comedy centralsor

Comedy Cen[DEL: tral :DEL] sor

Jim Lindgren, who's been all over the South Park story over at the

Volokh Conspiracy, is now reporting that Comedy Cen[DEL: tral :DEL]

sor ordered the censoring of a cartoon image of Muhammed strictly out

of fear, and that religious tolerance played no part in this decision.

(My earlier South Park post is here.)

Lindgren interviewed South Park Executive Producer Anne Garefino, who

told him that the South Park team basically had two options:

[D]eliver the episode as written and animated with Mohammed shown

and then allow Comedy Central to censor it, or edit out the

disputed scene and write their own language explaining why Mohammed

was not being shown and whose decision it was. "We wanted everyone

to understand how strongly we felt about this," said Garefino.

Although the decision to omit Mohammed was not theirs, they wanted

the language of the censorship disclosure to be their own.

Along with South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker (who are

also Executive Producers of the show), Garefino was heavily

involved in the negotiations with Comedy Central. She made clear

that the reason for Comedy Central's decision was "fear": "We were

happy that they didn't try to claim that it was because of

religious tolerance."

Comedy Cen[DEL: tral :DEL] sor released a terse statement on Thursday,

saying only that "In light of recent world events, we feel we made the

right decision."

The Washington Post noticed this:

Banned by Comedy Central from showing an image of the Islamic

prophet Muhammad, the creators of "South Park" skewered their own

network for hypocrisy in the cartoon's most recent episode.

The comedy - in an episode aired during Holy Week for Christians -

instead featured an image of Jesus Christ defecating on President

Bush and the American flag.

Believing that Christians (and Republicans, maybe?) pose no threat to

their safety, Comedy Cen[DEL: tral :DEL] sor executives had absolutely

no problem airing that. Guess who just made my list?

Also according to WaPo,

A frequent "South Park" critic, William Donohue of the

anti-defamation group Catholic League, called on Parker and Stone

to resign out of principle for being censored.

"The ultimate hypocrite is not Comedy Central _ that's their

decision not to show the image of Muhammad or not _ it's Parker and

Stone," he said. "Like little whores, they'll sit there and grab

the bucks. They'll sit there and they'll whine and they'll take

their shot at Jesus. That's their stock in trade."

That first sentence should read, "A frequent critic of fun of any

kind," as in, "There'll be no more fun of any kind." Bill Donohue is a

fatuous ass who has to look in the mirror every day and realize how

much he has in common with Islamist ayatollahs. The Cranky Insomniac

has nothing more to say about him, except that he won't need to pack

any sweaters for where he's Eventually going.

You know what? You're on my list, too, Donohue.

Taggers:Cartoons, Denmark, Muhammed, South Park, Comedy Central,

Comedy Censor, Danish Cartoons, Jyllens-Posten, Islam, Terrorism,

Dhimmitude, Europe, Religion, Blasphemy, Pakistan, Allah, Cranky,

Cranky Insomniac

posted by The Cranky Insomniac at 02:16

1 comments

Anonymous Pierre DuPont Copeland, IV said...

You're not the first to have a list.

(From "The Mikado)

I've Got a Little List

SONG--KO-KO with CHORUS OF MEN.

As some day it may happen that a victim must be found,

I've got a little list--I've got a little list

Of society offenders who might well be underground,

And who never would be missed--who never would be missed!

There's the pestilential nuisances who write for autographs--

All people who have flabby hands and irritating laughs--

All children who are up in dates, and floor you with 'em flat--

All persons who in shaking hands, shake hands with you like

_that_--

And all third persons who on spoiling tete-a-tetes insist--

They'd none of 'em be missed--they'd none of 'em be missed!

CHORUS. He's got 'em on the list--he's got 'em on the list;

And they'll none of 'em be missed--they'll none of

'em be missed.

There's the banjo serenader, and the others of his race,

And the piano-organist--I've got him on the list!

And the people who eat peppermint and puff it in your face,

They never would be missed--they never would be missed!

Then the idiot who praises, with enthusiastic tone,

All centuries but this, and every country but his own;

And the lady from the provinces, who dresses like a guy,

And who "doesn't think she waltzes, but would rather like to

try";

And that singular anomaly, the lady novelist--

I don't think she'd be missed--I'm sure she'd not he missed!

CHORUS. He's got her on the list--he's got her on the list;

And I don't think she'll be missed--I'm sure

she'll not be missed!

And that Nisi Prius nuisance, who just now is rather rife,

The Judicial humorist--I've got him on the list!

All funny fellows, comic men, and clowns of private life--

They'd none of 'em be missed--they'd none of 'em be missed.

And apologetic statesmen of a compromising kind,

Such as--What d'ye call him--Thing'em-bob, and

likewise--Never-mind,

And 'St--'st--'st--and What's-his-name, and also You-know-who--

The task of filling up the blanks I'd rather leave to you.

But it really doesn't matter whom you put upon the list,

For they'd none of 'em be missed--they'd none of 'em be

missed!

CHORUS. You may put 'em on the list--you may put 'em on the

list;

And they'll none of 'em be missed--they'll none of

'em be missed!

-- W. S. Gilbert

09:05

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