EMMA O’CONNELL / ASST. A&C EDITOR

Paramount’s “South Park” is a satirical television show set in “South Park,” Co. that follows the exploits and antics of four grade-school boys  — Stan, Kyle, Eric and Kenny. The show is dirty mouthed, dirty minded and totally irreverent. Controversial depictions of celebrities have long characterized this comedy.

By reproducing the personalities of figures like Donald Trump, George Lucas, Morgan Freeman, Lady Gaga, Joe Biden and many others, “South Park” has built a reputation on being wholly unfiltered. 

‘South Park’ spin-off on the White House’s new renovations. Photo courtesy of @southpark/Instagram

USD junior Mircea Kippes described her view of “South Park.”

“The series is binge-worthy,” Kippes explained. “It just makes fun of all of society. A lot of things [in the show] just shouldn’t have ever been said.” 

After producing 27 seasons of the animated dark-comedy, co-creators Trey Parker and Matt  Stone have become experts at  insulting people.  One of the main draws of the show is its  unintimidated ability and willingness to make fun of everybody. In a 2004 interview for CBS News, the creative duo thought if there was any “line” that they would not cross.

“I don’t know — we haven’t found it yet,” Stone responded. 

Regardless of how vulgar and offensive any television show may be, few ever capture the attention of the White House. Yet “South Park” has managed to do so in its 27th season. The inspiration for much of the season’s content began in October 2024, when Donald Trump launched a legal attack on broadcast media.

In October, 2024, President Trump filed a lawsuit against Paramount — the parent company of CBS News — over what he described as deceptive editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris. CBS News used two different clips of the same  statement   from Harris to promote a Sunday   newscast   and a  Monday newscast. Trump alleged that the edit misrepresented a political figure during an election year and therefore, gave Harris an advantage in the 2024 presidential race. 

Paramount filed a motion to dismiss the case in March 2025, calling it “an affront to the First Amendment.” The motion was denied, but the company ultimately agreed to settle the lawsuit for $16 million in July of this past summer. 

In the eyes of many media producers, journalists, filmmakers and other creatives, the settlement represented a blow to the “Fourth Estate:” a moment when the government effectively bought out the press. This legal spectacle drew new public scrutiny to the studio’s handling of political and media satire, particularly given Paramount’s ownership of “South Park.”

A legal battle against President Donald Trump was not the only major headline involving Paramount at the time. Paramount and Skydance Media, a production and finance company, had announced a corporate merger. It was scheduled for completion in August 2025. Parker and Stone did not even attempt to hide their displeasure with the merger, as it delayed the premiere of “South Park’s” 27th season. On July 2, the same day that Paramount reached a settlement with Donald Trump, “South Park’s”  official X account posted a blunt message.

“This merger is a s—show and it’s f—ing up ‘South Park.’ We are at the studio working on new episodes and we hope the fans get to see them somehow,” Parker and Stone said.

True to form, Parker and Stone’s public outrage didn’t stop there. The co-creators even went as far as to threaten legal action against Paramount and Skydance Media, accusing the new company of tortious interference. The conflict was resolved via a $1.25 billion streaming deal, and no lawsuit was actually filed. 

Paramount’s shameful settlement with Donald Trump, paired with the chaos surrounding the company’s Skydance merger, provided fresh inspiration  — or perhaps more accurately, ammunition — for new episodes of “South Park.”

Season 27’s sociopolitical commentary was unmissable. The new episodes, released on July 23, taking aim at Trump and Paramount alike. In the season premiere, “Sermon on the ‘Mount,” Trump’s character repeatedly tries to cozy up with Satan in bed. Another episode features a “60 Minutes” parody, complete with visibly uncomfortable broadcasters, which undoubtedly refers to Trump’s $16 million settlement with Paramount. 

Later in the season, a Jesus character  appears   in “South Park’s” elementary schools. “Jesus” explains that he does not want to attend his classes, but “[has] to because it was part of a lawsuit and the agreement with Paramount.” 

The scene continues to mock the company, with the Jesus character adding that he doesn’t want to end up like Stephen Colbert. CBS News canceled “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” — many believe it was because the  host criticized the Trump-Paramount settlement. 

In season 27, Parker and Stone did not hold back — and the White House noticed. 

“This show hasn’t been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention,” Assistant Press Secretary Taylor Rogers said in a statement to The Washington Post.

The season’s sociopolitical angles — when looked at in the context of the Trump-Paramount settlement and the corporate merger — Toreros are left questioning the relationship between the media and government.

USD sophomore Amy O’Connell shared her opinion on the government’s involvement with the media.

“For the President to sue a company over what they say is a big deal,” O’Connell said. “No one wants the suspicion that their TV is being influenced by the government or its money at all. It diminishes the credibility of all our news sources, not just CBS or Paramount.”

Herein lies the value of satirical comedies like “South Park.” USD Senior Victor Quirch seems to agree with O’Connell’s perspective. He offers further commentary on the role of dark comedy. 

“These TV shows act as a mirror of society and give the people a channel to express themselves in a day and age where almost nothing you see online can be trusted,” Quirch said.

Pictured are the four main characters in South Park — Kyle, Stan, Eric and Kenny. Photo courtesy of @sasa/Pinterest

In the end, “South Park’s” new season lands right where it always has: poking at the pressure points of politics, media and culture. The Trump settlement, the Paramount merger and the uneasy questions they raise become raw material for the show’s loudest jokes.

President Trump and Vice President JD Vance in ‘South Park’’ skit referencing Charlie Kirk in the ‘Master Debater’ episode. Photo courtesy of @southpark/Instagram