Comedy Central’s got to be kidding

Among the more unusual ideas are a live sex-chat talk show, a program based on a Funny or Die Web short, an update of “The Odd Couple” and an animated series about Jesus Christ.

That last item could raise eyebrows coming on the heels of the network’s censorship of “South Park” for its depiction of the Prophet Muhammad. The show in development, “JC,” is a half-hour show in which Christ wants to escape the shadow of his “powerful but apathetic father” and live a regular life in New York.

“In general, comedy in its purest form always makes some people uncomfortable,” said Comedy Central head of original programing Kent Alterman, who returned to the network in January after a stint at New Line.

Unless those people are Islamic fundamentalists.

Score one for the fundamentalist thugs

COPENHAGEN – Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard, who has been attacked and repeatedly threatened over a drawing of Prophet Mohammed, has been placed on indefinite leave by his newspaper “for security reasons,” he told AFP Thursday.

“It is forced vacation but it looks a lot like I’m being retired,” the 75-year-old cartoonist said, adding that he himself still had an “insatiable desire” to work.

We all lose when Dark Ages preservationists get their way.

The Evil Empire caves to fundamentalist thugs

America’s media conglomerates have zero balls (and fewer principles). None is more soulless than Viacom, which has once again bowed to the threats of extremist gasbags.

On Thursday morning, a spokesman for Comedy Central confirmed that the network had added more bleeps to the episode than were in the cut delivered by South Park Studios, and that it was not giving permission for the episode to run on the studio’s Web site.

Among the bleeps: any reference to the “Prophet Mohammed.”

I shouldn’t be surprised. This is the company that owns MTV, responsible for the most nihilistic programming in the history of broadcasting. If only Mohammed was a product — they’d never censor a money-making opportunity.

obama and the hrc will agree to do nothing

So the president is set to make a “historic” speech to the Petty Queer Establishment’s flagship organization. Might as well stay home and watch the “$1.98 Beauty Show.” I’ll supply the confetti.

On the agenda Saturday night:

Obama could give a date for signing hate crimes legislation — Matthew Shepherd’s mother will be among the speakers — or he could come out against a marriage ban in Maine, which gay leaders have been pressing him to do.

How gutsy. Too bad the only beneficiaries will be gays living in Maine. With all due respect to Mrs. Shepherd, hate crimes legislation does nothing to advance equality. Saves lives, you say? If you believe that you must also view the death penalty as a deterrent. I remain unconvinced.

How ’bout repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?” No less an authority than the Pentagon advocates abolishing the Clinton-era policy — why not Obama?

He certainly won’t feel any pressure from the HRC/PQE crowd, most of whom will be too busy networking to notice the president’s cowardice — or their own.