5 ms·

Is South Park (still) cool? I'm not sure what the best way to judge that is. https://www.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=South%20park https://www.google.c

Is South Park (still) cool? I'm not sure what the best way to judge that is. https://www.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=South%20park https://www.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=South%20par...

Analemma_ 10y ago
YMMV, but I don't think it is. It's still running and probably gets decent ratings, but it's not water cooler talk like it used to be, it's not must-see TV among teenagers and twenty-somethings like it used to be, and in many years there haven't been any episodes that were the focus of national attention (like "Best Friends Forever" or "Trapped in the Closet").
- jessaustin 10y ago
  The recent "PC Principal" arc is among the best they've done. Coolness doesn't really correlate with what is talked about on e.g. "The Today Show". Compare "South Park" to shows that have really jumped the shark like "The Simpsons".
  - Analemma_ 10y ago
    I grant that "coolness" is tricky to define, but (if you're not restricting the domain of discourse to a particular group or subculture), I think it has to include either popularity or "outsider-ness". i.e., you can be cool either by being popular or by being controversial enough to get everyone talking about you, even in a negative way. I don't think South Park meets either of these criteria anymore. It's not a pop culture locus like it used to be, and even their controversial episodes are ignored. Part of this isn't their fault- it's probably the continued fractalization of culture where we have ever-fewer shared experiences- but I also think it's hard to keep anything fresh for 20 years, especially something trying to be "edgy". Note that that doesn't make it "bad", and it doesn't mean you can't still like it. But I think "coolness" can only be defined in terms of broad opinion.
  - sorenjan 10y ago
    Regarding the PC Principal arc, I feel like they took an idea for one or two episodes and made it into a season. I didn't really enjoy how the episodes blended together either, but I know a lot of people seems to like it.
douche 10y ago
It's amazing that it is still watchable after twenty years, and how very few real stinker episodes it has produced. It's also turning into a pretty good IP to mine. I'm really looking forward to the sequel to The Stick of Truth this Christmas.
alexeiz 10y ago
I used to love South Park. Now I can barely stand it. Am I getting too old? I rewatch old episodes with pleasure though. It's the new episodes that make me cringe. It used to be about fart jokes and silliness. Now it's all political crap.
- thieving_magpie 10y ago
  I'm the opposite. I wonder how I ever used to find the fart jokes funny. Not saying I totally get on board with the 'political crap', but it's certainly more funny to me. I think my sense of humor has evolved similarly to the way the comedy in this show has changed.
- aikah 10y ago
  > Now it's all political crap. Which made South Park better. Fart jokes or making fun of Canadians was never funny. They still do that but putting the finger where it hurts and calling out a political camp that is not used to be challenged is refreshing. Of course there are things they won't do, for their own safety... because some would resort to violence and directly attack South Park creators.
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
- rplst8 10y ago
  I'm down voting you because I think not only is your assessment wrong, your telling of history is too. One of the first episodes of South Park was a Jesus vs. Santa episode where they fought over the meaning of Christmas. There was toilet/uncouth humor then along side political/social commentary, and there is basically the same product now.
- ionised 10y ago
  The political/social commentary was always there, it was just more mixed up with absurd humour in the earlier seasons. My favourite seasons have to be 4-9 for this reason,
kmnc 10y ago
For me South Park was cool because it was offensive and taboo but it still felt like you were watching something that was smart. It was an adult show aimed at kids and its audience was kids. I don't think its audience is still kids so I doubt one could call it traditionally cool anymore. I don't think anyone I know would keep watching southpark if not for the love of certain characters (Randy, Butters). I feel like the show now just panders to its audience in order to remain relevant these days.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
Joof 10y ago
Who cares? I think Rick and Morty is the cool show these days, but south park is still well done.

Analemma_ 10y ago

YMMV, but I don't think it is. It's still running and probably gets decent ratings, but it's not water cooler talk like it used to be, it's not must-see TV among teenagers and twenty-somethings like it used to be, and in many years there haven't been any episodes that were the focus of national attention (like "Best Friends Forever" or "Trapped in the Closet").

jessaustin 10y ago
The recent "PC Principal" arc is among the best they've done. Coolness doesn't really correlate with what is talked about on e.g. "The Today Show". Compare "South Park" to shows that have really jumped the shark like "The Simpsons".
- Analemma_ 10y ago
  I grant that "coolness" is tricky to define, but (if you're not restricting the domain of discourse to a particular group or subculture), I think it has to include either popularity or "outsider-ness". i.e., you can be cool either by being popular or by being controversial enough to get everyone talking about you, even in a negative way. I don't think South Park meets either of these criteria anymore. It's not a pop culture locus like it used to be, and even their controversial episodes are ignored. Part of this isn't their fault- it's probably the continued fractalization of culture where we have ever-fewer shared experiences- but I also think it's hard to keep anything fresh for 20 years, especially something trying to be "edgy". Note that that doesn't make it "bad", and it doesn't mean you can't still like it. But I think "coolness" can only be defined in terms of broad opinion.
- sorenjan 10y ago
  Regarding the PC Principal arc, I feel like they took an idea for one or two episodes and made it into a season. I didn't really enjoy how the episodes blended together either, but I know a lot of people seems to like it.

douche 10y ago

It's amazing that it is still watchable after twenty years, and how very few real stinker episodes it has produced. It's also turning into a pretty good IP to mine. I'm really looking forward to the sequel to The Stick of Truth this Christmas.

alexeiz 10y ago

I used to love South Park. Now I can barely stand it. Am I getting too old? I rewatch old episodes with pleasure though. It's the new episodes that make me cringe. It used to be about fart jokes and silliness. Now it's all political crap.

thieving_magpie 10y ago
I'm the opposite. I wonder how I ever used to find the fart jokes funny. Not saying I totally get on board with the 'political crap', but it's certainly more funny to me. I think my sense of humor has evolved similarly to the way the comedy in this show has changed.
aikah 10y ago
> Now it's all political crap. Which made South Park better. Fart jokes or making fun of Canadians was never funny. They still do that but putting the finger where it hurts and calling out a political camp that is not used to be challenged is refreshing. Of course there are things they won't do, for their own safety... because some would resort to violence and directly attack South Park creators.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
rplst8 10y ago
I'm down voting you because I think not only is your assessment wrong, your telling of history is too. One of the first episodes of South Park was a Jesus vs. Santa episode where they fought over the meaning of Christmas. There was toilet/uncouth humor then along side political/social commentary, and there is basically the same product now.
ionised 10y ago
The political/social commentary was always there, it was just more mixed up with absurd humour in the earlier seasons. My favourite seasons have to be 4-9 for this reason,

kmnc 10y ago

For me South Park was cool because it was offensive and taboo but it still felt like you were watching something that was smart. It was an adult show aimed at kids and its audience was kids. I don't think its audience is still kids so I doubt one could call it traditionally cool anymore. I don't think anyone I know would keep watching southpark if not for the love of certain characters (Randy, Butters). I feel like the show now just panders to its audience in order to remain relevant these days.

deleted 10y ago
[deleted]

Joof 10y ago

Who cares? I think Rick and Morty is the cool show these days, but south park is still well done.