Things we found out in sessions featuring Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the creators of Comedy Central’s profound, profane animated hit series “South Park” (at 9 p.m. Wednesdays), while here for the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival:
– When the two approached soul sensation Isaac Hayes about voicing the role of Chef, the cook at foul-mouthed 3rd graders’ Kyle, Stan, Kenny and Cartman’s elementary school, Parker said to him, ” `Isaac, you’re this big fat black guy, and you’re the only black guy in town, and because you’re black, you sing all the sexual songs.’ Isaac said, `Okay.’ “
– The boys have a philosophy on charges that “South Park” is the wrong influence for children (they have repeatedly said the show is for mature audiences): “I think there’s a lot worse stuff they are watching,” said Parker, 28. “If I had kids, I’d rather they be watching `South Park’ than `Full House’ . . . you want your kids to grow up with a brain.”
– In a very early version of “The Spirit of Christmas,” the short animated video that launched Parker and Stone’s career, the character of “big-boned” Cartman was originally Kenny, the kid who dies in every episode; in this version, he dies at the tentacles of a mutant Frosty the Snowman.
– Stone, 26, considers Cartman the “most fun” character on the series (Cartman “has become such a force of nature,” he said). Parker added that no one has to worry about the two running out of ideas, because they could just focus on Cartman, who “we’d need 20 years to explain.”
– Plans in various stages of development: a “South Park” feature-length movie; an album with Chef singing duets with big-name recording stars like Ozzy Osborne and Fiona Apple; and a home video game from Acclaim Entertainment. The first six episodes of the series are expected to be available on video in May.
– The two gave major props to “The Simpsons,” which Parker said is “way better than our show . . . we obviously couldn’t have done this four years ago . . . they opened the door for us.”
– Parker and Stone did a viciously funny Barbra Streisand episode (their favorite), in which the superstar turned into a rampaging, Godzilla-like killer monster — but still had time to sign autographs. The two still haven’t forgiven Streisand for her strong support of boycotting their native Colorado a few years ago because the state approved an anti-gay rights amendment.
Streisand recently said she thought the episode was funny, but Stone thought she had to say that “or else she’d look like a (witch).”
– The boys originally pitched Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo — the miraculous, toilet-bowl-dwelling holiday elf — to Comedy Central as a series before the idea for “South Park.” Parker said that when deciding which network to work with, they went with Comedy Central because when he asked, “How do you feel about talking poo?” a C.C. executive exclaimed, “Love it!”
They’ll stay with Comedy Central because, according to Parker, “we knew we could make the show we wanted to make. The reason the show works is because we don’t follow any rules.”
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– The two originally didn’t think much of the Christmas and Thanksgiving episodes, which feature Mr. Hankey and Starvin’ Marvin the Ethiopian boy, respectively. Arguably the episodes are among the best in the series, but “our favorite episodes are exactly everyone’s least favorite,” Stone said.
– The guys promise Mr. Hankey will make another appearance. Howdy ho!
The identity of Cartman’s father was finally revealed this past Wednesday in the episode cryptically entitled, “Cartman Finds Out the Identity of His Dad.” Relive the beautiful moment at 9 p.m. Saturday on Comedy Central. New episodes of the series begin May 20.
Talk that talk
Adele Givens has returned to her hometown in a new forum. She’s starring in “Talk Show Live!” a new stage play co-produced by Yvette Lee Bowser, the creator of Fox’s “Living Single,” and the creator and producer of the new NBC Tuesday night comedy “For Your Love.”
Givens, a sassy and incisive comedian who gained fame for her raunchy appearances on HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam,” essays the role of Aunt Tee in the stage production. It’s a takeoff on the popularity of racy, raucous daytime talk shows, which, thanks to Jerry Springer’s slug-fests masquerading as talk, have gained a special notoriety in the last few months.
Also appearing in “Talk Show Live!” is Arthel Neville, former host of “The Arthel & Fred Show” and “Extra.” The show runs through Sunday at the Arie Crown Theater. Tickets are available at the box office or by phone, at 312-559-1212.
Tip the hat
Let’s give a hearty congratulations to Mike Siegel, a former Chicago standup comedian who won a six-figure sitcom development deal by NBC.
Siegel, a very witty guy, has plied his comedy trade for the last seven years and was a welcome addition to the local ranks when he performed at such clubs as the Improv and the Funny Firm.
The comic will meet with writers to either create his own sitcom, or appear in a pilot that could lead to a series.
Siegel, who caught the eye of network executives while doing some good work at last year’s Montreal International Comedy Festival, has spent recent years as a video DJ for VH1.