South Park#Distribution

{{Main|List of South Park characters|l1=List of South Park characters}}

South Park centers around four boys: Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman and Kenny McCormick. The boys live in the fictional small town of South Park, located within the real-life South Park basin in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado,{{cite news|first=Eric|last= Griffiths|title=Young offenders|work=New Statesman|date=June 21, 2007|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/books/2007/06/south-park-sex-studies|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627133812/https://www.newstatesman.com/books/2007/06/south-park-sex-studies|archive-date=June 27, 2021|url-status=dead}} approximately a one-hour drive from Denver.{{cite episode|title=City People|series=South Park|season=25|number=3|airdate=February 16, 2022|network=Comedy Central|quote=We're up in the mountains, about an hour from Denver.}} The town is also home to an assortment of other characters, including students, families, elementary school staff, and other various residents.{{cite news|last=Heffernan|first=Virginia|title=Critic's Notebook; What? Morals in 'South Park'?|work=The New York Times|date=April 28, 2004|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/28/arts/critic-s-notebook-what-morals-in-south-park.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=January 17, 2012|archive-date=November 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116002847/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/28/arts/critic-s-notebook-what-morals-in-south-park.html?pagewanted=all|url-status=live}} Prominent settings include South Park Elementary, various neighborhoods and the surrounding mountain range, actual Colorado landmarks, and the businesses along the town's main street, all of which are based on the appearance of similar locations in Fairplay, Colorado. As one of the few television programs set in the Mountain West region that takes place outside the urban core of Denver, South Park frequently features the unique culture of the region, including cattle ranchers, Old West theme parks, snowy climates, mountaineering, Mormons, real-life Colorado locations such as Casa Bonita and Cave of the Winds, and many other regionally specific characteristics.

Stan is portrayed as an average American boy; however, he has many mishaps throughout the series. In the first 22 seasons, Stan lived in South Park, but in the episodes during and after season 22, Stan resided in Tegridy Farms. Kyle is Jewish, and his portrayal as one of the few such people in South Park is often dealt with satirically.{{cite magazine |author=Jaime J. Weinman |date=March 12, 2008 |title=South Park grows up |url=http://www.macleans.ca/culture/entertainment/article.jsp?content=20080312_115131_115131 |magazine=Maclean's |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080321172805/http://www.macleans.ca/culture/entertainment/article.jsp?content=20080312_115131_115131 |archive-date=March 21, 2008 |access-date=October 24, 2010}} Stan is modeled after Parker, while Kyle is modeled after Stone. They are best friends, and their friendship, symbolically intended to reflect Parker and Stone's friendship,{{cite news|author1=Jeffrey Ressner |author2=James Collins |name-list-style=amp |title=Gross And Grosser|magazine=Time|date=March 23, 1998|url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,988028-2,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821033347/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,988028,00.html|archive-date=August 21, 2009|url-status=live |access-date=February 21, 2022}} is a common topic throughout the series. Cartman (as he is commonly referred to) is amoral and increasingly psychopathic, and is commonly portrayed as an antagonist. His staunch antisemitism has resulted in a progressive rivalry with Kyle.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89375695|title=Eric Cartman: America's Favorite Little $@#&*%|access-date=October 25, 2008|last=Rovner|first=Julie|date=April 5, 2008|work=NPR|archive-date=May 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524070427/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89375695|url-status=live}} Kenny, who comes from a poor family, tightly wears his parka hood to the point where it obscures most of his face and muffles his speech. During the first five seasons, Kenny died in almost every episode before reappearing in the next with no definite explanation. He was killed off in the fifth season episode "Kenny Dies", before being reintroduced in the sixth season finale, "Red Sleigh Down". Since then, Kenny is depicted as dying sporadically. During the first 58 episodes, the children were in the third grade. During the fourth season, they entered the fourth grade, where they have remained ever since.{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/faq/354077 |title=FAQ: When will the boys be in the fifth grades? |date=January 11, 2005 |publisher=Comedy Central |access-date=January 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308071721/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/354077 |archive-date=March 8, 2012 }}{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/faq/354892 |title=FAQ: Are the boys still in 4th grade? |date=October 8, 2008 |publisher=Comedy Central |access-date=January 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308071258/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/354892 |archive-date=March 8, 2012 }}

Plots are often set in motion by events, ranging from the fairly typical to the supernatural and extraordinary, which frequently happen in the town.{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishaz.com/jewishnews/980522/kyle.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815135956/http://www.jewishaz.com/jewishnews/980522/kyle.shtml |archive-date=August 15, 2012 |title=Who is Andrew Philip Kyle? |access-date=February 4, 2009 |author=Raphael, Rebecca |date=May 22, 1998 |work=New Voices |url-status=dead }} The boys often act as the voice of reason when these events cause panic or incongruous behavior among the adult populace, who are customarily depicted as irrational, gullible, and prone to overreaction.{{cite news|author=William Cohen |title=Respect Its Authoritah! |work=The Cornell Review |date=November 4, 2005 |url=http://www.cornellamerican.com/article/109/print/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100129195812/http://www.cornellamerican.com/article/109/print/ |archive-date=January 29, 2010 |access-date=May 5, 2009 |url-status=dead }} They are frequently confused by the contradictory and hypocritical behavior of their parents and other adults, and often perceive them as having distorted views on morality and society.{{cite news|author=Randy Fallows|title=The Theology of South Park|publisher=The Institute for the Study of American Popular Culture|date=January 2002|url=http://www.americanpopularculture.com/archive/tv/theology_southpark.htm|access-date=May 3, 2009|archive-date=May 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513135108/http://www.americanpopularculture.com/archive/tv/theology_southpark.htm|url-status=live}}

{{see also|Subject matter in South Park|label 1=Subject matter in South Park}}

Each episode opens with a tongue-in-cheek all persons fictitious disclaimer: "All characters and events in this show—even those based on real people—are entirely fictional. All celebrity voices are impersonated.....poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone."{{cite news|url=http://reason.com/archives/2000/05/01/goin-down-to-south-park/singlepage|title=Goin' Down to South Park: How kids can learn from 'vile trash'|magazine=Reason|date=May 2000|publisher=Reason|access-date=January 17, 2012|last=Fagin|first=Barry S.|archive-date=April 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405020750/http://reason.com/archives/2000/05/01/goin-down-to-south-park/singlepage|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/about/show_disclaimer.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080727005040/http://www.southparkstudios.com/about/show_disclaimer.php |archive-date=July 27, 2008 |title=Show Disclaimer|publisher=Comedy Central |access-date=May 22, 2009 |url-status=dead }}

South Park was the first weekly program to be rated TV-MA,{{cite web|url=http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/1997/12/12-12-97tdc/12-12-97d05-004.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040921095557/http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/1997/12/12-12-97tdc/12-12-97d05-004.asp |archive-date=September 21, 2004 |title=South Park stirs up controversy, laughs |date=December 12, 1997 |publisher=Daily Collegian |access-date=May 22, 2009 |last=Antonacci |first=Christopher |url-status=dead }} and is generally intended for adult audiences.{{cite news|first=Bill|last=Carter|title=Comedy Central makes the most of an irreverent, and profitable, new cartoon hit|work=The New York Times|date=November 10, 1997|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/10/business/media-broadcasting-comedy-central-makes-most-irreverent-profitable-new-cartoon.html|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-date=November 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104130401/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/10/business/media-broadcasting-comedy-central-makes-most-irreverent-profitable-new-cartoon.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/1998-04-16/entertainment/18071326_1_south-park-highest-rated-program-usa-network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730151751/http://articles.nydailynews.com/1998-04-16/entertainment/18071326_1_south-park-highest-rated-program-usa-network |archive-date=July 30, 2012 |title='South Park's' Still Top Dog On Basic Cable |date=April 16, 1998 |work=New York Daily News|access-date=May 22, 2009 |last=Huff |first=Richard |location=New York |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|author=Sylvia Rubin |title=TV's Foul-Mouthed Funnies |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=January 26, 1998 |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/TV-s-Foul-Mouthed-Funnies-South-Park-kids-3014688.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316012321/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fchronicle%2Farchive%2F1998%2F01%2F26%2FDD58819.DTL |archive-date=March 16, 2012 |access-date=February 21, 2022 }} The boys and most other child characters use strong profanity, with only the most taboo words being bleeped during a typical broadcast. Parker and Stone perceive this as the manner in which real-life small boys speak when they are alone.{{cite news|first=Abbie |last=Bernstein |title=South Park – Volume 2 |publisher=AVRev.com |date=October 27, 1998 |url=http://www.avrev.com/dvd-movie-disc-reviews/tv-shows/south-park-volume-2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515045446/http://www.avrev.com/dvd-movie-disc-reviews/tv-shows/south-park-volume-2.html |archive-date=May 15, 2013 |access-date=April 30, 2008 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|author1=Jake Trapper|author2=Dan Morris|name-list-style=amp|title=Secrets of 'South Park'|publisher=ABC News|date=September 22, 2006|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&page=4|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-date=March 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319073834/https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&page=4|url-status=live}}

South Park commonly makes use of carnivalesque and absurdist techniques,{{harvnb|Johnson-Woods|2007|pp=89–103}} numerous running gags,{{cite news|author=Devin Leonard|title=South Park creators haven't lost their edge|publisher=CNN|date=October 27, 2006|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391792/index.htm|access-date=May 3, 2009|archive-date=November 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107220939/https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391792/index.htm|url-status=live}} violence,{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/crude-violent-but-quite-brilliant-1045072.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/crude-violent-but-quite-brilliant-1045072.html |archive-date=May 24, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Crude, violent – but quite brilliant|date=January 5, 1999|work=The Independent|access-date=February 21, 2022|last=Blacker|first=Terence|location=London}}{{cite news|url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1998/05/05/ent_227452.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523164646/http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1998/05/05/ent_227452.shtml |archive-date=May 23, 2013 |title=The growth of trash TV concerns media watchers |date=May 5, 1998 |newspaper=The Augusta Chronicle |access-date=January 17, 2012 |url-status=dead }} sexual content,{{cite web|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid:82697|title=Screens: TV Eye|work=The Austin Chronicle|date=August 17, 2001|access-date=May 27, 2009|last=Acosta|first=Belinda|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402183529/http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid:82697|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.enquirer.com/columns/kiese/1998/05/052098jki.html|title=South Park' way crude for kids|date=May 20, 1998|publisher=Cincinnati Enquirer|access-date=May 27, 2009|last=Kiesewetter|first=John|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303224502/https://www.cincinnati.com/}} offhand pop-cultural references, and satirical portrayal of celebrities.

Early episodes tended to be shock value-oriented and featured more slapstick-style humor.{{cite news|url=http://old.chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1998/03/01/ent_223336.shtml|title=South Park: Funny, crude ... and a trendy favorite|date=March 1, 1998|newspaper=The Augusta Chronicle|access-date=January 17, 2012|last=Kligman|first=David|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523173806/http://old.chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1998/03/01/ent_223336.shtml|archive-date=May 23, 2013|url-status=dead}} While social satire had been used on the show occasionally earlier on, it became more prevalent as the series progressed, with the show retaining some of its focus on the boys' fondness of scatological humor in an attempt to remind adult viewers "what it was like to be eight years old". Parker and Stone also began further developing other characters by giving them larger roles in certain storylines, and began writing plots as parables based on religion, politics, and numerous other topics. This provided the opportunity for the show to spoof both extreme sides of contentious issues,{{cite news|author=Frazier Moore|title=Loud and lewd but sweet underneath|work=The Age|date=December 14, 2006|url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/loud-and-lewd-but-sweet-underneath-20061214-ge3saj.html|access-date=February 21, 2022|location=Melbourne|archive-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221180551/https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/loud-and-lewd-but-sweet-underneath-20061214-ge3saj.html|url-status=live}} while lampooning both liberal and conservative points of view.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/9519810/park_life |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005095418/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/9519810/park_life |archive-date=October 5, 2007 |title=Park Life |date=March 24, 2006 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=January 17, 2012 |last=Hancock |first=Noelle |url-status=dead }} Rebecca Raphael described the show as "an equal opportunity offender", while Parker and Stone describe their main purpose as to "be funny" and "make people laugh", while stating that no particular topic or group of people be exempt from mockery and satire.{{cite news|author=Dennis Lim|title=Television: Lowbrow and proud of it|newspaper=The Independent|date=March 29, 1998|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/television-lowbrow-and-proud-of-it-1153256.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/television-lowbrow-and-proud-of-it-1153256.html |archive-date=May 24, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=May 9, 2009|location=London}}{{cite news|first=Melanie|last=McFarland|title=Oh my God, 'South Park' killed a decade!|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|date=September 29, 2006|url=https://www.seattlepi.com/ae/tv/article/Oh-my-God-South-Park-killed-a-decade-1216016.php|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-date=February 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227122725/https://www.seattlepi.com/ae/tv/article/Oh-my-God-South-Park-killed-a-decade-1216016.php|url-status=live}}{{cite news|author=Frank Rich|title=Conservatives ♥ 'South Park'|work=The New York Times|date=May 1, 2005|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/01/opinion/01rich.html|access-date=May 3, 2009|archive-date=January 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108083620/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/01/opinion/01rich.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|author=Brian C. Anderson|title=We're Not Losing the Culture Wars Anymore|publisher=Manhattan Institute|year=2003|url=http://www.city-journal.org/html/13_4_were_not_losing.html|access-date=May 3, 2009|archive-date=January 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118080938/http://www.city-journal.org/html/13_4_were_not_losing.html|url-status=live}}

Parker and Stone insist that the show is still more about "kids being kids" and "what it's like to be in [elementary school] in America",{{cite news|author=Saunders |title=At 10, 'South Park' still bites |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=July 17, 2006 |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/spotlight_columnists/article/0,2777,DRMN_23962_4848796,00.html |access-date=May 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104070024/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/spotlight_columnists/article/0%2C2777%2CDRMN_23962_4848796%2C00.html |archive-date=January 4, 2007 |url-status=dead }} stating that the introduction of a more satirical element to the series was the result of the two adding more of a "moral center" to the show so that it would rely less on simply being crude and shocking in an attempt to maintain an audience.{{cite news|first=Melanie|last=McFarland|title=Social satire keeps 'South Park' fans coming back for a gasp, and a laugh|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|date=October 1, 2006|url=https://www.seattlepi.com/ae/tv/article/On-TV-Social-satire-keeps-South-Park-fans-1216014.php|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217025551/https://www.seattlepi.com/ae/tv/article/On-TV-Social-satire-keeps-South-Park-fans-1216014.php|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2001-07-26/culture/it-happens/1|title=It Happens|date=July 26, 2001|publisher=Broward Palm Beach New Times|access-date=May 22, 2009|last=Wilonsky|first=Robert|archive-date=July 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708101559/http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2001-07-26/culture/it-happens/1/|url-status=live}} While profane, Parker notes that there is still an "underlying sweetness" aspect to the child characters, and Time described the boys as "sometimes cruel but with a core of innocence". Usually, the boys or other characters pondered over what transpired during an episode and conveyed the important lesson taken from it with a short monologue. During earlier seasons, this speech commonly began with a variation of the phrase "You know, I've learned something today...".Arp and Jacoby, p. 58

File:Trey Parker and Matt Stone by Gage Skidmore.jpg (left) and Matt Stone continue to do most of the writing, directing and voice acting on the show.]]

Parker and Stone met in film class at the University of Colorado in 1992 and discovered a shared love of Monty Python, which they often cite as one of their primary inspirations.{{cite web|title=Trey Parker & Matt Stone on Monty Python|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imDdPW6r7U0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/imDdPW6r7U0| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|website=YouTube| date=September 3, 2010 |publisher=The Paley Center for Media|access-date=October 23, 2017}}{{cbignore}} They created an animated short entitled The Spirit of Christmas. The film was created by animating construction paper cutouts with stop motion, and features prototypes of the main characters of South Park, including a character resembling Cartman but named "Kenny", an unnamed character resembling what is today Kenny, and two near-identical unnamed characters who resemble Stan and Kyle. Fox Broadcasting Company executive and mutual friend Brian Graden commissioned Parker and Stone to create a second short film as a video Christmas card. Created in 1995, the second The Spirit of Christmas short resembled the style of the later series more closely.{{cite web

|url=http://www.gazette.uwo.ca/article.cfm?section=Arts&articleID=1811&month=11&day=9&year=2007

|title=The evolution of South Park

|date=November 9, 2007 |publisher=Western Gazette

|access-date=August 9, 2009 |last=Gregoris

|first=Michael

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611181531/http://www.gazette.uwo.ca/article.cfm?section=Arts&articleID=1811&month=11&day=9&year=2007

|archive-date=June 11, 2011 }} To differentiate between the two homonymous shorts, the first short is often referred to as Jesus vs. Frosty, and the second short as Jesus vs. Santa. Graden sent copies of the video to several of his friends, and from there it was copied and distributed, including on the internet, where it became one of the first viral videos.

As Jesus vs. Santa became more popular, Parker and Stone began talks of developing the short into a television series about four children residing in a fictional Colorado town in the real-life South Park basin. Fox eagerly agreed to meet with the duo about the show's premise, having prided itself on edgier products such as Cops, The Simpsons, and The X-Files. However, during the meeting at the Fox office in Century City, disagreements between the two creators and the network began to arise, mainly over the latter's refusal to air a show that included a supporting talking stool character named Mr. Hankey. Some executives at 20th Century Fox Television (which was to produce the series) agreed with its then-sister network's stance on Mr. Hankey and repeatedly requested Parker and Stone to remove the character in order for the show to proceed. Refusing to meet their demands, the duo cut ties with Fox and its sister companies all together and began shopping the series somewhere else.{{Cite web|url=https://glamourfame.com/fox-refused-south-park-1997-because-one-character|title=Fox Refused to Take 'South Park' in 1997 Because of One Character, and Something Else as well|work=Glamour Fame|date=September 18, 2019|access-date=October 7, 2019|archive-date=October 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007184100/https://glamourfame.com/fox-refused-south-park-1997-because-one-character|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2480397/that-time-fox-refused-to-pick-up-south-park-because-of-mr-hankey|title=That Time Fox Refused To Pick Up South Park Because Of Mr. Hankey|last=Ashton|first=Will|work=CinemaBlend|date=September 17, 2019|access-date=October 7, 2019|archive-date=September 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923152455/https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2480397/that-time-fox-refused-to-pick-up-south-park-because-of-mr-hankey|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/36709/d-oh-fox-turned-down-south-park|title=D'oh! Fox Turned Down "South Park"?|last=Pride|first=Ray|work=E! News|date=July 14, 1998|access-date=October 7, 2019|archive-date=October 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007184059/https://www.eonline.com/news/36709/d-oh-fox-turned-down-south-park|url-status=live}}

The two then entered negotiations with both MTV and Comedy Central. Parker preferred the show be produced by Comedy Central, fearing that MTV would turn it into a kids show.{{cite interview|url=http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/about.aspx?id=12881 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209001855/http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/about.aspx?id=12881 |archive-date=February 9, 2010 |title=Matt Stone, Trey Parker, Larry Divney 'Speaking Freely' transcript |access-date=February 8, 2007 |date=March 1, 2002 |subject=Trey Parker |subject2=Matt Stone |url-status=dead }} When Comedy Central executive Doug Herzog watched the short, he commissioned for it to be developed into a series.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/27/business/media/27south.html|title='South Park' Creators Win Ad Sharing In Deal|access-date=October 17, 2008|author=Halbfinger, David M.|date=August 27, 2007|work=The New York Times|archive-date=December 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212065427/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/27/business/media/27south.html|url-status=live}} Parker and Stone assembled a small staff and spent three months creating the pilot episode "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe". South Park was in danger of being canceled before it even aired when the show fared poorly with test audiences, particularly with women. However, the shorts were still gaining more popularity over the Internet, and Comedy Central ordered a run of six episodes. South Park debuted with "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe" on August 13, 1997.{{harvnb|Weinstock|Fallows|2008|p=227}}

Except for the pilot episode, which was produced using cutout animation, all episodes of South Park are created with the use of software, primarily Autodesk Maya.{{Cite web |last=Rosenberg |first=Adam |date=2017-06-19 |title='South Park' TV creators can beam their work directly into 'The Fractured But Whole' |url=https://mashable.com/article/south-park-fractured-but-whole-snowdrop-tv-show |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=Mashable |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118182903/https://mashable.com/article/south-park-fractured-but-whole-snowdrop-tv-show |url-status=live }} As opposed to the pilot, which took three months to complete,{{cite news|author=Matt Cheplic |title='As Crappy As Possible': The Method Behind the Madness of South Park |publisher=Penton Media |date=May 1, 1998 |url=http://digitalcontentproducer.com/mag/video_crappy_possible_method/ |access-date=April 28, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090329014416/http://digitalcontentproducer.com/mag/video_crappy_possible_method/ |archive-date=March 29, 2009 |url-status=dead }} and other animated sitcoms, which are traditionally hand-drawn by companies in South Korea in a process that takes roughly eight to nine months, individual episodes of South Park take significantly less time to produce. Using computers as an animation method, the show's production staff were able to generate an episode in about three weeks during the first seasons. Now, with a staff of about 70 people, episodes are typically completed in one week, with some in as little as three to four days.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/19/arts/television-radio-a-study-guide-for-south-park.html|title=A Study Guide for 'South Park'|date=November 19, 2000|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 22, 2009|last=Zeidner|first=Lisa|archive-date=March 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090330232613/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/19/arts/television-radio-a-study-guide-for-south-park.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/faq/353828 |title=FAQ: How much time did it actually take to make all the actions and drawings of the kids in their anime phase? |access-date=January 17, 2012 |date=March 19, 2004 |publisher=Comedy Central |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228123427/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/353828 |archive-date=December 28, 2013 }}

{{cite web

|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/faq/353927

|title=FAQ: I've read around that South Park episodes can be made in 5 days, but what is the speed record for producing an episode, and which one was it?

|publisher=Comedy Central

|date=November 15, 2004 |access-date=January 17, 2012 |url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228122457/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/353927

|archive-date=December 28, 2013 }} Nearly the entire production of an episode is accomplished within one set of offices, which were originally at a complex in Westwood, Los Angeles, California and are now part of South Park Studios in Culver City, California. Parker and Stone have been the show's executive producers throughout its entire history.{{cite web|url=http://bcm.bc.edu/issues/fall_2006/works/the-wrangler.html|title=The wrangler|date=Fall 2006|publisher=bcm.bc.edu|access-date=June 25, 2009|last=Mantell|first=Suzanne|archive-date=April 10, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410064602/http://bcm.bc.edu/issues/fall_2006/works/the-wrangler.html|url-status=live}} Debbie Liebling, who was Senior Vice President of original programming and development for Comedy Central, also served as an executive producer during the show's first five seasons, coordinating the show's production efforts between South Park Studios and Comedy Central's headquarters in New York City.{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2009/biz/markets-festivals/fox-folding-atomic-label-1118002584/|title=Fox folding Atomic label|date=April 19, 2009|work=Variety|access-date=August 11, 2009|last=Fleming|first=Michael|archive-date=November 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107035810/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118002584?refCatId=13|url-status=live}}{{cite news

|url=https://variety.com/2002/tv/news/liebling-ankles-her-comedy-post-1117864962/

|title=Liebling ankles her Comedy post|date=April 4, 2002|magazine=Variety|access-date=January 17, 2012

|last=Grego|first=Melissa}} During its early stages, finished episodes of South Park were hastily recorded to D-2 to be sent to Comedy Central for airing in just a few days' time.{{cite web |url=http://www.spscriptorium.com/SPinfo/MakingOfSouthPark.htm |title=The Making of South Park |author= |website=South Park Scriptorium |access-date=September 15, 2013 |archive-date=September 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130910101602/http://www.spscriptorium.com/SPinfo/MakingOfSouthPark.htm |url-status=live }} Each episode used to cost $250,000.{{cite web|first=Bill|last=Carther|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97447363/pittsburgh-post-gazette/|title=South Park Cartoon is a hit for Comedy Central|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|page=32|date=December 30, 1997|accessdate=March 13, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313023519/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97447363/pittsburgh-post-gazette/|url-status=live}}

File:Elianandkenny.jpg affair is referenced in "Quintuplets 2000", which aired within the same week the event occurred.]]

Scripts are not written before a season begins.{{cite news|author=Jesse McKinley|title=Norman Lear Discovers Soul Mates in 'South Park'|work=The New York Times|date=April 10, 2003|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/10/movies/norman-lear-discovers-soul-mates-in-south-park.html|access-date=May 9, 2009|archive-date=December 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210110153/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/10/movies/norman-lear-discovers-soul-mates-in-south-park.html|url-status=live}} Production of an episode begins on a Thursday, with the show's writing consultants brainstorming with Parker and Stone. Former staff writers include Pam Brady, who has since written scripts for the films Hot Rod, Hamlet 2 and Team America: World Police (with Parker and Stone), and Nancy Pimental, who served as co-host of Win Ben Stein's Money and wrote the film The Sweetest Thing after her tenure with the show during its first three seasons.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/news/weather/orl-hamlet-2-movie-review-roger-moore,1,3124350.story|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529124530/http://www.latimes.com/news/weather/orl-hamlet-2-movie-review-roger-moore,1,3124350.story|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 29, 2010|title=Movie Review: 'Hamlet 2' – 3 stars out of 5|work=Los Angeles Times|date=August 20, 2008|access-date=June 25, 2009|last=Moore|first=Roger}}

{{cite web

|url=http://www.esquire.com/features/man-at-his-best/ESQ0602-JUN_OPENER?click=main_sr

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305211503/http://www.esquire.com/features/man-at-his-best/ESQ0602-JUN_OPENER?click=main_sr

|archive-date=March 5, 2012 |title=A Fun Woman: Nancy Pimental

|date=June 1, 2002 |work=Esquire

|access-date=June 25, 2009 |last=Sellers

|first=John

|url-status=dead

}} Television producer and writer Norman Lear, an idol of both Parker and Stone, served as a guest writing consultant for the season seven (2003) episodes "Cancelled" and "I'm a Little Bit Country".{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2003-03-17-south-park_x.htm|title=TV icon Norman Lear is goin' down to 'South Park'|date=March 17, 2003|publisher=USA Today|access-date=May 22, 2009|last=Keveney|first=Bill|archive-date=July 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719105656/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2003-03-17-south-park_x.htm|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/news/south-park-boys-hit-100-episodes-norman-lear-collaborate-new-season|title=South Park Boys Hit 100 Episodes; Norman Lear To Collaborate On New Season|date=March 13, 2003|publisher=Animation World Network|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221185243/https://www.awn.com/news/south-park-boys-hit-100-episodes-norman-lear-collaborate-new-season|url-status=live}} During the 12th and 13th seasons, Saturday Night Live actor and writer Bill Hader served as a creative consultant and co-producer.{{cite news|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/Scene/article.aspx?subjectid=283&articleid=20091016_283_D2_Cnrtlt351746 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830002636/http://www.tulsaworld.com/Scene/article.aspx?subjectid=283&articleid=20091016_283_D2_Cnrtlt351746 |archive-date=August 30, 2011 |title=Hader and Harjo: Tulsa talents keep on making must-sees |last=Smith |first=Michael |date=October 16, 2009 |work=Tulsa World |access-date=October 21, 2009 |url-status=dead }}{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2009/04/03/bill-hader-adve/|title=Bill Hader: The EW Pop Culture Personality Test|last=Bierly|first=Mandi|date=April 3, 2009|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221185233/https://ew.com/article/2009/04/03/bill-hader-adve/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2009/09/thursdays_riffs_5.html|title=The 'Riffs Interview: 'SNL's' Bill Hader Embraces His Inner Nerd for 'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs'|last=Cavna|first=Michael|date=September 2009|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 21, 2009|archive-date=June 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624095318/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2009/09/thursdays_riffs_5.html|url-status=dead}}

After exchanging ideas, Parker will write a script, and from there the entire team of animators, editors, technicians, and sound engineers will each typically work 100–120 hours in the ensuing week.{{cite web|url=https://www.apple.com/pro/profiles/southpark/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816021453/http://www.apple.com/pro/profiles/southpark/index.html |archive-date=August 16, 2011 |title=South Park Studios: No Walk in the Park |access-date=December 21, 2008 |author=Driver, Dustin |publisher=Apple Inc. |url-status=dead }} Since the show's fourth season (2000), Parker has assumed most of the show's directorial duties, while Stone relinquished his share of the directing to focus on handling the coordination and business aspects of the production.

{{cite web|url=http://www.macleans.ca/culture/entertainment/article.jsp?content=20070423_104250_104250

|title=South Park has a silent partner|date=April 23, 2007|publisher=Maclean's|access-date=June 24, 2009|last=Weinman|first=Jaime J.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706040238/http://www.macleans.ca/culture/entertainment/article.jsp?content=20070423_104250_104250|archive-date=July 6, 2007}} On Wednesday, a completed episode is sent to Comedy Central's headquarters via satellite uplink, sometimes just a few hours before its air time of 10 PM Eastern Time.{{cite web|title=40 Questions|url=http://treyparker.info/archives_spstudios.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129004417/http://treyparker.info/archives_spstudios.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 29, 2010|date=October 4, 2001|publisher=South Park Studios|access-date=January 30, 2009}}

Parker and Stone state that subjecting themselves to a one-week deadline creates more spontaneity amongst themselves in the creative process, which they feel results in a funnier show. The schedule also allows South Park to both stay more topical and respond more quickly to specific current events than other satiric animated shows.{{cite web|author1=Jake Trapper|author2=Dan Morris|name-list-style=amp|title=Secrets of 'South Park'|publisher=ABC News|date=September 22, 2006|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&page=3|access-date=April 18, 2009|archive-date=May 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511114130/http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&page=3|url-status=live}} One of the earliest examples of this was in the season four (2000) episode "Quintuplets 2000", which references the United States Border Patrol's raid of a house during the Elián González affair, an event which occurred only four days before the episode originally aired.{{cite web|url=https://people.com/celebrity/south-park-salutes-elian/|title='South Park' Salutes Elian|author=Stephen M. Silverman|year=2000|publisher=People|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-date=June 2, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602024729/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,617720,00.html|url-status=dead}} The season nine (2005) episode "Best Friends Forever" references the Terri Schiavo case, and originally aired in the midst of the controversy and less than 12 hours before she died.{{cite news|author=Kate Aurthur|title='South Park' Echoes the Schiavo Case|work=The New York Times|date=April 2, 2005|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/02/arts/arts-briefly-south-park-echoes-the-schiavo-case.html|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-date=March 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319084241/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/02/arts/arts-briefly-south-park-echoes-the-schiavo-case.html|url-status=live}} A scene in the season seven (2003) finale "It's Christmas in Canada" references the discovery of dictator Saddam Hussein in a "spider hole" and his subsequent capture, which happened a mere three days prior to the episode airing.{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=12&year=2003 |title=FAQ: December 2003 |access-date=October 19, 2008 |date=December 19, 2003 |publisher=southparkstudios.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080504055200/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=12&year=2003 |archive-date=May 4, 2008 }} The season 12 (2008) episode "About Last Night..." revolves around Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 presidential election, and aired less than 24 hours after Obama was declared the winner, using segments of dialogue from Obama's real victory speech.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/11/07/how-south-park-pulled-off-about-last-night|title=How South Park Pulled off "About Last Night..."|website=IGN|date=November 6, 2008|author=Fickett, Travis|access-date=June 9, 2020|archive-date=June 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611062117/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/11/07/how-south-park-pulled-off-about-last-night|url-status=live}}

On October 16, 2013, the show failed to meet their production deadline for the first time ever, after a power outage on October 15 at the production studio prevented the episode, season 17's "Goth Kids 3: Dawn of the Posers", from being finished in time. The episode was rescheduled to air a week later on October 23, 2013.{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/news/j2j34b/episode-1704-will-not-air-tonight?xrs=synd_facebook-sp-blackout|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017051430/http://www.southparkstudios.com/news/j2j34b/episode-1704-will-not-air-tonight?xrs=synd_facebook-sp-blackout|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 17, 2013|title=Episode 1704 will not air tonight |publisher=Comedy Central |date=October 16, 2013|access-date=October 16, 2013}}

File:South Park production comparison.png"]]

The show's style of animation is inspired by the paper cut-out cartoons made by Terry Gilliam for Monty Python's Flying Circus, of which Parker and Stone have been lifelong fans.{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=4&year=2001 |title=FAQ: April 2001 |access-date=December 21, 2008 |date=March 18, 2001 |publisher=Comedy Central |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328120915/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=4&year=2001 |archive-date=March 28, 2009 }} Construction paper and traditional stop motion cutout animation techniques were used in the original animated shorts and in the pilot episode. Subsequent episodes have been produced by computer animation, providing a similar look to the originals while requiring a fraction of the time to produce. Before computer artists begin animating an episode, a series of animatics drawn in Toon Boom are provided by the show's storyboard artists.

{{cite web

|url=https://southpark.cc.com/clips/228729

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618072029/http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/228729

|url-status=dead

|archive-date=June 18, 2009 |title=Part 2: Storyboard

|date=Spring 2009

|publisher=Comedy Central

|access-date=June 25, 2009 }}Video interview with show storyboard artist Keo Thongkham

The characters and objects are composed of simple geometrical shapes and primary and secondary colors. Most child characters are the same size and shape, and are distinguished by their clothing, hair and skin colors, and headwear. Characters are mostly presented two-dimensionally and from only one angle. Their movements are animated in an intentionally jerky fashion, as they are purposely not offered the same free range of motion associated with hand-drawn characters.{{cite news|author=Abbie Bernstein |title=South Park – Volume 2 |publisher=AVRev.com |date=October 27, 1998 |url=http://www.avrev.com/dvd-movie-disc-reviews/tv-shows/south-park-volume-2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718231814/http://www.avrev.com/dvd-movie-disc-reviews/tv-shows/south-park-volume-2.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 18, 2009 |access-date=April 30, 2008 }} Occasionally, some non-fictional characters are depicted with photographic cutouts of their actual head and face in lieu of a face reminiscent of the show's traditional style. Canadians on the show are often portrayed in an even more minimalist fashion; they have simple beady eyes, and the top halves of their heads simply flap up and down when the characters speak.

When the show began using computers, the cardboard cutouts were scanned and re-drawn with CorelDRAW, then imported into PowerAnimator, which was used with SGI workstations to animate the characters. The workstations were linked to a 54-processor render farm that could render 10 to 15 shots an hour. Beginning with season five, the animators began using Maya instead of PowerAnimator.{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/news/712d55/faq-do-you-still-use-construction-paper-to-animate-the-show|title=FAQ: May 2001|access-date=December 19, 2008|date=May 14, 2001|publisher=Comedy Central|archive-date=October 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018105007/http://southpark.cc.com/blog/2013/06/10/faq-do-you-still-use-construction-paper-to-animate-the-show|url-status=live}} As of 2012, the studio ran a 120-processor render farm that can produce 30 or more shots an hour.

PowerAnimator and Maya are high-end programs mainly used for 3D computer graphics, while co-producer and former animation director Eric Stough notes that PowerAnimator was initially chosen because its features helped animators retain the show's "homemade" look. PowerAnimator was also used for making some of the show's visual effects, which are now created using Motion, a newer graphics program created by Apple, Inc. for their Mac OS X operating system. The show's visual quality has improved in recent seasons, though several other techniques are used to intentionally preserve the cheap cutout animation look.{{cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/1997/09/it-aint-easy-making-south-park-cheesy/|title=It Ain't Easy Making South Park Cheesy|access-date=February 21, 2022|author=Tanner, Mike|date=September 3, 1997|magazine=Wired|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090720072446/http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/1997/09/6558|archive-date=July 20, 2009}}{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/features/1999/07/sp-interview/3/|title=The Ars Technica South Park interview|access-date=February 21, 2022|author= Evil|date=July 26, 1999|website=Ars Technica|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060326171426/http://arstechnica.com/articles/culture/sp-interview.ars/3 |archive-date=March 26, 2006 }}

A few episodes feature sections of live-action footage, while others have incorporated other styles of animation. Portions of the season eight (2004) premiere "Good Times with Weapons" are done in anime style, while the season 10 episode "Make Love, Not Warcraft" is done partly in machinima.{{cite web|url=http://www.machinima.com/article/view&id=459 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080805030811/http://www.machinima.com/article/view%26id%3D459 |archive-date=August 5, 2008 |title="Make Love, Not Warcraft": Q&A with Frank Agnone, J.J. Franzen, and Eric Stough. |access-date=December 19, 2008 |date=November 15, 2006 |publisher=Machinima.com |url-status=dead }} The season 12 episode "Major Boobage", a homage to the 1981 animated film Heavy Metal, implements scenes accomplished with rotoscoping.{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/guide/1203/making_boobage/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080729223233/http://www.southparkstudios.com/guide/1203/making_boobage/ |archive-date=July 29, 2008 |title=Major Boobage: Behind The Scenes |access-date=May 23, 2009 |date=December 2008 |publisher=Comedy Central |url-status=dead }}

{{main|List of South Park cast members|l1=List of South Park cast members}}

Parker and Stone voice most of the male South Park characters.{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/faq/353438 |title=Who does the voices for the characters on South Park? |access-date=October 24, 2010 |date=April 23, 2002 |publisher=Comedy Central |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514234428/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/353438 |archive-date=May 14, 2011 }} Mary Kay Bergman voiced the majority of the female characters until her death in November 1999. Mona Marshall and Eliza Schneider succeeded Bergman, with Schneider leaving the show after its seventh season (2003). She was replaced by April Stewart, who, along with Marshall, continues to voice most of the female characters. Bergman was originally listed in the credits under the alias Shannen Cassidy to protect her reputation as the voice of several Disney and other kid-friendly characters.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1999/11/22/south-park-must-continue-without-its-lead-female-performer/|title=South Park must continue without its lead female performer|date=November 22, 1999|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=February 21, 2022|last=Bonin|first=Liane|archive-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221180551/https://ew.com/article/1999/11/22/south-park-must-continue-without-its-lead-female-performer/|url-status=live}} Stewart was originally credited under the name Gracie Lazar,{{cite web|url=http://www.aprilstewart.com/page6.html |title=April Stewart – ABOUT |publisher=aprilstewart.com |access-date=May 23, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413023726/http://aprilstewart.com/page6.html |archive-date=April 13, 2009 }} while Schneider was sometimes credited under her rock opera performance pseudonym Blue Girl.{{cite web|url=http://www.elizaschneider.com/bio.html|title=MY BIO:::: Eliza Jane|publisher=elizaschneider.com|access-date=May 23, 2009|archive-date=December 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217082626/http://www.elizaschneider.com/bio.html|url-status=dead}}

Other voice actors and members of South Park's production staff have voiced minor characters for various episodes, while a few staff members voice recurring characters. Supervising producer Jennifer Howell voices student Bebe Stevens; co-producer and storyboard artist Adrien Beard voices Tolkien Black,{{#tag:ref|Formerly Token Black; retconned in "The Big Fix".|group="nb"}}{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=4&year=2001 |title=FAQ: April 2001 |access-date=October 19, 2008 |date=April 30, 2001 |publisher=Comedy Central |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328120915/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=4&year=2001 |archive-date=March 28, 2009 }} who was the school's only African-American student until the introduction of Nichole in "Cartman Finds Love"; writing consultant Vernon Chatman voices an anthropomorphic towel named Towelie; and production supervisor John Hansen voices Mr. Slave, the former gay lover of Mr. Garrison.{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=11&year=2003 |title=FAQ: November 2003 |access-date=October 13, 2008 |date=November 21, 2003 |publisher=Comedy Central |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410145657/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=11&year=2003 |archive-date=April 10, 2009 }} Throughout the show's run, the voices for toddler and kindergarten characters have been provided by various small children of the show's production staff.{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/faq/archives.php?id=224 |title=Ike FAQ Archives |publisher=Comedy Central |access-date=February 4, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410145404/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/archives.php?id=224 |archive-date=April 10, 2009 }}

When voicing child characters, the voice actors speak within their normal vocal range while adding a childlike inflection. The recorded audio is then edited with Pro Tools, and the pitch is altered to make the voice sound more like that of a fourth grader.{{cite web|author=Stephanie Jorgl|title=South Park: Where The Sound Ain't No Joke!|publisher=Digizine|year=2005|url=http://www.audiohead.net/interviews/digizine/stories/sp2.pdf|access-date=April 30, 2009|archive-date=October 12, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012104904/http://www.audiohead.net/interviews/digizine/stories/sp2.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=South Park FAQ |url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=2&year=2009 |date=February 10, 2009 |publisher=Comedy Central |access-date=April 30, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511145241/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=2&year=2009 |archive-date=May 11, 2009 }}

Isaac Hayes voiced the character of Chef, an African-American, soul-singing cafeteria worker who was one of the few adults the boys consistently trusted.{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=6&year=2001 |title=FAQ: June 2001 |access-date=October 13, 2008 |date=June 28, 2001 |publisher=Comedy Central |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410145443/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=6&year=2001 |archive-date=April 10, 2009 }} Hayes agreed to voice the character after being among Parker and Stone's ideal candidates, which also included Lou Rawls and Barry White.{{cite video|people=Trey Parker, Matt Stone|title=Goin' Down to South Park|medium=Television documentary|publisher=Comedy Central}} Hayes, who lived and hosted a radio show in New York during his tenure with South Park, recorded his dialogue on a digital audio tape while a director gave directions over the phone, after which the tape would be shipped to the show's production studio in California. After Hayes left the show in early 2006, the character of Chef was killed off in the season 10 (2006) premiere "The Return of Chef".

{{Main|List of South Park guest stars|l1=List of South Park guest stars}}

Celebrities who are depicted on the show are usually impersonated, though some celebrities do their own voices for the show. Celebrities who have voiced themselves include Michael Buffer,{{cite web

|url=http://www.doghouseboxing.com/Dhb/Dhb052507.htm

|title=Buffer 'rumbles' his way to the top

|date=May 25, 2007 |publisher=Doghouse Boxing

|access-date=May 26, 2009 |last=Richmond

|first=Ray

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017061440/http://doghouseboxing.com/Dhb/Dhb052507.htm

|archive-date=October 17, 2007 |url-status=dead

}}{{cite news

|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/south-park-religion-unbelievably-tasteless-funny-article-1.801700

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730134127/http://articles.nydailynews.com/1998-02-04/entertainment/18064332_1_damien-new-kid-jesus

|archive-date=July 30, 2012 |title=South Park on religion: unbelievably tasteless – & funny

|date=February 4, 1998 |work=New York Daily News

|access-date=February 21, 2022 |last=Mink

|first=Eric

}} Brent Musburger,{{cite web|url=http://www.marinij.com/sports/ci_5357606|title=Lavin enjoying work with legendary broadcaster|date=March 4, 2007|publisher=www.marinij.com|access-date=May 23, 2009|last=Albee|first=Dave|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714034824/http://www.marinij.com/sports/ci_5357606|archive-date=July 14, 2011|url-status=dead}} Jay Leno,{{cite news

|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/5018386/Jay-Leno-profile-When-Big-Ears-met-Big-Chin.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090321184629/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/5018386/Jay-Leno-profile-When-Big-Ears-met-Big-Chin.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 21, 2009|title=Jay Leno profile: When Big Ears met Big Chin

|date=March 20, 2009|publisher=telegraph.co.uk|access-date=May 23, 2009|last=Leonard|first=Tom|location=London}} Robert Smith, and the bands Radiohead and Korn.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1423639.stm|title=Radiohead drawn into South Park|date=July 5, 2001|publisher=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=May 23, 2009|archive-date=February 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217173041/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1423639.stm|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1430968/korn-to-premiere-new-track-during-south-park-special/|title=Korn To Premiere New Track During "South Park" Special|date=October 11, 1999|publisher=MTV|access-date=February 21, 2022|last=Basham|first=David|archive-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221174239/http://www.mtv.com/news/1430968/korn-to-premiere-new-track-during-south-park-special/|url-status=dead}}

Comedy team Cheech & Chong voiced characters representing their likenesses for the season four (2000) episode "Cherokee Hair Tampons", which was the duo's first collaborative effort in 20 years.{{cite web

|url=http://www.undercover.com.au/News-Story.aspx?id=7767

|title=Cheech and Chong Will Make Another Movie

|date=March 5, 2009 |publisher=www.undercover.com.au

|access-date=May 23, 2009 |last=Cashmere

|first=Paul

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019064648/http://www.undercover.com.au/News-Story.aspx?id=7767

|archive-date=October 19, 2009 }} Malcolm McDowell appears in live-action sequences as the narrator of the season four episode "Pip".{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=11&year=2008 |title=FAQ: November 2008 |access-date=December 19, 2008 |date=November 12, 2008 |publisher=Comedy Central |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219073313/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=11&year=2008 |archive-date=December 19, 2008 }}

Jennifer Aniston,{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=4&year=2001 |title=FAQ: April 2001 |access-date=October 19, 2008 |date=April 20, 2001|publisher=Comedy Central |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328120915/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=4&year=2001 |archive-date=March 28, 2009 }} Richard Belzer,{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/south-park-rules-schedule-bites-article-1.858637|title=South Park rules but schedule bites|date=April 5, 2000|work=New York Daily News|access-date=February 21, 2022|last=Mink|first=Eric|archive-date=March 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319204543/https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/south-park-rules-schedule-bites-article-1.858637|url-status=live}} Natasha Henstridge,{{cite news

|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/park-won-mess-excess-article-1.802029

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629092259/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1998/01/20/1998-01-20__park__won_t_mess_with_excess.html

|archive-date=June 29, 2011 |title=Park won't mess with excess

|date=January 20, 1998 |work=New York Daily News

|access-date=February 21, 2022 |last=Williams

|first=Scott

|location=New York

|url-status=dead

}} Norman Lear,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/14/arts/television/14lear.html?ref=us|title=Getting Out the Vote, Keeping Up With Youth|date=August 13, 2008|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 24, 2009|last1=Barnes|first1=Brooks|last2=Cathcart|first2=Rebecca|archive-date=May 13, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513030715/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/14/arts/television/14lear.html?ref=us|url-status=live}} and Peter Serafinowicz{{cite news

|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/my-secret-life-peter-serafinowicz-actor-and-comedian-age-36-912006.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/my-secret-life-peter-serafinowicz-actor-and-comedian-age-36-912006.html |archive-date=May 24, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=My Secret Life: Peter Serafinowicz, Actor and comedian, age 36

|date=August 30, 2008|work=The Independent|access-date=May 23, 2009|last=Philby|first=Charlotte|location=London

}} have guest starred as other speaking characters. During South Park's earliest seasons, several high-profile celebrities inquired about guest-starring on the show. As a joke, Parker and Stone responded by offering low-profile, non-speaking roles, most of which were accepted; George Clooney provided the barks for Stan's dog Sparky in the season one (1997) episode "Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride",{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=10&year=2001 |title=FAQ: October 2001 |access-date=October 19, 2008 |date=October 27, 2001 |publisher=Comedy Central |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410145428/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=10&year=2001 |archive-date=April 10, 2009 }} Leno provided the meows for Cartman's cat in the season one finale "Cartman's Mom Is a Dirty Slut", and Henry Winkler voiced the various growls and grunts of a kid-eating monster in the season two (1998) episode "City on the Edge of Forever".{{cite web|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/article/9877|title=Exclusive: Henry Winkler Talks Sit Down, Shut Up|date=April 13, 2009|publisher=Animation Magazine|access-date=May 23, 2009|last=Milligan|first=Mercedes|archive-date=April 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416030844/http://www.animationmagazine.net/article/9877|url-status=live}} Jerry Seinfeld offered to lend his voice for the Thanksgiving episode "Starvin' Marvin", but declined to appear when he was only offered a role as "Turkey #2".{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/where-seinfelds-a-turkey-1165153.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/where-seinfelds-a-turkey-1165153.html |archive-date=May 24, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Where Seinfeld's a turkey|date=June 15, 1998|work=The Independent|access-date=May 23, 2009|last=Reed|first=Jasper|location=London}}

File:BLACK SOUL SINGER ISAAC HAYES PERFORMS AT THE INTERNATIONAL AMPHITHEATER IN CHICAGO AS PART OF THE ANNUAL PUSH 'BLACK... - NARA - 556307.jpg would often sing in a style reminiscent of that of his voice actor, Isaac Hayes.]]

Parker says that the varying uses of music are of utmost importance to South Park.Arp and Broman, pp. 236–49 Several characters often play or sing songs in order to change or influence a group's behavior, or to educate, motivate, or indoctrinate others. The show also frequently features scenes in which its characters have disapproving reactions to the performances of certain popular musicians.

Adam Berry, the show's original score composer, used sound synthesis to simulate a small orchestra, and frequently alluded to existing famous pieces of music. Berry also used signature acoustic guitar and mandolin cues as leitmotifs for the show's establishing shots.{{cite web|url=https://www.soundtrack.net/content/article/?id=7|title=Eating Cheesy Poofs with Adam Berry|date=December 5, 1998|publisher=Soundtrack.net|access-date=February 21, 2022|last=Goldwasser|first=Dan|archive-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221185233/https://www.soundtrack.net/content/article/?id=7|url-status=live}} After Berry left in 2001, Jamie Dunlap and Scott Nickoley of the Los Angeles-based Mad City Production Studios provided the show's original music for the next seven seasons. Since 2008, Dunlap has been credited as the show's sole score composer.{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/behind/cast.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325234957/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/behind/cast.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 25, 2008 |title=Cast and Crew |publisher=Comedy Central |access-date=May 23, 2009 }} Dunlap's contributions to the show are one of the few that are not achieved at the show's own production offices. Dunlap reads a script, creates a score using digital audio software, and then e-mails the audio file to South Park Studios, where it is edited to fit with the completed episode.

In addition to singing in an effort to explain something to the children, Chef would also sing about things relevant to what had transpired in the plot. These songs were original compositions written by Parker, and they were performed by Hayes in the same sexually suggestive R&B style he had used during his own music career. The band DVDA, which consists of Parker and Stone, along with show staff members Bruce Howell and D.A. Young, performed the music for these compositions and, until the character's death on the show, were listed as "Chef's Band" in the closing credits.

Rick James, Elton John, Meat Loaf, Joe Strummer, Ozzy Osbourne, Primus, Rancid, and Ween all guest starred and briefly performed in the season two (1998) episode "Chef Aid". Korn debuted their single "Falling Away from Me" as guest stars on the season three (1999) episode "Korn's Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery".

The show's theme song was a musical score performed by the band Primus, with the lyrics alternately sung by the band's lead singer, Les Claypool, and the show's four central characters during the opening title sequence. Kenny's muffled lines are altered after every few seasons. His lines are usually sexually explicit in nature, such as his original lines, "I like girls with big fat titties, I like girls with deep vaginas".{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=9&year=2001 |title=South Park Studios FAQ |date=September 2001 |publisher=Comedy Central |access-date=October 21, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814210126/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=9&year=2001 |archive-date=August 14, 2009 }}

The original unaired opening composition was originally slower and had a length of 40 seconds. It was deemed too long for the opening sequence. So Parker and Stone sped it up for the show's opening, having Claypool re-record his vocals. The instrumental version of the original composition is often played during the show's closing credits.{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=3&year=2002 |title=FAQ: March 2002 |access-date=October 19, 2008 |date=March 27, 2002 |publisher=Comedy Central |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410145547/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/archives.php?month=3&year=2002 |archive-date=April 10, 2009 }}

The opening song played in the first four seasons (and the end credits in all seasons) has a folk rock instrumentation with bass guitar, trumpets and rhythmic drums. Its beat is fast in the opening and leisurely in the closing credits. It is in the minor key and it features a tritone or a diminished fifth, creating a melodic dissonance, which captures the show's surrealistic nature.{{how|date=December 2024}} In the latter parts of seasons 4 and 5, the opening tune has an electro funk arrangement with pop qualities. Seasons 6–9 have a sprightly bluegrass instrumentation with a usage of banjo and is set in the major key. For the later seasons, the arrangement is electro rock with a breakbeat influence, which feature electric guitars backed up by synthesized, groovy drumbeats.

The opening theme song has been remixed three times during the course of the series, including a remix performed by Paul Robb.{{cite news|url=http://www.smmirror.com/MainPages/DisplayArticleDetails.asp?eid=7480|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120916043750/http://www.smmirror.com/MainPages/DisplayArticleDetails.asp?eid=7480|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 16, 2012|title=Paul Robb: Leading a Double Life|last=Ohanesian|first=Liz|date=March 20, 2008|publisher=Santa Monica Mirror|access-date=November 10, 2009}} In 2006, the theme music was remixed with the song "Whamola" by Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade, from the album Purple Onion.{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/faq/archives.php?id=72639 |title=South Park Studios FAQ |date=August 18, 2008 |publisher=Comedy Central |access-date=November 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913151046/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/archives.php?id=72639 |archive-date=September 13, 2008 }}

{{Main|List of South Park episodes|l1=List of South Park episodes}}

{{:List of South Park episodes}}

South Park is broadcast internationally in several countries and territories, including India, New Zealand, and several countries throughout Europe and Latin America on channels that are subsidiaries of Comedy Central and Paramount Media Networks, both subsidiaries of Paramount.[https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/south-park-in-india-shuts-runs-into-trouble-in-us-too/story-UrG0tI3n83fTd0wmton3UK.html South Park in India shuts, runs into trouble in US too] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221161118/https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/south-park-in-india-shuts-runs-into-trouble-in-us-too/story-UrG0tI3n83fTd0wmton3UK.html |date=February 21, 2022 }}. Hindustan Times. Serena Menon. June 22, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2022{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/comedy-censored/|title=Comedy, censored|date=May 12, 2009|publisher=The Indian Epress|access-date=February 21, 2022|last=Pillai|first=Pooja|archive-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221163647/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/comedy-censored/|url-status=live}} In distribution deals with Comedy Central, other independent networks also broadcast the series in other international markets. In Australia, the show is broadcast on The Comedy Channel, Comedy Central and free-to-air channel SBS Viceland (before 2009), while new episodes aired on SBS. The program also airs free-to-air in Australia on 10 Shake, a sister network to Comedy Central through Paramount.{{cite web|url=http://www.perthsites.com/web/design.cgi?website=1355-sbs-com-au|title=SBS Special Broadcasting Service|publisher=www.perthsites.com|access-date=May 27, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226101714/http://www.perthsites.com/web/design.cgi?website=1355-sbs-com-au|archive-date=February 26, 2011|url-status=dead}} The series is broadcast uncensored in Canada in English on The Comedy Network{{cite web|url=http://ctvmedia.ca/comedy/releases/release.asp?id=9735&yyyy=2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216011004/http://ctvmedia.ca/comedy/releases/release.asp?id=9735&yyyy=2007 |archive-date=February 16, 2012 |title=Only in Canada, You Say? |date=September 12, 2007 |publisher=ctvmedia.ca |access-date=May 27, 2009 |url-status=dead }} and, later, Much. The series was formerly broadcast on Global. South Park also airs in Irish on TG4 in Ireland,{{cite web|url=http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2007/10/07/story27183.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070812032258/http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2007/10/07/story27183.asp |archive-date=August 12, 2007 |title=TG4 gives South Park early evening slot: ThePost.ie |date=October 7, 2007 |publisher=archives.tcm.ie |access-date=May 27, 2009 |last1=O'Mahony |first1=Catherine |last2=Larragy |first2=Simon |url-status=dead }} STV in Scotland,{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/tvandradioblog/2009/jun/22/stv-group-scottish-television|title=Brace yourself Scotland: STV has some depressingly cliched programme ideas|work=The Guardian|access-date=July 2, 2009|last=Graham|first=Jane|location=London|date=June 22, 2009|archive-date=December 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211041530/http://www.theguardian.com/culture/tvandradioblog/2009/jun/22/stv-group-scottish-television|url-status=live}} Comedy Central and MTV in the UK (previously on Sky One, Channel 4, VIVA and 5Star), B92 in Serbia,{{cite web|url=https://www.c21media.net/news/south-park-heads-north/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723034632/http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=1&article=49321 |archive-date=July 23, 2011 |title=South Park heads north |date=April 28, 2009 |publisher=C21 Media |access-date=February 21, 2022 |last=Waller |first=Ed}} and on Game One and NRJ 12 in France. In September 2020, SBS, which aired South Park in Australia since 1997, removed South Park from its television line-up, though reruns could air on SBS Viceland.{{cite news|url=https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2020/09/17/exclusive-sbs-says-goodbye-to-classic-comedy-south-park/|title=Exclusive: SBS Says Goodbye To Classic Comedy South Park|first=Kevin|last=Perry|publisher=TV Black Box|date=September 17, 2020|access-date=November 16, 2020|archive-date=November 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101173954/https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2020/09/17/exclusive-sbs-says-goodbye-to-classic-comedy-south-park/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/culture/sbs-cancels-south-park-after-23-years/|title=SBS Cancels 'South Park' After 23 Years|first=Laura|last=English|publisher=Music Feeds|date=September 17, 2020|access-date=November 16, 2020|archive-date=October 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022002704/https://musicfeeds.com.au/culture/sbs-cancels-south-park-after-23-years/|url-status=live}}

Broadcast syndication rights to South Park were acquired by Debmar-Mercury and Tribune Entertainment in 2003 and 2004 respectively.{{cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/09-03-2003/0002010600&EDATE=|title=Debmar Studios Acquires Broadcast Syndication Rights To Comedy Central's(R) 'South Park'|publisher=PR Newswire|access-date=May 27, 2009|archive-date=July 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708203507/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/debmar-studios-acquires-broadcast-syndication-rights-to-comedy-centralsr-south-park-71020497.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/47952/oh_my_god_south_park_syndicated|title=Oh My God! "South Park" Syndicated|date=July 30, 2004|publisher=E! Online|access-date=February 21, 2022|last=Grossberg|first=Josh|archive-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221161118/https://www.eonline.com/news/47952/oh_my_god_south_park_syndicated|url-status=live}} Episodes further edited for content began running in syndication on September 19, 2005, and were aired in the United States with the TV-14 rating.{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2005/tv/features/sanitized-sex-south-park-all-set-1117928175/|title=Sanitized 'Sex,' 'South Park' all set|date=August 28, 2005|publisher=Variety|access-date=February 21, 2022|last=Frankel|first=Daniel|archive-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221163646/https://variety.com/2005/tv/features/sanitized-sex-south-park-all-set-1117928175/|url-status=live}} 20th Television replaced Tribune as co-distributor in early 2008. By the time its run in syndication ended in 2015,{{cite web |author1=38 the Spot |author1-link=KMCI-TV |title=We have been receiving a lot of questions about what happened to South Park and why we are no longer airIng it |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10153203466813562 |website=Facebook |access-date=5 August 2024 |date=10 September 2015}} it aired in 90 percent of the television markets across the United States and Canada, where it generated an estimated US$25 million a year in advertising revenue.{{cite web|url=http://www.snta.com/php/display.php?p=program&p_id=213|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515233735/http://www.snta.com/php/display.php?p=program&p_id=213|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 15, 2011|title=South Park|publisher=SNTA|access-date=May 27, 2009}}{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0316/086_cash_for_trash.html?feed=rss_business|date=February 25, 2009|title=Cash for Trash|work=Fobes|access-date=May 27, 2009|last1=Rose|first1=Lacey|last2=Streib|first2=Lauren|archive-date=February 28, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228125352/http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0316/086_cash_for_trash.html?feed=rss_business|url-status=live}} In 2019, CBS Television Distribution (the syndication arm of ViacomCBS, now known as Paramount Global), took over the full distribution rights following the acquisition of 21st Century Fox (parent of 20th Television) by The Walt Disney Company (who had employed Debmar-Mercury founder Mort Marcus as the head of their syndication division), distributing the show in syndication.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/debmar-mercury-inks-multi-year-deal-with-cbs-tv-distribution-1202587829|title=Debmar-Mercury Inks Multi-Year Deal With CBS TV Distribution For Ad Sales|date=April 3, 2019|last=Petski|first=Denise|access-date=April 14, 2019|work=Deadline Hollywood|archive-date=April 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404123708/https://deadline.com/2019/04/debmar-mercury-inks-multi-year-deal-with-cbs-tv-distribution-1202587829/|url-status=live}} In 2021, South Park Studios struck a deal with ViacomCBS, which allows the show to be renewed all the way up to season 30 and 14 additional films, enough to carry the show to at least 2027.{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |date=2021-08-05 |title='South Park' Creators Trey Parker & Matt Stone Ink Big ViacomCBS Deal, With Comedy Central Renewal, 14 Original Movies On Paramount+ |url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/south-park-trey-parker-matt-stone-renewal-comedy-central-paramount-plus-1234809630/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Deadline Hollywood |archive-date=August 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805172104/https://deadline.com/2021/08/south-park-trey-parker-matt-stone-renewal-comedy-central-paramount-plus-1234809630/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/south-park-trek-parker-matt-stone-paramount-plus-movies-1235035295/ |title=Paramount Plus Orders 14 'South Park' Movies, Comedy Central Renews Series Through Season 30 |work=Variety |last=Littleton |first=Cynthia |date=August 5, 2021 |access-date=August 17, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=August 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815111010/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/south-park-trek-parker-matt-stone-paramount-plus-movies-1235035295/ }}

{{Main|List of South Park home video releases}}

Complete seasons of South Park have been regularly released in their entirety on DVD since 2002, with season twenty-six being the most recently released. Several other themed DVD compilations have been released by Rhino Entertainment and Comedy Central,{{cite news|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19990520/2961828/videos|title=Videos|date=May 20, 1999|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=August 11, 2009|last1=Hart|first1=John|last2=McFadden|first2=Kay|last3=Simanton|first3=Keith|archive-date=May 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515133308/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19990520&slug=2961828|url-status=live}} while the three-episode Imaginationland story arc was reissued straight-to-DVD as a full-length feature in 2008.{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/trey-parker-matt-stone-1798213532|date=March 19, 2008|title=Trey Parker & Matt Stone|work=The A.V. Club|access-date=February 21, 2022|last=Robinson|first=Tasha|archive-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221163646/https://www.avclub.com/trey-parker-matt-stone-1798213532|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://movieweb.com/south-park-imaginationland-will-bring-the-laughs-on-dvd-on-march-11th/|title=South Park: Imaginationland Will Bring the Laughs on DVD on March 11|date=January 17, 2008|publisher=MovieWebb|access-date=August 14, 2009|archive-date=October 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018054406/http://movieweb.com/south-park-imaginationland-will-bring-the-laughs-on-dvd-on-march-11th/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/dvd/reviews/42761-dvd-roundup-3-11-08|title=DVD Roundup: 3.11.08 Blu-ray and DVD Review|date=March 11, 2008|publisher=ComingSoon.net|access-date=February 21, 2022|last=Chitwood|first=Scott|archive-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221163649/https://www.comingsoon.net/dvd/reviews/42761-dvd-roundup-3-11-08|url-status=live}} Blu-ray releases started in 2008 with the release of season twelve.{{cite web|last1=Lambert|first1=David|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/South-Park-Season-12/11029|title=South Park – Cartman, Stan, Kyle & Kenny go Hi-Def with 12th Season Set on DVD & Blu-ray|date=December 15, 2008|publisher=TVShowsonDVD|access-date=September 9, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909052533/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/South-Park-Season-12/11029|archive-date=September 9, 2017}} Subsequent seasons have been released in this format alongside the longer-running DVD releases. The first eleven seasons were released on Blu-ray for the first time in December 2017.{{cite web|title=South Park – Short Delay for Blu-ray Releases of 'Season 1' through 'Season 5'|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/South-Park-Seasons-1-through-5-Blu/23779|access-date=November 3, 2017|last=Lambert|first=David|date=November 3, 2017|publisher=TVShowsonDVD|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105165404/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/South-Park-Seasons-1-through-5-Blu/23779|archive-date=November 5, 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Lambert|first1=David|title=South Park – Press Release: Blu-ray Sets for the First 11 Seasons of the Show!|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/South-Park-Blu-ray-Seasons-1-through-11/23633|publisher=TVShowsonDVD|access-date=September 9, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909052235/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/South-Park-Blu-ray-Seasons-1-through-11/23633|archive-date=September 9, 2017}}

In March 2008, Comedy Central made every episode of South Park available for free full-length on-demand legal streaming on the official South Park Studios website.{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/news?id=3405 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080330155318/http://www.southparkstudios.com/news/?id=3405 |url-status=live |archive-date=March 30, 2008 |title="South Park" Creators Trey Parker And Matt Stone And Comedy Central Launch The All-New Southparkstudios.com |access-date=October 19, 2008 |date=March 25, 2008 |publisher=South Park Studios}} From March 2008 until December 2013, new episodes were added to the site the day following their debut, and an uncensored version was posted the following day. The episode stayed up for the remainder of the week, then taken down, and added to the site three weeks later.

Within a week, the site served more than a million streams of full episodes, and the number grew to 55 million by October 2008.{{cite web|url=https://boingboing.net/2008/10/08/bb-exclusive-sneak-p.html|title=BB Exclusive: Sneak Peek At South Park's Sweet, Yet-Unreleased iPhone App|access-date=February 21, 2022|last=Jardin|first=Xeni|date=October 8, 2008|publisher=Boing Boing|archive-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221163650/https://boingboing.net/2008/10/08/bb-exclusive-sneak-p.html|url-status=live}} Legal issues prevent the U.S. content from being accessible outside the United States,[http://southpark.de/ South Park Studios Germany] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215084821/http://www.southpark.de/ |date=February 15, 2017 }}: "Due to copyright and other legal reasons, South Park video content cannot be viewed outside the United States." so local servers have been set up in other countries.For instance, [http://www.southpark.de/ southpark.de] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520082803/http://www.southpark.de/ |date=May 20, 2021 }} in Germany. In September 2009, a South Park Studios website with streaming episodes was launched in the United Kingdom and Ireland.{{cite web|url=http://www.southparkstudios.co.uk/news/?month=9&year=2009|title=SouthParkStudios.co.uk Has Arrived|access-date=October 6, 2009|date=September 26, 2009|publisher=South Park Studios|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010133031/http://www.southparkstudios.co.uk/news/?month=9&year=2009|archive-date=October 10, 2009}} In Canada, episodes were available for streaming from The Comedy Network's website, though due to digital rights restrictions, they are no longer available.{{cite web|url=https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/south-park-now-streaming|title=South Park: Now streaming|date=March 27, 2008|publisher=Montreal Gazette|access-date=February 21, 2022|last=Boshra|first=Basem|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812184039/https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/south-park-now-streaming|archive-date=August 12, 2020}}

In April 2010, the season five episode "Super Best Friends" and the season fourteen episodes "200" and "201" were removed from the site; additionally, these episodes no longer air in reruns and are only available exclusively on DVD and Blu-ray. These episodes remain unavailable following the 2014 purchase by Hulu.

In July 2014, it was announced that Hulu had signed a three-year deal purchasing exclusive online streaming rights to the South Park for a reported $80 million. Following the announcement every episode remained available for free on the South Park Studios website, using the Hulu player. As of September 2014, following the premiere of the eighteenth season, only 30 select episodes would be featured for free viewing at a time on a rotating basis on the website, with new episodes being available for an entire month starting the day following their original airings. The entire series was available on Hulu by this point.{{cite web|last1=Jarvey|first1=Natalie|title='South Park' to Stream Exclusively on Hulu Plus|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/south-park-stream-exclusively-hulu-718074/|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=July 12, 2014|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217015355/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/south-park-stream-exclusively-hulu-718074/|url-status=live}}

As of July 2015, all episodes of South Park are available for streaming in Canada on the service CraveTV, which first consisted of seasons 1–18. Subsequent seasons were released the following July.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bellmedia.ca/pr/press/every-episode-every-season-south-park-launches-exclusively-cravetv-canada-day-july-1/|title=Every Episode. Every Season. SOUTH PARK Launches Exclusively on CraveTV this Canada Day, July 1 –|website=Bell Media|access-date=August 3, 2017|archive-date=August 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803130243/http://www.bellmedia.ca/pr/press/every-episode-every-season-south-park-launches-exclusively-cravetv-canada-day-july-1/|url-status=live}}

In early October 2019, industry rumors suggested that the streaming rights for South Park were being offered to various services, creating an intense bidding war that was estimated to be as high as {{USD|500 million}}. HBO and South Park Digital Studios announced that HBO had secured a multi-year deal for the exclusive streaming rights for South Park on their HBO Max service starting June 24, 2020.{{Cite web|date=May 24, 2020|title=HBO Max Announces South Park's Arrival Date|url=https://www.cbr.com/hbo-max-south-park-arrival-date/|access-date=September 21, 2020|website=CBR|archive-date=September 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920112828/https://www.cbr.com/hbo-max-south-park-arrival-date/|url-status=live}} While the terms of the deal were not disclosed, Variety reported the deal fell between {{USD|500 million}} and {{USD|550 million}}.{{cite web | url = https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/south-park-stream-exclusively-hbo-max-1203387212/ | title = HBO Max Wins 'South Park' Streaming Rights for Over $500 Million | first = Elaine | last = Low | date = October 29, 2019 | access-date = October 29, 2019 | work = Variety | archive-date = October 30, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191030000132/https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/south-park-stream-exclusively-hbo-max-1203387212/ | url-status = live }} Beginning with season 25 in 2022, HBO Max posts new episodes the next day after their Comedy Central airing.{{cite web |last1=Outlaw |first1=Kofi |title=South Park Season 25 Now Streaming on HBO Max |url=https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/south-park-season-25-now-streaming-on-hbo-max/ |website=ComicBook |access-date=February 16, 2022 |date=February 4, 2022 |archive-date=February 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217015355/https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/south-park-season-25-now-streaming-on-hbo-max/ |url-status=live }} Once that deal expires in 2025, Paramount+ will become the exclusive streaming home. In addition, the season 27 episodes would stream first on Paramount+ before hitting HBO Max.{{cite web |last1=Warner |first1=Sam |title=South Park is set to get a new worldwide streaming home |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a39105447/south-park-paramount-plus-streaming-home/ |website=Digital Spy |access-date=February 16, 2022 |date=February 16, 2022 |archive-date=February 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216150111/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a39105447/south-park-paramount-plus-streaming-home/ |url-status=live }} Though season 27 would have originally aired in 2024, the season was delayed due to what Parker and Stone claimed to be uncertainties about the 2024 United States presidential election (mainly the exhaustion of humor set around Donald Trump), along with the proposed merger of Skydance Media and Paramount Global.{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/south-park-returning-2025-creators-skipping-donald-trump-jokes-election-paramount-1236079397/#comment-4177375|title='South Park' Returning In 2025; Why Creators Are Skipping Donald Trump Jokes About Election & "Waiting For Paramount To Figure Their Sh** Out"|last=Tinoco|first=Armando|date=5 September 2024|work=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Media Group|access-date=6 September 2024}}

In February 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery filed a lawsuit which claimed that Paramount breached its exclusivity contract with HBO Max by airing South Park on its own streaming platform.{{cite web |last1=Maruf |first1=Ramishah |date=February 26, 2023 |title='South Park' lawsuit: Warner Bros. Discovery sues Paramount for $500 million |url=https://us.cnn.com/2023/02/26/business/south-park-hbo-max-paramount-lawsuit/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227161331/https://us.cnn.com/2023/02/26/business/south-park-hbo-max-paramount-lawsuit/index.html |archive-date=February 27, 2023 |access-date=27 February 2023 |website=CNN}}

From its debut in 1997 to the season twelve finale in 2008 the series had been originally produced in standard definition, with a 4:3 aspect ratio. In 2009, the series switched to being produced in 16:9 high definition 1080p with the beginning of the thirteenth season.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/01/13/south-park-now-in-hd|title=South Park Now in HD|access-date=June 9, 2020|last=Goldman|first=Eric|date=January 13, 2009|website=IGN|archive-date=June 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609231213/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/01/13/south-park-now-in-hd|url-status=live}} Since this, all twelve seasons originally produced in standard definition have been remastered by South Park Studios, being fully re-rendered in high definition. The aspect ratio of these episodes were also converted from 4:3 to 16:9 as well. The re-rendered versions were also released on Blu-ray. Several of the re-rendered episodes from the earlier seasons have their original uncensored audio tracks; they had previously been released in censored form.The South Park Studios website.{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/faq/382114 |title=FAQ: Just saw new SP DVDs at Target. Are those special releases? |date=April 15, 2011 |publisher=South Park Studios |access-date=January 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206042043/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/382114 |archive-date=February 6, 2012 }}{{cite web|last=Surpless|first=Brendan|title=Previous seasons of the hit series "South Park" are being re-rendered in full 1080p High Definition|url=http://www.highdefdiscnews.com/previous-seasons-of-the-hit-series-south-park-are-being-re-rendered-in-full-1080p-hi-def/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402144620/http://www.highdefdiscnews.com/previous-seasons-of-the-hit-series-south-park-are-being-re-rendered-in-full-1080p-hi-def/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 2, 2015|publisher=High Def Disc NEws|access-date=May 26, 2014}}

The fifth-season episode "Super Best Friends", which was pulled from syndication and online streams following the controversy surrounding episode "201", was not released alongside the rest of the season when it was released in HD on iTunes in 2011. The episode was later re-rendered and made available for the Blu-ray release of the season that was released on December 5, 2017. The episode is presented in its original presentation, without Muhammad's image being obscured as in later episodes of the series.{{cite web|url=http://www.thedigitalbits.com/item/south-park-season-5-brd|title=South Park: The Complete Fifth Season (Blu-ray Review)|first=Bill|last=Hunt|date=November 14, 2017|website=The Digital Bits|access-date=December 24, 2017|archive-date=December 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224204002/http://www.thedigitalbits.com/item/south-park-season-5-brd|url-status=live}}

When South Park debuted, it was a huge ratings success for Comedy Central and is seen as being largely responsible for the success of the channel, with Herzog crediting it for putting the network "on the map".{{harvnb|Johnson-Woods|2007|pp=6–8}}

The show's first episode, "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe", earned a Nielsen rating of 1.3 (980,000 viewers), at the time considered high for a cable program. The show instantly generated buzz among television viewers, and mass viewing parties began assembling on college campuses. By the time the eighth episode, "Starvin' Marvin", aired—three months after the show debuted—ratings and viewership had tripled, and South Park was already the most successful show in Comedy Central's history. When the tenth episode "Damien" aired the following February, viewership increased another 33 percent. The episode earned a 6.4 rating, which at the time was over 10 times the average rating earned by a cable show aired in prime time. The ratings peaked with the second episode of season two, "Cartman's Mom Is Still a Dirty Slut", which aired on April 22, 1998. The episode earned an 8.2 rating (6.2 million viewers) and, at the time, set a record as the highest-rated non-sports show in basic cable history. During the spring of 1998, eight of the ten highest-rated shows on basic cable were South Park episodes. South Park's second season would average a 5.8 rating (12.5 million viewers) which was a lower rating due to Comedy Central's households being much higher.{{Clarification needed|date=December 2023}}

The success of South Park prompted more cable companies to carry Comedy Central and led it to its becoming one of the fastest-growing cable channels. The number of households that had Comedy Central jumped from 9.1 million in 1997 to 50 million in June 1998. When the show debuted, the most Comedy Central had earned for a 30-second commercial was US$7,500. Within a year, advertisers were paying an average of US$40,000 for 30 seconds of advertising time during airings of South Park in its second season, while some paid as much as US$80,000.{{cite news|author=David Horowitz |title=Why Gore would censor "South Park" |work=Salon|date=July 19, 1999 |url=https://www.salon.com/1999/07/19/south_park/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991008030616/http://www.salon.com/news/col/horo/1999/07/19/south_park/index2.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 8, 1999 |access-date=February 21, 2022}}

By the third season (1999), the series' ratings began to decrease.

{{cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/1999/04/cartman-goin-south/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629044948/http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/1999/04/19339|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 29, 2011|title=Cartman Goin' South?

|date=April 27, 1999|publisher=Wired|access-date=February 21, 2022}} The third-season premiere episode drew 3.4 million viewers, a dramatic drop from the 5.5 million of the previous season's premiere. Stone and Parker attributed this drop in the show's ratings to the media hype that surrounded the show in the previous year, adding that the third season ratings reflected the show's "true" fan base. Regardless the viewership stayed consistent with an average rating being between 3.0 (8 million viewers) to a 5.5 (17.5 million viewers). The show's ratings dropped further in its fourth season (2000), with episodes averaging just above 1.5 million viewers (though the season premiere would get 22.1 million viewers due to the hype caused by the movie). The ratings eventually increased, and seasons five through nine consistently averaged about 3 million viewers per episode. Season 8's episode "Goobacks" would have South Park{{'s}} viewership peak at 30 million viewers. Seasons 10 to 12 would average 5 million viewers. Though its viewership is lower than it was at the height of its popularity in its earliest seasons, South Park remains one of the highest-rated series on Comedy Central.{{cite web|url=https://press.cc.com/press-release/2011/12/20/122011-2011-ratings-release|title=2011 Ratings Release|publisher=Comedy Central|date=December 20, 2011 |access-date=February 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317120041/http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2011/122011-2011-ratings-release.jhtml

|archive-date=March 17, 2013 }} The season 14 (2010) premiere gained 3.7 million viewers, the show's highest-rated season premiere since 1998.[http://www.popcrunch.com/tiger-woods-scandal-helps-south-park-set-ratings-record/ Tiger Woods Scandal Helps "South Park" Set Ratings Record] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821154232/http://www.popcrunch.com/tiger-woods-scandal-helps-south-park-set-ratings-record/ |date=August 21, 2011 }} PopCrunch. Retrieved November 21, 2013. In 2016, a New York Times study of the 50 TV shows with the most Facebook Likes found that "perhaps unsurprisingly, South Park ... is most popular in Colorado".{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/26/upshot/duck-dynasty-vs-modern-family-television-maps.html |title='Duck Dynasty' vs. 'Modern Family': 50 Maps of the U.S. Cultural Divide |last=Katz |first=Josh |date=December 27, 2016 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=February 12, 2017 |archive-date=March 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170329083111/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/26/upshot/duck-dynasty-vs-modern-family-television-maps.html |url-status=live }} Subsequent seasons saw substantially lower ratings, with season 25 averaging 0.65 million viewers an episode.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

In 2004, Channel 4 voted South Park the third-greatest cartoon of all time.{{Cite episode|title=100 Greatest Cartoons |url=http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest/cartoons/results.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022103843/http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest/cartoons/results.html |archive-date=October 22, 2010 |access-date=April 13, 2012 |series=Greatest series |station=Channel 4 |date=February 27, 2005 |url-status=dead }} In 2007, Time magazine included the show on its list of the "100 Best TV Shows of All Time", proclaiming it as "America's best source of rapid-fire satire for [the past] decade".{{cite news|url=https://time.com/collection-post/3103814/south-park/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014013307/http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1651341_1659196_1652729,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 14, 2007|title=All-TIME 100 TV Shows: South Park|access-date=February 21, 2022|author=Poniewozik, James|date=September 6, 2007|magazine=Time}} The same year, Rolling Stone declared it to be the funniest show on television since its debut 10 years prior.

{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/south-park-still-sick-still-wrong-231538/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619072618/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/south_park_still_sick_still_wrong/page/2 |archive-date=June 19, 2008 |title=Still Sick, Still Wrong |date=March 22, 2007 |publisher=Rolling Stone |access-date=February 21, 2022 |last=Grigoriadis |first=Vanessa}} In 2008, South Park was named the 12th-greatest TV show of the past 25 years by Entertainment Weekly,{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2007/06/18/new-classics-tv/|title=The New Classics: TV|access-date=February 21, 2022|date=June 17, 2008|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|archive-date=July 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716041112/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C20207339%2C00.html|url-status=live}} while AOL declared it as having the "most astute" characters of any show in history when naming it the 16th-best television comedy series of all time.{{cite web|url=http://www.aoltv.com/2008/04/01/best-tv-comedies/|title=50 Best TV Comedies – Ever|date=April 1, 2008|publisher=AOL TV|access-date=February 21, 2022|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419013254/http://television.aol.com/insidetv/2008/04/01/best-tv-comedies/ |archive-date=April 19, 2009 }} In 2011, South Park was voted number one in the 25 Greatest Animated TV Series poll by Entertainment Weekly.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/gallery/25-greatest-animated-tv-series-you-ranked-em/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|title=25 Greatest Animated TV Series: You Ranked 'Em!|date=May 25, 2011|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221170237/https://ew.com/gallery/25-greatest-animated-tv-series-you-ranked-em/|url-status=live}} The character of Cartman ranked 10th on TV Guide's 2002 list of the "Top 50 Greatest Cartoon Characters",{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/30/cartoon.characters.list/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406225705/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/30/cartoon.characters.list/ |archive-date=April 6, 2013 |title=TV Guide's 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time |access-date=February 21, 2022 |date=July 30, 2002 |publisher=CNN |url-status=dead }} 198th on VH1's "200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons",{{harvp|ps=.|Mansour|2005|p=144}} 19th on Bravo's "100 Greatest TV Characters" television special in 2004,{{cite web|url=http://www.bravoprofiles.com/The_100_Greatest_TV_Characters/index.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507184134/http://www.bravoprofiles.com/The_100_Greatest_TV_Characters/index.shtml |archive-date=May 7, 2009 |title=The 100 Greatest TV Characters |publisher=Bravo|access-date=August 25, 2007 |url-status=dead }} and second on MSNBC's 2005 list of TV's scariest characters behind Mr. Burns from The Simpsons.{{cite news|author=Brian Bellmont|title=TV's top 10 scariest characters|work=Today|date=November 1, 2005|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/tv-s-top-10-scariest-characters-wbna9699636|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-date=March 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319073834/https://www.today.com/popculture/tv-s-top-10-scariest-characters-wbna9699636|url-status=live}} In 2006, Comedy Central received a Peabody Award for South Park's "stringent social commentary" and "undeniably fearless lampooning of all that is self-important and hypocritical in American life".[http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/south-park 65th Annual Peabody Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227205804/http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/south-park |date=February 27, 2021 }}, May 2006. In 2013, the Writers Guild of America ranked South Park at number 63 among the "101 Best-Written Shows Ever".{{cite magazine|last=Schneider|first=Michael|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/exclusive-best-written-shows-ever-tv-writers-1066234/|title=Exclusive: TV Writers Choose the 101 Best-Written Shows Ever; What Was No. 1?|magazine=TV Guide|date=June 3, 2013|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221170238/https://www.tvguide.com/news/exclusive-best-written-shows-ever-tv-writers-1066234/|url-status=live}} Also in 2013, TV Guide listed the show at number 10 among the "60 Greatest Cartoons of All Time".{{cite magazine|url=http://www.tvguide.com/news/greatest-cartoons-tv-guide-magazine-1071203/|title=TV Guide Magazine's 60 Greatest Cartoons of All Time|last=Sands|first=Rick|magazine=TV Guide|date=September 24, 2013|access-date=September 24, 2013|archive-date=July 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150729051629/http://www.tvguide.com/news/greatest-cartoons-tv-guide-magazine-1071203/|url-status=live}} In 2019, the series was ranked 42nd on The Guardian newspaper's list of the 100 best TV shows of the 21st century.{{cite web |title=The 100 best TV shows of the 21st century |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/sep/16/100-best-tv-shows-of-the-21st-century |website=The Guardian |date=September 16, 2019 |access-date=September 23, 2019 |archive-date=November 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101054025/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/sep/16/100-best-tv-shows-of-the-21st-century |url-status=live }}

South Park won the CableACE Award for Best Animated Series in 1997, the last year the awards were given out.{{cite web|last=Basile|first=Nancy|url=http://animatedtv.about.com/library/weekly/aa092102b.htm|title=South Park Awards|access-date=August 15, 2007|publisher=about.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511210611/http://animatedtv.about.com/library/weekly/aa092102b.htm|archive-date=May 11, 2009}} In 1998, South Park was nominated for the Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Primetime or Late Night Television Program. It was also nominated for the 1998 GLAAD Award for Outstanding TV – Individual Episode for "Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride".

South Park has been nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program eighteen times (1998, 2000, 2002, 2004–2011, 2013–2018 and 2021). The show has won the award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour) four times, for the 2005 episode "Best Friends Forever",{{cite web|url=http://animatedtv.about.com/cs/news/a/awards_2.htm|title=South Park Awards|access-date=December 25, 2008|publisher=about.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207065703/http://animatedtv.about.com/cs/news/a/awards_2.htm|archive-date=December 7, 2008}} the 2006 episode "Make Love, Not Warcraft",{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.org/awards/2007pt/nominations_crtv.php?action=search_db#1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070906023154/http://www.emmys.org/awards/2007pt/nominations_crtv.php?action=search_db |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 6, 2007 |title=59th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Nominees/Winners |access-date=October 19, 2008 |year=2007 |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences }} the 2009 episode "Margaritaville", and the 2012 episode "Raising the Bar".[https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/tv/la-et-st-creative-arts-emmys-hbos-behind-the-candelabra-wins-the-night-20130915,0,7488026.story "Creative Arts Emmys: HBO's 'Behind the Candelabra' wins the night"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017110342/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/tv/la-et-st-creative-arts-emmys-hbos-behind-the-candelabra-wins-the-night-20130915,0,7488026.story |date=October 17, 2014 }} Los Angeles Times. September 16, 2013. The "Imaginationland" trilogy of episodes won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or More) in 2008.{{cite web|url=http://cdn.emmys.tv/downloads/2008/CTA08winners_pressrel.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326065136/http://cdn.emmys.tv/downloads/2008/CTA08winners_pressrel.pdf |archive-date=March 26, 2009 |title=2008 Creative Arts Emmy winners |access-date=September 13, 2008 |date=September 13, 2008 |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |url-status=dead }}

The show's frequent depiction of taboo subject matter, general toilet humor, accessibility to younger viewers, disregard for conservative sensibilities, negative depiction of liberal causes, and portrayal of religion for comic effect have generated controversy and debate over the course of its run.{{cite news|author=Lawrie Mifflin|title=TV Stretches Limits of Taste, to Little Outcry|work=The New York Times|date=April 6, 1998|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/06/arts/tv-stretches-limits-of-taste-to-little-outcry.html?pagewanted=2|access-date=May 9, 2009|archive-date=May 13, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513030707/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/06/arts/tv-stretches-limits-of-taste-to-little-outcry.html?pagewanted=2|url-status=live}}

As the series became popular, students in two schools were barred from wearing South Park-related T-shirts, and the headmaster of a UK public school asked parents not to let their children watch the programme after eight- and nine-year-old children voted the South Park character Cartman as their favorite personality in a 1999 poll.{{cite news|title=Cartman top with kids|publisher=BBC|date=August 26, 1999|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/entertainment/430977.stm|access-date=May 9, 2009|archive-date=February 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213052216/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/430977.stm|url-status=live}} Parker and Stone assert that the show is not meant to be viewed by young children, and the show is certified with TV ratings that indicate its intention for mature audiences. In 1999, they went on record to cancel the release of the Game Boy Color game based on the series, as Parker and Stone determined that a game based on an adult animated series would be inappropriate for a console whose core demographic consisted of children.{{Cite web |last=LoChiatto |first=Jonathan |date=2021-08-07 |title=How South Park's First Handheld Game Became a Mary Kate & Ashley Tie-In |url=https://www.cbr.com/south-park-canceled-game-mary-kate-ashley/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=CBR |language=en |archive-date=December 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226152104/https://www.cbr.com/south-park-canceled-game-mary-kate-ashley/ |url-status=live }}

Parents Television Council founder L. Brent Bozell III and Action for Children's Television founder Peggy Charren have both condemned the show, with the latter claiming it is "dangerous to the democracy".{{cite web|last=Bozell |first=L. Brent III |author-link=L. Brent Bozell III |title='South Park' Reconsidered, Sort Of |work=MediaResearch.org |publisher=Creators Syndicate |date=February 11, 1998 |url=http://www.mediaresearch.org/BozellColumns/entertainmentcolumn/1998/col19980211.asp |access-date=July 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205132015/https://www.mediaresearch.org/BozellColumns/entertainmentcolumn/1998/col19980211.asp |archive-date=December 5, 2006 }}{{cite news|author=Frank Rich|title=Conservatives ♥ 'South Park'|work=The New York Times|date=May 1, 2005|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/01/opinion/01rich.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1|access-date=May 3, 2009|archive-date=May 13, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513030741/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/01/opinion/01rich.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1|url-status=live}} Several other activist groups have protested the show's parodies of Christianity and portrayal of Jesus Christ. Stone has stated that parents who disapprove of South Park for its portrayal of how kids behave are upset because they "have an idyllic vision of what kids are like", adding "[kids] don't have any kind of social tact or etiquette, they're just complete little raging bastards".

{{Main|South Park controversies|l1=South Park controversies}}

The show further lampooned the controversy surrounding its use of profanity, as well as the media attention surrounding the network show Chicago Hope's singular use of the word shit, with the season five premiere "It Hits the Fan",{{cite web|url=http://reason.com/archives/2006/12/05/south-park-libertarians/singlepage|title=South Park Libertarians|date=December 5, 2006|publisher=Reason|access-date=August 11, 2009|last1=Gillespie|first1=Nick|last2=Walker|first2=Jesse|archive-date=January 21, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100121033631/http://reason.com/archives/2006/12/05/south-park-libertarians/singlepage|url-status=live}} in which the word shit is said 162 times without being bleeped for censorship purposes, while also appearing uncensored in written form. In the days following the show's original airing, 5,000 disapproving e-mails were sent to Comedy Central. Despite its 43 uncensored uses of the racial slur nigger, the season 11 episode "With Apologies to Jesse Jackson" generated relatively little controversy, as most in the black community and the NAACP praised the episode for its context and its comedic way of conveying other races' perceptions of how black people feel when hearing the word.{{cite news|author=Vanessa E. Jones|title=No offense, but ...|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=January 29, 2008|url=http://archive.boston.com/lifestyle/articles/2008/01/29/no_offense_but_/|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-date=March 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319084232/http://archive.boston.com/lifestyle/articles/2008/01/29/no_offense_but_/|url-status=live}}[http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0703/08/pzn.01.html Transcript of "Paula Zahn Now" from March 8, 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629031600/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0703/08/pzn.01.html |date=June 29, 2011 }}. CNN. Retrieved April 14, 2007.

Specific controversies regarding the show have included an April Fools' Day prank played on its viewers in 1998,{{cite news|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/1998-04-09/entertainment/18069956_1_south-park-tony-fox-comedy-central |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117224953/http://articles.nydailynews.com/1998-04-09/entertainment/18069956_1_south-park-tony-fox-comedy-central |archive-date=November 17, 2011 |title=Not an Eternity to Cartman Paternity |date=April 9, 1998 |work=New York Daily News |access-date=May 24, 2009 |last=Huff |first=Richard |url-status=dead }} its depiction of the Virgin Mary in the season nine (2005) finale "Bloody Mary" that angered several Catholics, its depiction of Steve Irwin with a stingray barb stuck in his chest in the episode "Hell on Earth 2006", which originally aired less than two months after Irwin was killed in the same fashion,{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/unsorted/features/how-kenny-survived-10-years-of-south-park-68126.html|title=How Kenny survived 10 years of South Park|date=November 10, 2006|publisher=www.independent.ie|access-date=May 22, 2009|last=O'Doherty|first=Ian|archive-date=September 5, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905143644/http://www.independent.ie/unsorted/features/how-kenny-survived-10-years-of-south-park-68126.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=To hell with Irwin, says South Park |work=Herald Sun |author1=Kent, Paul |author2=Gee, Steve |name-list-style=amp |date=October 28, 2006 |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/to-hell-with-irwin-says-south-park/news-story/3aa2c1f495b7e2dca48f789f976f755e|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409134200/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0%2C21985%2C20658735-661%2C00.html |archive-date=April 9, 2009 |access-date=February 21, 2022 }} Comedy Central's censorship of the depiction of Muhammad in the season 10 episode "Cartoon Wars Part II" in the wake of the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy and consistent mockery of the concept of climate change by using climate change denialist talking points.{{cite web|title=South Park apologizes to Al Gore and admits it was wrong about global warming|work=Salon|date=November 8, 2018|url=https://www.salon.com/2018/11/08/south-park-apologizes-to-al-gore-and-admits-it-was-wrong-about-global-warming/|access-date=September 25, 2010|first=Matthew|last=Rozsa|archive-date=November 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108183157/https://www.salon.com/2018/11/08/south-park-apologizes-to-al-gore-and-admits-it-was-wrong-about-global-warming/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=12 years after mocking Al Gore's fight against climate change, South Park reconsiders|publisher=Vox|date=November 14, 2018|url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/11/14/18080758/south-park-time-to-get-cereal-recap-season-22-al-gore-global-warming-manbearpig|access-date=September 25, 2010|first=Emily|last=VanDerWerff|archive-date=November 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114175340/https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/11/14/18080758/south-park-time-to-get-cereal-recap-season-22-al-gore-global-warming-manbearpig|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=South Park's Al Gore apology contains an inconvenient truth: it's funny|work=The Guardian|date=November 11, 2018|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/nov/11/south-park-al-gore-apology-climate-change-manbearpig|access-date=September 25, 2010|first=Sam|last=Wolfson|archive-date=November 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111150522/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/nov/11/south-park-al-gore-apology-climate-change-manbearpig|url-status=live}}

The season nine (2005) episode "Trapped in the Closet" denounces Scientology as nothing more than "a big fat global scam",{{cite web|author1=Jake Trapper|author2=Dan Morris|name-list-style=amp|title=Secrets of 'South Park'|publisher=ABC News|date=September 22, 2006|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&page=1|access-date=April 18, 2009|archive-date=November 7, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107083324/https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&page=1|url-status=live}} while freely divulging church information that Scientology normally only reveals to members who make significant monetary contributions to the church.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/inside-scientology-103288/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513044651/http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/9363363/inside_scientology/ |archive-date=May 13, 2008 |title=Inside Scientology |date=February 22, 2006 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=February 21, 2022 |last=Reitman |first=Janet}} The episode also ambiguously parodies the rumors involving the sexual orientation of Scientologist Tom Cruise, who allegedly demanded any further reruns of the episode be canceled.{{cite news|url=http://writ.news.findlaw.com/hilden/20051206.html|title=Could Tom Cruise Sue "South Park" For Suggesting He is Gay? And Even If He Could, Should He?|access-date=August 16, 2006|last=Hilden|first=Julie|date=December 6, 2005|work=FindLaw|archive-date=August 13, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060813100656/http://writ.news.findlaw.com/hilden/20051206.html|url-status=live}} Isaac Hayes, a Scientologist, later quit South Park because of his objection to the episode.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/isaac-hayes-quits-south-park|work=Fox News|agency=Associated Press|date=March 13, 2006|title=Isaac Hayes Quits 'South Park'|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205190342/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,187756,00.html|archive-date=February 5, 2011}}

The season fourteen episodes "200" and "201" were mired in controversy for satirizing issues surrounding the depiction of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. The website for the organization Revolution Muslim, a New York-based radical Muslim organization, posted an entry that included a warning to creators Parker and Stone that they risk violent retribution for their depictions of Muhammad. It said that they "will probably wind up like Theo van Gogh for airing this show". The posting provided the addresses to Comedy Central in New York and the production company in Los Angeles.{{Cite news |last=Bland |first=Archie |author-link=Archie Bland |date=2010-04-22 |title='South Park' censored after death threats from Islamists |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/south-park-censored-after-death-threats-from-islamists-1951971.html |access-date=2024-05-16 |work=The Independent}} The author of the post, Zachary Adam Chesser (whose alias is Abu Talhah al-Amrikee),{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/road-to-radicalism-the-man-behind-the-south-park-threats|title=Road to Radicalism: The Man Behind the 'South Park' Threats|last=Miller|first=Joshua Rhett|date=April 23, 2010|publisher=Fox News|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-date=April 27, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100427083117/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/04/23/road-radicalism-man-south-park-threats/|url-status=live}} said it was meant to serve as a warning to Parker and Stone, not a threat, and that providing the addresses was meant to give people the opportunity to protest.{{Cite news|url=https://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/19/security-brief-radical-islamic-web-site-takes-on-south-park/|title=Security Brief: Radical Islamic Web site takes on 'South Park'|last=Lister|first=Tim|date=April 19, 2010|work=CNN|access-date=April 19, 2010|archive-date=April 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423171319/http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/19/security-brief-radical-islamic-web-site-takes-on-south-park/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/south-park-creators-could-face-retribution-for-depicting-muhammad-website-warns|title=South Park Creators Could Face Retribution for Depicting Muhammad, Website Warns|last=Miller|first=Joshua Rhett|date=April 20, 2010|work=Fox News|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-date=April 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423141649/http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2010/04/20/website-warns-south-park-creators-face-retribution-depicting-muhammad/|url-status=live}}

Despite Chesser's claims that the website entry was a warning, several media outlets and observers interpreted it as a threat.{{Cite episode|title=Radical Islamists Threaten 'South Park' Creators; More Volcano Eruptions Ahead|series=Anderson Cooper 360°|series-link=Anderson Cooper 360°|credits=Cooper, Anderson|network=CNN|location=New York City|airdate=April 20, 2010|transcript=Full transcript|transcript-url=https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/acd/date/2010-04-20/segment/01}}{{Cite AV media|title=South Park Episode Prompts Death Threats|url=https://video.foxnews.com/v/4159547/|people=O'Reilly, Bill|publisher=Fox News|series=The O'Reilly Factor|location=New York City|date=April 20, 2010|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221180551/https://video.foxnews.com/v/4159547/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Cavna|first=Michael|title=Comic Riffs – 'South Park': Is pro-jihad website threatening cartoonists over Muhammad satire?|newspaper=Washington Post|date=April 20, 2010|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/04/south_park_threat_over_muhamma.html|access-date=April 21, 2010|archive-date=June 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624095300/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/04/south_park_threat_over_muhamma.html|url-status=dead}} Comedy Central censored the episode's broadcast in response, by bleeping out several speeches and covering Mohammed's appearances with a giant "censored" label. Support for the episode has come in the form of Everybody Draw Mohammed Day, a movement started on Facebook that encourages people to draw Muhammad on May 20.{{cite news|title=South Park Declares Jihad On the Handicapped! |work=Lineboil |date=April 28, 2010 |url=http://lineboil.com/2010/04/south-park-declares-jihad-on-the-handicapped/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527094946/http://lineboil.com/2010/04/south-park-declares-jihad-on-the-handicapped |archive-date=May 27, 2010 |access-date=May 9, 2010 |url-status=dead }} The "200" episode, which also depicted the Buddha snorting cocaine, prompted the government of Sri Lanka to ban the series outright.{{cite web|url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2010/04/25/american-television-depicts-buddha-snorting-cocaine/comment-page-1/|title=American Television Depicts Buddha Snorting Cocaine – The Sunday Leader|access-date=December 30, 2016|archive-date=February 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202120939/http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2010/04/25/american-television-depicts-buddha-snorting-cocaine/comment-page-1/|url-status=live}}

Due to many taboo topics in China—such as Dalai Lama, Winnie the Pooh,{{Cite web |last=Brito |first=Christopher |date=2019-10-08 |title="South Park" creators offer fake apology to China after reported ban |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/south-park-band-in-china-fake-apology-nba-controversy-2019-10-08/ |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=CBS News |archive-date=October 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011014942/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/south-park-band-in-china-fake-apology-nba-controversy-2019-10-08/ |url-status=live }} labor camps, freedom of speech and cannabis culture—being involved in the season 23 (2019) episode "Band in China", South Park was entirely banned in China after the episode's broadcast. The series' Baidu Baike article, Baidu Tieba forum, Douban page, Zhihu page and Bilibili videos have been deleted or inaccessible to the public, all related keywords and topics have been prohibited from being searched and discussed on China-based search engines and social media sites including Baidu, QQ, Weibo and on WeChat public platforms.{{cite web |title=諷刺迫害人權 喜劇動畫《南方四賤客》遭中國封殺 |url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/2936373 |website=Liberty Times |access-date=October 4, 2019 |date=October 4, 2019 |archive-date=December 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207192231/https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/2936373 |url-status=live |author1=自由時報電子報 }}{{cite web |title=全面下架！動畫《南方四賤客》因嘲諷中國在中國遭封殺 |url=https://www.setn.com/News.aspx?NewsID=613103 |website=SET News |access-date=October 4, 2019 |date=October 4, 2019 |archive-date=December 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207202811/https://www.setn.com/news.aspx?newsid=613103 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=美《衰仔樂園》涉小熊維尼佩奇人權及教育營最敏感而在華遭全面封殺 |url=http://www.rfi.fr/tw/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B/20191005-%E8%A1%B0%E4%BB%94%E6%A8%82%E5%9C%92%E6%B6%89%E5%B0%8F%E7%86%8A%E7%B6%AD%E5%B0%BC%E4%BD%A9%E5%A5%87%E4%BA%BA%E6%AC%8A%E6%96%B0%E7%96%86%E6%95%99%E8%82%B2%E7%87%9F%E5%8F%8A%E5%A4%A7%E5%A4%A7%E6%9C%80%E6%95%8F%E6%84%9F%E8%80%8C%E9%81%AD%E5%85%A8%E9%9D%A2%E5%B0%81%E6%AE%BA |website=RFI |access-date=October 6, 2019 |date=October 5, 2019 |archive-date=December 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207202650/https://www.rfi.fr/tw/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B/20191005-%E8%A1%B0%E4%BB%94%E6%A8%82%E5%9C%92%E6%B6%89%E5%B0%8F%E7%86%8A%E7%B6%AD%E5%B0%BC%E4%BD%A9%E5%A5%87%E4%BA%BA%E6%AC%8A%E6%96%B0%E7%96%86%E6%95%99%E8%82%B2%E7%87%9F%E5%8F%8A%E5%A4%A7%E5%A4%A7%E6%9C%80%E6%95%8F%E6%84%9F%E8%80%8C%E9%81%AD%E5%85%A8%E9%9D%A2%E5%B0%81%E6%AE%BA |url-status=live }} Parker and Stone issued a sarcastic apology in response.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/08/arts/television/south-park-china.html|title='South Park' Creators Offer Fake Apology After Show Is Erased in China|last=Victor|first=Daniel|date=October 8, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 12, 2019|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=July 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728170416/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/08/arts/television/south-park-china.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://thebrag.com/south-park-banned-in-china/|title=South Park banned in China for new episode, 'Band In China'|date=October 8, 2019|access-date=October 17, 2019|publisher=The Brag|website=Tone Deaf|archive-date=October 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018133926/https://thebrag.com/south-park-banned-in-china/|url-status=live}}

Commentary made in episodes has been interpreted as statements Parker and Stone are attempting to make to the viewing public,{{harvnb|Weinstock|Fallows|2008|p=165}} and these opinions have been subject to much critical analysis in the media and literary world within the framework of popular philosophical, theological, social, and political concepts.{{cite book|editor-last=Hanley|editor-first=Richard|title=South Park and Philosophy: Bigger, Longer, and More Penetrating|publisher=Open Court|date=March 8, 2007|isbn=978-0-8126-9613-4}} Since South Park debuted, college students have written term papers and doctoral theses analyzing the show, while Brooklyn College offers a course called "South Park and Political Correctness".{{cite news|url=https://nypost.com/2008/11/30/south-park-no-lark-at-bklyn-college/|date=November 30, 2008|title=South Park No Lark at B'klyn College|work=New York Post|access-date=February 21, 2022|last=Montefinise|first=Angela|archive-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221180553/https://nypost.com/2008/11/30/south-park-no-lark-at-bklyn-college/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98183000|title=Students Respect Authori-tay Of 'South Park' Class|date=December 13, 2008|work=NPR|access-date=May 22, 2009|archive-date=April 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421004959/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98183000|url-status=live}}

Soon after one of Kenny's trademark deaths on the show, other characters would typically shout "Oh my God, they killed Kenny!", followed by another yelling out "You bastard(s)!"—these lines were usually said by the characters Stan and Kyle, respectively. The exclamation quickly became a popular catchphrase, while the running gag of Kenny's recurring deaths is one of the more recognized hallmarks among viewers of modern television.{{cite news|first=Don|last=Kaplan|title=South Park Won't Kill Kenny Anymore|work=New York Post|date=April 8, 2002|url=https://nypost.com/2002/04/08/south-park-wont-kill-kenny-anymore/|access-date=May 5, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022223959/https://nypost.com/2002/04/08/south-park-wont-kill-kenny-anymore/|archive-date=October 22, 2017}}{{cite magazine|title=Word, Charged Find a Savior|magazine=Wired|date=April 27, 1998|url=https://www.wired.com/1998/04/word-charged-find-a-savior/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629044955/http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/1998/04/11925|archive-date=June 29, 2011|access-date=February 21, 2022}} Cartman's exclamations of "Respect my authori-tah!" and "Screw you guys ...I'm going home!" became catchphrases as well, and during the show's earlier seasons, were highly popular in the lexicon of viewers.{{cite news|author1=Anthony DeCeglie|author2=Sarah Blake|name-list-style=amp|title=TV comedy sends WA students 'Jonah'|work=Perth Now|date=September 14, 2007|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/tv-comedy-sends-wa-students-jonah-ng-2dbd0a7a7260d4520821148927a5b4ce|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-date=July 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728170417/https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/tv-comedy-sends-wa-students-jonah-ng-2dbd0a7a7260d4520821148927a5b4ce|url-status=live}} Cartman's eccentric intonation of "Hey!" was included in the 2002 edition of The Oxford Dictionary of Catchphrases.{{cite news|first=David|last=Dale|title=The Oxford Dictionary of Catchphrases|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=December 28, 2002|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/the-oxford-dictionary-of-catchphrases-20021228-gdg107.html|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221180551/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/the-oxford-dictionary-of-catchphrases-20021228-gdg107.html|url-status=live}}

In the season two episode "Chef Aid", attorney Johnnie Cochran uses what's called in the show the Chewbacca defense, which is a legal strategy that involves addressing plot holes related to Chewbacca in the film Return of the Jedi rather than discussing the trial at hand during a closing argument in a deliberate attempt to confuse jurors into thinking there is reasonable doubt. The term "Chewbacca defense" has been documented as being used by criminologists, forensic scientists, and political commentators in their various discussions of similar methods used in legal cases and public forums.{{cite web |date=February 24, 2005|url=http://www.scilawforensics.com/presentations/wookie.pdf|title=Poking the Wookie: the Chewbacca Defense in Digital Evidence Cases|first1=Anjali R. |last1=Swienton |first2=Erin |last2=Kenneally|publisher=SciLaw Forensics, Ltd.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008211721/http://www.scilawforensics.com/presentations/wookie.pdf |archive-date=October 8, 2007}}{{cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/d-is-for-diabolical_b_39491|title=D is for Diabolical|first=Ellis|last=Weiner|work=HuffPost|date=January 24, 2007|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-date=July 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728170418/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/d-is-for-diabolical_b_39491|url-status=live}}

Another season two episode, "Gnomes", revolves around a group of "underpants gnomes" who, as their name suggests, run a corporation stealing people's underpants. When asked about their business model, various gnomes reply that theirs is a three-step process: Phase 1 is "collect underpants". Phase 3 is "profit". However, the gnomes are unable to explain what is to occur between the first and final steps, and "Phase 2" is accompanied by a large question mark on their corporate flow chart. Using "????" and "PROFIT!" as the last two steps in a process (usually jokingly) became a widely popular Internet meme because of this.{{cite web |last1=VanHooker |first1=Brian |title=The 25 Greatest South Park Memes |url=https://www.cracked.com/article_40502_the-25-greatest-south-park-memes.html |website=Cracked |access-date=November 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240620041107/https://www.cracked.com/article_40502_the-25-greatest-south-park-memes.html |archive-date=June 20, 2024 |date=December 14, 2023 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=O'Donnell |first1=Dan |title=Matt Gaetz, Underpants Gnome. The Art Of Performative Conservatism |url=https://www.maciverinstitute.com/perspectives/matt-gaetz-underpants-gnome-the-art-of-performative-conservatism |website=MacIver Institute |access-date=November 7, 2024 |date=October 4, 2023 |archive-date=January 23, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123202940/https://www.maciverinstitute.com/perspectives/matt-gaetz-underpants-gnome-the-art-of-performative-conservatism |url-status=live }} Especially in the context of politics and economics, "underpants gnomes" has been used by some commentators to characterize a conspicuous gap of logic or planning.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124329131991652291|title=Obama and the 'South Park' Gnomes|author=Bret Stephens|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=June 1, 2009|date=May 26, 2009|archive-date=October 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007223350/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124329131991652291|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://webnotes.net/?uGIOp6|title=Small Government Egalitarianism|author=Matt Yglesias|website=Think Progress|access-date=June 1, 2009|archive-date=June 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615165307/http://webnotes.net/?uGIOp6|url-status=dead}}

When Sophie Rutschmann of the University of Strasbourg discovered a mutated gene that causes an adult fruit fly to die within two days after it is infected with certain bacteria, she named the gene kep1 in honor of Kenny.{{cite news|first=Thomas H.|last=Maugh II|title=Playing the Name Game|work=Los Angeles Times|date=August 5, 2002|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-aug-05-sci-genes5-story.html|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221180551/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-aug-05-sci-genes5-story.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.flynome.com/cgi-bin/search?storyID=93 |title=FlyNome |access-date=November 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813002037/http://www.flynome.com/cgi-bin/search?storyID=93 |archive-date=August 13, 2007 }}{{cite journal

|title = kep1 interacts genetically with dredd/Caspase-8, and kep1 mutants alter the balance of dredd isoforms

|journal = Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

|date = February 18, 2003

|author1=Marco Di Fruscio |author2=Sylvia Styhler |author3=Eva Wikholm |volume = 100

|issue = 4

|pages = 1814–1819

|doi = 10.1073/pnas.0236048100

|pmid =12563030

|pmc = 149916

|bibcode = 2003PNAS..100.1814D

|display-authors=etal|doi-access = free

|issn = 0027-8424 }} Similarly, when a mutated ortholog of KIAA1109 was also found for said species that inhibited their ability to stand upright, walk, and caused seizures, indicative of severe neurological defects, a different set of researchers named it Tweek in honor of Tweek.{{Cite journal |last1=Verstreken |first1=Patrik |last2=Ohyama |first2=Tomoko |last3=Haueter |first3=Claire |last4=Habets |first4=Ron L.P. |last5=Lin |first5=Yong Q. |last6=Swan |first6=Laura E. |last7=Ly |first7=Cindy V. |last8=Venken |first8=Koen J. T. |last9=De Camilli |first9=Pietro |last10=Bellen |first10=Hugo J. |date=2009-07-30 |title=Tweek, an evolutionary conserved proteinis required for synaptic vesicle recycling |journal=Neuron |volume=63 |issue=2 |pages=203–215 |doi=10.1016/j.neuron.2009.06.017 |issn=0896-6273 |pmc=2759194 |pmid=19640479}}

{{Main|South Park Republican}}

While some conservatives have condemned South Park for its vulgarity, a growing population of people who hold center-right political beliefs, including teenagers and young adults, have embraced the show for its tendency to mock liberal viewpoints and lampoon liberal celebrities and icons.{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocates.org/celebrities/trey-parker.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080113153236/http://www.theadvocates.org/celebrities/trey-parker.html |archive-date=January 13, 2008 |title=Trey Parker – Libertarian |publisher=The Advocates |access-date=May 24, 2009 |last=Winter |first=Bill |url-status=dead }} Political commentator Andrew Sullivan dubbed the group South Park Republicans, or South Park conservatives.{{cite news|first=William|last=Cohen|title=Respect Its Authoritah!|work=The Cornell American|date=November 4, 2005|url=http://www.cornellamerican.com/article/109/print/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20100129195812/http://www.cornellamerican.com/article/109/print/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 29, 2010|access-date=May 5, 2009}}{{cite news|author=John Tierney|title=South Park Refugees|work=The New York Times|date=August 29, 2006|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/29/opinion/29tierney.html|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-date=August 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823132238/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/29/opinion/29tierney.html|url-status=live}} Sullivan averred that members of the group are "extremely skeptical of political correctness but also are socially liberal on many issues", though he says the phrase applied to them is meant to be more of a casual indication of beliefs than a strong partisan label. Brian C. Anderson describes the group as "generally characterized by holding strong libertarian beliefs and rejecting more conservative social policy", and notes that although the show makes "wicked fun of conservatives", it is "at the forefront of a conservative revolt against liberal media" and Hollywood's "liberal hegemony".

Parker and Stone reject the idea that the show has any underlying political position, and deny having a political agenda when creating an episode.[https://www.huffpost.com/entry/matt-stone-trey-parker-ar_n_475744 Matt Stone & Trey Parker Are Not Your Political Allies (No Matter What You Believe)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002122145/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/25/matt-stone-trey-parker-ar_n_475744.html |date=October 2, 2017 }} by Alex Leo, HuffPost, February 25, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2022

The two claim the show's higher proportion of instances lampooning liberal rather than conservative orthodoxies stems simply from their preference for making fun of liberals. While Stone has been quoted saying, "I hate conservatives, but I really fucking hate liberals", Stone and Parker have explained that their drive to lampoon a given target comes first from the target's insistence on telling other people how to behave. The duo explain that they regard liberals as having both delusions of entitlement to remain free from satire, and a propensity to enforce political correctness while patronizing the citizens of Middle America. Parker and Stone are uncomfortable with the idea of themselves or South Park being assigned any kind of partisan classification. Parker said he rejects the "South Park Republican" and "South Park conservative" labels, feeling that either tag implies that one only adheres to strictly conservative or liberal viewpoints. The duo has in the past reluctantly labeled themselves libertarians and fans of government gridlock. In 2006, they said that they were "rooting for Hillary Clinton in 2008 simply because it would be weird to have her as president".{{cite web|url=https://reason.com/archives/2006/08/31/south-park-refugees|title=South Park Refugees|first=John|last=Tierney|date=August 31, 2006|magazine=Reason|access-date=August 11, 2021|archive-date=January 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115003210/https://reason.com/archives/2006/08/31/south-park-refugees|url-status=live}}

{{About||more information about films, shorts, music and merchandising|South Park (franchise){{!}}South Park (franchise)|more information about video games|List of South Park video games{{!}}List of South Park video games}}

{{portal|1990s|Animation|Cartoon|Comedy|Colorado|Television|United States}}

• South Park (Park County, Colorado)
• South Park City

{{clear}}

{{reflist|group=nb}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=Anderson |first=Brian C. |title=South Park Conservatives: The Revolt Against Liberal Media Bias |publisher=Regnery Publishing |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-89526-019-2 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/southparkconserv00ande |ref=none}}
• {{cite book |editor-last=Arp |editor-first=Robert |last1=Broman |first1=Per F. |last2=Jacoby |first2=Henry |title=South Park and Philosophy: You Know, I Learned Something Today |publisher=Blackwell Publishing |series=The Blackwell Philosophy & Pop Culture Series |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-4051-6160-2|ref=none}}
• {{cite book |editor1-last= Cogan |editor1-first=Brian |title=Deconstructing South Park: Critical Examinations of Animated Transgression |publisher=Lexington Books |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-7391-6745-8|ref=none}}
• {{cite book |editor1-last= Hanley |editor1-first= Richard |title=South Park and Philosophy: Bigger, Longer, and More Penetrating |publisher=Open Court |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-8126-9613-4|ref=none}}
• {{cite book |last=Johnson-Woods |first=Toni |title=Blame Canada!: South Park and Popular Culture |publisher=Continuum |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-8264-1731-2 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/blamecanada00toni }}
• {{cite book |last=Mansour |first=David |title=From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century |publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC |location=Kansas City, Missouri|year=2005|isbn=0-7407-5118-2|oclc=57316726}}
• Nye, Sean, [https://www.academia.edu/2898817/From_Punk_to_the_Musical_South_Park_Music_and_the_Cartoon_Format "From Punk to the Musical: South Park, Music, and the Cartoon Format"], in Music in Television: Channels of Listening, ed. James Deaville (London: Routledge, 2011): 143–64. {{ISBN|978-0415881357}}
• {{cite book|last1=Weinstock|first1=Jeffrey Andrew |first2= Randall |last2=Fallows|title=Taking South Park Seriously|publisher=SUNY Press|year=2008|isbn=978-0-7914-7566-9}}

{{sister project links|d=Q16538|auto=yes}}

• {{Official website|https://southpark.cc.com/}}
• {{IMDb title|0121955}}
• {{TV Guide show|1030177962}}
• [https://www.metacritic.com/tv/south-park South Park] on Metacritic
• [https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/south_park South Park] on Rotten Tomatoes
• [http://toonopedia.com/southprk.htm South Park] at Don Markstein's Toonopedia
• Johnny 2 Cozy, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JCf_fbVtso "Four Hours of South Park Lore To Fall Asleep To,"] via YouTube.com, November 29, 2024. (Video compilation of literary criticism)
• {{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/south-park-20-years-history-trey-parker-matt-stone-928212/|title='South Park' History: Trey Parker, Matt Stone on Censors, Tom Cruise and Scientology's Role in Isaac Hayes Quitting|author=Ryan Parker|date=September 14, 2016|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=February 21, 2022}}

{{South Park|state=expanded}}

{{Trey Parker and Matt Stone}}

{{EmmyAward AnimationLessThanHour 2001-2025}}

{{Comedy Central programming}}

{{Comedy Central animation}}

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