WaffleTaco
Wants to outlaw technological innovation.
I think it's more like, how can they cooperate so many events happening in the span of one week in a 22-min episode. It is overwhelming.
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South Park Creators backing off Trump.. "Satire has become reality"
- Thread starter QuantumZebra
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I understand and agree with Trey & Matt. S20 was a a let down compared to the brilliance of S19. It was a bit too topical with the election and the overall quality suffered.
Get back to some of the self-contained craziness with a few topical episodes and SP will be back on track.
There are many on GAF who view SP as an alt right show. It makes it easy to tell who lives in an echo chamber, for sure.
I think the PC Principal character really angered people.
Get back to some of the self-contained craziness with a few topical episodes and SP will be back on track.
There are many on GAF who view SP as an alt right show. It makes it easy to tell who lives in an echo chamber, for sure.
I think the PC Principal character really angered people.
More than anything else, I think the fact that their portrayal of Clinton not being positive is what pissed people off the most.
And I get that. I get people who argue that they should have leveraged their art at its maximum to stop a very dark then-future.
That aside, I think their approach is not at all wrong. It was a more faithful mirror to a flawed candidate rather than a pandering caricature--I like to imagine Garrison consumed all the caricature bandwidth.
Abilidebob
Member
I can see where you're coming from but I interpreted it differently.
Gerald got off scot free, that's true. But every single of his "trollings" were shown in a bad light, and how he was a fucking scumbag and doing that for "the lulz" was a stupid reason. He was exactly like the doxxer dude, but his mental gymnastics wouldn't let him accept that. I saw him as one of those "trolls" that, because they're doing something "just for fun" think it's completely fine and their actions have no consequences.
Did I want for him to get fucked in the end? Absolutely, but he's not the first "bad" character that didn't get punished in the show, but that still doesn't mean the show is saying his actions weren't that bad. Hell, he made a woman kill herself.
Eh, I wouldn't go that far. They have some pretty good episodes here and there. I feel like once they could no longer get the same attention that they got from being obscene, shocking, and controversial in their earlier years they started getting more and more attention for their turn-around time on the pulse of popular culture and breaking news. They've always included some modicum of current events in their story lines even in their heyday, so it's not some newfound desperation for them. It's just what they are known for now, so they likely feel obligated to satirize what's going on right now.
But like I said they still have some good stuff here and there. I'm hoping for some sort of classic character-focused revival now that they want to put the serialized stories to rest. It's not like they don't read viewer thoughts online, so I'm guessing they're going to want to return to a more classic episode format next season.
I don't agree with this at all. It's simplifying the views presented in every single episode. Can you actually list any episodes where they said everyone is stupid? Pick an episode and I'll sum up the perspective they present for you.
edit: that's not to say they didn't present too apathetic of a view here and there. I know one that bothers people is the one where they make fun of Al Gore, but I don't think they were exactly making fun of climate change evidence itself.
There are multiple conversations happening. Some of them are actually attacking the show for its flaws. I am even contributing to those. The show has been dropping LOTS of balls, but what the article refers to is not one of them.
My post expressly targets the drive by dismissive reductions. If you would like, I can collect them all into a post for you, but they are so obvious that do not see the point.
AlexFlame116
Member
I'm sorry but some of the responses here are just completely surprising to me. Cowards? Really? Why are they cowards? I haven't seen much of South Park as some of you guys but even I know many of you guys are completely way overreacting.
It's like many of you guys have done shows before and you know more than the creators themselves.
It's like many of you guys have done shows before and you know more than the creators themselves.
There is no way in hell that they would ever portray Hillary in a positive light, they've been riffing on her for almost as long as the show has been on. Was watching some old episode the other day where the news reporter exclaims "...but Hillary Clinton's ass just keeps getting bigger" before moving onto the story that was relevant to the episode. Jokes like that are all over the show.
Also that terrible Snuke episode from a decade or so ago.
GuessMyUserName
Member
I'm really not sure how people can call their last season a "both sides" shtick. Yeah they used Giant Douche vs Turd Sandwich again since they're both the least liked candidates in history -- but that was pretty much just as a reference to the old SP joke.
Content-wise I actually struggle to think of much Hill was actually made fun of, while instead she was shown to be a competent government official as opposed to basically the entire plot focusing on Garrison/Trump's dumb ass.
Content-wise I actually struggle to think of much Hill was actually made fun of, while instead she was shown to be a competent government official as opposed to basically the entire plot focusing on Garrison/Trump's dumb ass.
What were they making fun of then?
This is very true. They CLEARLY do not like her. That said, they also clearly wanted her to win.
Amory
Member
I think a lot of people just don't take the politics of South Park too seriously.
Insane, I know.
Not taking politics seriously sure worked out well for America.
Frozenprince
Banned
Don't act like he doesn't "get it" just because he interpreted their cynicism towards culture and politics as what it is.
They've always believed everything is stupid and worthy of being mocked, it's the focal point of their shows initial creation and run. Where they openly mocked "both sides" for being not shit. That was how they got popular, it's how they rose to where they are. That everything is stupid, from capitalism to communism to consumerism to religion to faith to celebrity to hope.
The show is inherently cynical, it's built into it's very DNA.
benjipwns
Banned
In 1997?
Great posts.
After last season, there really isn't much more SP can do with regards to Trump and his voters. They made their message clear to anyone who watched the season.
Snowybreak
Member
Oh I'm well aware of the various conversations happening. But I'm just saying that it would be unwise to water it down to a bunch of liberals overreacting. Fury and dissatisfaction are the soup of the day for many Americans including myself, so perhaps instead of generalizations, the best course of action would be interaction and understanding.
(Woo! Shot 4 and time for Zardoz!)
Edit: I do agree with you in the fact that the coward comments and suggestions about how their audience is alt-right might deserve a little more nuance behind them.
I know people who take this show and use it as the basis for their political beliefs.
Not sure quite how they handle the dissonance.
Anyhow, these people are stupid and I do not associate with them very much.
Frozenprince
Banned
Yeah yeah we're all idiot ess jay dubyews with our panties in a know for daring to think an attitude like "Nah what's going on right now is better comedy than we can ever come up with" is a bullshit excuse.
News flash, one can enjoy satire and recognize that sometimes you're gonna be the target without blanket accepting anything and everything they do.
News flash, one can enjoy satire and recognize that sometimes you're gonna be the target without blanket accepting anything and everything they do.
CopperPuppy
Member
I feel you. I suppose it's a bit like Cartman where, despite not always getting his comeuppance, his actions are always portrayed in such a negative light that they speak for themselves.
Appreciate the different interpretation. I think I'm just still disappointed they wasted such a crazy year by going all in on basically one topic that could be done any year and probably in one episode.
17 Seconds
Banned
lol at people calling them cowards. you know nothing about trey parker.
the real reason they're doing this is become they feel like it's low hanging fruit at this point, and they've always kind of been snoody in terms of being creative and original. they feel like trump comedy is passe.
the real reason they're doing this is become they feel like it's low hanging fruit at this point, and they've always kind of been snoody in terms of being creative and original. they feel like trump comedy is passe.
GitarooMan
Member
Pandering to their alt right audience
benjipwns
Banned
The whole point of rehashing it was to point out it wasn't true.
It's been 16 years. They've grown up some.
UberTag
Member
Al Jean Simpsons over the past two years vs. Season 19-20 South Park is pretty much a wash. There's some good. A lot of bad. A lot of complacency. And a lot of throwing shit at the wall and seeing what sticks.
Matt Selman Simpsons is easily better than what we've been getting from Matt & Trey of late... although, that said, I would contend that's still not a fair comparison given that they put themselves under unforgiving time constraints to churn episodes out.
If they weren't so obsessed with putting episodes out in a week I think they'd do a much better job and could easily surpass what Selman does. For that matter, I have very high expectations for The Fractured But Whole because I know we'll get Matt & Trey at their absolute best.
Frozenprince
Banned
Nothing about being unhappy that Trump won, which any decent human being should be, counters anything what I said.
Using "it's low hanging fruit" is a disingenuous excuse.
No, not at all. What show were you guys watching? Canadian Trump was fucked to death by Garrison. They had multiple moments last season where they were literally looking at the camera and sending Fuck Trump, Vote Hillary messages. The season was written around Hillary winning. How much clearer could it have been that they hate Trump? Some of you are projecting because of the PC season.
I take their message to mean that they're abandoning the season as a single narrative format because they physically can't keep up and it ruined the last one. It's on the books as one of the worst ever and it's because of the rapid series of events during the elections. Look at how much happened in week one of Trump's presidency. Even with one week turnaround time for an episode, it's become difficult putting together a coherent funny story.
Anyone who stuck it out for that botched season is glad they're going back to the format from a few seasons earlier. I'm sure they'll take the occasional jab at the president and his cabinet like they've done in the past, but not at the cost of ruining the show and missing opportunities to go with silly stories unrelated to politics.
Strangelove77
Member
Good god, some of these responses. Wow.
Gordon Shumway
Banned
So..since inception? You sound a little funny. You sure you a fan, or are you in your teens? 😕
I think I understand his position somewhat.
I think it stems from them having an influential platform and not using it.
UberTag
Member
They don't. They can do whatever they want with it.
It's not like there's a shortage of other things that can be made fun of out there outside of politics.
Frozenprince
Banned
They made Sally Struthers into Jabba the freaking Hutt who ate the starving African kids.
Them being "anti PC" isn't some new wave thing they started with that stupid ass principal character.
Them being "anti PC" isn't some new wave thing they started with that stupid ass principal character.
Oh it's absolutely cynical, but I don't think they poke fun at both sides in the way you are describing. I think they often present less-than-popular viewpoints on issues where the overly vocal critics have conditioned popular culture to pile onto one side as if that side is gospel. Take "Butt Out" for example.. yes, smoking is bad, and yes you should not have it as a habit, but maybe don't treat smokers as less than human because they have a bad habit. Or on corporations like Walmart and Starbucks, yes they are monopolistic entities that crowd out any lesser competition, but they got that way by being strong businesses in a capitalist society. In some cases they are probably a bit too libertarian for many people's tastes, but I don't think it's so bad to consider the other side when you live in a veritable echo chamber. I think that's why so many people on GAF have issues with the show, because they've been conditioned to have a strong view on something and anyone or anything that holds a position even 1% in the other direction is demonized outright, regardless of what they are trying to say.
PersonAndStuff
Member
Normally I would say "No, burn him down." but it kind of didn't work last time. The opposition seems so immune to satire or rational thought. So, whatever.
Extra Sauce
Member
I don't know that I've legitimately laughed at any comedy aimed at Trump since he won the election.
It doesn't excuse the "both sides are the same" bullshit but they have a point.
It doesn't excuse the "both sides are the same" bullshit but they have a point.
That's, like, your opinion, man.
Apart from the last season, which was boring as hell, SP was still awesome.
The serialization hurt the show, though. I liked big stories that resulted in two or three episodes, but the entire season was too much. PC principal was cool. Garrump not so much.
You did not watch last season.
People need to realize that just because they are making fun of everyone, that doesn't mean they are saying "both sides". The tone I've always got from the show is that everyone needs to take a step back and detach a bit. It's more "humanity is weird" rather than "both sides". Keep in mind that the whole show is meant to be a caricature.
Also, just because they make a joke that you disagree with that doesn't mean you have to discontinue watching the show or hate on it from now on.
Also, just because they make a joke that you disagree with that doesn't mean you have to discontinue watching the show or hate on it from now on.
Coffee Dog
Banned
Making fun of Sally Struthers isn't personal. The butt of the joke is a celebrity.
Making fun of virtue signaling is personal. The butt of the joke is a behaviour.
It's pretty obvious which of those crosses a line with people.
SenjutsuSage
Banned
Exactly. They better not pussy out. Seriously.
What is virtue signaling?
GuessMyUserName
Member
The season was entirely about Trump being an unqualified moron asshole who doesn't even want to be president.
Hillary was literally given a heroic role in charge fighting against the Swedish Trolls behind the scenes of the election.
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