Not really killing it imo. Most episodes are extremely “both sides”-y which makes them have this milquetoast approach to issues and an unclear perspective. The jokes are often kind of cringe, imo, and the whole thing feels very bland. So its like a political/social satire comedy show that is designed by committee to make mild japes at both sides but not make them too uncomfortable.
It used to be an edgy comedy show (sometimes too edgy for mainstream audiences both then and now) that would lambast social and political figures, but it wasn’t just a satire show - it had a separate identity from that. And it was funny, usually. It pushed a lot of boundaries - the media was always talking about South Park as though it was this super scary show that will turn your kids into hooligans and destroy the moral fiber of the country and should be banned.
So maybe it’s partly that you can’t easily be a super rebellious standout show pushing the envelope every week for 27 years, that they wanted to appeal to mainstream audiences and adopted this bland centrist viewpoint, and that the media landscape is full of edgy-ish comedy shows these days and so it’s harder to stand out.
I am by no means a huge SP fan though and have not watched but like 3 seasons since the old days. So if this take is off and the show has gotten more interesting I’d like to know
Watch the most recent episode. I, like you, don’t really watch South Park anymore but holy shit was it funny.
The Trump stuff killed it. The callback to Saddam, the absurdity of everything going on, the show really hit the nail on the head of how it feels in America right now.
South Park has always been Right Wing. Trey and Matt are self proclaimed “Libertarians”. There’s a significant overlap in the Venn Diagram of Joe Rogan bros and South Park fans. “They make fun of both sides bro” and yet some of their most enduring cultural contributions are downplaying climate change and dehumanizing trans people.
They may clutch their pearls about MAGA now, but their promotion of political apathy among Gen X and Millennial men is part of why we have MAGA.
I remember there was a brief moment in the early 00s where the term “South Park Republican” had some cultural cachet until everyone realized it was just edgy libertarianism for contrarian shitheads.
I think Man-Bear-Pig was more satire on people acting like Global Warming and Climate change was an imminent thing that was going to kill them in 10-20 years, treating a nebulous scientific concept into something impendingly dangerous like a car crash or wild animal.
Don’t forget that Al Gore made them sad and they created Manbearpig as a response. It was some decades later that they admitted that they were wrong on the topic of climate change and regretted what they did.
I liked it more in the early days before every episode revolved around current events and people. Like the dodgeball tournament episode, aliens giving anal probes, the kids getting ninja weapons from the fair, or Scott Tinnerman and how he shouldn’t have fucked with Cartman.
Not really killing it imo. Most episodes are extremely “both sides”-y which makes them have this milquetoast approach to issues and an unclear perspective. The jokes are often kind of cringe, imo, and the whole thing feels very bland. So its like a political/social satire comedy show that is designed by committee to make mild japes at both sides but not make them too uncomfortable.
It used to be an edgy comedy show (sometimes too edgy for mainstream audiences both then and now) that would lambast social and political figures, but it wasn’t just a satire show - it had a separate identity from that. And it was funny, usually. It pushed a lot of boundaries - the media was always talking about South Park as though it was this super scary show that will turn your kids into hooligans and destroy the moral fiber of the country and should be banned.
So maybe it’s partly that you can’t easily be a super rebellious standout show pushing the envelope every week for 27 years, that they wanted to appeal to mainstream audiences and adopted this bland centrist viewpoint, and that the media landscape is full of edgy-ish comedy shows these days and so it’s harder to stand out.
I am by no means a huge SP fan though and have not watched but like 3 seasons since the old days. So if this take is off and the show has gotten more interesting I’d like to know
Watch the most recent episode. I, like you, don’t really watch South Park anymore but holy shit was it funny.
The Trump stuff killed it. The callback to Saddam, the absurdity of everything going on, the show really hit the nail on the head of how it feels in America right now.
I will & will report back
Edit: yeah it’s definitely an improvement
o7 good luck soldier
They went kind of downhill started with his first term, but looks like this episode is strong
South Park has always been Right Wing. Trey and Matt are self proclaimed “Libertarians”. There’s a significant overlap in the Venn Diagram of Joe Rogan bros and South Park fans. “They make fun of both sides bro” and yet some of their most enduring cultural contributions are downplaying climate change and dehumanizing trans people.
They may clutch their pearls about MAGA now, but their promotion of political apathy among Gen X and Millennial men is part of why we have MAGA.
I remember there was a brief moment in the early 00s where the term “South Park Republican” had some cultural cachet until everyone realized it was just edgy libertarianism for contrarian shitheads.
Aren’t they former libertarians? I feel like I heard they realized they were idiots and changed, but I could be wrong.
Its possible. I recall reading somewhere that they regret the ManBearPig episode. Good on them for being able to change and grow.
Still, unfortunately the damage has been done.
i dont remember this one. when was this?
Maybe man bear pig and the hybrid car episodes.
I think Man-Bear-Pig was more satire on people acting like Global Warming and Climate change was an imminent thing that was going to kill them in 10-20 years, treating a nebulous scientific concept into something impendingly dangerous like a car crash or wild animal.
Manbearpig was saying climate change doesnt exist and Al Gore is an idiot. That was the only message. There was no both sides to that episode.
12 years later they made an apology episode to say Gore was right all along.
oh i remember. literally just made the connection, the episodes even featured al gore as the alter ego or something.
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Don’t forget that Al Gore made them sad and they created Manbearpig as a response. It was some decades later that they admitted that they were wrong on the topic of climate change and regretted what they did.
I liked it more in the early days before every episode revolved around current events and people. Like the dodgeball tournament episode, aliens giving anal probes, the kids getting ninja weapons from the fair, or Scott Tinnerman and how he shouldn’t have fucked with Cartman.
I long for the classics like MechaStreisand.