Chef R.I.P.

Chef is dead!

At least I assume he is dead, it would be pretty brutal if the "South Park" guys tried to cast someone else to do that voice. But Isaac Hayes is out of the picture.

Apparently the Scientology episode from last season pushed Hayes over the edge. Hayes cited that the show inappropriately ridiculed religion as his reason for retiring. Which seems a bit odd, because I vaguely remember some other religious references creeping in every now and again over the show's history.

Therefore, three theories can possibly explain Hayes' departure:

1) He had never previously read any lines in any of the "South Park" scripts besides his own, until the Scientology episode.

2) He never saw any of the episodes of the first 9 years of "South Park", "South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut", the "Passion of the Jew" DVD, or the Jesus-fighting-Santa "Spirit of Christmas" cartoon that made the show happen in the first place.

3) His membership in the Church of Scientology had something to do with it.

We may never know the answer.

Regardless, Chef will be missed.

At least I take some comfort knowing that Isaac Hayes intends to help disadvantaged children by joining up with Lisa Marie Presley to bring Scientology study techniques to inner-city schools.