Friday, January 30, 1998
Ready
ENTERTAINMENT: A cadre of students wouldn’t miss their
sensationalism for anything in the world
By Carol McKay
Daily Bruin Staff
Cardman, the "festively plump" fan of Cheesy Poofs, makes fun of
his friend Kyle because he’s Jewish, his friend Kenny because he’s
poor, starving "Ethernopians," and a dog with homosexual
tendencies.
And not many students at UCLA seem to be offended.
In fact, when "South Park" comes on at 10 p.m. on Wednesday
evenings, a lot of students are glued to their television set
watching the animated series.
And every night, at 11 p.m., just as many seem to tune in to
Jerry Springer’s talk show.
"If it’s on, we’ll watch it," said first-year undeclared student
Andy Nahl. Nahl, who lives in Saxon with five other "South Park"
fans, is proud to admit that he’s seen all nine episodes and
downloaded "The Spirit of Christmas," the film short that started
it all.
"I like the chef. He’s my favorite," Nahl said, describing the
show’s only African-American character, who is a large, soulful
devotee of Kathie Lee Gifford.
Despite stereotyped characters, blatantly offensive dialogue and
vulgar language, the show is inexplicably popular with
students.
"It’s pretty true to life," said Carl Klopstein, a first-year
electrical engineering student.
"And it’s stuff you don’t see in other TV shows. They’re more
normal than other kids on TV," added Geoff Allan, Klopstein’s
first-year aerospace engineering roommate.
Like Klopstein and Allan, other students are unashamed to admit
their viewing of shows that at face value are so extreme. Khoi
Pham, for example, says he watches Jerry Springer almost nightly as
a source of ego-boosting.
"It’s a feel-good show, and it makes me feel better about
myself. After I watch it, I feel a lot more normal," said Pham, a
second-year biochemistry student.
Other students agree. "When I’m not doing well in school, I just
turn it on," Nahl said.
Compared to the show’s guests, Nahl said, he has nothing to
worry about.
Pham, who enjoys watching the frequent fights that break out
during each episode of Jerry Springer, said that he does draw a
line when it comes to certain topics.
"There are some episodes I choose not to watch," he said. "Like
(if the topic is) teenage prostitutes. I don’t like to watch people
exploiting themselves."
But according to Michael Suman, a faculty member of the
communications studies department, guests on the show may be hired
actors to portray normal people.
Well, as normal as a talk show guest can get.
"Sometimes these people are actors," said Suman, who has
conducted studies on the effects of television violence. "The shows
advertise ‘If you’ve slept with your mother’s second cousin, call
us.’ But not all those people are legitimate."
Some guests are coached and encouraged to be passionate, Suman
added.
"You can tell on the Springer show that that’s not going to
happen spontaneously. I’ve heard they say, ‘Don’t hold it back.’
And the shows are often the ones setting these situations up."
However questionable the show’s honesty may be, students are
faithful viewers, and last night’s episode of Springer is a
constant conversation piece. In lecture halls, on the evening van
service, over lunch, it seems like everyone’s talking about
Springer or the videotape "Too Hot for TV," an uncensored
compilation of the show’s most outrageous footage.
"Man, I wish I knew someone who has it. I wanted it for
Christmas," said Robert Wong, a first-year biology student. "It’s
the perfect gift."
Wong and his roommates however, said that the show’s appeal is
in its lack of seriousness.
"Jerry tries to tone it down at the end of the episode by adding
his ‘Final Thoughts,’" Wong said. "But how can you make people
fight for 55 minutes and then end it with five minutes of saying
how wrong it was?"
And the primal interest in fighting is what draws other student
viewers.
"I’d always watch somebody fight," Nahl said, as Klopstein added
that the show ought to be announced by rounds.
Although Suman said that his studies have not focused on the
talk show circuit, he did express concern that shows like Jerry
Springer may warp society’s ideas of normality.
"Ultimately, we don’t know exactly how television effects people
in general. It influences different people differently," Suman
said.
"But more importantly, the shows (portray) deviant, abnormal
behavior as normal. It seems like everyone is sleeping with their
best friend’s boyfriend. I just wonder how that changes
people."
Students disagree as to whether the shows should get the high
ratings.
"’South Park’ is just fun to watch," said Jackie Gortman, a
first-year undeclared student. "It’s supposed to be poking fun at
political correctness, so I am OK with it."
Gortman added that viewers should understand that the show is
not to be taken seriously. By exaggerating the stereotypes of South
Park residents, she said, the show is poking fun rather than
promoting the ideas.
"But is does have a bad message for little kids. It’s only for
adults," Gortman said. When watching the most recent Christmas
episode, Gortman said she was "sort of offended" at the disrespect
towards the Jewish community.
"They made Kyle’s mom ruin Christmas for the whole town," she
said. "The more I think about it, the less I am liking the
show."
According to Wong, however, enough people could be offended by
"South Park" that no one should be.
"They make fun of everyone. No one group is singled out," he
said. "People who are offended don’t have a sense of humor."
As for Jerry Springer and its domination of late night
television – Suman said that it beats Letterman – the explanations
aren’t so complex.
"It’s kind of like a car wreck. You know you shouldn’t look, but
you almost can’t help yourself to crane your neck to see," Suman
said. "It’s raw, uncensored behavior. Not only violence, but a lot
of sexuality. It’s just mindless entertainment."
HANNAH SADY
Left to right, Andy Nahl, Robert Wong, Matt Miller, Daniel
Weinstein and Mike Babcock gather in Saxon to watch the
controversial comedy "South Park."