It’s hard to imagine pop culture without South Park, the landmark animated series that has been on the air for nearly 30 years. But back in the ’90s, when it was still making the rounds on the underground animation festival circuit, it was considered too edgy and extreme for television.
At one point, however, Fox was willing to give it a shot, possibly planning to air it alongside its beloved first family of animation (and future rival), The Simpsons. One single character, though, stopped that from happening.
kAmx? `hhd[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^A6@A=6^EC6J\A2C<6C^Qm%C6J !2C<6Ck^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^A6@A=6^>2EE\DE@?6^Qm|2EE $E@?6k^2m H6C6 DEF56?ED 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 r@=@C25@ q@F=56C 7:=> D49@@=[ H96C6 E96J @7E6? 6?E6CE2:?65 E96>D6=G6D 3J 4C62E:?8 C2F?49J <:5 492C24E6CD E@ >2<6 6249 @E96C =2F89] pE E96 6?5 @7 E96 H:?E6C D6>6DE6C[ H96? E96 56A2CE>6?E D9@H42D65 DEF56?E 7:=>D[ E96 5F@ 564:565 E@ DF3>:E 2 D<:E @7 E96:C @H?]k^Am
kAm“x H2D =:<6[ ‘%96C6 D9@F=5 36 D@>6E9:?8 r9C:DE>2DDJ[’ 3642FD6 E96D6 D4C66?:?8D H6C6 2 76H 52JD 367@C6 r9C:DE>2D] x 925 5@?6 @?6 6G6? 367@C6 E92E[ 42==65 p>6C:42? w:DE@CJ[ H:E9 4@?DECF4E:@? A2A6C 4FE@FED[ 2?5 x 8@E 2 DEF56?E 2H2C5 7@C :E] $@ |2EE 2?5 x ;FDE 5:5 E9:D =:EE=6 y6DFD 2?5 uC@DEJ E9:?8[” D2:5 !2C<6C :? 2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>:4C@D:E6D]6H]4@>^>:4C@D:E6^=@?87@C>^D@FE9A2C<^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@@A6?6CQmt( :?E6CG:6Hk^2m]k^Am
kAm%96 C6DF=E H2D E96 D9@CE “y6DFD GD] uC@DEJ[” 2=D@ <?@H? 2D E96 7:CDE “$A:C:E @7 r9C:DE>2D” 2?:>2E65 D9@CE E92E H@F=5 =2E6C 6G@=G6 E@ 364@>6 k6>m$@FE9 !2C<k^6>m] xE 762EFC65 E96 7@FC >2:? <:5D :? 2== E96:C 7@F=\>@FE965 8=@CJ[ 2D H6== 2D y6DFD 32EE=:?8 $2?E2 r=2FD 7@C E96 C:89ED @7 r9C:DE>2D]k^Am
kAm“,%96 2F5:6?46 C624E:@?. H2D 9F86[” D2:5 !2C<6C] “xE H2D ;FDE E96 724E E92E E96C6 H6C6 =:EE=6\<:5 G@:46D 2?5 4FE6 2?:>2E:@? 2?5 E92E E96J H6C6 D4C62>:?8[ ‘u—P’ !6@A=6 925?’E C62==J D66? 2?JE9:?8 =:<6 E92E 367@C6]”k^Am
kA 52E2\DE2CElQe`Q 52E2\6?5lQaeaQmp7E6C 4@==686[ E96 5F@ D9@H65 E96 4=:A E@ u@I 6I64FE:G6 qC:2? vC256?[ H9@ H2D D@ E2<6? H:E9 E96 AC@5F4E:@? E92E 96 D92C65 :E H:E9 7C:6?5D @? 'w$ 2?5 2D<65 E96> E@ >2<6 2?@E96C E96 7@==@H:?8 J62C] (96? E96 D64@?5 k6> 52E2\DE2CElQagaQ 52E2\6?5lQb_bQm$A:C:E @7 r9C:DE>2Dk^6>m D9@CE 3642>6 2? F?56C8C@F?5 D6?D2E:@? @? E96 76DE:G2= 4:C4F:E 2?5 E9C@F89 A2DD\2=@?8 E2A6D[ E96 A2:C 3682? E2<:?8 >66E:?8D 23@FE EFC?:?8 E96 E@@?D :?E@ 2 D6C:6D]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 H2D ?@ 42=4F=2E:@? E92E >:==:@?D @7 A6@A=6 H@F=5 D66 E9:D 2?5 E96? H6’5 86E 2 %' D6C:6D] x H2?E65 E@ 5@ D@>6E9:?8 4@@= 7@C E96 r9C:DE>2D 42C5[ 2?5 E9@D6 8FJD 2C6 86?:FD6D[” D2:5 vC256?] “(6 5:5 2 <:5D’ A:=@E[ :7 J@F 42? 36=:6G6 :E[ 7@C u@I’D D:DE6C ?6EH@C<] (6 925 DE2CE65 56G6=@A:?8 k6>m$@FE9 !2C<k^6>m 32D65 @? E9@D6 492C24E6CD 367@C6 ,E96 D64@?5 G:56@. H2D >256]”k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ k6>m$@FE9 !2C<k^6>m 2?5 u@I H6C6 ?6G6C >62?E E@ 36[ 2== 3642FD6 @7 @?6 492C24E6Ci |C] w2?<6J]k^Am
k5:G :5lQ2EE249>6?E0`a_hf`fQ DEJ=6lQH:5E9i h_eAIQ 4=2DDlQHA\42AE:@? 2=:8?46?E6CQmk:>8 2C:2\56D4C:3653JlQ42AE:@?\2EE249>6?E\`a_hf`fQ 4=2DDlQHA\:>286\`a_hf`fQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ad^_g^$@FE9!2C<0>C\92?<6J\cd_Iadd];A8Q 2=ElQ|C] w2?<6J @? UR_bhj$@FE9 !2C<UR_bhj W$62D@? `XQ H:5E9lQgheQ 96:89ElQd_gQ DC4D6ElQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ad^_g^$@FE9!2C<0>C\92?<6J\cd_Iadd];A8 cd_H[ 9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ad^_g^$@FE9!2C<0>C\92?<6J\`__eIdf_];A8 `__eH[ 9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ad^_g^$@FE9!2C<0>C\92?<6J\fegIcbd];A8 fegH[ 9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ad^_g^$@FE9!2C<0>C\92?<6J\df_Ibab];A8 df_H[ 9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ad^_g^$@FE9!2C<0>C\92?<6J\`_`cIdfd];A8 `_`cH[ 9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ad^_g^$@FE9!2C<0>C\92?<6J];A8 a_agHQ D:K6DlQ2FE@[ W>2I\H:5E9i gheAIX `__GH[ gheAIQ ^mkA :5lQ42AE:@?\2EE249>6?E\`a_hf`fQ 4=2DDlQHA\42AE:@?\E6IEQmr@>65J r6?EC2=k^Amk^5:Gm
kAm“q67@C6 $@FE9 !2C< DE2CE65[ H96? H6 5:5 ‘$A:C:E @7 r9C:DE>2D[’ 2?5 A6@A=6 7:CDE E2=<65 23@FE 5@:?8 2 D6C:6D[ H6 H2?E65 E@ >2<6 2 D6C:6D 42==65 k6>m%96 |C] w2?<6J $9@Hk^6>m[ 2?5 32D:42==J E96 H9@=6 E9:?8 H@F=5 36 46?E6C65 2C@F?5 E9:D A:646 @7 DYYE] p?5 H6 H@F=5 92G6 $E2?[ zJ=6[ r2CE>2?[ 2?5 z6??J[ 3FE :E H@F=5 2== 36 D@CE @7 46?E6C65 2C@F?5 |C] w2?<6J 2?5 9:D G:6H E9:?8D[” k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^J@FEF]36^tI}@667''|DnD:lu%\d`"@!*sA0B"FcU2>AjEl`_bdeQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@@A6?6CQmD2:5 $E@?6k^2m :? E96 s's 4@>>6?E2CJ 7@C E96 7:CDE D62D@?]k^Am
kAm“(6 A:E4965 :E E@ vC256?[ 2?5 96 D2:5[ ‘x’> ?@E AFEE:?8 A@@ @? >J ?6EH@C<[V” C642==65 $E@?6]k^Am
k5:G 4=2DDlQ:?=:?6\42==@FEQmk5:G 4=2DDlQ:?=:?6\42==@FE\4@?E6?EQmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^`a_cbdf^D@FE9\A2C<\5@?2=5\ECF>A\A6?:D\D:K6\D62D@?\af\AC6>:6C6\C624E:@?^Qmk:>8 96:89ElQ`deQ H:5E9lQac_Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ad^_f^5@?2=5\ECF>A\D@FE9\A2C<\`_`cIdf_]A?8Q 2=ElQ%CF>A #624ED E@ UR_bhj$@FE9 !2C<UR_bhj |@4<:?8 w:D UR_bhj%:?JUR_bhj |2?9@@5Q ^mk^2mk5:G 4=2DDlQ:?=:?6\42==@FE\=236=Qm#6=2E65k^5:Gmk9bmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^`a_cbdf^D@FE9\A2C<\5@?2=5\ECF>A\A6?:D\D:K6\D62D@?\af\AC6>:6C6\C624E:@?^Qm%CF>A #624ED E@ V$@FE9 !2C<V |@4<:?8 w:D V%:?JV |2?9@@5k^2mk^9bmk^5:Gmk^5:Gm
kAm“(6 42>6 FA H:E9 2?@E96C H2J E@ AC6D6?E :E 2==[ H9:49 H2D k6>m$@FE9 !2C<k^6>m[ 2?5 :E 762EFC65 E96 E@H? C2E96C E92? E96 A:646 @7 A@@[ 2?5 >2J36 H6 3C:?8 E96 A@@ :?E@ :E =2E6C] $@ H96? r@>65J r6?EC2= ,H2D. :?E6C6DE65[ E96J E@@< FD @FE E@ 5:??6C 32D:42==J E@ D2J[ ‘(6’C6 H9@ J@F D9@F=5 E2<6 E9:D D9@H E@[V” 4@?E:?F65 $E@?6] “%96J H6C6 DFA6C 6I4:E65 23@FE E96 D9@H] $@ H6 H6C6 @FE E@ 5:??6C H:E9 E96>[ 2?5 H6 D2:5 32D:42==J[ ‘(6 ;FDE ?665 E@ <?@H @?6 E9:?8i pC6 J@F @A6? E@ E2=<:?8 A@@nV”k^Am
kAm“p?5 E96 A6CD@? E92E H2D E96C6 2E E96 E:>6 D2:5i ‘p3D@=FE6=J]V”k^Am
kAmp7E6C E92E[ 9:DE@CJ H2D >256 2D |C] w2?<6J D2:5 “w@H5J\9@P” E@ r@>65J r6?EC2=]k^Am
kAmk6>mkDEC@?8m$@FE9 !2C<k^DEC@?8mk^6>mkDEC@?8m[ $62D@? af[ (65?6D52JD[ `_^h4[ r@>65J r6?EC2=k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m|@C6 w625=:?6Dik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^`a_hf``^D@FE9\A2C<\2=>@DE\7@I\D9@H\>C\92?<6J^Qm‘$@FE9 !2C<’ (2D p=>@DE 2 u@I $9@H :7 xE (2D?’E 7@C %9:D x4@?:4 r92C24E6Ck^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^`a_hee_^E9:D\:D\FD\C6F?:@?\>2?5J\>@@C6\42DE\52?\7@86=>2?\9F=F\?7=\D6C:6D^Qm|2?5J |@@C6 $6ED ‘%9:D xD &D’ #6F?:@? (:E9 s2? u@86=>2?’D &A4@>:?8 }u{ $6C:6Dk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^`a_hegf^<2?5292C\?6E7=:I\DEC62>:?8\E@A\`_\H92E\E@\<?@H^Qm(92E xD ‘z2?5292C’n tG6CJE9:?8 E@ z?@H p3@FE E96 v6C2C5 qFE=6C |@G:6 :? }6E7=:I’D %@A `_k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^`a_heed^=@C?6\>:4926=D\D2EFC52J\?:89E\=:G6\H9:49\DE2CD\H:==\36\3:8^Qmw@H s@6D {@C?6 |:4926=D z?@H (9:49 ‘$}{’ r2DE |6>36CD (:== q6 q:8 $E2CDn ‘(66<6?5 &A52E6’ $E2CD $A:==k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EG:?D:56C]4@>^`a_hee`^;6@A2C5J\DH@@D9:?8\D@F?5\:?EC@\>FD:4^Qm‘y6@A2C5JP’ u2?D $92C6 pDA64E @7 v2>6 $9@H %96J |:DDk^2mk^=:mk^F=m
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.