RT Boards Host "Ringer" Debate
Who knew that when a RT Forums thread popped up last month -- drawing suspiciously eerie parallels between upcoming Johnny Knoxville flick, "The Ringer," and a recent Special Olympics episode of "South Park" -- our boards would spawn the beginnings of a national media war between "Ringer" scribe Ricky Blitt and "South Park" creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone?
When the promos first came out for "The Ringer," we thought there was something familiar in the story of a man who pretends he's mentally disabled in order to win the Special Olympics…because last season on "South Park" episode "Up the Down Steroid," little Eric Cartman did the very same thing. When it was suggested on the RT Forums that Parker and Stone should sue the writer of "The Ringer" for copyright infringement, it was only a matter of time before Ricky Blitt spoke up not only to defend himself, but to claim the Special Olympics idea was his -- and that Parker and Stone were the intellectual property thieves. Click here to read Blitt's postings.
The "South Park" guys, of course, insist they've never heard of Blitts, let alone pilfered his idea. But in his posts, Blitt tells a different story: that back in 1999, the comedy writer pitched his fake-retard-cons-Special Olympics story to Parker and Stone's production company (through a third party producer), although he ended up going forward with the Farrelly brothers (resulting in "The Ringer"). Blitt backs his claims with some evidence, as it does appear his idea was in studio development since at least 2000, with the "South Park" episode airing in 2004.
As promised in his RT posts, Blitt went nationwide with his claims this week with articles in Entertainment Weekly and Variety. "Ringer" producer Peter Farrelly has also chimed in, calling Parker and Stone "creepy" just for airing the Special Olympics storyline knowing that "The Ringer" was forthcoming. They, for the record, have adamantly denied copying Blitt's idea and chalk the story similarities up to different people having the same idea at the same time.
Fox Searchlight will release "The Ringer" nationwide December 23.
When the promos first came out for "The Ringer," we thought there was something familiar in the story of a man who pretends he's mentally disabled in order to win the Special Olympics…because last season on "South Park" episode "Up the Down Steroid," little Eric Cartman did the very same thing. When it was suggested on the RT Forums that Parker and Stone should sue the writer of "The Ringer" for copyright infringement, it was only a matter of time before Ricky Blitt spoke up not only to defend himself, but to claim the Special Olympics idea was his -- and that Parker and Stone were the intellectual property thieves. Click here to read Blitt's postings.
The "South Park" guys, of course, insist they've never heard of Blitts, let alone pilfered his idea. But in his posts, Blitt tells a different story: that back in 1999, the comedy writer pitched his fake-retard-cons-Special Olympics story to Parker and Stone's production company (through a third party producer), although he ended up going forward with the Farrelly brothers (resulting in "The Ringer"). Blitt backs his claims with some evidence, as it does appear his idea was in studio development since at least 2000, with the "South Park" episode airing in 2004.
As promised in his RT posts, Blitt went nationwide with his claims this week with articles in Entertainment Weekly and Variety. "Ringer" producer Peter Farrelly has also chimed in, calling Parker and Stone "creepy" just for airing the Special Olympics storyline knowing that "The Ringer" was forthcoming. They, for the record, have adamantly denied copying Blitt's idea and chalk the story similarities up to different people having the same idea at the same time.
Fox Searchlight will release "The Ringer" nationwide December 23.
Related Items
| Movie: | The Ringer |
| Celeb: | Trey Parker |
| Matt Stone | |
| Peter Farrelly | |
(1-16 of 16 posts) | Reply
on Dec 16 2005 04:56 PM brokeback mountain copied south park minus the pudding and they're not complaining. i'm sure the south park version was better. i doubt the mentaly challenged in the ringer are on roids... (Reply to this) |
on Dec 16 2005 07:26 PM Sounds to me like someone's just trying to brew up a little pre-release controversy for his movie. Clever ploy. I mean, cmon. The concept is as simple as any run-of-the-mill sitcom script. (Reply to this) |
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on Dec 17 2005 01:31 PM im trying not to come off as a South Park fanboy, but really, the idea isn't that hard to think of. even as a kid, i joked around with some friends talking "hey, YOU should be in the special olympics! But you would still lose" and something like that. It does seem like a ploy from the Farrelly's to get attention for the movie. It seems to only be working on internet forums like this, and nowhere else. Farrelly movies are ok, although they get worse and worse, like Sandler movies. This one just doesn't look funny from the previews. (Reply to this) |
on Dec 17 2005 01:35 PM The Farrley's are trying to set the facts straight, nothing wrong with that. (Reply to this) |
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on Dec 17 2005 01:36 PM oh yeah, one more thing. i think it's sad that the writer of this movie (if it's really him of course) took the time to post in an internet forum. shouldn't he be out promoting his movie in some fashion or another? instead of trying to start flame wars to people who will probably not see his movie? and HE calls the south park guys "creepy" (Reply to this) |
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on Dec 17 2005 03:38 PM [b]a question?[/b] Lets say Johnny Knoxville's character wins the special olympics competitions. What exactly would he win? (Reply to this) |
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on Dec 17 2005 03:49 PM im not exactly sure, but I am pretty sure they get medals like the normal olympics (Reply to this) |
on Dec 17 2005 04:28 PM This movie looks really bad... I'd rather watch the South Park episode... (Reply to this) |
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on Dec 18 2005 07:43 PM I think the movie looks funny. (Reply to this) |
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on Dec 19 2005 11:39 AM In reply to this comment (#829000) The stories/rumors about the Farrelly Bros. doing a film with this premise were out at least three years ago, so yeah, South Park ripped it off but that's half of SP humor. The thing is that there are very few original ideas left so the key is not WHAT the story is but HOW it is done, and the SP guys do a great job of putting a fresh, audacious, hilarious spin on things, like say, blockbuster action movies (Team America rocked!). (Reply to this) |
on Dec 19 2005 05:32 PM I missed this?! DAMN MY WORK! IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU!!!!! (Reply to this) |
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on Dec 20 2005 06:57 AM im not diggin the trailers for this movie. Im not sure why...oh wait its because I hate anything johnny knoxville does, should have got raab to play the retard in this movie i'm sure he'd fit the part a lot better (Reply to this) |
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on Dec 20 2005 09:00 AM Blitt's assertion is full of holes. What was the name of Stone & Parker's production company in 1999? Comedy Central owns SP and Paramount have produced both of their movies. Only recently did they did set up a production company, called Trunity, so... Blitt and the Farrellys come off as cry babies with all their bitchin. Blitt managed to get a featured made of his script with two well known producers - he should be over the moon. He spent years writing Family Guy which featured an episode on the same theme as The Ringer. No accusing himself of anything there though. And this all because some 12 year old posts a 'South Park already did it!' comment and they start wetting their pants??? Stone and Parker have been magnanimous by comparison, especially in response to bizarre charges such as 'theft' and 'creepy'. Also 'Married with Children' did an episode on a similar theme many, many years ago. Let's hope Blitt gets a call from the producers of that show soon. (Reply to this) |
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on Dec 20 2005 12:07 PM [b]that's the first thing I thought...[/b] when I saw the trailer was, "Hey, just like that South Park episode." I had no idea it had reached "debate" proportions! Whoever came up with the idea first is really irrelevant. What I want to know is, how the heck is this movie gonna stretch a thin premise like this into 120 minutes or so?? What works and is funny for a 30 minute show might be super lame in a full-length movie. But maybe I'm thinking too much. My teenage brother-in-law happens to think "retards" are an inexhaustible source of comedic genius, much like the Fart. (Reply to this) |
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on Dec 21 2005 04:10 PM SIMPSONS DID IT! (Reply to this) |
on Dec 23 2005 01:32 PM this is stupid. "i thought of it first!" "nuh-uh, we did!" "did not!" "did too" etc..... i think the real retards are the ones behind the cameras in this case. (Reply to this) |
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