Out of the Closet

For those interested in the South Park Saga, here are a few tidbits and sites. An AP article summarizes the controversial episode:

Last November, "South Park" targeted the Church of Scientology and its celebrity followers, including actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta, in a top-rated episode called "Trapped in the Closet." In the episode, Stan, one of the show's four mischievous fourth graders, is hailed as a reluctant savior by Scientology leaders, while a cartoon Cruise locks himself in a closet and won't come out.

Recently, Isaac Hayes, a practicing Scientologist who is voice of one of the character's, Chef, quit over the episode, claiming it disrespected his religion. Andrew Sullivan's blog, The Daily Dish, also discusses The South Park War.

However, the Guardian Unlimited put it best:

Criticising the hit US television series South Park for being offensive is a bit like criticising Antiques Roadshow for focusing too much on old things. But this has not prevented the soul singer Isaac Hayes from quitting the show in outrage at its treatment of Scientology - ending a nine-year association with a cartoon that has left few other religious or political groups unmocked.

The banned espisode, Trapped in the Closet is available via YouTube. And, if that's not enough,
TayTV Media Blog includes a video of the Letterman interview with Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the creators of South Park, on the subject.