South Park

This article is about the television series. For the franchise, see South Park (franchise). For other uses, see South Park (disambiguation).

South Park
Title card featuring the four main characters: Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman
Genre
Created by
Developed byBrian Graden
Showrunners
  • Trey Parker
  • Matt Stone
Voices of
Theme music composerPrimus
Composers
  • Adam Berry
  • Scott Nickoley
  • Jamie Dunlap
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons26
No. of episodes328 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
CinematographyKenny Gioseffi
Running time22 minutes[1]
Production companies
  • Celluloid Studios (1997)
  • Braniff Productions (1997–2006)
  • Parker-Stone Productions (2006–2007)
  • South Park Studios (2007–present)
  • Comedy Partners
Original release
NetworkComedy Central[nb 1]
ReleaseAugust 13, 1997 (1997-08-13) –
present (present)
Related
The Spirit of Christmas
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South Park is an American animated sitcom created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and developed by Brian Graden for Comedy Central. The series revolves around four boys—Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormick—and their exploits in and around the titular Colorado town. South Park also features many recurring characters. The series became infamous for its profanity and dark, surreal humor that satirizes a large range of subject matter.

Parker and Stone developed South Park from two animated short films, both titled The Spirit of Christmas, released in 1992 and 1995. The second short became one of the first Internet viral videos, leading to the series' production. The pilot episode was produced using cutout animation; the remainder of the series uses computer animation recalling the prior technique. Since the fourth season, episodes are generally written and produced during the week preceding its broadcast, with Parker serving as the lead writer and director.

Since its debut on August 13, 1997, 328 episodes of South Park have been broadcast. It debuted with great success, consistently earning the highest ratings of any basic cable program. Subsequent ratings have varied, but it remains one of Comedy Central's longest-running programs. In August 2021, South Park was renewed through 2027, and a series of television specials was announced for Paramount+, the first two of which were released later that year.[2][3] In October 2019, it was announced that WarnerMedia acquired exclusive streaming rights to South Park starting in June 2020 for HBO Max.[4] The series' twenty-sixth season premiered on February 8, 2023.[5]

South Park has received critical acclaim, and is included in various publications' lists of the greatest television shows. It has received numerous accolades, including five Primetime Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award. A theatrical film, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, was released in June 1999 to commercial and critical success, garnering an Academy Award nomination. In 2013, TV Guide ranked South Park the tenth Greatest TV Cartoon of All Time.[6]

  1. ^ Lake, Dave (2009). "The 10 Most Controversial 'South Park' Episodes". MSN TV. Archived from the original on May 15, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
  2. ^ Rosario, Alexandra Del (November 18, 2021). "'South Park: Post Covid': Stan & Kyle Are Adults In First-Look Teaser For Paramount+'s Thanksgiving Movie Event – Update". Deadline. Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  3. ^ Muhammad, Latifah (November 24, 2021). "How to Watch the 'South Park: Post Covid' Special Online for Free". IndieWire. Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  4. ^ "HBO Max Lands Exclusive Streaming Rights to South Park from South Park Digital Studios, A Joint Venture Between Viacom and South Park Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone". Pressroom (in Spanish). October 29, 2019. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  5. ^ O'Rourke, Ryan (January 20, 2023). "'South Park' Season 26 Sets Premiere Date on Comedy Central". Collider. Archived from the original on February 24, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  6. ^ "TV Guide Magazine's 60 Greatest Cartoons of All Time". September 24, 2013. Archived from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2016.


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