South Park Sets Unwanted New Record After 27 Years in 2024

As the countdown begins toward what promises to be a landmark year for South Park in 2025, fans are left to reflect on a notably disappointing 2024. Since its controversial inception in 1997, South Park has solidified its position as a cultural icon, evolving through various seasons that range from crude humor to more serialized narratives, especially between seasons 16 and 22. Anticipation mounts for the release of season 27 in 2025, which many expect will follow traditional patterns established by its predecessors.

The previous seasons, 25 and 26, maintained a rhythm with releases spanning from February to April in 2022 and 2023, respectively, each accompanied by two feature-length specials. However, 2024 abruptly diverged from this established flow. Instead of the expected six episodes or two accompanying specials, the year saw a solitary release: a standalone special titled South Park: The End of Obesity. This particular installment tackled the highly-discussed Ozempic phenomenon, critiqued the convoluted US healthcare system, and even featured commentary on pop star Lizzo. In a candid September interview with Vanity Fair, co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone disclosed that this would be the only release for the year.

2024 Marked South Park’s Most Quiet Year on Record

May’s Special: The End of Obesity – South Park’s Sole New Offer

With just a single special and no regular episodes released throughout 2024, this marked a significant downturn for South Park, as it recorded the lowest output since the series began over two decades ago. To put it into perspective, the show produced two specials and six episodes in both 2022 and 2023. Even in comparison, earlier years such as 2021 and 2020 were more productive, with two specials each: South Park: Post COVID and its sequel, alongside the South ParQ Vaccination Special and The Pandemic Special. Historically, from 2013 to 2019, the series consistently delivered ten new episodes each year.

Furthermore, seasons 25 and 26 already represent a dramatic reduction in output compared to earlier seasons; for instance, they were three times smaller than the ambitious season 2. Prior to season 17 in 2013, the show boasted a more robust episode count, with seasons like 16 featuring 14 episodes, and even earlier seasons including 17 episodes in seasons 3 and 4, to name a few. In stark contrast, 2024’s output felt almost stagnant, and while the specials maintain some appeal, it’s disheartening for audiences to witness such a pause in production.

Indicators of a Slowing Down for South Park

Navigating 2024’s Presidential Election Cycle

The creators’ decision to sit out of 2024 can be understood within the context of the political landscape. According to Parker and Stone, they felt they had explored all viable angles on Donald Trump and, consequently, chose not to engage with the ongoing election cycle. With the campaign expected to dominate media coverage, they candidly admitted to feeling uninspired, leading to the overall delay in production. Their attempt to tackle Trump’s previous election in 2016 resulted in messy storytelling in the latter part of season 20, making their decision to sidestep the 2024 election more pragmatic.

Given that Trump secured the 2024 election, it poses a challenge for the series as they will need to find new material for season 27. It raises concerns over the creators’ ability to deliver fresh and engaging content, especially since they have recently expressed contentment with their current thematic explorations. These constraints may compound further given their involvement in various upcoming projects.

Anticipating Major Developments in 2025

A Collaborative Movie Slated for July Release

In an exciting development reported by Variety, co-creators of South Park are in the process of creating a political comedy film in collaboration with Kendrick Lamar, set for release in July 2025. This limited output in 2024 may signal that Parker and Stone are gearing up for a more robust series return next year, filled with episodes and specials aligned with the film’s launch. On the other hand, this ambitious cinematic venture could also mean less focus on the actual series, mirroring the output seen in 2024.

While South Park: The End of Obesity was an entertaining addition to the franchise, it’s vital to note that Parker and Stone may prioritize their partnership with Lamar, especially given the artist’s recent rise to prominence following a public feud and the release of a successful album. Their past project, the immensely successful Broadway production The Book of Mormon, underscores their potential to captivate audiences outside the South Park universe.

Consequently, there is a reasonable chance that South Park’s landscape in 2025 could follow a path just as quiet as that of 2024.

Sources: Vanity Fair, Variety

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