Comedy Central didn’t air South Park season 27 episode 3 on its anticipated launch date (August 13), with the sequence now thought to proceed subsequent week as a substitute. This additionally means it now received’t be accessible on Paramount+ both. Nonetheless, in contrast to the season’s earlier delay, the episode 3 delay was scheduled upfront. As a substitute, the community declared the day to be “South Park day,” operating a marathon of fan-favorite episodes adopted by the sitcom’s pilot episode ‘Cartman Will get an Anal Probe’ within the typical 10pm ET timeslot.
Episode 2 was delayed after the present’s controversial premiere, which featured the likes of a deepfaked Donald Trump with no garments on and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) brokers capturing puppies and driving round ominously in massive teams. Screenshots from the present had been shortly used on each the White Home and US Secretary of Homeland Safety Kristi Noem’s social accounts with a view to try to recruit extra individuals to hitch ICE.
The Division of Homeland Safety (NHS) moreover instructed Newsweek: “We wish to thank South Park for drawing consideration to ICE legislation enforcement recruitment. We’re calling on patriotic Individuals to assist us take away murderers, gang members, pedophiles, and different violent criminals from our nation.”
It’s because of this that I can’t assist however assume the delay of South Park season 27 episode 3 has one thing extra hooked up to it. It’s definitely a conveniently timed break within the schedule, however on condition that season 27 has solely been on for 3 episodes but has suffered two delays already. Absolutely issues aren’t working easily behind the scenes? We all the time know what we get into with the hit TV present, however that may not be to everyone’s tastes.
Has South Park season 27 hit a political snag after its season 3 delay? I wouldn’t be stunned
I don’t must spell out that the political and cultural panorama has remarkably modified in the previous couple of years, and that’s presumably to South Park’s detriment. Whereas real-world political and cultural affairs are providing a smorgasbord of inspiration, it additionally comes with a extra important lens. We’ve already had the feedback from the NHS, above, with Kristi Noem additionally weighing in on her portrayal as properly. Earlier than her secret post-credits scene was revealed, she responded throughout an interview on the Glenn Beck Program podcast, slamming her character’s look: “It’s so lazy to simply always make enjoyable of girls for the way they give the impression of being. In the event that they needed to criticize my job, go forward and do this. However clearly they’ll’t – they only choose one thing petty like that.”
White Home spokesperson Taylor Rogers additionally instructed Selection in regards to the occasions of episode 1: “Identical to the creators of South Park, the Left has no genuine or authentic content material, which is why their recognition continues to hit document lows. This present hasn’t been related for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired concepts in a determined try for consideration.”
This received’t be the final spherical of feedback from political figures about what’s occurring on the present, and I wouldn’t be stunned if we see public conversations between the 2 sides on a weekly foundation. I additionally wouldn’t be stunned if there’s resistance to what’s being proven behind the scenes, given no person precisely comes throughout significantly properly in the event that they’re being featured on South Park. We’ve seen critics of the present US Authorities coming underneath fireplace or having their exhibits canceled (The Late Present with Stephen Colbert’s cancellation is a superb instance of this), so discussions about what ought to and shouldn’t be parodied could possibly be holding up episode releases.
In fact, that is all hypothesis. We’ve received no concept what the remainder of South Park season 27’s 10-episode run has in retailer for us, and I actually hope Paramount and the present’s creators can maintain agency to delivering the artistic imaginative and prescient they wish to. I can’t deny that I’m nervous about episodes 4-10, however I’m additionally holding out hope. In any case, South Park wouldn’t be South Park if it wasn’t close to the knuckle and past, proper?