The White House has condemned the season premiere of “South Park,” calling it a “fourth-rate show” that “hasn’t been relevant for over 20 years.” The sharp criticism, delivered to USA TODAY by spokesperson Taylor Rogers, came after the episode depicted a naked President Donald Trump in bed with Satan.
Speaking at a San Diego Comic-Con panel on Thursday, creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone responded to the controversy. With a sly grin, Parker offered a sarcastic apology: “We’re terribly sorry.” When the panel’s moderator joked about serving them a subpoena, Parker replied, “It’s fine; we’re ready.”
The polarizing episode also satirized parent company Paramount’s recent settlement with the president, a contentious “60 Minutes” interview, and the cancellation of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” The episode’s premiere coincided with Paramount’s announcement of a new agreement with the creators for 50 additional episodes and a lucrative streaming deal on Paramount+.
At the panel, Parker and Stone detailed their notoriously fast-paced production schedule, which allows them to incorporate breaking news into episodes. Parker revealed they were still developing next week’s show, noting that ideas are often finalized just before airtime. “Right now we don’t know,” he said. “It’s super stressful.”
Despite the topical pressure, Parker admitted he has no long-term plan for the season, stating, “My whiteboard’s blank, dude.” Stone jokingly added, “No politics. We’re not doing any of that.”
Looking at the broader media landscape, the creators noted that their main competition is no longer just traditional television. Stone said he feels most competitive with “what the kids are doing on TikTok and YouTube,” adding that he and Parker now get much of their own entertainment from online platforms.
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