Posted on 12/22/2008 3:37:26 PM PST by Alex Murphy
To paraphrase the famous saying, hell hath no fury like a TV animator scorned. Specifically Trey Parker, who can't seem to get over his first girlfriend.
Parker and Matt Stone have gone out of their way to lampoon the LDS Church in every artistic medium they've explored, from their student film in college to their huge success with the animated sitcom "South Park" to the just-announced "Mormon Musical" set for Broadway next year — all of which apparently stems from Parker having dated a Mormon girl in his youth.
Whenever interviewers ask why Parker and Stone repeatedly skewer The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Parker says that his first girlfriend was a Mormon and ever since he has had a fascination with the church.
When he discusses this, Parker can be quite complimentary to church members in general, referring to them as "the nicest people." And in truth, even his most mean-spirited gags often go all gooey by the end.
Of course, these guys aren't alone in their repeated use of Mormonism as a punch line, and they also aren't the nastiest. These days it's open season on the LDS faith and its members; Parker and Stone were just ahead of the curve.
So, when I read about this new "Mormon Musical" it made me chuckle just because of their fixation on all things Mormon.
Their student film, "Cannibal! The Musical" (just re-released on DVD for its "13th Anniversary"), is an off-the-wall western with over-the-top violence and gore — and songs — which features a Mormon character searching for gold who crosses himself in the Catholic manner. A mistake or an intentional goof? With these guys it's hard to tell.
Then came "Orgazmo," an NC-17 comedy about a Mormon missionary (played by Parker) who becomes a
(Excerpt) Read more at deseretnews.com ...
SP ping.
Also, in “Cannibal, the Musical” the horse was named aftrer the girlfriend.
In South Park, only the Mormons get into heaven.
Everyone gets it from South Park. Even Richard Dawkins.
Dang Alex is it Mormon day or something?
If I recall correctly, he was engaged to the girl, and she cheated on him. A broken heart — esp. when it’s your first love — is pretty traumatic.
I think that as usual, folks from outside the Church will tell others things that are just not true.
Well, if it resulted in South Park, it was a good thing!
I think SP is and has been one of the funniest shows on tv in a long, long time. I saw the Mormon episode when it debuted some years ago and yes, I laughed my butt off at it. Part of the reason I laughed was some of the messed up beliefs they accused Mormons of having but the biggest laugh came at the end of the episode when that little mormon kid told off the SP kid (Stan?) and walked away. Rest assured that it is not just LDS that these men rip on, it is also the Catholics and other political/religious groups. Do they NEED to make a musical like this? Probably not. Then again we live in the most free nation on the planet so we need to either calm down or (gasp) develop a sense of humor.
And the of Eric Cartman's mom is...
And the Japanese have no souls.
I did like the repeated line in Orgazmo. 'You're from Utah...I'm sorry.' And who can forget the old lady telling off the missionaries. Also Spanish speakers listen to the lyrics the Naked Mariachis sing. 'cousins one by one'.
That should have been, “and the name of Eric Cartman’s mom is...”
Better to have a pair of happy-go-lucky Hollywood comedy types (Matt & Trey) goofing on your religion than a really sick, nasty, misanthropic “serious” Hollywood dramatist who claims to be a Mormon convert (Neil LaBute).
Then there’s that strange borderline-homoerotic obsession with Mel Gibson...
I have only watched it a few times. It strikes me as what a few 8 year olds would think was funny.
The only show I saw about Islam was very, very pro Muslim, actually pro Osama. I have never understood the fascination some conservatives have with the show.
The jokes won’t stop, when they follow a guy who couldn’t remember what he made up the first time, asked for time to be alone, made up a new idea for the book, then says he can read some golden tablets that no one else saw, no, no the jokes just won’t stop - the target is too easy.
You also forgot to mention how they’re the only show who tried to show muhammed after all the riots over the comics of him. Of course, Viacom censored them.
Osama Bin Laden Has Farty Pants was a pro Osama episode?
That was one of the great shows. I never saw the truth coming! I voted for Elway.
And unlike other media outlets who wouldn't show the Danish cartoons or other images of Muhammed, at least Viacom/Comedy Central were honest and said they feared doing so would put peoples lives in danger.
The others gave BS "cultural and religious sensitivity" reasons. The truth was they were afraid someone would walk into their lobby with a bomb. But they couldn't bring themselves to do so.
I say good for Viacom/Comedy Central for having the guts to tell the truth on the matter.
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They got death threats for not showing the right episode.
I hang out with Mormon girl she was nicest and her family was nicest
I want see this movie
I was honked off, but I was laughing, also!
>>Dang Alex is it Mormon day or something?<<
It’s Advent. In Lent, the focus of the BBQ is the Catholic Church.
It’s Advent. In Lent, the focus of the BBQ is the Catholic Church.
A year or so ago, I was actually asked to censor all Catholic-related news for Lent.
***If I recall correctly, he was engaged to the girl, and she cheated on him. ****
I dated a mormon girl! Maybe this was her or maybe her mama.
The girl I dated didn’t have on any mormon underwear. ;^D
>>A year or so ago, I was actually asked to censor all Catholic-related news for Lent.<<
Is it too much to ask for you to be ecumenical during Lent and Advent? Timing and tact are not censorship. One can post articles critical of another religion at other times.
If you thought “Osama has Farty Pants” was pro islam and pro Osama, you must have watched it with the TV backwards or forgot to plug it in.
Mrs Cartman?
Word!
Only Tom (Come out da closet) Cruise gets skewered as much as the muslims in SP...;’}
No, the Ginger Kids have no souls.
Peter: Satan's army has crossed over the Plains of Limbo!
Gabriel: Then they will be here on the morrow. Without Kenny's soul here there will be nobody who can use the holy PSP.
Uriel: No! There is another. A Japanese boy did make it to level fifty-nine.
Michael: [thinks for a moment] Are you stupid, Uriel? Japanese people don't have souls!
Hmm, apparently quite a few people have no souls.
From Cartman’s clasroom speech, “Ginger kids are born with a disease which causes very light skin, red hair, and freckles. ... This disease is called Gingervitus, and it occurs because ginger kids have no souls.”
That reminds me of the episode "Red Hot Catholic Love." The priests and cardinals were concerned that if they couldn't silence the children, then they'd no longer be able to have sex with children.
One of their best episodes ever.
South Park Christmas episodes coming up starting at 9PM EST. I can’t wait!!
Those are among my favorites. May be ping worthy to the list if you are around.
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