Isaac Hayes quits South Park

Started by Mr._T., Mar 21, 2006, 02:20 AM

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Mr. T.

Mar 21, 2006, 02:20 AM
I thought this was pretty interesting. Chef was always a great character.
I believe I don't like that whole scientology thing...

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/13/south.park.hayes.reut/index.html
Soul singer Isaac Hayes quits 'South Park'

Monday, March 13, 2006; Posted: 9:07 p.m. EST (02:07 GMT)


LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- Soul singer Isaac Hayes said Monday he was quitting his job as the voice of the lusty character "Chef" on the satiric cable TV cartoon "South Park," citing the show's "inappropriate ridicule" of religion.

But series co-creator Matt Stone said the veteran recording artist was upset the show had recently lampooned the Church of Scientology, of which Hayes is an outspoken follower.

"In ten years and over 150 episodes of 'South Park,' Isaac never had a problem with the show making fun of Christians, Muslim, Mormons or Jews," Stone said in a statement issued by the Comedy Central network.

"He got a sudden case of religious sensitivity when it was his religion featured on the show."

He added: "Of course we will release Isaac from his contract, and we wish him well."

In a statement explaining his departure from the show, Hayes, 63, did not mention last fall's episode poking fun at Scientology and some of its celebrity adherents, including actor Tom Cruise.

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.

"There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry toward religious beliefs ... begins," Hayes said.

The crudely animated cartoon, heading into its 10th season next week as one of Comedy Central's biggest hits, centers on the antics of four foul-mouthed fourth graders in the town of South Park, Colorado.

Outlandish religious satire has been a mainstay of the show since its debut on the Viacom Inc.-owned network in 1997. The series grew out of two short films by Stone and collaborator Trey Parker -- "Jesus vs. Frosty" and "The Spirit of Christmas," the latter featuring a martial-arts duel between Jesus and Santa Claus over the true meaning of Christmas.

Hayes, the first black composer to win an Oscar for best song with his theme to the 1971 film "Shaft," gained renewed fame on "South Park" as the voice of Jerome "Chef" McElroy, the school cafeteria cook whom the boys often seek out for advice.

In an episode last fall, one of the gang, Stan, scores so high on a Scientology test that church followers think he is the next L. Ron Hubbard, the late science-fiction writer who founded the religion. Hayes did not take part in that episode.

In an interview with Reuters late last year, Hayes talked about a foundation he formed to bring Scientology-based study techniques to disadvantaged inner-city schools, in partnership with fellow devotee Lisa Marie Presley.

"But it's not religious," he said then, describing himself as Baptist by birth and Scientology as "an applied religious philosophy."

Comedy Central spokesman Tony Fox said producers have not decided whether Chef would be dropped from the show or continued with another actor supplying his voice.

 :-/
We are young despite the years,
we are concern,
we are hope despite the times

dragonboy

#1
Mar 21, 2006, 03:42 AM
http://www.imdb.com/news/wenn/2006-03-21/

Trey Parker and Matt Stone have filmed a last-minute episode of South Park in response to Scientologist Isaac Hayes' request to be released from his contract because the show mocked his religion. The creators are launching the tenth season of the series on US network Comedy Central on Wednesday, with an episode featuring Hayes' character Chef. Because South Park episodes only take six days to create, Stone and Parker were able to react to the current controversy soon after it happened. According to a Comedy Central press release, the show will feature, "The triumphant homecoming of school chef Jerome McElroy. While Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman are thrilled to have their old friend back, they notice that something about Chef seems different. When Chef's strange behavior starts getting him in trouble, the boys pull out all stops to save him."
God will forgive them. He'll forgive them and allow them into Heaven.....I can't live with that.

primushead

#2
Mar 21, 2006, 08:56 AM
That episode airs tomorrow...I'm so happy :D

Jon T.

#3
Mar 21, 2006, 09:06 AM
Does anyone know if the episode with Tom Cruise is floating around.  And where??

Clarkwork

#4
Mar 21, 2006, 09:15 AM
http://www.darkhorizons.com/news06/060321f.php

According to this link he did not quit.  Wonder if this has been a publicity stunt??
If you don't know for yourself, how could you ever know for me....

peanut butter puddin surprise

#5
Mar 21, 2006, 11:12 AM
Anything that makes fun of Cruise is good in my book.  Even South Park.  

You just can't say anything bad about Red Lobster or Scientology.  They will come and get you!
Runnin' from somethin' that isn't there

dragonboy

#6
Mar 21, 2006, 07:11 PM
QuoteDoes anyone know if the episode with Tom Cruise is floating around.  And where??

Here's a clip:

http://www.smithappens.com/video_southparkgay.php
God will forgive them. He'll forgive them and allow them into Heaven.....I can't live with that.

fitzcarraldo

#8
Mar 23, 2006, 12:36 AM
Scientology is wacked. Just saw that episode. What a sendoff. Disrespected Darth Chef!   Whoa.

primushead

#9
Mar 23, 2006, 08:49 AM
QuoteScientology is wacked. Just saw that episode. What a sendoff. Disrespected Darth Chef!   Whoa.

Yeah, it was a crazy episode.  It was quite possibly one of the best death scenes that I'd ever seen, though. :)

dragonboy

#10
Mar 23, 2006, 07:15 PM
God will forgive them. He'll forgive them and allow them into Heaven.....I can't live with that.

dragonboy

#11
Mar 23, 2006, 07:44 PM
Just watched the whole thing.
Man, that is some sick, fucked-up/funny TV right there!!!
Get well soon Issac ;D
God will forgive them. He'll forgive them and allow them into Heaven.....I can't live with that.

primushead

#12
Mar 23, 2006, 10:10 PM
QuoteGet well soon Issac ;D

I doubt that'll happen anytime soon...
Unless he's immune to bear/bobcat attacks :)

primushead

#13
Apr 13, 2006, 12:43 PM
I've gotta bump this...

Who has been watching south park recently?  The last part of a 2 parter aired last night...and the whole thing was fucking awesome.  The way they ripped on family guy (which I love, but south park made some good points) and the way that comedy central wouldn't allow Muhammed to be shown....it was greaaaaaat.  

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