This is bigger than the war in Iraq! More significant that global warming!
I just couldn’t sit still for another moment! I’m writing a commentary on the whole South Park/Hayes quitting/Scientology debacle.
Don’t ask me why I’ve been keeping an eye on this story. I’m not really sure. Maybe because I’m watching all of these sides of the story being told, but for some reason the story that I perceive (that no one is giving or even offering as commentary) seems blatantly obvious to me.
The Scientologists are saying Hayes did not have a stroke (as some claimed he did) and he orchestrated the choice of getting out of his contract.
Others are claiming that Hayes had a stroke and then Scientology reps quit on his behalf.
Matt & Trey are being surprisingly quiet except to reiterate Hayes’ public statement and to offer a message from the Scientologist nemesis alien Xenu.
I’ve been tracking the story from another angle.
Who wins by Isaac Hayes leaving South Park?
1. Matt & Trey/South Park/ Comedy Central: Did anyone notice they announced all this a week before the 10th season started? And just as Season 7 was coming out on DVD? The first episode from season ten aired last week and it had the best ratings SP has seen in years. If Hayes was really ticked off about the “Trapped in the Closet” episode, wouldn’t he have quit after the episode aired? Maybe, but why not quit and help your friends out, too, by creating controversy and increasing publicity just as the new season starts?
2. Isaac Hayes: Chef was not really used in the last season, and while his contract paid the bills, it might have also been holding him back from getting other work. Artists need to create, and if Hayes wasn’t doing much at SP, then he probably felt the urge to move on. Additionally, this also helps him look solid to his Scientology group, by leaving in the aftermath of the “Trapped in the Closet” episode.
3. Scientology (aka: “That Fruity Little Club”): By Hayes quitting, in their eyes it looks like they were able to stay in power in the situation without having to sue, which is their typical M.O. but was already severely lampooned on the show. So instead, they took Hayes. Like, it’s as if they said, “Haha… We showed you South Park! No Hayes for you, anymore!”
But what it really did was just confirm for us all that this Fruity Little Club is really just a Fruity Little Club. If they were as powerful and as solid as they say they are, and their teachings worthy of large population that currently follows their doctrine, then why would they need to bother with shutting down a comedy show? And besides, everybody knows that if the funny guy makes fun of you and you complain, the funny guy (in this case, guys) are just going make fun of you some more. It’s like adding fuel to the fire.
I, for one, am happy about all this because South Park got a ratings boost, Hayes left a show he really wasn’t doing much on anyway, and that Fruity Little Club got called out for the lame intimidators they are. And now it is SUCH a hot topic of discussion that SO MANY people are talking about it and it’s impossible to contain the conversation by suing every person speaking out.
BTW, I dedicate this post to a friend of mine who went to the Fruity Little Club Castle for a “free” acting seminar (with a celebrity host) and was locked in to seminar room for several hours by FLC officials because she refused to give them her credit card number. She said it was one of the scariest moments of her life.
