South Park Mocks Steve Irwin's Death

[dgridley]

The creators of South Park have never been afraid to upset celebrities - and many of the show's viewers.

From jokes about religion and homosexuality to four-letter tirades, Trey Parker and Matt Stone have always mixed shock tactics with satire in the hit cartoon series.

But they were accused of hitting a new low last night after lampooning the demise of Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin just weeks after his death.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/li...ews.html?in_article_id=412911&in_page_id=1773

 

[Broker]

Zero class imho and not funny.

 

[briman1970]

They've put Princess Diana, Michael Landon and other dead celebs in hell as well. This is a tribute. That may seem like a strange statement, but Trey and Matt have a strange way of conveying their messages through the show.

They've had at least one other show featuring Steve Irwin before he died and it wasn't degrading to him (if I remember correctly). I think they liked the guy and this is merely a statement on the incredible sensitivity that many people endure after the death of an international personality/celebrity.

BTW, I hope Terri's children haven't watched ANY episode of South Park.

 

[Dan]

They've had at least one other show featuring Steve Irwin before he died and it wasn't degrading to him (if I remember correctly).

They had him sticking his thumb up crocodile's buttholes. :X
http://youtube.com/watch?v=c7C3SpcqKmI

 

[Broker]

They had him sticking his thumb up crocodile's buttholes. :X
http://youtube.com/watch?v=c7C3SpcqKmI

Now that was funny LOL

 

[labrocca]

Oh I am sure the family is sad for their loss but they also recognize Steve was a humorous man that entertained people. Heck they may even be honored by the South Park appearance. I thought it was tasteful enough and humorous at the same time.

 

[whitebark]

This episode alone mocked: jews, muslims, christians, protestants, mormons, hindus, gandhi, princess di, steve irwin, serial killers, and many more people alive and dead.

People need to get a sense of humour.

 

[nick-8318]

I don't think there is anything wrong with what was shown. I watched the episode and enjoyed it (the episode). If people had to be offended by something, be offended by the killings, not the part about Steve Irwin.

 

[True_Snake]

I stopped watching South Park a long time ago. It's probably the lamest thing on TV .




True_Snake

 

[_FLIP_]

I watch South Park and really enjoy the show. I didn't think that mocking Steve Irwin was cool, but after watching the clip it didn't seem disrespectful.

 

[DN Tycoon]

I stopped watching South Park a long time ago. It's probably the lamest thing on TV .




True_Snake

No that would be Survivor and American Idol

 

[labrocca]

South Park actually is an amazing show. It manages to stay relevent each season. It never loses it's original intentions and charm. I think South Park is one of the best comedy shows ever created and I have a feeling it may end up being the longest running cartoon ever.

btw...I think Sponge Bob Squarepants ranks as #2 best cartoon ever.

http://www.sfondideldesktop.com/Images-Toon/Spongebob/Spongebob-0003/Spongebob-0003.jpg

 

[whitebark]

Spongebob? Could never get into that show, but I agree about South Park - once you get past the simple toilet humour the rest of it is rather witty and well thought out. It is a great show for highlighting so many different social, ethnic, political etc themes. Matt and Trey have a way with writing shows that always contain some type of message, no matter how twisted it may be to get there.

 

[dgridley]

I love Spongebob... tho Patrick is my favorite on the show.

btw...I think Sponge Bob Squarepants ranks as #2 best cartoon ever.

http://www.sfondideldesktop.com/Images-Toon/Spongebob/Spongebob-0003/Spongebob-0003.jpg

 

[Sabre]

No that would be Survivor and American Idol

Amen to that.

I personally think South Park is very witty and well thought out.

"Well, that was quite an angry croc, but i managed to escape with only a few bruises and a shattered left testicle. Next week we'll look for more of these beautiful creatures so we can learn more about them by pissing them off immensely" :D

I think the whole Steve Irwin haloween costume episode is a nice, humerous tribute to him that he'd appreciate if he was here among us today.

 

[Archangel]

They had Satan say that it wasn't funny yet. I don't think they were actually mocking his death. I also agree with Mikor..

They might not have been mocking it but it's still in bad taste showing Irwin as they had, especially when ya have Bindi, Bob, and his wife who have to purge the memories of this out of their head. Okay, Tom jumping on a couch or whatnot isn't bad but you can't take a beloved guy who died very recently and show him in the sense that they had. (And he was in Hell! Invited to a party there or whatever, it's still a bad image) South Park should be taken off the air. There is a thin line between humor and repulsive and Stone & Parker haven't only crossed it, they've walked so far beyond it that the line's not even visible to them anymore. They're still funny but they just don't know their right from wrong. The entire series thrives from that fact but I think it's gotten just a little too much.

 

[mtorregiani]

They might not have been mocking it but it's still in bad taste showing Irwin as they had, especially when ya have Bindi, Bob, and his wife who have to purge the memories of this out of their head. Okay, Tom jumping on a couch or whatnot isn't bad but you can't take a beloved guy who died very recently and show him in the sense that they had. (And he was in Hell! Invited to a party there or whatever, it's still a bad image) South Park should be taken off the air. There is a thin line between humor and repulsive and Stone & Parker haven't only crossed it, they've walked so far beyond it that the line's not even visible to them anymore. They're still funny but they just don't know their right from wrong. The entire series thrives from that fact but I think it's gotten just a little too much.

I agree with you

 

[RJ]

South Park puts a lengthy disclaimer at the front of all its episodes.

http://home.comcast.net/~curegirl4vrmedia4/pictures/south_park_disclaimer.jpg
(read the last line in particular!)

I surely hope Bob and Bindi aren't watching the show anyway, not just this particular episode.

 

[briman1970]

I think if you look at the antics on the surface and don't listen to what they're trying to say through their show, then you WILL be offended. Anyone who enjoys South Park and has watched several episodes understands that their #1 message is that people are too easily offended. Here is an excerpt from a great interview with Matt and Trey...

"Part of living in the world today is you're going to have to be offended," Stone says. "The right to be offended and the right to offend is why we have a First Amendment. If no speech was offensive to anybody, then you wouldn't need to guarantee it."

Parker says "South Park" mocks that which is dearest to him all the time -- though few people know it. "A lot of people don't realize this, but probably the one person that gets made fun of in "South Park" more than anybody is my dad," he says. "Stan's father, Randy -- my dad's name is Randy -- that's my drawing of my dad; that's me doing my dad's voice. That is just my dad. Even Stan's last name, Marsh, was my dad's stepfather's name. So my dad grew up Randy Marsh. And he is, by far, the biggest dingbat in the entire show. And we've had him, you know, with his pants down, drunk, throwing up, you know. And my dad was a great dad. He's a great dad. And my dad is constantly like: 'Why did you do that to me?' And I'm like, 'Dad, I'm just having fun.' I hold my father very dear. But it doesn't mean I'm not going to rip on him."

I really think what they did to "South Park Steve Irwin" was meant to be a form of tribute. Showing him in hell on the show wasn't surprising. Everyone who dies ends up in hell on South Park.

 

[RJ]

Everyone who dies ends up in hell on South Park.

Well, almost everyone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzhgMg4yH7M

 

[Archangel]

I think if you look at the antics on the surface and don't listen to what they're trying to say through their show, then you WILL be offended. Anyone who enjoys South Park and has watched several episodes understands that their #1 message is that people are too easily offended. Here is an excerpt from a great interview with Matt and Trey...

"Part of living in the world today is you're going to have to be offended," Stone says. "The right to be offended and the right to offend is why we have a First Amendment. If no speech was offensive to anybody, then you wouldn't need to guarantee it."

Parker says "South Park" mocks that which is dearest to him all the time -- though few people know it. "A lot of people don't realize this, but probably the one person that gets made fun of in "South Park" more than anybody is my dad," he says. "Stan's father, Randy -- my dad's name is Randy -- that's my drawing of my dad; that's me doing my dad's voice. That is just my dad. Even Stan's last name, Marsh, was my dad's stepfather's name. So my dad grew up Randy Marsh. And he is, by far, the biggest dingbat in the entire show. And we've had him, you know, with his pants down, drunk, throwing up, you know. And my dad was a great dad. He's a great dad. And my dad is constantly like: 'Why did you do that to me?' And I'm like, 'Dad, I'm just having fun.' I hold my father very dear. But it doesn't mean I'm not going to rip on him."

I really think what they did to "South Park Steve Irwin" was meant to be a form of tribute. Showing him in hell on the show wasn't surprising. Everyone who dies ends up in hell on South Park.

I am not the type to get easily offended but my rant was aimed at the image use/visuals. Parker & Stone might not have meant ill from it--the whole Irwin thing--but there is no justification for it. The good thing about South Park is the show always seems to have morale ('Beavis and Butt-head' was hated by adult because the show featured 2 idiots who wrecked havoc without ever showing an ounce of morale) and surely they meant good adding Steve in here. What I'm saying is: They shouldn't have shown "Steve Irwin," with a string ray hanging out of his chest, on TV. It is just an image that the world isn't ready to see. He died less than half a year ago so surely the memories of him are still fresh. All right, I was a little harsh when I said the show should be pulled. But the episode should be -- at least for now. Let the shock die out 100%, ppl! I'm sure Parker & Stone would have been murdered in cold blood if they did ANYHTING ‘bad’ with, say, 911 but it wouldn't have touched such a nerve now, over 5 years later. It'd still bother ppl but not on such a high scale, of such a high magnitude.

I surely hope Bob and Bindi aren't watching the show anyway, not just this particular episode.

Ya never know. Kids with a remote can channel-surf just as well as adults.