South Park

The show follows the misadventures of four 8-year-old elementary school kids in the fictional town of South Park, Colorado. Stan is the typical American kid, (whom is rumored to have been modeled after creator Stone) while Kyle is Jewish, and subject to insults among the likes of "Throw it to the Jew boy" and "Kyle's mom is a fat Jew". Eric Cartman is the violent fat kid (whom they lovingly call "Fat Ass"), and Kenny, whose face is eternally stuffed inside the hood of his jacket, is the offspring of poor white-trash who subsequently dies every episode. The characters feed off of one another with coarse insults countered with death threats and fighting, and never cease to learn absolutely nothing from their run-ins with aliens, volcanoes, zombies, the son of Satan, and low-profile celebrities such as Kathie Lee Gifford and Tina Yothers.

In many ways, South Park is merely a new spin on what Homer Simpson and Beavis have been doing successfully for the past decade. The South Park kids satirize our young, shallow, television-desensitized society, making references to pop culture (such as a monster called "Scuzzlebutt" who has Patrick Duffy where he should have a leg) as well as social issues (such as Stan's homosexual dog, Sparky, whom he commands "Sit... speak... don't be gay!"), all of which they take extremely lightly.

But what makes South Park stand out is its writing. Parker and Stone, who write nearly every episode, are willing to do what other shows don't dare to do. Even Bart Simpson is able to learn a moralistic lesson at the end of the show that involves faith or family love; you would never see a battle royale between Satan and Jesus on Fox's syndicated series, where Satan eventually throws the fight in order to cash in on the betting tables.

Parker and Stone's kids also have more character appeal than MTV's Beavis and Butt-head; their characters trade in realism (plain and destructive teenage stupidity) for studied ignorance. Their kids are not realistic; while they are cute and innocent (they play with toys and like candy), they are racist, sexist, and dangerously insensitive at the same time. The frequent profanity, casual violence, and slanderous characterizations of Jesus and other socially respected figures are oftentimes extremely offensive, but South Park relies on these aspects of the show to keep it fresh.

South Park is made directly for adult audiences; perhaps not right-wing conservatives, but adults nonetheless. It is inappropriate for children due to its frank and mature humor, which may throw off parents who see their kids simply watching "cartoons". Like The Simpsons and Beavis and Butt-head, it is an adult-oriented cartoon intended for audiences who are able to swallow the type of scathing social satire that pokes fun at ourselves... and not be offended too much. South Park clearly pushes the limits of where the line needs to be drawn for what is acceptable and decent. Nevertheless it is a relentlessly funny show that will succeed into further seasons... if the censors don't strike it from the air first.