South Park Saves Spears?

I used to not be too big of a fan of South Park, but it's grown on me recently now that I've seen the smart social commentary that lurks behind those annoying voices. I also don't want anyone to think I'm a huge Britney Spears fan because I've blogged about her more than once, but this particular subject begs for some spotlight and attention.

In an episode entitled "Britney's New Look," that aired last week, South Park ripped on the swarms of paparazzi that regularly flank Spears by having its main characters decide to join in on the madness of stalking her and then come to regret their decision when she shoots herself. I know South Park usually doesn't bother to censor itself, but Spears's apparent "suicide" was quite a shocker to me--except that a minute later in the episode you find out that Britney has only shot her head off, an action that results in a hilarious sequence in which her managers spin it as another example of her reinventing herself. The press and industry insiders then jumps all over this new story, a man in the recording studio remarking how stupid she is, to which one of the boys comically marvels that is a given because she no longer has a brain. Although, the kids try to protect her, Spears is ultimately photographed to death by the paparazzi who explain they are doing it as a human sacrifice. It is revealed at the very end of the episode that Miley Cyrus is their next victim. Only on South Park.

I was fully expecting for South Park to make jabs at Spears throughout the entire episode, but it was a pleasant surprise to see the show defending her and making a statement about how harmful the paparazzi's constant presence in her life could prove to be. This episode is being talked about all over the web, from The Huffington Post to E!Online. Everyone seems to be highly amused and impressed by the episode, but what I would like to see is a response from Spears or Cyrus about the show. I don't know if it's too easy to be appreciative when you are also partly the butt of the joke.

Below is the episode if you're interested, it is available both here and here, but it's tough to find on YouTube because many of the clips have been taken down.