Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of the long-running animated series South Park, have shared their picks for the show's worst episodes. They expressed particular dissatisfaction with early seasons and specific installments from later ones. This comes amid a new deal for 50 additional episodes.
South Park, which premiered on Comedy Central in 1997, has become a cornerstone of American satire with 27 seasons and over 300 episodes, alongside a theatrical film and video games. Created by Emmy winners Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the series recently secured a major agreement with Paramount for 50 new episodes over the next five years.
The duo has been candid about their uneven track record after nearly three decades. Parker told Entertainment Weekly he would erase the first three seasons if possible, citing them as not up to par. Their least favorites extend to select episodes from seasons four, seven, and ten.
From season four, 'Chef Goes Nanners' drew criticism for feeling underdeveloped. It depicts Chef, voiced by Isaac Hayes, protesting the town's racist flag, which locals defend as heritage. Stone called it 'half-baked,' noting the writing occurred on Independence Day when the team rushed to end early.
Also from season four, 'Pip' focuses on the unpopular character Pip without the main boys, leading to widespread fan disdain. The character was later killed off in the episode '201.'
Season seven's 'South Park is Gay!' parodies 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' and ends with a twist involving 'crab people' plotting domination. Parker reflected on the choice: 'It's like, you just know there's something better, but you can't think of it, and now you've just got to go with crab people.'
In season ten, 'A Million Little Fibers' spotlights Towelie and ranks as the lowest-rated on IMDb, with crude Oprah Winfrey gags that Parker and Stone felt were squandered without the core boys.
Rounding out the list, 'Stanley's Cup' follows Stan Marsh guiding a Pee Wee hockey team to a grim loss. Though Parker acknowledged its bleakness, he praised the unique ending, lamenting that 'nobody really got it.'
These admissions highlight the creators' self-critical approach to their influential work.