With Apologies to Jesse Jackson
| "With Apologies to Jesse Jackson" | |
|---|---|
| South Park episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 11 Episode 1 |
| Directed by | Trey Parker |
| Written by | Trey Parker |
| Featured music | "Down with the Sickness" by Disturbed |
| Production code | 1101 |
| Original air date | March 7, 2007 |
"With Apologies to Jesse Jackson" is the eleventh season premiere of the American animated television series South Park, and the 154th overall episode of the series. It first aired on Comedy Central in the United States on March 7, 2007 and was rated TV-MA-L. In the episode, Randy uses the racial slur "niggers" on national television, leading to widespread public outrage. Stan attempts to understand the epithet's impact on his Black friend Token. Meanwhile, a dwarf has a hard time trying to teach Cartman to be sensitive.
Parker and Stone had long wanted to create an episode exploring the racial slur, but struggled with a plot line beyond its opening scene. They subsequently found it easier to work on following comedian Michael Richards' controversy, in which he screamed the slur at a group of Blacks who criticized his comedy act. "With Apologies to Jesse Jackson" parodies Richards in that Randy, following his use of the word, is forced to apologize to civil rights leader Jesse Jackson.
Despite the frequent usage of the racial slur, the episode attracted very little media attention. Parents Television Council founder L. Brent Bozell criticized the lack of protest against the episode. The group Abolish the "N" Word, which is linked with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, praised the episode, calling it a good example of the word's impact on individuals. The episode received very positive reviews from contemporary television critics, who praised the episode's humor and storyline. According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by 2.8 million viewers the week it was broadcast. "With Apologies to Jesse Jackson" was released on DVD along with the rest of the eleventh season on August 12, 2008.
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