south_park south_park american adult animated sitcom created television network revolves boys bizarre adventures titular colorado town like simpsons south_park uses large ensemble cast recurring characters intended mature audiences infamous crude language dark surreal humor wide range topics parker stone developed animated shorts created internet viral videos ultimately led production series south_park debuted august great success consistently earning highest ratings basic cable program subsequent ratings varied remains highest rated shows slated air pilot episode produced animation subsequent episodes created software technique parker stone perform voice acting episode typically written produced week preceding broadcast parker serving primary writer director total episodes course seasons season premiere september south_park received numerous accolades including primetime emmy awards award numerous publications lists greatest television shows popularity resulted feature length theatrical film south_park bigger longer uncut released june years premiere commercial critical success guide ranked south_park tenth greatest cartoon time premise setting characters follows exploits boys boys live fictional small town south_park located real life south_park basin rocky_mountains central colorado town home assortment frequent characters students families elementary school staff residents tend regard south_park bland quiet place live prominent settings include local elementary school bus stop neighborhoods surrounding snowy landscape actual colorado landmarks shops businesses town main street based appearance similar locations town colorado stan portrayed group official website describes average american 4th kyle lone jew group portrayal role dealt stan modeled parker kyle modeled stone stan kyle best friends friendship intended reflect real life friendship parker stone common topic series usually referred surname loud manipulative racist literal portrayed antagonist anti semitic attitude resulted progressing rivalry kyle deeper reason antagonistic relationship strong clash kyle strong morality complete lack kenny comes poor family wears hood tightly covers face speech seasons kenny die nearly episode returning little definitive explanation given written sixth season appearing season finale practice killing kenny seldom creators episodes boys grade season episode 4th grade entered fourth grade remained plots set motion events ranging fairly typical supernatural extraordinary frequently happen town boys act voice reason events cause panic behavior adult populace depicted prone boys frequently confused contradictory behavior parents adults perceive having distorted views morality society themes style episode opens tongue cheek characters events based real people entirely fictional celebrity voices poorly following program contains coarse language content viewed south_park weekly program assigned rating generally intended adult audiences boys child characters use strong profanity taboo words typical broadcast use language serves means parker stone display claim young boys talk south_park commonly makes use techniques numerous running gags violence sexual content pop cultural references satirical portrayal celebrities early episodes tended shock value oriented featured style humor social satire occasionally earlier prevalent series progressed retaining focus boys fondness humor attempt remind adult viewers like years old parker stone began developing characters giving larger roles certain storylines began writing plots based religion politics numerous topics provided opportunity spoof extreme sides contentious issues liberal conservative points view parker stone describe equal opportunity offenders main agenda funny people laugh stating particular topic group people spared expense subject satire parker stone insist kids kids like elementary school america stating introduction satirical element series result adding moral center rely simply crude shocking attempt maintain audience tendency cynical parker notes underlying sweetness aspect child characters time described boys cruel core innocence usually boys characters episode convey important lesson taken short monologue earlier seasons speech commonly begin variation phrase know learned today origins creation soon meeting film class parker stone created animated short entitled spirit christmas film created construction paper stop motion features prototypes main characters south_park including character resembling named kenny unnamed character resembling today kenny near identical unnamed characters resemble stan kyle fox network executive mutual friend commissioned parker stone create second short film video christmas card created second spirit christmas short resembled style later series closely differentiate shorts short referred jesus second short jesus santa sent copies video friends copied distributed including internet viral videos jesus santa popular parker stone began talks developing short television series fox refused pick series wanting air included character talking piece entered negotiations mtv parker preferred produced fearing mtv turn kids executive watched short commissioned developed series parker stone assembled small staff spent months creating pilot episode gets anal probe south_park danger canceled aired fared poorly test audiences particularly women shorts gaining popularity internet comedy central agreed order run episodes south_park debuted gets anal probe august production pilot episode produced animation episodes south_park created use software opposed pilot took months complete animated traditionally hand drawn companies south_korea process takes roughly months individual episodes south_park significantly time produce computers animation method production staff able generate episode weeks seasons staff people episodes typically completed week little days nearly entire production episode accomplished set offices originally complex los_angeles california california parker stone executive producers entire history served south_park executive producer season 20th century served executive producer seasons coordinating production efforts comedy central headquarters new_york_city scripts written season begins production episode begins thursday writing parker stone staff writers include written scripts films served host money wrote film thing tenure seasons television producer writer idol parker stone served guest writing consultant season seven episodes cancelled little bit country 12th 13th seasons saturday night live actor writer served creative consultant producer exchanging ideas parker write script entire team animators editors technicians sound engineers typically work hours ensuing week fourth season parker assumed directorial duties stone relinquished share directing focus handling coordination business aspects production wednesday completed episode sent headquarters satellite hours air time eastern time parker stone state week deadline creates creative process feel results funnier schedule allows south_park stay respond quickly specific current events animated shows earliest examples season episode references raid house affair event occurred days episode originally aired season episode best friends forever references case originally aired midst controversy hours died scene season seven finale christmas canada references discovery dictator spider hole subsequent capture happened mere days prior episode airing season episode night revolves barack_obama victory presidential election aired hours obama declared winner segments dialogue obama real victory speech october failed meet production deadline time power october production studio prevented episode season kids dawn finished time episode rescheduled air week later october july south_park renewed extending season episodes overall animation style animation inspired paper cut cartoons flying circus parker stone lifelong fans construction paper traditional stop motion animation techniques original animated shorts pilot episode subsequent episodes produced computer animation providing similar look originals requiring fraction time produce computer artists begin episode series drawn provided storyboard artists characters objects composed simple shapes primary colors child characters size shape distinguished clothing characters presented angle movements animated intentionally fashion purposely offered free range motion associated hand drawn characters occasionally non fictional characters depicted photographic actual head face lieu face reminiscent traditional style canadians portrayed minimalist fashion simple eyes halves heads simply characters speak began computers cardboard drawn imported characters linked render farm render shots hour beginning season animators began maya instead studio runs render farm produce shots hour maya high end programs mainly computer graphics producer animation director notes initially chosen features helped animators retain look making visual effects created motion newer graphics program created mac operating system visual quality improved recent seasons techniques intentionally preserve cheap animation look episodes feature sections live action footage incorporated styles animation portions season premiere good times weapons anime style season episode love partly season episode major homage animated film scenes accomplished voice cast parker stone voice male south_park characters voiced majority female characters suicide november succeeded leaving seventh season replaced april stewart marshall continues voice female characters originally listed credits alias protect reputation voice disney kid friendly characters stewart originally credited credited rock opera performance pseudonym blue girl voice actors members south_park production staff voiced minor characters episodes staff members voice recurring characters supervising producer voices student producer storyboard artist voices school black student writing consultant voices anthropomorphic named production supervisor voices slave gay lover garrison run voices characters provided small children production staff voicing child characters voice actors speak normal vocal range adding recorded audio edited pitch altered voice sound like fourth voiced character chef black soul singing worker adults boys consistently trusted agreed voice character parker stone ideal candidates included lived hosted radio new_york tenure south_park record dialogue digital audio tape respective episode director directions phone tape shipped production studio california left early character chef killed season premiere return chef guest stars celebrities depicted usually celebrities voices celebrities voiced include jay_leno bands comedy team voiced characters representing season episode hair duo collaborative effort years appears live action sequences narrator season episode guest starred speaking characters south_park earliest seasons high profile celebrities guest starring joke parker stone responded offering low profile non speaking roles accepted provided stan dog season episode big gay big gay boat ride provided cat season finale mom dirty voiced kid eating monster season episode city edge forever offered lend voice thanksgiving episode declined appear offered role turkey music parker says varying uses music importance south_park characters play sing songs order change influence group behavior educate frequently features scenes characters reactions performances certain popular musicians original score composer sound synthesis simulate small orchestra frequently alluded existing famous pieces music signature acoustic guitar cues establishing shots left los_angeles based provided original music seven seasons credited sole score composer contributions achieved production offices reads script creates score digital audio software audio file edited fit completed episode addition singing effort explain children chef sing things relevant plot songs original compositions written parker performed sexually suggestive style utilized music career band consists parker stone staff members perform music compositions character death listed chef band closing credits elton_john meat guest starred briefly performed season episode chef aid debuted single falling away guest stars season episode title sequence original theme song musical score performed band lyrics alternately sung band lead singer central characters kenny lines altered seasons original composition originally slower sped instrumental version original composition played closing credits song melody similar song opening theme song remixed times course series including remix performed theme music remixed song colonel album purple distribution episodes international internationally south_park broadcast india new_zealand countries europe latin_america channels divisions distribution deals independent networks broadcast series international markets australia broadcast comedy channel season edited uncut season uncut series broadcast canada english comedy network later south_park airs ireland scotland mtv previously channel_4 serbia syndication broadcast syndication rights south_park acquired respectively episodes edited content began running syndication september aired united_states rating 20th television replaced distributor early series currently aired syndication percent television markets canada generates estimated million year advertising revenue home media eighteen seasons south_park available entirety dvd themed dvd compilations released episode story arc reissued straight dvd length feature streaming march comedy central episode south_park available free length demand legal streaming official website march december new episodes added site day following debut version posted following day episode stayed remainder week taken added site weeks later week site served million streams episodes number grew million october legal issues prevent content accessible outside local set countries september website streaming episodes launched canada episodes available streaming website digital rights restrictions longer available july announced signed year deal purchasing exclusive online streaming rights south_park reported million dollars following announcement episode remained available free website player september following premiere eighteenth season select episodes featured free viewing time basis website new episodes available entire month starting day following original entire series available viewing plus april season episode super best friends season fourteen episodes depict muslim prophet muhammad removed site additionally episodes longer air available exclusively dvd episodes remain unavailable following purchase rendered episodes debut season finale series produced standard definition series switched produced high definition beginning thirteenth season seasons originally produced standard definition remastered completely rendered scene scene frame frame original resolution high definition additionally original aspect ratio converted rendering process took years resulted picture quality true opposed converted rendered episodes earlier seasons feature original audio tracks previously released public reception ratings south_park debuted huge ratings success seen largely responsible success channel putting network map episode gets anal probe earned nielsen rating viewers time considered high cable program instantly generated buzz television viewers mass viewing parties began assembling college campuses time eighth episode aired months debuted ratings viewership south_park successful history tenth episode aired following february viewership increased percent episode earned rating time times average rating earned cable aired prime time ratings peaked second episode season mom dirty aired april episode earned rating million viewers time set record highest rated non sports basic cable history spring highest rated shows basic cable south_park episodes success south_park prompted cable companies carry comedy central led fastest growing cable channels number households jumped million million june debuted earned second commercial year paying average seconds advertising time south_park second season paid season series ratings began decrease season premiere episode drew million viewers dramatic drop million previous season premiere stone parker attributed drop ratings media hype surrounded previous year adding season ratings reflected true fan base ratings dropped fourth season episodes averaging million viewers ratings eventually increased seasons consistently averaged million viewers episode viewership lower height popularity earliest seasons south_park remains highest rated series season premiere gained million viewers highest rated season premiere awards channel_4 voted south_park greatest cartoon time time magazine included list best shows time proclaiming america best source rapid fire satire past decade year rolling_stone declared funniest television debut years prior south_park named 12th greatest past years entertainment_weekly aol declared having characters history naming 16th best television comedy series time south_park voted number greatest animated series poll entertainment_weekly character ranked 10th guide list greatest cartoon characters vh1 greatest pop culture icons 19th greatest characters television special second list characters burns simpsons received award south_park stringent social commentary undeniably fearless self important american life ranked south_park number best written shows guide listed number greatest cartoons time south_park won award best animated series year awards given south_park nominated annie award outstanding achievement animated primetime late night television program nominated award outstanding individual episode big gay big gay boat ride south_park nominated emmy award outstanding animated program times won award outstanding animated program programming hour times episode best friends forever episode love episode episode raising bar trilogy episodes won emmy award outstanding animated program criticism controversy frequent depiction taboo subject matter general toilet humor accessibility younger viewers disregard conservative negative depiction liberal causes portrayal religion comic effect main sources generating controversy debate course run series popular students schools barred wearing south_park related shirts parent councils united_kingdom expressed concern year old children voted south_park character favorite personality poll parker stone assert meant viewed young children certified ratings indicate intention mature audiences founder action children television founder condemned claiming dangerous democracy activist groups protested parodies christianity portrayal jesus christ stone claims parents south_park portrayal kids behave upset vision kids like adding kids don kind social complete little raging controversy surrounding use profanity media attention surrounding network singular use word shit season premiere hits fan word shit said times censorship purposes appearing written form days following original airing sent despite uses racial season episode generated relatively little controversy black community praised episode context comedic way conveying races perceptions black people feel hearing word specific controversies included april day prank played viewers depiction season finale bloody mary angered catholics depiction stuck chest episode hell earth originally aired months killed fashion censorship depiction muhammad season episode cartoon wars wake muhammad cartoons controversy season episode trapped closet big fat global freely church information normally reveals members significant monetary contributions church episode parodies rumors involving sexual orientation allegedly demanded episode canceled later quit south_park objection episode season fourteen episodes controversy issues surrounding depiction islamic prophet muhammad website organization revolution muslim new_york based radical muslim organization posted entry included warning creators parker stone risk violent retribution depictions muhammad said probably wind like airing posting provided addresses new_york production company los_angeles author post prefers called said meant serve warning parker stone threat providing addresses meant people opportunity protest despite claims website entry warning media outlets observers interpreted threat support episode come form everybody draw day movement started facebook encourages people draw muhammad episode depicted cocaine prompted government sri_lanka ban series outright influence cultural commentary episodes interpreted statements parker stone attempting viewing public opinions subject critical analysis media literary world framework popular philosophical theological social political concepts south_park debuted college students written term papers doctoral analyzing offers course called south_park political soon kenny trademark deaths characters typically shout god killed kenny quickly popular running gag kenny recurring deaths recognized viewers modern television respect screw guys going home earlier seasons highly popular viewers eccentric hey included edition season episode chef aid attorney uses called defense legal strategy involves addressing plot holes related film return discussing trial hand closing argument deliberate attempt confuse thinking reasonable doubt term defense documented forensic scientists political commentators discussions similar methods legal cases public forums season episode revolves group suggests run corporation stealing people asked business model reply theirs step process phase collect phase profit unable explain occur final steps phase accompanied large question mark corporate flow chart profit steps process usually jokingly widely popular internet especially context politics economics commentators characterize conspicuous gap logic planning discovered gene causes adult fruit fly die days infected certain bacteria named gene honor kenny political conservatives condemned growing population people hold center right political beliefs including teenagers young adults embraced tendency mock liberal viewpoints liberal celebrities icons political commentator dubbed group south_park republicans south_park conservatives sullivan classified group extremely skeptical political socially liberal issues says phrase applied meant casual indication beliefs strong partisan label describes group generally characterized holding strong beliefs rejecting conservative social policy notes makes wicked fun conservatives forefront conservative revolt liberal media parker stone alignment particular political affiliation deny having political agenda creating episode claim higher ratio instances liberal stems simply preference fun liberals conservatives stone quoted saying hate conservatives fucking hate liberals stone parker explained drive given target comes target insistence telling people behave duo explains perceive liberals having remain free satire enforce political citizens parker stone uncomfortable idea south_park applied kind partisan classification parker said rejects south_park republican south_park conservative labels notion feeling tag implies strictly conservative liberal viewpoints canadian columnist observes die hard conservatives identified south_park republicans began turning away label ridiculed republicans season episode best friends forever film years series aired feature length film released film musical comedy directed parker wrote script stone film generally received critics earned combined million domestic foreign box office film controversy surrounding gained spot edition swearing animated film song blame canada film soundtrack earned song writers parker academy_award nomination original song parker stone said interview theatrically released sequel likely concludes series asked official south_park website sequel said south_park movie potent recovering blow unfortunately current moment plans second south_park movie know future bring things happened time called south_park bigger sixth greatest animated feature time relinquished paramount_pictures rights finance potential future south_park film negotiations finance science fiction film previous efforts create second south_park film complicated studios retaining certain rights property media merchandise shorts tribute sketch short features attempting return dead kenny shop run kyle aired bbc television special commemorating 30th anniversary south_park parodied short aired short entitled fun main characters featured documentary film listening tell version film titular joke short clips introducing starting lineup football team featured abc coverage matchup parker gave answers conducted npr rush intro stan kyle kenny preceding parker stone producer fans special south_park pre game videos featured kings home games club sent stanley cup visit winning finals parker stone created themed shorts featuring home games music chef aid south_park album compilation original songs characters performing cover songs tracks performed guest artists released christmas classics compilation songs performed characters episode christmas themed songs released soundtrack feature film song chocolate balls performed released single support chef aid south_park album number hit video games following early success series video games based series released person shooter simply titled south_park released nintendo playstation followed south_park chef party video game featuring mini games playstation nintendo racing game released playstation nintendo parker stone little development games apart providing voice acting publicly criticized acclaim quality south_park games produced south_park game development acclaim cancelled parker stone thought game wasn right system main kids parker stone prototype cartridge game making south_park video game published nintendo_power issue south_park game development playstation xbox gamecube cancelled unknown reasons prototype game found xbox development kit decision form small group called things work creating new south_park games involve studio creators heavily title south_park let tower defense play tower defense game developed released service xbox console xbox live arcade game south_park released spring south_park role playing video game written parker stone originally scheduled released march xbox playstation consoles game eventually released march positive reviews sequel announced titled south_park fractured merchandising merchandising related industry generates million dollars year selling specialty shirt united_states based south_park million shirt sales reached season south_park machine released companies fun produced south_park action figures dolls comedy central entered agreement sell million bags favorite premiere second half fifteenth season october
South Park