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.
Try threatening the President and let me know what happens. Then go to a mall and proposition an 11 year-old for sex. Let me know about the First Amendment then.
Well of course there are laws against saying such things but they violate the constitution and are put in place because politicians like to limit speech. That doesn't mean that we should expand their role in deciding what can and cannot be said. I personally have no problem with someone threatening the President. In fact, it happens all the time. Even Eminem does it.
Don't get me wrong. I am dead set against the use of the F Word on TV. I think it is a very bad thing and is only used because of the supposed shock value and becuase it has become hip, mostly due to the Hollywood influence in our culture. Check out the John Kerry interview with Rolling Stone. The libs just want to make it as common as "a", "the" and "and".
How exactly does it degrade it (using a proof of course, not a personal opinion)?
I laughed til I wept.
"In Chinese now!"
Well I don't believe I can prove it. I just listen to and read the language used in films up to about 1960, the language still used in most period pieces, the language used in the great majority of the classic novels written before about 1960 and they just sound better to me than your average R-rated movie dialogue or your basic rap tune.
I guess that is personal opinion but I happen to be right. Don't you agree? Do you really thing that the word motherf***er enhances the language. How about "Go f*** yourself? Or just your basic F You. Just because people use this language doesn't make it good. It's just bad taste and nothing more. Use it if you like but not in my house.
ex: Girl walks by myself and my mother: I say 1) What a nice ass. 2) What a nice butt. Neither are very appropriate),
but in a comedic, political satire? My point wasn't that things can't be said in bad tastes but the word itself isn't any worse than any of the other dozens of meaning for that word. (sex isn't a 'bad' word, but there isn't a dimes worth of difference between I'd like to sex her up or I'd like to f*ck her up; neither are appropriate in very many situations)
Something along the lines of "when you really need it, it won't make an impact, you've already shot your bolt."
I wonder what NCOs in this new age use to startle and get the attention of their people.
That says it all...
If your talking about the one with Osama that was done in a Warner Brothers/Bugs Bunny style, I expect they'll try to top it since they know it offended a lot of people.
I didn't get a chance to poke around and see, but I'd have to say their poking fun at the Mormons a few weeks ago probably set some people off.
There is no direct equivelant. The closest thing is "putain" pronounced {pu-tahn} which is a rough equivelant. It can also mean whore and other stuff I don't know about... Just thought I'd let ya know :D
Trey Parker and Matt stone are NOT republicans, they're libertarians.
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