South Park mocks Steve Irwin death

[SFG75]

A new low has been reached as the creators of South Park have created a parody of Steve Irwin's death. The episode features a party in hell where fellow party attendees are weirded out by Irwin appearing with a stingray barb still attached to his chest. They think it's an imposter, but it's really Steve. Now the episode is going to be aired in Australia. I'm not much of a prude, nor do I conside myself for censorship, but I hope that she gets a good lawyer and tries to put them in financial ruin.

 

[Concetta]

Have you seen other South Park episodes? They mock so many different things - religion, other people. I am surprised that this is where you chose to draw the line. Is Steve Irwin more important than Jesus, for example? Or Christmas? Or Jews? Perhaps, for you, he is.

I just think we need to be careful of our own personal "lines". I think creating a character based on poop is disgusting, but I bet that many people find that humorous (sick, disgusting individuals ). I wouldn't want my views to stop others from seeing this.

Now, having all that said - personally, I will not watch this episode either - in fact, I don't watch South Park at all because I don't think its funny.

 

[beer good]

What? South Park making provocative fun of a controversial subject? Surely you jest.

 

[Stewart]

I don't think there's anything wrong with it at all. At the Hallowe'en party I was at last night, this incident had obviously been an inspiration for one of the partygoer's costume, complete with barb.

 

[SFG75]

Have you seen other South Park episodes? They mock so many different things - religion, other people. I am surprised that this is where you chose to draw the line. Is Steve Irwin more important than Jesus, for example? Or Christmas? Or Jews? Perhaps, for you, he is.

I guess I see the "line" in that it is one thing to lampoon beliefs, ideas, and actions of others. It's quite another to make light of their death.

 

[MonkeyCatcher]

I really do think that it's a bit too early to be making fun of his death. In another year, sure, but what a horrible thing to do to all the people that really cared for him. They're obviously trying to be over-controversial in order to bring in viewers. And it will obviously work.

 

[Jughead]

A decade from now no one would be bothered by it. Five years from now, likely the same. A year from now, some people would be bothered by it. This close, more people will be bothered by it but it is the same joke. If you feel it is too soon after the death so be it. Others won't. I happen to be fine with it given that I think death treated with humour and satire is as valid as death treated with reverance and solemnity. Then again, like all others commenting on it, I haven't actually seen the episode so I will reserve judgement until I have for much the same reason I don't comment on the literary merit of books I haven't read.

 

[abecedarian]

Ithink it is much to soon for me to feel like laughing. Of course the South Park folks can do what they like, but they can also understand why some won't be watching..

 

[Jughead]

I have no problem with people deciding it isn't something they would like to watch. We all make those decisions when we decide what books to read, what movies to see, what music to listen to, etc. I am always a bit trouble by comments like some of the inititial ones which launched this thread couched in language that says "I'm not for censorship" and then going on to express that they indeed are against someone doing something.

Humour, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. The idea that South Park shouldn't make fun of Steve Irwin, in fact can't and have reached a new low in doing so is akin to to telling someone they can't come to a party because you heard from someone else that they are ugly.

Just because someone finds a joke lacking in humour doesn't mean it's a bad joke nor unfunny. It is just a joke they don't like.

It is also worth noting that South Park is a satire, quite often of pop culture. In this instance poking barbs (I had to) at a man who spent years tempting fate handing dangerous animals, diving into murky waters to grab crocodiles and snakes and a man who, for reasons I will never figure out, thought it was a good idea to take his baby into an enclosure full of crocodiles because it was a good photo op. The fact that he spent is life physically handling some of the most deadly and dangerous animals on the planet only to be killed by an animal that is known for being docile has a level of irony to it and given all else is fair game for satire.

 

[Zolipara]

Have you actually seen the scene where they supposedly mock steve irwin though? Satan himself walks up to the person he thinks is wearing a crocodile hunter costume and says "Its too soon"(Much like monekycatchers post above). If anything they are mocking the period after a persons death when he becomes "sacred".

South Park makes fun of anything and anyone, and i dont see this scene as any worse than what they have already done. maybe you just dont understand the South Park humour?

 

[MonkeyCatcher]

I do understand South Park humor, and usually I find it extremely funny. Usually I really like the fact that they bluntly ignore the 'PC rules'. But not this time. If the episode does indeed mock his death, then it is utterly tastelss. Perhaps he was more respected here Down Under, Jughead, because I know that many don't share your negative view of him at all. He did a lot for the environement and the animals within it. Taking death with humor is a lot different to poking fun at someone because they died.

But as someone else said, I guess that the episode has to be seen before we can pass judgement.

 

[Zolipara]

Well you can see this scene on youtube if you are interested. You should do it before you complain about the show.

 

[lenny nero]

Saw this item on the imdb news page:

US talk show host Bill Maher has sparked outrage after appearing at numerous Halloween parties over the weekend dressed as "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, complete with a bloody stingray barb attached to a khaki shirt. The outfit is among the top Halloween costumes in the US this year and while some have found it amusing, other insist it is an insult to the late conservationist who died in September. Photos of the celebrity comedian making the rounds at Halloween parties in Los Angeles over the weekend have been widely circulated on the internet. Maher hosts a weekly talk show on US network HBO called Real Time With Bill Maher and has angered some of his fans. One fan wrote on the star's official website, "I suppose he thought it was funny, but it was seriously lacking taste, decorum and respect for Steve's family." Another fan wrote, "I am kind of torn on it - I have a good sense of humor but this one is just kind of tacky."

 

[Stewart]

Seen loads of such costumes over the weekend. Different levels of effort; quite funny each time. Although nothing beats the guy dressed as Tracy Emin's bed.

 

[MonkeyCatcher]

I've seen the clip now - I don't find it at all funny. It's just lame - it seems like they have just chucked a luke-warm joke into there to cause controversy. Like the person Lenny quoted, I just think that it's tacky. It's unnecessary and tacky.

 

[Stewart]

I've seen the clip now - I don't find it at all funny. It's just lame - it seems like they have just chucked a luke-warm joke into there to cause controversy.

I've not watched it yet but how can you say it seems like they just chucked it in if you've only seen the clip out of context?

 

[MonkeyCatcher]

I've not watched it yet but how can you say it seems like they just chucked it in if you've only seen the clip out of context?

In making that statement I was assuming that the party in Hell was the only time during the episode that Steve Irwin appeared. If that's true, it was definitely chucked in.

It starts with a party in Hell, with Satan stating that he doesn't want anyone except VIPs to come into his area. His helper tells him that he has a problem, that somebody has shown up in a crocodile hunter costume, and that it's offending the other guests. So Satan goes over and Steve is standing there with a stingray hanging out of his chest. Satan goes, "Hey, dude, listen. You know the whole crocodile hunter thing, it's just a little too soon. I mean he just died a few weeks ago, and it's just not super cool, so you gotta leave." Steve Irwin then states that it is really him. And then Satan chucks him out because he isn't wearing a costume. The end.

Like I said, it just seemed to be chucked in there. It was unnecessary. Usually they don't have to stoop so low to try and be funny.

 

[bren]

Begging to differ, the South Park producers constantly stoop very low, causing a whirlwind of shame and pleasure as I spew my nachos all over.