Rob Schneider and South Park: The Mel Gibson Connection, Part II

Any “existential” debate over the Mel Gibson debacle/fiasco, but especially one that bases its findings on advertisements paid for by Rob Schneider and Comedy Central respectively, is a stupid one, and in this case: a downright, skull bludgeoning offensive on the unassuming senses of Joe Internet a-searching for his web content while he should be working, fishing, reading or doing something creatively, decisively constructive (another story all together though). Why Joe Internet would want to read about this, essentially a meaningless rant about the absurd Mel Gibson meltdown that the author is so unimpressively consumed by, is beyond said author. Said author makes no qualms about the disgustingly attractive nature of this sexy story (and many others), or his shameless use of adverbs, or his newfound and easily abandoned schizophrenic writing style, or the defenselessness of most bigots (easy target syndrome), or (insert any reprehensible or insulting findings here). The wretched fact remains that a combination of these very elements is most likely the grimy residue of a faÃ?§ade (a guise to mask the fact that said author has nothing good to say) that makes the author kind of sad. But enough about me, let’s get into Part II of Jetlag Democracy’s “Rob Schneider and South Park: The Mel Gibson Connection.”

Two full-page ads in the horrid Hollywood publication VarietyâÂ?¦ this is what I will use to dissect how the public sees Mel Gibson these days. I will use these seemingly similar anti-Gibson ads to make my point about Mel Gibson Fiasco POV #1 and Mel Gibson Fiasco POV #2, as per Part I of this series, “Awakening vs. Plight: An Introduction.” Please use this article as a resource if necessary.

The South Park Ad and Confirmation of Mel Gibson Fiasco POV #1

The South Park ad, developed by Comedy Central and not South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, shows the four central characters standing in front of L. Ron Hubbard’s Scientology Center under the heading, “C’mon JewsâÂ?¦show them who really runs Hollywood.” At first glance, the ad (which came out only a few days after the Mel Gibson debacle) appears to take a shot at Gibson and “The Incident.” But in reality the advertisement was a congratulation of sorts because the controversial South Park episode, “Trapped in the Closet,” had recently been nominated for an Emmy. What does this have to do with actual Jews and Mel Gibson? Nothing at all, and that’s the point. While South Park has made fun of “The Passion of the Christ” and Mel Gibson (he spread his poop on a door in the biting episode “The Passion of the Jew”), this ad was a reference to the Scientology episode and its elusion to what I’ll call “fake bigotry.” In turn, “fake bigotry” sums everything you need to know about Mel Gibson Fiasco POV #1, namelyâÂ?¦

Everything is funny, everything can be made fun of, and everyone’s soul is worthy of redemption, no matter what happens. South Park made a sweeping reference about Jews in a “funny ha ha” kind of way, but a reference nonetheless. Any proprietors of this mindset must believe in the Christian aesthetic known as “the savior” or “Jesus.” This is the word of the Lord.

The Rob Schneider Ad and the Confirmation of Mel Gibson Fiasco POV #2

Contrastingly, Rob Schneider purchased ad space to display a very conscious and deliberate message about and against Mel Gibson. In an open letter to Variety and its readers, the star of such American classics as the Deuce Bigalow movies, wrote, “I, Rob Schneider, a 1/2 Jew, pledge from this day forward to never work with Mel Gibson, actor-director-producer and anti-SemiteâÂ?¦ Even if Mr. Gibson offered me the lead role in Passion of the Christ 2, I, like Bernie Brillstein*, would have to say ‘NO!’âÂ?¦ even if Gibson had a juicy voiceover role in his new flick Apocalypto and I spoke ancient Mayan, I, like Bernie Brillstein would still have to say ‘NO!'” Schneider also went on to say, among many other things, that Gibson’s father was the “Mad Max of Holocaust deniers.” Fairly vindictive stuff, but with one important thing in common to the content that led to the Confirmation of Mel Gibson Fiasco POV #1: the importance of humor. The only glaring difference between the two ads is where they place Mel Gibson’s soul. South Park thinks it can be saved and Rob Schneider, well, Rob Schneider is having visions of eternal hellfire with Mel Gibson’s head on a stick.

Conclusion

I concluded Part I of this series with a question, “when is a joke not a joke when it’s about something serious?” The answer to that inquiry is this: never. Everything is funny. Most harsh criticism and scathing political and social commentary exists for one reason: humor. Not for the benefit of the reader, but for the author. For instance, take this two part series. If you actually just read, word for word, both segments of an article entitled “Rob Schneider and South Park: The Mel Gibson,” then I’ve won. And if you happen to be one of the retards that called my “Passion of the Anti-Semite” piece “intolerant crap,” then I’ve really won. Because in the immortal words of that nameless dude who commented on “The Passion of the Anti-Semite” postâÂ?¦ “this article is stupid.”

Yes, indeed it is, stupid like a fox.