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Fate, It Seems, Is Not Without a Sense of Irony

By Steven Lloyd Wilson | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (11)

butters.jpg

A couple of years ago the “South Park” episode “Canada on Strike” satirized internet viral videos, focusing in particular on the boys getting Butters to star in a video ripping off “What What In The Butt.” The motivation behind their video is to make a lot of money, assuming that naturally if a million people watch a video on YouTube, the creator must get rich, right? In an absolutely inspired scene, the boys end up in a waiting room with the stars of other viral videos, each waiting (indefinitely) for their payout of money from the Internet.

In a move assuring the world that they have not the slightest concept of irony, the creators of “What What In The Butt” are suing Viacom and Comedy Central for stealing the idea behind their video. Yes, “South Park” satirized their video as the apex of people thinking that they are entitled to money for posting idiotic videos of themselves online and so now they are suing to get exactly that money.

It reminds me of the (probably overly simplified) explanation of libel from The People vs. Larry Flynt, in which if the depiction in question would not be believed as true by anyone who knows the “victim,” then it can’t possibly be libel. These guys are trying to strike out on the other side of the law by demonstrating that it can’t be libel if it actually is demonstrably true.

Of course it’s possibly too much to ask for sanity from these guys, who have been claiming for years that a What What (In the Butt): The Movie is in the works. I’m sure it’ll be a touching romantic comedy with a talking dog. Since Justin Bieber got his start on YouTube, he’ll probably play the dog. They’ll have to teach him to talk though.

The other funny thing? If you’ve ever endured the original video, you’d note that it satirizes the iconic rose petals scene from American Beauty. So their basic legal argument is that “South Park” was trying to kidnap what they had rightfully stolen. Inconceivable!

(source: IGN)









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Comments

this is another example of our litigious society

Posted by: BigTodd at November 16, 2010 10:08 AM

The episode was two years ago. The singer/songwriter appeared on Comedy Central twice already promoting his song and brand through Tosh.O. I highly doubt the courts will be kind to this claim when the episode came out two years ago and one of the creators was willing to earn money off of his appearances on the network that aired it. If he wanted to sue, he should have refused the Comedy Central appearances. Even then, the case is shaky as South Park has gotten away with a whole lot of satire/parody before even when the subject was royally pissed and sue-happy. Idiots.

Posted by: Robert at November 16, 2010 10:14 AM

WHY IS MARY LOUISE PARKER HAVING NAKED SEX ON "WEEDS" WHEN I HAVEN'T BEEN WATCHING??

Posted by: Rykker at November 16, 2010 10:14 AM

right Robert.I mean if the wackos in Scientology aren't suing what what is a nut

Posted by: BigTodd at November 16, 2010 10:16 AM

I am not at all familiar with the WWitB video. Didn't Carol Burnett lose her lawsuit over the use of her charwoman character? I think she had a much stronger case than these yahoos and if she didn't win, then surely they won't either.

Posted by: elsie at November 16, 2010 12:24 PM

"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. "

Except in this case of course, you're spot on.

Have fun storming the courtroom!

Posted by: Groundloop at November 16, 2010 1:00 PM

Sigh. I'm old enough to remember the glory days of "MAD" magazine, in every issue they'd brutally satirize a popular movie & TV show while using only slightly exaggerated depictions of the actual actors & actresses. Everyone laughed and thought it was funny, including the actors themselves.

Satire is dying. Fewer and fewer people are even capable of grasping it today, accustomed as they are to being hammered over the head with endless "in-your-face" dick & fart jokes.

Posted by: A Boy Named Sue at November 16, 2010 2:24 PM

So their basic legal argument is that “South Park” was trying to kidnap what they had rightfully stolen. Inconceivable!

Apple v. Microsoft - they both stole their UI from Xerox / PARC.

Posted by: BierceAmbrose at November 16, 2010 3:27 PM

I don't know. Was it really satire? I don't remember them ever crediting the folks who made the video, or even mentioning that it wasn't original to the show. I get that it's supposed to be mocking, but it almost comes off like joke theft, if unintentional. I'm willing to give Trey Parker and Matt Stone the benefit of the doubt because I know they're smart and have integrity, but that episode never sat well with me for how much it seemed to just use other people's jokes.

Posted by: Lucas at November 17, 2010 1:16 AM

This is the dumbest lawsuit since fat people tried to sue McDonald's for making them fat. It better be thrown out of court. If this even goes to trial, I'm going to be pissed.

Posted by: Littlejon2001 at November 17, 2010 1:30 AM

Cheers! I'm pissed already. And it's quite early in the morning, depending on where you are.

Posted by: Ender at November 17, 2010 8:36 AM