Reason Magazine
- reason.com
- reason.tv
- reason.org
- Donate
- Site Search:
Reason on Facebook
Reason on Twitter
Reason on YouTube
Reason RSSGet Reason E-mail Updates!
Manage your Reason e-mail list subscriptionsadvertisements
Russia has no Respect for Cartman's Authority
First they came for the emos, and I didn't speak up
(too
loudly, anyway) because I don't wear mascara. Then
they came for the
Georgians, and I didn't speak up because I don't care as much
as I should about territorial disputes. And
now they've come for South Park, and I'll be damned if
I don't take this opportunity to poke some fun at the silliness of
it all:
Moscow prosecutors began legal proceedings aimed at the cartoon series South Park today in a bid to kill Kenny in Russia.
Prosecutors took action against the 2x2 television channel for broadcasting an episode of the animated comedy show that featured Christmas songs including a medley duet performed by Santa Claus and Jesus Christ.
The Basmanny regional prosecutors office in Moscow has announced that the programme "bore signs of extremist activity".
The episode in question called Mr Hankey’s Christmas Classics was aired in Moscow in January. It shows a number of regular and guest characters including Satan, Adolf Hitler and an anthropomorphised human faeces called Mr Hankey performing in a Christmas variety show. An accompanying CD is available to buy....
A statement by Moscow prosecutors read: "It offends the honour and dignity of Christians and Muslims alike." It could just have easily included Jews, Scientologists, Catholics, Mormons and Moonies all of whom have been mercilessly targeted by American series.
Should South Park be on public airwaves (as opposed to cable)? Yes. Yes it should. The world would be a better place if its children learned to laugh at religiosity and morality before they were "mature" enough to embrace stringent fundamentalism. If I were in charge of PBS programming, I'd air South Park right before Sesame Street, then Zalman King's Red Shoe Diaries, Thunderbirds (because creepy puppets helped me become the man I am today), and Cheers.
|9.8.08 @ 5:06PM|#
because creepy puppets helped me become the man I am
today
They helped you become a reason intern? Are you even human any
more?
|9.8.08 @ 5:07PM|#
Zalman Fucking King!
Daily showings of Wild Orchid would be mandatory, with all
programs beginning with "chopper" sequences featuring Rourke in
some awful sleeveless jacket monstrosity.
guy in the back row|9.8.08 @ 5:08PM|#
The world would be a better place if its children learned to
laugh at religiosity and morality before they were "mature" enough
to embrace stringent fundamentalism. If I were in charge of PBS
programming, I'd air South Park right before Sesame Street, then
Zelman King's Red Shoe Diaries, Thunderbirds (because creepy
puppets helped me become the man I am today), and
Cheers.
I understand the urge, but doesn't someone need to know what a
philosophy is about before they understand the mocking of it? I see
with my kids watching the Simpsons that most of the jokes go over
their heads bcasue they don't understand what a fundamentalist
christian is, or a drunk, or a rich evil old person.
|9.8.08 @ 5:11PM|#
I read this show was on right after school.
I don't know if I want kindergartners in Russia watching the Mrs
Brovlovsky's "She's a Big Fat Jew Bitch" sing, especially since
they get a lot of that during the day.
|9.8.08 @ 5:12PM|#
GITBR: But when they do meet a drunk, they'll remember what they
learned on the Simpsons, and laugh hysterically at the
drunk's funny speech.
And Episiarch: My new journalistic residence is Washington City
Paper, where I somehow finagled the title of editor.
Why reason keeps me on here, well, you'll never know.
|9.8.08 @ 5:13PM|#
because creepy puppets helped me become the man I am
today
Who do you think sent you over the edge? Was it Sherry Lewis, Burr
Tillstrom, or Fred Rogers?
|9.8.08 @ 5:14PM|#
If I were in charge of PBS programming, I'd air South Park
right before Sesame Street, then Zalman King's Red Shoe Diaries,
Thunderbirds (because creepy puppets helped me become the man I am
today), and Cheers.
And that Dungeons and Dragons episode when the kids go to Tiamats
lair in hell and defeat Venger but dungeon master shows up and we
discover that Venger is Dungeon Masters son...show the same episode
everyday...that and an hour of Starblazers and Robotech and it
would be fucking perfect.
Dagny T.|9.8.08 @ 5:21PM|#
Who do you think sent you over the edge? Was it Sherry
Lewis, Burr Tillstrom, or Fred Rogers?
In Canada, we were lucky enough to have the added creepiness of
The
Friendly Giant and Mr.
Dress-Up.
Ava|9.8.08 @ 5:21PM|#
A statement by Moscow prosecutors read: "It offends the
honour and dignity of Christians and Muslims alike." It could just
have easily included Jews, Scientologists, Catholics, Mormons and
Moonies all of whom have been mercilessly targeted by American
series.
A bit redundant as Scientologists, Catholics, Mormons and Moonies
are all Christian.
Elemenope|9.8.08 @ 5:25PM|#
And calling Scientologists "Christians" is a bit of a stretch, even in the flexible rubrics that theology invites.
|9.8.08 @ 5:27PM|#
The series starred Ernie Coombs (an American who later
became a Canadian citizen) as Mr. Dressup
Now if it had starred Jeffrey Combs
you'd have a real case for creepiness.
First Little Pig|9.8.08 @ 5:30PM|#
Scientology would argue that Christianity exists because Xenu
showed our Body Thetans movies about Jesus and that's why it has
followers.....
So Xenu is the true father of Christianity.
FREE XENU NOW!*
*so I can kick him in the nuts
|9.8.08 @ 5:33PM|#
Dagny T.
Holy crap. And here I thought it was high octane beer, cold wind,
and long nights (Not to mention France!) that dufussated
Canadians.
Elemenope|9.8.08 @ 5:35PM|#
Now if it had starred Jeffrey Combs you'd have a real case
for creepiness.
That guy is awesome. I think we have covered this recently...
Franklin Harris|9.8.08 @ 5:38PM|#
Zalman Fucking King!
Daily showings of Wild Orchid would be mandatory, with all programs beginning with "chopper" sequences featuring Rourke in some awful sleeveless jacket monstrosity.
The best Zalman King movie is actually one he produced and co-wrote
but didn't direct, 1993's Lake
Consequence, although the guy who did direct it was
certainly channeling Zalman's style.
Before he became the sultan of soft-focus smut, Zalman was an
actor, of sorts. To see his impression of go-to thug David Hess
(Last House on the Left), see the 1975 grindhouse
sleazefest Trip
With Teacher, currently available as part of a nicely
priced ($5 bucks at Amazon!) 8-movie DVD set.
|9.8.08 @ 5:39PM|#
That guy is awesome
Lovecraft, Star Trek, and a (ho-hum) Peter Jackson movie.
You can't beat that.
Franklin Harris|9.8.08 @ 5:41PM|#
that and an hour of Starblazers and Robotech and it would be fucking perfect.
I was in high school when Robotech aired. I got out of bed
an hour early to watch it every morning. That was the best.
Anonymous|9.8.08 @ 5:42PM|#
and Moonies all of whom have been mercilessly targeted by American series
As if the rest of us didn't already know, Russia once again
confirms that it is its own Yakov Smirnoff joke by claiming
American TV insults Mooninites.
On the moon, your face hits my liquor bottle!
Dagny T.|9.8.08 @ 5:42PM|#
Now if it had starred Jeffrey Combs you'd have a real case
for creepiness.
Well, one of the puppets on Mr. Dress-Up was conspicuously
gender-neutral. That's possibly more confusing than it is creepy,
but still.
And, incidentally, since apparently all things come back to
Lovecraft, a Mr. Dress-Up/Lovecraft synthesis would epitomize
creepiness.
Franklin Harris|9.8.08 @ 5:42PM|#
Lovecraft, Star Trek, and a (ho-hum) Peter Jackson movie. You can't beat that.
Don't forget, he was also the voice of The Question on Justice
League Unlimited.
Dagny T.|9.8.08 @ 5:46PM|#
Holy crap. And here I thought it was high octane beer, cold
wind, and long nights (Not to mention France!) that dufussated
Canadians.
Don't forget weed. Actually, those shows have a weed-like calming
effect. Lots of junk food and an open mind are required, man.
=P
Rhywun|9.8.08 @ 6:05PM|#
A bit redundant as Scientologists, Catholics, Mormons and Moonies are all Christian.
Yikes, you do know that Scientology has nothing whatsoever to do
with Christianity, or any other pre-existing religion? That the
entire thing is a fabrication of Elron's mind?
Paul|9.8.08 @ 7:29PM|#
I understand the urge, but doesn't someone need to know what
a philosophy is about before they understand the mocking of
it?
No, philosophies should be mocked first. If they stand up to the
mocking then they may hold something of value worth exploring.
Paul|9.8.08 @ 7:29PM|#
Scientology has nothing whatsoever to do with Christianity,
or any other pre-existing religion? That the entire thing is a
fabrication of Elron's mind?
What are the others a fabrication of?
Paul|9.8.08 @ 7:32PM|#
Red Shoe Diaries... puhleaze.
If I wanna see sex and nudity, I wanna see some damned sex and
nudity.
And not the nudity regularly seen on Real Sex either.
That's nudity that should never be seen in public... or
private.
|9.8.08 @ 7:45PM|#
The best Zalman King movie is actually one he produced and
co-wrote but didn't direct, 1993's Lake Consequence
Truly one of the great titles (and an epically great, unsubtle
title) of its genre. Might have to find it on DVD for a bit of
adolescent nostelga.
|9.8.08 @ 7:46PM|#
And, incidentally, since apparently all things come back to
Lovecraft, a Mr. Dress-Up/Lovecraft synthesis would epitomize
creepiness.
"Instead of the children's show I had hoped for, there came only a
shuddering blackness and ineffable loneliness; and I saw at last a
fearful truth which no one had ever dared to breathe before - the
unwhisperable secret of secrets - The fact that this charade of
puppets and false cheer is not a sentient perpetuation of Mr.
Rogers as The Muppet Show is of Sesame Street and The Electric
Company of the same, but that it is in fact quite dead, its
sprawling body imperfectly embalmed and infested with queer animate
things which have nothing to do with it as it was in life. "
Kris|9.8.08 @ 10:22PM|#
Holy crap. And here I thought it was high octane beer, cold
wind, and long nights (Not to mention France!) that dufussated
Canadians.
High octane beer? I just visited Toronto, and it seems their beer
(only available from from state run stores) is all regulated to 5%
ABV.
alan|9.8.08 @ 11:07PM|#
Red Shoe Diaries? What do you want to teach them with that? Sex
is an utterly boring activity between people who move with sloth
like slowness, and who do voice overs after swallowing three
tylenol pms with whiskey shots?
Mr Garrison: you see, children, those are the traits you will
find in the drone breeders, while over here (flip to Scarface) we
see what the producers in our society look like. Notice the
dexterity, quick wit, and the ease they handle brutality, all
necessary for go getters . . .
LarryA|9.9.08 @ 11:45AM|#
Who do you think sent you over the edge? Was it Sherry
Lewis, Burr Tillstrom, or Fred Rogers?
Howdy Doody.
Howdy, who premiered in March 1948 was an all-American boy with red hair, forty-eight freckles (one for each state in the Union), and a permanent smile. Howdy's face symbolized the youthful energy of the new medium and appeared on the NBC color test pattern beginning in 1954.
Nick|9.9.08 @ 12:39PM|#
Anyone else expecting a Russia-bashing episode next season? Looking forward to it.
|9.9.08 @ 2:29PM|#
I just visited Toronto, and it seems their beer (only available from from state run stores) is all regulated to 5% ABV.
Actually The Beer Store fka Brewers Retail, while
heavily regulated, is run by a consortium of Canadian breweries.
Only beer made by those brewers is sold there. The Liquor Control
Board of Ontario is the Provincial run outlet that has a monopoly
on liquor, wine and imported beer.
Outside of Utah, I have not been in any American state that has
liquor laws approaching the absurdity of those of Ontario.
Admittedly I have not been to Kansas or Mississippi, but I have
been in dry counties in Tennessee.
But then Florida has spoiled me. I always get pissed off when I go
to New Jersey and can't get beer in a grocery store.
|9.9.08 @ 4:28PM|#
Mike Riggs,
Congrats on your new gig as editor of the Washington "City Paper"
weekly. Wishing you well there.
Site comments/questions:
Media Inquiries and Reprint Permissions:
(310) 367-6109
Editorial & Production Offices:
3415 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 391-2245