5 South Park Episodes So Controversial, Even the Creators Regret Them

written by Lee Jevon

May 20, 2023 1:45 pm

5 South Park Episodes So Controversial, Even the Creators Regret Them — Image credit: Legion-Media

Number 2 nearly didn't air.

Despite being comfortable pushing boundaries, Trey Parker and Matt Stone (South Park creators) regret some episodes of the show:

5. Cartman's Mom is a Dirty S***

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Season 1's finale was a massive cliffhanger surrounding the identity of Cartman's dad The only thing that had been confirmed in this regard during the episode was that Cartman's mom was a dirty s***.

Mrs Cartman was exonerated in season 2, though, when a bizarre plot twist revealed she was also Eric's dad. The writers then had another change of heart in season 14 and Cartman was revealed as the half-brother of Scot Tenorman.

4. Kenny Dies

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The creators grew tired of killing off Kenny far sooner than fans did and, in season 5, episode 1,3 he died permanently. Strangely, it was the only time Kenny died and his friends were bothered by it.

But the show wasn't the same without him. And in episode 17 of the following season Kenny was back. There was no fanfare, no shock on his friend's faces, no reaction at all. He just appeared out of nowhere and things went back to normal. Which could only make sense in South Park.

3. Bloody Mary

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Christianity comes in for a lot of mockery at the hands of South Park. But this episode seemed of most concern to the creators. To be fair, they only cancelled the second airing – and it was at the behest of Comedy Central. And they didn't apologise for any of the content, they just felt Christmas wasn't the right time.

2. Make Love Not Warcraft

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Season 10, episode 8, produced collaboratively with the makers of World of Warcraft, is one of the most popular. But it nearly didn't air. Not long before it went out Trey Parker decided he didn't like the different style they'd adopted for it and tried to pull it. Fortunately, he acquiesced, and it aired as planned.

1. ManBearPig

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This time they did apologise. Series 10, episode 6 saw Al Gore visit the school to warn about climate change. Well, to warn them about a mysterious creature known as ManBearPig that threatened humanity. It was essentially an allegory for climate change denial.

Twelve seasons later, the writers realised the error of their ways and brought back ManBearPig over two episodes as a parable about the reality of climate change.