The Dark Truth behind South Park & That's My Bush: They're actually smart shows!

When taking a poll of television viewers and critics and asking "what are the smartest shows on television today, the likely responses will be the stock answer, "The Sopranos and The West Wing." Now, as both of these television shows are extremely smart and play to an educated and cultured audience, there are two more shows that have been largely loved while being largely underappreciated.

Two of the latest auturs in television are Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Their first production was an animated short called "Jesus versus Frosty." This fun-looking short posed an important question, "Who is Christmas really about?" Their follow-up productions remained small but unique. "Your Studio and You," was a mockumentary about Hollywood that featured people like James Cameron and other top players in the film industry. There was even a musical written about the last member of a coal mine explosion. Much like the plane crash in the Andes Mountains, the survivors had to become cannibals in order to survive. One critic announced, "If you like musical and cannibalism, this one's for you!"

By the mid 1990's Parker and Stone rehashed their Christmas idea in the form of "Jesus Versus Santa Claus." This video Christmas card found it's way to Comedy Central

by way of George Clooney. A pilot was made for a series, and very soon "South Park" was signed to a full season deal.
When Comedy Central debuted South Park in the late summer of 1997 many viewers saw the foul language and the fact that one character is made of fecal matter and dismissed it as a show that is filling the space left by the intellectually devoid Bevis and Butthead.

The fact of the matter is that South Park does play on some similar 'stupid humor,' but it is also one of the only shows that constantly makes political statements are current event in America and sometimes even around the world. The only problem that ends up making the general public think that it isn't a smart show is the fact that often the main characters, eight year-olds, curse. In fact it is some of the language used in each episode that also adds to how smart this show really is.

The casual observer would see a group of forth graders saying things like, "Get your bitch ass back in the kitchen and make me some pie," and simply see this as a humorous line that plays to the lowest common denominator. When looked at critically, it is apparent that these children aren't saying these things in order to be vulgar, but rather because either thy don't know any better, or because they aren't even aware of what they're saying.

In a sense, when paying close attention to what they're saying and how they are saying it, the children appear to be even more innocent. Often they appear as victims of growing up in an era of constant media stimulus, and mature situations going on in their own lives (divorce, sexual orientation, mental illness, and even corruption in religion among many others).

A good example occurs on the class trip to Mexico. Eric Cartmen can't help but get annoyed that people aren't working, and their city is run down and bad smelling. By being used to the United States, he doesn't understand that not every country has a good economy. He also makes the generalization that the only things Mexicans eat are tacos and burritos, because that's all he ever sees on television. It's always interesting when a statement is made against how television effects the views while that statement takes place during a television show.

Though these things are interesting as side notes, "B Stories," and in the aspect of character development, the real beauty of the show comes through when the children are forced to face major situations that all of America is going through. Often it is presented on a small-scale basis in order to make it fit into the dynamic of the show.

Examples include when there was a tie in the Kindergarten class elections for President. Obviously, this mirrored what was going on in the nation at the time after the election, but before a final verdict was made regarding the future President of the United States. The simple fact that the election was between kindergartners, small children, spoke volumes. The show went to the full extremes of the actual elections to show the excessiveness each political party went through in order to try to place their best representative in the nations top position. It started as a simple election, (with a high emphasis on gaining the undecided vote), moved into recounts, absentee ballots, confusion over the layout of the ballots, and celebrity endorsements. One of the more important events happened when Rosie O'Donnell began supporting and heavily backing one of the candidates. In all actuality Rosie O'Donnell protested her own show, stating that she refused to do her show unless she could publicly endorse Al Gore live on her show.

Of course comedy is all about timing, and this episode aired before a final decision was made regarding the real Presidency. That means that this episode was put together from preproduction, writing, recording, animating, and postproduction within three weeks. There isn't much of a way for a television show to be more politically motivated and vocal…so we thought.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the brains behind the series. The two are the creators, directors, writers, executive producers, voices of many of the characters, and they even write and record the music used for the show.

Another good example of a timely perfect and politically motivated episode occurred the day after the Elian Gonzalez story came to an end. During this episode of "South Park" Janet Reno was attempting to remove a Romanian refugee from Colorado by dressing up as the Easter Bunny and handing out hand grenades that were painted up like Easter Eggs. It is extreme, but one had to imagine that Reno had even considered that plan once or twice.

"South Park" became a huge hit, partially because it played to two audiences, those who enjoyed the fowl language and those who appreciate the deeper messages. It spawned a film, "South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut," and two video games. Parker and Stone kept their titles for everything, including even writing the stories for the video games.

Two movies came out with Matt Stone and Trey Parker in lead roles. "BASEketball," which was about small time athletes who created a sport and had to fight against selling out. Then there was "Orgazmo," which is about a devout Mormon who goes into the porn business in order to raise money for a good cause. Unlike "BASEketball," Parker and Stone did write and produce "Orgazmo."

In 2000 Comedy Central took a look at all of the revenue and notoriety that South Park earned the network and offered Trey and Matt another show.
The first announcements of the new show came on the day William Jefferson Clinton stepped down from his position, and George W. Bush was sworn in; Inauguration Day. The name of the show, That's My Bush.

Again, to illustrate the importance of timing in Matt and Trey's production, the show had been developed as "Absolutely Al," since Al Gore was the heavy favorite to win the Presidency. Then the Republican party somehow won the election and comics around the world were able to rejoice, knowing that there would be four more years of golden comedy material coming out of Washington.

Though sketch comedy shows frequently use the current President as a character in five to seven minute skits, never before was a President, not to mention the standing President, used as a regular character in a series. Rounding out the cast are real members of the Bush family and some actual White House staff members.

Like South Park, upon first glance That's My Bush appears to be a very weakly written, and very contrived bad sitcom, which seems uncharacteristic for the Parker and Stone production team. During the first months of saturated advertising on Comedy Central there was a very important line that explained the entire purpose of the show. That line was, "Comedy Central decided to create a show as brilliant as our President." Therefore, in order to make a considerably large subversive statement, the more watered down the show is made, the more they end up making a statement against the President.

Though they are not directing this series, Trey Parker and Matt Stone do hold all of the other titles that they hold on the South Park credit list. With these two talented and politically minded artists working on a show with this much control, there is little doubt that strong opinions will be loudly voiced. Then, take into account that Parker is gay and he's writing the part of a Republican President. Then, add in the fact that Parker's show is on cable, which is not regulated by the FCC so freedom is broad.

In recent episodes the audience has been able to see what exactly is happening with the show. Our naive President, who has been coddled by his Presidential father hasn't been able to see the world or do anything else on his own, so living in the White House is really his first time being out on his own. By being on his own he is given his first chances to see and experience things without a Republican filter being over his eyes. Now he is able to see things on his own and make impartial decisions. In each show, George Dubbya is able to make the "right" decision and see that the decisions of the Republican Party are consistently wrong. In recent episodes George W. Bush has decided that assisted suicide is the right of the patient, not the government, capital punishment is wrong, and so it drilling in Alaska's wildlife preserves for oil.
Of course, "G.W." only finds these things out after learning for himself after making many disastrous moves as an incompetent leader of the free world.

On the surface, "south Park" and "That's My Bush!" are two very poor shows, that appeal to children who enjoy "toilet humor," but on another level all together they are completely intelligent shows that only people who keep up to date with current national and international events can truly appreciate. Without question, these are the two most politically minded shows on the air today, and thus, they are the two shows that have the most to say.

A quick glance at the massive amount of work that Trey Parker and Matt Stone have accomplished shows that these two have staying ability. It is also impressive the amount of involvement these two have with everything that they do. As far as individual shows are concerned, Parker and Stone might have more control over their show than any other person might on any other show.

Unfortunately, due to the language and other radical aspects to their alternative show, "South Park," and "That's My Bush" might not get the full respect they both deserve. They may never find spots on TV Land in the "Classic Television Department," but there's no mistaking that they should be. Like "All in the Family" by Norman Lear the main character is vulgar, politically incorrect, opinionated, and loud. "All in the Family" was very often politically conscious and unafraid to voice an opinion that might alienate part of its audience. It was considered radical and subversive. And lastly, it was considered one of the best television shows ever made. "South Park" and "That's My Bush" have followed that course thus far. It will be interesting to see how it's remembered.