Steve Irwin's widow devastated by South Park

[TheDebbieDee]

depiction.

http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/irwins%20widow%20devastated%20by%20south%20park%20parody_1012144

I don't watch South Park very often but did anyone here see this episode? What's the 411?

[kiahzero]

1. They showed Steve Irwin with a stingray in the chest.

They didn't even say anything bad about him.

[NYCGirl]

2. With a crappy image like that, they don't have to say anything bad. NT

[seabeyond]

3. people being ugly to people. seems to be the thing of 2000 and

beyond

[katinmn]

5. I've noticed that, too. There's a real loss of common civility. :-(

[stepnw1f]

36. We Saw this Type of Entertainment as the Roman Empire's Power Waned

We are seeing shows where people cut each other down for entertainment, similar to the gladiators of the past. All to distract from people's real issues....

[seabeyond]

37. i soooo agree with you. i have thought about that. it is so prevalent

thru out culture now, just everywhere to be nice is the exception. it is so clearly seen and felt now cause it isn't the norm. just odd.

[stepnw1f]

38. Being Nice is Deemed as being Insincere to Many

I have witnessed it first hand.... now the trend is to be as degrading to others around you while being as self-serving as possible.

[seabeyond]

56. i have been around a lot the last couple weeks. my niece

seems to not have a nice thing to say about anyone. a parentheard her mouthing off about her daughter. and got mad. my niece is trashing the parent for being bothered.

i was thinking, in my day, i would have been humiliated, mortified, embarrassed if that happened to me. i would be scared to death that parent may say something to my parents and what my parents would do, or how they would think about me.

totally different today,than yesterday

[readmoreoften]

60. Good catch.

It is pawned off on "being real" wuite often.

[Skidmore]

49. I was thinking the same thing this week when my hubby was

watching the Jerry Springer Show. Hadn't seen that trash for some time and there was Jerry presiding over a thumbs up or down session where people were shouting "get the whore, get the whore." All of them looking like squeaky clean solid citizens but acting like trash also.

[me b zola]

63. Something must be in the air...

Mr Zola and I were discussing this last night.

[Retired AF Dem]

62. 2000 and beyond?

I guess little things like Rwanda, the Holocaust, and the tens of millions of their countryman Stalin and Mao killed off has happened since the year 2000? Best start studying up on your history. People have been being ugly to people since people have first inhabited this planet. When it comes to killing people, Bush is a rank amateur.

[seabeyond]

66. condescending. never did i say we have not experienced the ugliness

mankind can render on each other. we are discussing how commmon niceness in our culture seems to have taken a back seat. a little like the condescending manner of your post. i am sure there could have been a more polite and not so abrasive way of sharing your opinion.

that is all.

[masshole]

4. Made a reference to him being in hell

Satan was throwing a Halloween party, at first Satan thought Irwin was someone in a "Dead Croc Hunter" costume and chided him for having bad taste.
I'm troubled by Terri Irwin's vieled threat though.

[NYCGirl]

6. The "veiled threat" was not made by Terri Irwin, but by British TV naturalist

Mark Amey, according to the article.

[masshole]

7. thanks

I feel better about that.
I will get those reading glasses soon, I promise.

[colorado_ufo]

11. Terri is still in deep shock and grief,

and this was salt rubbed roughly in the wound. She may say things that she would not dream of saying under normal circumstances. A smart editor would have simply, smartly, and compassionately omitted such a comment. Not many smart editors around anymore, though.

South Park always pushes the envelope and often has cutting social commentary. However, this does not excuse them from human decency, especially in a medium that could be viewed by children, even accidentally. The stingray bit was in utmost poor taste, but to insinuate that these children's father is in hell - having committed no crime or harm, and only two months after their losing him -is inexcusable and stomach-turning.

[StraightDope]

30. Well, to be fair...

Every non-Mormon is in hell on South Park. Poor taste, yes, but not intended to insinuate that Steve Irwin was evil or anything to that effect.

[Jamastiene]

69. She didn't make the threat.

The British naturalist they mentioned in the article said that part.

[Idioteque]

79. Why do they need an excuse to make a joke?

"this does not excuse them from human decency"

Whether or not it was decent, it was really funny. Their job is to entertain and they do that by being offensive. That's what makes it funny. I feel bad for Mrs. Irwin and she has every right to be angry. I just don't understand why so many people are angry on her behalf.

[kiki]

67. The fact that he's in hell isn't meant to offend.

In South Park, just about everyone goes to hell because Mormonism is the only true religion. Consequently heaven has about 50 people in it. In the episode concerned, Princess Di and even Gandhi are shown in hell also.

The funny thing is, that episode also features Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Gacey and Ted Bundy as the three stooges, Dahmer having sex with the intestines of a fresh murder victim, catholic priests going around with naked young boys on leashes, and two instances of the "N-word", and nobody seems fussed about that. Irwin isn't even mocked or attacked at all (as I said, the fact that he's in hell isn't an attack in the context of the show), he is merely represented in a gruesome (yet sympathetic) fashion, although obviously this is distressing to his wife so soon after the event.

Regardless of what South Park did, the comments by the TV naturalist are pretty vile - "I'll see your offensive cartoon and raise you two cold-blooded murders." Nice.

[roody]

8. Extremely bad taste should be (is?) constitutionally

protected free speech.

[NYCGirl]

9. It is free speech, and I will defend their right to say it. But it is also bad

taste masquerading as wit.

[roody]

32. I have never watched the show. I assume it

is a symptom of our vacuous, murderous, materialistic culture.

[NYCGirl]

35. I've watched it a few times and tried to like it, but it seemed to me like it

was somewhat pointless.

I don't feel that our culture is necessarily vacuous, murderous or materialistic.

[Rottenmac]

10. Poking fun is poking fun

Bad taste or not, it is similar to CHEF (Issac Hayes) quitting when they finally spoofed Scientology. He cashed their checks when they ripped on Bush, Gore, school shootings, Kenny crawling into a woman's Uterus, etc... But when it came to Scientology, he said some outrageous things about marching with Dr. King and civil Rights. (When it had nothing to do with racism, just picking on the wierdos... but I digress.)

There are no 'off-limits' things to these guys. I always suggest to people who are so bothered, just to not watch. And I would not let my kids watch South Park anyhow. Its not meant for kids obviously.

[rucky]

12. Matt & Trey had their day. Now they're just starving for attention.

time to move on, boys.

[Marr]

14. Agreed.

These days it's just mean and crass for the sake of being mean and crass. The joke's old.

[bunkerbuster1]

39. I'd rather they just starve, period.

What assholes.

[stanwyck]

75. Agree. I don't have time for them anymore

competition is fierce for our attention. And these guys are repetitive and increasingly dull.

[Melynn]

81. I'm proud to say that I have never watched South Park

and because of this tasteless "joke", I'll never will.

[progressivebydesign]

13. I mourn the loss of kindness and decency every day.

I've noticed over the past 10 years, that "entertainment" has gotten more cruel, and humor in the mainstream media is always at the expense of someone else. Rude rules, apparently. There are still many kind people out there... but in the past few years I have been accosted by outwardly mean people, in public places. It's like the me-first-screw-everyone-else mentality of the popular culture, and the cloak of anonymity of the interet, is now leaking into daily public life.

South Park was one of the first to fire the salvo of mean... and they just keep at it. They've really outdone themselves in cruel tackiness. There is apparently no humanity left in them.. as they grow richer and more conservative. Is there no one on their staff that told them this was in such bad taste, and downright cruel?

As far as the cries here about "free speech". This is not about it being LEGAL to be an asshole to other people, it's about it being the wrong thing for the sake of humanity. Just because something is legal, doesn't make it right.

[earth mom]

42. I'd say it's a case of sociopaths not hiding it anymore.

Rush Limbaugh, South Park, government officials...there's a long list of em who are showing their true colors these days. :puke:

[JitterbugPerfume]

15. South Park has jumped the shark

It used to be cutting social commentary

Now it just seems mean

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

18. They are lame and over. Next...

[Cleita]

16. Something about South Park's vision of Hell is that everyone

is there except a chosen few, like Moses or Jesus. So in that context it isn't so, ah well damning. I do believe that it was in poor taste to make fun of this tragedy though.

[puffthemagicdragon]

17. poor taste but they dont discriminate

I was a wee bit disappointed but then remembered that Matt and Trey leave no one behind when it comes to their show. They make fun of all equally. THey actually had him in an episode a couple years ago. You can always count on South Park being disturbing so if it bothers you...you dont have to turn the channel to it.

[Quantess]

65. I absolutely agree.

If you don't like it, don't watch it.

[951-Riverside]

19. I don't think they should be censored because SHE says so

and don't forget this woman is making big bucks off the death of her husband.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

20. They shouldn't cesored, but they should be censured. It's as much free

speech to point out that this is lame and in incredibly poor taste.

And, unlike other "poop"/Mr. Hanky type poor taste humor, this is hurtful to someone grieving. I'm sure Parker and Stone couldn't care less, but it's fair game to point out.

[NYCGirl]

25. SHE never said anything of the sort. She's making big bucks? I bet she'd

give everything she owns or will ever own to have him back.

[FlaGranny]

74. Making big bucks from the death of her husband??

Geez, talk about insensitivity. Should every widow give up earning money? Or is she just earning too much. What limit should there be on widows earnings?

[Kali]

21. OK I am just a sick person, and I don't even watch tv, but my first reaction

was - great idea for a Halloween costume. I could overanalyze and justify that by pointing out the normal human reaction of using black humor to confront fear and the fact that the guy's death was such a freak accident, but bottom line is I am a sicko. Sorry.

[Dorian Gray]

78. Apparently Bill Maher agrees with you

I saw a picture earlier today of him dressed up as the dead Croc Hunter.

Personally, I think it's in bad taste, but people are free to look like assholes the last time I checked.

[originalpckelly]

22. They killed Steve Irwin! You bastards!

That should have been the title of the article. Too perfect.

So fucked up they would go that!

[BlueStater]

23. The reason Steve Irwin was in Hell was because...

...in the world of South Park, only mormons go to Heaven. That's why, in the show, you see people like Gandhi, Princess Di, etc. down in Hell.

[sendero]

24. It would be impossible...

.. for me to take anything about Southpark seriously, when you stand for nothing you'll fall for anything.

These guys are just into tearing down everything and everybody and it's all for a laugh. If it's funny laugh, if not, forgetaboutit.

[Deja Q]

26. Who needs 'Girls Gone Wild'? South Park can be renamed to

'Parody Gone Wild' :(

[AValdoux]

27. Irwin was maybe on 30 seconds.

In all the articles I've read no one talks about what the show was about. It was a take off on MTV's Sweet 16 show. It features spoiled brats throwing lavish parties for their 16th birthday. Example, one kid wanted to make his entrance with a white tiger. When his parents took him to the wildlife facility, he was disappointed when the owners told him he could lease a cub but legally they couldn't let him take a mature white tiger into a teenage party. He was devastated. This is what they were lampooning. Satan was throwing a party like this.

Also, no one mentions the Three Stooge takeoff featuring Jeffrey Dalmer, John Wayne Gacy & Ted Bundy. They were in charge of picking up the life size Ferrari cake to the party. Gacy kept killing people, he was Curly. Ted Bundy played the Moe character. Dalmer was Larry and yes he had sex with a corpse. Pretty twisted stuff.

No one said anything about the scenes with the clergy who were fighting Satan. Two had small boys on leashes. Where's the outrage?

The Steve Irwin part was about him showing up at Satan's costume party. Satan confronted him and said, "Dude its too soon". Irwin explained he really was Steve Irwin. Satan threw him out for not having a costume. No one commented on Lady Diana or Ghandi being in hell. Its a running joke who South Park depicts in hell during their Satan story lines.

Also I don't guess they want to talk about this season's episode about Kyle's little brother Ike having a relationship with his kindergarten teacher. Kyle couldn't get anyone to do anything about because the teacher was hot. Cartman doing a takeoff as Dog the Bounty Hunter was the only one who did anything about it. It was his turn to be the hall monitor and he caught Ike and the teacher in the hall without a hall pass.

AValdoux

[Coexist]

28. well put.

[puffthemagicdragon]

29. great post, the true point of the show was great

if any show is sick it is MTV's Super Sweet Sixteen and that was Matt and Trey's point of the show. if you dont like south park then don't watch it.

[NYCGirl]

33. They forgot the equation that Lenny Bruce talked about:

Comedy = Tragedy + Time

They forgot about the "Time" part of the equation.

[JVS]

44. That equation was the essence of the joke they made

Hence Satan's saying that the costume was "Too soon"

[NYCGirl]

45. Except if someone WHO wasn't Irwin was wearing the costume (minus the

really offensive stingray), that would have made the point in a less tortured manner — and it would be in keeping with the phrase. Instead, like most everything they do on that show, to use a comedy term, they "ran it into the ground."

[JVS]

47. Did you see the show? Explain to me the joke and how it would have worked...

without Steve Irwin being there?

[NYCGirl]

48. If someone else was dressed up as Irwin. Or, just forget the stupid gag. NT

[JVS]

50. If it weren't Irwin then it wouldn't have ended with the guy wearing the costume...

getting thrown out of the party for not being in costume.

[NYCGirl]

52. And that might have been funny instead of smarmy. NT

[JVS]

53. I'm glad that they write their own jokes instead of consulting you

[NYCGirl]

57. And I'm glad not everyone has your sense of humor(?). NT

[mongo]

43. Nicely said

South Park has become a DU scapegoat for all that is bad in our society.

Our nanny state culture warriors love to rip on South Park.

Repeat after me: It's only a TV show... It's only a TV show...

[Puglover]

82. Right on as usual Mongo...

Some advice to our pursed lipped "nanny state culture warriors." As we speak they are airing some lame interview with Anna Nicole Smith. And guess what? I don't like her, I'm not interested and I'm. Not. Watching. It. I'm not bothered by it. It doesn't matter to me one way or another. Now there's a thought!

Get over your self important selves folks.

[stepnw1f]

31. I Never Realy Like South Park

Call me a snob, but the show was always too immature for my taste and I am not exactly the most mature of people.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

34. If I'm recalling correctly, Satan thought it was someone dressed up as

Irwin and said it was a little too soon. Then he seemed surprised to find out it was really Irwin.

Not much point in analyzing SP too deeply but I think the joke was more about the whole tragedy+time=comedy thing and less about Irwin in particular.

[Puzzler]

40. Hmmm...

... I thought that shows like South Park were produced a lot longer than a couple of months before broadcasting.

-P

[INDIA]

51. Nope.

They use computer programs that can crank out episodes in weeks. I remember they had an episode on the Afghanistan invasion not even a full month past when the bombs started dropping. Pretty impressive.

The simple animation they use plays a big part in it, plus they could have added just that one scene to an already complete episode.

[Glib Acumen]

41. I don't watch TV.

I have not watched TV at home for many years. The American culture has become an ugly, twitching madhouse. The TV shows educate people to accept the mass murder of innocent Arabs. A cartoon showing Irwin in bad taste is on target for the goals of the advertisers who pay for the blood baths.

[GreenArrow]

46. it's all a bunch of Mammon fondling

nihilist crap.

[zonkers]

54. Irwin's fair game. I'm sorry Steve is gone but he was no Jacques Cousteau. Steve badgered

animals instead of observing them. I know he has done some good but I have mixed feelings.

[Arkana]

55. I also think Matt and Trey are taking some unfair criticism here.

Nowhere did it say that Steve Irwin was in hell. It just showed him at Satan's party.

They're offensive, yeah. But they are also known for cutting through the bullshit and allowing us to laugh at the ridiculous quality that some current events have.

[Renew Deal]

58. It was relatively mild for South Park.

She shouldn't be given this more attention.

[Scout]

59. I'm even more pleased that I DON'T watch South Park. I can't even

stand to sit through the previews for that show.

[shadowknows69]

61. I stopped watching SP a while ago

I'm a fan of some pretty sick humor, monty python and the like, but you can go to far just for shock value. Comtemporary tragedies need to be respected a little more.

[goforit]

64. I do like SP, but this one went a little far.

[B Calm]

68. We have Rush Limburger making fun of Michael J. Fox, and now this

[Jamastiene]

70. I haven't seen it because I already despise that show.

Must be some sort of humor divide going on, because I don't get that kind of humor at all. It's not so much that it is in poor taste, but that It's.just.not.funny.

[Sapphocrat]

76. Me neither.

Never understood the appeal either. But then, I've never understood why fourth-grade boys think farting in class is practically Moliere.

[Placebo]

71. What's the big f'n deal?

It was just a joke.

[Dr Fate]

72. Poorly drawn fat kids yelling@ each other is funny? Steve ROCKS!!!

The Crocodile Hunter was a hero, a terrific role model for little boys (& girls) and a great advocate for the environment.

Trey & Matt as the cynical Libertarians are not fit to hold his pith helmet.

I would rather watch re-runs of his show than 2 un-funny Libertarians any day.

[spoony]

73. Those bashing SP: are you also bashing Maher

for wearing the costume? Or is it okay for him to do it because you like him and not okay for SP because you think they're cons?

[martymar64]

77. I hope someone makes fun of their tragedies

When their parents or spouse dies, I hope somebody rubs it in their faces. I like the show sometimes, but that is just cruel.
I don't feel bad for Terri as much as for her children. The children don't understand parody, they just see someone making a cheap joke at the expense of their father that they loved dearly and will never get to see again.

Fuck you Trey and Matt, you cold hearted bastards.

[Yukari Yakumo]

80. I'm willing to bet good money...

I'm willing to bet good money that many who have and will reply to this topic are pulling a Bob Dole and condemning something they never actually saw themselves.

Unless you actually saw the episode, you almost have no business in this thread.