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STUDENTS
LOCAL
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Can’t Take a Joke?
High-powered individuals exert influence over a TV series
The Shorthorn: Alex Pierce
“South Park,” an animated TV series, mocked Scientology
in a recent episode. It was pulled from circulation thanks to the machinations
of actor Tom Cruise, a Scientologist and the butt of many of the show’s
jokes. At least that’s the story according to series creators
Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s press release.
Cruise’s new film, Mission: Impossible III, was produced by Paramount
Pictures, which is owned by Viacom, and Viacom also happens to own Comedy
Central, the channel on which “South Park” is shown. Cruise
threatened to boycott promotion of his new film if the episode continued
to air.
Apparently Paramount forgot about Cruise’s last whirlwind promotional
tour for War of the Worlds, in which he mostly promoted Scientology,
his romance with Katie Holmes, denounced psychiatry and sullied Oprah’s
furniture.
This isn’t the first time Cruise has been accused of using his
clout for censorship. A nude scene involving Katie Holmes mysteriously
disappeared from the movie Thank You For Smoking sometime between the
Toronto and Sundance Film festivals.
Comedy Central said the episode was held in order to air tribute episodes
to Isaac Hayes, voice of the character Chef. Hayes is a Scientologist
who quit the show, citing bigotry and intolerance after the Scientology
episode aired.
Doesn’t anyone have a sense of humor anymore?
Why is it that the actions of one man who couldn’t take a joke
have led to censoring a very enjoyable episode for everybody else? A
few closed-minded people should not have the say on what can and cannot
be said or joked about.
“South Park” got away with an animated prophet Muhammad
in an all-deity version of the Super Friends. Yet media that published
the now-infamous Danish cartoons became targets of violence and are
now succumbing to a cult composed of Hollywood actors who believe aliens
are responsible for the world’s misdeeds.
After the latest episode aired with a new actor playing Chef, I’m
glad to see that “South Park” isn’t letting anyone
ruin the integrity of the series. I hope other shows won’t cower
to influential people without a sense of humor in the future.
But that’s the problem with comedy — you’re always
taking punches from people who just don’t get the joke.
— Josh Morris is a marketing junior and columnist for The
Shorthorn
CORRECTION
The article should have stated that the character Chef’s lines in the latest
“South Park” episode were phrases spoken by Isaac Hayes in past shows pieced together.
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Josh Morris |
