An incredible show with even better characters.
South Park made its debut on Comedy Central 18 years ago today and I’m certain that at the time, Trey Parker and Matt Stone were completely unaware that the crude, insane and razor-sharp stories involving Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman would become the best piece of satire in the modern era.
Yes, it’s bonkers, fecked up and full of dick and fart jokes but for my money, South Park has consistently been the smartest show on TV for the best part of a decade.
Impressive stuff considering it has a Queen spider as a religious leader, ghosts of human kindness breaking into bedrooms all over town and Bono acting out as the world’s biggest piece of shit.
The world of South Park is filled with some wonderful characters and here are our favourites.
18) God
I could have opted for Saddam Hussein, Moses, Satan, Jesus, Mrs Crabtree or a host of others but I love how ballsy Stone and Parker are here. Those lads just don’t give a feck.
17) Craig
Doesn’t everyone wish that they could just flip people off whenever they feel like it? Cartman’s punchline here is gold.
Clip via – UglyPumpkinz
16) Liane Cartman
Is she a doting mam with the patience of a saint or a cover girl for crack whore magazine? The truth, she’s a little from column A and B.
Clip via –nattiedoll19
15) Tweek
Eek! Have some coffee, be grand.
14) Jimmy
Wow what a wonderful audience. Just don’t get him ‘excited’ before a performance though.
This is still one of the most brutal fights that you’ll ever see.
Clip via – jayden stephen
13) Detective Harrison
So what do you have to say to that? Mr scientist! Niiiiiiiice.
Clip via – Shane Collins
12) Chef
Three fiddy! We all know the words to this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIl-6UnlGVs
Clip via – MusicVideoStudiosTas
11) Stan’s Grandpa
God damnit Billy! Yes he may only have one recurring gag in the show but there’s something wonderful about seeing an elderly man hurl abuse at an 8-year-old psychotic boy.
Clip via – yourmomxxpp
10) Kenny
We didn’t have to understand what he said. All we needed was this. Oh my god….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwm9DvF24Ag
9) Terence & Philip
Move over Celine Dion, Bryan Adams and Ugly Bob because Canada belongs to these two. ‘Asses of Fire’ and ‘Not Without My Anus’ are classics.
8) Towelie
He’s happy to be known as the worst character of all-time but he also knows the melody of Funky Town inside and out. Wanna get high?
Clip via – Barry Reeves
7) Timmy
Best frontman since Mick Jagger. He probably upstaged Phil Collins also.
Clip via – Theresa Trevino
6) Mr Garrison
Mr Hat, Mr Slave, Lemmywinks, scissors, pigeons and the whole molestation thing. He’s a teacher. A TEACHER.
This reply to Clyde’s answer still cracks me up.
5) Kyle
Matt Stone’s alter ego is probably the main voice of reason in the show. Then again, his dad is a dolphin.
Clip via – Jiri Starek
4) Stan
Trey Parker’s alter-ego is the smartest person in the show. Then again, he pukes anytime that he sees his girlfriend.
3) Butters
Hamburgers! The episode involving the breakdown of his parents’ marriage is one of the most insane and uncomfortably funny episodes of TV that you’ll ever see.
Yes he’s bi-curious and has some killer tap-dancing skills but you have to admire someone that managed to cover every inch of his house in shit just to get revenge on his parents.
Paris Hilton will testify to his brilliance although he’s a grounded bear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maD1XGMHjzk
2) Cartman
We all have our favourite Cartman moment but for me it’s the sheer lunacy of this one. He doesn’t care that a man just died, all he’s focused on is proving Kyle wrong.
1) Randy Marsh
To quote the man himself ‘I’m the best’ and I’ve already written a piece as to why he’s a TV great but this clip has taken on a life of itself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuvLUhuo52w
So what do you think? Is there anyone that we left out?
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
