I think we all knew this was coming: Singer Isaac Hayes, the voice of Chef on "South Park," announced yesterday that he is leaving the animated series. Hayes, a Scientologist, cited the Comedy Central show's recent Scientology-centered episode as the motivation for his deaprture:

"There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry towards religious beliefs of others begins," the 63-year-old soul singer and outspoken Scientologist said. "Religious beliefs are sacred to people, and at all times should be respected and honored," he continued. "As a civil rights activist of the past 40 years, I cannot support a show that disrespects those beliefs and practices."

"South Park" creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, hardly ones to shy away from a controversy, fired back at Hayes immediately. Said Stone:

This is 100 percent having to do with his faith of Scientology... He has no problem -- and he's cashed plenty of checks -- with our show making fun of Christians.

And Parker:

[We] never heard a peep out of Isaac in any way until we did Scientology. He wants a different standard for religions other than his own, and to me, that is where intolerance and bigotry begin.

[Yahoo! News] Isaac Hayes Quits 'South Park'

Dave Chappelle's heavily hyped interview from last Friday's "Oprah Winfrey Show" is now available online over at You Tube.

If you're hoping for straight answers about why he left his Comedy Central series or whether he intends to return, prepare to be disappointed. He talked about pressure from the show's producers and network executives, but didn't give many specifics. He also badmouthed some friends over the way they reacted to his abrupt departure from the show. Their typical reaction? Asking him to talk with a psychiatrist.

When asked about the show's future, Chappelle claimed that more of the show's proceeds would have to go to charity before he'd consider returning -- a demand you'd think Comedy Central executives would meet in a heartbeat if it meant getting back their cash cow.

[You Tube] Dave Chappelle On Oprah Winfrey Show - 2.3.06 (via TV Squad)

It's been a while since I laughed as long and as hard as I did during Tuesday night's series premiere of "Stella" on Comedy Central. The show stars Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black, and David Wain, all members of "The State," a comedy group best known for having a series on MTV in the mid-1990's. While the last ten years have seen many projects from "State" alums, both good (Reno 911!) and bad (The Pacifier), "Stella" is the first to recapture the comedic tone and timing that made the ensemble's MTV series so brilliant.

That said, I have no doubt that if I actually try to recommend "Stella" to friends, 99.9% of them will absolutely hate it. (The few who would like it are my fellow "State" fans from college. And maybe a few "Strangers with Candy" fans.) To call the show's humor "random" would be the world's greatest understatement. Each scene in Tuesday's premiere episode, which was ostensibly about the guys' efforts to find an apartment after being evicted, was more ridiculous than the last. Along the way they managed to work in gags involving a choreographed dance routine, skunk people, (unsuccessful) open-heart surgery, funk, funk rock, funk rock, and Edward Norton.

And I loved every single minute.