| "The Return of Chef" | |
|---|---|
| South Park episode | |
 Chef, after being resurrected as "Darth Chef" | |
| Episode no. | Season 10 Episode 1 |
| Directed by | Trey Parker |
| Written by | Trey Parker |
| Production code | 1001 |
| Original air date | March 22, 2006 |
| Guest appearance | |
| Peter Serafinowicz as Darth Chef[1] | |
"The Return of Chef" is the first episode in the tenth season of the American animated television series South Park. The 140th episode of the series overall, it first aired on Comedy Central in the United States on March 22, 2006.[2][3] The episode was the first after the departure of actor Isaac Hayes, who voiced the character Chef. Hayes, a Scientologist, left after a falling-out with the creators over their treatment of Scientology in the previous season's episode "Trapped in the Closet".[3] Scientology has been accused of using brainwashing techniques, and "The Return of Chef" portrays Chef as having been brainwashed.[4][5]
In a press statement, Hayes was quoted as saying: "There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry towards religious beliefs of others begins." While the statement did not directly mention Scientology, South Park's co-creator Matt Stone responded that Hayes' complaints stemmed from the show's criticism of Scientology and that he "has no problem – and he's cashed plenty of checks – with our show making fun of Christians, Muslims, Mormons, or Jews." Stone adds, "[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 begins."[6][7] Chef's dialogue in the episode is edited from previous recordings of Hayes.[8]
- ^ imdb (October 29, 2007). "IMDB – Peter Serafinowicz". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved October 29, 2007.
- ^ Barger, Al (March 24, 2006). "TV Review: South Park "The Return of Chef"". blogcritics.org. Archived from the original on May 24, 2006. Retrieved November 28, 2006.
- ^ a b "'South Park' Premiere Draws Big Audience". cbsnews.com. March 24, 2006. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved November 28, 2006.
- ^ Allesandra Stanley (March 24, 2006). "Chef Returns To South Park". The New York Times.
The parallel to Scientology could not have been more obvious. But it was the parallel between Viacom and Scientology that made this episode necessary in the first place.
- ^ Adam Finley (March 23, 2006). "South Park: The Return Of Chef!".
Sure, the episode made him out to be a brainwashed freak who winds up having his face torn off by wild animals and turned into a Darth Vader-esque figure by the "fruity little club" he belongs to, but it was made clear that it was the club (read: Scientology) that did this to Chef.
- ^ "Isaac Hayes quits 'South Park' citing religious intolerance". CBC. March 23, 2006.
- ^ "South Park gets revenge on Chef". BBC News. March 23, 2006.
- ^ "The Return of Chef" at IMDb