Beer, bongs, buddies, whatever it is you need to grab before 10 p.m. on Wednesday nights, grab it. It’s that special time of year again.
The 17th season of “South Park” debuted last week with an episode satirizing the Edward Snowden affair over the summer and the National Security Agency (NSA). Witty, clever, all of the above, the episode was killer, but the sweetest part about the show was simply the fact that it’s back (Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone decided to start making one 10-episode season a year as opposed to their usual two 6 episode stints per year).
In an era when your TV screen is generally just hooked up to your computer through an HDMI cable, “South Park” has somehow continued to achieve the impossible feat of attracting viewers at a specific time slot each week. Hoards of viewers sit down at 10 p.m. on Wednesdays to enjoy over-the-top, brilliant humor, just as they’ve been doing for years.
But why?
What about the show keeps audiences so dedicated? Why do so many viewers insist on seeing the episode as it’s being aired for the first time, censored and all (the season’s first episode had 4.3 million viewers)? Why is there such a relentless following of a cartoon?
Sure, people get riled up for “Homeland,” “Breaking Bad,” “Game of Thrones” and a handful of other TV dramas, but none have proven the longevity of “South Park.” Maybe it’s because storylines can’t go on forever in such dramas, but “Breaking Bad” just wrapped up the series after five seasons, “Homeland” just kicked off its third season and “Game of Thrones” is limited as an adaptation of a book series. While there’s no doubt that producing a riveting, solid TV drama is a monumental challenge, it’s possible that because of it’s lack of continuing storyline, cartoons like “South Park” will be recognized as greater contributions to our culture than the likes of “The Wire,” “The Sopranos,” or “Lost.”
Of course, not all cartoons are of the same caliber of “South Park.” Other than “The Simpsons,” no cartoon in recent memory seems to have infiltrated our culture and remained relevant for so long (I’d say “Family Guy,” but in my personal opinion the show peaked a couple seasons ago and doesn’t have the stranglehold on society’s balls the way it used to). So what is it that still attracts so many to the little mountain town in Colorado each and every season?
The show stays relevant. What used to be a curse word-driven portrayal of childhood in a town full of quirks has become perhaps the greatest satirical program of our generation. The creative process of the show was documented in “6 Days to Air,” showing the small time frame that Parker and Stone take to make each episode. But the small time frame keeps the show on its toes and keeps the show relevant.
Sure, it’s bound to miss once in a while, but even if an episode’s not funny it still holds a great deal of value.
“South Park” is more “The Daily Show,” “The Colbert Report” or The Onion than anything now. It holds a mirror, be it a twisted, ridiculously hilarious mirror, up to society these days. When we look in that mirror, it’s not too hard to see how many of our society’s problems and issues can be easily resolved with a pinch of human decency. I’ve learned more from Stan and Kyle about how to be a good person than any day I’ve spent in church.
It’s a special show. For 17 seasons, it’s proven how far animation can really make it in American culture. So cherish it now, because it’s possible that it won’t be around for too much longer. Parker and Stone proved they can be successful in other media with the epic “Book of Mormon” on Broadway. It’s possible they get bored with the cartoon and want to pursue other interests.
So while you still can, gather ‘round the television on Wednesday nights like it was 1999 and enjoy the show.
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