What’s it like to write a successful animated comedy for over 30 years? South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone know the business of making relevant TV is ever evolving and changing. That certainly includes whatever is going on politically, and the two funnymen recently admitted they’ve been hated on by people on both sides of the political spectrum at different times.

The two men don’t do a ton of interviews, but spoke to the Television Academy this week as part of a larger comedy video. When interviewed, they discussed free speech, targeted jokes, and getting hated on by both political parties. Of the latter, Trey Parker got really candid about what happens as time passes and they keep making the animated series.

First of all, let’s just take a second to acknowledge that South Park has been doing the dang thing for 30 years. Secondly, what they say is true. The last few seasons have been devoted to taking shots and Trump and others in the administration. This includes J.D. Vance, who took it with good humor. Taking more shots at the Republican party has meant they've got more criticism from Republicans, but that's just a continuation of a larger pattern.

There have been times in the past when South Park has been very critical of social issues, woke culture or politicians on the left. At those times, an overwhelming amount of the criticism has come from liberals. The backlash is almost always very subject-matter specific, and it's also been why so many people have been defensive of the show throughout its run.

To many fans, it's never felt like South Park has had an agenda or a specific point of view it has tried to convey, even poking fun at itself on more than one occasion. Instead, some of South Park's best episodes have simply been trying to clown on whatever bit of pop culture is buzzy at any given moment. If Republicans are in power, it'll dunk on Republicans. If Democrats are in power, it'll dunk on Democrats. If some weird subgroup is suddenly in the news or a new fad is sweeping the nation, that's going to be the target.

Some of that is due to how how the show is made. Parker and Matt Stone are able to produce episodes on the fly. Because they aren’t doing the series nine or 10 months in advance, jokes in the moment are easy for them to dive into, which certainly is not true of most series. It really only works, Stone says, because they’re such “procrastinators."

Above all else, Matt Stone also said that really the thing he and Parker are always pushing as hard as possible is the “freedom of speech” aspect.

That focus on free speech has seemed even more relevant than usual the last few years. The FCC has gotten more involved in television content, and late night host Jimmy Kimmel was even briefly suspended from the air and “micromanaged” over comments he made about the late Charlie Kirk. Talking heads like Megyn Kelly have gotten involved. Even shows like The View and Saturday Night Live have suddenly started getting questions about who they have on as guests and whether they should be forced to provide equal time.

Fortunately, Parker and Stone have proven over the years they're going to say what they want to say, regardless of how people feel about it. As history shows, if a group is mad about these opinions one year, chances are they might be celebrating their take the next year.

As South Park confirms its return to the 2026 TV schedule on September 29th, creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone had equally good news to share about their restaurant, Casa Bonita. While it seemed at first that the establishment was doomed to be a money pit for as long as they ran it, Parker recently confirmed it's on the way to being profitable.

Casa Bonita, which was the subject of one of South Park's best episodes as well as a documentary available with a Paramount+ subscription, was famously resurrected by Parker and Stone in hopes they could revive it to its peak form when they visited it in the 1970s. Parker explained during a recent interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that it was a costly endeavor, but it may eventually be something they'll make money on one day:

As someone who watched ¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor! on Paramount+, hearing that they're almost breaking even is wild news. After the tremendous renovation cost, both Trey Parker and Matt Stone both accepted they'd likely never make back their investment on the business, and committed to taking a loss just to revive a treasured piece of their childhood.

And while the year when Casa Bonita turns a profit is still far out, it's impressive to hear it's getting so much support. The duo revealed during their interview that the establishment averages around 12,000 patrons a week. That's a lot of cliff diving and puppet shows, but it seems as though things are going smoothly, which makes me all the more eager to finally get out there.

Casa Bonita is featured in the South Park episode of the same name in Season 7, in which Cartman is crushed when he learns Kyle opted to take Butters and not him to his birthday party at the restaurant. Cartman then makes Butters go missing in order to attend the restaurant, but the party is postponed as the town goes on a massive search for Butters.

The best part of the episode is when Cartman's scheme is discovered, and he makes a mad dash through Casa Bonita to sample all of its attractions and food before ultimately being captured by the police. When asked in the end if all the trouble he caused was worth it, the character has no regrets. Can't say that I blame him; it seemed like he had a blast, and Butters ended up being fine compared to when his own mother tried to kill him.

As mentioned, South Park will return to Comedy Central on September 29th. Casa Bonita's Denver location is still there and ready for fans far and wide to dine at it. That said, make sure to make a reservation beforehand, as it's still a hot commodity even years after reopening.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will come to an end in May on the 2026 TV schedule. Meaning, after eleven seasons, the long-time host will be done with his show, and he’ll be moving on to other projects. One of those projects is a Lord of the Rings movie he’s writing. Now, you might be wondering: How did he decide to do that? Well, it would seem that a choice one Saturday Night Live vet made when they left the NBC show may have inspired him.

While going from late-night to writing a fantasy film seems kind of random, Colbert’s LOTR fandom makes it obvious that he’s made a passionate and clever career move. His conversation on Smartless (which was released on April 6, but was recorded in March, a week before the Lord of the Rings announcement, per The Wrap) about what he’s doing next also seemingly helps explain his choice, too. Speaking about his plans and how he was inspired by Bill Hader when it came to them, the host said:

When Hader’s second child was born, he left SNL. While he’s considered a legend of the show, Hader had a hard time performing on it. So, after eight seasons, he said goodbye. His final show was in 2013, and after that, he went on to work as a full-time writer on South Park, per Vulture. He did continue to act; however, this pivot is very notable, seeing as it’s not what we typically see from long-time Saturday Night Live performers right when they exit the show.

Thinking about that, Colbert realized a pivot like this was what he wanted to do, explaining on the podcast:

Now, while Colbert didn’t specifically name his Lord of the Rings project, his thinking here 100% aligns with his next career choice. During the podcast, he wouldn’t say what he was doing next, but he did note, “I got some things I do want to do.” When this was recorded, his writing project wasn’t publicly announced. However, now that it is, it’s easy to connect the dots here.

Much like Bill Hader going to write for South Park after performing on SNL, Colbert’s next career move is a hard pivot. However, it’s also a logical one, and it’s one that’s driven by what he loves. Hader had a history with the animated series, and he adores it. The same is true for the late-night host and Lord of the Rings. So, the inspiration seems pretty clear to me.

However, Colbert has a show to finish first. The Late Show will end on May 21. However, until then, you can catch new episodes on weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on CBS (or you can stream them with a Paramount+ subscription). Then, it’ll be time for the host to get writing his Lord of the Rings movie, and try out something different that lives in a realm he loves.

It’s hard to believe South Park is nearing its 30th birthday at this point. The show has been on the air for so long, I can actually remember talking to my seatmate about it while learning to type on a computer for the very first time way back in the ‘90s. I snuck behind my parents' back to watch the Comedy Central series during my youth, and have been an avid fan forever after. Which is why I’m shocked I never realized what the heck Kenny is saying during the South Park intro.

I'd never even thought about it before this week, but it turns out I was maybe better off not knowing the truth. Apparently, the phrases have changed over the years, but each and every single time Kenny goes mumblecore in that full parka, he is saying stuff that would make your mother blush. Thanks to one enterprising Reddit user, I am fully blushing, too.

So, what does Kenny say on South Park? It’s changed over the years, but here’s the rundown:

• Season 1 & 2: “I like girls with deep vaginas. I like girls with big fat titties.”
• Season 3, 4 & 5: “Yeah, I’ve got a 10-inch penis. Use your mouth if you want to clean it.”
• Season 7, 8, 9 & 10: “Someday I’ll be old enough to stick my dick in Brittney’s butt!”
• Season 10 to the Present: “I like fucking silly bitches ‘cause I know my penis likes it.”

If you’ll note from above, Season 6 has been left out, which is apparently a season Kenny was given even less screentime than usual, and Timmy took over the slot in the opening montage.

Listen, I’ve watched South Park for a long time, and I did know that one of the reasons we don’t really as an audience get to understand Kenny much is because of his penchant for casually dropping profanity (which is also probably why he's usually cited as one of the more popular South Park characters). Regardless, I did not realize what Kenny was saying was so over-the-top outrageous, and I also had not realized the show had changed the opening sequence comments over the course of many great episodes.

This is truly one of those, you think you know something, but you don't really know something moments for me. Not just for me, either, as some other South Park fans also shared in the comments.

• "My childhood memories of South Park have a deeper meaning now."
• "Knew about the first one and didn't even know they changed it."
• "I remembered the conversation at the lunch table at school when someone dropped this bombshell on us. Miss being a kid before the internet was up everyone's ass. Finding out obscure shit like from a magazine or word of mouth made you the smartest kid at school for a day."
• "😂🤣😂🤣😂 I always thought that about Season 1 but didn't know for sure! Didn't know the others though."

One user even had a tip to watch the show “with subtitles,” which would have given away the game much sooner, had I thought to do this. (I had not.) Meanwhile, the South Park guys have always made it clear Kenny was based on an archetype of real kids they’d known and met, with creator Matt Stone saying in an OG interview from way back in 1997 that they modeled the kids off of real kids who say weird, NSFW things without actually realizing what it is they are saying:

Kenny’s had it rough, though. Matt Stone and Trey Parker once described him as that "poor kid" you'd know who would "eat worms just to impress you." He was killed off in every episode for years, we’ve barely ever seen his full face, and now we know he’s just being as disgusting as possible based on things Matt Stone and Trey Parker remember about being kids. Here's Parker talking about creating Kenny (via TikTok):

This isn't the first time we've learned a wild fact about South Park, but this is one that will certainly stick with me as the diversive, no-holds-barred comedy keeps moving forward (hopefully on the 2026 TV schedule).

South Park's latest season is over, and while we don't know when it'll return to the 2026 TV schedule, gamers can celebrate some new content in the meantime. Fortnite is collaborating with the Comedy Central series, and I was beside myself with joy to see it add a reference that I doubt most kids playing understand.

Eric, Stan, Kyle, Kenny, and Butters are all available to purchase in the Fortnite shop right now, and it's as thrilling for me as when The Simpsons were added to the game. While the option to have Towelie as a sidekick is exciting, I can't believe they added a reference from what I think is one of South Park's best episodes.

Fortnite Added An Emote Referencing South Park's First Episode

"Cartman Gets An Anal Probe" remains one of my favorite South Park episodes to go back to, so I was hyped when I learned there's an emote available for purchase that references the episode. As seen in the video below, those who buy the emote will see the probe emerge from "behind" their character, and make the character begin to dance and sing. Take a look:

I love how scared Cartman looks when it first pops out, and rightfully so. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that South Park is still irreverent in a video game that strives to accommodate all audiences. This is the same show that took shots at the President of the United States and his administration, so making a butt-related joke in Fortnite was par for the course.

I Love That Epic Games Put In A Reference Older Than Many Kids Playing Fortnite

South Park premiered in 1997, making it 28 years old. That's still younger than me, but it's older than several people I know who play Fortnite. That's not to say it's over their heads, especially in the age where the series is available with a Paramount+ subscription.

Of course, I feel like even seeing "Cartman Gets An Anal Probe" can really break down the reference in its entirety. I remember the song "I Love to Sing-A" from an old Tex Avery cartoon with singing owls that used to air on Cartoon Network. Of course, that 1936 cartoon was also a reference far beyond my time, with the song originating from the feature film The Singing Kid.

When Fortnite first started collaborating with major IPs, I thought it was mostly a cash grab opportunity for Epic Games. As I continue to see new content, however, and how this game can house everything from a fart joke to a story from the Kill Bill universe, I see the vision. If someone ever makes a Fortnite movie, it may end up being the closest we'll ever get to a Who Framed Roger Rabbit? level of collaboration between major franchises. Of course, I don't know the specifics on whether Epic Games could retain the rights to all those characters for a movie, but I can cross my fingers really tight and hope that it happens.

South Park is on hiatus, but fans can play as the characters in Fortnite and catch up on old episodes over on Paramount+. There's a vast library to run through on the platform, and it may just take longer to get through that than to grind through the latest battle pass.

South Park recently wrapped up its latest run with a Christmas episode, which got me thinking about all the times the irreverent Comedy Central series has acknowledged the holiday over the years. With no word on when or if the show will appear on the 2026 TV schedule, I got a little nostalgic and pulled up the first holiday special with my Paramount+ subscription.

Watching "Mr. Hankey, The Christmas Poo," was a shock to the system. Not because it was overtly traumatizing, but because I hadn't quite realized just how much this comedy has changed since 1997. After a bit of thought, of course it has, and all long-running animated shows do, but it didn't make these key things I noticed any less jarring to experience.

The Special Is Loaded With Musical Numbers

Music has always been a part of South Park, but this episode reminded me how the earlier seasons and some of the best episodes of the franchise have leaned on musical numbers. This episode is stacked with singing from start to finish, from Chef singing one of his classical sexual tunes, to that iconic diddy in which Cartman sang about Kyle's mom.

New South Park occasionally has singing, but I guarantee it's been a good while since we've seen seven musical numbers in one adventure. I'd love to see the writing team get back to that in future stories, even if not consistently. I'm sure fans would love to get another musical episode in an upcoming season, especially with the litany of current events it could be centered around.

Randy Marsh Is Barely A Presence In The Episode

When CinemaBlend did a ranked list of the best South Park characters of all time, Randy Marsh was ranked second, just behind Eric Cartman. The ranking is deserved, as there's no shortage of Randy antics that aren't part of the most memorable moments of the show. Personally, I always loved the storyline where he was secretly the pop artist Lorde, and I still chuckle about it from time to time.

If readers were to travel back in time and show that ranking list to someone watching Season 1, however, they'd be so confused. Randy is hardly in "Mr. Hankey, The Christmas Poo" at all, and the couple of lines that he has are more or less filler. There's no joke behind either line. It's just to move the plot along.

It's a shame, really, because I feel like a Randy subplot would add a lot to this quality South Park episode. The whole thing had me thinking about some sort of Back To The Future subplot in which modern Randy would have to stand in for classic Randy, and how differently he'd react to all the chaos unfolding all around him. Just a thought for the writers' room if they're cooking up ideas for the next batch of stories.

Cartman Has Catchphrases

I was on the lookout for this one going into the episode, thanks to the recent South Park episode with the AI videos. This is the perfect opportunity to say "Simpsons did it first," because I can't help but notice the parallels between the evolution of Bart Simpson and Eric Cartman in their early years. Both were overwhelmingly favored by the fans, and both were given some of the most outlandish scenarios as well as a series of catch phrases.

These days, Eric Cartman is far less likely to talk about Cheesy Poofs or say "Screw you guys, I'm going home." Spoiler alert: he says one of those in this episode, but I don't want to spoil which for those who haven't watched yet.

I think it's fair to say that South Park is better off with how Eric Cartman is now than it was in the early days. Part of this is, no doubt, thanks to the series' evolution and a more experienced writing staff, and maybe even a better budget to hire other talented writers. Basically, what I'm saying is that we've come a long way since the early days of Cartman, and we don't need to backpedal into those glory days.

Overall, The Episode Holds Up

For all the things that have changed with South Park, its ability to entertain has not. "Mr. Hankey, The Christmas Poo," is still a delightful Christmas movie, and for what it's worth, the message of the episode is still relevant today.

The entire episode centers on the town's effort to make the holiday as secular as possible, removing all imagery that any group may find offensive. Meanwhile, Kyle is bummed out as the only Jewish kid in his friend group, while the rest of his friends get to celebrate the fun of Christmas, he's left on the sidelines, unable to take part.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, Kyle meets Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo, and can get the Christmas spirit through his new fecal friend. Unfortunately, many around town begin to think that Kyle is crazy, and he's committed to an asylum ahead of the holiday pageant. Fortunately, he's exonerated by the end, and the entire town celebrates the arrival of Mr. Hankey and embraces the differences in how we all celebrate the holiday season.

Is it the best Christmas special South Park has ever done? I had to rewatch "Woodland Critter Christmas" after to be sure, and I can definitely say, no. That episode still reigns supreme, but this one is certainly up there and worth a watch before the holidays are over for those who have Paramount+ to check it out. I'll also say the latest season's Christmas special is one for the books, and it's worth a watch.

With no solid return date for South Park to Comedy Central just yet, it's the perfect time to jump back into the series and enjoy all the episodes on Paramount+. In fact, one can make an evening out of watching all the holiday specials, but maybe make sure the kids aren't around to take it all in as well.

South Park has had a monumental run in 2025 that's referenced everything from the President of the United States to the children's show Bluey, and it's looking like the show will finish strong in its final episode for the year. We have a clip and synopsis ahead of the December 10th episode, and I can't wait for what's being set up.

It looks like the antichrist is on the way, as "The Crap Out" hints that Satan will finally have the baby that's been teased all season. Take a look at the clip, which shows parodied versions of the President and Vice President working as bell ringers for the Salvation Army:

That's a pretty vague clip, and I'm not even going to guess why they're collecting money, but I'm so ready to see this episode. The meta joke that "South Park sucks" because it's gotten too political feels like it could come up again, what with Stan previously making that complaint before attempting to use it to launch a Cryptocurrency scheme.

"The Crap Out" gave a bit more context than the clip, but only just a bit. One thing that seems clear is that this will be the year's Christmas special, but what has me most amped is the arrival of the antichrist:

There's no shortage of iconic South Park Christmas episodes, and with it previously established that Satan will be having a "butt baby" I can't help but wonder if one iconic character is making a return. It's been a while since Mr. Hankey has been on the show, and with the holidays approaching, wouldn't now be the perfect time for him to say "hidey ho?"

Mr. Hankey hasn't had a significant role in South Park since the 2018 episode "The Problem With Poo," in which he was fired from the Christmas pageant after a series of inappropriate tweets. The storyline, which largely mimicked the events that led to Roseanne Barr being fired from her revival, was the last major storyline the character was a part of.

Could Mr. Hankey come back as the antichrist and somehow play a significant role in a future season of South Park? Only Matt Stone and Trey Parker know the answer to that, and I'm just content to see where this story goes. That said, if Mr. Hankey comes back in some major character role that mimics when Mr. Garrison was parading around, I'd be down for something like that.

South Park will air its upcoming episode on Comedy Central on Wednesday, December 10th at 10:00 p.m. ET. I'm sure the show has something grand planned for its big send-off, though I'm ultimately just hoping the season-long payoff to Satan's pregnancy ends up being as fun as the rest of the season has been thus far.

South Park is back with another episode ahead of Thanksgiving, and the timing couldn't be better. The animated comedy has made headlines left and right for drawing ire from the President of the United States, and possibly featuring a cameo from the children's show character Bluey. The Comedy Central series also just dropped some preview images for its holiday-timed episode, but something seems off.

While South Park did recently joke about the notion of the show "sucking" because of its political jokes, the latest still from this upcoming episode suggest a complete deviation from all it's done so far. It has me a bit suspicious for a couple of reasons, and I have two theories for what's going on here.

South Park May Be Doing A One-Off Holiday Episode Disconnected From Its Current Storyline

With this latest installment, Cartman is looking spry and healthy in the aftermath of his rescue from being held hostage by Peter Thiel. Now, Cartman seems to be back to some of his classic antics. The town is preparing for the holiday in "Turkey Trot" and, according to the synopsis, will use "Questionable cutting-edge science" to win the race. This sounds like a standard episode, almost like one of the dozens of Thanksgiving episodes the show has produced over the years (which are currently available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription). It also seems like Tolkien is involved, and it'll be nice to see him again.

All of this is strange, however, because the promotional images don't feature Satan or politicians like Vice President J.D. Vance. While the same was true with what was released during the previous deepfake episode, which had a clip from the episode promoting the adventure. Is South Park just taking a break from its ongoing storyline to do a more classic-feeling episode?

South Park Released Fake Images And A Fake Synopsis And Will Do Something Completely Different

On the other hand, I also think there's a possibility South Park is fooling its audience yet again, similar to what the producers did with a fake trailer to promote the season. With so many people traveling over Thanksgiving to visit family and spend time together, I wouldn't believe Trey Parker and Matt Stone would miss an opportunity to really get people talking over the holiday.

This is to say, I'm not sure I buy that while this episode looks like some one-off more in line with what some consider the best episodes of South Park, I'm skeptical. I'd much sooner believe it's bait to pull in more eyes, especially wary family members who wouldn't usually be tuning in. Then, just when everyone's guard is down, they get hit with another episode that bluntly critiques the United States government or some political figure.

Of course, I could be completely wrong about this and, truthfully, Comedy Central could've just picked two images that intentionally steer away from the political element with the hopes of trying to draw bigger audience. I guess the only way any of us will know for sure is if we tune in, and I was already planning on doing that anyway.

South Park airs on Comedy Central on Wednesdays at 10:00 p.m. ET amid the 2025 TV schedule. I can't wait to see what the writers cooked up for the holiday episode, and I hope it's worthy of discussing at the dinner table while the turkey is being carved.

South Park has been in the news a lot this season as it continues its run on the 2025 TV schedule, but to this point, it's mainly been for political jabs at the Trump administration. While there were continued jabs at the President as well as Vice President J.D. Vance in the latest episode, the show took a wild turn and covered A.I. videos and the danger they present. This led to a scene featuring the popular children's show Bluey's titular pup and I'm questioning whether this was an official cameo that utilized the actual voice actor.

In the episode, Bluey Heeler was called as a witness for a court case against Kenny, Kyle, and Butters, who get blamed for creating an AI video that featured the canine's likeness. She told the prosecutor the video showed her "going to the bathroom in a very bad place" and that she "didn't make a cent" off the video. While we have no evidence at the time of this writing that fully confirms whether or not the actual Bluey voice actress was used for the cameo, a few odd details stood out enough that I can buy into a secret cameo being arranged behind the scenes. Let's dig in.

This Bluey Looked Like The Actual Character And Not South Park's Usual Animation Style

When South Park parodies classic animated characters like Mickey Mouse or Winnie the Pooh, they look explicitly different from the legitimate characters, often with rights issues at play. When Bluey Heeler appeared in South Park's "Sora Not Sorry," the only real difference in the character's overall look was that her eyebrows were shaped differently than in the standalone series. (Credit to Trey Parker and Matt Stone if that was all that was required for it to count as a "parody," since it took me a minute to spot the difference!)

The Voice Sounded Like Bluey

Similar to the visual style, South Park typically doesn't worry about trying to make its parodied celebs and characters sound the way people expect, so I was shocked to hear Bluey sounding just as she would in the Disney+ series. As someone who watched Bluey every morning with my kid not that long ago, I could easily be convinced that this was the same child actor.

We don't actually know who provided this voice, as South Park didn't credit anyone specific for it, which actually lends itself to the belief that the same voice was used. Bluey has intentionally kept the identities of the children who voice Bluey and sister Bingo secret, but the creative team confirmed they're the offspring of production staff members. Could Matt Stone and Trey Parker have gotten in contact with Bluey creator Joe Brumm and gotten the actual Bluey voice actress to read those lines? I think it's a possibility.

Nothing About The Appearance Or Dialogue Was Particularly Offensive, Which Strikes Me As Odd

Another thing that had me flummoxed was that South Park's Bluey didn't say anything that was outright offensive or subversive, which seemed like it was possibly intentional, as to not push any boundaries that could have the child feeling uncomfortable. But if it wasn't the O.G. performer, why use such a recognizable character in the first place?

South Park has certainly featured child voice actors swearing before, with Trey Parker's own daughter providing the voice for Kyle's brother, Ike. It wouldn't have been out of character for South Park to have Bluey say something outlandish, so why didn't the show lean into that?

It's led me to the theory that some positive-minded backroom dealings allowed for South Park to use Bluey's likeness and voice talent, possibly without even getting the suits at Disney and Paramount involved. Understandably, I'd expect for both companies to balk at the idea of such a collaboration, especially given how different the brands are. So if it was possible to do it in secret, without anyone ever knowing for sure if it happened, there's no one more qualified to do it than Parker and Stone.

Another theory is that the South Park team likes Bluey enough that nobody wanted to get rude and crude with a character that brings a lot of people such innocent joy. Bluey is beloved enough to be getting its own theme park, as well as a movie that's on its way to theaters. Honestly, I kind of love the idea that South Park would choose to be more reverential to a children's show than the current President of the United States, so if it turns out that's what happened, I'd be over the (blue) moon.

Ultimately, though, it's equally as likely that South Park's creatives just wanted to confuse fans, and found someone who sounded enough like Bluey to go that route. I would love to know one way or another, though, how this came about, and why it was handled the way that it was.

South Park continues on Comedy Central, with a new episode expected to air in two weeks. That said, the series has hit some delays this year already, so we'll see if the team can make the upcoming deadline!

If you’ve watched South Park’s latest run, you’ve probably noticed the show isn’t just dipping a toe into politics, but cannonballing. The long-running animated chaos machine has spent much of the television schedule and Season 28 lampooning the Trump orbit, cable-news hysteria, and the general weirdness of American public life. And according to the guys steering the ship, how fans feel about all that depends on where they’re watching from.

Speaking with The New York Times, co-creator Matt Stone, who’s been in New York lately, says strangers keep stopping him to say thanks. And these aren’t typical South Park diehards, but people newly tuned in by the show’s take on MAGA-world. Meanwhile, Parker, home in Colorado, hears something very different:

South Park Season 28 has become a neat little Rorschach test. Viewers who see the season as catharsis are cheering; viewers bored or exhausted by politics want Cartman and the gang causing garden-variety municipal disasters again. Same episodes, wildly different vibes depending on your zip code.

The irreverent comedy duo said the shift isn’t that South Park “got all political,” so much as politics officially became the culture. The pair described new “taboos” that made the season a magnet for controversy, and, apparently, viewers. Ratings for the past few months have more than doubled compared to the show’s previous season in 2023, per Nielsen cited by the Times. Parker and Stone framed their approach as classic South Park, and that’s to chase whatever the pop culture of the day is.

Parker told the outlet that politics crept into every corner of daily life—news, podcasts, social feeds—which made it impossible to pretend the boys could just go back to fart jokes at the bus stop. “Politics became pop culture,” he said, so the show reflected that reality. Season 28’s throughline has Donald Trump expecting a baby with a cartoon Satan (a gleeful throwback to the show’s ‘90s era), a running bit that lets the writers fold Washington headlines into the kids’ misadventures week after week. The creators even admitted they debated swerving back to “traditional” South Park antics, but concluded there’s no dodging the moment, because everywhere you look, it’s politics.

South Park’s never picked a single team. The show’s brand has long been equal-opportunity offense, and Parker and Stone reminded the Times they’ve spent years send-uping lefty shibboleths, too. That elastic stance is part of why the current season hits; it doesn’t feel like a lecture. This burst of anti-Trump material hit just as Paramount (Comedy Central’s parent) underwent ownership changes and late-night TV was thrown into chaos. In that media weather, South Park’s swing felt sharper—part middle finger, part mission statement.

The South Park machine still moves at dizzying speed. Episodes have been addressing headline events almost in real time—everything from White House drama to shutdown brinkmanship—without, the creators say, new bosses at Paramount trying to rein them in. The result: a season that feels weirdly immediate and, going by the numbers, newly vital this deep into its run. The Times reports viewership has spiked, with entertainment sites breathlessly tracking even minor schedule tweaks. Not bad for a show barreling toward its third decade.

Parker and Stone joked they’re in their “disco era,” fully aware the Washington focus won’t last forever. “Next year will be different,” Parker teased, suggesting the show plans to outlast any political moment by being, well, South Park. For now, they’re following the biggest pop-culture story in the country because that’s where the jokes are. Whether you’re in New York, Colorado, or somewhere in between, Season 28 is meeting the moment like only this show can.

New episodes of South Park air Wednesdays ​​at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Comedy Central, then streaming with a Paramount+ subscription.

Amid the 2025 TV schedule, South Park has been making headlines in a big way. The 27th season of the long-running Comedy Central show went viral for its blistering takes on the political landscape, including U.S. President Donald Trump and his allies. Season 28 debuted in October, and it seems the creative team still isn’t holding back as evidenced by the recent Halloween episode. During that installment, it’s asserted that “South Park sucks now,” and the show’s network has since built on that gag in a funny way.

What Is The Latest Episode Of South Park About?

The Trey Parker and Matt Stone-created show took a different approach to its latest spooky season-timed episode. Much of the narrative in “The Woman in the Hat” revolves around the fictionalized Trump administration’s activities in Washington D.C. In it, President Trump – who’s now expecting a child with Satan – finds himself haunted by a mysterious entity while demolition of the White House’s East Wing continues. It’s ultimately revealed that the construction has conjured a vengeful spirit of First Lady Melania Trump (who’s in a hat).

As wild as all of that is, the episode gets particularly meta when it comes to Stan Marsh’s arc, which sees him grappling with staying at his grandfather’s retirement home after his dad loses his job due to the government shutdown. While talking about the show’s eponymous town, Stan declares that “South Park sucks now, and it’s because of all this political shit.” That's obviously a nod to the various political controversies the series sparked amid its 27th season.

On top of that, Stan and his friends start a crypto meme called “South Park Sucks Now,” with the hope being that it’ll help Stan and his family’s financial standing. If it weren’t enough that the series’ producers made fun of themselves in a big way, Comedy Central piled on appropriately. As of this writing, if someone is to type in the url southparksucksnow.com, it redirects to the show’s main homepage. The creative team is certainly committing to its craft, and that’s long been the case when it comes to their work.

Why Has South Park Been Stirring Up Controversy As Of Late?

It goes without saying that the writers of SP have never been subtle with their social commentary, but that was truly the case amid Season 27, which ran for five episodes earlier this year. The show went viral for skewering President Trump by having his animated counterpart strike up a romantic relationship with Satan and lampooned POTUS with an A.I.-generated video. Vice President J.D. Vance was parodied, too, as a photo of his face was superimposed on a small body. The series also trolled Kristi Noem hard, even depicting her face as melting at one point.

Following the episodes, the White House sent out statements with which it slammed the Comedy Central show. J.D. Vance shared a jokey response to his character’s debut episode, though, as he quipped that he’d finally made it. However, Kristi Noem was not happy with how she was depicted and called out the show for criticizing her physical appearance.

In terms of what South Park has up its sleeve next, that remains to be seen. Additionally, as of this writing, it’s not even clear when the season’s third episode will air. These prior installments, however, could be an indicator that the show will continue to push the boundaries of satire and even poke fun at itself in the process. For now, catch up on the show by streaming episodes of the show using a Paramount+ subscription.

The schedule for the most recent run of South Park hasn't exactly been conventional. While TV viewers have long been used to seeing new episodes weekly when a new season starts, that hasn't been the case recently for Comedy Central's most controversial series. Episodes having been debuting every other week or so, the series has also missed release windows (though it's been due to production complications rather than censorship), and Season 27 randomly turned into Season 28 earlier this month with the debut of "Twisted Christian."

With all of that explained, it probably won't surprise you to learn that the next episode of South Park is seeing its scheduled debut moved... but this time, it's for what could be considered an exciting reason. Instead of the second episode of Season 28 debuting on Wednesday in the show's normal timeslot, it will be premiering on Friday to coincide with the Halloween holiday – because it's a Halloween episode!

Titled "The Woman In The Hat," the description of the new episode of South Park suggests that it will feature a particularly meta story. The show will be commenting on the recent landmark demolition that's been taking place in Washington D.C., with the official description of the plot teasing ,"The White House deals with a disruptive spirit from the east wing," but Stan Marsh will be taking center stage as he "worries that South Park has become too political."

Long-time fans will remember that South Park has a healthy history of Halloween episodes... though like this most recent run's airing schedule, they have been inconsistent. The first three seasons of the show included spooky stories ("Pinkeye," "Spookyfish," "Korn's Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery"), but then there was a seven year pause, and we didn't get another one until Season 10 ("Hell On Earth 2006"). After another extended pause, audiences were treated to two in back-to-back years with Season 16 ("A Nightmare On Face Time") and Season 17 ("Goth Kids 3: Dawn of the Posers"), and we got two more in Season 22 ("The Scoots") and Season 23 ("Tegridy Farms Halloween Special.")

This is the first South Park Halloween episode since 2019, and given the show's fantastic history with them, I'm very excited.

Once you're done trick or treating and/or going to costume parties on Friday night, you'll be able to catch the new episode at 10pm ET/PT, and it will be available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription post-premiere. Beyond that, the schedule is probably potentially mutable, but the plan from Comedy Central is to premiere new episodes of South Park on November 12, November 26, and December 10 (which is to say that they are going back to the every-other-week plan after this special holiday change).

South Park has been the talk of the 2025 TV schedule, as it continues its wildly heightened spoofing of President Trump and other big political and pop culture headline-makers, once again propelling it to the height of TV releavance. The long-running hit also tackled humanity's over-reliance on A.I. and the obsession with pricy Labubus, and now it's taking aim at what I think is the most annoying internet trend.

As the Comedy Central series continues to stay uncensored despite criticisms from officials at the highest levels of government, perhaps the great unifier will be this takedown targeting the meme that I hear coming out of kids' mouths several times each and every day, and I cannot stand it.

South Park Is Highlighting The "Six Seven" Meme

Anyone that has a child aged 5 to 18 has likely heard the phrase "Six Seven," and very likely not just a single instance, but perhaps even a dozen times in a single day. It can be used in response to a question, or just said sporadically with zero context at all. For those not aware, just watch this short clip below and all will be clear:

Just kidding! There is almost no context there, which actually might help others to grasp why the "six seven" meme is so annoying. That said, I'm excited to see how South Park tackles this, especially with the hint that an adult believes the kids are joining a cult because of it.

After watching Labubus be used in a satanic ritual, I'm hoping this upcoming episode, “Twisted Christian,” skews toward being one of the more outrageous episodes of the series. In fairness, the bar is set pretty high for it to even sniff the territory of the show's best episodes, but I'll applaud any effort made by trying to take down this stupid meme.

What Is The "Six Seven" Meme?

To answer the question of what the "six seven" meme actually is, the answer is complicated. In general, the meme originated with a rap song called "Doot Doot (6 7)" by Skrilla, in which the phrase is repeated often. What really propelled its widespread mainstream usage, however, is this video below, in which a kid and his friends repeated the phrase with an exaggerated hand motion:

As far as what the numbers mean in and of themselves, it really just depends on context, though very few are using it in the way that Skrilla did. Some kids will say it nonstop with friends just to hype themselves up or be annoying, and others will use it as a punchline when asked a question involving a number. Professional athletes, in particular, like to try and work it into their interviews, sneakily dropping the phrase in the middle of a sentence in a more subtle way. It's like "69" or "420," but without connotations to sex or drugs.

It's a meme that has a ton of flexibility, which may be why kids say it often, and it's become annoying to the point I've heard teacher friends ban it from being said in their classroom. I think I've almost reached that point in my own household, but maybe this South Park episode will change my perspective on it. We'll see if I can even get through it, because I'm so sick of hearing that phrase.

South Park is all new on Wednesday, October 15th at 10:00 p.m. ET. Tune in to see the latest episode tonight, or catch it later on Paramount+. This season has been one of the best I've seen in a long time, so I can't wait for more new episodes.

Fox’s block of animated comedy favorites finally landed on the 2025 TV schedule with new season premieres, including The Simpsons’ wildly impressive Season 37 opener. The episode, "Thrifty Ways to Thieve Your Mother,” featured a plotline full of ‘90s nostalgia, and it’s far from the first time the Emmy-winning series has dipped back to that timeframe for storytelling purposes. Because despite its seemingly eerie ability to predict the future, The Simpsons does not aim for timely relevance very often.

That stance is counterbalanced by a show like South Park, which has returned to former peaks of relevance by focusing so heavily on Donald Trump and other current events, even at the risk of facing unforeseen delays due to its time-sensitive structure. When Simpsons showrunner Matt Selman was asked by EW about how the show as a whole is handling the current state of the country and the politicization of comedy, he explained why he’s actually happy animation’s long gestation time makes it harder for the writers to be timely, saying:

Selman is speaking of course of South Park's recent extended hiatus between episodes, which the co-creators admitted was completely on them for not being able to get it done in time. As well, the showrunner complimented Jimmy Kimmel, whose highly polarizing suspension at ABC turned Jimmy Kimmel Live! into not just a scorching-hot topic in Hollywood, but also a ratings beast when the show returned a week later.

As far as The Simpsons is concerned, Selman & Co. would likely need access to an undeniably powerful crystal ball and a sane-minded prognosticator in order to pull off the kind of in-the-moment relevancy of either the Comedy Central series or the late night talk show. But let's not forget that Springfield isn't exactly the most up-to-date city around, even when only compared to other fictional places.

The showrunner explains why real-world drama isn't meant to be the norm for Homer and others. in the first place, saying:

Back when The Simpsons first started, it could tackle legitimate content-related issues like violence on TV in ways that felt more timely, if only because the internet wasn't yet around to keep everyone constantly updated about any given topic at any given moment. Now, it's probably easier just to write at their own pace, even if it means parodying eight-year-old movies with frequency.

Matt Selman says he thinks The Simpsons can be watched with equal enjoyment by anyone, because most of us can relate to the follies and foibles of local populations. As he put it:

So don't expect for The Simpsons to make a joke in next week's episode about Bad Bunny performing at the 2026 Super Bowl, although if it does, that one is definitely going in the "magical prediction" pile.

The Simpsons airs Sunday nights on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET, and streams the next day with a Hulu subscription.

While the United States is presently in the midst of some extremely complicated times when it comes to the relationships between media companies and the government, South Park has done absolutely nothing to shy away from controversy. Season 27 of the Comedy Central show launched back in July, and there has been no effort from the filmmakers to shy away from hot button issues (which, to be fair, is the South Park way). Because of this, however, there has been some concern in recent days that the delay of the most recent episode was a result of censorship – but now series co-creator Matt Stone has gone on the record easing those worries.

The fifth episode of South Park's latest season didn't debut as originally scheduled last Wednesday, but it has now been put on the record that the delay was not due to any kind of behind-the-scenes conversations/objections regarding content. Matt Stone has spoken with The Denver Post and assured fans that the creatives were simply unable to hit the necessary deadlines for the episode to air. Said the filmmaker,

"Cutting it close" has long been a part of the South Park creative process. While there are many animated shows that takes months to develop single episodes, the production schedule for Matt Stone and Trey Parker's creation is accelerated so that the stories can be as timely as possible and comment on current events (if you haven't seen the documentary 6 Days to Air: The Making Of South Park, I highly recommend it, and it's currently available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription). Season 27 has been working with a different schedule than previous years, as episodes have been airing every other week instead of weekly, but it seems that even having an extra week to work was not enough to complete episode five.

It's worth noting that this is not the first time that the show has missed a deadline.

To be fair, concerns about censorship are understandable. In addition to all of the controversy regarding the cancellation of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the second episode of South Park Season 27 – titled "Got A Nut" – was pulled from reruns because it makes reference Charlie Kirk (it's still available to watch on Paramount+).

We have not yet gotten any teasers for the next episode of South Park, and we thusly don't know what it will be about, but the expectation is that it will air during the show's normal time slot at 10pm ET/PT on September 24.

TV characters may often lead more exciting lives than the average person, but they're just as susceptible as anyone to relaxing on the couch while watching their own televisions. Most of the time, those shows-within-shows are completely fictional, as not to cause any copyright friction, which can lead to some hilariously weird and inspired creations.

So, in the vein of fake bands we love listening to, fictional brandings we love promoting, and commercials for faux products, let's now celebrate fake TV shows that might just be as watchable as the real ones.

Married...With Children - "Psycho Dad"

Perhaps Al Bundy's favorite TV show, the "simple saga of a guy run amok in the Old West" was somehow a PBS series (and then a Fox one), despite being one of the most violent shows on TV, which the theme song alludes to. Didn't stop the spinoff Psycho Mom from happening, though.

Gravity Falls - "Duck-tective"

If it walks like a duck and solves mysteries like a detective, it can only be Gravity Falls' fine-feathered sleuth Duck-tective, who heads up the titular mystery series that relies heavily on bad puns and cheap effects, like so many shows of the '80s and '90s.

Community - "Inspector Spacetime"

Despite Community's Abed having once worn a Doctor Who T-shirt, his preferred sci-fi time-travel saga is Inspector Spacetime, a very on-the-nose homage to the long-running UK fave. (The American version introduced years later was portrayed by Luke Perry.) I'd wager I.S. has more canonical backstory than almost any other show-within-a-show, with lots of background for fans, real and otherwise, to dig into.

South Park - "The Terrance And Phillip Show"

Two of the biggest celebrities within South Park that aren't parodies of real-world celebs are Sir Phillip Niles Argyle and Sir Terrance Henry Stoot, best known to the Canadian comedy lovers as Terrance and Phillip, who have their own TV show that's a real gas...gas...gasssss.

Extras - "When The Whistle Blows"

One of the funniest things about Ricky Gervais satirizing BBC sitcoms in HBO's Extras is how little it feels like a parody, and how believable it would be as a real-world series with its lowest-common-denominator jokes, forever cementing "Are you 'avin' a laugh?" into the annals of love-to-hate TV catchphrases.

Saturday Night Live - "TV Funhouse"

Saturday Night Live has featured loads of fake movie trailers, songs, TV shows, etc., but perhaps the only applicable recurring sketch to get spun off with its own shows-within-a-show concept was "TV Funhouse," as created by Robert Smigel. Later a standalone series on Comedy Central, the OG run gave the world the Ambiguously Gay Duo, "Bambi 2002," and other SNL classics from the '90s and 2000s.

The Big Bang Theory - "Professor Proton"

I'd have to imagine Big Bang Theory's Sheldon Cooper would have loved Mr. Wizard's World or Beakman's World if he were real, as his favorite small-screen personality was the science educator Professor Proton (real name: Arthur Jeffries). For viewers, Proton's excellence was naturally due to comedy legend Bob Newhart being cast. And you can't forget his puppet pal Gino the Neutrino, even if it's best not to bring up the puppeteer.

Parks And Recreation - "The Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show"

Chris Pratt's Andy Dwyer brought Johnny Karate to life initially as a guitar-playing act for children's birthday parties, but that just wasn't musical or explosive enough, so of course he got his own inspirational TV show. Johnny may have been a doofus, but alter-alter ego Jonathan Karate is the one who has it all together.

Rocko's Modern LIfe - "Meet The Fatheads"

Within Rocko's Modern Life, the Bigheads' lives were fictionalized as The Fatheads, a family sitcom centered on pretty awful and stereotypical characters. Amusingly enough, the revival special Static Cling also featured the in-universe revival of The Fatheads, which not everyone was a fan of.

Home Improvement - "Tool Time"

One of TV's ultimate "How-Not-To" characters, Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor somehow kept his job hosting the Detroit-set series "Tool Time," despite being shockingly consistent at destroying property and electrical equipment with ease. It's just as shocking that co-host Al Borland didn't quit or suffer grave injuries during that run.

Only Murders In The Building - "Brazzos"

No one remembers the detective series "Brazzos" as well as Only Murders in the Building's Charles-Haden Savage, the actor who donned the iconic hat for its surprisingly long run. (Okay, perhaps his loyal stunt double Sazz remembered it just as fondly.) But who else could have spun these banal words into an oft-ish-repeated catchphrase: "This sends the investigation into a whole new direction." So many new directions for this guy.

Rugrats - "Oodles The Talking Poodle"

As an avid Rugrats fan during the NickToons era, it's been 30+ years since I've been able to hear the world "poodle" without hearing a light "ding" behind it, as it goes in the talking dog's theme song. "OOdles. OOdles the TALking POOdle. Ding." How is this not a movie by now?

Stargate SG-1 - "Wormhole X-Treme"

While Stargate SG-1 didn't always show off its funny bone so directly, the self-spoofing 100th episode "Wormhole X-Treme," which focuses on the action-geared sci-fi series that provided the ep's title. I wish every show I love had a parody as faithful and fan-friendly as this one.

The Simpsons - "The Krusty The Clown Show"

If not for Krusty the Clown's quality-questionable variety show, Bart, Lisa and Simpsons fans around the world might never have been introduced to the hyperviolent "Itchy and Scratchy Show," which superceded its own source clown's popularity, with former sidekick Sideshow Bob amassing more notoriety.

Murderbot - "The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon"

It's easy to see why Alexander Skarsgård's sentient SecUnit just wants to spend all day, all 397 (at least) episodes of the sudsy space opera "The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon." With legit talents like John Cho, Clark Gregg and DeWanda Wise heading up the How to Get Away with Murder-esque series, this is easily worthy of a standalone spinoff to keep viewers rapt.

Young Justice - "Hello, Megan!"

Who knew superheroes would get into such normalcy as the sitcom "Hello, Megan!" A by-the-books sitcom from 1979-1980, the show follows a pretty cheerleader, her BFF, hunky boyfriend, and parents, and not even for large-scale adventures, but just everyday plots like taking care of the school frog. Okay, fine, I completely understand why everyone is obsessed.

Channel Zero - "Candle Cove"

The worst kind of TV show, I think we can all agree, is one that inevitably brings you harm just by watching it. So it goes for the first season of the excellent horror anthology Channel Zero, where "Candle Cove" is a pirate-based puppet show that may only exist in the minds of its viewers. Watch out for The Skin-Taker, that's all I'm saying.

Steven Universe - Crying Breakfast Friends

If you don't know the value of watching "Crying Breakfast Friends," then I don't suggest mentioning it to Steven Universe's titular crystal being. He adores watching the various food items, leaking both tears of joy and tears of sorrow. Glum Glass and Weeping Egg Cup are all of us, really.

Supernatural - "Ghostfacers"

Supernatural, a show that legitimately crossed over with the animated Scooby-Doo gang, brought an equally silly spin to the never-ending number of paranormal investigator series that took over cable in the 21st century. Founded by the Ghostbusters-homaging Harry Spangler and Ed Zeddmore, the Ghostfacers appeared quite a few times over the years, and even sparked a web series of shorts.

BoJack Horseman - "Horsin' Around"

For as dramatically serious and maudlin as BoJack Horseman could get, none of that was to be found in the cornball hijinks of the in-series sitcom "Horsin' Around," centering on three kids adopted by a horse, obviously. It fights right alongside fare like Punky Brewster, with a slew of wonderfully groan-worthy lines perhaps best exemplified by the pun "Now, that's a horse of a different...crueller."

Twin Peaks - "Invitation To Love"

Oh, to explore around inside David Lynch's brain to see all of the things he might have been thinking about for the expertly crafted soap opera "Invitation to Love," which was a favorite amongst some of the characters inhabiting Twin Peaks' titular town. The fact that the storylines reference the characters' lives only makes it more interesting.

Seinfeld - "Jerry"

While Seinfeld's show-within-a-show "Jerry" really only existed as a pilot and not as a fully ordered network-aired series, given the actions of its characters, its ridiculous plot is enough to make it one of the more memorable faux TV series out there. Jerry gets into a car accident, and the other insurance-less driver has to become Jerry's butler, making "Because he's MY butler" one of the more logically accurate fake TV catchphrases.

Family Guy - "Jolly Farm Revue"

With an aesthetic that mashed up the Teletubbies with other pastoral children's fare, Family Guy's faux UK series "Jolly Farm Revue" became an obsession of Stewie's, as he believed its characters actually existed, only to find them to be less real than his teddy bear Rupert. I prefer the American remake with that li'l cutie Karina Smirnoff.

Arrested Development - "Mock Trial With J. Reinhold"

Arrested Development's melting pot of humor is well-exemplified by Michael Bluth having a legal case heard as part of a courtroom reality show fronted by Judge Reinhold (who definitely isn't a real judge), with a theme song sung live on-set by William Hung and a backing band. Should this have turned into an actual series? "I'm going to allow it," even if it pretty much rips on a gag from Clerks: the Animated Series.

SpongeBob SquarePants - "Mermaid Man And Barnacle Boy"

Not only was the superhero series "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy" a fun show-within-a-show for SpongeBob SquarePants' characters, but the titular characters were a treat outside of their televised exploits as well. For one, they were originally voiced by legends Ernest Bornine and Tim Conway, and later boasted '60s Batman icons Adam West and Burt Ward in the respective hero and sidekick roles at one point or another.

30 Rock - "MILF Island"

A fake TV show that will likely exist before this sentence is finished, 30 Rock's reality TV-aping romance competition MILF Island was sold with the disturbing tagline "25 Super-Hot Moms, 50 Eighth Grade Boys, No Rules." Okay, maybe we should just keep this one hidden behind a locked door back in 2008.

Lost - "Exposé"

Lost's storylines didn't just flash backwards, forwards and sideways. They also went internal for the show-within-a-show Exposé, a '70s-esque action-adventure series in which Kiele Sanchez's Nikki was guest-starring. (With Billy Dee Williams as the lead of the faux show.) We see just enough to make me want more, although that would never happen, as audiences' dislike of Nikki and Rodrigo Santoro's Paolo was strong enough to get them killed off during the same season in which they were introduced.

DuckTales - "Ottoman Empire"

A TV parody that is too close to the real thing to be entirely comedic, DuckTales' "Ottoman Empire" centers on two twin rooster brothers, Johnny and Randy, who design custom ottomans for customers. It's like Property Brothers with a punnier title, and you know, roosters.

Drake And Josh - "Drew And Jerry"

Drake & Josh entered sitcom doppelgänger territory in Season 2 when Drake Bell and Josh Peck's namesake characters took a friendly break from each other, only to befriend someone else with the exact same personality. By the end, the titular teens were buds again, while their "others" were somehow given their own TV show that looks exactly like D&J. Presumably with its own Season 2 doppelgänger plot.

My Name Is Earl - "Estrada Or Nada"

We're at a point where real-life game shows are about as ridiculous as anything fictional, but My Name Is Earl's "Estrada or Nada" is still pretty special. Basically, anyone can challenge the CHiPs star to any imaginable challenge, from shooting basketballs to eating hot dogs to looking like Erik Estrada.

Futurama - "Everybody Loves Hynotoad"

I love Hypnotoad. You love Hypnotoad. Everybody loves Hypnotoad. Everybody loves Hypnotoad. Good show.

Garfield & Friends - "The Binky Show"

Hey, kids! No fake TV clown seemed quite as intent on waking everyone in the hosue up as Garfield & Friends' Binky the Clown, whose show seemed to be on at literally all hours. Because it was of such high production value, I can only assume.

Despite kicking off its latest season — #27, astoundingly enough — nearly two months ago on July 23, the button-pushing and politics-satirizing animated comedy has only aired four episodes thus far, and the creators’ plan to air episodes every other week is already taking a hit, with another delay to look forward to in place of this week’s new episode. But there’s a silver lining, if it can be fully believed.

Comedy Central announced on Wednesday, September 17, that its viewers will be waiting a bit longer for the next highly anticipated outing from Trey Parker and Matt Stone. At the time of this writing, South Park is now set to return with its fifth episode on September 24, marking the halfway point of Season 27’s 10-installment run.

What’s more, the network revealed the new current goal for how the rest of Season 27’s releases are going to slot. Below is the rundown of those dates, which are sticking to the mostly bimonthly approach once the mid-October episode hits following another three-week delay.

• Wednesday, September 24th
• Wednesday, October 15th
• Wednesday, October 29th
• Wednesday, November 12th
• Wednesday, November 26th
• Wednesday, December 10th

If nothing else, this delayed fifth episode and the following gap will hopefully give Parker and Stone enough time to get all the balls rolling in the right direction, and then to get rid of those balls so that they can get back to the actual animation. Who let all those balls in here, anyway?

Matt Stone and Trey Parker shared a statement along with the delay news, explaning the reasoning with:

Nothing wrong with taking the hit and being up front about what went wrong, and I'm not sure what else they could have said that would have made any sense. "Matt's hands turned into pumpkins after midnight all week," might work, with the right people listening.

But really, doesn't it seem kind of strange for Comedy Central to confirm release dates for the back half of Season 27 in the same announcement where Parker and Stone freely admit to not being able to finish an episode on time? I'm not doubting their abilities to stay on schedule for the rest of the season or anything, but if there was ever a time to....

It could very well be that the fifth episode is a beast that required a lot more work than usual, possibly due to beloved characters being brought back for special stories, or perhaps due to an abundance of new locations and characters that required more design work. Or maybe everyone involved was just a little more tired than usual.

Whatever the reason, here's hoping this is the last example of it ahead of the hiatus before Season 28. So again, be sure to tune into Comedy Central (or a Paramount+ subscription) on Wednesday, September 24, to see the kids from South Park back in action.

Those watching South Park Season 27 likely know by now that the series has heavily leaned on targeting the current President of the United States and his administration. So far, Vice President J.D. Vance has responded to how he's portrayed as has Director of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. As far as we can tell, it seems Matt Stone and Trey Parker's show is far from finished dishing out political commentary.

South Park has thrived due to being culturally relevant and parodying real-life events. Now, the writers are bringing back one of the most beloved SP characters to take another jab at the current political landscape. It looks like fans are in for another buzzworthy episode of the Comedy Central series, as that specifc character will be visiting the White House.

Towelie Is Visiting Washington D.C. In The Latest Episode

Prepare yourself, fans, because Towelie is back. Longtime viewers are likely aware that the character is a talking towel, who made his debut on South Park back during Season 5.

The notion of Towelie reappearing on the show isn't as far-fetched, since he's been a partner of Randy Marsh during his whole arc as a weed farmer running Tegridy Farms. I can't help but wonder if that's why the anthropomorphic cloth is headed to Washington in this latest episode, "Sickofancy." Or there's also the chance he's just going to remind everyone of when and where they should be using a towel.

South Park Will Seemingly Continue To Focus On President Donald Trump And Other Political Events

I don't think it should be much of a surprise at this point, but it doesn't seem as though South Park is going to let up on poking fun at the Trump administration. The series has lived on by utilizing satire, and Deadline recently reported it shattered its season premiere record for viewership by a wide margin this year.

With so many people reportedly turning into Comedy Central or using a Paramount+ subscription to watch the show to see what South Park will do next, I expect creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker to continue to push the envelope. Some may wonder how the powers that be at the newly formed Paramount Skydance Corporation feel about the show skewering real people. However, CEO David Ellison doesn't have a problem with it and is a fan of the long-running animated series.

As for what this episode may drill down on, a quick clip of the episode seemed to highlight the recent headlines of military presence in Washington D.C. The title "Sickofancy," appears to be a play on the actual word sycophancy. Maybe that means that Towelie is headed to Washington in order to make a request of someone in the White House?

As for what that could be, there are only two causes it seems that Towelie cares about. One, is that people use towels and make sure to stay dry but, of course, he also loves marijuana. I'm not sure how either of those would play into his visiting the White House but, fortunately, we don't have to wait long for an answer.

South Park airs its new episode on Wednesday, August 20th at 10:00 p.m. ET. Tune in and, later, we'll see if it spurs any emphatic reactions from fans or the White House.

The first time I saw The Aristocrats was an experience I’ll never forget. I saw it at the old United Artists Theater in Union Square in New York City, so, in honor of the movie turning 20 years old this week, I fired up my Prime subscription to figure out which of the many versions of the dirtiest and funniest Aristocrats jokes are my favorites.

When I saw the documentary, directed by Penn Gillette and Paul Provenza, and featuring dozens of comedians and actors, it was the first, and to date only, time I’ve ever seen people actually falling out of their chairs laughing. It was, frankly, the funniest movie I’ve ever seen in theaters. So, without further ado, a family walks into a talent agent's office and tells the seven funniest versions of The Aristocrats.

Cartman Goes Way Off The Deep End On South Park

Without question, the funniest take on the Aristocrats, in my opinion, is the ridiculously over-the-top version that Cartman tells the other South Park guys. It starts with the traditional telling of a family walking into a talent agent’s office, but by the end, there are victims of 9/11 involved. I saw this movie in New York City, so I saw firsthand just how shocking and, honestly, hilarious everyone in the theater found it, in the one city where you might expect people to think it had gone too far. It didn’t, and it ranks up there near the top with the best episodes of South Park, ever.

Bob Saget Gets Really Dirty

It’s old news that the late, great Bob Saget was an incredibly dirty comedian, defying expectations from fans of his TV shows like Full House and America’s Funniest Home Videos. I’ll admit, at the time, I didn’t know just how filthy Saget could get in his standup. I certainly understood after seeing his version of the joke, which he tells, without getting to the punchline, just minutes before hitting the stage. He does give us all the disclaimer that he doesn’t endorse or condone anything that happens in his version of the joke.

Billy The Mime Quietly Cracks Me Up

One of the most interesting takes on the joke comes from Billy the Mime, played by comedian Steven Banks. As a mime would, he performs the entire joke in silence, acting out every dirty bit of the story on the street. By this point in the movie, everyone understands the joke, and so every position and mime that Billy does lands silently, but brilliantly. At that point in the doc, there is no sound at all; only the laughter of the audience makes up the soundtrack.

Gilbert Gottfried Is The GOAT

Gilbert Gottfried was so good at telling the joke that he got two versions into the movie. The first time audiences see Gottfried, he’s sitting at a table in what looks like an office boardroom, saying the most outrageous things. In true Gottfried fashion, he’s unafraid to be as disgusting as humanly possible. With no live audience, he kills it.

The second time we see the late, great Gottfried is when we learn that his telling of the joke on stage at the Hugh Hefner Friar’s Club Roast is quite possibly what inspired Gillette and Provenza to tell the story. It was incredibly rare (and still is) to see a comedian tell the joke on stage, but Gottfried goes for it, and it’s so wonderfully dirty and hilarious that, like the audience I saw the movie with originally, it has Rob Schneider literally on the floor in laughter. It very well may be the definitive version of The Aristocrats joke.

Kevin Pollack Channels Christopher Walken

I think sometimes people forget that before he became one of the most prolific character actors in Hollywood with roles in blockbusters like A Few Good Men, The Usual Suspects, Casino, and Grumpy Old Men, Kevin Pollack started his career as a stand-up comedian. His impressions are well known from his appearances on talk shows, and one of his best is Christopher Walken. In telling The Aristocrats as though he were first told the joke by Walken himself, Pollack has one of the very best moments in the movie. It’s one of the shorter versions, but it’s outstanding.

Sarah Silverman Makes It Personal

One way to tell the joke is by putting yourself in the middle of the action, so to speak. That’s how Sarah Silverman does it. In her words, she was “an Aristocrat.” She’s not embarrassed by it, nor does she wish to make a big deal out of it, again, in her words. The things that are described as part of her own family’s act are just as outrageous as anyone else’s in the documentary, and her deadpan delivery is pitch-perfect. Her punchline, which I won’t repeat here, reportedly almost got her sued by Joe Franklin.

Eric Mead Lays His Cards On The Table

I’m a total sucker for card tricks and sleight-of-hand magic, so watching magician Eric Mead’s close-up magic version of the joke is really special. Sure, it’s not the funniest version of it in the film, but it almost certainly took the most practice. It’s brilliantly done, and it’s one I can watch over and over and still not understand how he does all the tricks.

It’s versions like Mead’s that make The Aristocrats such a great documentary, and not just a series of comedians telling increasingly dirtier versions of the joke. Like Steven Banks as Billy The Mime, or one telling I didn’t mention here, Rita Rudner telling her “clean” version (which ends with a dirty punchline), it’s the great variations that make the movie (and joke) so funny.

There are so many amazing moments in the movie I couldn’t even get to here, like Robin Williams telling it on the beach in Northern California, juxtaposed with Drew Carey telling a similar version. Mario Cantone’s impression of Liza Minnelli doing it is also amazing. There isn’t a dull moment in the whole documentary. The Aristocrats might not be for everyone, but it’ll always be one of my favorites.

Trigger warning: This story features a clip that depicts fictionalized gun violence and animal cruelty.

South Park’s creative team hasn’t pulled many punches when it comes to Season 27 thus far. The long-running animated series, which has made headlines on various occasions over the years, has already featured parodies of several high-profile political figures throughout its two latest episodes. Among the people to be lampooned is Kristi Noem – the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security who’s been referred to as “ICE Barbie.” Noem wasn’t pleased with how she was depicted, but it seems the show has now doubled down.

During the episode “Got a Nut,” Kristi Noem is depicted as a member of ICE (United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement). The animated version of the public official is shown arresting people who she perceives as Hispanic, and she also kills dogs indiscriminately. Additionally, the cartoon version of Noem is particular about her appearance, as she not only engages in photo ops but also uses botox to prevent her face from melting.

After the real U.S. secretary chastised South Park, the series didn’t hold back from further showing off its take on her. The series’ official Instagram account shared an alternate version of the second episode’s end-credits scene, which was only available to Paramount+ subscription holders up to this point. During it, Noem is shown shooting up a dog-grooming salon. Below, from X, is that very scene, which Comedy Central watchers didn’t see:

That’s not the only way that South Park seems to be going all in on its critique of Kristi Noem. As of this writing, the show’s official Instagram account features a still of the animated Noem’s melting face as its profile photo. While reacting to the parody, the actual Noem took issue with the fact that the series would “criticize” her looks as opposed to simply chastising her job. Noem summed up the entire creative decision as “petty.”

By this point, the homeland security head honcho isn’t the only public official to have reacted to being parodied during a Season 27 episode. A version of U.S. Vice President JD Vance was featured in the season’s second installment and depicted as a physically diminutive assistant to President Donald Trump. Upon seeing a photo of his face, superimposed on a small animated body, Vance responded on social media by saying, “Well, I’ve finally made it.”

This latest season of South Park has also critiqued President Trump in a few ways. In the premiere, a fictionalized version of Trump is depicted as taking issue with the eponymous town, and the small character is later seen getting into bed with the Devil. Another segment from that same installment shows a video of a naked Trump roaming around the desert. The White House issued a response (shared with USA Today) and declared that “the show hasn't been relevant for over 20 years.”

Despite the flood of reactions from the likes of the White House and Kristi Noem, Paramount doesn’t seem to take issue with Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s fan-favorite show, which is still a major IP for the company. Its newly installed CEO, David Ellison, praised the series and its creators, calling them “equal opportunity offenders.” That aside, following the reveal of the Noem caricature and its subsequent virality, it remains to be seen what lies ahead for the rest of the season.

South Park returns with a new episode on Wednesday, August 13, and it’ll air at 10 p.m. ET. Also, be sure to check out the 2025 TV schedule details on other shows set to premiere later this year.

I’ve been a Primus fan for longer than South Park has been a show. Now that Season 27 of the legendary cartoon has started on the 2025 TV schedule (and started in true South Park fashion with a controversial episode), I’ve been seeing a lot of clips come up in my social media feed, and one of those features Primus’ fearless leader, Les Claypool, talking about the recording of the theme song. It turns out, the version at the end of each episode was supposed to be the opening theme. Here’s what happened.

The Original Idea Was The Slower Version

Recently, Claypool sat down for an interview with YouTuber Rick Beato, and while the full interview has not yet been released on Beato’s channel, the record producer did drop part of it as a YouTube short. In the video, Beato asks Claypool how it came about, and Claypool tells him,

That slower, more plodding version of the song heard as the end credits roll is the version Primus recorded. The crazy thing is, that’s the only version they recorded. Claypool explains that Comedy Central thought the theme song was too slow. Rather than re-record the song, which Claypool says Primus didn’t have time for, he told them to “speed it up.”

Of course, it’s not like the song sounds like the Chipmunks singing, so Claypool did have to re-record the vocals. So Parker and Stone went to a Primus show and had Claypool record it on the spot, as Claypool explains,

Before doing the recording, Claypool and the other guys in Primus weren’t convinced the show would work anyway, hence their reluctance to let it take too much of their time, but it turns out that speeding it up was the best thing they could have done, as the driving twang is perfect for the subversive comedy.

Primus Was The Only Music Trey Parker And Matt Stone Could Agree On

The whole reason Primus was even asked to do the theme was, according to Claypool, because the quirky trio was the only band that Parker and Stone were both happy listening to. Claypool tells Beato,

It’s hard to imagine any other band fitting the vibe of South Park, and its many outrageous episodes, quite like Primus and their weird, unique, off-kilter sound. The theme song has even become a fan favorite among Primus fans, which isn’t always the case with artists who do theme songs. The show, like the band, is not like anything else, and it’s truly a match made in South Park hell, in the best way. After a short break, South Park is back with more from its latest season.

Now in its 27th season, South Park remains a notable TV show, and it continues to make headlines for a myriad of reasons. With the show, series creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker have long sought to satirize political and social topics. However, the latest episodes have drawn backlash from the White House and more. Considering the blowback, some may wonder whether Paramount execs have a problem with the show. Now, the aforementioned conglomerate’s new CEO is sharing his own thoughts on the series.

What Did Paramount’s Head Honcho Say About The Long-Running Animated Series?

In the aftermath of the merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media, David Ellison is now the CEO of the newly formed Paramount Skydance Corporation. It’s been rumored that Ellison, a billionaire, is ready to make changes within the company, specifically when it comes to the content it produces. However, based on the comments that Ellison shared about South Park, he’s quite pleased with the program. The exec even admitted to CNN that he’s long been a fan of the show while also praising its producers:

The comments about the co-creators being “equal opportunity offenders” seems to be the CEO opining that the creative team skewers a wide array of people despite their personal or political leanings. David Ellison’s comments notably arrive in the aftermath of Paramount settling a $16 million lawsuit with U.S. President Donald Trump, which was connected to 60 Minutes. That suit was also viewed by financial analysts as being the final issue that needed to be resolved before the merger could move forward.

Some have also speculated that the lawsuit is also connected to the cancellation of The Late Show, as host Stephen Colbert openly criticized his bosses’ decision to settle. The Writers Guild has since called for an investigation into the matter. Also, when CNN asked the Paramount Skydance CEO about whether he personally agreed for the network to air ads that highlight causes backed by President Trump, he said the following:

As David Ellison holds onto that particular stance, South Park’s new season continues to play out. Only two episodes have aired as of this writing, though they’ve been much discussed at this point.

What’s Been Done On South Park Season 27 So Far, And What Have The Responses Been Like?

The Season 27 premiere of South Park lampooned President Trump in multiple ways. Said installment includes a Trump character (with the president’s real face superimposed on a cartoon body). At one point during the episode, that caricature gets in bed with the Devil, a recurring character on the show. In addition, there’s also a live-action scene in which Trump – who’s depicted as being nude– traversing a desert. The White House responded to the parodies with a statement through which officials derided the show.

Aside from the emphasis on POTUS, the series lampooned U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who was depicted as a short assistant to Donald Trump during the second episode. Vance himself later responded to the cartoon with just five words, ‘Well, I’ve finally made it.’ Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was parodied as well, as the latest episode depicted her as an ICE agent arresting people, shooting dogs and using botox. While she admitted to having not seen the episode, Noem expressed disapproval of the parody.

Considering the negative reactions to some of the material within the newest episodes of South Park, it remains to be seen if David Ellison will hold onto his positive viewpoint of the show. As noted by CNN, though, the show remains a profitable IP for Paramount. The next episode is set to hit Comedy Central on Wednesday, August 13 at 10 p.m. ET amid the 2025 TV schedule.

Only two episodes of South Park Season 27 have premiered amid the 2025 TV schedule, but the long-running animated series has already caused quite a stir. Series creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker along with their colleagues have been diving deep into political and social commentary with these new episodes. On that note, the latest installment of the show took shots at Kristi Noem, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. Now, Noem is sharing thoughts, and she’s not holding back about being trolled.

A version of Kristi Noem – who some have referred to as “ICE Barbie” – is featured heavily in the South Park episode “Got a Nut.” This iteration of Noem is depicted as an overzealous agent of ICE (United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement), who leads a series of raids. During those incursions, Noem is seen killing aggressive dogs and using botox on herself as necessary all while arresting citizens she believes to be Hispanic. The cartoon Noem also poses for photos and, during the show, her face is also depicted as melting.

The real U.S. secretary was asked about the parody while appearing as a guest on Glenn Beck’s radio show. Amid the interview (which is on YouTube), the government official admitted that she hadn’t seen the episode for herself due to being busy “going over budget numbers and stuff.” Nevertheless, she still took issue with the series (which is streamable with a Paramount+ subscription) making jokes about her looks:

Throughout South Park’s lengthy run, the writers and producers have parodied a myriad of public figures, including actors, politicians, musicians and more. Ultimately, the reactions to those spoofs can vary by person. Some have expressed disdain over how they’re portrayed on the show, while others don’t have as big a problem with it. While speaking with CinemaBlend, NFL legend John Elway even expressed an appreciation for the multiple times he’s been poked fun at on the show.

Such feelings haven’t been the case for those parodied on Season 27 thus far, though. The season premiere not only featured a Donald Trump character in bed with the Devil, but it also featured a video of a naked President Trump while in a desert. After that, the White House released a blistering statement with which it derided Comedy Central’s much-discussed show. U.S. Vice President JD Vance was also parodied, with a photo of his face being superimposed onto a diminutive body. Vance responded on social media by simply saying, “Well, I’ve finally made it.”

Considering South Park’s history and the vibe of this latest season, it may be fair to assume that the writers aren’t done skewering public figures with these latest episodes. The series’ version of President Trump now seems set to be a recurring character of sorts. As for the show’s version of Kristi Noem, it remains to be seen whether she’ll be featured again after the latest episode ended with her shooting up a dog grooming salon.

The third episode of South Park Season 27 is set to air on Comedy Central on Wednesday, August 13 at 10 p.m. ET. Also, fans can stream that episode the next day on Paramount+.

It often feels like nobody is safe from being parodied on Comedy Central's South Park, with the long-running animated series now having the potential for a broader audience via viewers with a Paramount+ subscription. After making President Donald Trump the butt of the now-viral joke in the Season 27 premiere, a character based on Vice President JD Vance has debuted, and the real-life VP shared his reaction.

The episode didn't animate JD Vance from head to toe, but like the version of Donald Trump from late July, added a real-life photo of the man himself on top of an animated body. In this case, a very small body wearing a white suit, bow tie, and standing next to a much taller version of the President. On X (formerly known as Twitter), Vance posted his response:

It's a pretty measured response to how he was portrayed on South Park Season 27, and differs from the much longer official statement from The White House (via USA Today) about President Trump's portrayal in the Season 27 premiere. The show made it clear ahead of time that it wasn't done with portraying Trump on the show, but Vance wasn't a sure thing. Both parodies of the POTUS and VP were included in the moment from the latest episode, seen below:

It remains to be seen how long people will be buzzing about this portrayal of JD Vance, as even the viral moment featuring the animation of Donald Trump isn't the only funny moment from the premiere to have viewers talking. With nearly 30 years of episodes, it will be interesting to see if either of the first couple of Season 27 installments will rank among the most outrageous South Park episodes in the long term. The show arguably has a higher profile now than most of its earlier seasons thanks to its availability streaming. Several specials from the franchise are also available.

This certainly isn't the first time that the show has taken shots at Presidents, including Barack Obama and George W. Bush. South Park's unique longevity (and famously very quick turnaround in making new episodes in under a week over 20+ season) means that it's able to take those shots at politicians a lot sooner than many other shows, and I'd be surprised if we don't see more of these parody versions of President Trump and JD Vance in future episodes of Season 27.

And you can find out soon! New episodes of South Park Season 27 air on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on Comedy Central, and are available streaming on Paramount+ as well. If you want to revisit the earliest days of South Park (when Bill Clinton was the President and Donald Trump was nearly two decades away from the White House), you can find every episode going back to Season 1 from 1997 on the streamer as well.

South Park ranks up there relatively high when it comes to the 2025 TV shows that I happen to love the most. I didn’t always watch it, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve developed a profound respect for the series since somehow, despite so many shows getting cancelled, South Park continues its twenty-seven season-long reign – and most likely will continue beyond that.

But a part of me is beginning to think that South Park is seriously trying to get itself cancelled with some of its takes lately. I’m not going to go into the absolutely obvious because I’m sure everyone and their mother has seen it. Still, there’s one other take in the first episode of Season 27 that I really want to talk about – and it’s one I have personal opinions on. Let’s get into it.

The Latest Season Of South Park Has Been Funny

So while there’s only been one episode of South Park Season 27 so far, I can already tell this is going to be a hilarious stint just from the first episode. I mean, we have to talk about the elephant in the room – addressing the current President of the United States in that matter sort of harkens back to the older days of South Park.

That’s right, I’m talking about the most outrageous South Park episodes ever. This is undoubtedly going to be an interesting season.

That’s really besides the point, though. I feel like this season is going to be funny for a myriad of reasons. The creators – Trey Parker and Matt Stone – not only took a break this past week, but really this past year. They didn’t even bother to release a season during the 2024 Presidential cycle because they saw what happened to the series during the 2016 and 2020 runs and decided not to participate in that nonsense again.

And honestly, good for them. I would be the same way. That kind of stuff always drives people bonkers. But now, they’ve been ruminating on this new material for a year, and I can only imagine what is going to happen in this upcoming season because it’s going to be hilarious and epic and everything else you can imagine under the sun.

However, there is one aspect of the first episode that I think they did a hilarious take on – and one that’s a little harrowing as well.

But The Show's Take On How AI Has Become More Of A Chatbot Rather Than A Resource Is Frightening - And Hilarious

So the central premise of the episode is that Jesus is being placed back in schools, literally placed back inside school buildings. The actual figure of Christ is a character once more this season. Randy, confused about why Jesus is being left in schools, asks an AI assistance app on his phone – most likely referencing ChatGPT – if Jesus is supposed to be in schools.

Obviously, the Chatbot gives him the AI answer he was looking for, and then he goes on to say how thankful he is to have someone to talk to about this when his wife is literally right there in bed next to him.

I’m going to be honest, I burst out laughing watching this. As someone who has seen the constant rise in AI, I was not expecting South Park to portray how people view specific AI bots online so accurately.

It is almost like an epidemic. I have also been prone to sometimes randomly ask ChatGPT questions about things I have – like how to cook a certain steak to the right temperature, because I was too lazy to look up a recipe on the best cooking channels. Or, you know, read a recipe book.

But I’ve also heard of a lot of people who have moved towards ChatGPT and some of these other AI assistant tools, almost as therapists, talking about their problems to them, and seeing what they say. The bots are just a conglomeration of the entire internet. I’m sure they’re pulling actual resources from therapists or websites.

However, it’s a fact that these bots write and sound like some humans would, and sometimes, they sound like they make sense. So, of course, some people would get attached and feel as if they have “someone” to talk to when in reality, it’s making humans more separate than ever.

It was such a quick moment in the episode, when the entire new season has been focused on the president and woke culture. But Randy showed the rise in it perfectly.

Out Of Everyone That Could Get Attached, Randy Is Who I Most Likely See

There are a few other people I could see getting attached to a chatbot like ChatGPT in South Park, but Randy does stand out as the victor.

Cartman could, if we’re being truthful. Cartman has been a nice guy a few times in the past and has had his moments, but he also speaks to his Alexa pretty consistently. I could easily see him getting addicted to ChatGPT or something like that. Maybe even Butters because he’s so vulnerable. But Randy? Oh yeah, that hits.

He’s the kind of person who, even though he has a wife to speak to, is pretty alone and often doesn’t listen to others, and is quite stubborn. Of course, he would cater to a chatbot that will lean his way no matter what unless he programs it not to be. Which Randy won’t do, let’s be real here.

Heck, this is lasting as long with him as this whole Tegridy Farms nonsense has. We could see Randy falling for a chatbot.

It Reminds Me Of The Movie Her In A Way - And I'm Curious About Where The Season Will Go From There

That one scene actually got me excited, because it reminded me of the movie Her, starring Joaquin Phoenix. The film is literally about a man falling in love with a chatbot, and it feels like we’re getting eerily close to that becoming a reality.

But hey, if South Park wants to make a joke out of using Randy, I’m here for it. I think in order to deal with the constant changes of our environment and the world around us, laughter is the best medicine. And I, for one, am going to laugh my head off watching Randy and seeing how he interacts with these bots as the season progresses. I’m all here for it.

With a new episode of South Park coming out today, I’m eager to see what they have up their sleeve next, as long as I don’t have to see a tiny, ah…human appendage again. That was enough for one episode.

The 2025 TV schedule has been dominated by headlines surrounding the friction between Donald Trump and the family of Paramount networks. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s cancellation, as well as the South Park’s Season 27 premiere, are two of the most recent examples of that disagreement at work. While some may have thought this subject was merely fuel for a season opener, it appears that creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker are just warming up on this front.

South Park’s Next Episode Hits On August 6, And It’s Doubling Down

Fans of Comedy Central’s legacy comedy series are unfortunately going to have to wait a little longer for the next episode of the current season. If you were expecting to see how South Park is going to follow up on its current shenanigans, you’ll have to wait until next Wednesday (or Thursday, if you’re following through your Paramount+ subscription.)

However, you can get a taste of what’s coming, thanks to the official clip teasing how Eric Cartman is handling the “death of Woke”:

Not only does South Park seem to be continuing its satirical relationship between Donald Trump and Satan, but Cartman looks like he’s ready to get back to stirring the pot himself. Parodying the viral debate clips you’ll see floating around on social media from time to time, the child seems to be in his element.

South Park is definitely no stranger to serialized storytelling, as noted in Season 20’s finale “The End of Serialization as We Know It.” Trey Parker’s Season 21 comments signaled that it was time to get back to “Cartman dressing up like a robot and [screwing] with Butters,” and for a while that seemed to be the case.

Between the clip shown above, and an easter egg fans have been discussing in Season 27’s premiere, “The Sermon on the ‘Mount,” the days of following a storyline might be back again. Which means that the Donald Trump jokes, and potential further mockery of the parent company broadcasting South Park, might be getting started.

Matt Stone And Trey Parker Hinted At South Park’s Trump Thread In The Season 27 Premiere

Going back to last week’s return of South Park, the now viral Donald Trump parody made waves with an actor that was altered by AI to look like the president. Before that segment even started, a faux bumper card was included promising a “Pro Donald Trump PSA,” which as you’ll see in the image above, appears to be one in a series.

A string of 50 “PSAs” seems like a very specific number, and that’s because it is! Thanks to the recent five-year renewal of South Park, the episode count on the books has Matt Stone and Trey Parker at work on 50 new episodes. The boys sure do know how to hold a grudge, as seen in past recurring gags like their lampooning of Phil Collins' 2000 Oscar win for Best Original Song.

What we've seen is only a peek at what's to come, which will continue to unfold on South Park Season 27; which returns on Wednesday, August 6th, at 10 PM ET. New episodes broadcast first on Comedy Central, and debut the day after on Paramount+, joining the 26 season library of classic antics.

CBS and its parent company, Paramount Global, have been making headlines for a few reasons lately. Weeks ago, the network announced the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, while Paramount aimed to finalize its merger with Skydance. All the while, execs were engaged in a back-and-forth over the streaming rights to South Park. While that situation was resolved, another one arose when the animated show skewered U.S. President Donald Trump. Colbert responded to the episode, too, and didn’t hold back.

What Happened On South Park And How Did Stephen Colbert React?

The delayed Season 27 premiere of South Park sees the eponymous town protesting the presence of Jesus in local schools, leading to the townspeople being sued by a caricature of President Trump for $5 billion. Amid the situation, the Jesus character makes reference to a lawsuit involving Paramount (as the company just settled a $16 million suit with Trump in real life). Jesus eventually warns the townspeople about not suffering a fate similar to the one “Colbert” faced at CBS, saying that “you guys got to stop being stupid.”

Ultimately, the town settles and starts to produce Trump-centric PSAs, with one of those ads taking the form of a deepfake of a nude Trump stumbling in the desert. On top of that, the animated Trump character – who has POTUS’ actual head superimposed on him – is also seen getting in bed with Satan. The White House eventually responded to the episode, expressing significant disapproval of it. Stephen Colbert reacted to the episode on his show while talking about Trump’s executive order to de-regulate AI, with the host saying:

The “check it out right here” refers to the QR code that was dropped at the bottom of the screen amid the broadcast (part of which was shared on YouTube). Said code linked to a site called HeTrumpedUs.com, which featured the clip. All in all, this marks yet another instance in which the Late Show host has mocked the President and by extension, his employers.

What’s Been Going On With The Late Show Amid The Cancellation Drama?

The Late Show’s cancellation was announced earlier this month, and Stephen Colbert himself addressed it while on air as well. CBS said the show was to be canceled due to “financial” reasons. However, some insiders and public figures have questioned the timing of the decision. The cancellation was announced after Colbert criticized the network for settling the lawsuit with President Trump. Also, the suit was viewed by analysts as the last obstacle preventing Paramount Global from finalizing its merger with Skydance.

Since then, reactions from Jimmy Kimmel, Bowen Yang and more have surfaced, with many celebrities expressing disappointment of the cancellation of the long-running talk show. The series’ OG host, David Letterman, responded as well as did one of his former producers, with both expressing skepticism over the true reasoning for the decision. Andy Cohen also believes the network is “cooked” as a result of its decision to conclude the program in May 2026.

All the while, Stephen Colbert hasn’t held back in chastising his employers or the U.S. president. It’s been alleged that execs aren’t happy with Colbert’s comments and are also concerned about him possibly divulging unflattering information about the company. That aside, it’s said that the Late Night crew is disappointed by the demise of the show. As the 2025 TV schedule pushes on, the public will have to wait and see whether Colbert and South Park continue to take jabs at their employers and/or President Trump.

How To Watch South Park Season 27 Online

Watch South Park Season 27: Preview

After a long and tumultuous two-year wait, we’re going down to South Park for another batch of hilariously profane, controversy-baiting episodes ripped from the headlines – and then dipped in LSD. It’s the side-splitting tonic we all need right now, so prepare to join Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny for more outlandish misadventures as we explain below how to watch South Park Season 27 online and wherever you’re located.

There’s rarely a shortage of public figures or absurd world events to lampoon. Season 26 took aim at Jewish conspiracy theories, Kanye West’s antisemitic rants, the rise of AI software ChatGPT, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s vociferous insistence of their right to a private life. Ironically, one reason for this season delay was Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s decision to dodge comedy overkill surrounding the 2024 presidential election. And the wait has hardly left them lacking material. If anything, it seems as if there's more national crises and incompetence to satirize than ever before.

The Season 27 trailer, channeling HBO grit and The Last of Us-style gravitas, cheekily makes plain that the world is a bit of a dumpster fire right now. There’s havoc in the skies as Butters fails at being an air traffic controller, Randy Marsh announcing he’s off to “do some ketamine and f**k around with the government” in a savage swipe at Elon Musk, while all kinds of diplomatic spats are alluded to as the French seize the Statue of Liberty and Canada goes to war with its neighbour. And they’re not letting Sean “Diddy” Combs get away without ridicule, either, as the jumpsuit-wearing singer pursues Cartman and his friends through space in what looks to be some kind of fever dream.

Although the series’ streaming future was looking uncertain – the ongoing Skydance-Paramount merger and a lapsed licensing deal caused disarray for fans globally – Kenny and his friends aren't going anywhere. South Park creators Parker and Stone eventually inked a $1.5 billion streaming deal with Paramount that guarantees five more years and 50 additional episodes of the show!

Find out the best ways to watch South Park Season 27 online now with the following guide, and stream every episode from anywhere in the world – and potentially for free!

Watch South Park Season 27 online in the US

The hit animated satire returns! Cable subscribers in the US can watch South Park Season 27 on Comedy Central beginning Wednesday, July 23, with weekly episodes airing from 10pm ET/PT.

You can also watch South Park 2025 online through a number of live TV streaming services that include the Comedy Central channel, or on-demand with Paramount Plus:

Sling TV has a broad range of channels at an affordable price. Pick either the Sling Orange or Sling Blue plan, and if you’re a new subscriber, you’ll get 50% off your first month of membership (from $23 initially, or around $46 after the introductory offer).

Meanwhile, Philo, Hulu plus Live TV and Fubo TV all offer free trial periods of varying lengths. If you haven’t signed up previously, Philo provides a 7-days free access, after which you’ll pay $28 a month. Hulu plus Live TV comes with over a hundred channels and ad-supported Disney Plus and ESPN, but a higher price tag. There’s a 3-day free trial first, though, after which you’ll be billed $82.99 per month.

And then there’s Fubo. The comprehensive cable replacement service provides a 5-day free access promo to enjoy. Even better? There’s a discounted first month on the Pro and Elite plans, with Pro membership initially costing $64.99 before you start subsequent monthly payments of $84.99.

Meanwhile, Paramount Plus finally secured the streaming rights to all of South Park. That means new Season 27 episodes dropping every Thursday (the day after their Comedy Central debut), as well as all past seasons of South Park and its specials – with plans from $7.99 a month after the 7-day free trial for those new to the service.

Vacationing or working overseas and want to access your IPTV subscription as normal? Use a VPN to port yourself back to the States like so:

How to watch South Park Season 27 from anywhere

If you're a US citizen on vacation or working overseas, you can still watch South Park Season 27 just as you would at home.

While services like Sling TV and Hulu block access from IP addresses outside of the US, there's a handy piece of software called a VPN which can change your IP address to make it look like you're accessing streaming services from any country in the world.

For example, US citizens vacationing anywhere in the world can subscribe to a VPN, join a US-based server and watch South Park on your preferred streaming service from anywhere in the world.

How to use a VPN to unblock streaming services:

1. Choose your ideal VPN and install – our go-to recommendation for unblocking is NordVPN, costing from $3.99 a month with its 2-year plan

2. Connect to a server – for Sling TV, for example, you'll want to connect to a server based in the US

3. Go to the stream you wish to access - for South Park, pick a service like Hulu or Sling TV.

How to watch South Park Season 27 online in Canada

Those in Canada can watch South Park Season 27 weekly on cable via Comedy Central. Alternatively, the latest episodes will be uploaded to Paramount Plus to stream every Thursday. There's a 7-day free trial available (to new subscribers) after which a membership costs from CA$6.99 per month.

An American north of the border? Use a VPN to access the likes of Paramount Plus as you would back home.

How to watch South Park Season 27 online in the UK

The UK's Comedy Central channel will also air South Park Season 27, with episodes broadcast each Thursday from July 24 and at 10pm BST.

Don't have cable? After signing a $1.5 billion deal with Paramount, all new and old South Park episodes will be readily available on Paramount Plus globally. Stream every season of the R-rated animated comedy (and lots more!), with plans starting at £4.99 after you've enjoyed your 7-day free trial.

Currently traveling abroad? Those unable to access their usual services can download a VPN and stream their favorite TV shows while outside of the country, leaving them free to watch South Park like they would back home.

How to watch South Park Season 27 online in Australia

If you're an Aussie looking to watch South Park Season 27, you've got a few options. The returning series debuts episodes weekly on the 10 Comedy channel, beginning Thursday, July 24 at 10:30pm AEST. Alternatively, if you've cut the cord, you can stream episodes with a Paramount Plus subscription. There's a free trial for eligible members, after which time the service is charged at AU$6.99 a month.

NB: As mentioned above, those outside the States can purchase a VPN to access geo-blocked streaming services while traveling abroad.

South Park Season 27 Trailer

As South Park’s future on the 2025 TV schedule becomes increasingly more unclear in the controversial shadow of Skydance Media’s impending Paramount Global acquisition, one of the animated comedy’s biggest scandals from years past has returned to the limelight. Isaac Hayes III, son of the iconic musician who voiced fan-favorite character Chef for nine seasons, is now sharing what he says is the truth behind the actor’s highly publicized exit that came months after one of South Park’s most outrageous eps, the Scientology-skewering “Trapped in the Closet.”

The episode first aired in November 2005 to minimal backlash, and with Hayes having purposefully been left out of the creative process, as he’d been part of the Scientology community since the 1990s. A few months later, the icon behind Shaft’s theme suffered a stroke, which was itself soon followed by his statement-buttressed South Park resignation that essentially accused the show of religious bigotry. But Hayes III doesn’t buy that those were actually his father’s words.

Speaking with Cracked nearly a decade after he first questioned the plausibility of his father’s South Park departure, Hayes III says that his father was not in a medically sound state of mind at the time for such life-altering decisions to have been made. In his words:

Isaac Hayes III says there were multiple reasons to believe that his late father wouldn't have quit South Park on his own accord, and his financial situation played a big part in it. He continued:

With South Park popularity exploding and expanding throughout that first decade of its existence, Isaac Hayes' vocal and musical work as Chef allowed him to pull back from the struggles of having to go on tour so often. Hayes III said that in the aftermath of his stroke, without the show's income, his father was forced into facing the stresses of going back on the road, and he "100 percent" believes that having to tour again so quickly contributed heavily to the musician dying just two years later, in August 2008.

Isaac Hayes' Son Doesn't Think He Ever Would Have Intentionally Left The Show

Taking to X to share the interview, Hayes III made it clear that his dad had a blast voicing Chef over the years, and was both appreciative and welcoming of its fandom. To that end, he thinks the Oscar winner would still be a vital part of the South Park family had health issues and other factors not derailed things.

Around the time of Hayes' stroke and series exit, he didn't speak publicly very much about the series, leaving Stone and Parker to take the actors' statement at face value. Those then-unresolved frustrations led to another notoriously dark South Park episode, the Season 10 premiere "The Return of Chef," which utilized Hayes previously recorded dialogue as Chef became a brainwashed Scientology follower before being ruthlessly killed off.

Hayes III even says he understands that Stone and Parker put that story together while in the dark about what was actually happening, and that he understands "emotions were high." That said, he still doesn't think the way Chef's death made much sense in the scope of things.

Isaac Hayes Allegedly Wasn't Bothered At All By South Park's Content

Isaac Hayes III made it clear his father had an easy-going personality and sense of humor, and that he wasn't the kind of person who took offense to things that were clearly meant to be humorous, even when satire was involved. Which isn't to say he necessarily would have thrown South Park marathons on in his free time, but Hayes III said he was far more appreciative of the fandom Chef garnered than he ever was upset by the show's content. When asked if the show's Chef material aligned with his father's personality, he answered:

It's interesting that Isaac Hayes III has become so candid about his father's South Park legacy, and at a point when its future is in turmoil regarding a parent company that recently axed The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Perhaps it was only because someone reached out to him and asked for his thoughts, but I'm curious to see if anything interesting happens in the aftermath. Such as, perhaps obviously, the voice actor joining the show to pay homage to Chef in some way.

For now, fans can stream South Park's seasons with a Max subscription, while its' standalone streaming specials are still available to watch with a Paramount+ subscription.

There are so many fun, fake products in movies and TV. Sometimes, they become so iconic that they become real products. There are a few examples of that on this list of fake products from movies and TV shows, but most of them are just things we fondly remember from our favorite films and shows. So here it is, our list of just some of the best products we could come up with.

Apollo Bars - Lost

One of the things Lost did really well was building a world beyond the island. Apollo Bars were part of that world. The chocolate bars were seen all throughout the season, including when Hurley raided the pantry in the hatch when it was first discovered.

Big Kahuna Burger - Pulp Fiction

Quentin Tarantino has done a really cool job over his career, not only inventing unique products for his movies, butalso using them in multiple films. Big Kahuna Burger from Pulp Fiction is a perfect example. We first find out about the "new Hawaiian burger joint" when Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) tries Brad's nutritious breakfast. It is a tasty burger! Eagle-eyed viewers may know that the brand was actually introduced in Reservoir Dogs when Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen) is seen drinking from a cup from the fictional restaurant.

ACME - Looney Tunes

The ultimate example of fake products on TV has to be the ubiquitous ACME company from Looney Tunes. It's most often seen in Road Runner cartoons as the company where Wile E Coyote buys all the equipment he tries in vain to use to catch his nemesis. It seems it was the Amazon of the Looney Tunes world.

Sweetums - Parks & Recreation

Sweetums are the controversial candy seen a few times in Parks & Recreation. Loaded with high-fructose corn syrup, Leslie (Amy Poehler) is appalled by their popularity, while Ron (Nick Offerman) is predictably less worried about how unhealthy they are.

Wonka Candy - Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory

One of the examples on this list of a fictional food product that was eventually a real brand name is Wonka Chocolate (or candy in general). Obviously, it's been seen in all the movie versions of the classic novel by Roald Dahl.

Hoverboards - Back To The Future Part II

When Back To The Future Part II came out, it was filled with futuristic products, but by far the one kids most wanted to be real was the Hoverboards (from Mattel in the movie). We're still waiting, decades later–and no, the "hoverboards" with the one wheel don't count.

The Cornballer - Arrested Development

Perhaps the most dangerous product on this list is the Cornballer from Arrested Development. Invented by George Bluth (Jeffrey Tambor), the product was recalled because it basically burned anyone who ever tried to use one, including Michael (Jason Bateman) multiple times in one episode. Getting Richard Simmons to help sell it in an infomercial was a bad idea, too.

Kitten Mittons - It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Does your cat make too much noise? If so, Charlie (Charlie Day) from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has the solution for you. Kitten Mittons! Of course, your cat may not like them as much as you hope, so be careful!

Brawndo - Idiocracy

Brawndo has what plants crave! Actually, no... no it doesn't. It turns out water is still better for growing crops, but don't tell those corporate suits at Brawndo, they pay a lot of money to sponsor basically everything you would use water for... except the toilet.

Top Of The Muffin To You

Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) sure loves the tops of muffins. Personally, I like the whole muffin, but it seems enough people love the tops enough to make an entire bakery making only the tops of muffins in the world of Seinfeld. Just don't expect the local food pantry to accept only the stumps.

Dapper Dan - O Brother Where Art Thou?

Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney) is a Dapper Dan man. He's not interested in any other pomade to style his hair. If he can't get his Dapper Dan, he'll be sure to let you know. Accept no substitute.

Allied Biscuits - The Simpsons

Apparently, Springfield is big enough to have not one or two cracker brands, but no less than eight! Luann Van Houten's family's fortune comes from Southern Cracker, but poor Kirk is a terrible manager and leads the brand to a tie for the sixth most popular with Table Time and Allied Biscuits. Marge was so embarrassed that she emptied her plate back into the box.

Soul Glo - Coming To America

Soul Glo is quite the product in Coming To America. It's made a fortune for Darryl's family, and Akeem (Eddie Murphy) seems jealous of anyone wearing the hair product. Fun fact: the song in the fake commercial was written and performed by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Nile Rodgers of Chic.

Stay Puft Marshmallows - Ghostbusters

Not only does Ray (Dan Aykroyd) manifest the giant Stay Puft Marshmallow Man at the end of Ghostbusters, eagle-eyed viewers will notice that there is a bag of the sugary treats on the counter as Dana (Sigourney Weaver) is unloading her groceries before Zuul takes over her refrigerator.

Rocket Fuel Malt Liquor - NewsRadio

The legendary newsman Bill McNeil (Phil Hartman) only endorses products he uses and enjoys. Or, it turns out, anyone willing to pay him enough money. The best example of the latter is Rocket Fuel Malt Liquor, which he records ridiculous commercials for in one episode of NewsRadio.

Tracy Jordan Meat Machine - 30 Rock

Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) was always looking for ways to branch out, and that extended to endorsing a product called "Tracy Jordan Meat Machine" in the vein of the George Foreman Grill. It's not a bad strategy, as it clearly worked for the former heavyweight champion.

Los Pollos Hermanos - Breaking Bad

Los Pollos Hermanos, the fictional chicken chain in Breaking Bad, is another example of a brand on the TV show that has become real, with pop-up versions of the fictional restaurant taking over old storefronts on occasion.

Oceanic Airlines - Lost

Of the many different fictional brands in Lost, none were more prominent than Oceanic Airlines. The ill-fated flight that crashed onto "The Island" on the show was an Oceanic flight. There was even a fake website set up in the real world where fans could learn more about the airline and check out the "schedule." That flight from Sidney was on it, too... lost.

Duff Beer - The Simpsons

The Simpsons has been around a long, long time, and almost since the beginning, Homer (and everyone else in Springfield) has always been loyal to one brand of beer: Duff's. There are a lot of "flavors" of Duff, but they all come from the same vat, so it's really all about marketing. Duff Man agrees.

Cheesy Poofs - South Park

Eric Cartman loves his Cheesy Poofs. All the kids love them, but Cartman really loves them, as he's most often the one seen eating the fake snack food that seems to be off-brand Cheetos.

Mockolate - Friends

Mockolate on Friends makes light of products like Olestra that were popular in the 1990s. Mockolate is a synthetic version of chocolate that tastes terrible and is dangerous to ingest. It was eventually banned by the FDA on the show, but not before Monica tried to get a job inventing new candies with the chemicals. Yikes.

Soylent Green - Soylent Green

By far the most terrifying fake product on this list, Soylent Green is people! Never forget. And never, ever eat anything called "Soylent Green." Just starve yourself, it's safer.

Dunder-Mifflin Paper - The Office

Does anyone actually think about what brand of paper they are using? Do you sit in your office or at an office supply store, and make your decision based on the brand? I worked in a paper warehouse (for real) when I was in high school, and I never gave it a second thought ever again. Still, Dunder-Mifflin endures. on the US version of The Office. In the British version, it's the Wernham Hogg Paper Company.

Pawtucket Brewery - Family Guy

Like The Simpsons, the guys on Family Guy have a preferred brand of local beer from Pawtucket Brewery. The big difference is that the brewery in Family Guy is owned by a Willy Wonka-like character, instead of being promoted by a Superhero-looking mascot.

Mooby's - Clerks II

In the original Clerks, Randall and Dante worked in a nondescript shopping center (which is a real location in New Jersey). In the sequel, they've both taken jobs at the fictional Mooby's. It has since become a regular brand in Kevin Smith's films.

Bubba Gump Shrimp - Forrest Gump

Another example on this list of a fictional brand that became all too real is the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. Started by Forrest (Tom Hanks) in tribute to his friend who was killed in Vietnam, the name was eventually licensed out and became a popular fast-casual fish joint with locations all over the world.

Pizza Planet - Toy Story

Pizza Planet must be based on the real-life pizza places like Showbiz Pizza and Chuck E Cheese, right? Kids love it, parents probably hate it, but it does look pretty darn fun in the Toy Story universe.

Rekall - Total Recall

Rekall, where fake memories are implanted in your head to make it seem like you went on a fun vacation, is...messed up. Total Recall is a wild movie, and the whole idea of having memories implanted is about as disturbing an example of a messed-up future anyone could ever come up with. Even if it's a trip to Mars.

Shotz Beer - Laverne & Shirley

When bffs Laverne and Shirley move to Milwaukee, they get a job at that most Milwaukee of places–a brewery. Of course, it helps their dreams come true, so it seems like the kind of beer we'd all like to try.

Butterbeer - Harry Potter

Butterbeer is a brand and a way of life. It also seems to be the only thing anyone wants to drink in the world of Harry Potter. It's even become a real thing, I get to try it when I toured the Harry Potter studio outside London. I'm honest, it's way too sweet for Muggle consumption. At least this Muggle.

Opti-Grab - The Jerk

I've worn glasses for most of my life, but I've never had the need for anything like the Opti-Grab from The Jerk. Sure, it makes Nathan a very rich man (at least until it's sued out of existence), so some people might be interested, but glasses can be awkward enough without having that weird thing you can pinch.

Strictland Propane - King Of The Hill

Strictland propane and propane products! The best money can buy!

Despite the presence of some streaming specials, we’re getting our first proper season of South Park since Season 26 ended in 2023. As the 2025 TV schedule is getting ready to bring the boys from Colorado back to us for even more outrageous antics, the classic Season 13 premiere “The Ring” has popped up in the news. The funny thing is, that’s because of Joe Jonas, one of the subjects of that very episode, showing his appreciation in a recent interview.

Sitting down with host/chef Josh Scherer on Mythical Kitchen’s Last Meals series, the middle Jonas Brother was asked about what sort of effect that 2009 installment had on the then Disney recording artists. Joe’s recollection says it all, as he shared this tale on how he seemed to be the outlier in the band:

Joe Jonas’ outlook on South Park’s satire on the brothers is akin to how most musical artists react when Weird Al Yankovic parodies one of their songs. Which definitely fits in with the sort of take-offs that Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s long-running comedy landmark is known for. And anyone who needs a reminder only needs to use their HBO Max subscription for a quick reminder - depending on when you’re reading this article, of course.

“The Ring” came at the right time too, as not only were the Jonas Brothers a hot act, but their 2009 film Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience was in the pop consciousness as well. And as you’ll see in the clip below, the animated Joe Jonas’ scuffle with Mickey Mouse looks like something out of a Martin Scorsese movie:

Upon further reflection, Mr. Jonas and his host discussed the true target of South Park’s satirical blade themselves. Considering the middle Jonas' recent SNL appearance, one could even say that this episode may have helped encourage himself, and his brothers, to all branch out into comedic efforts in their own way. At least, that's what seems to be the case, as Joe also had this to say about his fictitious encounter with the Disney mascot:

While it may not make the list of South Park’s most outrageous episodes, “The Ring” is both an entertaining time capsule and a great example of the Comedy Central show’s humor. And clearly all must be forgiven with Boss Mickey, as The Jonas Brothers’ Disney+ Christmas movie is set to debut “later this year,” on that very streaming platform.

But if you’re ready to see whatever raunchy new antics Eric, Kyle, Stan, and Kenny are going to get up to, don’t forget that Season 27 will premiere on Comedy Central, starting July 9th. However, please note that those new episodes will be heading to Paramount+, after the rest of the South Park library migrates there after June 30th.

If there's one thing that Rick and Morty loves to do, it's riff on pop culture. Some of the best episodes of the Adult Swim series are based on iconic sci-fi movies or other things happening in our world. It feels like that's a trend Season 8 will lean into heavily, as Dan Harmon recently confirmed to CinemaBlend there's no end in sight for the comedy. So, how do they figure out which things to parody and which to leave alone? Surprisingly, South Park factors into their decision-making.

I spoke to Harmon and showrunner Scott Marder ahead of Rick and Morty's arrival on the 2025 TV schedule, and I asked about how they decide what's relevant for the show to riff on, especially when they're writing seasons of the series a couple of years before they air on television. Harmon explained the process behind pitches in the writers' room, and how they use South Park as a measuring stick to what they should and shouldn't be going after:

I love that Rick and Morty uses South Park as a measuring stick, and think it's very useful. It also reminds me of one of the best South Park episodes in which Butters was frustrated because The Simpsons had already done most of the things he wanted to do.

That being said, Dan Harmon is wise in acknowledging that South Park can be much faster and better when it comes to parodying timely events. Rick and Morty thrives on making episodes based around Alien or other pop culture events that have a longer staying power. To illustrate that point, he brought up one joke the series likely would never be able to make:

Right now, the world is obsessed with covering the Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively situation, to the point that Taylor Swift is allegedly even involved. Rick and Morty is in a situation that's working far out in advance, so even if Season 8 is only just premiering now, it was written long before those two actors ever did a movie together.

Scott Marder added to the conversation and noted just how long it could take for a joke made today to make it to air. Again, we're watching Rick and Morty Season 8, but they're working on episodes we won't see for quite some time:

I can't imagine the amount of pressure not just creating a joke that'll hit for audiences two years from now, but presumably be good enough that people who watch it even further out with a Max subscription will still laugh too.

Fortunately, Rick and Morty is as good as its ever been in Season 8, to the point that I'm no longer concerned there's no endgame for the series. I'm ready for 100 years of the show just like Rick Sanchez promised, and it seems like the team is committed to making that happen for the time being.

Rick and Morty Season 8 airs on Adult Swim on Sundays at 11:00 p.m. ET. Tune in for what, I believe, is the best season of the series yet, and it will get any fan excited for more episodes in the years to come.

In 2011, South Park aired the mid-season finale of its fifteenth season, and I wondered if it was potentially going to be a surprise end to the show. While still featuring fart and poop jokes, "You're Getting Old" showcases a shocking depth about maturing tastes, and I questioned if it was intended as a send-off. This thought ended up being super wrong, as there have been nearly a dozen more seasons since then (not even including specials), but one has to wonder... what does the end of South Park actually look like?

Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the long-running show's creators, addressed that question back in 2015 during an interview with IGN's Podcast Unlocked, and their response was perfectly on-brand. They don't have any kind of grand plan for what the end of South Park looks like; instead, they're basically just waiting for the series to die a natural death. Said Parker,

South Park has been airing on Comedy Central since 1997, and while distribution has changed greatly since the early years (now, we get six-episode seasons paired with specials made exclusively for Paramount+ subscribers), the show itself has continued doing what it does best: simple animation is mixed with topical discourse and crude, cringe-heavy humor.

With a laugh, Matt Stone added that the decades-spanning series won't be ending with fireworks:

One can excuse a lack of future planning in part because of how South Park has traditionally been made: unlike most animated shows, episodes are produced as seasons air so that the material can be as relevant to the zeitgeist as possible. Another part of the equation, however, is that the show's creators have always just been waiting for somebody to tell them to stop, and that stop sign has never been manifested. Trey Parker added,

South Park has been consistently embroiled in controversy since the show premiered, and yet, nothing has ever been so bad that it resulted in cancellation. Given all of the horrific and dark material that has been featured in the series, it's hard to imagine that a line exists for the writers to cross at this point.

At present, fans are continuously waiting for more South Park as we haven't seen new episodes or new specials since May 2024 and the airing of the streaming special South Park: The End Of Obesity.

The Grateful Dead were never really part of mainstream culture for most of their 30-year career that ended in 1995 with the death of Jerry Garcia. Sure, they had a hit song in the '80s and now they are ubiquitous, but for years they flew under the radar despite a huge fanbase of dedicated fans. With so many diehards loving the Dead, it's actually not surprising that they are referenced quite often in pop culture. Sometimes one of their songs may pop onto a soundtrack and other times it's as simple as a lyric or a bumper sticker sneaking into a movie or TV show. This list of times the Grateful Dead have been referenced in a movie or on TV is hardly exhaustive, but it's a good start - and we're not talking about concert films here, either.

Freaks And Geeks

Freaks And Geeks doesn't seem like the kind of show that would have the Grateful Dead play an important role, but in the end - literally the end - it turns out they completely change Lindsey's life. After being gifted a copy of the band's American Beauty album, Lindsey (Linda Cardellini) decides to skip her trip to Ann Arbor and "hops on the bus" as Deadheads would say and travels with her friends to Colorado to catch the Dead in concert.

Romancing The Stone

One of the funniest scenes in Romancing The Stone comes when Jack (Michael Douglas) and Joan (Kathleen Turner) come across a downed plane full of grass. The pilot, long dead and nothing but a skeleton, is shown wearing a jacket with "Grateful Dead" written on the back. Gotta love those flyboys.

Flirting With Disaster

Until we meet Mel's parents, played by Alan Alda and Lily Tomlin, Flirting With Disaster isn't the kind of movie that screams "Grateful Dead," but after, it makes total sense that Mel (Ben Stiller) would decide his unborn child after the bands guitarist Jerry Garcia and he does, at the very end of the movie as "Truckin'" plays.

Seinfeld

This is a tough one to spot, but believe it or not, there is a quick Grateful Dead reference in a Season 4 episode of Seinfeld called "The Airport." In the episode, George catches a ride with Kramer to the airport to pick up Elaine and Jerry, and while they are driving, you can see what is clearly the top of the famous "Steal Your Face" Grateful Dead logo.

Friends

There are a few hints from time to time that Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) is a Deadhead in Friends. One of the more obvious times is after she "learns" how to play basketball with a new boyfriend, she arrives at the Central Perk wearing a Dead tie-dye the band made to honor the Lithuanian national basketball team for the Olympics.

Game Of Thrones

Author George R.R. Martin, whose books were adapted for HBO's massive hit Game Of Thrones, is a self-professed Deadhead and he has sprinkled in numerous subtle Grateful Dead references into his books and the show. Dire wolves (named after a Dead tune), Weirwood trees (named after member Bob Weir) and others are all throughout the series. Martin has even said when he is writing that "I always have Grateful Dead lyrics rattling around in my head."

LA Law

One of the more ridiculous references to the Dead came in an episode of LA Law from Season 8 called "Dead Issue." One of the plotlines involves a couple getting divorced in part because of the husband's love of the Dead. Something all Deadheads can probably relate to on some level.

Tommy Boy

Another quite subtle reference comes in the Chris Farley classic Tommy Boy when Farley is seen on his sailboat at the end of the movie. He is wearing a pretty sweet looking jacket that clearly shows a Smiling Skeleton Sun patch, another logo used by the Dead.

The Simpsons

Over the years, The Simpsons have made multiple references to the Dead, including the not-so-subtle dig at Deadheads in the episode where Homer meets people who travel the country following the Krusty Burger Ribwich. A more direct reference comes in the Season 10 episode "D'oh-in' in the Wind" when Flanders accidentally takes peyote and hallucinates seeing the band's famous Dancing Bears as he drives.

The Facts Of Life

Famously, the Grateful Dead allowed their fans to record their concerts and trade the tapes. It's a big reason the band found such a loyal fanbase. This practice was even referenced on a 1982 episode of The Facts Of Life called "Kids Can Be Cruel." Carl 'Rocky' Price (Dan Frischman) is seen carrying a tape recorder and tells Mrs. Garrett that he tapes Dead shows.

Roseanne

A Season 8 episode of Roseanne brought us one of the most bizarre Grateful Dead references. In the episode, Roseanne is in the hospital giving birth to her son, and Jerry Garcia appears as a ghost telling her that everything is going to be alright and in light of the "encounter," she decides to name her baby after the singer. It's...very odd.

One More Saturday Night

Al Franken and fellow SNL writer Tom Davis were both huge Deadheads. They often appeared with the band and went to hundreds of Dead shows over the years. In 1986 they made a movie together that you might not have even heard of. They play musicians in the movie, but the band sounds nothing like the Dead. However, they did name the movie after a Grateful Dead song, One More Saturday Night.

The Office

In a Season 3 episode of The Office called "Branch Closing" there is a brief Dead reference when Pam signs a goodbye message to Kelly with the lyrics to "Truckin'", "What a long, strange trip it's been."

South Park

The guys behind South Park don't seem like the biggest fans of the Grateful Dead. In one episode, Jerry Garcia is shown as a resident of Hell, and in another Mr. Mackey gets upset when he tells Jimbo that he can't go to a Grateful Dead concert because "Jerr-bear is dead." They also take a few shots at bands like the Dead in the episode where Cartman exterminates hippies.

Splash

In a "blink or you'll miss it" moment in Splash, Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah are walking past Radio City Music Hall and you can just make part of the Dead's name on the marquee. The band famously played the venue in 1980, though the movie was shot later.

Mask

In a tear-jerking moment at the end of Mask, after Rocky (Eric Stoltz) has died, the Dead's beautiful song "Ripple" is played just as the movie ends. It's the perfect way to end the movie and there's no way you won't cry when you watch. The movie is filled with great music from the '60s and '70s.

Ted Lasso

It's really not surprising to find that Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) on Ted Lasso is a Deadhead. He admits that he once saw a concert featuring the Dead, The Black Crowes, and Phish jamming together. Unfortunately, in real life such a jam never actually happened, though the Crowes did open for Dead once in 1995, but they didn't share the stage.

My So-Called Life

The Grateful Dead are mentioned a few times in My So-Called Life, including when Rayanne (A.J. Langer) wears a tie-dye and talks about going to see them in concert while she is in an argument with Angela (Claire Danes) on the show. Graham also listens to the album American Beauty on the show.

Runaway Bride

There are numerous references to the Dead in the Julia Roberts and Richard Gere rom com classic The Runaway Bride. It might not be one of Roberts' best movies, but the band comes up repeatedly because one of her ex-fiances was a Deadhead. It's something Richard Gere throws in her face a few times, like it's a bad thing.

Around The Fire

Around the Fire is not a great movie, though it is notable for starring Tara Reid and, in his big screen debut, Colman Domingo as traveling fans of an unnamed rock band that is clearly meant to be the Grateful Dead. It is pretty unintentionally funny and although no Dead music is used in the movie, there is a soundtrack filled with the likes of Phish and String Cheese Incident.

Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas

During one of Raoul Duke's many benders in Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas (one of the best movies set in Vegas), there is a very brief snippet of the Grateful Dead playing in concert amongst the other images of bombs falling on Vietnam and other horrors.

Spider-Man 2

Some of the best references to the Dead come with no explanation. Take, for example, Peter's doctor in Spider-Man 2. In the scene where Peter (Tobey Maguire) meets with the doctor, the doctor is inexplicably wearing a Grateful Dead T-shirt. It's something only Deadheads would pick up on, and that is what makes it so great.

The Ben Stiller Show

In the '90s, it was never surprising to see hip comedians like Bob Odenkirk and Ben Stiller taking shots at the Dead and their fans. In one skit on The Ben Stiller Show, Odenkirk plays an insurance salesman who specialized in selling his policies to Deadheads. Of course it's filled with cliche jokes about the band and their fans and drugs, but it's hard to admit some of it isn't pretty funny.

Family Guy

In one of Family Guy's patented flashbacks, Stewie is seen at a Grateful Dead concert wearing no shirt and clearly, um, messed up, based on the state of his pupils. He makes a joke about trading his shirt (a tie-dye, of course) for a grilled cheese. Honestly, it's not that far off from reality, if we're honest, even if it is the easy joke to make.

Indian Summer

In the underrated movie Indian Summer, Bill Paxton's character is a Deadhead and is seen wearing a tank top with a classic Steal Your Face logo on it. He also mentions that work is what he does between Dead shows. In another scene, he's wearing a Crosby, Stills, and Nash tie dye, so it's easy to see what kind of music he loves.

WKRP In Cincinnati

One of the more predictable references comes from WKRP In Cincinnati. In one episode Johnny Fever (Howard Hessman) plays "Shakedown Street" by the Dead. The only thing surprising about it is that there weren't more references to the band on a show all about great '70s rock.

30 Rock

One of the most famous quotes in 30 Rock history has to be Jack advising Liz to "never go with a hippie to a second location." In another hippie reference, Jack (Alec Baldwin) tells Liz (Tina Fey) that he isn't interested in quashing his argument with the Post Master General over a Jerry Garcia stamp.

Half Baked

Half Baked is a terrible movie filled with lazy stoner jokes. It's just not a funny way to ever portray smoking. In one scene, Jim Breuer (the worst actor in the movie) "preys" to Jerry Garcia to protect them. It's stupid, but hey, it's a reference, so we'll count it.

The Wonder Years

In a TV show filled with great music from the '60s and '70s, of course there has to be a little Grateful Dead. In one scene, the whole class loads up in a bus for a field trip and as the bus heads down the highway, the all-too-appropriate "Truckin.'"

Black Hawk Down

One of the weirdest references to the Dead has to be the taxi driver in Black Hawk Down. How a cab driver in Mogadishu would end up wearing a Dead shirt is a mystery, but there it is, as he pulls up to the target he is sighting for the US military.

Apocalypse Now Redux

This one only sort of counts for this list, but it's an important one. When Francis Ford Coppola started making Apocalypse Now, he originally had the drummers in the Dead, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzman create the soundtrack. In the end, Coppola went a different direction with the music, but when he recut the movie for the Redux version, some of their original work was used.

The Music Never Stopped

Deadheads love the song "The Music Never Stopped" so it's not surprising that it was used a movie title for a movie about a father and son reconnecting with the Dead music in common.

There’s no question that producers Matt Stone and Trey Parker birthed one of the best animated shows of all time, South Park. Although it’s pretty much an institution I’ve never been a regular viewer. The showrunners have made plenty of other off-beat projects like Book of Mormon and Team America: World Police, but their upcoming release on our 2025 movie schedule, which involves Kendrick Lamar, interests me a lot.

Many are still talking about Kendrick Lamar's impressive Super Bowl performance featuring SZA. Of course, the acclaimed rapper has plenty of other opportunities on the table. But little did I know he was gearing up for this upcoming live-action comedy from the South Park creators. Stone and Parker are working alongside Lamar and his long time professional collaborator, Matt Free, and the flick is set to be released during 4th of July weekend. It was an update on the movie that caught my attention and really has me thinking about the production.

Matt Stone Shares An Update On His Newest Movie With Trey Parker

While one half of the raunchy cartoon duo, Matt Stone, chatted with Bloomberg about the future of South Park and AI, he teased a bit about the project involving the GNX artist. Via YouTube, when asked about why Cartman and pals have been on pause, the BASEketball actor shared that they’ve been busy with the impending summer release Lamar/Free project, saying:

It's honestly wild that the film is only a few months away from release and so little has been revealed as of yet. Of course, given all of the work that the producers have been putting in, it makes since that there hasn't been a full season of South Park in some time.

The film, for which a title has yet to be announced, centers around a man (Kendrick Lamar) who works as a slave re-enactor at a history museum. He's eventually thrown for a loop when he learns that his white girlfriend's ancestor's owned his centuries prior. When discussing the film, Matt Stone went on to emphasize the genre to which it will belong:

Everything about this statement makes me interested in opening up that outlandish Stone/Parker door and catching the film. The notion of the To Pimp A Butterfly artist and the Orgazmo creators coming together is just too intriguing to ignore.

Why I'm Excited For The Kendrick Lamar-Led Movie

His long and ever evolving beef with Drake, aside, the Compton-born artist is revered in the music industry. Since 2011, Lamar has continually sharpened his skills, ensuring that his work remains fresh and socially conscious. He's also grown his fan base in the process. Most notably, in 2017, his album Damn. won a Pulitzer Prize, making him the first rapper to earn the award. In short, my fandom is a major reason why I'd give this film a look.

Additionally, this film piques my interest because of the concept, which sounds so wild. I wouldn't have imagined K-Dot to join a project like this. But he's one of the most cerebral artists in the industry right now and, if he saw fit to join what sounds like a truly wild film, then it likely resonated with him in a deep way. I'm hopeful that his signature brand of storytelling will shine through in the flick.

Another reason this film has me curious is due to just how unexpected this melding of creative minds is. Matt Stone and Trey Parker have a distinct style, and it starkly clashes with Kendrick Lamar's. The Book of Mormon alone should tell you what these two producers are capable of from a creative standpoint. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to see how those sensibilities would come together in a single project.

Don't get me wrong, I still have plenty of questions and need to see more from this movie before I'm completely sold. However, considering Kendrick Lamar as well as Matt Stone and Trey Parker are all good at what they do, I'll give the the benefit of the doubt, for now. After I see the film when it opens up against the upcoming Jurassic World Rebirth, I'll be curious if I feel motivated to check out South Park and watch Kenny die (again and again).

If you want to commit to watching South Park now, you can stream the series with a ​​Paramount+ subscription.

Sitcoms are meant to bring joy into the homes of those who watch them. However, not every episode manages to please every viewer and, in some instances, might stir up enough outrage to get banned. Such a fate actually befell some of the following episodes from the best sitcoms of all time which caused controversy.

"The Puppy Episode" - Ellen

At the same time Ellen Degeneres came out of the closet in real life, so did her sitcom alter ego – the first lead character on a TV series to do so – in "The Puppy Episode." While the two-part Season 4 episode of Ellen proved to be an Emmy-winning success and a big ratings win, many affiliates of ABC refused to air the episode and several sponsors chose not to advertise during its broadcast

"Edith's 50 Birthday" - All In The Family

In a two-part episode from the eighth season of All in the Family called "Edith's 50th Birthday," Jean Stapleton's character is nearly assaulted by a stranger posing as a detective whom she manages to escape but not without traumatizing circumstances. While remembered as one of the most powerful dramatic moments in a sitcom, seeing a character like Edith involved in such a harrowing situation was overwhelmingly "heartbreaking" for some to watch.

"Partial Terms Of Endearment" - Family Guy

Originally intended to be the Season 8 finale for Family Guy, "Partial Terms Of Endearment" sees Lois (Alex Borstein) agree to carry a child for a couple but, when they suddenly die in an accident, she considers having an abortion. The episode's satirical approach to a hotly debated serious topic led it to be banned from airing on American television but has been made available in the United States on DVD.

"Running Zack" - Saved By The Bell

Zack Morris is known today as one of the most ill-behaved sitcom kids for many reasons but one time Saved by the Bell tried to pain him in an admirable light has since backfired heavily. Star Mark-Paul Gosselaar later voiced regret over this Saved by the Bell episode in which his character discovers he has Native American ancestry and actually dons a headdress for a class presentation.

"You Say Potatoe, I Say Potato" - Murphy Brown

In the Season 4 finale of Murphy Brown, Candace Bergen's title character chooses to raise her new baby on her own – a decision that was criticized by then-Vice President Dan Quayle. The following season's premiere was written in response to this and even directly acknowledged the vice president's comments.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" - Roseanne

Roseanne was a revolutionary moment in sitcom history as a TV show featuring blue-collar characters but it also pushed boundaries in many other ways, such as an episode when Roseanne Barr's title character kisses a woman in a lesbian Barr. The comedian had to fight ABC on their hesitation to air the episode fearing there it would spark a backlash from religious conservatives and they turned out to be right.

"The Bicycle Man" - Diff'rent Strokes

In a famous "very special episode" of Diff'rent Strokes, Arnold (Gary Coleman) and his friend, Dudley (Shavar Ross) discover that a bicycle shop owner named Mr. Horton (Gordon Jump) is the kind of grown-up parents would not want their children to be alone with. While acclaimed for its bold depiction of the dangers of inappropriate attention from adults directed at minors, it was criticized for not downplaying its humor as much as it could have.

"Episode #1.1" - Soap

Right out of the gate, the revolutionary daytime drama spoof Soap garnered intense backlash by a wide margin for its approach to topics that were still very sensitive in the late 1970s. Billy Crystal's character, Jodie Dallas, was criticized both by anti-gay groups as well as the gay community, which felt that the otherwise groundbreaking characters portrayed their culture in a stereotypical and mocking fashion.

"Maude's Dilemma" - Maude

In the premiere season of Maude, the also beloved spin-off from All in the Family aired a two-part episode in which Bea Arthur's title character becomes pregnant and decides that, at her age, she would rather not have the baby. "Maude's Dilemma" was the first episode of a television show to acknowledge the abortion debate, which led to CBS receiving thousands of letters in protest.

"The Puerto Rican Day" - Seinfeld

The penultimate episode of Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David's mega-hit comedy is not considered one of the best episodes of Seinfeld for the same reasons it was taken out of circulation for years. "The Puerto Rican Day" – in which the gang gets stuck in traffic due to the eponymous parade – was viewed as culturally insensitive, particularly for one scene when Kramer accidentally lights a Puerto Rican flag on fire and tries to stomp it out, but has since been made available in syndication and on streaming.

"Lucy Is Enceinte" - I Love Lucy

In the 1950s, saying the word "pregnant" was not permitted on television, which is why you never actually hear Lucy (Lucille Ball) say the word in her many attempts to tell Ricky (Desi Arnaz) her big news in this classic I Love Lucy episode. Despite its clever censorship, "Lucy is Enceinte" almost did not air due to advertisers' reluctance because the mere topic of making Lucy pregnant would mean acknowledging that she and Ricky had been intimate.

"The Speech" - The IT Crowd

In the third season of the hilarious British sitcom, The IT Crowd, Matt Berry's Douglas Reynholm discovers his girlfriend, April, is a transwoman (as demonstrated in a tasteless montage of her performing traditionally masculine tasks), which leads to a violent end to their relationship. Considered abhorrent upon broadcast, the U.K.'s Channel 4 decided to pull the episode from its streaming service in 2020, prompting creator Graham Lineman to cut ties with the network.

"The One With The Lesbian Wedding" - Friends

The first TV series to depict the marriage between two women was Friends in Season 2's "The One with the Lesbian Wedding." However, many NBC network affiliates, including in Texas, refused to air the episode in which Ross' ex-wife, Carol (Jane Sibbett), and her girlfriend, Susan (Jessica Hecht), tie the knot.

"Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" - Community

For years, the Season 2 Community episode, "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" was not available to stream, due to a moment when Ken Jeong's Chang dons what appears to be blackface to cosplay as a "dark elf." However, Community cast member Yvette Nicole Brown, when speaking to Gizmodo, defended the episode, especially since her character, Shirley Bennett, calls out Chang's insensitive act.

"Stark Raving Dad" - The Simpsons

Michael Jackson makes an uncredited appearance in an episode of The Simpsons as the voice of an institutionalized man who believes he is the "Thriller" singer. In 2019, following the release of the documentary, Leaving Neverland, the episode was pulled from circulation and has since been made unavailable to stream.

"Eric's Buddy" - That 70s Show

Joseph Gordon-Levitt guest starred on That '70s Show as Buddy, whom Eric (Topher Grace) discovers is interested in more than lab partners when he plants a kiss on him. The otherwise refreshingly open-minded episode has been criticized for reducing the openly gay character to not much more than a punchline and a means for Eric to reinforce his identity as a straight man.

"200" - South Park

South Park is known for its many boundary-pushing moments, which creator Matt Stone and Trey Parker decided to pay tribute to in the animated series' two-part 200th episode. Unsurprisingly, the episode would face heavy backlash and, since its initial broadcast, has been censored for its depiction of Muslim faith.

"Koi Pond" - The Office

One example of an ill-fated prank from The Office that some fans have probably never seen comes from the since-removed cold open for an episode called "Koi Pond." In it, Michael (Steve Carell) stages a suicide for Dunder-Miffling's Halloween haunted house attraction, traumatizing the young trick-or-treaters and angering viewers for its insensitive approach to the subject.

"Comedians" - Beavis And Butt-Head

When Beavis and Butt-Head pursue stand-up comedy careers and fail, they retaliate by setting fire to the club where they performed and happily giggle as it burns to the ground. In 1993, a The New York Times report claimed that five-year-old Austin Messner watched the episode and accidentally killed his sister by setting his own home on fire, prompting MTV to pull it from rotation. However, in 2008, the 20-year-old Messner revealed (via PopCulture) that he never watched Beavis and Butt-Head because his addict mother could not afford cable.

"I'll See You In Court" - Married... With Children

While Married... with Children never had the squeakiest reputation, Fox refused to air an episode in which Al (Ed O'Neill) and Peg Bundy (Katey Sagal) discover their night at a motel was recorded and file a lawsuit. While initially deemed in poor taste, an edited version of the episode finally made it to air on FX years later.

"Live Show" - 30 Rock

Both times 30 Rock put on a live episode, the shows were met with backlash for the use of Blackface. For instance, the East Coast broadcast of Season 5's "Live Show" would be pulled from syndication for a scene in which guest star Jon Hamm's character shows off his hand transplant from a Black donor.

"Prom-ises, Prom-ises" - Boy Meets World

Some episodes of the beloved TGIF comedy Boy Meets World were removed from Disney Channel's rotation of reruns, including Season 5's "Prom-ises, Prom-ises." The plot sees teen lovers Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) considering the decision to consummate their relationship on prom night, only to discover his parents are having their own fun in a nearby hotel room.

"The Hunger Strike" - The Boondocks

It took 12 years for "The Hunger Strike," an episode of The Boondocks that was originally called "BET Sucks" and set to air on Adult Swim in 2008, to finally be shown on American television. The actual reason for the banning has not been confirmed but reports claim that BET threatened litigation, due to its overtly scathing spoofing of the cable network's programming.

"Mid-Life Crustacean" - SpongeBob Squarepants

Even a Nicktoon as beloved as SpongeBob Squarepants has a couple of episodes that modern audiences will never see on Nickelodeon or with a Paramount+ subscription and, in retrospect, it is surprising that one of them ever made it to air. Season 3's "Mid-Life Crustacean" involves a scene when Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown), in a bid to reclaim his youth, joins SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) and Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke) to raid a woman's undergarment drawer, only to discover too late that they have broken into his mother's house.

"Boston" - Aqua Teen Hunger Force

In 2007, battery-powered LED placards designed to resemble Aqua Teen Hunger Force characters called The Mooninites were placed around Boston as a marketing strategy for the adult animated movie, Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters, but were mistaken for explosive devices. The original show's writers decided to create an episode based on the incident, in which Frylock (Carey Means), Master Shake (Dana Snyder), and Meatwad (Dave Wilis) are mistaken for explosives in Boston. The episode would become the first in the series to get banned but was later leaked online in 2015.

"Something's Up There" - Back To You

The short-lived Fox sitcom Back to You – starring Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton as bickering news anchors – has been largely forgotten since it ended in 2008. However, one episode was deemed controversial upon airing for the following line said to a Polish character when trying to convince them to go bowling: "Come on, it's in your blood, like Kielbasa and collaborating with the Nazis."

"Leap Frogs" - Rocko's Modern Life

Not only was Rocko's Modern Life one of the weirdest Nicktoons ever but it was especially one of the lewdest. Nickelodeon let plenty of mature humor slide but did ban an episode in which Mrs. Bighead tries to seduce the titular wallaby.

"Elephant Issues" - Tiny Toon Adventures

The Steven Spielberg-produced Tiny Toon Adventures served as a new era for the Looney Tunes legacy but did make a few dark turns during its run. For instance, one banned episode, which was meant to serve as a PSA of sorts, saw Buster Bunny, Plucky Duck, and Hamton J. Pig getting intoxicated and suffering a car accident

"Dentist" - Adventure Time

The plot of the Adventure Time Season 6 episode, "Dentist," – in which Finn (Jeremy Shada) receives oral treatment from a colony of ants – offers nothing controversial in concept. However, it caused a bit of an internet uproar when a character named Lt. Gamergate (which is the name of a type of ant) was interpreted as a reference to the recently developing "GamerGate" movement.

30. "Fat Like Me" - Daria

Spun-off from Beavis and Butt-Head, Daria followed the misadventures of the cynical, monotone titular teen (voiced by Tracy Grandstaff). One episode of the animated never aired in reruns on the Nickelodeon subsidiary Teen Nick (formerly known as The N) because of the way it depicts obesity's connection to high school social status.

"Terms Of Endearment" - Drawn Together

Drawn Together is a mockumentary-style animated Comedy Central series following a group of cartoon characters living together. One episode was met with controversy for its satirical portrayal of the horse riding accident that paralyzed Superman actor Christopher Reeve, who passed away shortly before the series premiered.

"Man's Best Friend" - Ren & Stimpy

One of the most unhinged episodes of Ren & Stimpy was banned on Nickelodeon for a violent scene in which Ren beats up a character with an oar, as well as the depiction of dog treats that, for some reason, look like cigars and feces. The episode was later broadcast on MTV, which is certainly a more appropriate home for its subject matter.

Some of the best TV characters are the ones that drive us crazy. Whether it's because they are villains, or simply just because they are obnoxious, we can't wait to see what they do next. Here is our list of all the characters we just love to hate.

Brenda Walsh - Beverly Hills, 90210

Brandon and Brenda Walsh may have been twins on Beverly Hills, 90210, but really, they couldn't have been any more different. Brandon was seemingly loved by everyone, including the audience, while Brenda was the ultimate teenage villain. It probably didn't help that the late Shannen Doherty was also controversial behind the scenes of the show, eventually leaving after Season 4.

Sheldon Cooper - The Big Bang Theory

Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) on The Big Bang Theory was an incredibly funny character. He was also an incredibly annoying and obnoxious character that fans of the show just loved to hate. He was laughed at and with through the show and was so popular (and despised), that the character got his own spinoff, Young Sheldon.

Cersei Lannister - Game Of Thrones

Without a doubt, Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) in Game of Thrones is one of the greatest TV villains of all time. She was universally hated by fans, which is the biggest compliment you can give Headey as the one portraying her. She was so hated that even her death by getting crushed by thousands of pounds of rocks wasn't satisfying enough to fans of the show.

J.R. Ewing - Dallas

"Who shot J.R.?" is arguably the best TV cliffhanger of all time. It wasn't just that fans wanted to know who shot him, but if he survived the shooting. Plenty of people would have been satisfied had the villain on Dallas not made it. Of course, he did make it, and he was only more hated for it - in the best way.

Rebecca - Cheers

Kirstie Alley, who played Rebecca on Cheers walked into a pretty difficult assignment when she joined the show in Season 6. She was essentially replacing another character fans loved to hate, Diane, played by Shelly Long. Still, both the actress and the character slipped right into the sometimes villain, sometimes friend role and fans loved to hate her for it.

Dennis Reynolds - It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

The gang in It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia are all pretty terrible people. It's why we watch them, to see just how awful they can be. There is little redeeming about any of them, but the worst has to be Dennis Reynolds (Glenn Howerton). There's no way anyone would ever be friends with a person like that, and that's why we love him... and hate him.

Dr. Robert Romano - ER

Dr. Robert "Rocket" Romano was one of the great TV villains of the 1990s in ER. He was brash, obnoxious, demanding, and mean. Audiences really hated him on a level that few TV villains are. It was a visceral hatred. That made his ridiculous death all the more satisfying, even though it was pretty over-the-top and somewhat silly.

Gemma Morrow - Sons Of Anarchy

Katey Sagal's portrayal of Gemma Morrow in Sons Of Anarchy was one of the highlights of the whole show. She was wonderful throughout the whole thing. And her character was simply a terrible, self-centered, shockingly sociopathic person. She was great.

Sue Sylvester - Glee

Even shows like Glee can have the most epic villains that audiences can't get enough of. Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) fits the bill better than most on this list, too. She's brilliantly funny and shockingly mean all at the same time.

Dwight Schrute - The Office

Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) is the kind of work frenemy we all are grateful we don't have to deal with. He is obnoxious and overbearing and just simply annoying. Worse, he can be destructive. Of course, that only makes us love him more as a character. We may root for Jim, but secretly, we want to see what Dwight says next.

The Governor - The Walking Dead

Over its 11 seasons, there were a lot of great villains on The Walking Dead and while Negan may be the most notorious, he was pretty much just hated in every way (at least until the end). The Governor (David Morrissey) in Seasons 3 and 4 was the first villain we all truly loved to hate.

Livia Soprano - The Sopranos

Livia Soprano, played by the late Nancy Marchand on The Sopranos, was the worst mother imaginable. The way she dealt with her kids, and the rest of the world, was simply despicable. Had it not been for Marchand's untimely death after Season 3, who knows just how much more she would have been hated by fans of the show. One thing is for sure though, we all loved the late Marchand for her work as Livia.

Gus Fring - Breaking Bad

There aren't a lot of heroes in Breaking Bad. At best Walter White is an anti-hero. Gus Fring, however, is a truly great villain. Giancarlo Esposito's portrayal of Walter's rival is unparalleled in TV history. Fans simply could not get enough of the villain and he'll long be remembered as one of the best parts of one of the most rewatchable shows of all time.

The Entire Roy Family - Succession

When it comes to the HBO hit Succession, it's impossible to pick the worst member of the Roy family. They are all so terrible, and seemingly in competition with each other as to who can worse, that we just have to nominate them all for this list. They are all just awful.

Homelander - The Boys

Of all the shows on streaming, there may not be a bigger concentration of terrible people than the characters on The Boys. There are only one or two redeemable characters on the whole show, and the worst are all completely awful. At the top of the list of characters we love to hate though, is Homelander. How could it not be?

Francis Underwood - House Of Cards

Even setting aside the camera controversies of Kevin Spacey, Frank Underwood on House Of Cards was a shockingly terrible person. His quest for power was unrivaled in television history and his willingness to do anything, including commit murders, made him so easy to hate. Yet we couldn't stop watching, could we?

Joffrey Baratheon - Game Of Thrones

Joffrey Baratheon on Game Of Thrones was such a hated character that a rumor once started that it actually affected actor Jack Gleeson's career negatively (it didn't). That not only says something about the character and how much we loved to hate him, but it also says something great about Gleeson who played the evil tyrant so well, that some people can't separate the actor from the character.

Louie De Palma - Taxi

Danny DeVito may be most famous today for playing another terrible person, Frank on It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, but he got his big break in television playing the awful Louie De Palma on the classic '70s sitcom Taxi. Louie was the worst kind of tyrant boss.

Steve Urkel - Family Matters

Steve Urkel, played by Jaleel White, is hated for a very different reason than many on this list. He's just the most annoying TV character ever created. Fans who loved Family Matters also loved how obnoxious he was. People who weren't fans of the show just found him unbearable. A tribute to White's portrayal of the annoying neighbor.

Mr. Burns - The Simpsons

If there is one character on The Simpsons who does his best to be purely evil, it's C. Montgomery Burns. This is a guy who even tried to block out the sun from shining on Springfield. Of course, on any list of the best Simpsons characters, he'd be near the top, too.

Sawyer - Lost

Make no mistake that by the end of Lost, Sawyer (Josh Holloway) would become a hero. It takes him a long time to get there and in the early seasons, he's a pretty terrible person. That doesn't stop us from laughing at the creative nicknames he comes with or some of the snarky lines he has.

Eric Cartman - South Park

Eric Cartman is the worst kid in South Park. He's also the funniest character on the show (except for maybe Randy). Just about everything Cartman does is awful. He's one of the most self-serving and selfish people on TV, ever, yet, we can't stop coming back for more. We can't wait to see what obnoxious thing he will do next.

Ross Geller - Friends

Even the most die-hard Friends fan will admit that Ross Geller is a pretty awful person. Actor David Schwimmer was so good as Ross that it's hard to separate him from the character and that's too bad because Schwimmer seems like a great guy, while Ross is usually very much the opposite. It makes the "great" love story between him and Rachael (Jennifer Aniston) all the more confusing for fans.

Screetch - Saved By The Bell

The late Dustin Diamond played one of the most annoying nerds ever on Saved By The Bell. Screetch did basically nothing right and why anyone ever stayed friends with him is a complete mystery. Still, he was one of the reasons - if not the main reason - we laughed so hard at the show.

Sylar - Heroes

NBC's Heroes started off so strong before it sadly faded almost as quickly as it came out of the gate. However, throughout the show's short run, the one consistently great character was the one we all hated the most, the villain Sylar (Zachary Quinto).

Frank Burns - MASH

Everyone loved Hawkeye, Trapper John, and BJ Honeycutt on MASH. Everyone equally hated Major Frank Burns (Larry Linville) who did everything he could to ruin everyone else's fun. It made it a critical character in the early seasons of the show, and his replacement after Linville left the show, Charles Winchester (David Ogden Stiers) was equally loved and hated.

Glenn Quagmire - The Family Guy

Quagmire on The Family Guy is just a horrible, horrible person. He's obnoxious and gross. Why the rest of the gang stays friends with just a terrible person is a mystery, though it might be because his awfulness makes him completely hilarious. That must be the reason, actually. It's a character we simply love for being so gross.

Gob Bluth - Arrested Development

Gob Bluth, played by Will Arnett, is the funniest character on Arrested Development. The screwup son and magician is also just awful in every way. He's selfish, rude, and honestly, not very smart. He's also occasionally racist. But again - he's the funniest character on the show and it's not because fans are laughing with him, they are laughing at him. Will Arnett deserves all the praise for that too, because it's not easy to be both.

Scrappy Doo - Scooby Doo, Where Are You?

Scrappy Doo is just the worst. We don't love to hate him because he's a great character, like so many others on this list. No, we love to hate because everything about the character, from his introduction to everything he does just sucks. We love to be angry at him, for real.

Janice Soprano - The Sopranos

There are a lot of characters with awful motivations in The Sopranos and among the worst of those is Tony's sister Janice Soprano. Aida Turturro plays the unlikable character so well that there is really very little redeeming about her. There are moments when we feel sorry for her, sure. She goes through some terrible stuff, but none of it makes her actually likable. In fact, anytime we start to like her, she does something to remind us how much we hate her.

Ben Linus - Lost

Ben Linus, played by the great Michael Emerson, on Lost, is a bit of an enigma. There are times when we almost start to like him, or at least feel empathy towards him, but inevitably he ruins that pretty quickly and fans are reminded that he's not a likable person, like, at all.

Georgina Sparks - Gossip Girl

Georgina Sparks (Michelle Trachtenberg) is the classic high-society mean girl in Gossip Girl. She is so unlikable for her manipulative ways and awful attitude that fans can't wait for her to do something that they can be mad about. The perfect kind of villain.

This list is all about the most spectacular ways that some of favorite characters - the ones we love and the ones we love to hate - have been killed off on screen. Movies and TV have both produced some pretty incredible moments like this. So whether it's the hero or the villain, here are some of the most insane deaths ever seen in movies and on TV.

Marion Crane - Psycho

Almost more than any director in film history, Alfred Hitchcock wrote his own rules. One of the most interesting things he ever did was to kill off who was seemingly the main character in Psycho, Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) in the first act of the movie. Of course, her murder in the shower has become one of the most iconic scenes in film history.

Radio Raheem - Do The Right Thing

The tension in Do The Right Thing slowly simmers just under the surface until it boils over when Buggin' Out (Giancarlo Esposito) and Radio Raheem (Bill Nunn) burst into Sal's Pizzeria and demand changes. After Sal smashes Raheem's boombox, the cops arrive and in the struggle, Raheem is choked out by the police, leading to the destruction of Sal's. It's amazing that the movie is more than 35 years old and we're still talking about the same issues.

Robb Stark - Game Of Thrones

Is there any death on this list more dramatic and shocking than Robb Stark's on Game of Thrones? The Red Wedding is a legendary TV moment, among the best ever broadcasted. It shocked anyone who had not read the books and remains one of the most spectacular deaths, along with his wife, his unborn baby, and his mother, ever filmed.

John Coffey - The Green Mile

It's one of the most heartbreaking moments in film history when John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan) meets his inevitable end in The Green Mile. Still, he goes out spectacularly with sparks flying and tears flowing.

Charlie Pace - Lost

ABC's Lost had some pretty memorable deaths, but none more so than Charlie Pace's last moments as he warned about the incoming boat and sacrificed himself in one of the most heartbreaking moments in TV history.

Hans Gruber - Die Hard

It's hard to believe that Hans Gruber in Die Hard was Alan Rickman's first movie role. His death, as he falls from Nakatomi Tower, looking up at the camera as he goes, is iconic. It's become one of the most meme'd scenes in movie history and is easily one of the most spectacular deaths in film history.

Gus Fring - Breaking Bad

For years, Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito) was one of the most despised characters on TV. His death was worthy of such an amazing villain as he is not only blown up but survives long enough to walk out of the room where it happened and button his jacket before collapsing to the floor.

Thelma And Louise - Thelma And Louise

When Thelma And Louise was first released, the ending completely shocked people. No one expected the movie's heroes to go out like they did, by driving their car off the cliff. Still, it was on their own terms and they did it together, making it all that much more spectacular.

Adriana La Cerva - The Sopranos

There were quite a few deaths over the seasons in The Sopranos, but the episode when Adriana La Cerva (Drea de Matteo) is rubbed out is maybe the most incredible. The tension in the episode is impressive even by The Sopranos standards as no one wanted to see Adriana go, even though everyone knew why it was happening.

The Wicked Witch of the West - The Wizard Of Oz

"I'm melting" is one of the most iconic lines in Hollywood history as the Wicked Witch of the West is dying in The Wizard of Oz. There really isn't much more that needs to be said about this spectacular death.

Maximus Decimus Meridius - Gladiator

For years, Maximus (Russell Crowe) in Gladiator obsessed over avenging his family's death and taking down Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Despite Commodus playing dirty in their final showdown, Maximus finally prevails, killing Commodus before he collapses and dies.

Tony Stark - Avengers: Endgame

Avengers: Endgame is the 22nd movie in MCU history and so it was only appropriate that Tony Stark - the character that started it all - would be the one to finally take Thanos out by snapping his fingers with the Infinity Gauntlet on. It led to his spectacular death, of course, but it was worth it.

Col. Kurtz - Apocalypse Now

After building for two hours, the climactic death of Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando) at the end of Apocalypse Now is one of the most dramatic and violent moments in film history. The scene, juxtaposed with the sacrifice of a cow, is terrifying and amazing.

Glenn - The Walking Dead

The death of Glenn (and Abraham) was one of the most controversial moments of The Walking Dead. That was partly due to the extreme violence that turned a lot of people off, but it was mostly because Glenn was such a beloved character. Still, it was a death that was totally unforgettable.

Kong - Dr. Strangelove

Peter Sellers may be the most celebrated member of the Dr. Strangelove cast (and for good reason), but Kong, played by Slim Pickens steals the show at the end with his death by riding a nuke down as it drops towards it's target.

Kenny McCormick - South Park

We couldn't make this list without including poor Kenny McCormick, the hapless member of the South Park crew. Kenny has been killed over 100 times over the show's incredible run and in some of the most ridiculous and fantastic ways, like getting crushed by a tree, getting hit by a volcanic boulder, and dozens of other ways.

Rosalind Shays - LA Law

Rosiland Shays' death by falling down an elevator on LA Law was one of the most shocking moments in television history. It came completely out of nowhere in a time in television when a death like that wasn't common at all. It actually changed TV storytelling.

Mark Greene - ER

Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards) was one of the most beloved characters on ER and his death, while a different kind of spectacular than most of the others on this list. It wasn't a shocking moment, as it was a tragic slow death by cancer. It was still among the most heartbreaking moments ever.

Zoe Barnes - House Of Cards

For the first season of House Of Cards, Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara) was one of the most important characters. The journalist was both investigating and getting a little too involved with Francis Underwood (Kevin Spacey). Her surprising death shocked audiences as Frank threw her in front of a subway train. It came completely out of nowhere, and yet made total sense in the context of the show.

Roy Batty - Blade Runner

The death of Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) at the end of Blade Runner has become one of the most legendary deaths of all time. It is not at all what anyone in the audience expected when the main villain of the movie turns into a hero at the very end, saving Deckard (Harrison Ford) before smiling as he dies. Time to die.

Alec Trevelyan - GoldenEye

You knew there was no way this list was going to be complete without including at least one death by a Sean Bean character, right? There have been so many spectacular deaths over the actor's incredible career, but for our money, you can't beat the death of his character Alec Trevelyan in the James Bond movie GoldenEye when Bond drops him to his death and he is crushed to make sure it's final.

Lane Pryce - Mad Men

Mad Men was unlike any other show on TV at the time and Lane Pryce's death by suicide is the perfect example of why. The character, played by Jared Harris was a fan favorite and while story-wise his death made perfect sense, it was still shocking.

William Wallace - Braveheart

Braveheart might be one of the most historically inaccurate films ever made, but William Wallace's death at the end is still pretty spectacular ( and not all that different from what really happened to the Scottish hero). We can't go into all the violent details here, but if you know, you know.

Nick Chevotarevich - The Deer Hunter

One of the most tragic characters in '70s cinema has to be Nick Chevotarevich, played by Christopher Walken. Even after the Vietnam War draws to a close and his best friend makes it back home after escaping a POW camp, Nick gets stuck in Saigon, playing dangerous games of Russian Roulette for months. When Mike (Robert De Niro) finds him, Nick is completely checked out, and that makes his horrible death all the more sad.

Quint - Jaws

Quint (Robert Shaw) is the grizzled fisherman who promises to catch "the fish" in Jaws, but in the end, it's the fish that catches him. As has often been pointed out, one of the most effective things about the classic movie is that the shark is rarely seen, so when Quint is eaten it's one of the scariest and most exciting moments of the movie.

Cyrus 'The Virus' Grissom - Con Air

Cyrus "The Virus" Grissom (John Malkovich) in Con Air is one of the most over-the-top movie villains of the '90s, so of course he had to get killed in an over-the-top spectacular way. First, he is knocked out and handcuffed to a firetruck that crashes into a bridge, tossing Cyrus into some powerlines, and electrocuting him, but that's not all. He then falls into the path of a pile driver doing road work, which comes down on his head.

Private Pyle - Full Metal Jacket

Private Pyle (Vincent D'Onofrio) is, at the beginning of Full Metal Jacket a hopeless Marine recruit who can't do anything right. As the first act of the movie plays out, he gets more competent but also starts to lose his marbles. It all culminates in an incredibly tense scene when he shoots and kills his drill sergeant before turning the gun on himself.

Marissa Cooper - The O.C.

Say what you want about about The O.C., but the creative decision to kill off one of the main characters and star of the show, Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) in Season 3 was a bold one. The way she died, in the arms of Ryan (Ben McKenzie) after a car wreck is just as dramatic as the decision to have the character die.

Jack Torrance - The Shining

That final image of a frozen Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) in The Shining is one of the most enduring snapshots of a movie filled with incredible visual moments. A spectacular villain like Jack deserves a death as memorable as it is.

Sgt. Elias - Platoon

Platoon, as is said in the movie, is a battle for the soul of Chris (Charlie Sheen) between Elias (Willem Dafoe) and Barnes (Tom Berenger). Barnes wins the battle between himself and Elias when he shoots Elias towards the end, but Elias wins Chris' soul with his spectacular death as the helicopters lift away and Elias is left with arms outstretched as the Vietnamese soldiers gun him down for good.

Gennaro - Jurassic Park

We just had to include this one. Donald Gennaro isn't the main character of Jurassic Park, in fact, he's not even one of the main supporting characters. But him getting eaten by the T-Rex while hiding on the toilet is one of the silliest, and most insane deaths, of any movie, ever.

John Doe - Se7en

The ending of Se7en is one of the most talked about and debated, moments in film history. John Doe (Kevin Spacey) completely manipulates David Mills (Brad Pitt) into doing exactly what wants, completely the complete over-the-top murder spree ever seen on the big screen.

There are so many shows out there that are perfect for your next binge. They could be one of the best shows to watch on Netflix or even be an original series for a streaming service – either way, they are full of life and hilarity. And if you're looking for a new show to watch, you might want to consider any of the following options for your next best sitcom.

Friends

I can't have a sitcom list and not write about Friends. The series was a huge hit for several years, running for ten seasons and making the Friends cast the vast stars they are today. The series follows a group of friends who live in New York City and follow their personal and professional lives.

How I Met Your Mother

For nine seasons, How I Met Your Mother dominated the world. The How I Met Your Mother cast was exceptionally popular, with skyrocketing careers, and featured some of the funniest jokes ever. If you ignore the finale (which most tend to do), it's honestly one of the best shows out there. The series follows the main character as he tells his children about how he met their mother.

30 Rock

Created by Tina Fey, 30 Rock ran for seven seasons and was a hilarious addition to the sitcom's run. The series follows the lives of workers at a fictional sketch show in New York City, based on Fey's time working on Saturday Night Live. The 30 Rock cast is hilarious in so many ways.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Okay, so this series is the definition of a long binge. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has run forever, it seems. It follows the story of a group of friends (and one annoying father) who live in Philadelphia and get up to the craziest things (usually illegal). I mean, this series is iconic—it can't really get better than this one.

Abbott Elementary

Abbott Elementary is on the fast track to becoming an all-time great show. The series follows the lives of teachers who work at a public school in Philadelphia and the struggles they have to go through to make their children happy and give them a good environment, as well as their own personal lives.

Frasier

Running for eleven seasons, Frasier is a spinoff of Cheers and follows the psychiatrist Frasier Crane, who travels back home to Seattle and documents his personal and professional life. Talk about an incredible spinoff – and it earned a reboot several years later on Paramount+.

The Office

I mean, obviously, I have to include The Office. Running for eleven seasons, the series followed the lives of workers in a paper company in Scranton and is considered one of the best mockumentary sitcoms of all time. The Office cast is super iconic, and after one watch, you'll be returning to this show like a security blanket.

Community

With six seasons, Community is a fun one to watch. It follows five misfits who go to a community college and form a study group together – which gets them into hilarious situations. The series is hysterical, and while Season 5 is a little iffy (in my personal opinion and many others), it's still worth a binge – especially since a Community movie is in the works.

Cheers

Running for eleven seasons, Cheers is one of the most iconic sitcoms of all time. The show mainly revolves around patrons and friends who gather at a bar as we follow their lives both in and out of the world. The series is responsible for creating several big stars, such as Ted Danson, Kirstie Alley, Kelsey Grammer, and Woody Harrelson.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

While it only ran for four seasons, I personally love Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. The series follows a young woman who was locked away in a bunker for several years only to emerge and find herself a stranger in this new modern world. With the help of some unlikely friends, she finds her path.

Two And A Half Men

As someone who watched Two and a Half Men for the first time a few years ago, I find this series hilarious. Running for twelve seasons and originally starring Charlie Sheen (before switching over to Ashton Kutcher years later), the series follows a man who houses his brother and his son during a divorce and the craziness they get into as time goes on. This series is wild, so be prepared for some jokes that most likely did not age well but are still fun.

Parks And Recreation

Parks and Recreation aired a few years after The Office ended, and people loved this show just as much. The series mainly follows Leslie Knope, who works at the Parks Department in a fictional town and cares deeply about her job, causing headaches for others. If you take a look at the Parks and Recreation cast, you'll see a ton of familiar faces.

That '70s Show

Running for eight seasons, That '70s Show was a series that raised me as a kid. The series follows a group of teenagers who are living in the 1970s and their experiences with the culture there. The series was so popular that it spawned a spinoff years later called That '90s Show, although it was short-lived.

Seinfeld

I mean, obviously, I have to put Seinfeld on here. Created by comedy legends Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, Seinfeld is "a show about nothing," following the lives of a fictionalized version of Seinfeld and his friends in New York City during the 1980s and 90s. The series ran for nine seasons and created the famous Seinfeld cast.

The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

Where was he raised? In West Philadelphia, of course. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air starred Will Smith and followed the story of a young man who is sent to his uncle in Bel-Air after getting into trouble back home in Philly. His mother hopes that his uncle can straighten him out, and it just turns into hilarity for this fresh prince. The series ran for six seasons.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

The Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast is hilarious in every way possible, and I thoroughly recommend this series with my whole heart. The series follows the lives of workers at a fictional police station in New York City, from their professional lives to their own, and how they all intertwine.

The Golden Girls

I have to recommend The Golden Girls. Running for seven seasons and just as iconic as you would expect, the show starred Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty as four older women who lived together in their later years in Miami and the crazy lives they got into.

Bob's Burgers

Animated shows are probably some of the best series to binge because they often have so many seasons, and Bob's Burgers is an excellent example of that. The series, which has been running for fifteen seasons and counting, follows the lives of a family who own a burger shop and what they get up to when they're not in the kitchen—as well as the drama that unfolds in their restaurant. It's hilarious, and I highly recommend it.

I Love Lucy

Of course, I have to put the original sitcom here. I Love Lucy is a classic sitcom starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz as Lucy and Ricky, a couple living in New York City, and the shenanigans that Lucy gets into all the time. I'm often not the best person to recommend older TV shows because most tend to miss the mark, but this is one of the best you can watch. The series ran for six seasons.

Modern Family

Modern Family is an absolute icon, and yes, you need to watch it. Running for eleven seasons, It is exactly what you would expect it to be—it follows the lives of a modern-age family and the craziness they get into. The Modern Family cast is hysterical, and I can assure you that you will laugh several times throughout the show.

The Nanny

"She's the nanny, the nanny named Fran!" I can assure you that the theme song for this show will be stuck in your head by the end of this binge. Running for six seasons, The Nanny, starring Fran Drescher, follows the lives of a fashionista who decides to take on the role of a nanny for three children when she needs the money, only for her life to intertwine with their father, Peter Marc Jacobson.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Created by Larry David and running for twelve seasons (despite that twenty-four-year-long streak), Curb Your Enthusiasm is a hilarious HBO series that stars David as a fictionalized version of himself as he lives in Los Angeles and his days as a retired TV producer and writer, and the stuff he gets into as he deals with all the drama Hollywood can bring.

Full House

The Full House cast is iconic because of how great this series was and how many of us were raised on it, honestly. Full House follows the lives of three men, one a widow, one a brother-in-law, and the other a best friend, who all live in the same house, and work together to raise the children of one after his wife passes away. The series ran for eight seasons.

The Simpsons

Obviously, I have to put The Simpsons on this list. The Simpsons is probably one of the most iconic TV families ever, following the animated tales of Homer and his family as they get into the craziest shenanigans you could ever think of and more.

The Big Bang Theory

Running for twelve seasons, The Big Bang Theory was an extremely successful modern-day sitcom that followed several people living in California. It mainly followed the lives of Leonard and Sheldon, who they ran into as total science nerds, and the friends they surround themselves with.

South Park

South Park has some outrageous episodes, but this is the perfect binge if you want something that's way more adult. The series follows the lives of four fourth-graders in the world of South Park, a fictional town in Colorado, where literally nothing is off the table for the drama they get into. This series is just a lot to handle but so freaking hysterical.

Scrubs

Created by Bill Lawrence (Ted Lasso, Shrinking) and running for nine seasons, Scrubs is the medical sitcom that you're in need of. The series follows the lives of workers at a hospital, following the medical interns as they work their way up in the world and the hilarious things that happen to them.

Schitt's Creek

While Schitt's Creek only ran for four seasons, its impact on pop culture is widely known. The series follows the lives of the Rose family, who suddenly lose everything in their name except for a little town the father bought as a joke years ago – Schitt's Creek, the place where they will begin their return to wealth. The Schitt's Creek cast is absolutely hysterical.

Veep

Starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and running for seven seasons, Veep is a hilarious HBO sitcom and political satire show that will make you laugh for hours on end. The series follows the life of political figure Selina Meyer, who is the Vice President of the United States, and how she deals with what is thrown at her, as well as working with the president who drives her nuts.

Rick And Morty

Created by Dan Harmon, Rick and Morty is one of those animated sitcoms where you never know what is going to happen next, but you know it'll be hilarious. Rick and Morty follows the scientific adventures of Grandpa Rick and his grandson, Morty, as he takes him across multiple dimensions and into situations that really no young boy should ever experience.

Arrested Development

Running for five seasons, with two of them happening in the later years of the 2010s, Arrested Development is the type of show that will make you laugh for hours. The series follows a formerly wealthy family as they try to adjust to normal everyday life – and they most certainly have a hard time doing it.

Everybody Hates Chris

Created by Chris Rock, Everybody Hates Chris stars Tyler James Williams and is loosely based on Rock's life when he was a teenager and what it was like living in New York City back in the 1980s as a teenager. It ran for four seasons (but to me, it should have ran for way more).

Any of these shows would be excellent picks for you to watch next. Now, I feel like I need to have a TV marathon. It's time to dim the lights and get the popcorn once again.

For those who know me, you know I love Halloween. This time of year is my favorite, when I get to sit down, watch some of the best horror films or the best horror TV shows, and just enjoy a spooky season. But you want to know what else I'm a huge fan of? South Park.

For years on end, I've enjoyed watching the most outrageous South Park episodes or even checking out some of the most controversial South Park episodes in general. But when Halloween and South Park combine, it usually means that we're going to get some good television. In honor of my favorite holiday, I decided to rank the South Park Halloween-themed episodes.

10. "Sons A Witches" (Season 22, Episode 6)

"Sons a Witches" came out during the twenty-second season of South Park and featured Randy and all his guy friends going off into the woods for what they call a "Witch Week" where they dress up as witches and just get drunk and high for several days straight. One ends up turning into an actual witch and causing mayhem in South Park.

You know, you'd think I'd like this episode, considering I'm a massive fan of the Harry Potter movies and really anything that has anything to do with witches, but it just didn't hit right. The episode itself parodies a lot of what was going on at the time in the political landscape, and it didn't get me in a spooky mood. This is a shame because I really love any episode in which Randy is featured.

9. "Tegridy Farms Halloween Special" (Season 23, Episode 5)

While there have been several "specials" for South Park now, before there were specials, there was this episode, simply titled "Tegridy Farms Halloween Special," which followed Randy as he tried to promote a new deal on weed for Halloween, but thanks to his daughter, something caused the weed to mutate

Randy and Tegridy Farms has been an up-and-down process for the show. Some episodes are really great, and others are just pure trash. This one sits right in the middle and ranks low among the Halloween episodes. Again, usually, Randy is a knock-out with many of his leading episodes, but this one just didn't hit the mark. I will say the shocking hallucinations were a good add-on, though.

8. "Goth Kids 3: Dawn of the Posers" (Season 17, Episode 4)

In "Goth Kids 3: Dawn of the Posers," the Goth kids team up with the Vamp kids to try and find a way to take down the ultimate poser – Emo kids – when one of their own is converted into an Emo kid.

Look, I'm biased here because I never really liked the Goth kids in South Park anyway. But the addition of brainwashing and everything else makes for a spooky entry. But it's not my favorite.

7. "Korn's Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery" (Season 3, Episode 10)

In this South Park Halloween special, the nu-metal band Korn arrives in South Park for a "Halloween Haunt" but ends up tangled in a mystery about pirate ghosts.

Look, this episode is a clear parody of Scooby-Doo, and I love it. I'm the person who will rewatch the best Scooby-Doo movies and love every new iteration of the franchise (besides Velma), so I'm into this. But man, Korn doesn't belong here. I get what they were trying to do, but they could have used anyone else, and the parody would have worked much better.

6. "Night Of The Living Homeless" (Season 11, Episode 7)

Okay, so "Night of the Living Homeless" isn't necessarily deemed a Halloween episode. Still, most will agree that Halloween is the best time to watch this episode, so it's like an unofficial official Halloween episode. A parody of the many zombie movies out there, the episode follows how homeless people overtake South Park after Kyle donates money to a homeless man.

The episode itself is a great satire on real-life conversations regarding the homeless. More than that, it parodies some excellent zombie films and fits right in the middle of a Halloween ranking. It's a great episode.

5. "The Scoots" (Seasons 22, Episode 5)

"The Scoots" is something I could totally see happening now. The episode follows the residents of South Park as electric scooters take over the streets, and everyone uses them. Mr. Mackey takes it upon himself to try to stop them before everyone uses them on Halloween night to get around.

Normally, this kind of episode would rank lower, but I genuinely enjoy the heck out of it because it's the perfect horror story for today's kids. Instead of walking from house to house, it's all scooters going back and forth and collecting as much candy as possible, and it's just a total mess. Then, it also brings in the fact that Kenny can't afford a phone, so he can't ride a rental scooter. It's an all-around great episode.

4. "Spookyfish" (Season 2, Episode 15)

The earlier seasons of South Park had some of the wildest episodes, and this one revolved around Stan's new goldfish that apparently is evil and killing people left and right – and it's actually from a different dimension of opposite personalities, so it's an evil fish.

Yeah, I know. The whole thing is just kind of wack and hard to follow, but I have to admit that it's one of my favorite Halloween episodes. They manage to do the alternate dimensions and personalities very well, and the jokes are great.

3. "Hell on Earth 2006" (Season 10, Episode 09)

During Halloween in 2006, Satan decides to throw the biggest rager Earth has ever seen in California. Meanwhile, the kids summon Biggie Smalls by saying his name in the mirror three times.

With parodies of Candyman and My Super Sweet 16 somehow working together so effortlessly, there's not a lot I can critique about this episode. It's hilarious, well-timed, and has some great jokes all around. I've seen Satan dressed up in that Britany Spears costume several times now.

2. "Pinkeye" (Season 1, Episode 7)

Arguably, this was the episode I laughed the most during. "Pinkeye" is the very first Halloween special of South Park and follows the town of South Park when a zombie infestation begins to spread that the doctor's mistake for pinkeye at first.

I love this episode for plenty of reasons. A big one is that it came out during the early years of South Park, and the show was doing some wild things. As someone who loves the best zombie movies out there, I was a massive fan of this episode, and it really gets you in the zombie mood.

1. "A Nightmare on FaceTime" (Season 16, Episode 12)

Last but not least, I have to put "A Nightmare on FaceTime" as my number one. While the title is a parody of all the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, the episode itself is a parody of The Shining, one of Stephen King's best movie adaptations. It features a hilarious story about Randy going crazy in a Blockbuster Home Video.

As someone who grew up on the tail end of Blockbuster, this episode brings back happy memories and also makes me laugh my butt off at how accurate it is and how hilarious the parody of The Shining becomes. The B-plot of Stan trick-or-treating on FaceTime with his friends only adds to it.

Truthfully, this is the time of year to check out the most fun Halloween movies or maybe make some fresh apple cider or buy some candy. But if it's just you on Halloween this year, check out these great episodes—trust me, you won't regret it.

For all the differences people have, one thing uniting us is the “I want to be anywhere but here” feeling during unavoidably cringe-worthy situations, which don’t even need to be happening in real life. (Better if not, really.) Certain TV shows are memorably beloved breeding grounds for skin-crawling awkwardness, and we so often can’t get enough. (As such, several series mentioned rank among our picks for the 100 Best Sitcoms.)

For all my personal embarrassments suffered, I can easily take comfort in watching fa-a-a-ar worse things happening to fictional characters and comedians populating such hyper-cringey shows. From classic TV to more current shows, we're journeying down a past best taken with fingers partially covering one's eyes.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Quite possibly the undisputed champions of behavior that would make [insert the worst person you can think of] blush, The Gang from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia exemplifies cringe behavior through a mixture of "zero shame" and "zero empathy," and the ensemble of side characters don't fare better. Frank popping out of a couch in his birthday suit will forever be a haunting highlight.

Extras

A comedian who turned cringe comedy into a lucrative artform, Ricky Gervais' HBO/BBC series Extras excels here for several reasons. Gervais' Andy being a magnet for mishaps, his ever-smiling agent Darren Lamb's blistering candidness, and each episode's self-imploding celebrity cameo. See: Kate Winslet, Daniel Radcliffe, David Bowie, all the rest.

Beavis And Butt-Head

Beavis & Butt-Head's MTV era honed in on disaffected youth and light anarchy, but much of its Paramount+ and Comedy Central revival revels in its gag factor and cringiness. Their exceedingly palpable stupidity has them mistaking a ladies’ room for an escape room, and trying to grow tobacco plants with cigarette butts, but it's always hilarious.

Between Two Ferns

Zany-comedy experts Scott Aukerman and B.J. Porter created the anti-cozy talk show Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis, building upon the Hangover trilogy star's burst of stand-up comedy popularity. Celebrities like Michael Cera, Jon Hamm and Charlize Theron went through the ad-libbed interview wringer, never quite syncing with the host.

Married...With Children

The Bundys are the TV family equivalent of “nice place to visit, but wouldn’t want to live there,” but Married…with Children is indeed a grimace-provoking joy to visit. For 11 seasons. Al, Peg, Kelly and Bud are the most eye-twitchingly cringey people in the room, whether singular or in group form, and we root for them anyway, despite their inherent grossness and complete lack of self-awareness.

Nathan For You

A unique blend of docuseries and improvisation, Nathan for You is a rare example of equal-opportunity cringe, where not everything relies on characters’ embarrassment. Here, a fictionalized version of Nathan Fielder aims to help real small businesses in baffling and complicated ways that speak to his own personal hang-ups. (Everybody remember Dumb Starbucks?) It’s incredible watching everyone’s befuddled faces as they try to make logical sense of Nathan’s gonzo ideas and suggestions.

Da Ali G Show

Sasha Baron Cohen became an internationally renowned comedian with Da Ali G Show, which birthed “voice of da yoof” host Ali G and two ready-for-spinoff characters: Kazakhstan implant Borat and gay Austrian fashion designer Brüno. Cohen’s brash comedy definitely makes certain viewers squirmy in any setting, but he’s arguably best known for agonizing interviews with celebs and politicians who are utterly clueless.

The Larry Sanders Show

No clicking! Based in part on star and co-creator Garry Shandling’s Tonight Show guest-host experiences, The Larry Sanders Show is upper-echelon comedy, and much of its humor stems from things going sour in the lives of Larry and his optimistically beleaguered TV sidekick Hank Kingsley. While perhaps not as unendingly cringe-inducing as other classics, more than enough misguided decisions and implosions go down for viewers to suffer first-degree second-hand embarrassment.

Fawlty Towers

If the Mount Rushmore of TV Cringe existed, John Cleese’s Basil Fawlty would be hastily carved up there, given how staggeringly awkward things get at the titular hotel. Basil’s stubborn pride, sporadic laziness, and standoffish nature makes him socially combative with wife Sybil (Prunella Scales), Spanish waiter Manuel (the late, great Andrew Sachs), and guests both fancy and commonplace. Only 12 episodes exist, and “The Germans” and “The Kipper and the Corpse” are stomach-churning standouts.

The Increasingly Poor Decisions Of Todd Margaret

David Cross’s pitch-black IFC comedy The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret deserves a permanent award for Most Applicable Title. Every episode is a wildly amusing exercise in spectator patience, as temp worker Todd becomes chaos incarnate with every move and word, leading to increasingly heightening consequences. Cross’ ability to make viewers want to die inside remains immaculately intact across all seasons, with an intentional shift in story for the third.

Hello Ladies

The Office and Extras vet Stephen Merchant struck out on his own to strike out with women as Hello Ladies' L.A. import Stuart Pritchard. Alongside co-stars Kevin Weisman and Kyle Mooney, Merchant brilliantly leans into making Stuart a vexatious magnet for disaster who never quite lose his ability to smile and move on to the next romantic dumpster fire.

I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson

So much cringe comedy is set to traditional sitcom runtimes, but I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson aims to make viewers as uproariously uncomfortable as quickly as possible. Episodes clock in around 15 minutes, but feature a week’s worth of social horror, from office workers lying about eating hot dogs during meetings to drivers taking joke bumper stickers literally to pageants for “Little Buff Boys.”

The Tom Green Show

A pioneer of televised indie comedy, Tom Green broke into the mainstream for his willingness to do anything to get any reaction from those watching. The stunts and shock comedy, mixed with bare-bones production values, inspired many shows to come, but few could top the innate discomfort of watching Green make life hell for his parents, suckle cow udders, or test random business employees' patience with his eccentric behavior.

Worst Week

Based on a UK sitcom, CBS’ Worst Week starred Kyle Bornheimer and Erinn Hayes as agent-of-mayhem Sam and pregnant fiancé Mel, whose goals of surprising her family with wedding and baby news could not go worse. (Her ever-frustrated dad is played by That ‘70s Show great Kurtwood Smith.) We’re talking exploding vehicles, misplaced family heirlooms, mishandled Christmas gifts, dirty diapers, and so much more.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Aline Brosh McKenna and Rachel Bloom's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is a musical comedy series like no other, centering on a behaviorally challenged lawyer who inexplicably moves across the country for a childhood crush. Unabashedly candid about mental struggles, feminism, and all manner of relationships, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is perhaps The CW's most brilliant series, leaving audiences both emotionally crushed and highly amused by Rebecca’s life choices and A+ musical fantasies.

The Inbetweeners

The Inbetweeners is the perfect personification of post-pubescent teenage boyhood, putting a giant magnifying glass on rampantly inappropriate awkwardness. Friends Will, Simon, Jay and Neil strive for popularity and romance, failing miserably every time. It’s impossible to avoid second-hand humiliation from episodes like “Caravan Club” and “The Fashion Show,” not to mention the spinoff film's waterslide terror.

Family Guy

Among the most popular animated series of all time , Family Guy has never strayed from its core tenets: cutaway gags and morally exempt characters. Where most shows put forth one-note cringe, the awk sauce inspired by Quagmire and Herbert is on a completely different planet — probably Uranus — from Meg-specific ickiness, but it dovetails nonetheless. Just like that time I tailed those two doves. [Cutaway to noir bird sanctuary.]

The Mick

It’s Always Sunny great Kaitlin Olson fronted arguably broadcast TV’s raunchiest and most cringe-worthy comedy. Olson’s Mickey and sporadic boif Jimmy (Scott MacArthur) are the worst conceivable guardians for the Pemberton siblings, and all are privy to the most horrifying downward spirals across each episode of The Mick, where unimpeded greed and pride lead to various forms of physical trauma and emotional stunting. If it makes Thomas Barbusca’s Chip scream like a woman, watch out.

Ziwe

Satire queen Ziwe Fumudoh created cringe gold with Baited with Ziwe, but went platinum with Showtime's Ziwe. With interviews akin to the Daily Show’s best, Ziwe leads guests unwittingly down self-exposing paths to test their limits, assuming they exist. (Chet Hanks = pret-ty limitless.) Beloved personalities like Phoebe Bridgers, Fran Lebowitz, and Michael Che can't escape becoming victims of silence-provoking cringe.

Freaks And Geeks

To be sure, Freaks and Geeks is more heart-on-its-sleeve comedy than cringe-heavy, but few would argue that much of what happens to John Francis Daley’s Sam, Martin Starr’s Bill and Samm Levine’s Neal across the dramedy’s iconic single season classifies as relateably awkward. Maybe not everyone has worn a Parisian night suit to school, or accidentally pooped, or had crushes refer to them as siblings, but we all know that feeling of “bury me deep” discomfort.

The Office (UK)

With a face even a mother would warily shrug at, Ricky Gervais' David Brent made life an uncomfortable hellscape for Wernham Hogg employees and audiences. At no moment is David Brent not a cringe monster, from his goonish and seemingly unending dances to his attempts at flirting to his legendary music video for "If You Don't Know Me By Now." And yet, Tim and Dawn...

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Larry David took Seinfeld's circular plotting and applied it to a fictional version of his own life along with an unhealthy injection of audience-shocking cringe. It doesn't even matter how telegraphed the path is from Larry's buffoonish actions to inevitable calamity, it always works, and it always makes me want to jump into my television to apologize to whatever man, woman, child, or animal Larry just offended.

The Eric Andre Show

Part of the point of The Eric Andre Show is not knowing what to expect, but you can be absolutely certain watching host Eric André's antics (and his guests' faces) will rank highly among the most awkward moments of your day. This is the high bar for cringe talk shows, and you don't want to know what it's slathered with.

The Curse

The rare hour-long drama that can also clock as cringe-comedy, Nathan Fielder and Emma Stone's The Curse checks all the boxes thanks to Asher and Whitney sacrificing their better instincts to secure an HGTV show based on an unproven and potentially harmful premise. Co-creator Benny Safdie's chaos-minded muse and in-show director further necessitates bathroom breaks just to escape.

The Life And Times Of Tim

HBO is the home to A+ discomfort, and Steve Dildarian’s animated comedy The Life and Times of Tim fits squarely in that mold, with a dose of Nick Kroll in there for good measure. Every episode is guaranteed to spin out into bafflingly absurd situations often caused by the main character's questionable actions.

The Comeback

Lisa Kudrow followed mega-hit Friends with the Hollywood-skewing cringe-fest The Comeback, centering on actress Valerie Cherish's returns to the limelight across two years-apart seasons. Due to the reality TV element, Kudrow delivers a layered, career-best performance that rarely allows her authentic self to shine, while all the other parts of herself are hauntingly inappropriate.

Peep Show

UK comedy kings David Mitchell and Robert Webb produced a magnum cinge-us with Peep Show, whose first-person-perspective visual format locks viewers into the front row of horrors like Mark and Dobby's closet shenanigans, the Christmas special dinner and the wedding.

South Park

South Park's characters have been an entertainment staple, and its creators have yet to lose control of delivering hatchet-sharp satire in plenty of cringe-friendly ways. It's easier to think about topics that haven't been awkwardly skewered by this show than vice versa.

Tim And Eric Awesome Show, Great Job

Adult Swim ambassadors Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim are a cringe TV industry unto themselves, and the monolithic Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job gets under viewers' skin immediately with its title punctuation, and it only gets better / worse from there.

The Rehearsal

Cringe-master Nathan Fielder mixes real life with production design magic for HBO’s The Rehearsal, in which normal people practice an array of difficult impending conversations from their real lives, set in painstaking recreations of subjects’ homes and other real-world locations (like a Raising Cane’s restaurant). It’s a baffling mix of reality and absurdity that makes me itchy just thinking about being at the center of an episode.

The Office (U.S.)

Perhaps the most successful UK-to-U.S. remake ever, Greg Daniels’ The Office successfully imprinted David Brent’s “please like me” personality onto Steve Carell’s Michael Scott, and cringe-comedy history ensued. The mockumentary arguably lasted too long, but its best years will forever be celebrated for HBP-inducing eps such as “The Dundies,” “Safety Training,” “Stress Relief” and more. Jim and Pam are adored for good reason, but nothing overshadows Michael’s ugh factor.

Louie

The Emmy-winning Louie will likely never escape the shadow of creator Louis C.K.’s real-life controversies, but that doesn’t necessarily change its five-season run delivering some of TV’s most cringe-inducing moments. The main character’s inherently humiliating nature makes him suck with women, suck at professional life, and kinda suck with his kids. Louie is also noteworthy for its meta-cringe episode that addressed C.K.’s legitimate joke-stealing accusations against Dane Cook.

South Park is as unapologetic as TV shows can get, and has ruffled feathers aplenty with some of its most controversial episodes. Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone also aren't afraid to let the series show love to its setting of Colorado, and that applies to paying to renovate the Casa Bonita restaurant when it had financial troubles, as well as honoring its populous' massive love for the Denver Broncos. But does John Elway himself actually like being alleged to be Eric Cartman's dad?

I'd always wondered, and as fate would have it, Elway was recently unmasked as Leaf Sheep on The Masked Singer. He was gracious enough to talk to CinemaBlend about the experience, as well as what he thought about being referenced on South Park over the years. Much to my surprise, it turns out the two-time Super Bowl-winning champion has watched the show in recent years:

The "Duke of Denver" isn't bothered by his South Park portrayal in the slightest, which is great to hear. In fairness, he's gotten far better treatment on the animated hit than other celebrities. Outside of being suggested as Eric Cartman's father, at least before it was disproven, the children also made sacrifices to his statue in "City On The Edge Of Forever," and various other pictures of him have popped up on the show.

Not every celebrity referenced in South Park has gotten away with such a favorable portrayal, as mentioned. Singer Lizzo took her diss in stride when she saw how she was referenced in the "Streaming Wars" special in 2023, but Jennifer Lopez was so offended by her portrayal in Season 7's "Fat Butt and Pancake Head" that she snubbed the creators at an event.

Fortunately, it seems like there is all love for Matt Stone and Trey Parker as far as John Elway is concerned. I'm hoping that, if the creators are genuinely big fans of the player, they can find a way to get him involved in a future episode, just because I never would've guessed he was someone who watched South Park. I guess even Hall of Fame NFL players need something ridiculous to laugh at when during downtime, and we shouldn't be all that surprised they're also watching the same irreverent shows we are.

Now, this just has me wondering what other celebrities are watching South Park, and how they might feel about suddenly becoming the subject of an episode someday. Perhaps there's some secret elite support group we don't know about where they share those feelings, which, ironically enough, might also be a great pitch for a South Park episode.

South Park is available to stream with a Max subscription, though anyone with a Paramount+ subscription can watch a few of their streaming exclusive specials. As for The Masked Singer, Season 12 just kicked off and airs on Fox on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that some of the best TV theme songs are courtesy of some of the greatest musicians in pop culture. Iconic TV theme songs can be as fondly remembered as the characters on the show, sometimes even more so. These are themes that still slap because they were created by the best of the best. Here is our list of some of the great songs that became iconic TV theme songs.

Friends - The Rembrandts

The legend goes that REM was first approached to have their song "Shiny Happy People" used as the theme song to Friends, but they turned the producers down. According to Michael Stipe, the producers then turned to the LA-based dup The Rembrandts to write an REM-like song. Frankly, "I'll Be There For You," the song that became a hit as the theme doesn't sound much like REM, but it's a great song, even if the band found the fame very stressful and almost quit over it. 

Orange Is The New Black - Regina Spektor

The creative team behind Orange Is The New Black found the perfect voice in Regina Spektor to compose and perform the theme song for the show. "You've Got Time" was written for the show and lyrically and musically it fits the show perfectly. 

The Wire - Tom Waits

The Wire did something unique with its theme song. Each season, the same song, a dark, brooding song called "Way Down In The Hole" written by Tom Waits and included on his 1987 classic album  Franks Wild Years. In the first season, it was performed by The Blind Boys of Alabama. Waits' original version was used for Season 2. Seasons three and four saw the theme performed by  The Neville Brothers and a group of local Baltimore kids dubbed  DoMaJe, respectively. For the fifth and final season, singer-songwriter Steve Earle, who also played Waylon on the show, did the song. 

The Golden Girls - Andrew Gold

"Thank You For Being A Friend" is certainly most well known for being the theme to the classic sitcom The Golden Girls, but it was written and recorded by singer Andrew Gold almost a decade earlier and became a top 25 hit in 1978. Singer Cindy Fee sang the TV version. 

Get A Life - REM

In the early days of the Fox network, they were throwing anything and everything at the wall to see what stuck. One brilliant show that never found its audience was Get A Life starring Chris Elliott, now most famous as being from the cast of Schitt's Creek. The show even featured "Stand" by REM as its theme. 

Boardwalk Empire - The Brian Jonestown Massacre

HBO's Boardwalk Empire may have been set in the 1920s, but the theme is from the 1990s. The song, "Straight Up and Down" comes from the excellent 1996 album Take It From The Man by the notorious Brian Jonestown Massacre. Side note - that's the best band name ever. 

A Different World - Aretha Franklin

When A Different World was spun off from the most popular sitcom of its era, The Cosby Show, you know they had to go big with the theme song. It doesn't get any bigger than the Queen of Soul herself, the legendary Aretha Franklin, who sang the theme song for Seasons 2 through 5 after Phoebe Snow sang it in the first season. Later Boyz II Men took over. 

Freaks And Geeks - Joan Jett

Joan Jett didn't give a darn about her bad reputation, nor did the characters in Freaks and Geeks, making the rocker's song, "Bad Reputation" the perfect theme song for the beloved cult show. 

The Big Bang Theory - The Barenaked Ladies

A show about nerds deserves a theme song by a band made of, let's be honest, other nerds. The Barenaked Ladies had a slew of hits in the '90s with their unique brand of dorky, catchy tunes like "Brian Wilson" and "If I Had A Million Dollars," and that aesthetic was perfect for The Big Bang Theory's theme about the origins of the universe. 

China Beach - The Supremes

In the late 1980s, Baby Boomer nostalgia was at its peak, with shows from the '60s being rebooting left and right, and shows like China Beach, about the Vietnam War, finding success on the airwaves. The theme song had to fit the era, and so the producers chose "Reflections" from 1967 by Diana Ross and The Supremes. 

South Park - Primus

An offbeat cartoon like South Park needs an offbeat theme song, so there was no better choice than to enlist Les Claypool and Primus to write and perform it. The theme has become iconic and Primus has even occasionally played it in concert. You just can't imagine the show beginning with anything but that twangy intro. 

The Proud Family - Solange And Destiny's Child

Let's be honest, it's kind of shocking that The Proud Family only aired for two seasons on the Disney Channel in the early '00s. It was a ground-breaking cartoon featuring an African-American family and as such, it deserved a theme song by legends like Solange and Destiny's Child. 

Entourage - Jane's Addiction

HBO's Entourage has one of the coolest intros of any TV show of its era as the characters cruise through Hollywood in a vintage convertible. The Jane's Addiction song "Superhero" plays over the scenes, adding to that coolness. It's a song that comes from JA's 2003 release Strays, but feels very much like it could have been written for the show. 

Dog The Bounty Hunter - Ozzy Osbourne

Dog The Bounty Hunter was a wild show, and having one of rock's wildest characters, Ozzy Osbourne perform the theme song was a match made in heaven. It doesn't sound much like a song you'd expect from the heavy metal legend, but you can't mistake his trademark vocals. Really, it's the best part about the show, if we're honest. 

Miami Vice - Jan Hammer

Jan Hammer might not be a household name, but he's played with some of the biggest jazz and rock legends of all time. His career stretches back to the late 1960s and throughout the '70s he played with legends like Billy Cobham, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, and John McLaughlin. He also composed virtually all of the music for Miami Vice throughout the show's entire run, including the iconic theme song. 

House - Massive Attack

If you watch House on a streaming service, you likely won't hear the song it originally used as its theme, "Teardrop" by Massive Attack. Instead, there is a generic song that vaguely sounds close to that song but is not nearly as good. 

That '70s Show - Cheap Trick

The theme to That '70s Show has a disjointed history. The song, "In the Street," was originally written and performed by Big Star, and released in 1972. A slightly reworked version, renamed "That '70s Song" was performed by Todd Griffin for the show's first season. Starting in Season 2, Cheap Trick recorded a version of "That '70s Song" which remained the theme for the rest of the show's eight-season run. 

The Drew Carey Show - The Presidents Of The United States of America

The best-known theme song from The Drew Carey Show is "Cleveland Rocks" by the Seattle band The Presidents of the United States of America. However, it actually had a completely different theme in its first season, a song by Carey himself called "Moon Over Parma." 

All That - TLC

Nickelodeon's All That was groundbreaking in a lot of ways. An SNL for kids that helped launch the careers of actors like Nick Cannon, Kennan Thompson, Kel Mitchell, Gabriel Iglesias, and Jamie Lynn Spears. It has to be said that the TLC, who performed the theme song also got a boost from the show, though they were already pretty huge when they recorded it. 

Malcolm in the Middle - They Might Be Giants

In a lot of ways, Malcolm in the Middle defines what being a kid in the early 2000s was all about. Though it was about Milennial childhood, the band who recorded the theme song, They Might Be Giants, are Gen X stalwarts. "Boss of Me" even won the group a Grammy. 

Dawson's Creek - Paula Cole

Paula Cole's song "I Don't Want To Wait" was first released on her 1996 album This Fire and hit #11 on the Billboard charts in 1997. In 1998, it became the theme song for Dawson's Creek and has become simply iconic in the years since. 

The Wonder Years - Joe Cocker

Of course, a show set in the '60s had to have an epic '60s song for its theme song. For The Wonder Years that meant going with Joe Cocker's version of The Beatles' "A Little Help From My Friends." Due to its appearance at the beginning of every episode, Cocker's version is at least as well known by Gen X as the original by the Fab Four, if not more. 

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - The Who

The original CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, set in Las Vegas, spawned spin-offs set in Miami and New York, and all the shows used songs by The Who as their theme songs. For the original, it was "Who Are You," for CSI: Miami it was "Won't Get Fooled Again," and for CSI: NY it was "Baba O'Riley." The short-lived CSI: Cyber, which only had 31 episodes also used a song by The Who, "I Can See For Miles."

One Day At A Time - Gloria Estefan

When One Day At A Time was rebooted by Netflix in 2017, this time about a Latino family, the famous theme song was recorded by one of the greatest Latin artists of all time, Gloria Estefan. You couldn't have asked for a better match. 

Weeds - Malvina Reynolds

Malvina Reynolds has one of the most fascinating stories in 20th-century music. She didn't even start her career in earnest until she was in her forties and her biggest hit, "Little Boxes," was written and recorded until she was in her 60s. The song, first released in 1962, became a hit again as the theme song to Weeds in the '00s. 

The O.C. - Phantom Planet

The most famous member of Phantom Planet is an actor and drummer, Jason Schwartzman, so it tracks that they would find their biggest success when their song "California" was picked to be the theme song of The O.C. Without a doubt, it's a banger and fits the show perfectly. 

Gilmore Girls - Carole King

Carole King's massive hit album Tapestry sold millions of copies on the strength of two hit songs, "I Feel The Earth Move" and "It's Too Late." A third song from that album, "Where You Lead" was re-recorded by King and served as the theme song to Gilmore Girls decades after it was first written. 

Married... With Children - Frank Sinatra

When it comes to 20th Century recording artists, it doesn't get any bigger than Old Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra. You wouldn't expect one of his biggest hits, "Love and Marriage" to serve as the theme to a raunchy sitcom like Married... With Children, and yet it works perfectly. 

Veronica Mars - The Dandy Warhols

The show Veronica Mars and the band that performed the theme song, "We Used to Be Friends," by The Dandy Warhols, have something in common. Both the show and the band were critically lauded and gained a loyal and rabid fanbase, but neither really broke through to a broader mainstream audience. Fitting partners, for sure. 

Party Of Five -  BoDeans

For more than a decade, starting in the early '80s, Wisconsin band BoDeans worked hard to develop their career in music. It all came together for them in the early '90s with their album Go Slow Down, which featured their hit "Closer To Free." The song ended up as the theme song to Party Of Five and has since become iconic. 

Sanford & Son - Quincy Jones

When it comes to TV theme songs, there is not bigger banger than the theme to Sanford & Son. The infectious, impossibly funky tune was written by one of the all greats, composer and producer Quincy Jones. So if you ever wondered what made it so great, there's your answer. 

Ed - Foo Fighters

For decades, The Foo Fighters have been on top of the rock n' roll world. There isn't much that the Dave Grohl-led band hasn't done and that includes having a song serve as a theme song to a TV show. Ed was an underrated hit show on NBC in the early '00s and the Foos' "Next Year" was a great choice for a theme.

Oh god, how do I even start this? 

South Park is one of those shows that you really can’t escape within modern-day media. You can try, but somehow, it will always find its way back to you. South Park has plenty to offer – but with so many seasons, some episodes are just purely and utterly outrageous for a variety of reasons – and today, we’re going to go over them.  

“200” & “201” (Season 14, Episodes 5 & 6)

I mean, I don’t even think I have to explain why these two episodes of South Park are completely outrageous. These episodes were meant to be benchmarks for the series as a whole, but because South Park wanted to depict Muhammad, the Prophet of the Islamic religion, they were heavily censored, and the episode itself is nearly impossible to watch.

“Kenny Dies” (Season 5, Episode 13) 

South Park is pretty much known for its running gags, and one of the most popular ones was watching Kenny, one of the central four boys, get killed off in different ways in each episode. But it seemed the creators back in Season 5 got sick of it and permanently killed Kenny off for a bit – which is just outrageous. Eventually, however, he does come back way down the line in the show. 

“All About Mormons” (Season 7, Episode 12)

The episode itself follows the boys as they meet a new kid who moves into South Park, whose family is Mormon. The show, created by the same guys who made the modern musical The Book of Mormon, humorously tackles the complexity of religion. However, the Mormon Church still was not a massive fan of the portrayal, which makes it outrageous. 

“Trapped In The Closet” (Season 9, Episode 12)

“Trapped In The Closet” is one of the most iconic episodes of South Park for so many reasons, but the biggest one that makes it outrageous is that this episode really introduced the idea of Scientology to the general public and made jokes about it for a half hour. It’s impossible to watch this episode and not think of how many controversies it stirred up—which means it deserves its rightful place on this list. 

“Gnomes” (Season 2, Episode 17)

Leave it to South Park to make the hilarious episode about something so trivial like gnomes stealing underpants and how it’s all a secret business plan that can somehow make them profit:

“Phase 1: Collect Underpants. Phase 2: ? Phase 3: Profit.” Yes, this joke has lasted for this long, and it’s still just as funny. 

“Medicinal Fried Chicken” (Season 14, Episode 3)

I…don’t even want to get into why this is outrageous. If you’ve seen the episode, you know. If you haven’t, let’s say, um…Randy and a bunch of other men bounce around the town with…enlarged body parts. That’s all I’ll say. That’s the most I can describe. 

“The List (Season 11, Episode 14)

“The List” is outrageous in a different way, mainly because it’s just so funny, and people often forget about it. When the girls of South Park Elementary post a list of the cutest boys in school, some take it way too seriously, while others lose their minds over it. And it’s so freaking hilarious.  

“Bloody Mary” (Season 9, Episode 14)

Alright, “Bloody Mary” is outrageous for a few reasons. It’s funny, don’t get me wrong. Still, it certainly makes fun of yet another religion that caused the Catholic Church to speak out against it for its profane imagery of the Virgin Mary as a statue and excreting a bodily fluid onto Randy in the hope it’ll cure his alcoholism. Yeah, let’s leave it at that. 

“Dead Kids” (Season 22, Episode 11)

As someone who grew up in modern-day school and has seen the impact that mass violence has left on students today, “Dead Kids” takes a humorous look at the issue and shows that some children are just so used to it now that it’s almost funny. Obviously, it’s not, and seeing Stan’s mother still freak out about it is how we all should feel, but it’s a great way to show how society is slowly becoming numb to topics like this. 

“Tsst” (Season 10, Episode 7)

The earlier seasons of South Park were not afraid to make drastic comparisons for how crazy these main four kids were. In “Tsst,” they compare Cartman to a dog when his mother decides to bring in a supposed “dog whisperer” Cesar Millan to curb his bratty behavior. That’s right, Cartman is treated like a dog, and it's hilarious for all the right reasons. 

“The Death Camp Of Tolerance” (Season 6, Episode 14)

The entirety of this outrageous South Park episode targets homophobia, but what really makes it stand out is the gerbil that goes on a parody adventure of The Hobbit as he…travels through the body of someone. And we won’t say how it got there. 

“Put It Down” (Season 21, Episode 2)

South Park almost felt like a fever dream during the Trump administration, and this episode was personally one of my most outrageous favorites because it focuses on Twitter. Specifically, it focuses on the tweets that confident political leaders put out that cause panic and deals with that topic in a great and hilarious way. 

“Fishsticks” (Season 13, Episode 5)

I can’t tell you how many times I have heard this joke in my life. “Fishsticks” has cemented itself into pop culture literally just because of the joke it’s about, and has probably made an entire generation, such as mine, laugh and have a particular image of pop star Kanye West. 

“Mr. Hankey, The Christmas Poo” (Season 1, Episode 9)

As someone who loves watching the best Christmas movies or Christmas specials, I will say that when I first watched South Park, I was not expecting “Mr. Hankey, The Christmas Poo” because what’s more outrageous than a Christmas special focusing on a piece of fecal matter who is somehow the embodiment of Christmas spirit? I can’t even fathom this. 

“The Return Of Chef” (Season 10, Episode 1)

I feel like “The Return of Chef” is outrageous for a few things, mainly because the voice actor behind Chef left the show thanks to the depictions it made of the Church of Scientology, but what makes it worse is that it’s not even the actor doing the voice role. It’s just a bunch of clips that are edited together for Chef’s final exit. 

The Whole Game Of Thrones Parody Trilogy (Season 17, Episodes 7-9)

Look, I am a massive fan of Game of Thrones. I watch the shocking moments of Game of Thrones, and I love the Game of Thrones cast. I am a big advocate for anything ASOIAF. But this parody is so outrageously funny that I have to put it here. I have to. 

Taking place over three episodes, the series perfectly parodies Game of Thrones and teaches the audience a valuable, comedic lesson about today’s consumerism and the need for the next new thing. I love it so much. 

“It Hits The Fan” (Season 5, Episode 1)

You know…it hits the fan. The singular word that I can’t say here is uttered a total of 162 times throughout the episode, and the amount of gore is on display for twenty-two minutes. Yeah…this is about as outrageous as it can get. 

“The Tale of Scrotie McBoogerballs” (Season 14, Episode 2)

“The Tale of Scrotie McBoogerballs” is possibly one of the funniest episodes, in my opinion, because the boys try to write the dirtiest, nastiest book ever, and they accomplish that and more. The amount of times I have seen cartoon characters vomit in this episode is enough for me never to see it again. 

“The Worldwide Privacy Tour” (Season 26, Episode 2)

Later seasons of South Park feel a lot tamer. Still, I have to put this outrageous episode here because, of course, the creators take a shot at one of the most powerful families ever – London royals, and how they want “privacy” but are promoting their book and TV show and everything else. And yes, it’s honestly hysterical. 

“Tegridy Farms” (Season 22, Episode 4) 

In Season 22, Randy decides to move his family out to a farm – hence the title, “Tegridy Farms” – to become a farmer for a specific plant that is used for recreational purposes. The idea itself isn’t outrageous, as it’s legal in many more parts of the world and country now, but it’s the fact that he still lives on the farm several seasons and specials later. He doesn’t want to give “Tegridy” up. 

“The Losing Edge” (Season 9, Episode 5) (because of Randy)

Randy is hands down one of the funniest characters in South Park, and I have to put “The Losing Edge” here because I solely remember this episode because of him. The boys join a Little League in a parody of sports films, but Randy takes it too seriously, gets drunk at every game, and literally fights other dads. 

“Crème Fraiche” (Season 14, Episode 14)

Randy has had some great moments but, uh…let’s just say his obsession with the best cooking shows during “Crème Fraiche” takes the cake and makes me literally never want to cook again thanks to the implication. That, along with his wife using a shake weight that lets out a puff of water that looks awfully close to something NSFW, makes this outrageous. 

“Member Berries” (Season 20, Episode 1)

At this point in my life, South Park Season 20 feels like a distant memory when it came out during my freshman year of college. But let me tell you, I still quote these stupid member berries. I still say, “Member when we had” and add in whatever after because this episode cemented itself in my brain just like the Member Berries did for the people of South Park. 

“The China Problem” (Season 12, Episode 8)

I literally could have gone my entire life without seeing “The China Problem." The term ‘outrageous’ almost doesn’t feel like a good enough way to describe this episode. It's also just incredibly offensive to Chinese individuals and is just really, really bad - it's funny, but also bad. 

“Cartoon Wars” (Season 10, Episodes 3 & 4)

“Cartoon Wars” is an excellent example of how sometimes, even South Park can’t get away with things when Comedy Central refused to broadcast some of their episodes thanks to trying to show an image of Mohammed. The episode itself is nearly impossible to find online nowadays, thanks to how controversial these two are.

“Woodland Critter Christmas” (Season 8, Episode 14)

So, fun fact – this was actually the first South Park Christmas special I ever saw, and I watched it with my mom. Yeah…that happened. And I never watched it again because I could go my whole life without seeing those cute little creatures turning into the monsters that become later on in the episodes. 

“Ginger Kids” (Season 9, Episode 11)

Outrageous for funny reasons, “Ginger Kids,” which cemented the idea that “gingers have no soul,” became iconic for so many reasons. Not only is it funny, but it was a huge moment for pop culture, and it makes me snicker every single time I watch it. 

“You’re Turning Old” (Season 15, Episode 7) 

“You’re Turning Old” isn’t controversial, but it is outrageous for a few reasons. One, one of the boys actually gets older, which never happens in South Park, but the other reason is that when Stan gets older, everything he likes starts to sound like something he doesn’t like, and it’s a metaphor for when we get older, we grow out of things. It’s almost sad – which makes it outrageous in specific ways. 

“Krazy Kripples” (Season 7, Episode 2)

I could go into a thousand different reasons as to why “Krazy Kripples” is outrageous, but let’s say that it takes a look at the disabled community and gangs in a way that is most offensive and hilarious. 

“Scott Tenorman Must Die” (Season 5, Episode 4)

I think “Scott Tenorman Must Die” is one of those episodes that forever lives with you, where Cartman makes it his mission to get revenge on Scott Tenorman, his older half-brother, and does so in the most vile way possible that it makes the rest of Cartman’s friends never want to anger him – for fear of what Cartman did to Scott. 

“Imaginationland” (Season 4, Episodes 10-12)

These three episodes are outrageous for many reasons. The gore, the story, the fact that Butters is the person who has to “save the realm” when the world of imagination breaks into the real world – it’s perfect for so many reasons, which is why it needs to be on this list, and I find myself. 

“Grounded Vindaloop” (Season 18, Episode 7)

There’s nothing quite like a great sci-fi parody, and “Grounded Vindaloop” is that and more. The episode follows Butters getting tricked into wearing a fake VR headset, and everything he sees is a virtual reality, but things take a turn when Cartman is thrown into the loop and he’s in an actual virtual reality – yeah, it’s almost too much to get in here and hilarious in so many ways. 

This honestly makes me want to watch the best South Park episodes again and again – and probably get disgusted by even more outrageous ones that aren’t even on this list. Pray for me. 

Through almost three decades of laughter, some of the best South Park episodes have upset some pretty powerful people. While that’s exactly what Matt Stone and Trey Parker engineered the show to do, it was their infamous outfits from the 72nd Academy Awards in 2000 that resulted in one of their favorite celebrity reactions.

And as it turns out, the stunt that saw Stone and Parker respectively dressed in famous dresses worn by Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lopez caused JLo herself to react with a pretty pronounced snub on that night’s red carpet. In an interview shared via The GoodSon’s YouTube channel, South Park co-creator/co-star Trey Parker shared what he felt was the best celebrity reaction to one of their collective shenanigans.

Laying out the story of why he thinks the Atlas star was so upset, Parker shared this:

And here I thought the most heated reaction to South Park was that lawsuit between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery for the streaming rights. For those looking for some context, Trey Parker was nominated for “Best Original Song,” on behalf of the South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut song “Blame Canada.” And of course, he took Matt Stone as his plus one to an occasion that naturally calls for attendees to dress to impress.

That story is also shared in the clip below from the documentary 6 Days To Air. However, I share this video not only to show off how they looked in the dresses, but also for their own story about how their mischievous minds had a little more fuel than usual when it came to their choice of wardrobe:

What’s funny is this particular Oscar night may have inspired two absurdly funny gags on South Park. It certainly gave Stone and Parker the seed for a running gag involving the fact that they lost the honors for “Best Original Song” to Phil Collins’ “You’ll Be In My Heart” from Tarzan. Between his appearance in several episodes, as well as the pair’s frequent roasting of the Academy Award winning songwriter through various interviews, that comedic grudge is clear as day.

But I’m wondering if the Season 7 episode “Fat Butt and Pancake Head” was given a little extra as a result of the JLo snub. Sure, Jennifer Lopez’s recollection of “Bennifer” press coverage of her with then fiancé/now husband Ben Affleck as easy tabloid fodder showed how easy a target their relationship happened to be. But learning about this interaction kind of makes me want to go back to that South Park classic and see it with a different, more modern eye.

Okay, so maybe I also want a good laugh from one of my personal favorite episodes. And if you’re looking to head on up to South Park to see if you can’t unwind, the series can be streamed through the powers of a Max subscription.

However, you’ll need a Paramount+ subscription to complete the set, as the more recent special events are exclusives to that platform. So if you’re curious about the recent Lizzo joke from South Park: The End of Obesity, you’ll need to be specific in where you go looking.

Though television programming existed in various forms for more than a decade before the first situation comedies officially arrived in the late 1940s, the sitcom quickly became one of the most popular and duplicated genres for the next 80+ years. From stand-up comics to Hollywood icons, sitcoms are responsible for some of pop culture’s biggest stars, from Jerry Seinfeld to Jennifer Aniston to Dick Van Dyke to Lucille Ball, as well as some of the most memorable catchphrases.

Despite broadcast networks no longer championing sitcoms as much as in years past, with streaming services picking up the slack — Netflix is now more known for multi-camera sitcoms than any of the Big 4 — TV comedies will likely continue to keep audiences breathless with laughter for many more years to come. As such, CinemaBlend’s staff came together to celebrate and rank the 100 best sitcoms of all time, with the order stemming partially from our writers’ sharing scores for more than 200 different series, along with other contributing factors.

So sit back in your favorite recliner, grab an extra-large Squishee (or an ice-cold Duff, if you’re of age) and settle into the coziness, comfort, and occasional cringeworthiness of the best TV sitcoms of all time, according to CinemaBlend.

100. Bewitched

You know a show is a classic when even Marvel is drawing inspiration from it nearly 50 years after its end. The fantasy sitcom Bewitched worked its magic at CBS for eight seasons, partially due to the phenomenal comedic acting of Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York, who was famously replaced by Dick Sargent due to York's worsening health issues. Add in an equally impressive ensemble cast including Agnes Moorehead, David White, and Paul Lynde (just to name a few), and it's no wonder Bewitched was a nose-twitching delight of a show that doesn't need supernatural abilities to be great.

99. Laverne and Shirley

Arguably the most successful Happy Days spinoff, as well as one of the best TV comedies of all time, Laverne & Shirley followed two best friends and bottle-cappers as they navigated life and everything it threw at them in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (later Burbank, California). Though similar in tone to its predecessor, this long-running sitcom relied more on the physical comedy talents masterfully pulled by stars Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams. And when it comes to iconic opening credits sequences, Laverne & Shirley was in a league of its own with all those shots of the fictional Shotz Brewery along with that classic theme.

98. Beavis And Butt-Head

No Beavis And Butt-Head fan will argue that the show isn’t dumb. Because it is. It really, really is, in each of its iterations. The two eponymous characters rank as two of the most unambiguously stupid protagonists to ever grace a TV screen, and every word they say is unadulterated idiocy. Ironically, though, that’s the genius of Mike Judge’s creation. The impossibly dumb leads allow for stories that no other sitcom can reasonably or responsibly touch with any degree of verisimilitude, while also permitting some outrageously weird takes on music videos (and social clips) across various eras.

97. Hogan's Heroes

War stories are often suited for prestige dramas, but Hogan's Heroes proved that a P.O.W. camp comedy could be just as awards-worthy. During its 168-episode run, Bob Crane's titular leader and his squad constantly thwarted Nazi enemies with fast-talking and constant hijinks (many of which were put into play by future game show legend Richard Dawson). Lasting as long as World War II did itself, Hogan's Heroes showcased how reflecting on past tragedies with humor can make for memorable art.

96. How I Met Your Mother

How I Met Your Mother may be higher on this list if not for fan opinions of the final season, but I would 100% say that it’s worth watching despite a lackluster ending. This show is about finding out how Josh Radnor’s Ted met his future wife, but it really thrives as a series about best friends. As Neil Patrick Harris’ Barney Stinson would say, this ensemble is legen–wait for it–dary, and those who check it out will definitely be invested in what the cast is doing now that the series is over.

95. Mork & Mindy

Today we all know what an immense talent Robin Williams was, and the absolutely wild places he could take comedy. Imagine not knowing any of that, and then turning on an early episode of Mork & Mindy, where he must have come across quite like somebody from another world, much like the character he played. Mork from Ork gave Williams the freedom to do almost anything on screen opposite Pam Dawber’s Mindy (and later Jonathan Winters), and it’s no surprise he took over Hollywood after four successful seasons.

94. The Adventures of Pete and Pete

Plenty of shows focus on the weirdness of suburbia, but Nickelodeon’s The Adventures of Pete & Pete still stands awkwardly as one of the best. As Older Pete (Michael Maronna) and Younger Pete (Danny Tamberelli) navigate the oddities of Wellsville, life lessons and warm memories are gifted to viewers by creators Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi. Pete & Pete delivers its homespun tales with a deep-seated love of ‘50s and ‘60s pop culture, and with one of the more impressive celebrity guest star rosters of kid-centric TV. Where else will you find REM’s Michael Stipe as a conspiratorial ice cream man?

93. black-ish

Watching Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross’ Andre and Rainbow Johnson raise their family amidst navigating various challenges in and around their largely white-populated neighborhood, all while still hanging onto their Black identities, makes for eight seasons of exceptional sitcom storytelling. While black-ish went on to launch two spinoffs, the original still stands as the cream of the crop, expertly balancing pointed social commentary and humor regarding a variety of topics, racial and otherwise. Plus, TV grandfather-dom looks great on Laurence Fishburne.

92. The Munsters

What happens when a family largely modeled after Universal’s Classic Monsters takes up residence in the middle of suburban America’s Mockingbird Heights? You get The Munsters, which slotted in nicely among other comedic offerings in the ‘60s while also satirizing sitcom tropes of the era. Although Fred Gwynne’s bumbling patriarch Herman was often the driving force behind the weekly shenanigans, Lily, Grandpa, Eddie and Marilyn (the only “normal” looking one) were all far more endearing than their monstrous counterparts, making The Munsters a great platform for chaotic, yet heartfelt entertainment.

91. Happy Endings

Best friends are always good sitcom fodder, as David Caspe’s Happy Endings proved for three seasons on ABC ahead of its fan-angering cancellation. Damon Wayans Jr.’s cucumber-cool Brad and Eliza Coupe’s A-type Jane are the group’s PDA-friendly couple, while her sister, Elisha Cuthbert’s confusion-prone Alex, is exes-ish with Zachary Knighton’s dorky-smooth Dave. The group is rounded out by Adam Pally’s schlubbo-sexual Max and Casey Wilson’s serial dater Penny. Perhaps the only sitcom whose leads share a fictional history as Real World vets, Happy Endings is as fun and fancy-free as romance-fueled sitcoms get.

90. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Less than two years after Ellie Kemper played Erin Hannon for the last time on The Office, she sunshine-smiled her way through a bonkers show of her own with Netflix’s original Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. The series, which centered on former cult member Kimmy’s surreal and gung-ho acclimation to life in a “real” world she hadn’t lived in for years. One of the more unique shows from creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, Kimmy could have made this list just for turning the multi-talent Tituss Burgess into a small-screen regular. Extra kudos for the follow-up movie Kimmy vs the Reverend.

89. That '70s Show

Starring Topher Grace and running for eight seasons from 1998-2006, That ‘70s Show transports any generational audience who watches back to the late 1970s for the horned-up (and oh-so-slightly drugged-up) exploits of high school besties and their respective parents. The teens were played by actors who would go on to become bona fide stars, including Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Wilmer Valderrama, and Laura Prepon. The Circle in Eric’s basement was always reliable for big laughs, and though its final season suffered from cast exits, Netflix’s That ‘90s Show kept the good times going far more successfully than That ‘80s Show.

88. Extras

Ricky Gervais and Steven Merchant followed up on the smash success of The Office by crossing the ocean to HBO for the Hollywood-skewing riot Extras, which hinged on the fraught character trifecta of Gervais’ dispirited actor Andy, his god-awful agent Darren (Merchant) and his kind-hearted and oblivious actress BFF Maggie (Ashley Jensen). While only two seasons and a Christmas special, it’s a modern classic not only for its gloriously cornball faux sitcom When the Whistle Blows, but for bonkers celebrity cameos from Kate Winslet, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan and more. Gervais also delivers an all-time Top 5 spit-take in one episode.

87. The Bernie Mac Show

The late Bernie Mac is still widely viewed as a comedy giant, and his eponymous family sitcom is a major reason for that. The Bernie Mac Show definitely isn’t the first comedy to be headlined by a stand-up, but it’s one of the few that so perfectly utilized the talents of its lead. Mac’s signature brand of no-nonsense humor is especially hilarious when he bounces off his A+ co-stars. But, overall, what makes this series one of the great modern Black sitcoms is its funny, warm and nuanced depiction of familial dynamics amongst African Americans.

86. Gilligan's Island

Before The Brady Bunch (but after The Red Skelton Show), screenwriter and producer Sherwood Schwartz launched 1964's smash-hit Gilligan's Island, and the fictional voyage was far more doomed than the show's. Starring Bob Denver and Alan Hale, the sitcom won over viewers with plots hinged on island inventions, unexpected visitors, dream sequences, and random items washing up ashore. While the show famously never hit one hundred episodes, its premise was beloved enough to spark several TV movies and the truly baffling Saturday morning cartoon spinoff Gilligan's Planet.

85. Mad About You

Chemistry is usually all it takes to keep a sitcom afloat, whether its shared by an ensemble (see: Friends) or tethered to a winning duo like Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt in Mad About You. It helps that both actors lent their movie-level wattage to the sitcom for eight seasons, exploring marriage and eventually parenthood in New York City. (Reiser previously co-starred in My Two Dads, to be sure.) But despite the parade of stellar comedic co-stars — Hank Azaria, Lisa Kudrow, Carol Burnett, and Mel Brooks? Come on! — it was Paul and Jamie keeping us invested. We were mad about them, and maybe a different kind of mad about Mabel.

84. Three's Company

Three’s Company is an interesting case-study in dated sitcom writing, as 90% of the jokes that prop up the show wouldn’t fly today. Almost every single line can be construed as sexual innuendo, and the plot twists of a given Three’s Company episode are so driven by silly miscommunications, the formula is basically cliche. However, John Ritter’s deep reservoir of charm, when combined with his incredible chemistry with the female roommates that came in and out of his orbit, made it an overall win, and one of the most memorable and breezy sitcoms of the 1970s and ‘80s.

83. Family Guy

What can be said about Family Guy that hasn’t already been said? While Seth MacFarlane’s first mega-hit doesn’t feel quite as crude as other late night animated fare these days, it quickly cemented itself as an envelope-pushing primetime entry thanks to its murderous baby, they hyper-perverse Quagmire, and the less said about Herbert, the better. The series made a meme-worthy artform out of cutaway gags, man vs. chicken fights and lowbrow pop culture spoofs. At this point, the Griffins are basically as widespread as the Simpsons, and Brian would certainly drink to that.

82. Malcolm In The Middle

Malcolm in the Middle was a key part of Fox’s Sunday comedy lineup for six of its seven seasons from 2000-2006. At the time, the Frankie Muniz-starring comedy was a rare example of a single-camera sitcom that eschewed a laugh track and had its lead regularly breaking the fourth wall. The family was known to deal with serious issues in the background of the shenanigans of the sibling trio, which helped the sitcom win seven Emmys. It was also Bryan Cranston’s breakout primetime TV role, proving he was a comedy legend years before dipping into drama for Breaking Bad.

81. The Facts Of Life

A spinoff of Diff’rent Strokes, The Facts of Life is one of the most successful TV offshoots that shares little with its predecessor, and for good reason. The coming-of-age sitcom explores adolescence in a way that neither its predecessor nor follow-up projects ever could, with a perfectly cast ensemble of young actresses led by the incomparable Charlotte Rae. This sitcom exists because of Rae’s previously stellar work, and her warmth and charm in the role of Mrs. Garrett helped make a family out of her girls, from Natalie to Tootie to Jo to Blair and the rest.

80. The Addams Family

Although The Addams Family started off as a single-panel New Yorker comic strip published from 1938 to 1964, it was the TV series premiering that same latter year which made the family a pop culture favorite. Watching Morticia, Gomez, Uncle Fester, Wednesday, Pugsley, Grandmama, Lurch and Thing freak people out with their macabre tastes and supernatural antics never got old, and without the popularity of this show, it’s doubtful these ghoulish characters would have returned in a variety of live-action and animated projects in later years.

79. My Name Is Earl

My Name Is Earl earned its way to sitcom greatness thanks to star Jason Lee’s all-in performance as Earl Hickey, as well as the great premise that sees Earl attempting to right the litany of past wrongs committed against seemingly everyone he’d ever met. (The concept also helps make it easy to drop in on any random episode without really needing to see what happened beforehand.) Ethan Suplee, Eddie Steeples and Jaime Pressley are equally brilliant in their respective roles, and we can still relate to Earl to this day anytime we struggle to keep our eyes open while taking a picture.

78. The Middle

Every once in awhile, a show sneaks it way into the zeitgeist and in our memories. The Middle, a show about a quirky middle-class family from the Midwest ran for nine years and hit home for a wide and nostalgic audience. It was a breath of fresh air and an honest take on class and what it was really like to grow up in, well, “the middle” of everything. Ironically, it was the ending of the show that stuck with most, but all good things must come to an end. 

77. Dave

This whole entry could be spent talking about how Dave is driven by the exceptional talent of David “Lil Dicky” Burd, who has a truly offbeat world perspective to go along with his legitimate gifts as a rapper. But that would be a disservice to Davionte "GaTa" Ganter, who proves over the course of the three seasons to be the NSFW series’ true heart. It gets funny and ridiculous, but it can also deliver a nice, solid gut punch courtesy of your investment in the characters’ plights for recognition.

76. Spin City

Arguably TV's least polarizing political sitcom, Spin City was a winning candidate for its six-season term in part due to co-creators Bill Lawrence and Gary David Goldberg. The latter also created Family Ties, and brought Michael J. Fox into the lead role here as well, with Charlie Sheen successfully taking over in Season 5 after Fox's medical-related exit Spin City is also a melting pot of TV excellence, boasting Connie Britton, Carla Gugino, Richard Kind, Alan Ruck and more greats filling out the NYC mayor’s office.

75. The Andy Griffith Show

One of the most iconic and wholesome sitcoms of the 20th century, The Andy Griffith Show gave audiences nearly 250 episodes with the residents of the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina, centering on local sheriff Andy Taylor, played with aw-shucks charm by Griffith. Characters like Barney Fife (Don Knotts), Gomer Pyle (Jim Nabors), Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier), and Opie (a young Ron Howard) made for plenty of the early highlights in sitcom history, both in black-and-white and color.

74. Family Matters

Airing for nine seasons from 1989-1997, Family Matters became a beloved sitcom for multiple generations regularly tuning into ABC’s TGIF lineup. The spinoff of Perfect Strangers followed the highs and lows of the Winslow family, with Die Hard vet Reginald VelJohnson becoming an iconic sitcom dad as Carl Winslow. Of course, Jaleel White’s Steve Urkel famously stole the spotlight as the nerd-tastic breakout star, sporting the signature “Did I do that?” catchphrase. Yes, he certainly did, if by “that” he meant annoying his unrequited love Laura or creating alternate versions of himself via sitcom science.

73. The Wonder Years

The Wonder Years aired from 1988-1993, but very fathfully recreated the late ‘60s and early ‘70s to invite audiences into the lives of the Arnold family. Starring Fred Savage in his breakout role (alongside fellow greats Dan Lauria, Alley Mills, and Danica McKellar), the coming-of-age comedy touched on Vietnam War politics, high school romance, deaths of loved ones, sibling rivalries and more, with Daniel Stern's narration a key source of its charm and emotional heft. From using Joe Cocker’s unforgettable “With a Little Help from My Friends” to its powerful-yet-unplanned finale, it’s no wonder that this classic eventually inspired a reboot.

72. The Flintstones

The Flintstones is arguably the first animated project to prove itself as much of a classic sitcom as anything in live-action. Premiering back in 1960 and running for six wildly successful seasons, the sitcom follows the titular family within a fictional and idealized version of the Stone Age. Its popularity kept it airing in syndication for decades,later inspiring spinoffs, live-action movies, TV specials, ice cream pops, and (of course) the most memorable vitamins down the medicine aisle.

71. The Proud Family

The Proud Family was one of the standout shows of ABC’s One Saturday Morning programming block, walking the line between cartoony kids show and legitimate family drama quite well. Disney+’s more recent Louder And Prouder revival is evidence of that popularity and storytelling skills. Kyla Pratt’s Penny Proud is as relatable a TV teen as can be, and Sugar Mama (voiced by Family Matters’ Jo Marie Payton) is the kind of grandmother anyone would appreciate, sans bodyslams.

70. The Drew Carey Show

Long before he became host of The Price is Right, Drew Carey jumped from standup comedy to sitcom stardom with The Drew Carey Show, which ran for nine increasingly zany seasons from 1995-2004. The comedian starred as a fictionalized version of himself living in Ohio, working at a mundane job surrounded by a core group of friends with hijinks to spare. (Particularly during the A+ April Fool’s Day episodes.) This was the first big scripted TV role for cast members like Christa Miller, Diedrich Baker, Ryan Stiles, Craig Ferguson, and John Carroll Lynch. Hopefully fans can agree with the show on one thing: Cleveland Rocks!

69. Designing Women

If watching four sassy, professional ladies flourish, flounder, and tell it like it is sounds like something you can get behind, then look no further than Designing Women. The comedy starred the all-time great cast of Dixie Carter, Young Sheldon’s Annie Potts, Delta Burke and Hacks star Jean Smart as co-workers sharing their personal and professional trials and triumphs to side-splitting effect over several seasons. Even better, the show managed to work in a lot of social commentary that’s still relevant today, and no one has ever taken down bullies and bigots like Carter’s Julia Sugarbaker.

68. Night Court

Many sitcoms can be vehicles for a single great comedian to shine, but the strength of the original Night Court was its ensemble. (And that sax-y theme.) Harry Anderson played de facto leader Judge Harry Stone alongside John Laroquette, Markie Post, Richard Moll and more, and the jury of TV audiences gave the verdict of Night Court being guilty of hilarity. Despite the fact that the show’s format could seem as formulaic as real-life courtroom dockets, silliness often ensued, and fans were happy to watch these talents play off each other for an enviable nine-season run. Its popularity endures with Melissa Rauch’s 2023 revival.

67. The Honeymooners

TV shows have a way of changing the pop culture landscape by being quotable, and The Honeymooners is one of the earliest sitcoms whose influence is definitely still felt in that category, with “One of these days Alice…” and “To the moon!” persisting so many decades later. The all-time classic follows two New York City couples and the various shenanigans they get into, with Ralph and Alice famously played by Jackie Gleason and Audrey Meadows, respectively. And while the empty threats of domestic violence might be jarring for newcomers, The Honeymooners significantly set the stage for so many sitcoms to follow.

66. Raising Hope

Wacky isn’t always a word that comes up when discussing family sitcoms, but Raising Hope fits that description to a T. The Chance family is filled with more lovable and well-meaning weirdos than you’d think could possibly fit into half-hour eps, but they all have their odd (and potentially relatable) quirks. From dad Burt (who picks his nose by using all 10 fingers), to matriarch Maw Maw (who can frequently be found shirtless and/or braless and giving off old people smells), you’d be hard-pressed to land on an episode that doesn’t make you choke on your big dill pickle.

65. Fresh Off The Boat

Everyone loves a good family sitcom, and while Fresh Off the Boat is technically about the young, hip-hop-obsessed son within a Taiwanese-American family in Orlando, the real comedic meat of the show is his mom, Jessica (Constance Wu). We’ve never seen a mom like Jessica Huang before. Yes, she’s loving, but it’s an absurdly tough, uncompromising love that pushes her nice, America-loving husband and three sons to excel. She’s also fiercely competitive and not someone to mess with, which diners-and-dashers can attest to, and is a big reason why Fresh Off the Boat will always be watchable.

64. Everybody Hates Chris

Abbott Elementary fans can attest to Tyler James Williams’ comedic chops, but he first honed them from his younger Hollywood days as the star of Everybody Hates Chris. Created by Chris Rock (who narrates) and Ali LeRoi, the show is based on the stand-up legend’s teenage years, and finds ways of making everyday occurrences the most hilarious things in the world, often landing a wide-eyed Chris in trouble. From James’ impressive performance as a teenager to the rest of the cast (including a stellar Terry Crews’ dad mode), Everybody Hates Chris is a must-watch for comedy lovers of all ages.

63. Get Smart

Secret agent movies were big in the 1960s, so how could one go wrong with a spoof comedy series created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry? Get Smart stars Don Adams’ Maxwell Smart (aka the bumbling CONTROL Agent 86) often teaming up with Barbara Feldon’s more-than-capable sidekick, Agent 99, to thwart the evil, if not entirely professional, efforts of the cabal KAOS. From the series’ iconic opening credits to Max’s shoe phone, Get Smart stands the test of time, with some great catchphrases to boot, including “MIssed it by that much,” and, “Would you believe…?”

62. Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23

We sometimes wonder how well creator Nahnatchka Khan’s Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 would have fared if it lasted beyond its celebrated two-season run. And we wish we were given the chance to actually see that hypothetical third season for ourselves, as the 26 episodes we did get were spot on. Pairing Dreama Walker’s naive June with Krysten Ritter’s scheming Chloe made for an odd couple who knew how to have exciting adventures. Frequent appearances by an early-career Eric André and an always charming James Van Der Beek only made this ABC series all the sweeter.

61. Good Times

A quality sitcom spinoff can be a challenge. Repeat what worked on the original, or try to do something totally different? Good Times spun off from Maude (which itself was an All In The Family offshoot), and succeeded through carving out its own authentic niche centering around the hard-working and cash-strapped characters of Florida (Esther Rolle) and James Evans (John Amos). The two leads were excellent throughout, though Good Times eventually shifted its primary focus to Jimmie Walker, the sitcom’s breakout star who coined the phrase “Dynomite!” and rode that marketing freight train to global superstardom. A series that lives up to its name, and then some.

60. The Nanny

The Nanny has long been synonymous with its star Fran Drescher, who played the titular Nanny Fine throughout the show’s six-season run on CBS. Despite being a quintessential ‘90s sitcom, the show’s comedy still feels super fresh and contemporary, even if the pop culture references are dated. Descher is truly unbelievable as Fran, and The Nanny has one of the best TV theme songs of all time. And it’s a show that younger generations absolutely NEED to binge-watch, amidst the ongoing hope for fans to see more.

59. Archer

If Archer were merely an expertly crafted James Bond parody, we’d still love it. However, this long-running FX staple’s greatness comes from the lore-heavy, spy-fi universe that creator Adam Reed’s built atop the back of loving send-ups to the espionage subgenre. H. Jon Benjamin anchored an all-timer voice cast that delivered dialogue and performances as sharp as Lana’s switchblade. The show veered from staleness by aping different genres for Danger Island and other “Coma Seasons,” further widening the comedic field of play, and I can’t imagine anyone wouldn’t finger Archer as the wildest workplace sitcom to date. Phrasing, BOOM!

58. Happy Days

When one thinks of Happy Days, the first image that likely comes to mind is Henry Winkler’s Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli giving a cool-as-hell thumb’s up. Though he was initially just a minor player, the leather-donning jukebox-smacking ladie’s man quickly became the show’s most popular character. But its picturesque version of the 1950s and 1960s is just as iconic, as is the entire Cunnhingham family (except maybe for the disappearing brother Chuck) and further ensemble, which spawned a whopping seven spinoffs. And if you don’t agree with all that, well, sit on it!

57. Martin

A couple of years before he became an action movie king in Bad Boys, Martin Lawrence created and starred in his own sitcom, which gave fans five seasons of over-the-top episodes. Lawrence’s Martin Payne is a loud, rambunctious, and highly opinionated Detroit disc jockey who constantly finds himself in all kinds of trouble both at work and at home with Tisha Campbell’s Gina. (A dynamic that shifted in the final season for BTS reasons.) Martin himself was fun, but his various other personas —Sheneneh Jenkins, Rosco, and Dragonfly Jones — gave the sitcom a fun and unique spin, foreshadowing Lawrence’s later career.

56. Living Single

Living Single is one of those sitcoms that thankfully managed to age well , premiering back in 1993 and following a group of friends residing together in a Brooklyn brownstone. With a killer cast including Queen Latifah (who also performed the outstanding theme song), Kim Coles, Kim Fields and Erika Alexander, Living Single’s formula succeeded ahead of Friends reaching more sensational heights, and the topic of influences there has made for many discussions. Regardless, the sitcom is a Black TV treasure, and boasts a trove of terrific musicians, athletes and comedians as guest stars, from Flip Wilson to Chaka Khan.

55. Will and Grace

Will & Grace might as well have also had Jack and Karen in the title as well, such was the strength of this foursome as they unsuccessfully dated and schmoozed their way to making LGBTQ+ history. The NBC Must See TV classic was an Emmy darling during its initial eight-season run, and its ongoing popularity beyond the “final” season inspired NBC to revive it for another two seasons. Which thankfully meant more from the bevy of guests and recurring stars that popped up over the years, from Matt Damon to Matt Bomer to Madonna.

54. Murphy Brown

Sure, Murphy Brown fulfilled the sitcom basics of starring a single, middle-aged working woman (whose eventual single-mom status shook up the status quo), being funny, and serving up great characters — Jim Dial, slugger — to support the Aretha Franklin-loving titular lead. Arguably most important, though, its its rare delivery of a flawed female main character (recovering alcoholic) who’s frequently irascible, dedicated to her job as a journalist, and unafraid to speak up in a male-heavy industry, giving audiences every reason to root for through every uproarious rant and unnecessary assistant change. There’s a reason Candice Bergen earned five Emmys from seven nominations for her work across ten seasons.

53. The Bob Newhart Show

Nobody can do deadpan humor quite like the eponymous star of The Bob Newhart Show. The beauty of this 1970s sitcom was that it allowed Bob Newhart to play off of those stand-up comedy strengths, acting as the straight man to his psychologist Bob Hartley’s many unique patients. Co-starring Suzanne Pleshette as Bob’s beloved wife Emily — the two made sitcom history together on his next sitcom as well — and Peter Bonerz and Bill Daily as his pals, The Bob Newhart Show remains exemplary for its character-driven laughs.

52. Sanford And Son

The laughs that Sanford and Son delivers from episode to episode are fairly unique compared to other sitcoms. Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson are perfectly cast as Fred and Lamont Sanford, respectively, playing off of each other in ways reminiscent of comedy duos in vaudeville and radio shows. The writers also deserve a lot of credit for effectively employing racial humor, considered edgy at that time, as well as for bringing in hilarious characters like “Aunt” Esther Anderson and Grady Wilson. But Foxx – who just oozes superior comedic timing – steals so many scenes with his energetic performances. “This is the big one!”

51. Superstore

All things consumerism considered, it’s almost surprising so few workplace comedies are anything like Superstore. For six seasons, viewers watched Amy (Oscar nominee America Ferrera), Jonah (Ben Feldman) and their wacky big box store co-workers readily getting into myriad insane scrapes and intriguingly complicated relationships, while trying to maintain order (or causing disorder) within the retail sphere. Superstore gives fans peak workplace sitcom, with innumerable sight gags for those watching closely, as well as a low-key, slow-burn mystery involving feet showing up all over the store. It’s a hilarious win-win that theoretically helps everyone see their jobs aren’t as bad as they could be.

50. The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

Before the Men in Black and Bad Boys franchises and that Academy Award-winning role in King Richard, Will Smith veered away from his successful rap career to introduce viewers to…Will Smith…for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Just saying its name instantly brings its classic theme song to mind.

Following a kid from West Philly sent off to live with his affluent uncle’s family in Bel-Air, this sitcom oozed ‘90s sitcom charm and hilarity, helping Will Smith expand his comedic talents opposite the great James Avery, Janet Hubert (for a spell) and more. From the Carlton dance to that classic “very special episode” where Will gets shot, Fresh Prince features plenty of justification for its continued success in syndication and streaming.

49. Family Ties

Eventually, Family Ties became known as “The Michael J. Fox Show,” and it was hard to avoid. Fox was a charismatic ball of energy who became a bona fide superstar during the run of the show, and even eclipsed famous guest stars such as Tom Hanks when they appeared.

But before Fox reached all-star status, Family Ties won over audiences as a warm, endearing, and relatable sitcom about liberal parents trying their best to raise their three kids – one of whom happened to be a briefcase-toting, card-carrying Republican. We all saw ourselves in at least one member of the Keaton family, and tuned in weekly to appreciate the ties that bound them all together.

48. Mr. Bean

Rowan Atkinson would have been amazing during the silent film era, but is thankfully a more modern talent, since we otherwise might never have known the childlike, frustration-spiked foibles of Mr. Bean. Co-created by the comedian’s Black Adder partners in hilarity, Ben Elton and Richard Curtis, Mr. Bean is an idiosyncratic sitcom in that its five-year stretch comprised 15 sporadically aired one-off episodes, as opposed to seasons, which inspired a pair of feature films, an animated series, and more pop culture greatness.

Atkinson brings his physical comedy mastery to a plethora of disaster-laden circumstances, from nonchalantly changing into a swimsuit to getting ready for the dentist while driving to being locked out of a hotel room and dozens of other awkward moments.

47. The Mick

Only two seasons of The Mick aired between January 2017 and April 2018, telling the story of a foul-mouthed dirtbag forced to be the guardian of her affluent niece and nephews, and all 37 episodes are send-you-doubled-over-off-your-couch hilarious. Which means a lot of people were sleeping on this brilliance when it aired, and we’re still sore about it.

Led by Kaitlin Olsen, the entire cast is spectacular (with a special hat tip to the brilliant Scott MacArthur as the oft-injured ne'er-do-well Jimmy), but what truly makes this show exceptional is its beyond-dark sensibilities and unwillingness to accept the idea of a “line” that can’t be crossed. The final scene of the series finale is actually a perfect ending in that sense, and we’re sure that more seasons would have pushed it higher up the rankings.

46. The Jeffersons

Norman Lear & Co.nailed it when they moved George, Louise and Lionel Jefferson from All in the Family to their own show. The Jeffersons is 30-minute comedy at its finest, offering an excellent premise, and an array of interesting stories built on it. Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford are electric as George and Lousie, effortlessly conveying their on-screen marriage with warmth, humor and occasional contention, all while surrounded by a strong supporting cast.

There’s also the series’ impact on Black culture and the TV landscape as a whole. It’s one of the earliest shows to have depicted an upper class African American family – and the complexities of such a dynamic. We should all be grateful that these characters moved on up.

45. 30 Rock

If there were any doubts that Tina Fey could transport her magic touch from SNL to a scripted sitcom, 30 Rock proved them pointless. The show-within-a-show’s very first season won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, and scored nominations for Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin. (Both went on to win elsewhere in the NBC comedy’s seven-season run.)

The show is infinitely quotable, thanks in large part to Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowski, and recruited standout part-time stars ranging from Matt Damon to David Schwrimmer to – of course – Steve “How do you do, fellow kids?” Buscemi. Plus, it imparted the following important lesson from Tracy Jordan: “Live every week like it’s Shark Week.” No SNL knowledge is needed to appreciate the sketch-skewing humor, but it’ll help.

44. Scrubs

Hospital dramas have become as commonplace as any TV offering, so having Scrubs around to follow its doctors, nurses and Sacred Heart staff through a comedic lens continues to be a welcome respite. Not to say Scrubs wasn’t without its emotional and poignant moments, since one could argue it functions nearly as well as a dramatic series when in that mode.

But the humor is where Scrubs’ gets surgical with it. Whether we were joining J.D. in his wild daydreams, or the crazy events unfolding between characters while treating patients, this show excelled at delivering the laughs. If only we could witness John C. McGinley’s Dr. Cox ranting at residents while a nameless Janitor pranks people within a real-life hospital. Additionally, J.D. and Turk are one of TV’s all-time best-buddy pairings.

43. Bob's Burgers

In all of sitcom family-dom, few clans are as relatable in their middle-class weirdness as the Belcher family that serves up the titular meals and good-time goofiness on Bob’s Burgers. The beloved series from creator Loren Bouchard has followed sitcom standards to a T while building up its hilarity-filled universe of Italian restaurateur rivals, handyman besties, and plenty of schoolchildren I’d much rather watch on TV than deal with at home. But it’s the Belchers that keep us coming back.

From H. Jon Benjamin’s expertly exasperated attempts to get by to Louise’s rebellious sadism to Tina’s butt fascination, Bob’s Burgers is as timeless as the hamburger itself, and isn’t afraid to mix sweetness into the juvenile hijinks. A must-watch for pun enthusiasts.

42. The Cosby Show

Decades after its debut on NBC, The Cosby Show remains a seminal piece of TV work. This sharp family comedy offers a warm look at a family (who just happened to be Black) and, while the Huxtables are quite pristine, they never feel unrelatable, except perhaps where sweaters are concerned. The impeccable ensemble boasts the likes of Phylicia Rashad, Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Keshia Knight Pulliam masterfully playing off the series’ titular star. Give the writing staff credit, too, for formulating some eternally classic episodes, like “Goodbye Mr. Fish” and “Happy Anniversary.”

Of course, the show’s legacy has been further evaluated due to Bill Cosby’s legal entanglements, and understandably so. That debate will surely continue, though what’s hard to deny is the sitcom’s game-changing position in the cultural lexicon.

41. Party Down

“Are we having fun yet?” The oft-used sarcastic throwback to Henry’s (Adam Scott) singular professional achievement is actually a pretty fitting way to sum up the careers of the motley crew of caterers on Party Down. The aspiring actors and writers who comprise the eponymous catering company would certainly rather be pursuing their passions than serving drinks and apps to their rich customers, but with each episode plunking them into a different bougie event, it was delightful to see the ridiculous and usually cringey situations they would get themselves into.

On top of a fabulous ensemble cast featuring the likes of Ken Marino, Jane Lynch, Lizzy Caplan and Martin Starr, Party Down featured A+ cameos at each catering function. That Steve Guttenberg episode? Chef’s kiss, or at least a caterer’s kiss.

40. The Boondocks

We may never get another animated series about American society as unabashedly insightful as The Boondocks, which was created by Aaron McGruder and based on his comic strip of the same name. Each episode provides a thoughtful examination of the Black experience, principally seen through the eyes of young intellectual Huey Freeman and his gangster-wannabe brother Riley (both voiced by Oscar/Emmy Award-winner Regina King), under the spotty guidance of their John Witherspoon-voiced Granddad.

Not only does McGruder's bold writing provide clever observations about everything from rap music to movie theater decorum, but the anime style continues to remain eye-popping and brilliantly utilized. Especially with the killer kung-fu sequences, which demonstrate a deep love for both the animation medium and the martial arts action genre.

39. Abbott Elementary

Arguably one of the best sitcoms currently airing, Abbott Elementary took the world by storm when it premiered in 2021, introducing the world to Quinta Brunson’s brilliance as Janine Teagues. The Black Lady Sketch Show vet created, writes, produces and stars in the show centering on a Philadelphia school’s staff, and her care and love for it is infectious.

Between Gregory and Janine’s will-they-won’t-they relationship, hilarious talking heads and well-established characters with silly interests (like Ava being a doomsday prepper), this show has all the hallmarks of classic mockumentaries. However, its setting at an elementary school and the unique chemistry the incredible cast has developed make this ABC comedy one that will undoubtedly stand the test of time. (And it won’t need a stool like Janine, amirite, Ava?)

38. The IT Crowd

As if Graham Linehan’s entertainment legacy wasn’t already assured by Father Ted, the man went and crafted another all-time Britcom with The IT Crowd. (Okay, Black Books, too.) The basic premise follows the lives of corporate climber Jen (Katherine Parkinson) and IT department slackers Roy (Chris O’Dowd) and Moss (Richard Ayoade). A classic workplace sitcom trio if there ever was one.

In execution, the 25-episode run was far more fun and unpredictable than the set-up. Skewering corporate culture and malfeasance, as well as all things personal and pop, The IT Crowd feels like a cheeky mix between Seinfeld and Spaced. Not to mention this being a great place to get a Matt Berry fix.

37. Community

It’s difficult to summarize what makes Community such an exceptional sitcom. Its meta awareness and deep love of pop culture is a key ingredient, executed principally through the genius character that is Danny Pudi’s Abed Nadir. But that’s an example of the phenomenal way the show balances the unique voices of its seven main characters – be it the confident idiocy of Donald Glover’s Troy Barnes, the extreme selfishness of Joel McHale’s Jeff Winger, or ridiculous uptightness of Alison Brie’s Annie Edison.

These characters planted in an environment of ever-growing weirdness that is Greendale Community College permits wild, creative, and clever single episode stories… but also not to be slept on are its effective emotional swings (Like I said, it’s really Dean-ficult to sum up!)

36. Modern Family

Modern Family was one of the first family sitcoms to eschew studio audience laughter for the single-camera format, and its massive success and influence was undeniable. Running for eleven seasons, the star-studded sitcom gave viewers a front seat to watching the blended Pritchett and Dunphy families grow up together.

But what makes Modern Family one of the best sitcoms ever is its relatability and ability to tap into all the emotions. There’s plenty to laugh at, thanks to hilarious deliveries from Ed O’Neill, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell and others, and more episodes than can be poignant, whether it’s about love, sexuality, growing up, or plenty of other feelings to connect to.

35. Arrested Development

At the far end of the “wholesome sitcom family” spectrum is the Bluth clan responsible for the majority of the conning and downward spiraling on Arrested Development. (Ron Howard’s Narrator: “They really were.”) With too many A+ cast members to namecheck in one breath, the fourth wall-breaking comedy is technically about the legal troubles surrounding the family company following a major scandal, but it’s really about the family’s myriad other problems.

Let’s see, we have twin-fidelity, oedipal complexes galore, PTSD from both Army (Mother!) and loss of limb, rampant alcoholism, potentially incestuous foreplay, hair metal magic, and never-nudism, though that’s a corner of a snowflake atop the tallest mountain of comedic quirks. Come for the brilliant performances, stay for the smartest callback jokes on TV.

34. WKRP In Cincinnati

WKRP in Cincinnati is one of those shows that never seems to receive its flowers quite enough alongside others from the era. Airing for four seasons between 1978 and 1982, the comedy takes place at a struggling AM radio station in the heart of the Midwest, and boasts everything one would want in a sitcom: great jokes, iconic characters, and unforgettable TV moments.

Despite early schedule struggles, WKRP eventually found its footing on CBS, thanks to audiences loving the comedic stylings of Howard Hesseman’s Dr. Johnny Fever, Tim Reid’s Venus Flytrap, and Richard Sanders’ Les Nessman. It’s always been a hit with radio DJs, for good reason, and produced quite possibly the greatest Thanksgiving TV treat (that doesn’t have Charlie Brown in it) with “Turkeys Away.”

33. The Critic

In the wake of The Simpsons’ success, creators Al Jean and Mike Reiss shaped a cult classic with The Critic, focused on bitter film critic Jay Sherman, voiced with gusto by Jon Lovitz. The animated sitcom took after its spiritual cousin, offering up both heartfelt and cuttingly satirical gags, and bouncing from ABC to Fox only sharpened the show’s edge.

Keenly lampooning the world of show business, The Critic’s writers crafted A+ parodies of classic films, fake cinematic atrocities so bad they’re funny, and welcomed cameos from actual critics. Anyone wanting to see Siskel & Ebert in a fist fight need look no further. Two words aptly sum up how we feel about this series not lasting nearly as long as The Simpsons: “It stinks.”

32. Married...with Children

With Frank Sinatra’s “Love and Marriage” performance as its subversively optimistic theme song, Married with Children is the gleefully bawdy archetype for sitcoms about miserable people. Ed O’Neill’s misogyny-encrusted slopfest Al Bundy stiff-arms his way through life with affection-seeking wife Peg, blonde joke incarnate daughter Kelly, and lazy hornball son Bud. And Katey Sagal, Christina Applegate and David Faustino are the epitome of “the family you love to watch, but would hate to live with.”

As the live-action series that put Fox on the map, Married with Children has long been celebrated for its politically incorrect humor and cartoonishly offensive storylines, and it remains among the most offensive TV shows of all time. But it worked because the Bundy’s always came out worse than anyone else.

31. Gravity Falls

Gravity Falls’ offbeat sitcom greatness truly deserves recognition for a show that may be written off for being a Disney Channel original. Creator and cast member Alex Hirsch crafted a well-animated, off-kilter show that wins over younger viewers with its thrills, humor and heart, while also capturing older viewers with overarching mysteries, surprisingly deep lore, and barrages of callbacks, clues and pause-required animation details. (Long live Bill Cypher!)

At the center of all the madness is the perfectly realized Pines family — Grunkle Stan, Dipper and Mabel — and their friends and co-workers like Wendy, Soos and others. With two seasons and 40 episodes under its belt, Gravity Falls is a tight show that builds to a very satisfying conclusion, even if fans railed against its cancellation at the time.

30. Parks And Recreation

When Parks and Recreation premiered, SNL and UCB vet Amy Poehler was its biggest name, but the careers of co-stars such as Nick Offerman, Chris Pratt, Retta and Aubrey Plaza exploded in the years after. And it’s no surprise, since the NBC sitcom is where they were able to hone their characters distinct personalities for seven seasons.

Parks and Rec follows the misfit-lite group running Pawnee, Indiana’s parks department Indiana, and had little trouble getting into the wildest hijinks in each 30-minute runtime. The episode “Flu Season” delivers the goods in a nutshell, between Amy Poehler pretending she’s not sick, Chris Pratt’s physical comedy, and Nick Offerman perfectly portraying Ron Swanson’s disdain for government work. Parks and Rec is a quirky and lively show that deserves a spot in everyone’s lives.

29. Letterkenny

It's not often that a show can lean heavily on both the importance of morals and the notion of violence, but Letterkenny managed to strike an amazing balance between the two for twelve seasons. The Canadian sitcom is known for its amazingly paced banter and extensive wordplay and unique phrasings. As if the amazing comedic timing wasn't enough, one of the main themes continues to acknowledge the importance of standing up for what you believe in and striving to do good in the world. "If a friend asks for help, you help them."

Creator and star of the show, Jared Keeso, has also recently hit another comedic home run in the Letterkenny extended universe with the spinoff Shoresy.

28. The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Four years after winning TV audiences’ hearts for the last time on The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Tyler Moore struck further gold with her own titular sitcom, earning a spot high on the pyramid of inspirational female pop culture icons. For seven seasons, Moore’s Mary Richards worked diligently amidst other colorful characters in the MJM newsroom, such as Gavin McCleod’s snarky Murray, Ted Knight’s dimwitted Ted, and Ed Anser’s ever-stoic (and spinoff-bound) Lou Grant. Not to mention Betty White’s ego-puff Sue Ann.

Outside the office, some of the Emmy-amassing show’s best scenes featured Mary mixing it up with her neighbor buddies Rhoda and Phyllis, portrayed with respective pizazz by Valerie Harper and Cloris Leachman. “Chuckles Bites the Dust” and “The Last Show” are as good as sitcom TV gets.

27. Friends

“Best sitcom” conversations can’t happen without mentioning Friends once or a dozen times. As the epitome of Must-See TV in the 1990s and early aughts, the sitcom skyrocketed its six stars — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox. Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer — to fame. Decades later, the reruns are ever-present on TV and streaming, and the gang’s catchphrases continue to resonate as new generations make their way through Central Perk’s doors..

You don’t even have to have been a regular viewer to have heard Ross’ infamous “Pivot!” shout, to have a favorite Chandler quote, or to take a side on the Ross and Rachel “we were on a break” debate. Such universal recognition is relatively rare for a show that’s been off the air for 20 years.

26. The Office (UK)

We never would’ve met Steve Carell’s Michael Scott if there hadn’t been David Brent. Ricky Gerais and Stephen Merchant brought The Office to UK small screens in 2001 and, through two brief seasons and a Christmas special, introduced audiences everywhere to a new level of cringe in the form of this hilarious mockumentary series (one which kept its documentation scenarios realistic).

This dry and occasionally super-awkward comedy follows one branch of a paper company and its workers — played by Gervais, Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Crook, Lucy Davis and several other talented actors — as they attempt to get through each and every workday, dignity optional. It’s the simplicity of the show and the way the characters played off one another that made The Office a true gem.

25. Roseanne

Whether viewers are from the working class midwest or other parts of the country, Roseanne found a way to be relatable to so many. Through the sea of picture-perfect television families came the tidal wave that is the Conner family, who bickered, joked and suffered through enduring hard times. At the core of it all was a family raised by two parents, portrayed by Roseanne Barr and John Goodman, whose love remained strong throughout.

The Conners were never the idealized family everyone strives to be, but still feels like a mirror of what blue class households are really like. And despite the baffling retconned lottery season, and Barr’s off-screen controversy, Roseanne’s comfort-TV legacy remains as timeless as the family’s living room furniture.

24. The Dick Van Dyke Show

There are great workplace comedies and there are great domestic family comedies, but The Dick Van Dyke Show somehow stands out among the best ever in both capacities. From the moment Van Dyke goes barreling over that ottoman, you know you’re in for something special, as the star’s gifts for physical and verbal comedy are nearly unparalleled. He’s often not even the one delivering the best jokes, because his reaction to his legendary co-stars is the true punchline.

Speaking of, the show was very much a group effort, despite its single-star title. Conceived and written by co-star Carl Reiner, and co-starring the incomparable Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie, and Maury Amsterdam, all the pieces come together perfectly to make one of the most consistently high-quality sitcoms of all time.

23. What We Do In The Shadows

What We Do in the Shadows is a bonkers TV show that shouldn’t work, just like the vampires yelling “Bat!” shouldn’t work as a catchphrase, but it all absolutely does. The mockumentary, spunoff from the co-creators’ film of the same name, follows a group of ridiculous, socially out-of-touch bloodsuckers — save for energy vamp Colin Robinson and human familiar Guillermo — trying to prove their worth in Staten Island.

Despite how silly and NSFW the show is, movie-level prosthetics and visual effects help to elevate and add shocks to the narrative. The cast is truly outstanding, as it goes for any Matt Berry-infused cast, and WWDITS has earned as much awards recognition as any TV horror comedy. With murder and duplicitousness afoot, the series still hits all the sitcom benchmarks, including a fun neighbor (the mind-sapped Sean), a great theme song, and a bunch of A+ celebrity cameos.

22. The Office (U.S.)

Following the success of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s brilliant U.K. series of the same name, Greg Daniels’ adaptation of The Office took the mockumentary style of its predecessor – along with some of the more amusing traits and dynamics of its characters – and set out to tell new stories with office workers in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Whether it’s the hilarious standout ensemble of characters (led for most seasons by Steve Carell’s cringe-perfecting boss Michael Scott), the way it embraces the mundanity of office life, or how it follows years of these workers’ lives over years while squeezing every drop of humor along the way, The Office continues to be funny, relatable and — for many of us — a comfortable place to return to in the years since its fantastic 9-season run ended. Not to mention the timeless romances of Pam and Jim, Dwight and Angela, Phyllis and Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration.

21. South Park

With more than 25 seasons and a growing number of one-off specials, South Park reigns supreme as a long-running pillar of TV satire. A look at the 20 best episodes from the series is an easy way to effectively understand just how relevant this series has been on so many levels, evolving from a Kenny-killing, catchphrase machine to a show with a lot more to say than T-shirt fodder.

What other TV series, much less animated comedy, has taken on major religious institutions, accused killers, wild dieting trends, controversial music superstars and world politics throughout its run? If others exist, they probably didn’t do it as well as South Park does, and there’s still no end in sight to the Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s pop culture phenomenon, even if the duo have understandably been less prolific animators in later years.

20. Brooklyn Nine-Nine

From some of the best TV cold opens – “I Want It That Way” sung by suspects, I mean, come on, it’s genius – to ongoing gags ike the annual heist, and “title of your sex tape” that make you laugh so hard your side hurts, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a wild sitcom that is surprising in the best ways and absolutely irresistible as comfort comedy.

Led by Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher, Melissa Fumero, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews and Joe Lo Truglio, this team of detectives quite literally never gets old, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine only got better in time as everyone grew comfortable in their roles and leaned into the silliness of their surroundings. Especially the all-time terrible cop duo of Hitchcock and Scully.

All around, what Dan Goor and Michael Schur created was so special, and as Jake Peralta would say “cool, cool, cool.”

19. Newhart

Bob Newhart struck TV gold a second time (not counting his stand-up appearances) with the endlessly cozy treasure Newhart, which centered on the comings and goings within the Stratford Inn in small-town Vermont. You know, the kind of small town where a man named Larry can have one brother named Darryl, and then also another brother named Darryl. It’s there where the star comedian and Mary Frann’s Dick and Joanna Loudon take over after a move from New York City, but their big-city know-how can’t quite compete with the quirkiness of their fellow residents.

Nothing ever gets old when it comes to watching the core cast — including Tom Poston, Julia Duffy and Peter Scolar — and the revolving door of recurring actors and guest stars bounce their energies off of Bob Newhart’s. And we’d be remiss not to give Newhart its flowers for shattering TV reality with its truly iconic finale twist.

18. All in the Family

All in the Family is arguably one of the most important TV series ever made, sitcom or otherwise, and shows don’t get the chance to change television if you’re not also good enough to stay on it in the first place. Not only was All in the Family successful enough to span eight seasons, but it also spawned five spinoffs. Despite the fact that the show’s primary character Archie Bunker was specifically designed to be the most bigoted person you know, it somehow all works so incredibly well. You love him even while you hate him, which is a testament to the abilities of creator Norman Lear and star Carroll O’Connor.

Dealing with, and poking fun at, topics that had been seen as taboo to even address previously, All in the Family courted its share of controversy and certainly ruffled some feathers. But that’s just further proof that it left an indelible and influential mark upon audiences everywhere.

17. Frasier

For a TV spinoff to be anywhere near as popular as its parent show is a huge accomplishment, and NBC’s Frasier pulled off just such a transition following Cheers’ conclusion. To be sure, it was plainly great to see Kelsey Grammer’s Frasier Crane taking center stage after all those stool-sat years as an ensemble character. However, it’s unlikely the sitcom would have been nearly as successful without the supporting cast of David Hyde Pierce’s Niles, Jane Leeves’ Daphne, Peri Gilpin’s Roz and John Mahoney’s Martin.

These five characters’ unique personalities and the dynamics they share with one another make them one of the best sitcom casts of all time, and we’ll throw Eddie a bone there as well. Let’s not gloss over the intelligent writing Frasier consistently delivered, which was part of the show’s 37 Emmy wins over its eleven years on the air. Its continued popularity even sparked the Parmaount+ revival of the same name.

16. Taxi

Speaking to Taxi’s greatness takes little beyond listing the murderer’s row of talent yukking it up for five seasons at the Sunshine Cab Company: Judd Hirsch, Danny DeVito, Marilu Henner, Andy Kaufman, Tony Danza, Jeff Conaway, Christopher Lloyd, and Carol Kane. Theoretically, these actors could have struck gold with any TV narrative, but the New York setting provided the comedically ideal edge and neuroses that earned the show 18 Emmys and millions of fans. (Not that Kaufman’s Latka Gravas was a local.) Not to mention the quartet of sitcom royalty in creators James L. Brooks, Stan Daniels, David Davis, and Ed Weinberger.

Despite such over-the-top personalities, Taxi excels at grounded and heartfelt storytelling as much as broader humor, never shying away from the characters’ relatable struggles or the hot-button issues of the time. Extra points for its appearances from future Cheers stars Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman and George Wendt.

15. The Golden Girls

The Golden Girls is excellent enough to convince audiences that spending your twilight years in a shared living space with your mother and two roommates is a blueprint for endless laughs, when that might not match up with reality. It’s a credit to the stellar cast comprising Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty. Queens, one and all. Amidst all the drama, the endless insults thrown around, and the cheesecake, the foursome’s friendship really shines through in this show.

It’s indeed that friendship that causes the gals to get into some absolutely wild adventures. Who can forget the time Rose nearly ended the Cold War with the Soviets with a letter? Not every narrative goes quite so big as that, even if Blanche plays up her romances as such, but it’s always a helluva fun ride.

14. Curb Your Enthusiasm

After Seinfeld concluded its historic run in the late ‘90s, series co-creator Larry David could have ridden off into the sunset atop a horse made from residual checks. Instead, the stickler for human behavior not only created true sitcom brilliance, but also broke new ground for HBO and self-deprecating celeb cameos.

Curb Your Enthusiasm — far more than a pretty, pretty, pretty good show — never failed to inspire laughs and shocks in equal order, following David’s over-the-top fictionalized version of himself (think George Costanza on shame-eliminating steroids), facing so many provocatively awkward situations with a vast array of friends, colleagues, contemporaries, and eventual enemies. (R.I.P. Richard Lewis and Bob Einstein.) The largely improvised show found new ways to be both relevant and funny across 24 years and 12 seasons, a task that’s easier said (and avoided) than done. And it also delivered an all-timer of a finale, poking fun at Seinfeld’s polarizing conclusion.

13. The Larry Sanders Show

As host of the fictional late night talk show The Larry Sanders Show, Garry Shandling implores his audience to stay tuned, ordering them, “No flipping!” It was an easy command to obey when it came to HBO’s The Larry Sanders Show, still one of the bravest, funniest, and most insightful programs that happily sinks its teeth into the Hollywood hand that feeds.

Larry is just an exaggerated caricature of Garry Shandling, who let all of his own neurosis and anxieties fly out of the mouth of his insecure comedic television personality who desperately wanted to be liked by his chosen industry. And the show got a lot of mileage out of real-life celebrities appearing and poking fun at their public personas. (David Duchovny for the win.) But it’s the supporting cast – led by the late Rip Torn and the wonderful Jeffrey Tambor – that elevates Larry Sanders to legendary status. There’ll never be another as biting and satirical as this.

12. Spaced

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s long history with director Edgar Wright includes the so-called Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World's End). Before that, though, they rocked the sitcom landscape with the UK gem Spaced. A relatable premise is vital to a good sitcom, and it was so easy to fall in love with pro slacker Tim (Pegg) and the uber-dramatic Daisy (Jessica Stevenson) while shrewdly securing their affordable apartment under the watchful eye of Julia Deaken’s landlady Marsha.

In addition to watching Tim and Daisy maintain their ruse of being a “professional couple” while figuring out the whole adulting thing, Spaced — one of Simon Pegg’s best projects — packed in endless horror movie references, video game easter eggs, and more pop culture love. (The pantomime gun fight is everything.) It also featured a supporting cast of hilariously exaggerated characters that will NOT have you wanting to “skip to the end.”

11. The Good Place

Sitcoms are, by design, often stagnant, with the same characters facing similar situations week after week. If the jokes land, everything works, but if not, well… Then along came The Good Place to throw those preconceptions out the window. If creator Michael Schur had just repeated Season 1’s twisty premise for five seasons, it would have still been good, but The Good Place achieved true greatness with its storytelling.

Fronted by Kristen Bell and Ted Danson in top-tier fashion, The Good Place takes massive risks with its afterlife-set narrative, changing elements from one season to the next. The house of (God) cards would have tumbled down had it not all worked as infallibly as the big man himself, but it never even wavered. Indeed, The Good Place is simply forking unbelievable from beginning to end, buttressed by fully realized characters portrayed by co-leads William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, Manny Jacinto, and D’Arcy Carden. Stream the show for everyone now, Janet. Janet..?

10. Fawlty Towers

As part of Monty Python’s sextet of comedy masterminds, John Cleese had already conquered the world of sketch comedy and film, so the next obvious move was to craft a largely perfect sitcom with then-wife Connie Booth, and Fawlty Towers was just such perfection across twelve increasingly fraught.

Set within the non-existing titular hotel in Torquay, Cleese’s Basil Fawlty suffers the existence of everyone around him, especially Prunella Scales’ Sybil, his oft-demanding wife, and the language issues of Andrew Sachs’ Manuel, the establishment’s Spanish waiter. Booth’s chambermaid Polly gets slightly less irritation for being regularly competent. A hotel owner who hates his clientele is in the high-concept echelon, and the series offered up an eternally memorable selection of frequent and one-time guests, as well as builders, inspectors and others whose actions bring Basil’s blood pressure to a proper boil.

Similar to other classic ‘70s and ‘80s sitcoms, Fawlty Towers has been both celebrated and derided for its politically incorrect humor. It's perhaps exemplified best by the series’ marquee episode “The Germans,” and is something Cleese intends to replicate with the revival series he’s creating with daughter Camilla.

9. Cheers

Locations can mean everything to a sitcom. Memorable shows are set in places to which we want to return, from Mel’s Diner to the Dunder Mifflin offices to, of course, the bar from Cheers – where everybody knows your name. Audiences became such regulars to the comfortable sitcom, we practically expected to hear our own names shouted out, a la Norm, when we turned the program on.

The familiarity and welcomeness of Cheers kept us tuning in, even as some of the cast rotated. We all invested heavily in the “will they or won’t they” relationship of barkeep Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and waitress Diane Chambers (Shelley Long), but stuck around when Diane was replaced by Rebecca (Kirstie Alley); and Southern simpleton Woody (Woody Harrelson) was embraced after first filling in for the departed Coach (Nicholas Colasanto). Not that anyone could ever replace Cliff Clavin.

Television hasn’t been the same since Cheers closed its doors, with Frasier going a completely different spinoff route, and I’m not sure another show can be set in a bar, and reach the high bar set by this program.

8. The Simpsons

I think there’s an argument to be made that The Simpsons should have a place on any top 100 list when it comes to describing the best television, regardless of what additional parameters there may be. Part of the allure of this series, as it heads toward 800 episodes, is that there’s not really anything it hasn’t done at this point. There’s a Simpsons episode for whatever mood readers are feeling that day, though it may take a bit of research to figure out which one that is. 

What I love most about The Simpsons is how the series has evolved with time and how the show has modernized the characters with the times while still retaining the core elements that audiences loved about them. Sure, seeing Homer Simpson send memes to Lisa on a smartphone can feel a bit jarring sometimes, but it’s also 100% on-brand for the patriarch and definitely less weird in the modern day to younger audiences compared to if he was still using a rotary phone. Plus, if you prefer the old stuff, it’s all available to stream on Disney+

7. I Love Lucy

For the majority of TV’s existence as an entertainment platform, sitcoms have been synonymous with Lucille Ball, who achieved icon status several times over during her run as Lucy Ricardo in I Love Lucy (and other incarnations and later series). The series remains a blueprint reference for sitcom-crafting, and was revolutionary at the time for not only its star, but for her real-life husband Desi Arnaz portraying her faux hubby Ricky, and more.

While I Love Lucy could occasionally pull an emotional heartstring or two, its strength was comedy, and Ball maximized that concept throughout its run. Lucy and Ricky are as loud and wild a TV couple as can be, especially opposite their slightly more subdued neighbors Fred and Ethel Mertz. From Lucy’s efforts to get into Ricky’s shows to her attempts to hock Vitameatavegamin to her and Ethel’s conveyor belt struggles, the show regularly produced unforgettable sequences.

I Love Lucy is also revolutionary for women in television, with Ball helping pave the way for so many other amazing female actresses to lead their own successful shows, even if struggles are still real on that front. No need for further ‘splanation: I Love Lucy is TV gold.

6. Schitt's Creek

Schitt’s Creek didn’t truly hit the mainstream until its final season, but when people found it, its popularity exploded and its legacy was cemented. Created by father-son duo Dan and Eugene Levy, the comedy centers on a rich family who loses all their money, with the titular town as their silver lining. Annie Murphy and Catherine O’Hara co-star alongside the Levys in this most hilarious fish out of water story.

Seeing these four totally out of their element within the less-than-chic town is an easy way in for viewers. But the hooks that keep people watching are Catherine O’Hara’s ridiculous fake accent, Dan Levy’s sassy one-liners, Annie Murphy’s over-the-top everything as Alexis, Eugene Levy’s brilliant straight-man reactions, and the heartfelt growth this family goes through as they learn to love each other and the town they now call home.

Since the show became a sensation, lines like “Ew David!” have entered the everyday lexicon, and impersonations of Moira and Alexis can be seen frequently on social media. Schitt’s Creek shined bright when it was on — remember the network Pop? — and since then it’s cemented itself as a permanent part of the zeitgeist.

5. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Rarely does a piece of pop culture offer up a character who constantly proves themself to be unendingly vile, self-consumed, aloof, destructive and terrible for society. But a combination of those words describes literally every single character who speaks in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Of course, the biggest and most hilarious offenders are the central Paddy’s Pub gang made up of possible serial killer Dennis (Glenn Howerton), his slightly less evil Bird…e… sister Dee, the sexually fluid approval-seeking Mac (Rob McElhenny), glue-eating connoisseur and janitor Charlie (Charlie Day) and the shockingly demented and depraved Frank (Danny DeVito).

No stone goes unturned when it comes to shocking viewers with how low these characters will go to achieve even the most meaningless iota of recognition or selfish pleasure. There’s racially charged (and socially questionable) takes on Lethal Weapon and The Wiz, exploiting all manner of substance and behavior addictions, satirical jabs at gun control, welfare, sexual assault, and much more. Its unsanitary hilarity is cherished among fans who have watched it live on longer than any other TV comedy in history, with no end in sight. (Except for Danny DeVito’s bare one, that is.)

4. King Of The Hill

Animation isn’t often a medium for classic sitcoms, but Mike Judge’s King of the Hill delivered on all fronts by settling audiences into the everyday life of the Hill family. Hank, Peggy, Bobby, and an assortment of other Arlen standouts kept viewers rolling and clamoring for more Southern-fried hilarity during its 13-season stretch. (And more is on the way thanks to Hulu’s revival.)

King of the Hill tackles issues while poking fun at them in ways that most viewers can probably relate to — from the stresses of the workplace to the terror of puberty to the awkwardness of family — adding a layer of realism to the two-dimensional characters’ world. To that end, Judge’s series is also atypical for adhering to realism throughout, as opposed to going off the cartoonish deep end for laughs (outside of dream sequences, that is).

Judge’s Hank and Kathy Najimy’s Peggy, along with Brittany Murphy’s Luanne and Pamela Adlon’s Bobby, provide a lot of the show’s heart and soul with their struggles and not-always-brilliant reactions to those struggles. But it always helps to have friends around like the hapless good’n Bill, the conspiracy-obsessed Dale and the mush-mouthed Boomhauer.

3. Seinfeld

It’s joked that Seinfeld is “a show about nothing,” and that’s a fair surface-only assessment. The NBC hit provides no lasting messages or morals, and it focuses the majority of its creative energy on eccentric minutiae of everyday life – be it waiting forever for a table at a restaurant or getting in disputes with cashiers over proper change. Characters don’t grow or change — save for temporary shrinkage and mustache-growing — and there’s no reach for deep themes. They’re not even nice people.

And yet, it’s utterly brilliant, timeless, and endlessly rewatchable.

Jerry, George, Kramer and Elaine each have their own unique and hilarious personalities strengthened by the actors’ performances, which in turn drives hilarious stories that unlock the real magic of the show: the way everything intertwines. Kramer golfing on the beach is its own weird gag, but also perfectly sets up George being called into action to rescue a beached whale after previously lying about being a marine biologist. Just about every sitcom since the early 1990s has tried to capture some of the magic of the nine-season series, but there is only one Seinfeld. (A notion that Newman would applaud.)

2. Veep

Veep was the [censored] creation of Armando Iannucci, the mastermind known for The Thick of It and Alan Partridge’s various incarnations, and HBO’s political workplace comedy is dripping with just as much satire and [censored] as anything graced by his Midas touch before or after. It’s one of the fastest and foulest sitcoms to date, with a jokes-per-minute rate that rivals other rapid-paced greats like The Simpsons and Arrested Development, and a [censored]-per-minute rate that is second to none.

As it goes with the best of the best, Veep boasts and expansive ensemble of uppermost geniuses, as led by Emmy magnet Julie Louis-Dreyfus’ Vice President (and then some) Selina Meyer, whose struggles to remain a boss in Washington D.C. means absolute hell for the masses of aides, pundits, strategists, etc. in her orbit. That applies most to her body man and extra appendage Gary, played with aplomb by Tony Hale.

Every Veep co-star brings something perfect to the table, from Anna Chlumsky’s rage suppression as Amy to Matt Walsh’s common sense suppression as Mike; from Reid Scott’s smarm-oozing Dan to Timothy Simons’ arbitrary naysayer Jonah. And we’d just as easily watch spinoffs centered on Kevin Dunn’s Ben and Gary Cole’s Kent, as well as Sam Richardson’s go-getter Richard Splett.

1. BoJack Horseman

One of the best animated TV shows of all time, Netflix’s BoJack Horseman took the adult-toon formula and evolved it into six seasons of one of TV history’s most unique offerings that — at least in CinemaBlend’s perspective — is the sitcom GOAT. Will Arnett is perfect voicing the tragic title character, a past-his-prime ‘90s sitcom star and substance abuser, and he’s bolstered by a who’s who of talented actors portrayed well-written characters, including fan-favorites Diane Nguyen (Alison Brie) and Mr. Peanutbutter (Paul F. Tompkins).

After establishing its sitcom formula in its earliest wordplay-embracing seasons, Bojack Horseman begins getting experimental with its format in phenomenal ways, such as with Season 3’s “Fish Out of Water,” a thought-provoking underwater story with no dialogue, or Season 5’s “Big Churro,” a full-length Bojack eulogy following a big character death.

There are certainly laughs to be had, for sure — big, hearty, consistent, gut-shredding, animalistic laughs throughout all six seasons — but don’t be surprised if you end up shedding a tear or suffering an existential crisis or two along the way as well. The show-within-a-show Horsin’ Around probably wouldn’t have made it onto this list, but BoJack Horseman itself is a Triple Crown winner of the highest order.

South Park took aim at Ozempic and the larger theme of obesity in its most recent Paramount+ special. While much of the episode’s scorn was directed at insurance companies, designer drugs and rich moms, Lizzo also featured quite prominently. The outspoken advocate for body acceptance became the latest in a long list of celebrities to get skewered by creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, but rather than run from it, she decided to embrace it.

For Lizzo, embracing it meant recording herself watching it for the first time and posting a side-by-side clip on social media. As someone who loves South Park, reaction videos and celebrities taking jokes at their expense with good humor, I was obviously all over this. You can check out the Instagram embed of Lizzo repeatedly looking shocked, as well as an analysis of why this makes her “that bitch” in the wrap-up at the end…

The episode in question is called South Park: The End Of Obesity. It follows the various characters as they all deal with the Ozempic craze. Cartman, unwilling to exercise and furious that the drug isn’t covered by insurance, decides to make some himself. Meanwhile, Randy Marsh starts hanging out with a group of moms and taking Ozempic with them, while his wife Sharon starts taking the lower cost alternative called Lizzo, which lowers your standards and makes you OK with being plus-sized.

It’s clearly not the most flattering portrayal in the entire world, especially since there’s a side-plot involving Lizzo’s music damaging people’s ears, but the central message of accepting yourself at your size has been core to the singer’s gospel since she got famous. She focused on that during her post-viewing analysis and also how surreal it is to be even thought of by the creators of South Park. All in all, it was much more positive than her pre-viewing analysis, where she admitted her “worst fear” was being “actualized.” Here’s a portion of her wrap-up quote…

Over the course of its 300+ episodes, TV specials and movies, South Park has shown itself to be an equal opportunity offender. It has taken aim at a wide variety of fads, crazes and every political ideology possible. As such, it’s no surprise to see Ozempic as the latest target, as the weight loss drug has become a hot topic of conversation and a divisive issue among some.

As for Lizzo, she’s been keeping a lower profile over the last year or so after she was sued by some of her former back-up dancers who accused her of body shaming and sexual harassment. She remains a very popular figure in the body acceptance movement and her music is still very widely played, most notably her hits “Truth Hurts”, “Good As Hell” and “About Damn Time.”

Everybody loves a good, harmless prank… emphasis on “harmless.” Unfortunately, not every trick or gag results in a particularly funny outcome — even for the pranksters themselves — and many signature instances of this can be found on the big screen and the small screen. We decided to only count our favorite fictional examples, so do not expect to see any of the real-life victims of Johnny Knoxville or Sacha Baron Cohen among our picks for the most disastrous pranks from movies and TV shows.

Dumping Pig Blood On Carrie (Carrie)

In the iconic climax of Brian De Palma's 1976 adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie, bratty Chris Hargenson (Nancy Allen) conspires to humiliate Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) by dumping pig blood on her head at prom. Unbeknownst to her, the meek student is telekinetic and the stunt unleashes a rage within her that results in an all-out massacre in the high school gym with very few survivors.

The Prank War (Boy Meets World)

It starts when Cory (Ben Savage) and Shawn (Rider Strong) sneak Rachel's (Maitland Ward) car into her and Angela's (Trina McGree) dorm room. They and Jack (Matthew Lawrence) retaliate by gluing Cory, Shawn, and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) to their desk chairs, dousing them with honey, and letting a bear loose on them. Cory and Shawn's retort, in the form of posting an enlarged, revealing photo of Rachel in the student union, hurts her to tears and nearly ruins the relationship between these characters from the Boy Meets World cast.

Kidnapping Niedermeyer's Horse (National Lampoon's Animal House)

After helping D-Day (Bruce McGill) and Bluto (John Belushi) kidnap a horse belonging to Omega House member Neidermeyer, Flounder (Stephen Furst) is convinced to shoot the animal, not realizing they only put blanks in the pistol. Still, when Flounder shoots upward, the sound gives the horse a fatal heart attack, resulting in one of the darkest gags from National Lampoon's Animal House, which is really saying something.

Lloyd Gives Harry A Laxative (Dumb And Dumber)

To get even with Harry (Jeff Daniels) after learning he spent the day with Mary behind his back, Lloyd (Jim Carrey) puts a heavy dose of laxative in his coffee before he goes to see Mary again. This leads to, easily, the grossest scene from Dumb and Dumber in which Harry ends up violently unloading his waste into Mary's toilet, which he only then discovers is broken.

Getting Back At Mrs. Slater (The House On Sorority Row)

In the 1982 slasher, The House on Sorority Row, seven female college students attempt to prank their house mother, Mrs. Slater (Lois Kelso Hunt), by stealing her cane and forcing her to retrieve it from their pool herself while holding her at gunpoint. When the older woman retaliates by startling Vicki (Eileen Davidson), she accidentally shoots her, which makes them a target of a killer using her cane as the murder weapon.

Winston Convinces Nick And Jess They Are Evicted (New Girl)

The entire New Girl finale, in which Nick (Jake Johnson) and Jess (Zooey Deschanel) are forced to leave the loft, was an elaborate prank by Winston (Lamorne Morris). While the couple did successfully find a new place to live, the gang chalks up this gag as an example of when "Prank Sinatra" takes his sense of humor way too far.

Michelle And Natalie's Car Chase Game (Urban Legend)

In a late '90s slasher called Urban Legend, a wave of murders related to popular myths reminds Natalie (Alicia Witt) of a game she played with her high school friend, Michelle (Natasha Gregson Wagner). The object was to drive without headlights on and chase after the first car to flash its lights at them, which resulted in the death of the other car's driver.

Jim Hides Andy's Cellphone (The Office)

Dwight (Rainn Wilson) is the victim of Jim’s (John Krasinski) best pranks on The Office, but one that backfired a bit was targeted at Andy (Ed Helms) in retaliation for his annoying new ringtone. In the series’ third season, Jim hides the former Stamford Branch salesperson's cell phone in the ceiling and calls it repeatedly, which sends him into a rage that, ultimately, leads him to overreact by punching a hole in the wall.

Squidward Tries To Get Back At SpongeBob (SpongeBob Squarepants)

In an April Fool’s Day episode of one of the best-animated series of all time, Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob Squarepants, Squidward (Rodger Bumpass) decides to get even with his eponymous co-worker (Tom Kenny) simply for enjoying one of his favorite holidays by setting an elaborate, Rube Goldberg-style trap in the Krusty Krab. However, the cantankerous octopus’ prank only causes SpongeBob physical and emotional pain and earns criticism from bystanders, forcing him to apologize.

Flaming Poop Bag Blows Up A Competing Bar (It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia)

A classic example of the aggressively dark humor on FX’s It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia in the second season when the gang conspires to get back at a business developer who tries to claim he owns half of Paddy’s. One of their acts of vengeance is throwing a flaming bag of fecal matter into their rival’s property, unaware that there is a gas leak occurring at that moment, which causes an explosion inside.

The Gym Rats Make Melvin Kiss A Sheep (The Toxic Avenger)

After Melvin (Mark Torgl) is tricked into wearing a pink tutu and kissing a sheep he thinks is his crush, Julie (Cindy Manion), the embarrassed gym custodian accidentally runs through a window and falls into a vat of toxic waste. However, you could argue that this had a positive outcome, since the accident transformed him into a grotesque, but powerful, vigilante known as the Toxic Avenger.

Hiding Fish Causes A Deadly Standoff (Dirty Work)

In the cult favorite, 1998 Norm Macdonald movie, Dirty Work, professional revenge artists Mitch (Macdonald) and Sam (Artie Lange) try to make a client's rowdy neighbor's mansion literally smell fishy. When the owner returns with others to complete an illegal business deal, the buyer points out the odor, which the seller assumes is a signal that he is being set up, leading to a bloody massacre offscreen.

The Haunted Rock Quarry (Trick 'R Treat)

One of the most chilling segments from the 2007 anthology horror movie classic, Trick 'R Treat, sees Rhonda (Samm Todd) in hysterics by fellow-trick-or-treaters pretending to be the vengeful spirits of children who died at the bottom of a local quarry years earlier. Rhonda gets the last laugh, however, when she leaves the pranksters to die as the actual spirits of the murdered kids emerge to attack them.

Bart's Exploding Duff Can (The Simpsons)

Bart Simpson (Nancy Cartwright) is one of pop culture’s most legendary pranksters, but one of his biggest bombs occurred in an April Fool’s Day episode of The Simpsons as fate would have it. He shakes up a can of Duff so vigorously that, when Homer (Dan Castellaneta) cracks it open, it literally blows the roof off their house.

A Flaming Halloween Prank Leads To Victor Crowley's Death (Hatchet)

A horror movie villain we have some sympathy for is Victor Crowley (Kane Hodder), whose brutal murder streak in the Hatchet franchise is out of vengeful retaliation for the cruel Halloween prank that inadvertently led to his demise. When the grotesquely deformed man becomes trapped in his house as it is lit on fire by trick-r-treaters, his father (also played by Hodder) uses a hatched to break in and save him, but accidentally kills him with the tool instead.

Geoffrey Thinks He Won The Lottery (The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air)

In Season 3 of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Will (Will Smith) and Carlton (Alfonso Ribiero) convince Geoffrey (Joseph Marcell) that he won a $26 million jackpot, to which he excitedly responds by resigning as the Banks’ live-in servant. This forces the cousins to come clean about their trick (achieved by playing him a tape of the previous week’s lottery reading and buying a ticket with corresponding numbers), to which he responds by nearing choking them to death.

Aiden And Mia Convince Grace They Are Dead (The Lodge)

In many great horror movies, the inciting incident or entire plot revolves around a prank gone awry and a most devastating example is 2020’s The Lodge. The major reveal of the holiday horror movie is that Aiden (Jaeden Martell) and Mia (Lia McHugh) successfully convince their father’s girlfriend, Grace (Riley Keough), that they are all in purgatory, but are unable to get her to realize it was a joke, leading the unstable cult survivor to shoot their dad (Richard Armitage) under the belief that he has also joined them in the afterlife upon his return to the cabin. 

Frasier's Clown Costume Gives His Dad A Heart Attack (Frasier)

To get back at his father, Martin (John Mahoney), for spooking him earlier, Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) sneaks up on him dressed as a killer clown. The gag works too well, causing the startled Martin to end up in the hospital with a mild heart attack.

Scott And Cartman's Prank War (South Park)

It probably came as no surprise to South Park fans that a series of retaliative pranks between Scott Tenorman (voiced by Toby Morton) and Eric Cartman (Trey Parker) would lead to extreme circumstances, but just how it came to be was shockingly absurd. After Scott tries to trick Cartman into eating his body hair, Cartman gets even by tricking Scott into eating his own parents.

Columbus Gets Spooked By Bill Murray In Zombie Makeup (Zombieland)

The 2009 horror-comedy classic Zombieland features one of the most memorable Bill Murray cameos, especially for the tragic turn it takes when he tries to sneak up on Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg). Because the comedy legend’s disguise as a walking corpse is so convincing that, Columbus ends up shooting him in the chest, ending his life for real.

Joey Gets His Head Stuck In A Turkey (Friends)

In one of the best Friends episodes set on Thanksgiving, a flashback reveals a time when Joey (Matt LeBlanc) placed his head inside the dinner’s main course and could not take it off. He explains to Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) that he put the turkey on in the first place in hopes it would scare Chandler (Matthew Perry).

Lewis And Fuller Accidentally Prank A Psychopath (Joy Ride)

The 2001 thriller Joy Ride stars Paul Walker, Steve Zahn, and Leelee Sobieski as three road-trippers stalked by a sadistic trucker known as Rusty Nail (voiced by Ted Levine), but really have no one to blame but themselves for the ordeal. Walker and Zahn’s characters, Lewis and Fuller, played a practical joke on Rusty Nail — posing as a woman on CB radio and luring him to a racist businessman’s motel room — that he clearly did not find funny.

Liz's Fake Birthday Kidnapping Results In Her Death (Jawbreaker)

One of the darkest high school movies of the ‘90s is Jawbreaker, in which a clique of popular young men (Rose McGowan, Julie Benz, and Rebecca Gayheart) decides to surprise their fourth member, Liz (Charlott Ayanna), with a birthday dinner by pretending to kidnap her and throwing her in the trunk of a car. However, they are the ones who end up being surprised when they discover that, on the way, she choked to death on the titular piece of candy.

Max's War On Bullies (Max Keeble's Big Move)

When he learns he is moving by the end of his first week at school, the title character of Max Keeble's Big Move (Alex Linz) decides to get back at his bullies with, not just one prank, but a series of elaborate and uproarious gags. Unfortunately, when his dad quits his job, allowing his family to stay home instead, all of Max's tormentors come for him at once. At least his friends come through and help save him from a grisly fate.

Scaring Cropsy (The Burning)

The 1981 slasher The Burning follows a former summer camp caretaker named Cropsy, who seeks murderous vengeance years after he was the victim of a prank gone awry by a group of campers. An attempt to scare Cropsy by placing a burning, bug-infested skull near his bed works too well, resulting in an inferno that engulfs his cabin and leaves him horribly disfigured.

Just About All Of Junior's Mischievous Acts (The Problem Child Movies)

Dennis the Menace and Home Alone’s Kevin McCallister may be the more famous mischievous youngsters, but pop culture’s true, most fearsome troublemaker might be Junior (Michael Oliver) from 1990’s Problem Child and its sequel from the following year. The seven-year-old wreaks havoc by throwing the family cat on his grandfather (which ends him up in the hospital) and turning the propane on his new neighbor’s gas-powered barbecue pit high enough to cause an explosion.

Booker Thinks He Saw A U.F.O. (The Famous Jett Jackson)

On Disney Channel’s The Famous Jett Jackson, Jett (Lee Thompson Young), Kayla (Kerry Duff), and J.B. (Ryan Sommer Baum) mess with a working flying saucer prop from the Silverstone set that ends up hovering over Booker (Andrew Tarbet). While the trio never intended to prank him with it, they indulge in the opportunity when the deputy appears visibly shocked by the sight. However, they come to regret it when Booker spreads the word and causes a ruckus across town that ends up costing him his job.

Rachel Teaches Ben The Art Of Pranking (Friends)

Desperate to find some way to relate to young Ben (Cole Sprouse), Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) shows him some of the ways she and her siblings used to mess with each other in their youth, such as putting saran wrap around the toilet. Rachel ends up in the dog house, though, when Ben’s gags begin to upset his father, Ross (David Schwimmer), and mother, Carol (Jane Sibbet).

The Badger At Cece's Wedding (New Girl)

In the Season 2 finale of New Girl, Schmidt (Max Greenfield) wants to sabotage Cece’s (Hannah Simone) wedding to Shivrang (Satya Bhabha) and enlists the help of “Prank Sinatra,” Winston, who conspires to drop a live badger onto the officiant from inside the venue’s vents. Unfortunately, he and Nick never get that far into the plan because they get trapped in the vents with the badger after it springs loose from his crate.

A Crank Call Leads To Manslaughter And Murder (Don't Hang Up)

In the 2017 thriller, Don't Hang Up, Sam (Gregg Sulkin) and Brady (Garret Culkin) convince a woman over the phone that there is an intruder in her home and, unwittingly, reveal the truth only after she had dropped the phone. Hearing someone that she believes is the intruder, she fatally shoots them before discovering it was her own daughter entering the house. This incident makes Sam and Brady the target of a cruel killer who punishes pranksters like them.

The Haunted Warehouse (The Office)

As part of the Dunder-Mifflin Scranton branch's Halloween haunted house attraction, Michael (Steve Carell) suspends himself from the ceiling with a fake noose around his neck, absolutely traumatizing their young guests. The cold open proved controversial in real life, too, and has since been removed from the episode, called “Koi Pond,” wherever The Office is available to stream.

Faking Megan's Death Proves Fatal (Sorority Row)

The inciting incident of the 2009 slasher, Sorority Row (a reimagining of 1982's The House on Sorority Row), is a prank to punish Garrett (Matt O'Leary) for cheating on Megan (Audrina Patridge) by convincing him he killed her. However, he ends up killing her for real by mortally wounding her with a tire iron.

It should go without saying, but you should be careful about who you prank and how you prank them. If you don’t believe us, just check out these examples of pranks from movies and TV for reference.

The first thing that likely comes to mind for people with casual interest in South Park is probably a moment with Kenny dying, or a one-liner that’s something along the lines of, “oh my god, they killed Kenny!” Though the Comedy Central series has been killing the popular South Park character in the orange parka off far less in recent years, the complex way the show went from axing him in numerous over-the-top ways to resurrecting the character later in its run is a wild one, and it’s a story that’s rife with network heads who hated the idea and even Trey Parker and Matt Stone getting tired of the gag… eventually. 

How Matt Stone And Trey Parker Decided To Kill Off Kenny

Back in 1995, Matt Stone and Trey Parker put together one of the earliest examples of a “viral video.” The short was called “The Spirit of Christmas” and would lay the foundation for the majority of the two then-college students' careers. It also led them to landing a successful contract with fledgling cabler Comedy Central for a whole series based around a slew of foul-mouthed kids. It was a first for the duo, but also a first for the network, which hadn’t really been known for original scripted animated fare.

Early on, the idea was just to challenge expectations. As Trey Parker noted in an EW oral history, the popularity of the show hinged on the fact the concept was totally a new one, and spoke to the college audience (though they didn't drop an f-bomb on air until 2016).  

In “The Spirit Of Christmas” one of the plotlines was that Kenny is killed by a snowman the boys initially created who came to life, spawning the iconic “he killed Kenny” quote. When they got picked up by Comedy Central, it was a dream come true for the two co-creators, who later said the network was where they’d most hoped to be set up. They also revealed in the Basic podcast, “that’s where it belonged; we really felt that way,” though they candidly admitted “it seemed like they get away with more” at the network, as well. 

Which is why it’s surprising to hear the “he killed Kenny” gag was rejected by the network early on. 

Not Everyone Thought Killing Kenny Off Was A Great Idea

After Comedy Central ultimately greenlighted South Park, the real pain began. First, creating the actual episodes was no joke. The two creators told Basic the process was incredibly “tedious” and done by hand at first, with Parker explaining in vivid detail how the creation of the animated series went early on. 

“Being able to crack that nut” and figure out how to animate the series and work in relevant, current events jokes at the last minute is what led South Park to be so timely as a comedy once they figured out how to animate at pace. The show could come up with a joke about something that was happening in real time and get it on the air later that week or day, with the gents noting “no one had ever dreamed [that was] possible.” It also meant more episodes could be produced, and more gags could be repeated. 

Meanwhile, they’d already come up with the idea that Kenny would be killed every week, and they were getting pushback from executives over the choice. The president of the network at the time, Doug Herzog, admitted he thought audiences were not going to get it, years later calling it “the first stupid thing” he said to them. 

This might seem like a bad omen, but Stone and Parker said everyone had their “line” they didn’t think was funny, citing “Mr. Hanky the Christmas poo” as a prime example that producer Brian Graden hated. He straight up told the guys, “I’m not going to be involved in a show about talking shit.” The same sort of thing happened with the Kenny gag, with Herzog also saying in the basic interview:

In both cases, the men caved and the concepts made it onto the show by the time it hit the TV schedule. 

Thank goodness Herzog didn’t double down, as Kenny’s deaths went on to have an incredibly successful run on South Park. For the first five seasons of the sitcom, the show found new and inventive ways to kill off the character during each new episode. Theories were spawned about why Kenny died so often on the show, and the comedy actually addressed this years and years later, saying the character has a great power and a great curse. It's because his parents were part of Cthulhu cult and ended up making a deal that affects his ability to stay alive, and to stay dead each time he dies.  

So, thank Mr. and Mrs. McCormick. 

Kenny Officially Died Back In 2001, But Has The Show Killed Him Off In Recent Years? 

The creators ultimately chose to kill Kenny off for good in one of the best South Park episodes to date, aptly titled “Kenny Dies.” That 2001 episode featured Stan getting upset as his pal dealt with muscular dystrophy in a sendoff worthy of the popular character. 

In the past, Matt Stone has called Kenny “such a prop,” noting in a Maclean’s article that “he can’t really talk,” and at the time the gag was coming to an end, the duo was even more vociferous about ending the long-running bit. Stone hypothesized fans hadn’t even paid attention to the change, though I think it’s safe to say they had noticed, telling Knoxville News (via Page Six) at the time: 

He also said that once the episode was written, and Kenny was given a drawn out and sometimes emotional sendoff,  it was an “easy” “decision” to wash their hands of this viral idea they'd created.

No love lost there.

Still, the character eventually came back on the series and has died a few handfuls of times since “Kenny Dies” officially marked a wrap on that weekly storyline. Probably the best example of this is the well-reviewed “South Park: The Pandemic” special. During that multi-episode arc, Kenny had been researching COVID-19 and had left instructions for his pals in the event of his death, which obviously happened, this time due to a new COVID-19 variant. Kenny had also been researching time travel and the follow-up to this episode “Post Covid-The Return of Covid” explored the younger pals forgiving each other and returning to the past where Kenny was still alive. 

Kenny also died in the 2023 special “Joining the Panderverse.” So it’s not a gag that has died off completely as South Park has continued to make controversial episodes. In sum total, Kenny has reportedly died more than 120 times. Between there being 13 episodes in Season 1, 18 episodes in Season 2, 17 episodes in Season 3, 17 episodes in Season 4, and “Kenny Dies” being the 13th episodes in Season 5, there's a sum total of 78 episodes for Kenny to die in during the first five seasons alone. 

It's been a long road for one joke, but even if it's old hat at this point, and even if it drives its creators nuts, it's also one of South Park's most enduring legacies. 

For as long as the medium has been around, TV has given audiences unforgettable characters, iconic moments, and beloved storylines we still talk about months, years, and even decades later. In addition to all of that, these small-screen staples have introduced us to some big businesses that we cherish just as much. That being said, here are 32 TV shows with fake businesses that everyone knows…

Dunder Mifflin (The Office)

Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, Inc. from The Office is undoubtedly one of the most well-known fake businesses from a TV show, even by those who’ve either never watched the beloved workplace sitcom or only caught a few episodes here and there. Central to many of the best episodes of The Office, this paper and office supply wholesaler might not have the best products, but it’s got the best people.

Moe's Tavern (The Simpsons)

The Simpsons has given fans countless fake businesses over the years, so much so you could build an entire list with nothing but locations from Springfield. One of the most iconic, and most prolific, is Moe’s Tavern. Homer’s favorite watering hole and Bart’s favorite prank call target, this dimly-lit, smoke-filled bar has been central to many episodes of the long-running animated series.

Cheers (Cheers)

As noted in the timeless opening credits song, the titular bar in Cheers is a place “where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.” Over the course of 11 seasons, this Boston pub became one of the most well-known sitcom settings thanks to its cast of bartenders and extremely faithful patrons. 

Waystar Royco (Succession)

Waystar Royco, the massive conglomerate at the center of most of the drama in Succession, has become one of those corporations like Ewing Oil or the Bluth Company that prove that family and business don’t always mix. In fact, the mergers, acquisitions, deals, and in-fighting are enough to rip a family apart. 

Los Pollos Hermanos (Breaking Bad)

On the surface, Los Pollos Hermanos was a fast-food chain owned and operated by Gustavo Frig and Max Arciniega, but we all know it for its money laundering and various other schemes on Breaking Bad. It would be nice to try some of that tasty fried chicken, but only if we keep our wallets and heads intact.

Planet Express (Futurama)

With a slogan like “Our crew is replaceable, your package isn’t!” it’s hard not to find the humor in Planet Express’ business model on Futurama. This futuristic intergalactic delivery service was at the center of a large portion of the animated series’ best episodes and created some unforgettable moments along the way.

Central Perk (Friends)

Besides Monic and Rachel’s apartment, there are no locations from Friends that are more recognizable as Central Perk. This New York coffee shop, which is a play on Central Park, gave audiences all kinds of great moments, both scripted and improvised like Billy Crystal’s hilarious appearance alongside Robin Williams.

Sterling Cooper (Mad Men)

Sterling Cooper, and its various incarnations and name changes, made the world of advertising look like the coolest profession when the agency was introduced alongside Mad Men back in 2007. Sure, a lot that went on at the New York-based company wouldn’t fly today, but the ‘60s were a much different, smoke-filled time when nothing was off the table.

Good Burger (All That)

Before there were two movies set at this fast-food restaurant, Good Burger got its start on an unforgettable skit on the Nickelodeon sketch comedy show, All That. Kel Mitchell’s Ed could be the most dim-witted and frustrating cashier known to man, but there is no denying his charm or those delicious burgers and shakes (just as long as he’s not in the ice cream tank again).

Pendant Publishing (Seinfeld)

Pendant Publishing, Elaine’s longtime employer on Seinfeld popped up quite often during the show’s run. This includes some hilarious episodes like the one where Kramer tries to get a coffee table book published and another where George briefly gets a job, one of many career changes for the neurotic and opinionated character.

Strickland Propane (King Of The Hill)

Strickland Propane, known for its propane and propane accessories, could very well be the most well-known gas-based company in the history of animated television. It’s hard to not quote Hank Hill whenever going to refill a propane tank, or when you just randomly pass a rack of them when going to the grocery store.

The Bluth Company (Arrested Development)

Sure the Bluth Company helped Saddam Hussein, committed all kinds of fraud, and was led by an extremely wealthy family who lacked self-awareness or a connection to normal society, but it had a lot of charm, and that’s what matters. Can you imagine Arrested Development without this massive headache of a company?

Paddy's Pub (It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia)

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has been on the air since 2005, and it’s hard to find an episode that doesn’t at least partially take place in Paddy’s Pub. That gang’s bar, which somehow manages to stay in business despite small crowds and various other issues, is essentially the sixth lead on the long-running comedy series.

Vandelay Industries (Seinfeld)

Okay, Vandelay Industries doesn’t really exist, even in the context of Seinfeld, but there’s no way we were going to leave one of George’s best schemes off this list. One of the best jokes from the show’s long run on NBC, this fake latex company is classic Seinfeld.

The Android's Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop (The Simpsons) 

The Android’s Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop, home to the Comic Book Guy, is one of those locations from The Simpsons everyone had to find on the once-booming The Simpsons: Tapped Out mobile game more than a decade ago. Host of several great episodes, and even more hilarious interactions, this comic book store is a staple of Springfield.

Casa Bonita (South Park)

Okay, Casa Bonita exists in real life, but we would be remiss to leave it off our list of great TV businesses. This over-the-top and absurd Mexican restaurant is at the center of one of the best South Park episodes and remains one of the most well-known businesses in the show’s massive universe.

Vought International (The Boys)

Who doesn’t love an evil, pompous, destructive, and merciless corporation filled with villains who’ve convinced the world they are the good guys? Well, Vought International from The Boys definitely falls into that category. We just wouldn’t want to visit the headquarters or cross paths with any of its executives, especially Homelander.

Ewing Oil (Dallas)

One of the most well-known TV shows of the latter part of the 20th century, Dallas gave audiences so many unforgettable moments involving J.R. Ewing and his Ewing Oil company. This is another company we wouldn’t want to do business with, considering all the scheming, murder, and whatnot.

ACME (Looney Tunes)

Decades before all the drama surrounding Coyote vs. Acme, Wile E. Coyote used the fictional company’s products time and time again in his endless quest to capture that pesky roadrunner. Acme, Corp. had it all: dynamite, bird food, excavating equipment, you name it, but the products just never seemed to work. 

WKRP (WKRP In Cincinnati)

WKRP in Cincinnati will forever be remembered as one of the best sitcoms from the ‘70s and ‘80s, and not just because it gave us the best Thanksgiving episode of all time. The AM radio station at the center of this beloved classic was full of all sorts of misfits and outcasts trying to give you the news and some tunes you could find in a small-market Midwest town.

Bob's Burgers (Bob's Burgers)

Maybe it’s the charm that makes the titular restaurant in Bob’s Burgers so beloved because it certainly can’t be the location (right next to a crematorium) that’s bringing in its admittedly small customer base. Regardless of its issues and trappings, Bob’s Burgers is a fast-food joint that many of us know all too well.

Sanford And Son Salvage (Sanford And Son)

Sanford and Son Salvage, the family business on the classic sitcom, Sanford and Son, could very well be the most recognizable junkyard in the history of television. Sure Fred G. Sanford was more prone to faking a heart attack than giving someone a deal on some junk, err treasures, but he sure did make it all the more fun.

Gary's Shoes & Accessories For Today's Woman (Married... With Children)

One of the best aspects of Al Bundy’s character on Married… with Children was the fact that he worked at Gary’s Shoes & Accessories for Today’s Woman. This manly man who liked to drink, bowl, and sit a certain way on the couch would spend his days peddling shoes for the “modern” woman. Oh, the irony. Oh, the comedy.

MacLaren's Pub (How I Met Your Mother)

Can you count how many nights we spent with the How I Met Your Mother cast at MacLaren's Pub, their main hangout spot? It has to be dozens upon dozens, if not more. Several of the characters first met at this iconic New York City bar, a place we would certainly like to visit if it existed in the real world.

Kruger Industrial Smoothing (Seinfeld)

Jerry had all the girlfriends but George had all the jobs on Seinfeld, including a stint at Kruger Industrial Smoothing. Following his stint with the New York Yankees, George lied his way into a job with this company, which would ultimately lead to Festivus, one of many phrases Seinfeld introduced to the English language.

The Max (Saved By The Bell)

Every sitcom has a go-to hangout for its cast of characters, and Saved by the Bell had The Max. Over the course of the series’ run in the early ‘90s, the students of Bayside High treated this neon-filled diner as their personal hangout where A.C. Slater would do the coolest and most ‘90s thing ever by turning his seat backwards before sitting down.

The Smash Club (Full House)

Uncle Jesse was always up to something to not lose touch with his younger and more daring self on Full House, whether it was running away from his family for a weekend in Tahoe to starting the Smash Club. This San Francisco nightclub was a major location during later seasons of the ABC sitcom’s run and gave us some hilarious, and thoughtful moments along the way.

MomCorp (Futurama)

Though the leader of MomCorp puts on the appearance of a gentle, kind, and good-natured elderly woman running a robot company, behind closed doors she’s anything but. Throughout Futurama, Mom runs her business with an iron fist. Well, except for whenever the Professor is around.

Mega Lo Mart (King of the Hill)

Mega Lo Mart, a clear parody of the real-life Walmart, came up time and time again on King of The Hill, including with its trademark commercials starring flugelhorn icon Chuck Mangione. Appearing in the first and last episodes of the long-running Fox animated series, the store was a major part of several arcs and unforgettable moments.

Outdoor Man (Last Man Standing)

Tim Taylor had “Tool Time” on Home Improvement but Mike Baxter, also played by Tim Allen, had Outdoor Man on the popular sitcom, Last Man Standing. As its name suggests, this outdoor and recreation store had everything an adventurer, fisherman, or hunter would want in life.

Packard Sawmill (Twin Peaks)

One of the great things about Twin Peaks was the fact that the Pacific Northwest town and its various businesses and industries had a tremendous amount of lore. This includes the Packard Sawmill, which was at the center of several of the major subplots and arcs in David Lynch’s mystery thriller. It was also predominantly featured in the Twin Peaks title sequence, which is one of the best in the history of TV.

Krusty Krab (Spongebob Squarepants)

We may never really know what’s in a Krabby Patty, but one thing that is for sure is that the Krusty Krab is one of the most well-known locations on Spongebob Squarepants. The better of two burger joints in Bikini Bottoms, Mr. Krab’s signature sandwich has to be one of the tastiest-looking food items in the history of animated television.

Though these fake businesses can’t be visited in real life (aside from an occasional pop-up shop marketing ploy), we can go back and watch these various shows time and time again.