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.
-Eric
Somehow, considering "Caligula" et al, I doubt the truthfulness of that statement.
I'm a Christian too, in training for ministry, but I don't think it's necessarily un-Christian to call someone an idiot. After all, we don't want to lie, right?
PS I admit one of my weaknesses is that I think South Park is hilarious. (Hey, nobody's perfect)
Nonsense, nor are they conservative.
This is prima facie evidence why the Moon Patrol are first and foremost among cults.
Of course they want to turn culture back to the 14th century. How can they cope when they can't even figure out how to change the friggin' channel!
Not sure, but it's a language option on the DVD. "Shut your f***ing face Unclef***er" actually gets funnier in French.
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