# Chef didn't quit South Park?!? WTF? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 21, 2006, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chef-didnt-quit-south-park-wtf/349250 "2006-03-21T04:39:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chef-didnt-quit-south-park-wtf/349250/1 "2006-03-21T04:39:40Z")
So anyways, [this news story states](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,188463,00.html) that Issac Hayes **didn’t** announce his resignation from South Park. Rather, that he had a stroke two months ago and that a spokeman made that terse, bitter, hypocritical announcement for him?! It goes on to reference [this interview Hayes did for the AV Club on The Onion](http://www.avclub.com/content/node/44132/2) where he states clearly that he wasn’t that upset about the Scientology episode. And now I read that the 10th season premiere episode of SP is entitled **Chef is Back!** and involves his triumphant return!?! Have Parker & Stone pulled off their biggest mind-fuck ever?!? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chef-didnt-quit-south-park-wtf/349250/2 "2006-03-21T04:45:00Z")
Chef is back, but Isaac isn’t. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11932124/](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11932124/) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chef-didnt-quit-south-park-wtf/349250/3 "2006-03-21T04:56:21Z")
> [@](#): > > But a network synopsis said the fictional town of South Park, Colorado, is “jolted out of a case of the doldrums when Chef suddenly reappears,” leading to new antics by the group of foul-mouthed fourth graders who are the show’s stars. > > “While Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman are thrilled to have their old friend back, they notice that something about Chef seems different. When Chef’s strange behavior starts getting him in trouble, the boys pull out all the stops to save him,” the network said. Hmm. Does that mean they’re going to de-program him (from Scientology), or pull an Armin Tamzarian? Those were my thoughts, not that I’m an SP expert. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chef-didnt-quit-south-park-wtf/349250/4 "2006-03-21T05:35:20Z")
> [@](#): > > “While Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman are thrilled to have their old friend back, they notice that something about Chef seems different… The first thought that came to my mind is that looks like a lead-in to replacing Chef’s voice with another actor. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chef-didnt-quit-south-park-wtf/349250/5 "2006-03-21T05:39:46Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > The first thought that came to my mind is that looks like a lead-in to replacing Chef’s voice with another actor. Chef hits puberty, and his voice changes. _“When it’s time to change, you’ve got to rearrange…”_\* - Matt, Trey, that plotline will cost you $1000. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chef-didnt-quit-south-park-wtf/349250/6 "2006-03-21T06:49:07Z")
My guess is that they had episodes that Issac Hayes already voiced before he quit. I mean, I saw Parker and Stone on Letterman the other night (less than a week ago) mentioning him quitting, so it seems legit. ---
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chef-didnt-quit-south-park-wtf/349250/7 "2006-03-21T14:45:34Z")
I cannot locate the source again, so take this with a grain of salt, but I read yesterday that Hayes had a stroke a couple of months ago, and while not completely debilitating, he has been cooped up at home now going through rehab for a few months. In addition, the article mentioned that because of this, it is unlikely that Hayes himself quit, but a Scientologist representative quit for him and that Hayes still enjoys the show and had no plans to leave. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chef-didnt-quit-south-park-wtf/349250/8 "2006-03-21T14:56:35Z")
[Dark Horizons](http://www.darkhorizons.com/news06/060321f.php) says that **“Trapped in a Closet”** will air this Wednesday. Get your recorders ready. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chef-didnt-quit-south-park-wtf/349250/9 "2006-03-21T15:15:43Z")
> [@Honey](#): > > [Dark Horizons](http://www.darkhorizons.com/news06/060321f.php) says that **“Trapped in a Closet”** will air this Wednesday. Get your recorders ready. Don’t get your hopes up too high. If rumors are to be believed, Cruise is not going to let the show air prior to the release of _MI:III_, which has the same parent as Comedy Central. He’s holding promotional appearances for the new movie as hostage to get what he wants. [/ **rumor** mill] ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chef-didnt-quit-south-park-wtf/349250/10 "2006-03-21T15:22:17Z")
If I held the reins at Viacom, I’d run the episode and wouldn’t give a rusy rat’s ass if Cruise chose not to do publicity for the film. The guy’s such a wingnut that everyone’s better off when he’s not out there giving unscripted interviews. The only appealing Tom Cruise (assuming there is one) is when he’s in character in a film. Left to his own devices, he’s a moronic drone and I reckon that if he chose not to promote the film, it wouldn’t suffer in the least. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chef-didnt-quit-south-park-wtf/349250/11 "2006-03-21T15:22:56Z")
How much do these promotional appearances really affect the success of the movie? It’s already a successful franchise; you’d think they could get away with some merchandising, ads, and having the other actors make the talk show rounds. Would it actually matter? (I’m genuinely curious.) ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chef-didnt-quit-south-park-wtf/349250/12 "2006-03-21T15:29:34Z")
If War of the Worlds had bombed I would agree with you. But it was the biggest hit of Cruise’s career and it came on the tail of couch jumping and Matt Lauer bashing. ---
**Author:** ![Millit\_the\_Frail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Millit\_the\_Frail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Millit_the_Frail)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chef-didnt-quit-south-park-wtf/349250/13 "2006-03-21T15:45:27Z")
If there’s enough controversy surrounding the whole thing, might it be better just to air the episode and let the chips fall where they may? So then Cruise doesn’t promote the film, and there’s huge media coverage of him being a douche about it, and him and his wacko Scientology friends look even more lame. Also, the movie’s right on the heels of the Tom/Katie baby birth, right? Let the controversy fly and MI3 will probably promote itself. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chef-didnt-quit-south-park-wtf/349250/14 "2006-03-21T15:48:24Z")
Viacom cares more about MI3 than South Park. Corporations are not allowed to make principled stands. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chef-didnt-quit-south-park-wtf/349250/15 "2006-03-21T16:01:17Z")
There is a 3 second clip onlie at the offical site and it sounds like Isaac Hayes is doing the voice. It was probably in the can before he quit. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chef-didnt-quit-south-park-wtf/349250/16 "2006-03-21T16:08:30Z")
Crap, Zap2it is not listing “Trapped in a Closet” for Wednesday. On Thursay at 9:30 pm they’re showing “The Biggest Douche in the Universe”. I wonder if that’s directed at anyone? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chef-didnt-quit-south-park-wtf/349250/17 "2006-03-21T16:18:32Z")
> [@middleman](#): > > Viacom cares more about MI3 than South Park. Corporations are not allowed to make principled stands. But they are allowed to be hamstrung by a knucklehead with a God complex? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chef-didnt-quit-south-park-wtf/349250/18 "2006-03-21T16:36:06Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > He’s holding promotional appearances for the new movie as hostage to get what he wants. I should think that such promotional appearances are required by contract. I doubt the studio would bow to a threat by Cruise to breach his contract. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chef-didnt-quit-south-park-wtf/349250/19 "2006-03-21T16:51:40Z")
> [@McNew](#): > > But they are allowed to be hamstrung by a knucklehead with a God complex? That describes Tom Cruise, CEOs, and majority shareholders! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chef-didnt-quit-south-park-wtf/349250/20 "2006-03-21T17:01:23Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > I should think that such promotional appearances are required by contract. I doubt the studio would bow to a threat by Cruise to breach his contract. I was thinking the same as CNN reported this. I’m sure if Mr. Cruise no-showed, it would be a toss-up as to whom benefitted more: the viewers or the lawyers. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chef-didnt-quit-south-park-wtf/349250.md?page=2)