I found it a bit tiresome - sometimes Stone and Parker get up on their own moral/ethical/principle high horses that are even higher than those of the people they're attempting to skewer. It's like STFU, stop beating us over the head with your message and stick to the lowbrow comedy, you're almost as bad as they are .
My comment has to do with the fact that every single quote in the show (aside from the "You killed Kenny parts, etc.) is meticulously planned in a way that is genius. I know, it's a big, offensive cartoon. They make it to offend people. If you look underneath all of that, and start forgetting that part, these episodes have some story lines that are brilliant satire. The fact that nearly every episode will leave an educated viewer thinking, "Why did they put that in there?", "Who was that meant to poke fun at?", "What's the point of that?" actually shows that Trey Parker and Matt Stone are devising these things in a genius manner. It's like, whenever you were in 12th grade English, or College English, or any English class for that matter, and the teacher sits there, and picks books apart, page by page. Students look at the teacher and just think they're crazy and make things up, or whatever. The fact of the matter is that most great writers leave subtle hints, messages, metaphors, foreshadows, and whathaveyous, that only people with an extreme passion would be able to pick out. In South Park, I feel that Trey Parker and Matt Stone have taken this aspect of teaching, put it into a cartoon, and are, in a way, educating people who view their show. If you're like me (I'm probably the only one who does this, which makes me sound stupid), and you watch South Park, you watch it for the comedic relief, the satire, and the offensive material. You don't just watch it for that, though. While you're watching, you're always thinking about why something was put in there, or what the show was making fun of, or what have you, and you're constantly finding these things - thus, making the show that much more humerous. And that, my friend, is what I call "extremely intellectual." Or maybe I just read too much into each show.
Considering that you are defending the show in exactly the same manner and context as Cartman did with Kyle tonight, I'd say your assessment is 100% spot on.
SPOILERS Kyle asked Cartman what he had against Family Guy, and pointed out that they both shared the same kind of humor. Cartman was extremely offended and went on to explain that they were nothing alike. Family Guy was just bunch of throwaway interchangable gags that had often had nothing to do with an episodes' plot, whereas his humor was crafted around actual storylines and had multiple layers, etc. Pretty much how you explained the show above.
What I got out of it was that they were using Family Guy to make fun of South Park. In essence, they were indirectly poking fun at themselves. I'm looking forward to part 2 next week; South Park's 2-part episodes are usually great.
First off, let me say that I agree with you. One of the smart things that Matt and Trey have done is steer the show towards more current events, instead of "Mecca Streisand" or whatever. If they were still making the same fart jokes, the show would have died a long time ago. That said, I think with this satirical angle there is more of a split division between who likes the show and who doesn't like it. South Park will be around for a while; in fact, don't they have a contract through 2009 or something?
Without a doubt one of the best shows on TV. I remember when it first came out, it was so popular in that pop-culture quote-fest annoying kind of way and I hated it bc it seemed like a lot of fart jokes and people doing hilaaaaaaaarious impressions of Cartman which actually sucked. Later on as I'd watch it, they'd incorporate all the satire and social commentary which is definitely why the quality of the show is as good and fresh as ever. I'd stop watching if it were about the character development or the fart jokes. We aint talkin Buffy the Vampire Slayer here. They're little construction paper people with funny voices.
South Park is still the best show on t.v. IMO, but I agree w/ what you're saying. We understand you're trying to say/do but at the end, we just want to see Cartman and Stan's dad. Stan's dad has come on strong as the 2nd best character on the show.
Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if part two totally flipped things around given their flair for irony and seeing as Cartman is usually on the wrong side of everything... But you have to admit, their Family Guy parody NAILED just what that show has become: a constant stream of excuses to fall back on their reference crutch and the occassional "I'll kill you Lois" out of Stewie.
What kills me about that is that it's SOUTHPARK of all shows that is mocking FG. Southpark.. the show where someone sh*ts their pants after dying in virtually every episode. Family Guy's randomness and complete lack of cohesion is often still more creative and genuinely funnier than southpark's unimaginative gross-out tactics and especially more creative and funnier than southpark's recent tilt towards only focusing on "flavor of the month" topics.. the last couple seasons of southpark are riddled with episodes that, when looked back at, won't be funny at all without the proper context to support it.. now *that* is a comedic crutch. Parker and Stone need to get their act together.. this stuff is getting lamer by the week.
Good points, except 1. Family Guy hasn't been funny since it came back 2. While nearly all of South Park's humor is of the crude variety, it is not the only way it gets you to laugh 3. If the 80s references FG depends on are still recognizable today, then SP's contemporary issues have at least a little shelf-life 4. The irony of SP dogging FG was adressed in the very episode tonight
This is my main problem with the show. I watch and still think it's one of the better comedies on television, but this is entirely true.
I also agree, but it still isn’t bad enough yet to detract from the show.. I can see it heading in that direction if they continue at the current rate, but where the show stands right now it is fine IMO..
It just annoys me for a few seconds and then I laugh at some absurd joke. It annoyed me during Team America and during last week's episode especially, even though I laughed myself to tears in both.
i didn't think the show was that funny. i used to love south park, but the last few seasons just haven't done it for me. i like family guy, but haven't been too impressed with it since it's "return." oh, well...
I laughed but I agree with the sentiment that they are hypocrites. They love to bash people for getting on their high horse and yet always do the exact same thing on subjects they care about. Oh, and I'd like to see Family Guy take a shot back at them for that hypocrisy, but it takes a long time to hand animate an episode, so it'll be about a year before they get their chance.
