Ah yes, Isaac Hayes. August 20, 1942 - August 10, 2008.
Known as a legendary R&B singer (and admittedly a very good one, back in the day), he made another claim to fame outside his musical career: the voice of Jerome "Chef" McElroy, the overweight cafeteria worker at South Park elementary who, if asked a question relating to sex in some way, will break into inappropriate songs at a moments notice.
And a Scientologist.
Now, don't get me wrong. I respect Scientologists - they have just as much right to believe in Xenu as I (a Buddhist) have to believe in Buddha. However, there are some aspects of the religion which are downright creepy. Case in point, recruitment.
Scientology will prey on customers, suckering them in by convincing them they're depressed. Scientology does have the right to follow as they wish; it's just the depression element that doesn't sit right.
Anyway, they then get their customers to take a series of courses which gradually brainwashes them, convincing them that each time a higher course is taken, they will become less depressed. Eventually, gradually, the courses taken drill into their minds, and they now feel that Scientology is everything; should you diss the religion, you are now the enemy. To me, that's creepy. And unfortunate.
Back to topic - this episode aired 9 days after Isaac Hayes' sudden departure from the series on the basis that Parker & Stone had mocked his personal religion, Scientology. Parker and Stone agreed to the deal, but it wouldn't be without its consequences.
The episode begins with a "previously on South Park" (not a flashback to an actual episode). In this, the boys are distraught to learn that Chef is leaving them for the recently discovered "Super Adventure Club." In this episode, it's announced he's returning to South Park - but at the celebration at Jimbo and Ned's, Chef talks for the first time, and something seems wrong with his voice. It seems wrong, disjointed - not so subtly made up from spliced voice footage from past episodes. The next day, the boys are horrified when Chef starts talking about wanting to have sex with them. Upon investigation, they learn that he's been brainwashed by the Super Adventure Club - a not so subtle parody of Scientology, whose organization is devoted to molesting children. This is based on reports that L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, was a child molester himself, and also accused Jesus of such acts.
Anyway, the boys rescue Chef, and tell him to come back with them, and that they love him - but he can't bring himself to do it, instead beginning to return to the club. On the way, however, he is struck by a lightning bolt, and falls to his very gruesome death. Following a memorial service back in South Park (attended by Elton John, Kathie Lee Gifford and Terrance & Phillip, among others), Chef is reconstructed as "Darth Chef" by the Super Adventure Club, now completely converted.
This episode is brilliant, for a number of reasons. As the audience, you can feel the anger toward Hayes; Parker and Stone obviously aren't happy with his decision, which was a rather hypocritical move, but aren't outright referring to him as such. At the same time, they seem to understand his decisions, famously summed up by Stone:
"(We) never heard a peep out of Isaac in any way until we did Scientology. He wants a different standard for religions other than his own, and to me, that is where intolerance and bigotry begin."
Now, I'll say this. I do respect Scientology, and it is unfortunate that Hayes would die two years after the episode aired. At the same time, though, I can't deny that it was incredibly stupid on his part; after seeing every race, religion and nationality possible mocked for nearly ten years, Hayes quit when it personally offended him. By signing the contract, Hayes agreed to be potentially offended, and so for him to quit not only made him an imbecile, but also cast further doubt on Scientology.
Ultimately, I'm left with very strong feelings about the episode. I'm certainly not amused by the subject matter, but it perfectly dealt with the hypocrisy of Hayes' decision, and was damn well pulled off.moreless
EDIT
Episode Summary
The town is excited when Chef returns to town after world traveling with the "Super Adventure Club," but the boys notice something is different about Chef. It seems that Chef's new sense of adventure has gotten the better of him and the boys try to save him.moreless
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Trey Parker
Voice of Stan Marsh; Eric Theodore Cartman; Herbert Garrison; Officer Barbrady; Terrance; Timmy; Ned Gerblanski; Satan; Randy Ma
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Matt Stone
Voice of Kyle Broflovski; Kenny McKormick; Gerald Broflovski; Pip Pirrup; Jesus; Jimbo Kearn; Phillip; Saddam; Various Others
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Isaac Hayes
Voice of Jerome "Chef" McElroy
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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Trivia
ADD TRIVIA- The interior and exterior of Jimbo's house looks nothing like it did back in "Jakovasaurs". Edit
- The boys take Chef to a strip club to help him clear his mind and remember who he was. The strip club is the same strip club seen in "Lil' Crime Stoppers." Edit
- Among the people seen at Chef's funeral are "Chef Aid"'s Elton John (who Chef helped elevate his career) and the Shady Record Producer (who sued Chef, then was later counter-sued), and, "Weight Gain 4000"'s Kathy Lee Gifford (who Chef slept with). Edit
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Notes
ADD NOTES -
Quotes
ADD QUOTES- Chef: Come on, children. Let's all go home and make love. Stan: You need to see a psychiatrist, Chef. It's for your own good. Chef: I just like to make love up your butt. Woman: (turns away) Oh my God! Nurse: Mr. Chef, is it? Kyle: All right, come on. (they follow the nurse in) Edit
- Super Adventure Club Leader: Okay, you know how like when you want people to leave but they wont leave and it's really frustrating? Kyle: Where not going anywhere without Chef. Super Adventure Club Leader: Cool people leave before they've over stayed their welcome. Edit
- Cartman: Look, if you wanna go around the world molesting kids, that's totally fine. But why do you need Chef? Edit
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Allusions
ADD ALLUSIONS- The Simpsons: When Chef falls down the cliff, he hits several rocks on the way down, similar to Homer Simpson's fall down Springfield Gorge in the episode "Bart The Daredevil". Edit
- Child Sex Tourism: The practices of the Super Adventure Club are somewhat similar to those of some Child Sex Tours, as such tourists travel to other countries to have sex with children (in an attempt to avoid legal prosecution for such activities in their own countries). Some of Asians also believe that having sex with young people will increase their energy, which is related to the concept of Ying & Yang. In many developed nations, people who participate in a child sex tours may be prosecuted in their home countries. Edit
- Star Wars: Episode III: The ending of the episode where Chef transforms into an assimilation of Darth Vader is a spoof of a scene from the 2005 film "Star Wars Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith." Edit
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