This will probably end up in D&D. http://apnews.myway.com//article/20060313/D8GAVO9OH.html Isaac Hayes Quits 'South Park' Mar 13, 6:11 PM (ET) By ERIN CARLSON NEW YORK (AP) - Isaac Hayes has quit "South Park," where he voices Chef, saying he can no longer stomach its take on religion. Hayes, who has played the ladies' man/school cook in the animated Comedy Central satire since 1997, said in a statement Monday that he feels a line has been crossed. "There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry towards religious beliefs of others begins," the 63-year-old soul singer and outspoken Scientologist said. "Religious beliefs are sacred to people, and at all times should be respected and honored," he continued. "As a civil rights activist of the past 40 years, I cannot support a show that disrespects those beliefs and practices." "South Park" co-creator Matt Stone responded sharply in an interview with The Associated Press Monday, saying, "This is 100 percent having to do with his faith of Scientology... He has no problem - and he's cashed plenty of checks - with our show making fun of Christians." Last November, "South Park" targeted the Church of Scientology and its celebrity followers, including actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta, in a top-rated episode called "Trapped in the Closet." In the episode, Stan, one of the show's four mischievous fourth graders, is hailed as a reluctant savior by Scientology leaders, while a cartoon Cruise locks himself in a closet and won't come out. Stone told The AP he and co-creator Trey Parker "never heard a peep out of Isaac in any way until we did Scientology. He wants a different standard for religions other than his own, and to me, that is where intolerance and bigotry begin."
This kind of thing happens all the time. People are willing to belittle other people's ideals, but when their own are attacked, it becomes taboo. Oh well. Personally, I think South Park hasn't had an episode yet where they didn't cross the line. I'm sure that's exactly what they're going for.
That sucks. I don't know what are they gonna do with Chef. Find some other voice actor to replace Hayes, or just kill the character. I think Matt was right about Hayes though. They didn't do anything too over the line recently besides that Scientology episode.
i could see them having him leave south park for LA to join the big ol scientology church or some other cult group, but they may just kill him off.
I'm a Christian and have no problem watching Southpark, I don't enjoy it when Christianity or Christians are degraded, but I've endured it over the years with the Simpsons and Family Guy as well. Parker and Stone seem to equally give all religions grief, Mormons, Muslims, Christians, Jews, etc. Although I don't entirely disagree with Hayes' assessment of the show, It is hard to overlook the timing on this.
Yep.. I remember back in 99 when the lady who did all the woman voices on SouthPark took her own life, SouthPark studios brought in a few ladies that sound just like most of the voices that needed to be replaced and most still can tell that they are new people doing all the woman voices... I know Isaac has a one of a kind voice, but he can be replaced..
I tend to enjoy the South Park episodes that make fun of groups I'm a part of the most. It brings issues to the front that people in certain groups take for granted. Better to talk about issues than to ignore them, in my opinion.
I'm sorry, but South Park isn't the same without Issac Hayes. They need to end the show now before it's too late... suck on my chocolate salty balls...put 'em in your mouth and suck 'em!
When Family Guy or The Simpsons "cross the line" they usually do it in a witty way. South Park, on the other hand, usually just crosses the line for the shock value... and base the humor off the outrageousness of it. While Im not going to be politically correct and say they should stop insulting religions, I do think their show is pretty stupid and humorless. I dont see how a statue of the Virgin Mary farting blood is funny... I mean there are a hell of a lot of ways to satirize Catholicism. That was just dumb. Matt Stone and Trey Parker are waaaaaaay overrated.
The difference is they made fun of SCIENTOLOGY'S doctrine this goes beyond Cartman saying STUPID Jewish racist stuff like that this Goes beyond destroying Passion of the Christ [which was more about doggnig out Mel Gibson . . .and the movie. .. in fact was a bit of a defense against people using the movies to hate Jewish People] I don't recall them dogging out Jewish Doctrine and only make passing slights at Christian Doctrine . . . [they are jewish correct] no where on the level they dogged out Scientology and Islam Esp considering one of your CHEIF voices is a scientologist Rocket River
First of all, there have been plenty of shows where they've talked about different religions (Mormonism, Scientology, Catholicism, Judaism). Secondly, one of them is Jewish and the other is not. If I recall, he defines himself as a non-practicing Catholic. They haven't dogged out Islam either, just terrorists.
Someone who likes FAMILY GUY saying that South Park is overrated?! I think Family Guy is funny but at least South Park has a social message for almost every show. They deal with the issues of the day. I think both are great it's just I don't understand how one can say of these 2 shows that South Park is the overrated one.
Well I haven't seen the Sceintology episode but I can't imagine it being any more offensive or crude than most other epiodes. And I thought the Virgin Mary statue episode went a little too far but I wont complain cause A) thats what South Park does and B) they give all religions, races, gender, sexual orientation, professsions, etc equal billing.
Everyone keeps bringing up the Bloody Mary episode but it seems like some of y'all haven't actually seen it. The whole episode is about the absurdity of groups such as AA telling people that they have to admit that they cannot control their addictions and telling them that they must turn themselves over to God. Stan's dad begins to think he has a disease that he can't overcome and goes to the statue to be cured. The whole point of the episode is to tell people that they have to take responsibility.
I've seen the episode and I think the central point was good... but did they need to show the statue bleeding out like that, probably not.
