Let me start by saying that I used to hate "South Park" — absolutely hate it. I found the character’s voices annoying, the jokes either incredibly stupid or crude and that the whole show was completely pointless. From the episodes I watched, the only sensible conclusion I could come to was this: I had just wasted my time. At the time, I couldn’t understand why several of my high school and college age friends were so hooked on a show that featured primarily potty humor and weird sex jokes. Those days, I thought that I was too mature for "South Park." There were so many other great comedy shows with much more to offer — "The Big Bang Theory," "Parks and Recreation," "The Office," "Friends," etc.
These shows weren’t just dumb animations cracking dirty/offensive jokes, they also contained social commentary applicable to real life. However, perhaps I was missing the point.
I hate to say it, but perhaps "South Park" was too mature for me.
Last year, I gave "South Park" another shot. My roommates watched it, my friends watched it — so why not? As it turns out, "South Park" was not at all what I expected. Instead of a stupidly silly show making sex jokes and stupid one-liners, I found a show unafraid to say whatever the hell it wanted. So in the spirit of "South Park," so will I.
"South Park" says what it wants to say. Frankly, the show doesn’t give a sh*t who you are, where you’re from, or what you believe in — if you get offended, that’s your own fault. The social commentary is edgy and biting in every way, leaving nobody from its scope. If you feel even the least bit attacked, good. That means the show hasn’t forgotten about you. Yet aside from offending, the show accomplishes several major feats that most popular shows do not even attempt.
First and foremost, it is honest — brutally honest. Sometimes the truth hurts, and most of those times "South Park" producers Trey Parker and Matt Stone are waiting to rub lemon juice in the cut. Unlike many shows currently on television, "South Park" is unafraid of bad ratings because people don’t like what they are hearing/seeing. After accusations that Tim Allen’s “Last Man Standing” was removed for oversharing political values/beliefs, many shows seemed to back off making political statements. But not "South Park." The show wouldn’t be on Season 21 with a massive fan following and prime time Comedy Central time slot if it played by the same rules as everyone else. While Late Night show hosts apologize for taking a political stance or saying something tongue-in-cheek, "South Park" provides an original perspective regardless of criticisms.
Another major feat of "South Park" is the speed at which the show is able to process current events and create timely content. The first episode of this season, entitled “White People Renovating Houses,” aired on September 13th, 2017. It grapples with a variety of topics, including (but not limited to): blue-collar America, jobs, Confederate institutions/beliefs, racism, the role of modern technology, modern entertainment values, and cooperation to peacefully resolve conflict. In the wake of Charlottesville, these topics were both trending and controversial — two things "South Park" does well.
I wrote this article not only because I enjoy "South Park," but also because I felt it was long overdue. Lately, people have become oversensitive — many are looking for reasons to get upset with the diction and rhetoric used by people expressing beliefs that oppose theirs. "South Park" is a glaring reminder that everyone’s freedom of both speech and expression are protected under the 1st Amendment. Regardless of the color of your skin, ethnicity, gender, sexual preferences, socioeconomic class, weight, political leanings — everyone has the right to laugh at a well-timed sex joke.
