Isaac Hayes leaves South Park.

[Zell's Fists of Fury]

<a href=http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/13/south.park.hayes.reut/index.html?section=cnn_latest>Pfft.</a>

Fine. Go. I'm with Trey and Matt on this one. :chef:

[Beyond]

You can argue about who's a hypocrite and who's an offensive bastard all day.

But the fact remains, they're all idiots.

Apparently the scientology episode was an all out attack against that religion, as opposed to other religiously themed episodes where the tone was more humourous. I haven't actually seen any episode of south park since I was 14 though, so I don't know.

Based on that, I'm siding with Hayes. He's perfectly justified.

[Fantasy_Dragon]

Apparently the scientology episode was an all out attack against that religion, as opposed to other religiously themed episodes where the tone was more humourous. I haven't actually seen any episode of south park since I was 14 though, so I don't know.

Based on that, I'm siding with Hayes. He's perfectly justified.
I'd have to disagree with you on that one. In one episode, it shows Cartman on stage along with his "Christian" band in front of millions of Christians and he openly cussed out the Lord. They had to bleep it out---use your imagination. I am a Christian, and yes, I hate that episode, but I still watch the show, just not that episode in particular. If I was on the show, I wouldn't leave because of that. They diss everything on that show, and I mean literally, everything. I didn't find it too humorous when Cartman did that, but I know it's only a TV show and whatever they do or say is their business, and they have the right to say it, joking or not. I'm not sure how old you are, but by the way you say "I haven't seen an episode since I was 14" sounds like you haven't watched it in at least 2 or 3 years, so how could you really state that Hayes is justified? Well, that's my view.

[Beyond]

What I meant by "I haven't actually seen any episode of south park since I was 14" was "I haven't seen this episode or any of the others that are taking shots at religion, so this is what I've heard and what I'm basing my stance on the matter off."

[Zeromus_X]

Yeah, now it's offensive :cat: I wonder though, will they have to kill off Chef then? Hm... I wouldnt' want to hear anyone else do his voice, it'd be weird...

[Fantasy_Dragon]

That would be weird, but it'd be funny for him to pull off a Kenny. Die, be gone for a season, then come out of nowhere the next season (if Hayes decided to come back).

Okay.

[Zell's Fists of Fury]

What I meant by "I haven't actually seen any episode of south park since I was 14" was "I haven't seen this episode or any of the others that are taking shots at religion, so this is what I've heard and what I'm basing my stance on the matter off."
And thus I'm dismissing your credibility on the matter. I can't hold water to an opinion that's based on the opinions of others. That's just silly.

F_D is right, for the most part. If you haven't been offended by South Park, you have no morals. But that's the basis of the show. Hayes of all people should know that. And stuff. I dunno.

[Beyond]

Maybe you can't hold valid opinions based on the opinions of others, but you can certainly base them off facts told to you by others. And if a TV show attacks one religion more tenaciously than it does to others, then it's perfectly credible to base an opinion off it.

[-N-]

If you can't be a grown-up and take it like you deal it, then leave.
I had a high opinion of Isaac Hayes, though. Too bad he's like that.

[Zell's Fists of Fury]

Maybe you can't hold valid opinions based on the opinions of others, but you can certainly base them off facts told to you by others. And if a TV show attacks one religion more tenaciously than it does to others, then it's perfectly credible to base an opinion off it.
They did the same thing with Mormonism, and Hayes had no problem with it. THE SAME EXACT THING.

And they routinely bash Christianity as a whole. I mean, ALL THE TIME.

And JUDEAISM. Holy COWS, man.

Dum dum dum dum DUM.


EDIT: The point of this post here is to show that you don't have a clear understanding of what you're talking about and again, not much credibility. So yeah. I'm not trying to be an ass or anything.

[Captain Maxx Power]

Personally it's just more material for Matt and Stone to work with. I guarantee there's already an episode around this already in the pipeline.

[TheAbominatrix]

Yeah, Spiff has got it pretty much down. South Park is downright cruel towards most religions, though usually they have pretty good points to go along with it (as with most of the things they mock).

Hayes didnt care about the <i>numerous</i> attacks on Christianity and Judaism, nor the Mormon episode (which was downright the same thing as the Scientology episode). He only cared when it offended him, which is hypocrisy at its finest.

I mean sure, I've been offended by South Park before, but they take shots at pretty much everyone, and they do it well, so I dont really care.

edit: Please note, I'm using 'attacks' as a very general term. Really, it's just pretty severe mocking and a good serious point at the end.

[Stayin Dizzy]

Well the surprise is now ruined for me. There was a commercial on yesterday saying that one of the south park characters was going to die. Now I know it's Chef

[The Devourer Of Worlds]

If you haven't been offended by South Park, you have no morals.
I've never been offended by South Park, and I wouldn't exactly say I am without morals.

Anyway, I'm deeply saddened by the loss of Isaac Hayes, or I will be when he dies after I wish cancer upon him with my mind.

[Madame Adequate]

Haha, hypocrite. Of course he's perfectly at liberty to leave for whatever reason he wants to, it's just pretty petty to go because of this, when many major religions have been lambasted.

I haven't watched South Park in forever though.


Rather, Hayes said the show's parody of religion in general was part of what he saw as a "growing insensitivity toward personal spiritual beliefs" in the media, including the recent controversy over cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad.

What. There's neither obligation nor need for sensitivity. In fact quite the opposite.

Anyway, to more important matters, Spaceman Spiff as in hyper freem drive?

[Shoden]

That was stupid, this is mainly one of the things South Park is made of, if he was offended he should of left years ago, very stupid. South Park mainly takes the piss out of everything, it's what it is aqnd what it does, it's pushing the boundries but it can be funny, offensive or not it still airs so not enough people are offended by it or something like that...

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

Not a huge loss, really. It's not like Chef has been a fixture in the show for the last few years.

[edczxcvbnm]

They could kill Chef or find some else. I am sure there are hundreds who have mastered Chef's voice by now.

[Cz]

A shame, but rather an overreaction on Hayes' part if you ask me. You'd think that working on a show like South Park would mean the guy would have a sense of humour about this sort of thing, but apparently not.

[Winter Nights]

Meh.. People will always get pissy over stupid <img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif">.

[NeoCracker]

I mean, did he see the episode with the catholics and the giant spider? That one was way worse than the Scientology one, both of which were gold.

[Dreddz]

Isaac must of been pretty pissed if he decided to leave the show for all that.
I find this a major loss, what will happen to chef. Will he just be cut or will they try and find another person who sounds similier to Isaac ?

[Big D]

What's hypocritical about leaving a job you're no longer happy with? South Park is easily one of the most scathing satires out there, so it's inevitably going to cause offense to some. If a person's offended by aspects of the job they're in, it's not hypocritical for them to eventually get tired of it and leave - it's downright common sense.

Having said all that... it's a pity he's leaving. South Park has generally been brilliant at critiquing and undermining stereotypes and prejudices of all kinds; Chef was an important part of that in many cases.

[Madame Adequate]

What's hypocritical about leaving a job you're no longer happy with? South Park is easily one of the most scathing satires out there, so it's inevitably going to cause offense to some. If a person's offended by aspects of the job they're in, it's not hypocritical for them to eventually get tired of it and leave - it's downright common sense.

He's got every right to leave, for any reason he likes. But to claim you're leaving because of religious intolerance, when the show has been doing religious intolerance for what, like, 10 years now*? That's hypocritical, and shows he doesn't care about religious intolerance at all, merely affronts to his person. Which he's perfectly free to do. He should just be honest about it and say "That one cut too close to the bone."

* That is insane. No way South Park is that old...

[theundeadhero]

Damn close to 10 years, if not there now. I think this is the 10th season, actually.

[Shlup]

I watch South Park pretty much everyday. I've seen every episode. I read southparkstudios.com. I get the DVDs when they come out. I watch them with commentary repeatedly.

The scientology episode was not more offensive to scientologists than any other episode mocking any set of beliefs. Ditto what Abominatrix said; he's a hypocriate for leaving just because it was his beliefs this time. Matt and Trey had wanted to do a scientology episode, but put it off out of respect for him even as they mocked the religions of their other friends. But he just can't take it when it's him. Pathetic.

[Trumpet Thief]

chaos: NOOOOOOOO! :(

Rubedo: "You must find the cliterus." Man... he was hilarious.

chaos: Although I don't agree with him leaving after being offended (South Park ribs everybody. Can't they just enjoy a laugh), he truly will be missed.

[TheAbominatrix]

It continues, and Matt and Trey apparantly agree with most of us here.


NEW YORK - "South Park" has declared war on Scientology.

Matt Stone and Trey Parker, creators of the animated cable television satire, are digging in against the celebrity-endorsed religion after a controversial episode mocking outspoken Scientologist Tom Cruise was yanked abruptly from the Comedy Central schedule Wednesday - with Internet rumors it was covert warfare by Cruise that led to its departure.

"So, Scientology, you may have won THIS battle, but the million-year war for earth has just begun!" the "South Park" creators said in a statement Friday in Daily Variety. "Temporarily anozinizing our episode will NOT stop us from keeping Thetans forever trapped in your pitiful man-bodies... You have obstructed us for now, but your feeble bid to save humanity will fail!"

Internet bloggers accused Cruise of threatening to not promote "Mission Impossible 3," a surefire summer blockbuster, if the offending episode ran. Comedy Central is owned by Viacom, as is Paramount, which is putting out "MI:3."

But Cruise's representative, Arnold Robinson, told The Associated Press Friday that the mega-star made no such demands.

"Not true," Robinson said. "I can tell you that he never said that."

A call by The Associated Press to a Paramount representative was not returned Friday.

The episode in question, "Trapped in the Closet," which first aired last November, shows Scientology leaders hailing Stan, one of the show's four devilish fourth graders, as a savior. A cartoon Cruise locks himself in a closet and won't come out. An animated John Travolta, another famous Scientologist, enters the closet to try to get him out.

In another dig at the famously secretive religion, the credits at show's end are filled with names like "John Smith" and "Jane Smith."

The battle began in earnest earlier this week when Isaac Hayes, another celebrity Scientologist and longtime show member - voicing the ladies' man school cafeteria cook Chef - quit the show, saying he could no longer tolerate its religious "intolerance and bigotry."

Stone and Parker did not buy that either.

On Monday, Stone told The Associated Press, "This is 100 percent having to do with his faith in Scientology...He has no problem - and he's cashed plenty of checks - with our show making fun of Christians."

A Comedy Central spokesman said Friday that the network pulled the controversial episode to make room for two shows featuring Hayes.

"In light of the events of earlier this week, we wanted to give Chef an appropriate tribute by airing two episodes he is most known for," the spokesman said.

Scientology was created by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. In "Dianetics" (1950), Hubbard said the "thetan" (soul) suffers from negative "engrams" implanted in this life and innumerable past lives. Scientology "auditors" help clients work through problems using an "e-meter," similar to a lie detector. They seek a state called "Clear" and then advance through various levels of "Operating Thetan."

[Elite Lord Sigma]

Go ahead, but I personally think Hayes may have had problems with the show making fun of religions, but he didn't want to say anything out of fear of losing his job. Maybe the Scientology episode was the last straw that broke the camel's back.

[Itsunari 2000]

He had his reasons, anyway.

[TheAbominatrix]

I really dont think Hayes would have lost his job for saying anything. It wasnt that sort of show.

If he had such a high moral core or such respect for religions, he never would have joined the show in the first place. The <i>first episode ever</i> was a huge dig at Christianity. It could not have taken him this long to realize that the show mocks religion. And also, I think Matt and Trey would have said he long had a problem with it.


On Monday, Stone told The Associated Press, "This is 100 percent having to do with his faith in Scientology...He has no problem - and he's cashed plenty of checks - with our show making fun of Christians."

Issac Hayes did not desperately need the South Park job. He is perfectly fine financially, and can get work elsewhere. If this bothered him, he could have left long ago. But it didnt. He didnt care when they mocked Christian (repeatedly), Jews (pretty much every episode), and Mormons (who had the exact same episode as Scientology, almost). So he doesnt really have a leg to stand on.

[VorpalCyberWolf]

I respect Hayes as a musician, as a composer and as a voice actor, but one should know when getting involved with a satiric comedy (Which South Park clearly has been since the frikken beginning of time) that a satire is meant to be controversial, and the controversy itself is completely derived off of offensive material.

At least he's leaving on good terms with Matt/Trey.

I don't see them killing him off.. but I do see them having him leave town or something, keeping the door open for Chef/Hayes to come back if so needed.

[The Devourer Of Worlds]

As if killing a character off on South Park would prevent them from coming back at some point anyway...

[Yamaneko]

South Park is more hilarious now than ever, and that's hard to say for any show. His leaving will not really change that.

I thought that episode was funny. I mean come on... Scientology.

[Hawkeye]

Scientology itself is a joke.

[Lychon]

South Park is more hilarious now than ever, and that's hard to say for any show. His leaving will not really change that.

I thought that episode was funny. I mean come on... Scientology.


Seriously. This guy Hayes is pretty much stating that South Park can make fun of any other religion or philosophy, but it is not ok for them to make fun of his own religion or philosophy.

Whatever, it's still his choice to quit, and he can do so for any reason he deems appropriate.

-LYCHON

[The Devourer Of Worlds]

South Park is more hilarious now than ever, and that's hard to say for any show. His leaving will not really change that.

I thought that episode was funny. I mean come on... Scientology.
I almost died laughing when the words 'Note: This is what scientologists actually believe." appeared at the bottom of the screen.

That's not to say it’s particularly less believable that every other religion out there but still pretty funny.

[Acid Raine]

*proudly wears "Save Katie" t-shirt*

Scientologists make me sick.......Tom Cruise, Isaac Hayes, L. Ron Hubbard (#$&* YOU!) are all pitiful. I mean, I GUESS believing something about aliens creating our universe, and eventually taking it back is as unbelievable as some giant ethereal entity creating our universe out of nothing, and never shows any proof of his existence, but it seemingly came out of nowhere! I mean, 5 years ago, NOBODY actually knew what Scientology was....

I havent actually seen that particular episode of South Park yet.

I feel sorry for poor Matt & Tre. Theyt have christians hating them for Bloody Mary, jews hating them for Passion of the Jew, scientologists hating them for Trapped in the Closet, mormons hating them for All About the Mormons, and I bet Sally Struthers and Barbara Streisand are still pissed about their episodes. Those people remind me of Kyle's Mom. "Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell............................"

[Zeromus_X]

I actually miss the Scientology episode. I only remember getting to watch it once.. :sad:


I almost died laughing when the words 'Note: This is what scientologists actually believe." appeared at the bottom of the screen.

I did too :D

[TheAbominatrix]

I feel sorry for poor Matt & Tre. Theyt have christians hating them for Bloody Mary, jews hating them for Passion of the Jew, scientologists hating them for Trapped in the Closet, mormons hating them for All About the Mormons, and I bet Sally Struthers and Barbara Streisand are still pissed about their episodes. Those people remind me of Kyle's Mom. "Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell............................"

No reason to feel sorry for them, they know going into every episode who they're gonna piss off. It's not like they're surprised by the fact that they say these things and then someone is offended.

Besides, they get paid plenty of money to make everyone angery :D

[Zell's Fists of Fury]

I just realized how close to April Fool's Day we are.
Think about it.

They just showed a preview for "The Return of Chef"

Something is amiss, my friends.

[Lychon]

Just in case anyone is actually considering taking up Scientology as something of substance, wrap your mind around this:

"L. Ron Hubbard's son, L. Ron Hubbard, Jr. claimed in 1983 "99% of what my father ever wrote or said about himself is totally untrue."

Source: http://members.cox.net/batchild1/transcript/pbs1.htm
Source 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_hubbard

-LYCHON

[SoulTaker*]

This is in smurfing sane. People really cant take a joke these days, so to Hayes south park as gone too far once it starts making fun of Scientology? Hell the first episode I ever saw was Jesus boxing the devil, one episode showed the true form of god as looking like a mix between a beaver and a alligator, they had the head of the Catholic church being a giant spider and telling the priests to have sex with little boys. And you know what, I find it funny as hell! They had a mormon episode, and they are constantly making light of Judaism, and nobody I know takes it seriously.

[Zell's Fists of Fury]

Way to sum up everything that has already been said in this thread.

[The Devourer Of Worlds]

I just realized how close to April Fool's Day we are.
Think about it.

They just showed a preview for "The Return of Chef"

Something is amiss, my friends.

...You don't think...


Those clever bastards.

[Raistlin]

god, Spiff, now you have me anxiously awaiting April first. >=o

That would be great, though.

EDIT: I mean, if EoFF staff can start an April Fool's joke weeks beforehand, why not South Park?

Sorry for the double-post, but I just found <a href="http://hammeroftruth.com/2006/03/21/something-rotten-in-south-park/">this article</a> that attempts to shine some light on the Isaac Hayes situation. One Fox News article (unconfirmed, as far as I know) said that Hayes suffered a stroke and was in the hospital.

<b>Edit by Kishi: Just edit, you jerk.</b>

[Shoden]

I watched this Scientology episode "Dad, Tom Cruise is in my closet and wont come out!" "Mr Cruise come out of the closet!" "no". Hehehehe. If you read Matt and Trey's statement they signed themselves as "Matt Stone and Trey Parker, Servents of Xenu" madness.

[RSL]

Well, the way they chose to handle the whole chef thing in the first new episode was rather... intersting...

[XxSephirothxX]

Interesting is exactly how I'd describe it. :p The Star Wars parody at the end was gold, too. It was obviously an apology of some sort, but certainly a tongue-in-cheek one. I doubt it'll do anything to make Hayes come back, but hopefully he'll at least get a laugh out of it.

[Raistlin]

Well, the way they chose to handle the whole chef thing in the first new episode was rather... intersting...
Yes. xD

I like Stan's speech at the end, though. Very appropriate and a good crack at the whole scientology nonsense.

[SoulTaker*]

Yeah the Fruity Super Adventure Club:p. Loved how they badly spliced chefs voice from previous episodes also.

"that fruity little club scrambled his brain"

[Zell's Fists of Fury]

I have not laughed like I did at that episode in a long time.

[fire_of_avalon]

I wanna... MAKE LOVE TO YA....children!

[Flamethrower]

Not a huge loss, really. It's not like Chef has been a fixture in the show for the last few years.

Exactly. I always thought that Chef was one of the less funnier supporting characters anyway, and with the changes in the show over the years, he's become more useless and played out each season. He couldn't of picked a better time to leave.

Good episode last night, although I'm betting it must of seemed really stupid and made no sense to the people who don't know about Isaac Hayes leaving the show, which is probably well over half of the viewing audience.

[Stayin Dizzy]

very funny episode. *wonders if darth chef stays......benifits nothing:meditate:*

[The Captain]

I think, now that Chef is Darth Vader, that James Earl Jones should do his voice. One-up Isaac Hayes with the best known deep voice in the business in addition to the obvious Star Wars connection.

Or perhaps do a complete 180 and have Chef now be voiced by the whitest of white singers, perhaps Barry Manilow?

Take care all.

[Acid Raine]

I'm impressed at how Matt & Trey handeled the whole Chef-thing. Obviously, they were pissed, and I dont blame them either. Isaac Hayes should have known they were bound to take a stab at Scientology sooner or later. Those who can't laugh at themselves don't deserve to laugh at others. LET SOUTH PARK CONTINUE TO MAKE FUN OF SCIENTOLOGY!!!!

:chef: goodbye....

[Luther X-Rated]

I don't know....but chef got killed ugly on this new episode of south park.

I guess it's a way of saying good-bye Isaac Hayes!