Kat interprets it as “fear of Muslim fanatics pure and simple.”

Richard Bennett sees “an inflated sense of that sad little basic cable network’s importance.”

William Papke sees “unadulterated B.S.”

Maybe…

…but maybe we should see hints in the letter itself that it is making fun of self-important, mealy-mouthed, weasel-worded corporate shills.

The clue, I think, is at the start of the second paragraph: “to reiterate, as satirists…” The letter seems intended as a spoof. Take this pompous sentiment, for example: “we afford our talent the most creative freedom and provide a nurturing atmosphere that challenges them to be bold and daring and places them in a position to constantly break barriers and push the envelope.” Surely this is written by someone satirizing corporate PRspeak.

As I mentioned before, the South Park episodes did indeed represent the Prophet Mohammed, as a black rectangle, despite Comedy Central’s proclamations of self-censorship. And let’s not forget that the climax of the second episode — the poop throwing scenes featuring the President and Jesus Christ — was, in the story, the topic of a cartoon made by Ayman al-Zawahiri made to protest the contents The Family Guy. The point being that the vocabulary of cartoons is so infantile that even al-Qaeda could imagine nothing more horrible than schoolyard lavatory humor.

The entire dance of censorship-reaction-corporate self-justification looks like a satirical publicity stunt…not fear, not self-importance, not unadulterated B.S. and not gutlessness.

What unadulterated bs. Comedy Central Viewer Services simply confirmed what terrorists around the globe have long suspected. Rattle a few swords and throw a few bombs and we can get anything we want.

{Dear Viewer,

Thank you for your correspondence regarding the “South Park” episodes entitled “Cartoon Wars.” We appreciate your concerns about censorship and the destructive influence of outside groups on the media, entertainment industry and particularly Comedy Central.

To reiterate, as satirists, we believe that it is our First Amendment right to poke fun at any and all people, groups, organizations and religions and we will continue to defend that right. Our goal is to make people laugh and perhaps, if we’re lucky, even make them think in the process.

Comedy Central’s belief in the First Amendment has not wavered, despite our decision not to air an image of Muhammad. Our decision was made not to mute the voices of Trey and Matt or because we value one religion over any other. This decision was based solely on concern for public safety in light of recent world events.

With the power of freedom of speech and expression also comes the obligation to use that power in a responsible way. Much as we wish it weren’t the case, times have changed and, as witnessed by the intense and deadly reaction to the publication of the Danish cartoons, decisions cannot be made in a vacuum without considering what impact they may have on innocent individuals around the globe.

It was with this in mind we decided not to air the image of Muhammad, a decision similar to that made by virtually every single media outlet across the country earlier this year when they each determined that it was not prudent or in the interest of safety to reproduce the controversial Danish cartoons. Injuries occurred and lives were lost in the riots set off by the original publication of these cartoons. The American media made a decision then, as we did now, not to put the safety and well being of the public at risk, here or abroad.

As a viewer of “South Park,” you know that over the course of ten seasons and almost 150 episodes the series has addressed all types of sensitive, hot-button issues, religious and political, and has done so with Comedy Central’s full support in every instance, including this one. “Cartoon Wars” contained a very important message, one that Trey and Matt felt strongly about, as did we at the network, which is why we gave them carte blanche in every facet but one: we would not broadcast a portrayal of Muhammad.

In that regard, did we censor the show? Yes, we did. But if you hold Comedy Central’s 15-year track record up against any other network out there, you’ll find that we afford our talent the most creative freedom and provide a nurturing atmosphere that challenges them to be bold and daring and places them in a position to constantly break barriers and push the envelope. The result has been some of the most provocative television ever produced.

We would like nothing more than to be able to look back at this in a few years and think that perhaps we overreacted. Unfortunately, to have made a different decision and to look back and see that we completely underestimated the damage that resulted was a risk we were not willing to take.

Our pledge to you, our loyal viewers, is that Comedy Central will continue to produce and provide the best comedy available and we will continue to push it right to the edge, using and defending the First Amendment in the most responsible way we know how.

Sincerely,
Comedy Central Viewer Services}

If that’s true – and I don’t know whether it is or not – the Southpark treatment isn’t surprising. It’s a gutless network, and not a bright one at that.

Incidentally, terrorists suck and we should kill them all.

Networks are not in the information or entertainment business, they are in the advertising business. Get used to it. If you want uncensored content you will have to go elsewhere.

Because of all that brouhaha I caught the double episode in reruns Sunday night. If one had not known in advance that Comedy Central had forbidden the depiction of the Prophet, it would have been impossible to have construed the comedy as having been censored. Indeed the Prophet’s depiction was what the episodes were about. In this instance he was shown as a black rectangle (an echo of the rock at Mecca).

The story was about how it is possible for activists to cause the cancelation of an entire show by using the thin end of a wedge, protesting a single episode. The vulnerable show in question was The Family Guy. It was saved by manatees. You would have to see it to get it.

There was no evidence of gutlessness seen by this viewer. South Park proved it was much cleverer than any self-censoring bans its studio’s suits could impose on it. But then, we knew that already.

Before you call it “gutless gutting” I would encourage you to see it. You will not be outraged. You’ll laugh.

Regards

So the opening credits now serve the dual purpose of a beautiful sophomoric stunt by Parker and Stone as well as hanging the network on a technicality anyway.

It’s all moot anyway. Muhammed was inserted into the show’s opening credits in the second show of this season and has been there since. So, psych!