"No, we're fearless and edgy. Really." – UPDATES

This is both funny and a bit pathetic:

Comedy Central might censor every image of the Prophet Muhammad on “South Park,” yet the network is developing a whole animated series around Jesus Christ.

As part of the network’s upfront presentation to advertisers (full slate here), the network is set to announce “JC,” a half-hour show about Christ wanting to escape the shadow of his “powerful but apathetic father” and live a regular life in New York City.

In the show, God is preoccupied with playing video games while Christ, “the ultimate fish out of water,” tries to adjust to life in the big city.

“In general, comedy in purist form always makes some people uncomfortable,” said Comedy Central’s head of original programming Kent Alterman.

The South Park Jesus was edgy*; no one in the mainstream had dared to put Jesus into the middle of vulgar humanity in such a way, before. This is a different production group and come on, “God playing video games” while Jesus tries to fit in, it just sounds so lame!

This move by Comedy Central is like watching the ultra-hip smart-aleck in the cafeteria who, having peed himself during an encounter with a bully, is now trying to re-establish his edgy bona fides by making fun of the non-threatening AV Crew; high school bravado, nowhere near as sophisticated as it believes itself to be.

As a Christian, I am unoffended by this move. The Triune God has awfully big shoulders; he can take it.

It is Comedy Central that betrays the tiny fragility that lies behind its strut.

I am embarrassed for them.

FT Editor Joseph Bottum makes two predictions:

1) It will be far more blasphemous about Christianity than the Danish cartoons were about Islam.

2) There won’t be any riots over it.

Ed Morrissey writes:

Yes, Kent Alterman, you’re quite the brave individual for making “some” people uncomfortable. Those would be the “some” people who won’t issue threats of violence for your satires.

Happy Catholic has a thoughtful take on being edgy and countercultural.

UPDATE:
Meanwhile, In Belgium…
Gabriel Malor: Left’s Low Opinion of Muslims & everyone else
Liberty Pundit
Verum Serum

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