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'''''South Park''''' is an Emmy and Peabody award-winning animated cartoon series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone that is shown on American cable network [[Comedy Central]]. It is controversial due to its use of vulgar and obscene language, biting humor, and questionable depictions of religion and other respected institutions. Shows have touched on [[Catholic|Catholicism]], [[Islam]], [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Mormonism]], [[Judaism]], [[Scientology]], and made jokes about [[Jesus]], [[Moses]], [[Muhammad]] and other religious leaders.  

'''''South Park''''' is an Emmy and Peabody award-winning animated cartoon series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone that is shown on American cable network [[Comedy Central]]. It is controversial due to its use of vulgar and obscene language, biting humor, and questionable depictions of religion and other respected institutions. Shows have touched on [[Catholic|Catholicism]], [[Islam]], [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Mormonism]], [[Judaism]], [[Scientology]], and made jokes about [[Jesus]], [[Moses]], [[Muhammad]] and other religious leaders.  

The show is currently in its sixteenth season, and critics have noted that it is in decline. <ref>http://firstsignsoftrouble.blogspot.com/2011/04/south-park-decline-in-quality.html</ref> <ref>http://www.tbseblog.com/2011/10/14/worst-thing-ever-the-decline-of-south-park/</ref>

The show is currently in its sixteenth season, and many critics have belive that it is in decline. <ref>http://firstsignsoftrouble.blogspot.com/2011/04/south-park-decline-in-quality.html</ref> <ref>http://www.tbseblog.com/2011/10/14/worst-thing-ever-the-decline-of-south-park/</ref>, however not to the extent of other adult cartoons, like ''[[Family Guy]]''.

==Premise==

==Premise==

Taking place in the small town of South Park, Colorado, the show follows four friends: Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman.  Due to the low quality animation that South Park utilizes, the majority of episodes are made in less than a week, allowing for the creators to change their storylines at the last minute to reflect on current events that are not otherwise touched on as quickly in other animated comedy shows such as ''[[The Simpsons]]''.  For example, an early episode entitled ''Quintuplets 2000'' was changed to reflect the controversy surrounding Elian Gonzalez at the time.  In fact, many of the situations depicted are parodies of current events in politics and pop culture.   

Taking place in the small town of South Park, Colorado, the show follows four friends: Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman.  Due to the low quality animation that South Park utilizes, the majority of episodes are made in less than a week, allowing for the creators to change their storylines at the last minute to reflect on current events that are not otherwise touched on as quickly in other animated comedy shows such as ''[[The Simpsons]]''.  For example, an early episode entitled ''Quintuplets 2000'' was changed to reflect the controversy surrounding Elian Gonzalez at the time.  In fact, many of the situations depicted are parodies of current events in politics and pop culture.   

Parker and Stone describe themselves as "equal opportunity offenders" and some episodes have made fun of liberal causes, particularly environmentalism and support for legalized [[abortion]]. Other episodes have ridiculed the anti-immigration movement and other conservative causes. Despite this, the show usually does not outrightly condemn any social group; to date, only [[terrorism|terrorists]] and pedophiles have been given such treatment by the show. While [[Scientology]] itself has been heavily mocked, the creators have expressed sympathy for those who have been drawn into it.  

Parker and Stone describe themselves as "equal opportunity offenders" and some episodes have made fun of liberal causes, particularly environmentalism and support for legalized [[abortion]]. Other episodes have ridiculed the anti-immigration movement and other conservative causes. Despite this, the show usually does not outrightly condemn any social group; to date, only [[terrorism|terrorists]] and pedophiles have been given such treatment by the show. While [[Scientology]] itself has been heavily mocked, the creators have expressed sympathy for those who have been drawn into it.  

There is a form of anti-censorship, libertarian-leaning conservatism known as "South Park Republicans" and "South Park Conservatives." The creators are uneasy about stating their political views (even hesitating to declare themselves libertarians) <ref>Charlie Rose interview, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqtLudQtIGs </ref>, though they note that of all the different groups they mock, [[Hollywood values|Hollywood Liberals]] display the most indignance. <ref> Interview on The Hour, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLyVm4Rr2eo </ref> Matt Stone has stated, "I hate conservatives, but I really (expletive) hate liberals." <ref>http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/_rp-hate_conservatives.htm</ref> Neither Trey Parker n'or Matt Stone voted in the 2004 presidential election because they regarded both candidates as people they despised. Sometimes the show has taken a more liberal tone, including mocking [[Glenn Beck]] and portraying [[Tea Party|"The Pissed Off And Angry Party"]] as sexually-insecure men who lack knowledge about government. Glen Beck, a viewer of the show, took South Park's parody of himself in good humour. <ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btsMZxDBYEg</ref> Parker and Stone have stated that the reason they mock liberals so frequently is their insistence on telling people what to do.   

There is a form of anti-censorship, libertarian-leaning conservatism known as "South Park Republicans" and "South Park Conservatives." The creators are uneasy about stating their political views (even hesitating to declare themselves libertarians) <ref>Charlie Rose interview, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqtLudQtIGs </ref>, though they note that of all the different groups they mock, [[Hollywood values|Hollywood Liberals]] display the most indignance. <ref> Interview on The Hour, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLyVm4Rr2eo </ref> Matt Stone has stated, "I hate conservatives, but I really (expletive) hate liberals." <ref>http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/_rp-hate_conservatives.htm</ref> Neither Trey Parker n'or Matt Stone voted in the 2004 presidential election because they regarded both candidates as people they despised. More recently, the show has taken a more liberal tone, including mocking [[Glenn Beck]] and portraying [[Tea Party|"The Pissed Off And Angry Party"]] as sexually-insecure men who lack knowledge about government, however, the recent episode ''1%'' mocked the "Occupy" movement and the media frenzy that surrounded it. Glen Beck, a fan of the show, took South Park's parody of himself in good humour. <ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btsMZxDBYEg</ref> Parker and Stone have stated that the reason they mock liberals so frequently is their insistence on telling people what to do.   

One of the few liberal causes which is consistently supported by the show is the [[homosexual agenda]]. The main Aesop in the season one episode ''Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride'' is that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle. The episode was enthusiastically received by the radical homosexual group [[GLAAD]] and was nominated for an award by it.<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/television-lowbrow-and-proud-of-it-1153256.html Television: Lowbrow and proud of it - The Independent]</ref> Another episode from show's fifth season called ''Cripple Fight'' attempted to portray homosexuals as individuals capable of being responsible leaders for today's youth and children. The show endorsed [[same-sex "marriage"]] in the episode ''Follow That Egg!''

One of the few liberal causes which is consistently supported by the show is the [[homosexual agenda]]. The main Aesop in the season one episode ''Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride'' is that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle. The episode was enthusiastically received by the radical homosexual group [[GLAAD]] and was nominated for an award by it.<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/television-lowbrow-and-proud-of-it-1153256.html Television: Lowbrow and proud of it - The Independent]</ref> Another episode from show's fifth season called ''Cripple Fight'' attempted to portray homosexuals as individuals capable of being responsible leaders for today's youth and children. The show endorsed [[same-sex "marriage"]] in the episode ''Follow That Egg!''