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.
He'd probably skate on a misdemeanor.
That's true, I must admit, regarding reading, or perhaps noticing.
However, considering the similarity of names, I think confusing them is fairly understandable, at least as understandable as leaving an entire word out of a sentence, as above.
I am glad you pointed it out, though.
WND doesn't have the "authoritah" to go off on "South Park."Of course, the ultimate point is that the movie was shown in the post-midnight slot; additionally, in this "500 channel universe" it is an easy matter to change the channel or turn the set off.
But if they're really torqued off, I'll rochambeau them for it....
Just damn.
If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...
France?
Sure I have. I've also heard of non sequitors, which is more or less what your comment seems to be.
Screw you guys ... I'm going home.
The first time I saw a guy get mugged at school, I just turned my head. Worked like a charm. Suddenly, it wasn't happening.
I have to get it on DVD.
And not noted in the article is that now that word, shit, is banned on South Park. No character will ever say it again. Not because Comedy Central says so, but because Matt and Trey say so.
WND has had a beef against South Park since it started. Same with Brent Bozell. For this to have been a fair and honest piece of journalism they would have informed the readers that Matt and Trey had developed 2 shows. One for Bush and one for Gore and the show that went into production was based on the outcome of the 2000 election. So if Gore had one, they could have easily taken off on Al Gore III's problems and made a character who was a pot smoking, alcoholic with a lead foot.
And if memory serves me right, the lesbian daughters was a rumor that made the rounds but had no validity to it.
Prosecutor: You hate blacks don't you Eric.
Eric Cartman: No. I hate hippies!
The original aspect ratio
The rest of the movie was a BRILLIANT slapstick about a man WHO WAS MISTAKEN for the Messiah.He wasn't the Messiah, he was a Very Naughty Boy!
-Eric
That reminds me, I need to rent "Cannibal the Musical". It was Trey and Matt's first effort. The movie is supposed to be really bad, but the commentary track is supposed to be very funny since they both get increasingly drunk through it.
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