XPost: rec.arts.tv
From: no_offline_contact@example.com
On Fri, 03 Nov 2023 14:47:45 -0700
BTR1701 wrote:
> In article ,
> Ubiquitous wrote:
>
> > Critical mass is a tricky thing. You can't make it happen by sheer
> > force of will or by dropping a viral video at just the right moment.
> >
> > The mad scientists at SOUTH PARK? The folks behind the Comedy
> > Central series can muster it with one perfectly timed episode.
> >
> > The enduring creation of Trey Parker and Matt Stone has a knack for
> > sharing thoughts we're all having on challenging subjects we're too
> > shy to share in public.
> >
> > Once the show's foul-mouthed lads have a crack at it, suddenly it's
> > acceptable to speak on it loud and clear.
> >
> > They did just that earlier this year with "The World-Wide Privacy
> > Tour", an episode featuring Canadian royalty who looked and sounded
> > just like the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Cultural voices had
> > struggled to critique Harry and Meghan up until then, fearing a
> > similar backlash to what British pundit Piers Morgan faced for
> > defying the royal couple.
> >
> > Morgan lost a lucrative gig with GOOD MORNING BRITAIN for
> > suggesting Meghan wasn't telling the whole truth about the alleged
> > racism she faced within the royal family and her suicidal thoughts.
> >
> > The fiery pundit faced an investigation into the comments as well.
> > It wasn't worth it for other high-profile voices to weigh in on the
> > former SUITS star.
> >
> > Cartman and co. had no such fears. And, after SOUTH PARK's "Privacy
> > Tour", it was open season on the royals. The commentary dam had
> > broken. Suddenly, we began to hear stories about how dismissive
> > Meghan Markle was about her podcast gig, for example.
> >
> > One brilliantly satirical episode made that happen.
> >
> > We just saw something similar with the premiere of "Joining the
> > Panderverse". The SOUTH PARK special episode skewered Disney
> > executive Kathleen Kennedy for pushing woke on many Mouse House
> > products, including movie reboots like the short-lived shows
> > NATIONAL TREEASURE: EDGE OF HISTORY and WILLOW and franchise
> > extensions like INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY.
>
> "Just put a chick in it and make her gay!"
>
> > It also mocked Hollywood's aggressive diversity mandates, where
> > classic characters are routinely race-swapped in the name of
> > progress and equity.
> >
> > YouTubers and right-leaning influencers have said as much
> > repeatedly over the past few years, but the subject was mostly
> > off-limits to mainstream journalists. Or, if the topic came up,
> > journalists would dismiss it as the ravings of "right wing trolls".
> >
> > Suddenly, the hilarious SOUTH PARK satire had even The Hollywood
> > Reporter weighing in on the topic, exposing it to readers who may
> > not follow the aforementioned YouTube stars. The news site even
> > quoted Gina Carano, the TERROR ON THE PRAIRIE star who was famously
> > fired for sharing opinions that clashed with her far-left industry,
> > in the process.
> >
> > The magazine wouldn't share Carano's views on the subject under
> > normal conditions. When SOUTH PARK brought the issues up, however,
> > it forced the outlet to expand its coverage.
> >
> > Plus, viewers who never made the connection between inferior Disney
> > content and Kennedy, a veteran Hollywood executive, suddenly did
> > just that.
> >
> > None of this is new for SOUTH PARK.
> >
> > The series, which began in 1997, routinely hits controversial
> > subjects sans fear or regret. "The Jeffersons" episode skewered pop
> > superstar Michael Jackson all the way back in 2004, offering an
> > unflinching perspective on the icon's relationship with young
> > children and plastic surgery overkill.
> >
> > Even longtime Jackson fans worried about his mental state and
> > accusations of improper behavior with children. Then SOUTH PARK
> > shouted it from the Comedy Central rooftop and the public could now
> > reference the series as a portal into difficult conversations
> > around the King of Pop.
> >
> > The show introduced its PC Principal character in 2015, several
> > years before the woke mindset took hold in both Hollywood and the
> > culture at large. The character's virtue signaling, combined with
> > an aggressive mien that took no prisoners, captured what many would
> > soon fear about the far-left movement.
> >
> > Some SOUTH PARK fans even embraced that episode's title, "Stunning
> > and Brave", to describe woke theatrics meant to inspire applause
> > (or else...), such as describing trans star Caitlyn Jenner in such
> > fawning fashion.
> >
> > Sometimes the SOUTH PARK magic doesn't happen overnight.
> >
> > The prime example is the 2019 "Board Girls" episode which skewers
> > trans female athletes competing against biological women. The show
> > featured Randy "Macho Man" Savage, who becomes a trans woman and
> > crushes the competition.
> >
> > "I'm not here to talk about my transition. I'm here to kick some
> > fucking ass!" the character, who transitioned two weeks prior, says.
> >
> > The installment drew some mild media heat at the time, but hardly
> > as much as if it had come out this year or last.
> >
> > Ironically, a clip from the episode went viral a few months ago,
> > with even THE CLAY AND BUCK bringing it up on their nationally
> > syndicated radio show.
> >
> > How does SOUTH PARK do it? The series carved a unique niche in pop
> > culture, one that gives it leeway in the raging culture wars. It's
> > been outrageous for so long that people no longer judge it like
> > other Hollywood content.
> >
> > It's just SOUTH PARK being SOUTH PARK.
> >
> > That, plus the crude and cutesy animation, help it steer clear of
> > cancel culture's clutches. It helps that the show hits both sides
> > of the cultural and political aisle, leaving no one safe from its
> > satire.
> >
> > The "Panderverse" episode poked fun at conservatives who cry "woke"
> > at every opportunity, for example.
> >
> > Best of all? Parker and Stone aren't interested in apologizing for
> > their past offenses. Why apologize for sharing what the rest of us
> > already think?
I've been hearing a lot about South Park in the last few years but I
have to admit I have never seen an episode of it. I've been toying with
the thought of actually watching it but watching 25 seasons worth of
ANYTHING unfamiliar is a massive undertaking. Do I need to watch it
from the beginning to understand it and appreciate it? If not, how far
back do I have to start?
[continued in next message]
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)
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