin

.......and L. Ron Hubbard.....Steve Martin perhaps?
Posted by: julf

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 25/03/2006 09:06

Quote:
.......and L. Ron Hubbard.....Steve Martin perhaps?


Excellent choice - the hard one is who should play John Travolta and Tom Cruise
Posted by: SE_Sport_Driver

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 25/03/2006 11:21

Quote:
Quote:
.......and L. Ron Hubbard.....Steve Martin perhaps?


Excellent choice - the hard one is who should play John Travolta and Tom Cruise


Ron Jeremy and Pee Wee Herman respectively.
Posted by: n2toh

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 25/03/2006 20:52

Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
.......and L. Ron Hubbard.....Steve Martin perhaps?


Excellent choice - the hard one is who should play John Travolta and Tom Cruise


Ron Jeremy and Pee Wee Herman respectively.


it wouldn't be the first time Ron has worked for Parker & Stone
Posted by: tfabris

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 26/03/2006 00:14

Heh, a friend showed me orgasmo recently. Laughed my ass off when I saw that it was Ron Jeremy. Brilliant.
Posted by: FireFox31

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 26/03/2006 21:52

From MTV.com article:
Quote:
Tom Cruise threatened to not promote his upcoming "Mission: Impossible 3," the big summer release

HA! If it's anything like MI:2, I'd have taken the threat like a bad joke: without so much as a smirk. For the record, MI:2 ranks as the #1 worst movie I've ever EVER seen for so many reasons that I can't remember them all at one time.

Quote:
from Paramount Pictures, which is owned by Viacom, the parent company of Comedy Central and MTV.

Pah, corporate takeovers. I can't want for 30 years from now when all companies are owned (pwnd) by "Company, Inc.: the parent company of everything".
Posted by: MarkH

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 27/03/2006 01:51

Quote:
Pah, corporate takeovers. I can't want for 30 years from now when all companies are owned (pwnd) by "Company, Inc.: the parent company of everything".


"Taco Bell was the only restaurant to survive the Franchise Wars... so now all restaurants are Taco Bell."
Posted by: JBjorgen

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 27/03/2006 02:40

Demolition Man...a guilty pleasure.
Posted by: schofiel

Re: South Park: Chef Returns - 27/03/2006 19:20

Hah! XS4ALL just ROCKS

Prachtig!!!