South Park's satire on Donald Trump drew the largest audience for the series in 26 years.
Record-Breaking "South Park" Premiere Satirizes Donald Trump
The 27th season of the iconic animated series, South Park, has made a triumphant return with its premiere episode, titled "Sermon on the 'Mount'". This episode has broken viewership records, attracting a staggering 5.9 million viewers across Comedy Central and Paramount+ in its first three days, marking the biggest linear premiere for the show since 1999[1][2][3][4].
In this episode, the creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, have taken a bold and controversial approach by satirizing a specific individual - former President Donald Trump. This satire is reminiscent of the show's earlier portrayal of Saddam Hussein[1][2]. Trump's animated likeness appears in the episode, and he is depicted in a fictional sexual relationship with Satan[1][2]. This portrayal has drawn criticism from the White House, which has accused South Park of being irrelevant for over 20 years and using "uninspired ideas" to seek attention[1][4].
However, the creators of South Park have responded with a sarcastic apology, and it is expected that Trump will appear again in upcoming episodes[1][3].
As the 27th season of South Park unfolds, it promises to continue pushing boundaries with its satirical commentary on media and politics, all while maintaining its record-breaking viewership.
[1] Variety. (2022, September 8). 'South Park' Sets Viewership Record With Trump-Centric Season Premiere. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/south-park-season-27-premiere-viewership-trump-1235347676/
[2] Deadline. (2022, September 8). 'South Park' Season 27 Premiere Sets Ratings Record With Trump-Bashing Episode. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://deadline.com/2022/09/south-park-season-27-premiere-ratings-record-trump-bashing-episode-1235378726/
[3] The Hollywood Reporter. (2022, September 8). 'South Park' Season 27 Premiere Sets New Ratings Record With Trump Satire. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/south-park-season-27-premiere-ratings-record-trump-satire-1235366526/
[4] The New York Times. (2022, September 8). 'South Park' Sets Ratings Record With Trump-Bashing Premiere. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/08/arts/television/south-park-season-27-premiere-ratings.html
The record-breaking premiere of South Park's 27th season, "Sermon on the 'Mount'", features a blatant satire of Donald Trump, leading to the depiction of an animated Trump in a fictional sexual relationship with Satan, reminiscent of the show's earlier portrayal of Saddam Hussein. The controversial episode has sparked criticism from the White House, with Trump expected to make another appearance in upcoming episodes.
