Earl Yorke

Here is the opinion piece that I wrote about South Park… but longer than the one that is to be published. Enjoy!

Give Them a Reason, and They’ll Give You Humor!

“Blame Canada!” Sang Robin Williams when he hosted the Academy Awards ceremony where Trey Parker and his partner, Matt Stone were up for an Oscar for “South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut.” They were not strangers to controversy, even at a time when their seemingly crude humor was nominated for a prestigious Academy Award in its first — and only — theatrical release. Things get complicated, however, when nobody is exempt from exemplification in a brand of 2-D humor that does not discriminate in any way… everyone is a target.

“South Park” debuted on Comedy Central on August 13, 1997, and was met from the very beginning with both praise and contempt. I remember the first time I saw the show back in my teenage days… I was hooked right away. What’s not to love about Jesus Christ and Santa Claus going head-to-head in a boxing match? It’s hilarious. People who take offense to such things should take a moment to appreciate what Parker and Stone are trying to say through these cartoons. Take the episode that I mentioned above… could it be that the message behind it was that Santa Claus is a more recognized symbol than Jesus Christ at Christmas time?

South Park showcases some of the most misunderstood comedy on cable television today, and it’s all because people focus on the names and symbols depicted in it rather than the message it is trying to convey. One of the greatest and –coincidentally – most recent examples is what many have come to call “South Park vs. The Church of Scientology.” I call it: “It’s Just a Cartoon!”

In an episode called “Trapped in the Closet,” animated versions of Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise found themselves in South Park (less their real voices). Cruise ends up believing that recurring character, Stan Marsh, is the reincarnation of L. Ron Hubbard, prophet and founder of the Church of Scientology, and pays a visit to they boy’s home. When Stan tells Cruise that he is not as talented an actor as “that guy from Napoleon Dynamite,” he flips out and locks himself in the boy’s closet. He is under the impression that he is a “failure in the eyes of his prophet.” Randy Marsh, Stan’s father, gets involved urging, “Mr. Cruise, you can’t just stay in the closet; you need to come out.” The event ensues as multiple citizens of the town, and Cruise’s ex-wife, Nicole Kidman, attempt coercing him to “come out of the closet.” Tom, however, continues to deny that he is in there at all. Most of us know that Tom Cruise has been suspected of being a homosexual for quite some time, and this episode centers around that rumor; more so than making a mockery of the Church of Scientology.

Where does the hidden message lie in this episode…? Hah! In my opinion it takes the form of people taking a perfectly acceptable religious belief, and turning it into their own crusade to force that belief on others. I have nothing against the Church of Scientology, but you can’t deny that many celebrities – most notably, Tom Cruise – do a lot to convince others that it is the only way of life. Anyone who watches the news knows of Tom Cruise’s exploits while “promoting” War of the Worlds. Was he perhaps promoting something else? That is where the genius of Trey Parker and Matt Stone reaches fans of South Park; make an idiot of yourself in order to force your beliefs on others, and we will truly make an idiot of you!

The aftermath of the whole debacle that bloomed saw Scientologists who misunderstood the message putting extreme pressure on Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Isaac Hayes –Shaft– left the show because of the apparent travesty of the religion that he and Cruise adhere to. Along with this Comedy Central refused to air the episode this Spring because of the negative attention it had drawn. To this, Parker and Stone commented, “So, Scientology, you may have won THIS battle, but the million-year war for earth has just begun!”

God and L. Ron Hubbard bless them!

It hasn’t been published yet, but I will place a link to the website once it has…

Sorry for taking twelve days to put up a new post, but things have been crazy around here for many reasons. I’ll not get into any excuse-making, but I will say this: I’m finally going to get paid for writing. This is one of the reasons why I haven’t been posting… okay that’s an excuse. Sorry.

My partner-in-crime, Jeff Greenfield has enlisted me to write a number of columns for one of his many product placement websites. I don’t know too much about that particular topic, but I have spent the last eight days emmersing myself in some very heavy research. Currently, I am working on a column about South Park Vs. The Church of Scientology… not much to do with product placement, but I know that Jeff has other reasons why he wants me to start with such things.

That’s all for now. I have to get back to work. Look for me to post the actual column once Jeff and I are happy with it.

If you love cats, or are a fan of anything taking place in an octagon… uh, whatever, watch this:

“Joe Rogan you crazy!”

–Dave Chappelle

My money was on the gray tiger… that’s how I got my internet back!

For poor people like me this could be considered a holiday! Finally, after living off of my neighboor’s wireless internet connection –no judgements please– I have finally gotten my internet back…

Living in this day and age, those of us who are fortunate enough to have the money to pay their bills take their fast internet connection for granted… not me… not anymore! For the first time in nearly a year I don’t have to “copy” what I am writing here in fear that the connection will fail and all I write will be lost. It feels GREAT! My wife is leaning over me with a huge smile on her face as I finally write the first non “copy-and-paste” post in nine months! Imagine the time I put into my previous posts when I had to upload pictures to the site!

That said, on to the good stuff… my work on “The Dominance Flush” screenplay is going swimmingly. After much research, I shelved what I had come up with and started on an entirely new version. It is frustrating, but I need to make sure that it is the best quality that I can produce. After the first few pages, and watching my wife have an “ADHD attack” after reading it, I can see that I am going in the right direction with it. I won’t disclose any details, but I’ll say this: when you see it on TV –or hopefully on the big screen– you will know exactly what I am talking about.

That’s all for now… back to work.

-E.Y.

I’m sure that those of you who regularly visit this site have noticed that it has been quite some time since my last post. Without going into too much detail, let’s just say that I’ve been having “internet issues” lately. For those of you who care, you can rest assured that I will be posting regularly again on Monday, June 12th… I’ll leave it at that.

–E.Y.