Thread: Comedy Central Punks Out

NYP

For nearly 13 years, the irreverent -- to put it mildly -- cartoon show "South Park" has ridiculed every sacred convention in the book, from major religions and celebrities to gays and the physically disabled. Nearly every bit of over-the-top satire has outraged someone or some group and prompted calls for the show to be boycotted or even banned. And each time, for better or for worse, the program's network, Comedy Central, has stood firmly behind creator-producers Trey Parker and Matt Stone.



Except when it comes to Islam and the prophet Mohammed.



This week, to mark its 200th episode, "South Park" featured a bit in which the characters try to figure out how to portray Mohammed without actually showing him. The show ended up showing him dressed in a bear costume. Even that prompted a posting on a New York-based Web site, Revolution Muslim, that "warned" Parker and Stone they would end up like Theo Van Gogh -- the Dutch filmmaker killed in 2004 by an Islamic terrorist after he made a film dealing with abuse of Muslim women.



The producers sought to address that threat in the next episode -- but Comedy Central ordered any mention and depiction of Mohammed bleeped. Shamefully, a character's 35-second speech at the episode's conclusion, warning against "intimidation and fear," was bleeped out completely -- even though it didn't mention Mohammed at all.



"It's sad," said Stone.



Actually, it's pathetic.



But wholly understandable.



As UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh noted, the consequence of Comedy Central kowtowing to a blatant death threat "is that the thugs win and people have more incentive to be thugs. Behavior that gets rewarded gets repeated." Alas, regarding radical Islam, the behavior that "gets rewarded" is murder -- Exhibit A: Theo Van Gogh. Revolution Muslim may be little more than a couple of Queens cranks with Web access -- but who's willing to take a chance on that?



Not Comedy Central, that's for sure.



And until the West decides -- culturally and collectively -- not to take it any longer, it's only going to get worse.

Seriously. Comedy Central has always had the biggest balls of any network. Now they are punking out over Muhammad? That's absolutely ridiculous. Islamists have really succeeded in scaring the pants off of Westerners.

[quote name='Burning Giraffe' date='25 April 2010 - 07:31 AM' timestamp='1272198687' post='143580']

NYP







Seriously. Comedy Central has always had the biggest balls of any network. Now they are punking out over Muhammad? That's absolutely ridiculous. Islamists have really succeeded in scaring the pants off of Westerners.

[/quote]





Yep but Im not suprised. Most comedians like Bill Maer and Lewis Black that typically go after Christians are cowards when it comes down to it.

[quote name='Goldwater' date='25 April 2010 - 04:05 PM' timestamp='1272225951' post='143799']

This is all Jon Stewart and Obama's fault. Oh! and liberals in general too!

[/quote]



Bullshit, John Stewart and Colbert would have shown it in a heartbeat! This is the suits at the network that are quivering in their panties, scared that Muhammad Muhammad might come for them in their sleep.