Going Down to Upheaval

South Park returns for its 22nd season September 26th on Comedy Central. The examiners of America’s petri dish have never looked at a specimen quite like the post-normal Trump dystopia.

Creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker masterfully spoofed candidate Trump through Mr. Garrison’s hypocritical bigotry but struggled to reconcile his victory in Season 20.

Wisecrack argued the season long narrative convoluted the revolving story plots.

While memberberries, trolling, and Trump correlate, the season’s conclusion flounders at tying together whatever theme they wanted to convey.

Stone and Parker had prepared for Hillary Clinton to win the nomination titling an episode “The Very First Gentleman” but pivoted away.

They’ve gambled on the election several times using the betting odds to determine plot lines before Barack Obama won both of his terms.

A confluence of Trump’s surprising victory and risking an entire season’s arc on Hilldawg, for once, befuddled the unflappable duo.

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In the following season, South Park mostly averted Trump and serialization. In the finale “Splatty Tomato” Garrison gets an assist in avoiding Fox News traps.

“Thank God for The Whites”

The show found its ground again clowning current discourse each week ribbing Netflix for green lighting every project, putting seniors out to pasture, smart speakers taking ‘er jerbs!

Still, Stone and Parker couldn’t completely avoid Trump buddy which brings us to 2018. A question looms for me, how will South Park cohabit with Trump this season? Should they even attempt to address our collective numbness to his rhetoric and policies?

Every comedian, late night, and satirical news host already riffs on Trump daily. South Park stands above all of them yet will demeaning him only add to the rabble? Will they get lost in the noise or possibly recapture the smack down they put on society?

We’re living in a world where The President faces no consequences for any rhetoric or policies. Tomorrow a tape can leak with Trump uttering the n-word upsetting most, not all, of the country for a few days.

Anyone else would get fired or resign from their job.

Trump pimped himself as a deal maker and a fiscally responsible stable genius yet wants a military parade costing tax payers an estimated $90 million and requesting $25 billion for a wall he said Mexico would pay for.

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We can disagree about how we structure our government, how much tax to collect and spend. America was founded on the right to disagree, but we’ve lost discourse.

I’m guilty of it too. As Kyle once humbly said “one fourth of Americans are retards.” We’re all wrong sometimes. Unfortunately the current President attacks those who correct him like Mao Zedong and Richard Nixon.

The little mountain town will have their opportunity to dissect the country. Can they decipher The Giant Douche or will they avoid him all together?

Would avoiding him make us eventually question and dethrone South Park as the satirical lords?

All these questions make this 22nd season perhaps the most intriguing season since “You’re Getting Old” the half way point of season 16.

Hello September

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Most of my favorite shows will begin airing new episodes starting this September. South Park, an American institution and one of my favorite shows ever, will begin it’s 20th season on the 14th. Donald Trump, the coming NFL season, and the Zika virus will provide a dispensary of ammunition. What unforeseen topic Matt and Trey will exploit next intrigues me most. Along with Colorado’s favorite crazed town this month promises great new seasons and recommencing of weekly news satires.

Real Time with Bill Maher returns September 16th on HBO. Maher will resume getting sued by Donald Trump and jabbing towards the general election this November. I expect “New Rules” when both candidates finally debate. With polls fluctuating frequently, Hillary’s Bengazi emails released, and boiling government situations Maher has plenty on his plate. Sharing in the buffet, John Oliver continues to educate us and crush Trump. Once Oliver and the Last Week Tonight team research your schemes the butthurt shrieks for all to hear.  The program resumes on the 25th.

Any Given Wednesday with Bill Simmons finishes the last half of its debut season this week. It’s the first season but it’s been underwhelming so far. Ratings wise it’s not doing well but the content has improved every episode. Simmons’ take on PSLs, Personal Seat Licenses, made me aware of an old issue that’s still around but hardly discussed. Learning Jonah Hill got bronchitis from doing too much fake coke or Michael Rapaport and Bill going to court with Judge Joe Brown about Deflate Gate were two of the best bits on the show so far. Hopefully HBO gives the show enough time to mature and build an audience. It’s not a great show yet but it’s steadily improving. The Ringer network and podcasts have been great too.

I’ve already watched the new season of Narcos and the fall of Pablo Escobar. His death doesn’t end the show for me though. The last episode leaves a nice rope for the show to continue which I’m hammering for. Star Wars Rebels will continue its third season on the 24th with a one hour premiere. I look forward to the foreshadowed decent of Ezra to the Dark side. Hopefully Darth Maul’s role continues to expand. I’m also excited about Danish actor Lars Mikkelsen as new villain Grand Admiral Thrawn. Mikkelsen has been great as Russian President Viktor Petrov in House of Cards. That’s another show I’m looking forward to next year.