It might not be Mel Gibson or Tom Cruise's favorite show, but the jurors for television's prestigious Peabody Awards threw a bouquet Comedy Central's way Wednesday with an honor for "South Park."

The animated satire was one of 32 winners of the Peabody, given annually by the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications to honor the best in TV. But for a judging committee that isn't afraid to wade into controversy, "South Park" seems to be one of the most controversial in recent years.

After a 10-year track record of pushing TV boundaries and famously tangling with Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," the Catholic Church, Cruise and Scientology and many others, "South Park" won an Emmy for its Terri Schiavo-themed episode. And after eight or nine self-submitted entries during the past decade, "South Park" will get its Peabody on June 5 in New York from "The Daily Show" host (and Peabody winner) Jon Stewart.

The Schiavo episode helped seal the award for "South Park" with the Peabody judges.

"The judges felt that it was a bold program that probably offends just about everybody at some point and in doing so reminds us that we need to be tolerant," awards director Horace Newcomb said. "It's also consistent in its insistence on noncensorship." Newcomb said the decision was unanimous.

While Newcomb was sure the Peabodys would be criticized for honoring "South Park," he said that it didn't deter the judges from honoring the best in electronic media, just like when it honored such shows as "All in the Family" and "The Simpsons."

"We're very proud of that, and we'll stand behind those decisions," he said.

"South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday, but Comedy Central executive vp and general manager Michele Ganeless said it's to the Peabody's credit that it honored "South Park." She noted that other winners Wednesday -- including FX's "The Shield," ABC's "Boston Legal" and Fox's "House" as well as previous winner "The Sopranos" -- have been lightning rods for their networks.

"People may underestimate the selection process that the Peabody Awards undergo, but they've shown themselves to be part of the cultural zeitgeist," Ganeless said. And while she acknowledged that "South Park" is controversial, she also said, "I don't think anybody can argue with the tremendous amount of creativity and brilliance that the show embodies."

She also said "South Park" isn't just for shock value.

"We're always having a dialogue about where the line is, and the great thing about Matt and Trey is that nothing they do is just to shock, nothing they do is just for the sake of doing it," she said. "There's always a point to be made."

[ source: REUTERS ]