3 ms·

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 amon

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.

3 ms·

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 amon

by Analemma_ 10y ago

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.