South Park: Should We Kill Kenny....For Good?

John Dempsey

South Park
The infamous Comedy Central program known as South Park centers around four boys (who have remained in fourth grade for ten years) and the events that occur in the town in which they live. Coincidentally, these events often involve celebrities, trends, and hot topics currently in the news. These events are often accompanied by a barrage of swearing, offensive material, violent imagery or any combination of the three.
The show has become known for pushing the envelope as far as it possibly can. The storylines also frequently spark intense debate, prompting people to discuss and contemplate important issues. And for this, it should be heralded rather than condemned.
The show follows a formula in which every adult South Park resident is portrayed as a complete idiot, with Chef being the only notable exception. Trouble is brought to South Park by the boys’ misunderstanding of something, or by a celebrity coming to town. The adults of South Park will take an issue much further than it was ever meant to go, usually destroying the town in the process. These hijinks ultimately lead to the boys saying what they learned, which is often a metaphor for a solution to real-world problems. Unless of course the goal of that particular episode is just to get a laugh, in which case there is just slapstick nonsense.
Celebrities are often ridiculed, bashed, parodied and otherwise treated with little respect. South Park’s goal in doing this is to demonstrate the hypocrisy, radically extreme positions, or general craziness that celebrities exhibit. Often times, these celebrities are in dire need of being taken down a notch. The creators of South Park dare to not only push the envelope, but rip it open and write hateful diatribes on it. This is in stark contrast to the general trend among television shows to cater to celebrities.
Although it can be argued that the show’s creators do occasionally go a little too far, at least they dare to be creative and thought-provoking, Plus, by packaging it in cartoon format, they help soften the impact.
Obviously, this is not a children’s show. However, its prominent position in Comedy Central’s lineup allows it to attract a mass audience. As long as it continues to be Comedy Central’s highest rated program, while at the same time managing to stay within FCC guidelines, it will continue to provide a commentary on the world we live in. In the end, I believe the world needs a South Park to go where others are afraid to go. And in doing so, it manages to provide entertainment while also giving a new perspective on the world’s problems.