Deseret News | Reader comments: 'South Park' creators trying 'Mormon Musical'

Reader comments
'South Park' creators trying 'Mormon Musical'

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Great | 12:39 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

That sounds hilarious... I am excited to see it. As an LDS person I know we have created a culture that is very easy to be made fun of.

It's too bad the lead has already been casted, I would love to have a chance at it.

kjco | 4:15 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

just a factual error: They picketed at temples in more than three states.

John in Georgia | 5:51 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

Again the "tolerance" double standard rears it's ugly head. Are there any doubts a musical making fun of gays, blacks, or Jews wouldn't cause wide-spread protests? It's not the first time Stone and Parker have attacked missionaries either - remember the missionary "porn" movie they made a few years ago? It's very easy to make fun of the beliefs of others, apparently it's not so easy to decide if you actually should.

Comments continue below

curious | 6:27 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

How does it sound hilarious?

I mean, the article didn't even give a plot or storyline. I mean, it MIGHT be funny, but how do you know?

All I know about it is that it's in the works.

nottyou | 6:31 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

Who said, "Bad press is better than no press at all." The more attention is drawn to the LDS Church, the more people searching for the truth will find it.

Kitchy | 6:35 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

I have nothing against good clean fun when making fun of the peculiarity of others but South Park is trash. The few times I've watched it, it has been filthy and that kind of humor is not funny, in my opinon. It speaks of a weak minded person who hasn't the intelligence to be really funny. I know this show is popular but it just speaks of how far people have lowered themselves. Making fun of Mormons is okay but to try and bring filth into it isn't. These men are base who produce this nasty stuff.

Sanity | 6:37 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

I'd rather see wicked.

Arrogance | 6:56 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

In Matt Stone's interviews, he comes across as arrogant and elitist by making fun of people who actually work.

Johanan | 7:01 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

JST John 15:18
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
JST John 15:19
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
JST John 15:20
20 Remember the word that I said unto you. The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
JST John 15:21
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
JST John 15:22
22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin; but now they have no cloak for their sin.

Carolyn | 7:10 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

This is a peculiar thing because I have seen a few of South Park's shows and they tend to make fun of Mormons and Joseph Smith. So are they going to use this as a forum to mock the LDS church?
Carolyn, Altoona, Pa.

Ricki | 7:18 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

I cannot wait to see it and will defend my first amendment right to do so.

I'll Pass | 7:26 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

Sounds about as interesting as a roadshow.

But, mark my words, several hundred suckers eager to show support for Mormon-bashing will pay $300-500 for tickets during the first and only day of its ill-fated run. Then, once it ignominiously folds, there will be the usual complaints that the Church -- rather than a couple of no-talent hacks with an axe to grind -- killed the play.

These clowns are so predictable!

don't worry | 7:28 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

Mormons (including me) need a ribbing now and again. I liked the Mormon episode of South Park - it was factually accurate, and the moral of the story was that Mormons might believe some crazy-sounding stuff but they are usually nice people.

We might as well have a sense of humor about it, because this sort of thing is not going away, regardless of our reaction.

good news | 7:34 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

don't worry about arrogant south park guys-they have made and kept MILLIONS over the past 8 years while you have gone deeper and deeper in debt. I bet they LOVE what the conservative side has done for them financially.

To Ricki: | 7:49 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

Why would you need to defend your first amendment rights, who says the show is not going to be shown.

hmm | 7:52 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

I just hope they focus on the culture rather than the doctrine. Any attacks on LDS beliefs is a low blow. Just as their attacks on Scientologists are. I definitely believe we have to be able to laugh at ourselves, and I often am able to do so, especially when people make light of Mormon CULTURE. But when people maliciously attack the very doctrine of various religions that in no way affect them, that's what we call full-on bigotry.

Angie W | 7:53 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

What a waste of good talent. Why don't they do something that truly inspires? The fathers of Broadway are rolling in their graves.

Angie
New York, NY

DT in Mo | 7:58 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

It looks like they have run out of original ideas. As a society we need to come together--United we stand divided we fall.

Anonymous | 7:59 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

There's a saying out there that there's no such thing as bad publicity. Let's just wait to see what the message is at the end. Remember it was a South Park episode that showed everyone in hell and people were wondering which religion was correct, and the devil or his helper said it was the Mormons. I won't get up in arms until I see what it has to say.

Anonymous | 8:03 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

The creators of South Park, eh, how fitting. The only cartoon that takes the name of "The Almighty" in vane more than repetative reruns of Reverend Wright.

Scott in Houston | 8:03 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

I'm a South Park loving Mormon. Sure Matt and Trey have mocked us, but they've been nicer to us than to any other religion..and they have Joseph Smith as one of the "Super Best Friends" with Jesus, Mohammed, Moses, etc. I'll take Matt and Trey over Huckabee et al.

Been there, done that | 8:05 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

Have Matt Stone and Trey Parker ever heard of "Saturday's Voyeur"?

Tough to swallow | 8:16 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

Satire is often funny because its true. The lampoon of Scientology was embarrassing for Scientology because, well, Scientology is embarrassing.

Ned | 8:20 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

Ricki, you crack me up.....

I can hear little kids yelling at each other: "Git off my proppity...It's a free country, I can do whatever I want...."

Texas LDS | 8:21 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." - Mahatma Gandhi

We should all rejoice: they don't ignore us any more. We're one step closer to winning.

Heaven Help Us All | 8:21 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

I think that pretty much sums it up.

Seattle Guy | 8:27 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

The South Park guys have already shown that they can't put anything good together. I mean poorly animated characters and lame story lines, Yawn. I mean, do they think that South Park fans actually watch musicals? They probably are too lazy to make to the fridge.
As far as them mocking the church....maybe we should protest and threaten them! LOL!....Then make a musical about it!

Jon | 8:28 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

Dude, Ricki, why so defensive? You "will defend (your) first amendment right to do so," but is your right being taken away somehow? Why do you think you'll need to defend your right? Oh, I get it, it's because you think that since The Church will probably release a statement expressing their displeasure with the whole thing that they're somehow taking away your right. Like the gays in California who think that since The Church expressed their disagreement with gay marriage they somehow took away their rights--Reasoning 101 class is two doors down, bucky.

Re: I'll Pass | 8:39 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

You nailed it. This show will last for about......hmmmmm........for as long as haters pay the money to go see it. I chatted with a guy who made outrageous claims about the LDS faith. I asked him where he got his information and he said from watching South Park. Yeah, that's where I go to get facts about anything lol. They don't realize that when people are seeking the truth these types of false attackes only help the Church and the people seeking the truth. It may get a moments laugh from some but when the show is over people will ponder it and know that it is not accurate. Except, of course, for the haters. We can only pray for them.

R.Hunter | 8:42 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

And the persecution of the LDS continues......

Ute Fans? | 8:43 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

I bet the south park creators are ute fans.

Ernest T. Bass | 8:51 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

They should excommunicate everyone who didn't donate to Prop H8.
If mormons are associated with this play or see it, they should be excommunicated as well.

Let's see | 8:53 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

The last time these guys made an anti-Mormon production, it failed. Entirely.

South Park continues to slip into oblivion as a show that is meaningless and tame by today's standards.

Forgive me, but, "meh". Some entertainment biz big shot who is increasingly irrelevant doesn't like Mormons. Yawn.

LVIS | 8:55 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

Meh!

Oops. Wrong show.

About time | 8:56 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

Think Matt and Trey are "hacks"? They've won several awards for South Park. They aren't afraid to show Atheist, Liberal Hollywood Actors, Jews, Catholics, Muslims or any group that thinks they are "holier than thou". Many Mormons share the "holier than thou" attitude (although, I don't think the church itself does). South Park is the best show on TV for it's brave and un-politically correct take on current events (with the nerve to actually show the profit Mohammad image on TV - twice, ok once - you had to watch the internet version to see the 2nd). What the only "sometimes" watchers miss is the moral message at the end of each episode that illuminates the society misjudgments. It is often very clever at getting the point across. Each character represents a faction of society and stereo type. The show is much deeper than it appears on the surface. I myself find me squirming in some episodes - it's an equal opportunity offender. Freedom of speech means you sometimes won't like what you hear. Applicable to all.

why care? | 8:57 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

The church will always be under this kind of attack because the church doesn't care. Have fun and watch the play die on Broadway.

Mike R. | 8:57 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

Sounds like another attempt to channel the old movie, "Trapped by the Mormons". The usual drivel and tripe. Who cares?

Mark | 9:09 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

Stone and Parker do like to make fun of the LDS church, but we LDS have to remember, that we like to make fun of ourselves too. There is a whole movie industry in Utah wholly devoted to making fun of Mormons by Mormons. True the works of Stone and Parker are way more crude, but how can we praise one and curse the other? It's two sides of the same stick, right?

Shoe on the other foot? | 9:13 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

I wonder how the gay community would feel if someone did a show lampooning things that were important and sensitive to them and did it with offensive language. No...I know what their reaction would be. Why then is it OK to do it to Mormons???

kris | 9:38 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

South Park is trash. I have never liked the show. I don't see how they think that this will get them better ratings or more viewers.

Re: Texas LDS | 8:21 a.m | 9:40 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

Since when is religion a contest?

Maybe you should get Bob Barker to host because the Price is Wrong!

You can try to "rejoice" but it's not going to make you feel better about the bigoted decisions you make.

jack | 9:43 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

Freedom of speech and freedom of expression are very much part of our constitution. The only advice I give is to have fun but not to mock God...the Mormon church went thru hard and worse times in history. What is going on now are just small potatoes...and they will go away.

wet 10 | 9:43 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

There is a difference between being un-politically correct and being costic, prejudice and cruel. South Park is clearly the latter, with foul and abusive language weaved throughouot. Many people justify, or at the least, dismiss South Park's prejudice as tolerable since they degrade every race and religion. Equal dissemination of prejudice does not mitigate the prejudice itself.

Brenden | 9:45 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

Satire has its place, I suppose, but I will never understand why acerbic, biting, intentionally offensive material is considered humorous. Apparently it is OK to say whatever you want in the name of getting a laugh, as long as there is some trite little message at the end to tidy up the mess. A spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down, huh? Thanks, but I'd rather have the medicine without sugar that has been reconstituted from raw sewage.

It has been noted by others that just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. Spencer Kimball counseled that just because something is true doesn't mean it is appropriate. I'm afraid that in this case, ability, opportunity, truth and appropriateness are all likely to take a severe beating in the name of "comedy" and profit, while any proffered light at the end will be tenuous and insubstantial at best.

"Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own"--Jonathan Swift

RE: Mark | 9:52 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

Ah, yes, Halestorm Productions. Agreed 120%. I fully doubt South Park will do any damage to Mormonism above and beyond what we've already done to ourselves by actually watching The RM, The Home Teachers, Singles Ward, Church Ball, etc., etc. It's only encouraged other people to try to make more of that tripe.

Can anyone persuade Kurt Hale to try making an insightful, intelligent movie about Mormons for once in his life? We'd do ourselves a HUGE favor.

Todd | 9:56 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

I have seen South Park and I don't think it is the "best show on TV." Hey, Stone and Parker, enjoy making fun of another religion. I will practice my right to not spend the money to see their show. I would rather nobody make fun of a religion.

Anonymous | 9:59 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

Team America World police was horrid. I personally did not care for Baseketball.

Parker & Stone are up there w/ Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy) and the creators of the Simpsons in terms of really great satire.

re: Ricky | 10:08 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

I think that you are hoping for something that isn't going to happen. I do not see the Church reacting as some of the gay comunities have.

I think that it is really sad how Hollywood has taken to persecuting the Mormon's - reminds me of the "great and spacious building"

As I said "I think this is sad that people would lower themselves to this degree -

BUT I AM NOT SCARED !!!

Little Guy | 10:21 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

I bet these guys are closet Mormons. Come out of the closet you two!!! Come out and admit you're Mormons!!! Matt, come out and admit you believe it all!!! You two need to come out of the closet and stop acting like a bunch of hate mongering, low-life scum bags! Trey will forgive you, if you will just come out of the closet. We don't buy into your obscene, obscure, and obtuse rantings about Mormons any more than you do. Matt and Trey, COME OUT OF THE CLOSET and admit you LOVE US!

Jessica | 10:21 a.m. Nov. 19, 2008

Can't wait to see this. It will be hilarious. Matt and Trey certainly have some insight into our culture. Never be afraid to laugh at our own culture. There is much fun to be had. Ever heard of green jello, wedding receptions in cultural halls, 3 Nephites, Church basketball, sea-gulls barfing crickets, polygamy, gilgal gardens, the Deseret Alphabet, the Osmonds, etc. etc. etc.

Lighten up people.

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