ASouth Parkepisode from 2014 featured a scene that brilliantly pivoted in the days between promotion and broadcast, making a small but vital update to ensure the moment was funny and as true to life as was reasonable. The animated sitcom is known for its rapid production time, but going back and making edits to a finished episode before it airs is a little less common for co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. However, it has happened before.
Currently in its 27th year, thecast ofSouth Parkseason 27continues the project’s legacy as one of thelongest-running sitcoms of all time. In a list of thebestSouth ParkepisodesonIMDb, only two of the top 100 premiered in the 2020s, so it’s tough to imagine many more of the show’s newer installments making the cut. That being said, none of the top 100 on IMDb are rated any lower than 8.3/10. This proves the showrunners' commitment to quality, andattention to detail is a big part of what makesSouth Parkso well-received.
RGIII was injured in week 2 of the 2014 NFL season
South Parkseason 18, episode 1, “Go Fund Yourself,” is a satirical take on Washington’s NFL franchise losing trademark protection for its then-divisive branding. When Eric Cartman decided to use the logo for his new business, members of the team and staff confronted him and demanded he stop. What’s most interesting about this moment is that, in the original promotional footage for the episode, Robert Griffin III was Washington’s starting quarterback. As such, he was in the group that visited Cartman. However,an injury resulted in RGIII being benched and replaced by backup Kirk Cousinson July 21, 2025.
When “Go Fund Yourself” gotSouth Parkseason 18 started a week later on September 21, Parker and Stone had edited the teased scene and replaced RGIII with Cousins to more accurately reflect the lineup change.Cousins was only the starter for a handful of weeks before RGIII returned from injury, but the timing of the episode’s premiere means he’ll forever be immortalized inSouth Park. Ultimately, Cousins went on to have a more successful NFL career, but he had been a career backup to RGIII in 2014.
South Park’s Attention To Detail In “Go Fund Yourself” Made This Moment Even Funnier
The showrunner’s choice to replace RGIII made the moment more true to life at the time
RGIII’s role in “Go Fund Yourself” is very small. So, paired withSouth Park’s intentionally basic animation style, the feat of replacing him with Cousins may not have been all that difficult. Still, it would have taken effort and resources that arguably weren’t needed - especially with RGIII returning as the team’s starter a few weeks later. Thankfully,Parker and Stone saw fit to make the changeso that it was as accurate as possible when the episode was first released. While probably unnecessary, it elevated what was already a hilariousSouth Parkmoment.
South Park
Cast
South Park follows the irreverent misadventures of four grade-schoolers—Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny—that take place in the quiet, dysfunctional town of South Park, Colorado. The animated series explores various social and political issues through its characters' humorous and often absurd escapades.
