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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."