Posted on 03/20/2006 3:06:10 PM PST by Central Scrutiniser
Chef's Back, Even If Hayes Isn't 'South Park' premiere trumpets character's return
March 20 2006
LOS ANGELES -- "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone may yet have the final word on Isaac Hayes' departure from the show.
The series, which has been the focus of much media speculation in the past week over Hayes leaving and Comedy Central's pulling of a Scientology-mocking episode, begins its 10th season Wednesday night with an episode called "The Return of Chef!" -- while making no mention of Hayes.
In the episode, Chef makes a "triumphant homecoming" to South Park (even prior to the "Trapped in the Closet" episode that apparently sparked Hayes' departure, the character hadn't been seen much for a while). The boys are glad to have their friend back, but "they notice that something about Chef seems different."
Where most animated shows need months to complete an episode, "South Park" is often able to turn out a completed show in a matter of days. Therefore, Parker and Stone, who also do much of the voice work, can poke fun current events faster than pretty much any other show in primetime (last spring's "Best Friends Forever," which commented on the Terri Schiavo case, is a good example).
Hayes, who's voiced Chef since "South Park" debuted in 1997, released a statement last week saying he wanted out of the show after deciding he no longer could take the show's frequent mocking of religion. The series has targeted Christianity, Islam and Judaism as well as Scientology. In his own statement, Stone challenged Hayes' stated reasons for leaving, noting he'd never objected to religious satire until after the "Trapped in the Closet" episode aired.
A few days after that, Comedy Central pulled a scheduled repeat of "Trapped in the Closet," which led to rumors that Tom Cruise -- also a target of the episode -- had threatened to pull out of promoting "Mission: Impossible 3" if the episode aired again. Paramount, which is releasing the movie, and Comedy Central are both owned by Viacom.
Cruise's reps denied the rumor, and Comedy Central said it wanted to give Hayes a nice sendoff by showing two Chef-centric episodes instead.
We're thinking all this might spark a little interest in the season premiere.
South Park ping please
OK --I'll be the first to say it -- SEX CHANGE!
Oh boy, I guess! LOL!!!
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I can't wait.
So I guess it's sayonara to Chef's Salty Balls.
So who does the voice now? Snoop Dogg? Chris Rock? Michael Keaton?
Chefs little brother Cook, Voiced by Chris Rock would be cool. Eddie Murphy doesn't appear to be doing much these days either.
They already did sex change with Mr/Mrs Garrison.
I say he comes back white.
Come out of the closet, Tom.
I also read a story today that Hayes had a stroke recently and that is the real reason he wants out, or something like that...
Fox 411 on the Fox News website said today that Hayes may not have been the one to issue the statement saying he was leaving South Park. They are saying that Hayes suffered a stroke Jan 17 and that the Scientology people are covering up the reason he was hospitalized. could get interesting on that front in the days that come.
No they already did that. They'll do a Michael Jackson type thing and he'll be white.
Yep, I'm betting the dude's going to be a brainwashed twit who has some very bizaar views from now on. This is SO ripe for comedy!
Please add me to your pinglist! Thanx!!
Shoot, you beat me to it. (See #15)
Just when you thought the clams weren't strange enough...
Could be...especially since Hayes was on the Opie and Anthony Show not too long ago, was asked about that episode and said something about how Matt & Trey lampoon everyone and anyone that gets offended over SP needs to get a life. (paraphrasing, because I don't have the exact quote) Either that, or the powers that be of $cientology threatened to boot him out if he didn't quit and denounce SP.
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