Norman Lear to Co-Write'South Park'

Orange Co. Register ^ | Mar 12, 6:59 PM EST | ANTHONY BREZNICAN

[tophat9000]

Mar 12, 6:59 PM EST

Norman Lear to Co-Write'South Park'

By ANTHONY BREZNICAN AP Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Archie Bunker, meet Cartman.

Norman Lear, the Emmy-winning producer of "All in the Family," said Wednesday he will collaborate on several episodes of the Comedy Central satire "South Park."

Among the subjects he hopes to mock on the show are the U.S. push for war in Iraq, reality TV shows and immigration.

"This is a show that always has something on its mind - as funny as it is, as outrageous and ridiculous," said Lear, who began watching "South Park" several years ago with his 14-year-old son.

Lear, 80, is best known for such politically charged comedies in the 1970s as "All in the Family," "Sanford and Son," "Maude" and "The Jeffersons," which confronted issues such as abortion, racial prejudice and anti-Semitism.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who created the cartoon world of "South Park" and voice most of the characters, said they became friends with Lear by appearing alongside him on panels to discuss censorship and the challenges of producing controversial programming.

"We just love his company and love people who have an opinion about things," Parker said.

Since its debut in 1997, "South Park" has made fun of religious extremism and genetic engineering anong many other issues while chronicling the antics of tubby, embittered Cartman, level-headed Kyle, nervous Stan and perpetually killed Kenny as they revolt against their parents and teachers.

The new season starts March 19 (10 p.m. EST) on the cable channel

[tophat9000]

crap

[Conspiracy Guy]

Lear will just F it up.

[Judith Anne]

Oh, CRAP! (great minds...)

[Cosmo]

I thought these guys claimed to be republicans!
.Lear is only going to ruin the show. The reason All in the Family was funny was that , to Lear's Chagrin, Archie was right about 90% of the time.

[rockrr]

Well that tears it!
Bring back Beavis & Butthead!

[mhking]

Can you say "Jump the Shark?"

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[PfromHoGro]

Ditto. It was a good show.

[Pokey78]

Cartman to Trey Parker and Matt Stone upon hearing of this: "Screw you guys, I'm going home!"

[lawgirl]

they might agree on the issue of censorship, but the creators of south park are libertarians and lear is one of the biggest hollywood liberals ever. It will be interesting to see how that plays out in the plot lines.

[FreeTally]

I hope he doesn't screw it up. Some of the episodes written by Matt and Trey weren't that funny, so who knows what will happen.

[EggsAckley]

I'll see your crap and add a "sh!t"

[FreeTally]

Bring back Beavis & Butthead!

Hell, bring back "Family Guy", "The Critic" and "Daria" as well.

[xm177e2]

politically incorrect libertarian perspective attacking entrenched icons of mushy moderate left-wingism = funny

liberal moralizing = not funny

[Maceman]

Screw you guys. I'm going home.

[js1138]

It will be interesting to see how that plays out in the plot lines.

If I were them I would get him to write one of the characters and then stick it to him.

[elfman2]

" but the creators of south park are libertarians "

Nope, I thought so too for awhile, but they call themselves Republicans.

[KellyAdmirer]

Lear hasn't had a hit in decades. In the old days he would have gotten his own pilot on the air to spout his views, now he has to glom onto others' hit shows. He represents all that is bad about Hollywood liberals trying to remake their world in their own, out-of-date images.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Yes, both "Maude" and "South Park" dealt with abortion, but "Maude" was pro-abortion and "South Park" was anti-abortion. Yes, both "All in the Family" and "South Park" have dealt with racism, but Sammy kissed Archie to show he was a bigot but "South Park" named their one black kid "Token" to show the idiocy of the current "inclusiveness".

Lear may enjoy satire, but he and the boys of "South Park" have different ideas of what needs to be skewered.

[Hacksaw]

they might agree on the issue of censorship, but the creators of south park are libertarians and lear is one of the biggest hollywood liberals ever. It will be interesting to see how that plays out in the plot lines.

Lear is also the founder of People for the American Way, most famous for malicious smearing of juducal nominees (like Bork and Estrada, Pickering, etc...)

His eventual death will be hell's gain.

[gaijin]

What a LET DOWN!

I think that's the only TV show I like, outside of "Wings" and The History Channel.

I guess they feel their popularity sliding...?

Why else would two trusty mavericks court the favor of such a slimy INSIDER..?

UGH...