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Uncensored ‘Hanging’ returns to Knott’s Scary Farm – ‘If you happen to don’t prefer it, don’t watch’ – Orange County Register

The politically right tradition that pressured Knott’s Berry Farm to quietly kill off “The Hanging” finds itself within the crosshairs of a resurrected model of the popular culture skewering present that doubles down on all of the tasteless comedy, pointless bloodletting and mindless killings.

“I’m not taking any prisoners with it,” mentioned Jeff Tucker, Knott’s Berry Farm present author and director of this yr’s version of “The Hanging.” “I’m not censoring myself in any means. If you happen to don’t prefer it, don’t watch it.”

“The Hanging: Uncancelled” triumphantly returns to the Buena Park theme park for the fiftieth anniversary of Knott’s Scary Farm working on choose nights from Sept. 21 to Oct. 31.

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Knott’s Berry Farm successfully retired “The Hanging” in 2019 when the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the annual Halloween Hang-out occasion in 2020 and the comedy stunt present didn’t return in 2021 and 2022.

“The Hanging” ended its decades-long run amid more and more intense unfavourable suggestions and the quickening tempo of popular culture that made the comedy parody present harder to tug off each Halloween.

“It’s been 4 years,” Tucker mentioned throughout an interview at Knott’s. “Now we have gone by lots as a world and as a folks. It’s OK to be humorous once more. It’s OK to snigger once more. It’s OK to have issues that aren’t PC tradition.”

Fairly than shrink from the criticism and kowtow to upset PC sensibilities, Tucker is leaning into the disapproval and condemnation with the most recent model of “The Hanging” that’s much more offensive and excessive.

All of the backstabbing, throat slicing and disemboweling stunts are again, together with the politically incorrect gallows humor that the present grew to become recognized for.

“I’m going again to fundamentals,” Tucker mentioned. “I like issues which are acquainted. I’m not right here to reinvent the wheel.”

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The brand new incarnation of “The Hanging” is transferring into the Wagon Camp theater this yr. In previous years, the present was in Calico Sq. or on the Calico Mine Stage — out within the open the place anybody may wander previous and change into offended.

The brand new present will include an specific warning.

“We’re going to inform you, ‘Don’t go into the Wagon Camp when you’re simply offended,’” Tucker mentioned. “I’m going to have an indication on the gate that claims, ‘Don’t are available right here. This present will not be for anybody. It’s filthy. Don’t enter.’”

The Lawman addresses the great residents of Calico in “The Hanging” at Knott’s Scary Farm. (Picture by Fielding Buck, Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

The simply offended higher be careful in the event that they by some means handle to wander into “The Hanging” as a result of they are going to change into a part of the night’s leisure.

“Inside the context of the present, I make enjoyable of the individuals who complain,” Tucker mentioned. “There are not any sacred cows.”

The Wagon Camp theater holds about 600 folks per present with three performances of “The Hanging” deliberate per evening. Meaning lower than 10% of Scary Farmers will see the present on a typical evening.

“If you wish to see ‘The Hanging’ you higher get in line early,” Tucker mentioned. “It’s important to need it. Don’t make that effort when you’re simply going to be upset the entire time.”

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“The Hanging” has an extended historical past that stretches again to the early days of Knott’s Halloween Hang-out within the Seventies.

The marquee present has advanced through the years from a Wild West reenactment to a supernatural story targeted on the Inexperienced Witch to a bloody comedy revue that disemboweled celeb popular culture. “The Hanging: Uncancelled” picks up the place the previous present left off in 2019.

“We’re going to poke enjoyable in any respect the popular culture moments,” Tucker mentioned. “Now we’ve obtained 4 years to tug from.”

“Uncancelled” will add a couple of new twists to the acquainted mixture of blood, stunts and comedy.

“This would be the first yr that the characters within the present know that they’re in a present,” Tucker mentioned. “They acknowledge that it’s a brand new venue. They acknowledge that they have been canceled. Knott’s safety performs a job in attempting to close the present down as a result of it’s not PC. There’s quite a lot of meta stuff to it, which I’m actually enthusiastic about.”

The Hangman and the Lawman will function the hosts of “Uncancelled” and seem on stage all through the present.

“You’re anchored to them as characters the entire present,” Tucker mentioned. “We’re actually rooting for these guys. We would like them to discover a sufferer and discover a approach to kill them within the present.”

SEE ALSO: Knott’s Berry Farm assessments Xcelerator coaster forward of highly-anticipated return

The fan-favorite Inexperienced Witch — who performs a driving power behind the central storyline of Scary Farm — makes a collection of appearances to wreak havoc on the perfect laid plans of the Lawman and the Hangman.

“The Hanging” additionally acknowledges the marquee names which have headlined Knott’s Scary Farm in the course of the previous half decade — from Sinister Seymour to Wolfman Jack to Elvira, Mistress of the Darkish.

“Let’s give the followers all of the Easter eggs and references that we are able to cram in there,” Tucker mentioned. “I’m a Knott’s man. I stay and breathe Knott’s Berry Farm. Every little thing that I do right here on the Farm has to have the Knott’s taste.”

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