Posted on 12/04/2003 6:49:00 PM PST by Nachum
The 1999 movie "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut" has been aired on the "basic" cable network Comedy Central, bringing what one critic describes as "the most vile movie in history" to America's families for Thanksgiving weekend.
Coming on the heels of the Federal Communication Commission's recent ruling that U2 singer Bono's utterance of the F-word on broadcast television did not violate the agency's standards, the airing of the film, which is based on the network's "South Park" television series, was enthusiastically promoted on Comedy Central's website:
"The greatest movie of all time comes back to Comedy Central – and it's kick-a--! Uncensored and over-the-top – don't miss it!"
A representative of the FCC mentioned the Bono ruling in an interview with WorldNetDaily. Margo Davenport, a senior legal adviser for the agency, explained the difference between rules governing broadcast television and those for cable channels. While most viewers expect profanity on premium pay channels, such as Showtime and HBO, the FCC also has a hands-off policy with other "basic" cable stations, Comedy Central being one.
"The distinction is between broadcast stations and non-broadcast stations," Davenport said.
She recalled an incident a year ago when the comedy network aired an episode of "South Park" that featured a counter on the bottom of the screen that kept track of the number of times a specific profanity was uttered.
Davenport noted viewers can always get a TV with a V-chip or block specific channels to avoid vulgar cable programming.
Although the FCC used to get regular complaints about Comedy Central, according to Davenport, that's not the case now.
"Maybe nobody watches it anymore," she said.
Ironically, the "South Park" movie features one scene where the character Dr. Vosknocker demonstrates a "V-chip" that has been installed in Cartman to get him to stop swearing:
Dr. Vosknocker: Now, I want you to say "doggy." Cartman: Doggy.
Dr. Vosknocker: [to audience] Notice that nothing happens. [to Cartman] Now, say "Montana."
Cartman: Montana.
Dr. Vosknocker: Good. Now, "pillow."
Cartman: Pillow.
Dr. Vosknocker: All right. Now I want you to say "horse f-----."
Mrs. Cartman: Go on, honey. It's all right.
Cartman: Horse fu– [gets shocked by the V-chip] That hurts, g-- d--- it! [gets shocked again]
Dr. Vosknocker: Now I want you to say [expletive.]
Cartman: No!
Dr. Vosknocker: [to audience] Success! The child doesn't want to swear!
Cartman: This isn't fair, you sons of bi– [gets shocked repeatedly].
During the scene, which, like the entire film, is animated, placards with the vulgar words are held up for the viewers to see.
Christian film reviewer Ted Baehr calls the film "the most vile movie in history." His review of the film points out the extreme number of profanities included in the dialogue, saying it is "anti-Christian, anti-God, anti-morality, intentionally immoral, with the most vile content in the history of mainstream moviemaking; 340 counted obscenities (there may be more that are muddled), 14 profanities and many disgusting bodily functions. …"
Baehr says "mocking bigotry" is the hallmark of the film: "Canadians are vilified; Jews are belittled; God is also mocked and called a wimp, a faggot and worse; and, to top it off, African-Americans are called darkies and are used by the U.S. Army to shield the white troops, accompanied by dialogue telling everyone that this horrendous act is the Army's intent."
Concluded Baehr, "The future of our society looks very dim after thinking what those children [who see the film] will do and how they will behave after this powerful entertainment virus corrupts their hearts and minds."
As WorldNetDaily reported, the creators of the "South Park" series are the same people who developed a new show that was to debut in 2001 entitled, "That's My Bush," which would have included President George W. Bush's twin daughters Barbara and Jenna, being portrayed as a pair of "very hot and sexy" incestuous lesbians.
Though last weekend's airing of the "South Park" movie occurred late in the evening, the show itself is played at various times throughout the world.
"What's funny is where I am from [Quebec, Canada], 'South Park' has been translated into French and is on TV at 4 p.m. when kids get home from school," an Internet developer told WorldNetDaily. "My nephews were watching it."
Comedy Central representatives failed to respond to several requests for comment.
It is like the old routine on the old Dick Cavitt show. He invites a representative of a Polish citizen's group to protest Polish jokes. The representative tells insulting joke after joke and the audience cracks up.
The only difference here is that WND doesn't realize that they are part of the joke. It makes it difficult to ever take them seriously.
Let's say that this whole big G god business is a cosmic joke, and then let's further say that common bodily functions are special, especially if they concern activity usually reserved for small rooms with good ventilation, and then let's, by extension, agree that all manner of execrable productions, be they concrete or abstract are the highest form of expression, does that make them art?
We are not here for your pleasure, I am here to take the pulse of the heartland, I shiver when it fibrillates.
The common denominator of the immature is their desperate need to be seen; oh, I tire of this, tootle on.
I understand humor, I also know dirt when I see it.
Why hit a mule with a hammer when a nice, soft two by four will do?
That is the question we should be asking of WND. Questionable programming? Maybe. But why did they publish this piece? Worse yet, why didn't anyone here take them to task for it. I think there is a need for that hammer- unfortunately.
This type of response is what helped to keep the conservative cause an ineffectual minority one, for far too many years: too many humorless horses asses. :)
Clearly written by someone who has never seen 'Caligula.'
My vote for the funniest movie scene ever is the one in Blazing Saddles where Cleavon Little holds his gun to his head and threatens to "shoot the nigger" unless the townspeople lower their weapons.
They even said so.
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