Prosecutors took action against the 2x2 television channel for broadcasting an episode of the animated comedy series that featured Christmas songs, including a medley duet performed by Santa Claus and Jesus Christ.

Prosecutors have announced that the program "bore signs of extremist activity."

The episode in question, called "Mr. Hankey�s Christmas Classics," was aired in Moscow in January. It shows a number of regular and guest characters including Satan, Adolf Hitler and Mr. Hankey, an anthropomorphised human feces, performing in a Christmas variety show. An accompanying CD is available to buy.

"In accordance with the conclusions made by experts from the court investigations committee, a claim has been filed against 2x2 for its broadcast of an episode of 'South Park,'" said Valentina Titova, a spokeswoman for the prosecutors office.

The cartoon series created by Matt Stone and Trey Parker in 1997 has attracted criticism throughout its award-winning run and often targets special interest groups and religions for mockery.

"It offends the honor and dignity of Christians and Muslims alike," Moscow prosecutors said in a statement. "It could just have easily included Jews, Scientologists, Catholics, Mormons and Moonies all of whom have been mercilessly targeted by American series."

[Muslims consider Jesus to have been God's second-most-important prophet and treat him with the same reverence accorded Muhammad. About 10 years ago, a Muslim group sued the U.S. Navy over the name of the attack submarine USS City of Corpus Christi, objecting to the Latin for "body of Christ" being used on a weapon of war.

"Oh my god, they killed South Park!"

Their loss. Nobody escapes ridicule in South Park.

Flagrant disrespect for people's belief systems -- especially when involving a big chunk of the population -- goes too far. But then, since when did Hollywoood or television have to rein in their anything-goes mentality. It's a kind of game the big wheels relish playing: one-upmanship; bragging rights at the next elite cocktail party. I've read about that. (Look at hot-dog me; I brought [brutality/perversion/blasphemy/you-fill-in-the-blank] to a new low! Ain't I hot stuff.)

For at least 50 years, Hollywood has been prone to claim they don't influence society, merely reflect its mores. B.S. They themselves probably don't believe that drivel.
(But they sometimes want a ready-made alibi for all the trash they churn out. Rationales are handy P.R. to offset bad press that shows up from time to time.)

Those bastards! I am a devoted Hankian, we follow the doctrine of Mr Hanky - he is our most important prophet - and no-one seems to care that my sensibilities may have been offended by showing him sing a duet with Jesus!!! This is an outrage! An outrage!! This show must be banned because I can't have my cage rattled!

...then again, I could just wise up and realise that if I really was confident in my own beliefs I wouldn't feel that a joke could undermine them.

South Park rules. Genuinely smart (if a little crass... but that adds to the humour) modern day social commentary.

concerning "a joke" --

There are quite a few people who don't consider sacrilege a joke.

concerning "crass" --

You got that one right.

Those good people who do not wish to be offended by such material do have a course of action. The Japanese invented a really cool device called a "Remote Control" that should make everyone happy.

Well "quite a few" people can choose to watch something else when South Park is on. There are more than enough channels to cater for everyone's tastes.

Banning the show removes that choice, and whether you appreciate the humour or not, censorship would be the only true "extremist activity" in this sorry tale.

Damn GT.. beat me to that point!

To a certain extent, you're right.
But there are a number of young viewers who might inadvertently come across this show while channel surfing, especially when mom or dad aren't around. Impressionable minds don't need to be subject to imbibing muck. God knows there are enough other bad influences around; we don't need this one too.
I know: the worst stuff can always be justified somehow. No surprise there.
Carry on.

I just can't stop chuckling at Mr Hankey being referred to as "an anthropomorphised human feces."

People/governments/organizations who are afraid of South Park are ones who have an agenda that is threatened by the philosophy of the show. Sucks for them, I guess.

Probably true in some respects.
Personally, I don't really fear it for myself, and I don't have an agenda to be threatened, but I'm mainly concerned about the risk of developing young minds having to deal with that kind of stuff prematurely (speaking as if there would BE a future need for them to consider this type of content -- doubtful on that notion).

Equal Opportunity Offender.....

Yes, here stateside, there isn't any shortage of opportunities to cause offense, that's for sure.
Nothing's sacred; no sensibilities left unoffended; no child left safe from crap.

Any nation/religion/cult/creed/group/etc. that puts demands/commands on its' members to NOT imbibe art is NOT

NOT

NOT

a nation/religion/cult/creed/group/etc. that I would adhere to.

============
Uh, With ONE exception!

BOYCOTT THE FUCKING RIAA!

defending "art", even if sewage can be "art" --
wait, it can be -- Jesus on a cross in a jar of urine --
for shame

virtually no limits?
that might be what you adhere to,
but not everyone would agree --
though I guess majority rules,
even if common sense and decency
has to go out the window --
certain Founding Fathers once implied
this nation would only endure if
some guiding principles of morality were honored --
when America ceases to be good, it will cease to be great -- that's in process and in progress
!!

"God shed His grace on thee" --

God gave His grace and God can withdraw His grace --
when that happens dramatically, we can reflect back
at what was, and what was lost

I suspect God has a sense of humour, some individuals here seem to be lacking in one. SouthPark isn't for everyone. If you aren't one who enjoys it, find something else to watch. I personally can't stand soap operas, but instead of crying about them, I just don't watch them.

Sometimes, people take things too seriously; which is one of the points SouthPark tries to make with it's humour.

I doubt God has a sense of humor about some of the putrid stuff I mentioned: such as having urine poured on a model of Christ's crucifixion!
Shame on the National Endowment for Arts.
And I still say shame on SouthPark, too.