South Park: Classic or Dud?

Scrolling thru upthread, I see that this (like so many on ILX) is a perennial argument which is frequently resurrected but seldom resolved.

When I was in high school this show normalized people calling others “Jews”.

same, but for middle school

I get that SP only exploited something that was already there but I'm pretty sure a good dozen ppl referring to me as "you fuckin' Jew" came directly from show

I went back and skimmed through the thread too and:

although the person I know who appears to be the biggest fan of the South Park depiction of Asians is Taiwanese-American; he constantly quotes "our penis VERY SMALL" at people

LOL I'm Taiwanese American too (and grew up in chinese restaurants). I think maybe taiwanese americans are just assholes. Ha!

Incidentally I've started a King Of The Hill rewatch and the way the race issues are dealt with show that you can discuss stereotypes and bigotry for laughs without being so obviously problematic

Yes, I think it's fair to say that pretty much any topic under the sun could be handled with more nuance and sensitivity than is afforded by Parker and Stone.

https://etcanada.com/news/374481/catholic-league-president-hits-out-at-south-park-bosses-over-child-abuse-episode-cowards/

“The October 3rd episode of ‘South Park,’ titled ‘A Boy and a Priest,’ portrayed molesting priests as pedophiles. This is factually inaccurate: almost all the molesters–8 in 10–have been homosexuals."

'Sorry meant poof not pedo'

His message read, “The October 3rd episode of ‘South Park,’ titled ‘A Boy and a Priest,’ portrayed molesting priests as pedophiles. This is factually inaccurate: almost all the molesters–8 in 10–have been homosexuals.

“Therefore, the cartoon-victim characters should have been depicted as adolescents, not kids.

Yeah, this is a villain in a Mr Show sketch

oh yeah there's a new series! cool. the last series was decent

watching this series. the priest episode is amazing.

idk how they managed to fit that much nuance and sympathy into a character study in a 20-minute crappily-animated comedy show

old lunch up there carping about nuance and sensitivity - well, there ya go

Scroll up, bubby. I've been one of their bigger defenders itt.

fair - but then you should acknowledge when they do something that great! the final scene is exquisite

(I would still stand by that post as a general thing but I acknowledge that they are able to transcend their general tendency and deliver a 'You're Getting Old' when they're of a mind.)

FWIW, your recent revive has made me wanna play catch-up.

i have the sense they're of a mind more than usual - both first two episodes of this season are really good

i’ve really enjoyed this season so far

these are good signs. Going to dive back in for this season.

Haven't watched it (or really wanted to) in years, but a friend recommended the Tegridy episode. When Randy puts the hat on Stan...dying.

YES and the payoff to that bit is amazing

No episode this week so I returned to the Grounded Vindaloop one that keeps making best-episode lists. I mean I'm still laughing now

this new season has been great.

has 'tegridy for sure

this episode was awesome

OMG the Halloween episode

there's a non-zero chance the best TV series of 2018 will end up being South Park S22

omg a manbearpig walkback!!!!! but of course one that satirises walkbacks lol

Waiiiiitaminute. Are you suggesting that P+S might actually be questioning the dumbest take they've stubbornly clung to for the past two decades? This I've gotta see.

it was time

now they just have to roll out a positive portrayal of a trans person

Dutch age change guy reminds me so much of Dutch colleague...who loved south park

Bezos as Star Trek Talosian A++. Great episode

holy SHIT at that "16 Tons" opening sequence

I'm assuming this will all be ruined over the next week or two but for now I'm going to enjoy Marxist rhetoric being deployed so nakedly (and, surprisingly, without snarky takebacks)

holy SHIT at that "16 Tons" opening sequence

The last few days have taught me that trying to convince people to watch a new episode of South Park in 2018 is basically impossible, even when I provide hard evidence that the politics are Good, Actually

they just have to walk back some of the transphobia and i'll be close to 100% on board

Ok the politics are good but is the show funny

this season has been excellent and funny

I mean, I laughed. I especially liked how mutant Bezos had the Mayor in his pocket, which was both funny and timely.

also the depiction of a wacky accident on the Amazon shop floor airing within 24 hours of that insane IRL bear mace incident was just too good.

yes!!!

I am dying to watch this episode. I fell asleep during the anxiety one.

for any curious/doubtful lurkers, the sequence maura and I mentioned:

https://youtu.be/eX4C0CctGSo

^^ that's great.

pic.twitter.com/uGulpztbVt

— Chris Barrus (@quartzcity) December 7, 2018

srsly, best tv series of 2018

TIL Adam Curtis is a big fan

The Economist: Isn’t religion an organised panic about death?

Mr Curtis: No. I’m not religious but I don’t share the liberal dislike of religion because I think its fundamental point is to reassure us in the face of our own death. That’s what religion does, it gives you a sense that you’re part of something that’s moving onwards. It reassures people. Death is frightening and for a generation who believe that they are alone and were liberated by that idea and had a really good time, to be alone in the face of death is very frightening. So I have a funny feeling that religion might come back.

The Economist: I hope you don’t think I’m being reductive, but it sounds as if religion is a bit of a placebo when it comes to mortality.

Mr Curtis: Well, you are being reductive because placebos are actually as powerful as real things. As we know, in the three-part episode of South Park called “Imaginationland”, Trey Parker very powerfully argues that imagination has been more powerful in shaping the world that we exist in now than anything else. And he’s right. And that’s what we’ve lost to be honest.

https://www.economist.com/open-future/2018/12/06/the-antidote-to-civilisational-collapse?aggregates/the-economist-intvws-adam-curtis-n-b-full-transcript-long-read

lol what

As we know, in the three-part episode of South Park called “Imaginationland”

Further here: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/nov/14/adam-curtis-documentary-south-park-american-honey

still got it

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/south-park-banned-chinese-internet-critical-episode-1245783

i will say with all the nba stuff happening this episode was pretty well timed