Essay: ‘South Park’ has always delighted in poking the bear, whether it’s President Trump or Paramount

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Most people know the story of “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” It’s about a king who loves clothes and spends a lot of his country’s money on them. Two swindlers convince him they’ve made an amazing suit that only smart people can see. The king, not wanting to appear foolish, pretends he can see it, and his advisors go along with the lie. During a parade, everyone is afraid to speak up, even though the king is completely naked, until a young boy honestly points out that the emperor isn’t wearing any clothes.

Tonight’s episode marks the halfway point of “South Park’s” 27th season, with just four episodes left to go. The season gained attention even before it began, as creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone agreed to a massive $1.5 billion deal with Paramount for streaming rights and 50 more episodes. This deal happened while Paramount was navigating other issues, including a potential $8.4 billion merger, a $16 million lawsuit settlement with Donald Trump, and the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s “Late Night” show.

Voices

Commentary: ‘South Park’ season opener puts Trump in bed with Satan and has Paramount on its knees

Let me tell you, ‘South Park’ is back, and honestly, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. The new season kicked off with an episode that just *didn’t hold back* – it really went after Paramount, CBS, and even President Trump. It was a brutal, no-holds-barred take on everything, and I was here for it.

Many pop culture fans were wondering how the creators of South Park would respond to a time of increasing conformity, corporate compliance, and military displays, especially with a president who seemed to take the idea of a strong voice and use it to simply be aggressive. They got their answer quickly with the season premiere, “Sermon on the Mount,” which featured a reluctant Jesus working as a guidance counselor at South Park Elementary.

He explained to the townspeople, who are currently being sued by Trump for $5 million, that he didn’t want to return to the school, but was obligated due to the legal case and his contract with Paramount. He warned them about the fate of CBS – now owned by Paramount – suggesting they didn’t want to end up like Stephen Colbert. He urged them to stop their actions, fearing the situation could lead to cancellation, and called their behavior foolish. He believes the individual, having both the former power of the presidency and the ability to sue and potentially accept bribes, now has unlimited power to harm others, especially after someone backed down from opposing him.

There will be no shutting up, of course, or backing down.

Playwright George S. Kaufman famously quipped that satire ‘closes on Saturday night’ – meaning it’s often short-lived. However, some satirical works become incredibly successful and long-lasting, earning vast sums of money. Satire, as a form of comedy, a way of thinking, and a tool for social commentary, has a rich history. It dates back to ancient Greece with Aristophanes’ “Lysistrata” and continues through works like Jonathan Swift’s shocking 1729 essay, “A Modest Proposal,” which suggested selling children as a solution to poverty in Ireland. Other examples include Voltaire’s “Candide,” Charlie Chaplin’s critique of capitalism in “Monsieur Verdoux,” Walt Kelly’s political comic strip “Pogo,” the sharp wit of humorists like Stan Freberg and Tom Lehrer, the British comedy group Beyond the Fringe, and modern publications like Mad magazine and The Onion – and that’s just the beginning.

Television

This season of ‘South Park’ is full of jokes and references to Donald Trump’s presidency and the political climate of that time. From a caricature of Kristi Noem to comments by FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, here’s a breakdown of all the political satire.

Good satire isn’t just about being silly; it offers a thoughtful and insightful perspective. Simple insults or childish jokes don’t cut it. While “South Park” can certainly be crude and relies on shock value, it’s surprisingly effective. Even if you disagree with its creators’ views, the show consistently addresses real-world issues, making it worth considering. The increasingly long gaps between episodes – which are made with current events in mind – might be due to the sheer volume of news, which can be overwhelming. However, it also suggests that Parker and Stone are carefully crafting their arguments, taking the time to get things right. Or maybe they’re just enjoying longer lunch breaks.

The show is intentionally shocking, often using crude language and violent imagery, but it’s also surprisingly funny and even touching. Beneath the outrageous behavior – like the constant anger and prejudiced views of the character Eric Cartman, who is, at his core, a vulnerable child – there’s a sense of genuine emotion. The creators, Parker and Stone, seem to enjoy challenging boundaries and stirring up controversy, and they do so with a boldness that’s remarkable. It feels like they’ve made a commitment to tell things as they see them, regardless of the consequences. They aren’t trying to please everyone, and even their devoted fans might find certain aspects difficult to stomach.

The show’s creators initially planned for Donald Trump to lose the 2016 election. They used a character resembling him – Mr. Garrison, a schoolteacher – and when Trump actually won, they simply put a wig on the Garrison character and made him the president. If you’re new to the show, this explains why people protest at Garrison’s house, thinking he’s Trump. This season, they’ve streamlined things by using a photo-animated version of the president’s head on a simple body – a style they previously used for characters like Canadians and, notably, Saddam Hussein. They even copied Hussein’s voice and catchphrase, “Relax, guy!” and, like Trump, the president is shown in bed with Satan. The Prince of Darkness quips, “You remind me a lot of someone I used to date – you guys are exactly alike!” The vice president is portrayed as Tattoo, the character from “Fantasy Island.”

The recurring joke about whether Trump is “f—ing Satan” – playing on the word “f—” as both a verb and adjective – is a running gag on the show, even becoming part of the plot (Satan is depicted as pregnant). This is coupled with frequent references to Trump’s penis, which is consistently and explicitly portrayed as small, and Cartman’s repeated, intentionally misspelled boasts about being a skilled debater. Surprisingly, this combination of humor works very effectively.

The show isn’t just focused on the president; it covers a wide range of bizarre storylines, from collectible dolls to prediction markets. A former guidance counselor, Mr. Mackey, unexpectedly joins ICE and clashes with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who makes prejudiced remarks about who should be detained. Meanwhile, Stan’s dad, Randy Marsh, struggles with his marijuana farm after losing his workers and develops an unusual emotional connection with ChatGPT. He tries to reinvent his farm as a tech company, experimenting with ketamine, and sends Towelie to Washington to lobby Trump to change marijuana laws, alongside images of tech leaders Tim Cook and Mark Zuckerberg. Kyle’s mother, Sheila, travels to Israel to confront Netanyahu. The FCC Chairman, Brendan Carr, is repeatedly targeted in slapstick schemes orchestrated by Trump.

This isn’t a deep dive into politics, but honestly, these aren’t simple times either.

Does satire actually accomplish anything? Does it change people’s opinions? The classic tale of the naked emperor doesn’t suggest that being exposed made him any wiser or kinder. While a Disney cartoon from World War II, featuring Donald Duck, didn’t defeat Hitler – real warfare did – it might have boosted morale back home. You can’t expect to shame someone who feels no shame, or appeal to the empathy of a narcissist, but it can be satisfying to think a joke might bother them. “South Park” probably won’t revolutionize the world, but it can be comforting to viewers, letting them know they aren’t alone in their thinking.

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2025-10-15 13:37