The opening episode of the 10th South Park season arrived with a gut punch. Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators, brought back Chef, the character that Scientologist Isaac Hayes will no longer be voicing due to an episode mocking his religion. The creators brought him back to set him of fire, impale him, shoot him, and attack him by way of mountain lion and grizzly bear to joint the lovable cook. Stone said:
In ten years and over 150 episodes of South Park, Isaac never had a problem with the show making fun of Christians, Muslims, Mormons or Jews. He got a sudden case of religious sensitivity when it was his religion featured on the show.
Chef arrives from traveling the world with the “Super Adventure Club” obviously brainwashed using pieced together pre-recorded lines to profess his love for the children. The kids confront the “Super Adventure Club” when the leader becomes defensive and asks if their group’s beliefs are any more retarded than other religious beliefs. Stan’s retort, “Yeah. Its way, way more retarded”.
At the funeral where the kids announce that some of them are hurt and confused by Chef turning his back on them, they bury his spatula. Meanwhile the members of the “Super Adventure Club” reconstruct Chef into a Darth Vader-like suit much in the way of Revenge of the Sith. Will we see Chef in episodes to come?
