Wednesday, March 22, 2006

South Park Scientology Showdown!

Tonight at 10:00pm -- new South Park episode. Should be a good one.

The creators of the show are set to "fire back" at their opponents in the whole Scientology showdown that is going on. I'm not much at all one for keeping up with all the gossip in the TV, entertainment and media world, but all this drama has caught my attention. And I think it is awesome.

When it comes down to it, I realize that I love a good and messy fight. It is out of the chaos, destruction, and mess that creation emerges. I don't just mean the "creation" of news articles or new episodes of a TV show, but rather the "creatioin" of new norms and memes (?) and experiences for society and all individuals involved. For instance, I am pumped about the Da Vinci Code movie coming out this summer. I don't care how accurate or inaccurate Dan Brown's book is (or his many opponents "defending" their Christian faith) -- I just want to see some mud thrown around. So many Christian people are going to be pissed about this movie and the "blasphemy" it will be spreading.

I cannot wait. I think little skirmishes here and there can be a very good thing.

Here is a little new roundup to catch you up on everything that has been going on:

'South Park' to Fire Back in Season Premiere [article]
The creators of "South Park" appear ready to fire back at Tom Cruise and the Church of Scientology following a dust up earlier this month that included soul singer Isaac Hayes quitting the series.
Did Cruise Shut Down 'South Park' Episode? [source]
Tom Cruise forced Comedy Central to cancel a repeat of a controversial South Park episode lampooning Scientology after telling Paramount that he would refuse to promote Mission Impossible 3 if the show aired, according to the New York Post's "Page Six" gossip column, which in turn cited the website hollywoodinterrupted.com. However, a spokesperson for Comedy Central insisted that the episode had been yanked so that the channel could air a different episode that would serve as tribute to Isaac Hayes, who, like Cruise, is a Scientologist and who left the show (where he played "Chef") assertedly because of the Scientology episode. It originally aired last November.
South Park declares war on Scientology [article]
“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!”
Scientologist Isaac Hayes quits ‘South Park’ [article]
Last November, “South Park” targeted the Church of Scientology and its celebrity followers, including actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta, in a top-rated episode called “Trapped in the Closet.” In the episode, Stan, one of the show’s four mischievous fourth graders, is hailed as a reluctant savior by Scientology leaders, while a cartoon Cruise locks himself in a closet and won’t come out.

Stone told The AP he and co-creator Trey Parker “never heard a peep out of Isaac in any way until we did Scientology. He wants a different standard for religions other than his own, and to me, that is where intolerance and bigotry begin.” [right on!]
Episode Video [link]
Here is the original episode is available to watch online. This is probably illegal and totally awesome!
There we go! Should be awesome. Hopefully I'll remember to watch.

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