Posted on 10/27/2006 9:16:27 AM PDT by Millee
The creators of South Park have never been afraid to upset celebrities - and many of the show's viewers.
From jokes about religion and homosexuality to four-letter tirades, Trey Parker and Matt Stone have always mixed shock tactics with satire in the hit cartoon series.
But they were accused of hitting a new low last night after lampooning the demise of Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin just weeks after his death.
The latest episode shows an animated Irwin in Hell with a stingray poking out of his bleeding chest.
Irwin, 44, died in September after he was impaled by a stingray's barb, while snorkelling near the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
The South Park episode called Hell On Earth 2006, which was broadcast in the US this week, shows Satan preparing to host a Hallowe'en fancy dress party.
Hundreds of dead celebrities are invited, including rapper Notorious B.I.G., Princess Diana and Hitler.
But at the party Satan receives complaints from his guests that someone is inappropriately dressed up as Irwin.
Satan confronts Irwin but the Aussie environmentalist protests it is really him, not a guest in a costume.
While characters have been killed off in the series before – spawning the show's catchphrase "Oh my god, they killed Kenny!" – campaigners are particularly incensed about the stingray still being attached to Irwin's bloodstained trademark khaki shirt.
British broadcasting watchdog Mediawatch condemned the episode as "grossly insensitive."
Its director, John Beyer, said: "I think this is in bad taste. Steve Irwin's family are still grieving."
"To lampoon somebody's death like that is unacceptable and so soon after the event is grossly insensitive. It is not what the family would want to see."
South Park maker Comedy Central defended the episode. A spokesman said: "It has offended people in the past and probably will again. Regular watchers would not be shocked."
Personally, I'm shocked, but nobody cares about my opinion anyway, so I'll shut up.
As others have mentioned, I liked the episode, but felt kind of bad chuckling at the Irwin parody. Such is South Park...
"Even Satan himself says it's inappropriate for someone to make fun of Irwin's death"
I think that this is exactly what made it funny. At first I cringed when I heard his name, but then the whole joke was really about how people would think this was in bad taste. To me, this was just about the only thing that could make it funny.
The only time I ever thought Matt & Trey may have gone a little overboard was when I first saw "The Passion of the Jew". But they turned out to be 100% right about Mad Mel!
I learned not to underestimate their brilliance after that one.
Could've been much worse... they could have put Jim McDougal!
Wasn't he in a Los Angeles hotel? I know, same thing to some people, but it appears the writer didn't actually watch the episode he's reporting on.
I agree, at the time I thought they were too hard on Mel, but now I think Mel is too hard on Mel.
Done. :)
I recorded this episode but I haven't seen it yet.
If someone told Irwin he'd be killed by a sting ray he'd probably have laughed. He may have even thought that this South Park was funny. I'm pretty sure that Irwin would wonder why South Park put Paul Hogan's hat on his head.
Bad taste? Crikey! I half listened to a commercial pitching a DVD of Steve's greatest epis or something last night,
tugging at the heart strings. I'm surprised they didn't get MJF to do the grift.
OIM GONNA JAM MY THUM UP 'IS BUTTOLE!
That wasn't me - I liked the episode.
Steve Irwin had an worldwide outpouring of sympathy...kind of like fellow party goes Princess Di. I almost think Matt and Trey had the idea (Satan giving himself a Halloween Sweet Sixteen) and then just 'plugged' in the more current stuff (like Irwin and even the Catholic Bishops) at the last re-write. I was suprised not to see Paris Hilton there (but then again she is sooo last year).
My favorite...Hitler as the Verizon Guy 'Can you hear me now?'
Hitler? A celebrity?
So, when is South Park sensitive??
(Yes, I did laugh at that part - guess I'm just "grossly insensitive" too)
I have to say that was one of the most f"ed up SP's I've ever seen - hilarious too. But there was stuff that was a lot worse tahn that, like the Dahmer sex scene.
That has happened to me many times with South Park.
After this week's episode I realize that Matt and Trey are only keeping up with tradition. The only people in Heaven are God, Mormons, and Saddam Hussein. Everyone else goes to hell whether they deserve it or not.
Oops, bad editing. It was from "British broadcasting watchdog Mediawatch..."
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