It is the case that many American series TV series, often go on for too many seasons, only finally giving up the ghost when it is far too late and the show is truly rubbish ( as opposed to British TV series, which tend to last for about 3 seasons before calling it a day, near their peak). The above is true with the Simpsons and Family Guy, which at their respective peaks were excellent, but now are shadows of their former selves.
South Park, however is still going strong, evolving from the earlier more crude and general topics of the first 5 or so seasons, to covering contemporary issues. There have been times over the last few seasons where there have been weaker episodes, and I thought the decline was here, but every time an absolute gem of an episode comes along to restore my faith ( such as The Last of the Meheecans and Royal Pudding from the latest season).
From the Sudanese pirates, to the royal wedding (+ the capture of Osama Bin Laden) and the legal status of recreational drugs; South Park can take a (often contemporary) topic, and show with excellent clarity, the double standards and weakness of certain viewpoints. It also lampoons both Left and Right, Democrat and Republican, in a much more sophisticated and original way than any other show (or indeed comedian). It takes on original topics such as PETA, Capitalism and Atheism and ridicules both sides. At the same time as this, it also is still very funny and uses both toilet/shock humour and Monty python style surrealism skilfully.
Luckily, it seems it is carrying on for at least another two seasons. Long live South Park!
No comments:
Post a Comment