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.
I was thinking he was one of those Puritan killjoys in the buckle hats that afraid that, someone, somewhere is having a good time.
What a goober
Obviously Mr. Baehr lacks the ability to recognize irony and satire
Yep. We watched it as a group after Thanksgiving dinner. Not your usual Thanksgiving flick, but funny as hell.
I'm probably echoing a lot of FReepers, but, if you don't like the language, don't watch the bleepin' movie. Yo, and watch your own damn children. Don't expect the government to watch them, via censorship, for you.
God help this guy if he ever sees 15 minutes of Blazing Saddles.
This not humor, it is simple vulgarity. Vulgar in the low-class, common, sense; the same sort of thing Carville alluded to with his "Drag a 100 dollar bill through a trailer park..." schtick.
By applauding it you reveal a shallowness of your character or a disregard for the sensibilities of those who share this venue.
I don't like many people and now I respect even fewer.
This is funny. About 2 years ago, I wrote a post here in which I said that we have it all wrong on our swear words. Instead of "Goddammit!" we ought to say "Allah be damned!". And instead of "Jesus H. Christ!" say "Mohammad the Dog!" Why denigrate our own when their is a much better way to do it, by using a phoney baloney desert fantasizer and his moon god as our swear words.
I did it in public a few times, hoping it would catch on. Not yet, but every time I stub my toe, I'm working to change people's attitudes.
Speak for yourself. Southpark the movie makes fun of dozens of politically incorrect things in the most un-political correct way. I happen to find it very amusing and entertaining. Definately not for the children but also not 'in the trailer park.' My personal opinion is that some people are way to obsessed with 'cuss words' either way. They really shouldn't bother anyone when not directed at you. They are nothing more than man-made 'evils.' I could just as easily begin to say that fart is a an evil curse word or butt or whatever. In fact the church I grew up for 10 years in believed just that. IMO some people are just far too uptight for their own good.
I thought that they were Libertarians?
Your ability to make these complex moral and/or aesthetic judgments for all the rest of us, sight unseen, is extraordinary. Quick: tell me how many fingers i'm holding up, right now.
I don't like many people
... and I imagine the sentiment is very much reciprocated, in turn.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.