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There was a
time when cable TV was something I just
didn’t want to pay for. I knew it
was a vast wasteland with little to offer,
and far too expensive. Pretty much anything
new I wanted to watch I could see on regular
broadcast channels. Occasionally I would
hear about how I should be watching some
show or another, and generally I’d
just shrug and walk away. “South Park”
was one such show. For the first year and
a half of its existence my friends were
constantly telling me about it, and when
I would see all the t-shirts and hats for
sale, I’d find myself wondering why
it was so popular. Could some little animated
show really be that funny? And just who
were Kyle, Stan, Cartman and Kenny?
Then one day, one of my friends handed me
a video and told me I had to take the time
to sit and watch it. On that video was one
of the earlier versions of “South
Park” that put the kids smack dab
in the middle of a fight between Santa Claus
and Jesus. I didn’t know whether to
laugh or sit in quiet shock. I opted for
a lot of both.
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I’ll admit to having had a really twisted
sense of humor pretty much all my life and I think
I laughed harder at those few short minutes of
animation than I had at anything in years. I had
to have more.
I started scouring the Internet to see what I
could find out about the series and its creators,
Trey Parker and Matt Stone. At that time, the
series was just finishing up its second season
and its popularity warranted hundreds of websites.
I got hold of the friend who turned me on to that
first video and asked if he had taped any more.
He had, I watched, and I was hooked.
“South Park” was, and still is, offensive,
puerile, disgusting, repulsive, immature, depraved,
revolting, gross and shocking. Oh, and I forgot
hysterically funny. It’s for people like
me who can’t stand ‘political correctness.’
There seems to be nothing sacred, nothing that
is above being mocked. Whether it pokes fun at
Barbra Streisand’s ego by turning her into
a giant Mecha-Streisand, burying Robert Redford
in a pile of poo, or having ‘cripple fights’,
I really don’t think these guys care who
they tick off. I’m still reeling from an
episode that poked fun at the late Christopher
Reeve and stem cell research, which I will touch
on later.
As I learned more about Parker and Stone, who
give the impression of being a couple of hacks
who got lucky, I found that they were actually
enormously talented. This first became evident
with the release of “South Park: The Movie.”
I still remember going to see the movie opening
day, and not only did I laugh all the way through,
I was amazed when found out it was a musical.
I was even more amazed that the songs, though
irreverent, were actually extremely well written
and produced. They were so good in fact, that
much to the chagrin of the Academy audience, one
of the songs was nominated for an Oscar. Take
that, Hollywood!
The first and second seasons of “South Park”
firmly set the standard for what is now still
going strong in its tenth season. With early episodes
like “Chickenlover”, “Conjoined
Fetus Lady”, and “Roger Ebert Should
Lay Off the Fatty Foods,” Parker and Stone
proved to audiences that there was absolutely
no rock bottom to the level of bad taste. And
boy, are there people out there that completely
hate “South Park” for that. Most are
Moral Majority leaders who just don’t ‘get
it.’ What they don’t see is the other
side of the coin.
Most of those earlier episodes taught important
lessons as much as they shocked us. Take “Chickenlover”
for example. Sure it’s about a guy who…
uhhh… ‘loves’ chickens. But
while the episode has the gang investigating the
identity of the perpetrator, we are also taught
a lesson about the virtues and fun of reading.
This particular episode even addresses the illiteracy
in our country and how those who can’t read
can be helped. I think that’s a very positive
message. (ahem…)
For those who feel that “South Park”
has no culture, there was an episode in the fourth
season that was a retelling of the Charles Dickens
novel “Great Expectations.” This particular
episode should be considered a classic and would
be well at home amongst the great programming
on PBS… well, except for the part about
killing bunnies and the Genesis device.
Then I’ve also head that there are naysayers
of the series who cry out that Parker and Stone
have no heart when it comes to the handicapped,
yet they found it within themselves to create
a character who has actually become one of the
series’ most popular. In an obvious attempt
to anger the handicapped community, the wheel-chair
bound, ADD suffering Timmy came rolling into our
hearts. The only word he ever utters is ‘Timmy!’,
but it is surprisingly easy to understand what
he means by catching the simple inflections he
uses when saying it. I can’t begin to imagine
the hate letters Comedy Central got when Timmy
came on the scene.
With every season, I find that I believe that
there is no level the boys could sink to that
was lower than anything they had done… and
every season … I'm wrong. During the eigth
season, the creators of South Park further convinced
me again that nothing… and I mean nothing
was beyond satire. Once again, the lower levels
of depravity were broken apart in order to create
even lower levels…
The eight season of “South Park” comes
to DVD this week thanks once again to the folks
over at Paramount Home Entertainment. The 14 episodes
are spread out across 3 discs, each with its own
mini-commentary by Parker and Stone. This time
around they tackle such pop culture icons as "Dragonball
Z", Michael Jackson and Walmart. But not
to be deterred from important messages, be prepared
to catch episodes dealing with Illegal Immigration,
the use of steroids in the Special Olympics, and
cute Satanic Woodland Creatures. And religious
types may wish to turn their heads away when the
boys take on Mel Gibson's "Passion of the
Christ" in "The Passion of the Jew."
Then be shocked when, in an even more heinous
episode, they dare to skewer (and yes I spelled
that right…) Paris Hilton!!.
By the way, I think I should mention that "South
Park" is an equal opportunity offender. They
pick on everyone and everything. Which is why,
if you've been following the news, that I think
it is highly hypocritical of Isaac Hayes (who
was the voice of 'Chef' for the last 10 seasons)
to quit the show over the choice to have an episode
making fun of Scientology. (If there ever was
a religion in need of parody, it is Scientology.)
It seems that Hayes is a Scientologist and can
not condone the show's views on religion. It took
him 10 seasons to realize this?? However, in spite
of Haye's leaving, Parker and Stone opted to create
an episode in the 10th season where Chef returns.
They cut dialogue from other episodes and paste
them together to allow Chef to talk. In the episode,
everyone notices his odd speech pattern and blame
it on the 'Adventurer's Club' that he joined.
You would have to see it to believe it.
Anyhow, “South Park” is a show that
honestly isn’t for everyone. You really,
really need to have a liking for twisted humor
and one solid cast-iron shield against being offended.
In all the years the series has been on, I have
yet to be offended by anything. Shocked yes…
offended… no.
Episodes:
Good Times with Weapons
You Got F'd in the A
The Passion of the Jew
Awesom-O
Up the Down Steroid
Goobacks
The Jeffersons
Douche and Turd
Something Wall-Mart This Way Comes
Pre-School
Quest for Ratings
Stupid Spoiled Whore Video Playset
Cartman's Incredible Gift
Woodland Critter Christmas
Extras: mini-audio commentaries on all 14 episodes
from South Park creators, Matt Stone and Trey
Parker.
Specifications: Full Screen
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: 8/29/2006
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website
We'll give South Park: Season 8 an A.
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