Although it has been almost two decades sinceSouth Park’s most controversial Halloween episode aired, its most infamous gag still stings.South Parkseason 27won’t arrive in time for Halloween 2024 since the show is not coming back until 2025. Series co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone toldVanity Fairthat they wanted to ignore the 2024 election since they had nothing new to say about the subject, and they were aware it would dominate the news coverage of Fall 2024. This could signal theoverdue return ofSouth Park’s character comedy, an erstwhile hallmark of the series.
South Park Secretly Announced One Divisive Character’s Retirement (And It’s The Right Choice)
South Park season 27 may not feature one of the show’s most divisive characters judging by comments from its co-creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker.
South Parkput character-based comedy front and center in its earliest, most chaotic seasons, but the show transitioned its focus to current events around season 4. By season 10,South Parkwas firmly ensconced in parodying news stories as they unfolded, and the show used its episodes to spoof real-life politicians, celebrities, and public figures constantly. This often landedSouth Park’s creators in hot water andseveralSouth Parkepisodes were banneddue to controversial elements. One season 10 outing made it past censors uncut but still managed to spark public outcry upon its release in 2006.
South Park Mocked Steve Irwin’s Death In 2006 (While Admitting It Was Too Soon)
Satan Kicked Steve Irwin Out Of Hell’s Halloween Part For His Tasteless Costume
Season 10, episode 11, “Hell On Earth 2006,” focuses on Satan’sMy Super Sweet 16-style birthday party in Hell. ThisSouth ParkHalloween special is mostly hilarious, and an absurd gag that portrays the late rapper Notorious B.I.G as a Bloody Mary/ Candyman-style urban legend is inspired. Unfortunately,South Park’s misjudged Steve Irwin joke from “Hell On Earth 2006” remains a rare miss for the show, and it is the sort of gag that highlights an underlying issue with the show.South Parkis occasionally shocking for the sake of it, and these gags can feel too personally cruel.
South Parkwas criticized for mocking Steve Irwin’s death too soon due to a scene where Satan himself criticizes someone for mocking Steve Irwin’s death too soon.
In “Hell On Earth 2006,” Satan kicks Steve Irwin out of his birthday party for showing up dressed as Steve Irwin only seven weeks after the iconic TV presenter died in a tragic accident. Technically, Satan kicks Irwin out for not wearing a costume after he realizes that he is the real Steve Irwin and not someone else who donned a tasteless costume. However, the gag still ironically acknowledges its own tactlessness. After all,South Parkwas criticized for mocking Steve Irwin’s death too soon due to a scene where Satan himself criticizes someone for mocking Steve Irwin’s death too soon.
The Reaction To South Park’s Steve Irwin Joke Explained
South Park’s Creators Didn’t Expect Steve Irwin’s Halloween Gag To Cause Controversy
AlthoughSouth Park’s gag did concede that it was tacky, this wasn’t enough to stop the joke from receiving pushback.South Park’s streak of mocking every sitting presidentin the show’s lifetime proves that no target is above its satirical volleys, but Irwin’s universally beloved public image meant the joke simply felt pointless. His widow, fellow conservationist Terri Irwin, decried the gag as “Cruel,” and this is hard to argue with this judgment when the gag has no clever element of underlying satire.South Park’s Steven Irwin joke was purely for tasteless shock value and not particularly funny as a result.
