Boycott of South Park's "Bloody Mary" gives it 6 times normal audience

[SirLemming]

OWNED.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2006/02/23/boycott-southpark-ratings.html


An appeal from the Catholic Church for New Zealanders to boycott an episode of South Park has resulted in a record audience there for the controversial cartoon.
The "Bloody Mary" episode of South Park drew more than six times the normal audience, New Zealand broadcaster TV Works announced Thursday.
The episode, which aired Wednesday night, was seen by 210,000 viewers, according to Rick Friesen, the broadcaster's chief operating officer.
"I expected a bit of a rise, but not that much," he told the Associated Press.
In the past month, he said, an average South Park episode typically draws about 32,500 viewers to the network's C4 youth channel.
During Wednesday night's broadcast, however, more than 350 people protested outside the TV Works headquarters in Auckland.
...

The funny thing is that it's pretty much one of the worst episodes ever.

[Peter Paltridge]

I don't think it's one of the worst ever, but it's definately not one of the best.

Nevertheless, "There's no such thing as bad publicity."

[The Myst]

The funny thing is that it's pretty much one of the worst episodes ever.

I loved that episode. My parents were in AA and NA for years and always told me stories about the nutjobs there and the twelve steps and everything so that could be why I found it so funny though. The majority of it was kind of in-jokes.

[SirLemming]

I knew I shouldn't have said that. Let's try not to dwell on it.

[Conan-san]

Oh? What's that I hear? Is it the game over music?
What's this? You can still play?!

Then guess what, Extremeist types?

FISSION MAILED!

[SirLemming]

I guess they figured, "Those Islamic extremists tried it and that worked out real great for them, right?"

[Dark Fact]

This has to the proverbial middle finger to the entire Catholic league! I can't wait to hear their response to this! :D

[havokpryde]

I guess they figured, "Those Islamic extremists tried it and that worked out real great for them, right?"
Your comparing a riot which killed people, burned several buildings, and put bounties on the heads of the cartoonist to a peaceful demonstration? Did they burn down the studio over there? Are people dead? Then why the label extremists?

This is the flip side to freedom of speech, the part no one seems to acknowledge, that people who disagree with you also have a right to make their views known. Granted it wasn't successful, as these these usually aren't, but they made their view known, just as creator's of South Park did.

[Doopliss]

Really? I haven't even seen that episode yet. :ack:

[Dark Fact]

This is the flip side to freedom of speech, the part no one seems to acknowledge, that people who disagree with you also have a right to make their views known. Granted it wasn't successful, as these these usually aren't, but they made their view known, just as creator's of South Park did.
Except the catholic league also demanded that the episode be perma-banned on national TV and on future DVD releases. They were overstepping their boundary by trying to pull Comedy Central's strings.

[havokpryde]

Except the catholic league also demanded that the episode be perma-banned on national TV and on future DVD releases. They were overstepping their boundary by trying to pull Comedy Central's strings.
There is no boundary, they are free to call for boycotts and they are free to seek speak their minds. Whether or not companies/government listen to them is another story, but to label the extremists? Like I said this is the part of the First Ammendment people have a hard time acknowledging, the freedom of people to speak unpopular views or views that contradict yours.

[SAMaine]

Boycotts against violence DO NOT WORK!!!

Boycotts WITH violence, however, do.

[SirLemming]

Your comparing a riot which killed people, burned several buildings, and put bounties on the heads of the cartoonist to a peaceful demonstration? Did they burn down the studio over there? Are people dead? Then why the label extremists? Holy CRAP. It was a JOKE.

Actually, I don't even have to hide behind that old defense, because the entire basis of my joke was the exaggeration. Obviously they didn't do anything as bad as those Islamic extremists who protested a cartoon; that was the whole point. "It turned out great for them, right?" Of course it didn't. Cue laughter.

[Dark Fact]

There is no boundary, they are free to call for boycotts and they are free to seek speak their minds. Whether or not companies/government listen to them is another story, but to label the extremists? Like I said this is the part of the First Ammendment people have a hard time acknowledging, the freedom of people to speak unpopular views or views that contradict yours.
I'm talking about the boundary in working to ensure that the episode never gets seen again. They can boycott it all they want.

[CookieS]

I love that the show has sold fetuses, ground-up parents for chilli, featured child abuse by NAMBLA & Michael Jackson, and THIS episode was their breaking point. Go Catholics go! LOL.

I really wonder how strong of a boycott it will be. Afterall, do devout Catholics even watch Comedy Central? With Dave Chappell, Crank Yankers, and a slew of stand-up, South Park isn't the only show coming into conflict with their morality. What a joke.

[SirLemming]

Indeed, they seem kinda late on the bandwagon. With all the other stuff on TV, South Park actually comes off looking like a very moral show. I mean, have they seen Drawn Together?

[SAMaine]

Basically, boycotting anything you wouldn't watch or buy DOES NOT work! Only an avid fan of the company's products starting a boycott with other avid fans will make a boycott work.

[fabalafae]

now thats why i can't stand south park. :mad:

lord have mercy