South Park and Steve Irwin

*Katie* · 10-27-2006, 09:38 AM

LONDON, England (CNN) -- The cartoon series South Park has never been shy of courting controversy, but its latest episode has caused outrage by featuring the recently deceased Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin.

Swearing and random death and destruction are staples of the cartoon, which has been broadcast since 1997. Irwin, killed by a stingray's barb while snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef in September is the latest celebrity to be lampooned by the show.

The episode, aired in the U.S. earlier this week, shows Satan preparing to host a Halloween fancy dress party. Other guests include Princess Diana, Hitler and rapper Notorious B.I.G. Critics have been appalled by the Irwin character's depiction in a bloodstained shirt and with a stingray still attached to his chest.

John Beyer of UK TV watchdog Mediawatch said: "This is such bad taste and the makers of South Park should review their decision to show it. Steve's family are still grieving.

"To lampoon somebody's death like that is unacceptable and so soon after the event is grossly insensitive.''

South Park maker Comedy Central defended the episode. A spokesperson for the company said: "It has offended people in the past and probably will again. Regular watchers would not be shocked."

The show holds the record for the most swearword spoken in one program, and regularly takes pot-shots at celebrities and makes fun of politics and religion.

Some tamer examples include George Clooney, mocked for his politically-motivated Oscar acceptance speech, and lampooning Tom Cruise and John Travolta for their belief in Scientology. One episode with a depiction of a bleeding Virgin Mary so upset the Catholic Church that it was pulled from repeats of the series.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I like South Park and this episode was really funny cause it was making fun of the MTV show "My Super Sweet 16"....but My jaw hit the floor when I saw this. Bad form guys. really bad form.

*iris* · 10-27-2006, 10:28 AM

South Park is still making news?

Meh.

Y'know, I have serious respect for Steve Irwin, but I don't really care about this. Pointless not-all-that-funny-but-referencing-something-in-the-news little stunts like this have made South Park lose the status it once had... but I guess you can't be "cutting edge" forever.

*Spitfire* · 10-27-2006, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iris

South Park is still making news?

Meh.

Y'know, I have serious respect for Steve Irwin, but I don't really care about this. Pointless not-all-that-funny-but-referencing-something-in-the-news little stunts like this have made South Park lose the status it once had... but I guess you can't be "cutting edge" forever.

Really because I find crap like that to be funny. When they spoof something or take something serious and pull out what is stupid about it and make fun of it, it's great. That's what the show is about.

But yeah I don't watch it either, I just randomly see episodes and their usually funny.

*The Stryker* · 10-27-2006, 09:53 PM

OMG! they made fun of someone that I never knew! Bad south park!

Please, it's a TV show.

**Jo Dawn** · 10-27-2006, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie

I like South Park and this episode was really funny cause it was making fun of the MTV show "My Super Sweet 16"....but My jaw hit the floor when I saw this. Bad form guys. really bad form.

My thoughts exactly. It really killed the episode for me. It was really, really in bad taste. Especially when there's a child, like Bindi, and it's her father. (Not saying she watched it, but you get my point.) Her dad dies tragically and they make fun of it a month later.

Not that they warrented alot of it in the first place, but my respect level for them went way down.

Learn some couth and when limits, boys.

*gobo* · 10-27-2006, 01:02 PM

Was Schiavo's lampoon any less tasteless? This is why I despise South Park. It used to have a fair amount of worth in the beginning what with its social commentaries and nuggets of truth, but the message has become diluted by its constant, sadistic shock-value in recent years. But, if the show offends people so often, why do said people keep going back for more abuse? Making an issue of it only adds to the show's influential power.

*Mecha Cow* · 10-27-2006, 01:15 PM

Err, I haven't seen the episode in question and won't comment on the Irwin thing, but if you think South Park is just about shock value you haven't seen much of it.

It doesn't sound like they were making fun of it anyway, but again, I haven't seen it.

**Barkworm** · 10-27-2006, 01:19 PM

Not to defend this but this is South Park we're talking about. Isn't this expected?

愛 · 10-27-2006, 01:20 PM

Don't they know it takes at least a year for something tragic to become funny? Ugh, good job, guys.

10-27-2006, 09:38 AM	#1
Katie Just...way too serious. Join Date: May 2005 Location: purgatory Posts: 3,519	South Park and Steve Irwin LONDON, England (CNN) -- The cartoon series South Park has never been shy of courting controversy, but its latest episode has caused outrage by featuring the recently deceased Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin. Swearing and random death and destruction are staples of the cartoon, which has been broadcast since 1997. Irwin, killed by a stingray's barb while snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef in September is the latest celebrity to be lampooned by the show. The episode, aired in the U.S. earlier this week, shows Satan preparing to host a Halloween fancy dress party. Other guests include Princess Diana, Hitler and rapper Notorious B.I.G. Critics have been appalled by the Irwin character's depiction in a bloodstained shirt and with a stingray still attached to his chest. John Beyer of UK TV watchdog Mediawatch said: "This is such bad taste and the makers of South Park should review their decision to show it. Steve's family are still grieving. "To lampoon somebody's death like that is unacceptable and so soon after the event is grossly insensitive.'' South Park maker Comedy Central defended the episode. A spokesperson for the company said: "It has offended people in the past and probably will again. Regular watchers would not be shocked." The show holds the record for the most swearword spoken in one program, and regularly takes pot-shots at celebrities and makes fun of politics and religion. Some tamer examples include George Clooney, mocked for his politically-motivated Oscar acceptance speech, and lampooning Tom Cruise and John Travolta for their belief in Scientology. One episode with a depiction of a bleeding Virgin Mary so upset the Catholic Church that it was pulled from repeats of the series. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I like South Park and this episode was really funny cause it was making fun of the MTV show "My Super Sweet 16"....but My jaw hit the floor when I saw this. Bad form guys. really bad form. __________________ THE WORLD IS JUST AWESOME

10-27-2006, 10:28 AM	#2
iris moddy mod mod Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: finally escaped the lab Posts: 1,886	South Park is still making news? Meh. Y'know, I have serious respect for Steve Irwin, but I don't really care about this. Pointless not-all-that-funny-but-referencing-something-in-the-news little stunts like this have made South Park lose the status it once had... but I guess you can't be "cutting edge" forever. Last edited by iris; 10-27-2006 at 10:40 AM.

10-27-2006, 09:53 PM	#4
The Stryker Stupid Rich Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Room 237 Posts: 11,152	OMG! they made fun of someone that I never knew! Bad south park! Please, it's a TV show. __________________ @~<3 Mom~@

10-27-2006, 01:02 PM	#6
gobo Wacky Action Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: on Earth Posts: 12,784	Was Schiavo's lampoon any less tasteless? This is why I despise South Park. It used to have a fair amount of worth in the beginning what with its social commentaries and nuggets of truth, but the message has become diluted by its constant, sadistic shock-value in recent years. But, if the show offends people so often, why do said people keep going back for more abuse? Making an issue of it only adds to the show's influential power. __________________ Live and let live... or go to hell.

10-27-2006, 01:15 PM	#7
Mecha Cow Gorgeous and modest too Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 3,699	Err, I haven't seen the episode in question and won't comment on the Irwin thing, but if you think South Park is just about shock value you haven't seen much of it. It doesn't sound like they were making fun of it anyway, but again, I haven't seen it. __________________

10-27-2006, 01:19 PM	#8
Barkworm Draconian leftist ruler Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 6,759	Not to defend this but this is South Park we're talking about. Isn't this expected? __________________ Make ****, not kill!

10-27-2006, 01:20 PM	#9
愛 Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 7,449	Don't they know it takes at least a year for something tragic to become funny? Ugh, good job, guys.