Top 10 Times South Park Crossed Over Into Real Life
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for all the times “South Park” found ways to either appear in or influence the real world. What was your favorite spill of this notable animated comedy into the real world? Let us know in the comments?
#10: 51st Emmy Awards
“South Park” got their breakout on live TV when our favorite group of 4 made an appearance at the 51st Primetime Emmy Awards as presenters to honor those the industry had lost. Instead, we got a quick montage of mostly Kenny being killed, along with a few other notable celebrities. Sure enough, as the clip ends, the boys back away from Kenny who is then killed by a giant Emmy statue falling on him. This wasn’t the boys first appearance at an Awards show. At the 1997 CableACE Awards, our favorite four boys cracked jokes at the audience and at the show itself.
#9: Gave Birth to a Cooking Show
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As far back as the original short film, “South Park” has had a strange affinity for figure skater Brian Boitano. He was even featured in a musical segment in the feature film, “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut”. Boitano himself seemed flattered by the attention, but just as confused as the rest of us as to where it really came from. Nonetheless, in 2009, Boitano came out with a cooking show on The Food Network called “What Would Brian Boitano Make?”. The program gave viewers a taste of what this famous skater likes to cook up in the kitchen, while using a portion of the “South Park” song as its theme music.
#8: The Real Boys Emerge
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During season 16’s “I Should Have Never Gone Ziplining” episode, fans were treated to a “recreation” of the four boys portrayed by real-life actors. This exaggerated bit was unexpected but still great to see. But the best version of these four boys came two seasons later in “Grounded Vindaloop”. Cartman, Kenny, Stan, Kyle, and Butters are all experimenting with VR goggles, even going as far as to convince Butters the simulation is real. The best part of this episode however is at the end when Stan takes off the headpiece, and we’re treated to four live action children portraying the boys. Nothing can possibly beat Stan’s closing line when he says
#7: Cartman on BASEketball
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A year after “South Park” made it to the airwaves, “BASEketball” was released in theaters. The film starred both South Park Creators Trey Parker, and Matt Stone. Although the film received mixed reviews and bombed at the box office, one particular scene was surely a hit with “South Park” fans. As Coop tries to psyche-out one of the opposing players, he squats down and makes jabs about the player’s weight using an all-too-familiar “Cartman” voice. It’s not quite a live action version of this infamous character, but it certainly came pretty close.
#6: The Aristocrats
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Stand-up comedians have been telling offensive jokes since the dawn of time. But no single joke has ever stood the test of time as “The Aristocrats”. The joke tells the story of a family trying to get work as a stage act. From there, each comedian who tells the joke proceeds to make it as offensive and disgusting as possible. Never told in public, the joke remained relatively unheard of by mass audiences until a documentary centering on the joke was released in 2005. One scene from the doc shows the four boys, waiting for the bus as they usually do. Cartman then proceeds to tell his version of the joke. It’s far more vile and disturbing than anything seen on the show, which says a lot.
#5: Symphony of Music
For all its offensive jokes and outlandish humor, music has and continues to be an integral part of many of “South Park.” From songs about Kyle’s mom to the hilarious “Gay Fish” number, Trey Parker’s love of music bleeds through the show and is palpable. So when it came to celebrating its 25th anniversary, “South Park” collaborated with Broadway musical director and orchestrator Stephen Oremus to turn some of the show’s most memorable tunes into full-on orchestra driven classics. The end result is a testament to the show’s incredible devotion to music.
#4: Cartman on NPR
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NPR, or National Public Radio, is known for its vast network of news stations across the United States. Focusing mainly on notable news and cultural stories, it also featured the “In Character” series which focused on fictional characters from various forms of media. During one segment, NPR correspondent Julie Rovner interviews infamous “South Park” resident Eric Cartman. It’s an entertaining few minutes as she asks about his heroes, and what his future looks like. As you can imagine, Cartman’s responses to Rovner’s questions showcase his love for himself, and disdain for pretty much everyone else in the world.
#3: Genes Named After Kenny
One of the earliest running gags on “South Park” was the killing off of poor Kenny McCormick in every episode. No matter what crazy antics the show went through, the orange hoodie-laden young man always wound up losing his life. Although his deaths are less frequent, Dr. Sophie Rutschmann found a way to immortalize Kenny’s tragedies. She discovered a fruit fly gene that has the potential to kill the insect within two days. Thinking of poor Kenny’s bad luck, she named the gene “kep1” after the show’s immortal 4th grader.
#2: Spawned College Courses
After 26 seasons of the show, none of the boys have made it out of fourth grade yet. But their academic misfires certainly haven’t reflected how the real world views the show. The very nature of “South Park”’s stories has given inspiration in academic circles. Both McDaniel College and Brooklyn College have offered courses that center on the show, dissecting its take on political correctness and many other notable issues of our time. In fact, studies and papers have been published about the show’s unique method of commenting on social and political topics through its comedic medium.
#1: Influenced the Law
One of the most infamous trial cases of the 1990s was that of O.J. Simpson. He was accused of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. Defense lawyer Johnnie Cochran infamously used the line “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit” to influence jurors into a not guilty verdict. “South Park” mocked this defense in a season two episode where Chef goes to trial and the prosecution starts talking about Chewbacca from “Star Wars” to purposely confuse the jury. Since the episode aired, the “Chewbacca” defense has become widely known as a tactic by attorneys to sway the jury using arguments that are devoid of reason or logic.
