Being dumb can be smart

By MARK BROWN
SCRIPPS HOWARD
Sometimes it's not dumb. Sometimes it's just trying to look dumb.
"'South Park' isn't nearly as stupid as people's parents think it is. That 'S-word' episode of 'South Park' was to me one of the best essays on the role of swearing and profanity in America than I've seen in any media or academic journal," says Robert Thompson, director of the Center for the Study of Popular Television at Syracuse University.
"'Jackass' -- yes, it's disgusting; yes, it's gross; yes, if you're over 30 you're not going to find much of merit here. But there's an awful lot going on in those shows other than puking."
Perhaps the finest show on TV was once dismissed as just another dumb piece of disposable trash.
"'The Simpsons' is one of the best shows in history," Thompson says. "There are books out like 'The Gospel According to Homer Simpson.' Remember when [the show] first came out? This was going to be the downfall of civilization as we knew it. And now 'The Simpsons' may go down with Mark Twain in the academy of great art. And it deserves it."
"Television is proliferating with very fine, high-quality shows," says Janie Hinds, a specialist in pop culture at the University of Northern Colorado. "Look at 'West Wing.' It's not for kids; it's a great show. All of the cable stations that have good shows like 'The Sopranos.' There does seem to be a split. The demographic markets are being sliced finer and finer."