‘South Park’ is having its best ratings in years. Thank Trump and Kristi Noem spoofs

by

The long-running show “South Park” on Comedy Central keeps poking fun at President Trump, and it seems audiences are really enjoying the humor.

I’ve noticed a significant increase in viewership for the 27th season of that irreverent and sometimes racy animated show we all love. Data from Nielsen and Comedy Central shows this. In fact, the second episode that aired on August 6 attracted approximately 6.2 million viewers across the cable network and Paramount+ over its first three days. Now, Paramount+ is where you can catch every new episode exclusively.

As a movie buff enthusiastically scanning ratings, I can’t help but exclaim: “Wow! The season premiere that dropped on July 23 has seen an incredible 49% jump compared to its initial three days! And the second episode? It smashed records with an impressive 1.56 million viewers on Comedy Central – marking the highest-rated episode since 2018! Even better, it’s not just any audience; it’s mainly those coveted advertisers’ dream demographic – folks between 18 and 49 years old.

The latest instalment of “South Park” debuted during the strained relationship between Comedy Central’s owner Paramount and the Trump Administration. Following this, it was released soon after Trey Parker, Matt Stone (the show’s co-creators) secured a staggering $1.5-billion five-year agreement with Paramount for streaming rights that had previously been with HBO Max.

As a dedicated fan, I’d rephrase that statement like this:

In a recent turn of events, it seems Paramount agreed to a $16 million settlement regarding a lawsuit claiming they manipulated an interview between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris during the 60 Minutes show for her advantage in the upcoming 2024 Election. However, First Amendment experts had previously deemed this lawsuit baseless. Interestingly, this settlement was considered crucial to secure federal approval for Skydance Media’s acquisition of Paramount, worth a staggering $8 billion, which officially closed on Aug 7.

Hollywood Inc.

Having just finalized a monumental $8 billion merger, I find myself at the center of attention, fielding queries from the media. Naturally, the first inquiry centers around none other than President Trump.

As a witty film critic, I jestingly mused that a settlement felt suspiciously like a bribe. But then, mere days later, the powers-that-be at CBS informed me, their humble late-night host, that my beloved “Late Show” would conclude its run at the close of the 2025-26 season due to financial difficulties.

In a humorous manner, “South Park” hasn’t shied away from its portrayal of Trump, depicting him in risqué scenarios like being naked with the devil. Similarly, the show poked fun at Trump’s claim about receiving a $20 million payoff from Paramount for public service announcements following the “60 Minutes” settlement, although Paramount has yet to verify such an agreement was made for free advertising.

In the second installment, the president appeared in a white suit reminiscent of “Fantasy Island,” accompanied by Vice President J.D. Vance who played his smaller-than-life partner role. The depiction of U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was unusual, with her face being depicted as melting and showing an overly aggressive reaction to harmless puppy dogs. These elements were recurring jokes throughout the episode.

In the second episode, the recurring character from “South Park,” Cartman, transformed into a conservative podcast host, and his new hairstyle took on a resemblance to that typically worn by right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.

This week, Parker and Stone are stepping aside while Comedy Central rebroadcasts the initial “South Park” episode from 1997 titled “Cartman Gets an Anal Probe” as part of a special marathon dedicated to the show. It will air on Wednesday.

Read More

2025-08-14 00:01