South Park: “Britney’s New Look”
Well, that was an interesting little parody. Its over the top nature is in step with the coverage of Britney Spears, so we did not mind her walking around with her head missing as to illustrate the point that the paparazzi and media are never, as long as she is walking this earth, going to reward her any privacy. It isn’t the funniest celebrity parody they have done on the series, but it is probably the most apt.
Britney was lucky, her tabloid counterpart really took it on the chin.
We have nothing interesting to add to the topic of celebrity culture in mainly the US and Britain (It’s unnecessary, pointless, etc.), so we don’t want to turn this post into some sort of social commentary. But with the manner in which all coverage is almost cult like of her, we wouldn’t be surprised if there was some untold secret about why Britney Spears and people of her ilk are followed around so vigorously. I mean, the coverage isn’t just informative (or rather, as informative as any of this coverage can be), it’s callous to boot. The episode was pitch perfect in the tone of the coverage and everyday attitudes towards it as well:
Studio guy: She is so stupid.
Kyle: Of course she is, she doesn’t have a brain.
Studio guy: yeah, isn’t she dumb?
Kyle: No, I mean her brain is literally gone!
Studio guy: Yeah, and she’s fat too.
That exchange, in addition to the camel toe and the paparazzi guy pointing intensely at Kyle, Stan and Spears as they attempted to sneak out of the hospital were the only times we recall laughing in the episode, but it was still an interesting take on the subject matter. It’s rare South Park has a decent episode that we didn’t find all that funny, but enjoyed regardless.
Other notes from this episode:
-Does anyone know what movie they were parodying as Britney was making her escape for the north pole and was trapped in the middle of the field with the calm, unflinching mob? We have it stored in the cerebellum somewhere, but are unable to locate it at the moment.
-The opening scene really wet our beak for what has to be the inevitable democratic primary satire. If it is anything like what they did for the 2004 election, then we’ll certainly find it delightful.
-Since the coverage of Britney Spears is so abundant, is there any chance this actually gets recognized by the news media? After the Cartoon Wars episodes, I’m fairly certain Parker and Stone have a free pass on any controversial material and everyone willfully ignores it. The only episode we remember getting any publicity is the Scientology spoofs.
-Maybe this will do for Spears what the SNL sketches did for Clinton. And she can also awkwardly reference it in a public forum.
Enjoyable episode overall. Seldom we are actually interested in the plot of a South Park episode, we were with the “Imaginationland” trilogy, but the story was funny as hell too. This had a few laughs, a fresh angle and since a woman was walking around with the entire top of her head blown off, it was probably the most outlandish episode done as well. In other words, this isn’t making us run out and buy the DVD’s, but definitely keeping our interest.
Off tomorrow, back Monday with some news links or something.
March 24th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
[...] bumpshack wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptIts over the top nature is in step with the coverage of Britney Spears, so we did not mind her walking around with her head missing as to illustrate the point that the paparazzi and media are never, as long as she is walking this earth, … Read the rest of this great post here [...]
March 27th, 2008 at 9:34 am
[...] “Major Boobage” by Christopher Gabel Umm, I think it’s about time to assume that South Park is running out of ideas. I am always hesitant to say that, because it seems like whenever I do, they smack me in the face [...]
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:36 am
[...] I like about South Park is how unaffiliated and indifferent they are with everything. Two weeks ago they mock the paparazzi and the American public for hounding Britney Spears, two weeks later they mock her most ardent [...]