591 reviews
South Park is probably the most misunderstood show in TV history.
Sure, it does have fart jokes but what it has really involved into is a show that depicts a wide range of current events, pop cultures references, social problems through the lenses of a group of 10 year olds and all the wacky characters that surround them.
The fact that the drawings are fairly simple also makes a lot of people shy away from it, but actually this show has a completely unique approach to several divisive or thought-provoking subjects. To name a few:
These are all great episodes and I think the show if anything has aged well with time.
The other brilliant thing about South Park is that because each episode gets produced in the span of week, it can be more up to date than any scripted show - just this season it referenced Kavanaugh nomination controversy in an episode even before he was eventually confirmed.
Second 10/10 I have given on IMDb and South Park is well deserving of it.
Sure, it does have fart jokes but what it has really involved into is a show that depicts a wide range of current events, pop cultures references, social problems through the lenses of a group of 10 year olds and all the wacky characters that surround them.
The fact that the drawings are fairly simple also makes a lot of people shy away from it, but actually this show has a completely unique approach to several divisive or thought-provoking subjects. To name a few:
- 'The Hobbit" looks at how photoshopped photos makes society expectations of a woman's body hard to reach and the amount of pressure it may put on little girls (whilst taking hilarious jabs at Kanye West and Kim Kardashian)
- "You're getting old" takes you over the nightmare that is feeling like you might be mentally older than you friends and that may make left out
- Console Wars episodes dive into the consumerism involving Black Friday, video games and the world's obsession with Game of Thrones
These are all great episodes and I think the show if anything has aged well with time.
The other brilliant thing about South Park is that because each episode gets produced in the span of week, it can be more up to date than any scripted show - just this season it referenced Kavanaugh nomination controversy in an episode even before he was eventually confirmed.
Second 10/10 I have given on IMDb and South Park is well deserving of it.
- manuel_medeiros
- Nov 6, 2018
- Permalink
I love this show so much! I think this show has sometimes lost it's edge, but it always managed to get back in the game.
- johnpaul-74140
- Nov 7, 2018
- Permalink
Initially was not sure as to whether 'South Park' would be my cup of tea at all, despite being a huge fan of animation for all my life (and still very much am). But there have been many instances of films and shows that gave me conflicted feelings before watching, but turned out far better than expected and actually being very good or more.
Such is the case with 'South Park'. As of now, it is one of the highest rated shows on IMDb and was a huge ratings success when first aired, and no wonder. At its best, it's absolutely brilliant and one of the best and funniest shows there is to me. Thought that would never be said about a show known for dividing people with its controversial and "offensive" content, was not sure whether I would like it let alone love it and it ended up a favourite. Is it as good as it was? No, it's not as witty, daring or inventive now, but is still very funny and intelligent. That is only being said though because the earlier seasons are so good.
To me, 'South Park' is much better than other popular shows like 'The Simpsons' (originally fantastic, now has declined rapidly) and 'Family Guy' and Seth Macfarlane's other shows, which never did anything for me.
Can actually see though why some dislike it. A lot of the content is very controversial and not for the easily offended. The show is crude, extremely rude (possibly the rudest animated show ever), naughty, at times juvenile and less than subtle in its treatment of taboo subjects. At the same time, 'South Park' is hilarious, smart, witty and daring but also clever, sharp, irreverent and intelligent. The satirical humour is subversive and there are not many animated shows this daring, completely contradicting the tired and incredibly annoying cliché spouted constantly that animation is only for children (often by parents defending a panned family film).
Often one is shocked at how much 'South Park' gets away with, everything. Every subject and every everyday issues is covered and satirised it seems, nothing escapes the writers. While subtlety completely goes out the window, so much of what 'South Park' says has a huge amount of truth and relevance (both when it first aired and still very much so now). Like good satire should it does it in a daring and perhaps divisive fashion, not holding back and taking no prisoners. This should sound like a recipe for disaster, but actually to me it was why the show is so loved and admired.
There's more to 'South Park' than just the humour. The stories are very inventive, smartly constructed, cohesive, honest and relevant. The characters are some of the most memorable and iconic in recent animation, especially Cartman. Trey Parker and Matt Stone's voice work is a practical tour-De-force for both, both bringing so much individuality and personality to these characters and their writing.
Not everybody seems to like the animation, personally liked the quirkiness of it myself and there are not many shows with visuals like 'South Park's'. The music is energetic and catchy.
Overall, brilliant show that surprisingly became right up my street, even with the controversial content. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Such is the case with 'South Park'. As of now, it is one of the highest rated shows on IMDb and was a huge ratings success when first aired, and no wonder. At its best, it's absolutely brilliant and one of the best and funniest shows there is to me. Thought that would never be said about a show known for dividing people with its controversial and "offensive" content, was not sure whether I would like it let alone love it and it ended up a favourite. Is it as good as it was? No, it's not as witty, daring or inventive now, but is still very funny and intelligent. That is only being said though because the earlier seasons are so good.
To me, 'South Park' is much better than other popular shows like 'The Simpsons' (originally fantastic, now has declined rapidly) and 'Family Guy' and Seth Macfarlane's other shows, which never did anything for me.
Can actually see though why some dislike it. A lot of the content is very controversial and not for the easily offended. The show is crude, extremely rude (possibly the rudest animated show ever), naughty, at times juvenile and less than subtle in its treatment of taboo subjects. At the same time, 'South Park' is hilarious, smart, witty and daring but also clever, sharp, irreverent and intelligent. The satirical humour is subversive and there are not many animated shows this daring, completely contradicting the tired and incredibly annoying cliché spouted constantly that animation is only for children (often by parents defending a panned family film).
Often one is shocked at how much 'South Park' gets away with, everything. Every subject and every everyday issues is covered and satirised it seems, nothing escapes the writers. While subtlety completely goes out the window, so much of what 'South Park' says has a huge amount of truth and relevance (both when it first aired and still very much so now). Like good satire should it does it in a daring and perhaps divisive fashion, not holding back and taking no prisoners. This should sound like a recipe for disaster, but actually to me it was why the show is so loved and admired.
There's more to 'South Park' than just the humour. The stories are very inventive, smartly constructed, cohesive, honest and relevant. The characters are some of the most memorable and iconic in recent animation, especially Cartman. Trey Parker and Matt Stone's voice work is a practical tour-De-force for both, both bringing so much individuality and personality to these characters and their writing.
Not everybody seems to like the animation, personally liked the quirkiness of it myself and there are not many shows with visuals like 'South Park's'. The music is energetic and catchy.
Overall, brilliant show that surprisingly became right up my street, even with the controversial content. 9/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Aug 22, 2017
- Permalink
South Park is one of the most misunderstood, and also the most intelligent shows on television.
South Park is a satirical look on most anything from Western society - politics, the media, today's youth, celebrities, violence in our society, and much much more. However, instead of presenting these issues as they are, they alternately project them through the exploits of four young boys in South Park, Colorado.
Unfortunately, many people take the show solely at face value, refusing to see the intelligence in it - South Park is admittedly filled with racist and sexist jokes, along with other offensive material. The problem lies within the fact that most people don't seem to understand the concept of satire and self parody.
I admit that I, myself, was one of these people - for years I refused to watch that "garbage," until finally a friend forced me to actually watch a whole episode, and I realized that the show was actually making a point.
So, if you haven't done so, go - watch an episode. You'll feel smarter when you're done.
South Park is a satirical look on most anything from Western society - politics, the media, today's youth, celebrities, violence in our society, and much much more. However, instead of presenting these issues as they are, they alternately project them through the exploits of four young boys in South Park, Colorado.
Unfortunately, many people take the show solely at face value, refusing to see the intelligence in it - South Park is admittedly filled with racist and sexist jokes, along with other offensive material. The problem lies within the fact that most people don't seem to understand the concept of satire and self parody.
I admit that I, myself, was one of these people - for years I refused to watch that "garbage," until finally a friend forced me to actually watch a whole episode, and I realized that the show was actually making a point.
So, if you haven't done so, go - watch an episode. You'll feel smarter when you're done.
- jessicagarnergirl
- Mar 28, 2016
- Permalink
I wouldn't trade this show for the world. In fact, I love everything about it so much. So many episodes are funny and some even have a dark element in it that just makes it so good. Cartman's funny antics definitely keep the show going. Plots are so random yet so good. The older episodes are definitely the golden ones. I recommend watching them all. Plus,the show is so good it's been going for 26 years. Even the new episodes are funny, but the older you go back the better the episodes are (in my opinion). If you haven't watched South Park, I definitely would recommend it, and I already have multiple times.
- cdog-55874
- Jan 16, 2023
- Permalink
South Park Is the best TV show on Planet Earth. I actually think it's better than Rick and Morty. But, does it deserve a 10?
When people who only watch Rick and Morty hear South Park, they think it's a very lazy and crude show (I will be ripping my friends' love for Rick and Morty to shreds). South park is actually the opposite, it is intelligent, funny and in some places heart warming and sad.
The characters are perfect, I love Cartman, Kenny, Stan, Butters, Randy and my personal favourite Kyle. The supporting cast are some of the most memorable characters, not as good as The Simpsons.
The episodes are some of the most memorable scenarios ever put on television. Hilarious episodes like the zip lining episode, unexpected episodes like the Christmas Critters episode, episodes exploiting people opinions and views on the world like "Chinpokemon" and "Passion of the Jew", very emotional episodes like "You're getting old" and my personal favourite episode "Raisins", very dark episodes like "Scott Tenerman must die" and the very important "Osama Bin Laden has Farty Pants". There's such a variety than Peter Griffin doing something stupid or a wacky Sci-Fi adventure with Rick and Morty.
The show has fallen. It's now a very boring show. But, instead of looking at the present, we have seasons 1-17 to rewatch. I have many respects to Stone and Parker for giving us a show that even my mother can love.
- ellismorganjones
- Aug 27, 2018
- Permalink
For some reason I stopped following this show long time ago, even before tenth season I think. Recently, again for some inexplicable reason, it came to my mind and I decided to start it all over, from season one, but this time I'm gonna finish it, or better to say catch it, because I hope it will never end. This morning I finished first season. There's nothing better than healthy laughter with morning coffee. After 20 years this season is still fresh and hilarious. One of the strongest tens I ever gave.
10/10
"There is actually a lot of intelligent social commentary here - it's just masked under anything they could possibly offend someone with." - chthon2
10/10
"There is actually a lot of intelligent social commentary here - it's just masked under anything they could possibly offend someone with." - chthon2
- Bored_Dragon
- Oct 15, 2017
- Permalink
Now listen, i'm giving this show a 9 because the previous seasons before season 19 were excellent. They really influenced many other hilarious shows, and part of the fun of my childhood was tuning in to South Park when my parents were gone, only to be caught watching it. But the thing that keeps me from giving this show a perfect 10 is because i think the show has changed for the worst.
So like i said first 18 seasons of South Park we're excellent, even the bad episodes in there still had great memorable moments. I tuned in to Season 19 and i noticed they wanted to do a story season were everything is connected. But that season provided little laughs and the finale was disappointing. I had high hopes for Season 20 because i thought Trey and Matt (the show's creators) had listened to the feedback on Season 19, but Season 20 was even worse then the last one. Many characters went through unnecessary changes, they put so much political topics into the show to the point where it felt like overkill, they managed to make Gerald (Kyle's dad) the most unlikable character in the show, many things that the show sets up are quickly forgotten, and the ending was bad (not disappointing like season 19, but just bad). Season 21 was an improvement from Season 20 but the show was still missing something. And i think i know what killed South Park.
It's no secret that South Park has many political and social commentary tones, but that was never the main point of the show, that was just a good addition to it. But it's like Matt and Trey forgot that, and they made the social commentary the MAIN point of the show.
The sad thing about it is Trey and Matt really want to go back to the roots of South Park, but they forgot how to. They got so carried away with Politics that they forgot that the heart of the show was 4 foul mouthed kids in a small mountain town that find themselves in the dumbest of situations. They completely ditched that part of the show and i eagerly want it back.
So like i said first 18 seasons of South Park we're excellent, even the bad episodes in there still had great memorable moments. I tuned in to Season 19 and i noticed they wanted to do a story season were everything is connected. But that season provided little laughs and the finale was disappointing. I had high hopes for Season 20 because i thought Trey and Matt (the show's creators) had listened to the feedback on Season 19, but Season 20 was even worse then the last one. Many characters went through unnecessary changes, they put so much political topics into the show to the point where it felt like overkill, they managed to make Gerald (Kyle's dad) the most unlikable character in the show, many things that the show sets up are quickly forgotten, and the ending was bad (not disappointing like season 19, but just bad). Season 21 was an improvement from Season 20 but the show was still missing something. And i think i know what killed South Park.
It's no secret that South Park has many political and social commentary tones, but that was never the main point of the show, that was just a good addition to it. But it's like Matt and Trey forgot that, and they made the social commentary the MAIN point of the show.
The sad thing about it is Trey and Matt really want to go back to the roots of South Park, but they forgot how to. They got so carried away with Politics that they forgot that the heart of the show was 4 foul mouthed kids in a small mountain town that find themselves in the dumbest of situations. They completely ditched that part of the show and i eagerly want it back.
- MonkyMangler
- Dec 15, 2018
- Permalink
16 October 2017
For some reason, I stopped following this show a long time ago, even before the tenth season I think. Recently, again for some inexplicable reason, it came to my mind and I decided to start it all over, from season one, but this time I'm going to finish it, or better to say catch it, because I hope it will never end. This morning I finished the first season. There's nothing better than healthy laughter with morning coffee. After 20 years this season is still fresh and hilarious. One of the strongest tens I ever gave.
10/10
(I'm near the end of the 8th season now and it still kicks ass.)
24 December 2018
In the last year I have seen all 22 seasons of "South Park" and, although it had its ups and downs, overall it's one of the best TV shows of all time and definitely the ultimate animated one. I can't wait for the 23rd season.
For some reason, I stopped following this show a long time ago, even before the tenth season I think. Recently, again for some inexplicable reason, it came to my mind and I decided to start it all over, from season one, but this time I'm going to finish it, or better to say catch it, because I hope it will never end. This morning I finished the first season. There's nothing better than healthy laughter with morning coffee. After 20 years this season is still fresh and hilarious. One of the strongest tens I ever gave.
10/10
(I'm near the end of the 8th season now and it still kicks ass.)
24 December 2018
In the last year I have seen all 22 seasons of "South Park" and, although it had its ups and downs, overall it's one of the best TV shows of all time and definitely the ultimate animated one. I can't wait for the 23rd season.
- Bored_Dragon
- Dec 23, 2018
- Permalink
I remember when these four little boys were nothing but private greeting card art. Now look at them!
In all seriousness, I love this show. This is the funniest adult cartoon there is, and thank GOODNESS Comedy Central took this series and allowed the creators to do "almost" anything. If there was an alternate universe for "Peanuts", you've hit it in "South Park".
There are very few (if none) episodes I didn't like. We all have our favorites, and my number one is still "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe". I laughed until I cried on that one. The next one that is very close to that is last years (2002) Christmas Special when Jesus was "packing" to rescue Santa out of Iraq after he was shot down. This was one of those episodes where I DARE you not to laugh and enjoy it.
The supporting cast about South Park is also stellular. The lives (and minds) that intertwine with Stan, Cartman, Kenny and Kyle are just hilarious. Chef, Mr. Garrison. Kyles Mom and Dad, Cartman's Mother, Butters, Timmy!, Sherrif Bar Brady, Principal Victoria, Wendy, BeBe, and..Big Gay Al..etc....etc..you name it, they are just too much.
Wonderful and ground-breaking (even though the animation isn't state of the art) nothing is out of bounds for these guys...South Park is an instant classic and a great time to be had by all.
In all seriousness, I love this show. This is the funniest adult cartoon there is, and thank GOODNESS Comedy Central took this series and allowed the creators to do "almost" anything. If there was an alternate universe for "Peanuts", you've hit it in "South Park".
There are very few (if none) episodes I didn't like. We all have our favorites, and my number one is still "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe". I laughed until I cried on that one. The next one that is very close to that is last years (2002) Christmas Special when Jesus was "packing" to rescue Santa out of Iraq after he was shot down. This was one of those episodes where I DARE you not to laugh and enjoy it.
The supporting cast about South Park is also stellular. The lives (and minds) that intertwine with Stan, Cartman, Kenny and Kyle are just hilarious. Chef, Mr. Garrison. Kyles Mom and Dad, Cartman's Mother, Butters, Timmy!, Sherrif Bar Brady, Principal Victoria, Wendy, BeBe, and..Big Gay Al..etc....etc..you name it, they are just too much.
Wonderful and ground-breaking (even though the animation isn't state of the art) nothing is out of bounds for these guys...South Park is an instant classic and a great time to be had by all.
- lambiepie-2
- Nov 9, 2003
- Permalink
I read in complete disbelief the comments that called the show racist, homophobic, anti-religious and even one that said it promoted animal cruelty. LOL! There isn't a single race, religion, political group, sexuality, gender, nationality, celebrity etc etc that it doesn't make fun of. The show even pops fun at itself in some episodes, signalling to the world that they themselves are open to ridicule. If you think the show has a nasty message about a certain group then your just not getting it and i'm glad you have ceased watching and have moved on to more brain numbing programmes that don't cause you to think (might I recommend 'Friends').
The series follows a group of four third grade boys(later fourth grade) in the town of South Park, Colorado consisting of Stan(The most grounded and "normal" one of the group usually characterized by his cynicism), Kyle (The town's lone Jewish child with a strong willed sense of moral and social responsibility), Cartman (a fat, racist, sexist, arrogant loudmouth who goes to great extremes to bring others misery) and Kenny (the oft-muffled and indiscernible one of the group whose interest include pornography or mischief when he's not being killed in an over the top fashion). Each week the group encounter over the top situations usually spawned from a fun house mirror image of a real world controversy or news cycle, with issues such as abortion, homosexuality, economic policy, racism, sexual politics, and many other taboo subjects with edge to spare.
The brain child of creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, South Park's humble beginnings stem from the creation of two shorts the duo made that served as prototypes for what would become the series (Jesus vs. Frosty). The shorts became early examples of viral media and was spread by notable figures such as George Clooney (who would later have a joke "guest appearance" giving guttural dog growls in the episode Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride). The series almost became a show on the Fox network during their early days having made contemporary envelope pushing content such as Simpsons, Cops, and The X-Files that all pushed the limits of what constituted "broadcast acceptable". While executives at the network were initially enthusiastic about the show, disagreements (particularly about Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo) would end negotiations and shift the duo's efforts to Paramount with a choice of MTV or Comedy Central. Even prior to broadcast the show was faced with poor test screenings and nervous executives, but despite all this the series became a breakout hit generated buzz with taglines like "this is why the invented the V-Chip" and becoming a cultural phenomenon prior to airing with $30 million in T-Shirt sales and becoming one of the most watched shows on cable TV at the time and giving mainstream credibility to the network Comedy Central beyond their one respected property Mystery Science Theater 3000 which had mainly niche appeal. In the years since its rough around the edges first season the show has become a pop culture touch stone with many of its lines, characters, and visuals taking on a life of their own becoming cultural icons. The show also is known for its razor sharp bite, fearlessly satirizing politics, culture, society, entertainment, and anything else they can get their hands on.... I only wish I liked and enjoyed the show as much as I respected it.
There's no individual element I can point to as when my enjoyment of South Park diminished as the series hasn't seen any noticeable dip in quality since its first season (in fact the writing and animation has only gotten better and better while retaining its minimalist amateur charms), but more with how and what the show satirized. I can understand and appreciate the show's satire of many elements as being both funny and valid, and even episodes with basic if any satire and more of a humor focus are quite good (The Red Badge of Gayness wherein Cartman tries and almost succeeds undoing the North victory of the Civil War simply so he can win a bet with Kyle and Stan is easily my favorite episode of the series) with the show's attacks on various societal inanities being both insightful and humorous.....but then there's the other times where not only did I feel they missed the mark, they went the complete opposite direction from the mark. Episodes like Butt Out, Smug Alert, Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow, or Manbearpig are some of the most infuriating episodes of television I have ever witnessed. Butt Out plays devil's advocate for cigarette companies playing up a weird Willy Wonkaish image for the Cigarette companies while showing anti-smoking advocates as a coven of vampires willing to lie and murder. Not only does Butt Out use Cigarette Industry funded "studies" to say there's no evidence second hand smoke kills, this episode came out SEVEN years after Jeffrey Wigand blew the whistle on the Cigarette companies and was subjected to threats against himself and his family by third party thugs hired through backchannels by Brown & Williamson and created debunked dossiers filled with lies. There's nothing wrong with playing Devil's advocate, but this isn't Devil's Advocate, it's Devil's Cheerleader! If they didn't read the Vanity Fair article, fine, but there's a bloody movie by Michael Mann (The Insider) that covers it! This same approach is utilized in other episodes outside Butt Out with similar aggravating disregard for reality and utilizing other industry funded studies that of course look favorably upon the industry because if you're grading yourself, why grade yourself anything but an 'A'? And the fact that Stone and Parker don't bother pointing out that falicy in industry funded research shows a remarkable lack of self awareness in two individuals whose careers are built on "Fearless Satire"
South Park earns my respect because it says what it wants without a filter. Agree or disagree, there's no attempt to paint their words to make them more appealing, and I can respect that. I can respect the show is made in lightning fast time in both writing and productions. I can respect their willingness to tackle subject matter that larger scale productions wouldn't go near with a 40 foot pole. Unfortunately I don't enjoy or get anything from South Park that I'm happy about. Each subsequent season of South Park left me feeling a greater ratio of sadness, anger, and frustration than humor or laughter. At the end of the day, South Park is about looking into the unflushed toilet that is society and meticulously pulling apart the leavings floating in the bowl for no other reason than to see what the leavings are made of and what makes them smell as bad as they do. I can't ding the show for this because that's exactly what it sets out for, and it's exactly what it accomplishes. Do with that what you will.
The brain child of creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, South Park's humble beginnings stem from the creation of two shorts the duo made that served as prototypes for what would become the series (Jesus vs. Frosty). The shorts became early examples of viral media and was spread by notable figures such as George Clooney (who would later have a joke "guest appearance" giving guttural dog growls in the episode Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride). The series almost became a show on the Fox network during their early days having made contemporary envelope pushing content such as Simpsons, Cops, and The X-Files that all pushed the limits of what constituted "broadcast acceptable". While executives at the network were initially enthusiastic about the show, disagreements (particularly about Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo) would end negotiations and shift the duo's efforts to Paramount with a choice of MTV or Comedy Central. Even prior to broadcast the show was faced with poor test screenings and nervous executives, but despite all this the series became a breakout hit generated buzz with taglines like "this is why the invented the V-Chip" and becoming a cultural phenomenon prior to airing with $30 million in T-Shirt sales and becoming one of the most watched shows on cable TV at the time and giving mainstream credibility to the network Comedy Central beyond their one respected property Mystery Science Theater 3000 which had mainly niche appeal. In the years since its rough around the edges first season the show has become a pop culture touch stone with many of its lines, characters, and visuals taking on a life of their own becoming cultural icons. The show also is known for its razor sharp bite, fearlessly satirizing politics, culture, society, entertainment, and anything else they can get their hands on.... I only wish I liked and enjoyed the show as much as I respected it.
There's no individual element I can point to as when my enjoyment of South Park diminished as the series hasn't seen any noticeable dip in quality since its first season (in fact the writing and animation has only gotten better and better while retaining its minimalist amateur charms), but more with how and what the show satirized. I can understand and appreciate the show's satire of many elements as being both funny and valid, and even episodes with basic if any satire and more of a humor focus are quite good (The Red Badge of Gayness wherein Cartman tries and almost succeeds undoing the North victory of the Civil War simply so he can win a bet with Kyle and Stan is easily my favorite episode of the series) with the show's attacks on various societal inanities being both insightful and humorous.....but then there's the other times where not only did I feel they missed the mark, they went the complete opposite direction from the mark. Episodes like Butt Out, Smug Alert, Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow, or Manbearpig are some of the most infuriating episodes of television I have ever witnessed. Butt Out plays devil's advocate for cigarette companies playing up a weird Willy Wonkaish image for the Cigarette companies while showing anti-smoking advocates as a coven of vampires willing to lie and murder. Not only does Butt Out use Cigarette Industry funded "studies" to say there's no evidence second hand smoke kills, this episode came out SEVEN years after Jeffrey Wigand blew the whistle on the Cigarette companies and was subjected to threats against himself and his family by third party thugs hired through backchannels by Brown & Williamson and created debunked dossiers filled with lies. There's nothing wrong with playing Devil's advocate, but this isn't Devil's Advocate, it's Devil's Cheerleader! If they didn't read the Vanity Fair article, fine, but there's a bloody movie by Michael Mann (The Insider) that covers it! This same approach is utilized in other episodes outside Butt Out with similar aggravating disregard for reality and utilizing other industry funded studies that of course look favorably upon the industry because if you're grading yourself, why grade yourself anything but an 'A'? And the fact that Stone and Parker don't bother pointing out that falicy in industry funded research shows a remarkable lack of self awareness in two individuals whose careers are built on "Fearless Satire"
South Park earns my respect because it says what it wants without a filter. Agree or disagree, there's no attempt to paint their words to make them more appealing, and I can respect that. I can respect the show is made in lightning fast time in both writing and productions. I can respect their willingness to tackle subject matter that larger scale productions wouldn't go near with a 40 foot pole. Unfortunately I don't enjoy or get anything from South Park that I'm happy about. Each subsequent season of South Park left me feeling a greater ratio of sadness, anger, and frustration than humor or laughter. At the end of the day, South Park is about looking into the unflushed toilet that is society and meticulously pulling apart the leavings floating in the bowl for no other reason than to see what the leavings are made of and what makes them smell as bad as they do. I can't ding the show for this because that's exactly what it sets out for, and it's exactly what it accomplishes. Do with that what you will.
- IonicBreezeMachine
- Jun 3, 2021
- Permalink
It have lost it's charm, it's all bs and weed. Carman is a barely an a-hole and the friends are no longer friends. While keeping this old goodie keep going is great for the passionate fans of the little pricks, I think there must be feedback to "fix" the series in the original direction to preserve the spirit of the episodes from few years ago.
Network: Comedy Central; Genre: Animated Comedy, Satire, Parody; Content Rating: TV-MA (for dark comic content and graphic language, sexual content, violence & animated gore); Available: DVD; Classification: Modern Classic (Star range expanded: 1 - 5);
Season Reviewed: 10+ seasons
Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflowfski, Eric Cartman and (sometimes) the ill-fated Kenny McCormick are 8-year-old boys growing up amid an adult world in the backward, frozen-over mountain town of South Park, Colorado. Their adventures, that make up creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone's animated comedy "South Park", include fending off everything from supernatural demons to the biggest names in the Hollywood intelligentsia. "South Park" is several things. It's rude, crude, shocking, smart, decidedly adult, completely original, and it is indulgent in the whims and imaginations of it's creators. It's also the very best political, pop culture and current event satire on television.
The show started as something of a fad - the new vulgar, don't-let-the-kids-watch show on the block. But as real world events changed, "Park" evolved along with them. Standing as the kings on top of a soap box they constructed out of swearing kids, talking poo, homosexual hand puppets and hermaphroditic parents; Parker and Stone where blessed with the freedom of a hit series, hip status and a network that gave them the freedom to do whatever they want. As the show aged, they matured in their storytelling abilities and the show went from shock value fad to a barbed satire of American culture.
"Park" is brought to life with oddly beautiful, vibrantly colored 2-dimensional cut-and-paste animation. The episodes are masterfully constructed. The writing a witty showcase of Parker and Stone's love for pop culture parody, graphic violence, pornography and a bold willingness to take on the hot button issues of the week. It is a free-for-all virtuoso where nothing and nobody is safe, every establishment media position gets flipped on it's head and every politically correct sacred cow gets eviscerated. Now that's comedy - if you can stomach a barrage of extreme scatological humor with your social satire. The vomit jokes and fat jokes on "Park" aren't there for the sake of it, but have substance behind them. And nobody does them better.
Eric Cartman, Mr. Garrison and more recently Randy Marsh (stepping up as a reliably hilarious scene-stealer) are classic characters, but Parker and Stone have gone further and developed an entire town of colorful caricatures. They aren't made to be as endearing as those in "The Simpsons", but aren't supposed to be. The characters aren't just vacuous idiots, and the laughs of the show come from a very socially conscious place.
Straight men Stan and Kyle are the show's most underdeveloped. They serve mostly as a mouthpiece for Parker and Stone's conservative libertarian philosophy, often literally giving a speech to a crowd in the show's finale. There is not a single other place on TV where you can see environmentalists, the anti-smoking lobby, illegal immigrants, trial lawyers, news media hysteria, elitist Hollywood liberals, abortion, sex ed in schools and every celebrity from Mel Gibson to Paris Hilton all get ripped to shreds. The show pulls it off because it has a unique ability to deconstruct and reconstruct current events better than anyone else (notably Comedy Central's overrated "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"), giving them a hilarious or supernatural explanation without moralizing getting in the way of the laughs. They take their own messages to such loony extremes it's impossible to take seriously.The cherry on top is the seemingly endless quality of the original songs provided by the creator's cover band, DVDA.
With a skeleton crew that writes, directs, animates, voices and scores the show, this is independent television in it's purest form. This means it often labors on Parker and Stone's geeky indulgences - episodes center around a full-length "Star Wars" parody, the class gerbil making it's way up a human bowel or Timmy, a handicapped student who can only say his name. Occasionally, their shock value execution creates a gagging reaction that obscures an otherwise brilliant point ("Fat Camp"). But I'd rather have a show that challenges me than one shackled to clichés and network mandates. When "South Park" goes for the shocking ending, you better believe it actually will shock.
Still, "South Park" is almost impossible to recommend in a casual sense. The show is truly an acquired taste, but one I have to come to support whole-heartedly through the years despite (and because) I have absolutely no idea what to expect when sitting down for a new episode. How rare is that? Where so many other shows cower in the corner, begging for our approval "South Park" is constantly taking risks and re-inventing itself. We've got terrific stunt episodes, episodes built around one joke or building to a single knock-out punch line. They use the smash-cut ending better than anyone ("There Goes the Neighborhood"). Sometimes the experiments are to it's own detriment and the episode is a 22 minute bore, but even then it's almost unheard of to find a show in it's 10th season that is still water cooler television.
"South Park" grabs us by the collar, shakes us around and dares even it's biggest fans to come back next week for more. The show is a monument of creative freedom with a wicked imagination, a true (and hilariously funny) sense of comic timing, and an insightful, socially conscious ear that smartly reflects a point of view starving for attention in mainstream television. It is a hugely entertaining, fiercely visceral, fire-breathing, red-blooded American satire made by, for (and most appreciated by) the most jaded and discriminating TV viewers. We just don't have shows like this on TV today. Anywhere.
* * * * * / 5
Season Reviewed: 10+ seasons
Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflowfski, Eric Cartman and (sometimes) the ill-fated Kenny McCormick are 8-year-old boys growing up amid an adult world in the backward, frozen-over mountain town of South Park, Colorado. Their adventures, that make up creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone's animated comedy "South Park", include fending off everything from supernatural demons to the biggest names in the Hollywood intelligentsia. "South Park" is several things. It's rude, crude, shocking, smart, decidedly adult, completely original, and it is indulgent in the whims and imaginations of it's creators. It's also the very best political, pop culture and current event satire on television.
The show started as something of a fad - the new vulgar, don't-let-the-kids-watch show on the block. But as real world events changed, "Park" evolved along with them. Standing as the kings on top of a soap box they constructed out of swearing kids, talking poo, homosexual hand puppets and hermaphroditic parents; Parker and Stone where blessed with the freedom of a hit series, hip status and a network that gave them the freedom to do whatever they want. As the show aged, they matured in their storytelling abilities and the show went from shock value fad to a barbed satire of American culture.
"Park" is brought to life with oddly beautiful, vibrantly colored 2-dimensional cut-and-paste animation. The episodes are masterfully constructed. The writing a witty showcase of Parker and Stone's love for pop culture parody, graphic violence, pornography and a bold willingness to take on the hot button issues of the week. It is a free-for-all virtuoso where nothing and nobody is safe, every establishment media position gets flipped on it's head and every politically correct sacred cow gets eviscerated. Now that's comedy - if you can stomach a barrage of extreme scatological humor with your social satire. The vomit jokes and fat jokes on "Park" aren't there for the sake of it, but have substance behind them. And nobody does them better.
Eric Cartman, Mr. Garrison and more recently Randy Marsh (stepping up as a reliably hilarious scene-stealer) are classic characters, but Parker and Stone have gone further and developed an entire town of colorful caricatures. They aren't made to be as endearing as those in "The Simpsons", but aren't supposed to be. The characters aren't just vacuous idiots, and the laughs of the show come from a very socially conscious place.
Straight men Stan and Kyle are the show's most underdeveloped. They serve mostly as a mouthpiece for Parker and Stone's conservative libertarian philosophy, often literally giving a speech to a crowd in the show's finale. There is not a single other place on TV where you can see environmentalists, the anti-smoking lobby, illegal immigrants, trial lawyers, news media hysteria, elitist Hollywood liberals, abortion, sex ed in schools and every celebrity from Mel Gibson to Paris Hilton all get ripped to shreds. The show pulls it off because it has a unique ability to deconstruct and reconstruct current events better than anyone else (notably Comedy Central's overrated "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"), giving them a hilarious or supernatural explanation without moralizing getting in the way of the laughs. They take their own messages to such loony extremes it's impossible to take seriously.The cherry on top is the seemingly endless quality of the original songs provided by the creator's cover band, DVDA.
With a skeleton crew that writes, directs, animates, voices and scores the show, this is independent television in it's purest form. This means it often labors on Parker and Stone's geeky indulgences - episodes center around a full-length "Star Wars" parody, the class gerbil making it's way up a human bowel or Timmy, a handicapped student who can only say his name. Occasionally, their shock value execution creates a gagging reaction that obscures an otherwise brilliant point ("Fat Camp"). But I'd rather have a show that challenges me than one shackled to clichés and network mandates. When "South Park" goes for the shocking ending, you better believe it actually will shock.
Still, "South Park" is almost impossible to recommend in a casual sense. The show is truly an acquired taste, but one I have to come to support whole-heartedly through the years despite (and because) I have absolutely no idea what to expect when sitting down for a new episode. How rare is that? Where so many other shows cower in the corner, begging for our approval "South Park" is constantly taking risks and re-inventing itself. We've got terrific stunt episodes, episodes built around one joke or building to a single knock-out punch line. They use the smash-cut ending better than anyone ("There Goes the Neighborhood"). Sometimes the experiments are to it's own detriment and the episode is a 22 minute bore, but even then it's almost unheard of to find a show in it's 10th season that is still water cooler television.
"South Park" grabs us by the collar, shakes us around and dares even it's biggest fans to come back next week for more. The show is a monument of creative freedom with a wicked imagination, a true (and hilariously funny) sense of comic timing, and an insightful, socially conscious ear that smartly reflects a point of view starving for attention in mainstream television. It is a hugely entertaining, fiercely visceral, fire-breathing, red-blooded American satire made by, for (and most appreciated by) the most jaded and discriminating TV viewers. We just don't have shows like this on TV today. Anywhere.
* * * * * / 5
- liquidcelluloid-1
- Jan 8, 2005
- Permalink
This is one of the wittiest television series. Characters are perfect. Voice for characters is so nice that it could not have been better. Eric Cartman bring totally unimaginable, humorous ideas. Butters, Stan, Kenny, Iyke all help bringing up taste to stories. I just love how they make fun of famous celebrities, TV series, movies etc. People might have issues with some of the stories and language used throughout, but if you like comedy with satire and some adult references you would enjoy this series.
I liked the episode based on Warcraft game(season 10,episode 8), if you are going to start watching it you can start with this episode.
Big applause for Trey Parker and Matt Stone the creators of South Park. They also have voiced many characters in the series.
I liked the episode based on Warcraft game(season 10,episode 8), if you are going to start watching it you can start with this episode.
Big applause for Trey Parker and Matt Stone the creators of South Park. They also have voiced many characters in the series.
I remember back when "South Park" first came out and I thought to myself it was an awful show if only because of the animation. This is definitely something that's grown on me. Many people chastise this show for being mean spirited, but it honestly isn't. I love the episodes where they say that if you're a genuinely good person, it doesn't matter what your (religious) beliefs are. The important thing is to do the right thing and that's something my family always taught me. Contrast this with something like "Family Guy" where they say you're an idiot if you believe in God. Trey Parker said that of all the ridiculous things religion teaches, atheism is even worse as it teaches that things happen for no reason. This is a wonderfully original and insightful idea.
It's weird how people can support other shows like Bill Maher. He outright says you're a bad person because of what you think. In this show, it simply says to live your life the way you want because your ideals work for you. Maybe religion will die, but the spirit of love will always live on. While you may argue that "South Park" does not have a consistent ideology, you could say the same for the Nostalgia Critic. I'm certain you'll be offended by at least one thing they say. Controversial jokes work great if they're done well. They need to be done with no real spite like this show does. Yes, the show is quite obscene, but it definitely makes you think more than most shows.
It's hard to find a cartoon that is so topical. All you really have to do is just look at the world around you and imagine what the next episode of "South Park" will say about it. This is a great example of how pop culture reflects everyday life. The show used to be known for Kenny dying in every episode, but now rarely does it at all. This show has in fact changed for the better and it does treat the viewers with respect. My favorite character would have to be Butters. It's probably because he's the only kid who doesn't swear and he reminds me of how I was in the exact same position as a kid.
Should kids watch this? No. We spend most of our lives as adults so we'll have a lot more time to watch shows like this. It's great that the show is developing more and more of an ongoing storyline. Trey Parker and Matt Stone are great people who want you to accept who you truly are. This show is a great source of entertainment, but might be hard to follow politically. It's nice how they make fun of everyone who exists, but don't resent them. If you think that characters like Cartman are supposed to be loved, you're missing the point. Cartman exists for the role of showing the creators' frustrations towards true bigots. It seems like you're missing out on a lot by rejecting this show, but that's fine. I personally find this to be the funniest and most relevant cartoon ever made. It's certainly dark, but lacks true malice. I do think it's important to make jokes that are relevant to a story, because it's just better written. I'm glad this show has gone on so long. ****
It's weird how people can support other shows like Bill Maher. He outright says you're a bad person because of what you think. In this show, it simply says to live your life the way you want because your ideals work for you. Maybe religion will die, but the spirit of love will always live on. While you may argue that "South Park" does not have a consistent ideology, you could say the same for the Nostalgia Critic. I'm certain you'll be offended by at least one thing they say. Controversial jokes work great if they're done well. They need to be done with no real spite like this show does. Yes, the show is quite obscene, but it definitely makes you think more than most shows.
It's hard to find a cartoon that is so topical. All you really have to do is just look at the world around you and imagine what the next episode of "South Park" will say about it. This is a great example of how pop culture reflects everyday life. The show used to be known for Kenny dying in every episode, but now rarely does it at all. This show has in fact changed for the better and it does treat the viewers with respect. My favorite character would have to be Butters. It's probably because he's the only kid who doesn't swear and he reminds me of how I was in the exact same position as a kid.
Should kids watch this? No. We spend most of our lives as adults so we'll have a lot more time to watch shows like this. It's great that the show is developing more and more of an ongoing storyline. Trey Parker and Matt Stone are great people who want you to accept who you truly are. This show is a great source of entertainment, but might be hard to follow politically. It's nice how they make fun of everyone who exists, but don't resent them. If you think that characters like Cartman are supposed to be loved, you're missing the point. Cartman exists for the role of showing the creators' frustrations towards true bigots. It seems like you're missing out on a lot by rejecting this show, but that's fine. I personally find this to be the funniest and most relevant cartoon ever made. It's certainly dark, but lacks true malice. I do think it's important to make jokes that are relevant to a story, because it's just better written. I'm glad this show has gone on so long. ****
- ericstevenson
- Sep 13, 2016
- Permalink
The title of my review says it all. This show had great stories for over a decade and then they decided to get all silly and try to have a story arc every year. I have trouble watching an entire new episode now.
- happipuppi13
- Jul 3, 2022
- Permalink
This show is the funniest show I've ever watched and it has the best humour and also very simple animation which makes it even funnier and I love how they're harassing all races but never get cancelled nobody can cancel this show and they don't even have any boring episodes.
- mmdeo-23215
- Aug 22, 2022
- Permalink
South Park is a great cartoon, even with it's occasional pitfalls every season. It combines satire, music and comedy to create a terrific masterpiece of an animated show. Trey Parker and Matt Stone bring the weekly antics of a inbred mountain town in a way that has never been done before and it is drop dead funny. Sometimes it seems like the seasons get better, sometimes they seem to get worse for some. But episodes like "Chinpokomon", "The Passion of the Jew", "Tolerance Camp", and "Clubhouse" are classics. And most episodes get funnier every single time I see it and thanks to Comedy Central giving Parker and Stone full control for language, nothing is out of bounds.
- Quinoa1984
- Feb 18, 2000
- Permalink
The Simpsons started the amazing world of animated satire, which fell off around the 1990's then a couple years later the first episode of South Park aired fully made out of cartboard and stop motion, tbh the first two seasons aren't as good as the later ones.
The animation is so different then shows like: Family guy, Rick and Morty, king of the hill that the first second you see the animation style you know its South Park and that is what i love about the show it isn't a bad copycat of other famous show (like family guy)
The part where it is so good is that the episodes are made in only 7 days (simpsons takes about half a year and family guy 2 years). (almost) every episode is based around something that is happening in the real world but make it 1000x worse and 1000x as funny.
They make fun of EVERYONE it doesn't matter your skin tone, race, speech, disability they will make fun of you so its in no way racist.
It is satire at its finest!
The animation is so different then shows like: Family guy, Rick and Morty, king of the hill that the first second you see the animation style you know its South Park and that is what i love about the show it isn't a bad copycat of other famous show (like family guy)
The part where it is so good is that the episodes are made in only 7 days (simpsons takes about half a year and family guy 2 years). (almost) every episode is based around something that is happening in the real world but make it 1000x worse and 1000x as funny.
They make fun of EVERYONE it doesn't matter your skin tone, race, speech, disability they will make fun of you so its in no way racist.
It is satire at its finest!
- iggyassink-81281
- Jan 23, 2023
- Permalink
- oceaneb-03406
- Jun 22, 2022
- Permalink
Though the earlier shows were very good and entertaining, their more recent shows tend to be repetitive. The last tended to pertain mostly to pot culture, which was disappointing. However, they
seem to recapture some of their initial magic in the quarantine specials. I hope that in future Seasons they will continue this pattern. Though I understand that they are trying to reach new audience members, the show still needs to continue to grow with its current audience.
- nicksonpettis
- Sep 10, 2021
- Permalink
I've got a question for all of you REALLY big SOUTH PARK fans: Is this an acquired taste or if you don't get it that first time, you'll never get it? I think I may be the latter because I've watched the show twice and both times it didn't do a thing for me. I just don't think that the show is as clever as Stone and Parker or maybe even the fans seem to think that it is. I saw the part about Janet Reno dressing like the Easter Bunny to get some immigrant children out of a house which aired shortly after the Elian Gonzalez raid . . . tain't funny! I've got nothing against foul language, but that in and of itself isn't funny nor is the fact that it's coming out of the mouths of babes, so to speak.
I WILL say that I like the animation style of the show. It reminds me of those home movies that kids used to send into the TV show "Zoom" back in the Seventies. It makes it look as if the show actually were produced by children . . . that is, until they open their mouths. When it comes to adult-themed animated shows, I'll stick with the king: "The Simpsons". Sometimes, there is something to be said for subtlety.
I WILL say that I like the animation style of the show. It reminds me of those home movies that kids used to send into the TV show "Zoom" back in the Seventies. It makes it look as if the show actually were produced by children . . . that is, until they open their mouths. When it comes to adult-themed animated shows, I'll stick with the king: "The Simpsons". Sometimes, there is something to be said for subtlety.