http://www.southparkstudios.com/rss/ Behind the scenes notes from the Production Staff on duty the night before a new episode airs en-us Copyright 1999-2009, Comedy Partners LLC news@southparkstudios.com Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:03:19 PDT Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:39:38 PST Comedy Central South Park South Park Studios Matt Stone Trey Parker In house http://www.southparkstudios.com/show/blog/view_blog_entry.php?id=3672
In 1968 Paul Anka rewrote the lyrics to Claude Franois "Comme d'habitude," into the song My Way for Frank Sinatra. The song My Way had many reincarnations including renditions by Elvis Presley and Sid Vicious.

We here at South Park felt that this weeks episode 1307, the last episode of the first half of season thirteen, was especially special and deserved a tribute.

Sparing no expense we brought Paul Anka in to rewrite the lyrics once more changing the song from My Way to Wednesday. Unfortunately Sid Vicious was unavailable for a recording session, and by unavailable I mean uninterested and by uninterested I mean dead by heroin. Here are those Paul Anka lyrics.


And now the end is near
As we reach our last spring show
To all the fans, we hold so dear
We promise that the jokes will not blow

Weve worked, such crazy hours
On whats new by Matt and Trey
And now well be, up all night
To air it Wednesday

Six weeks weve enjoyed
The Jonas Brothers rings of purity
The Coon became annoyed
With Mysterion and his own obscurity

We now know, queefing is cool
And rappers can be fish sooo gay
Never break Pinewood Derby rules
We learned last Wednesday

Tomorrow night
Well watch Cartman,
Run away
With a few friends,
Theyll try to live the pirate way
For right now thats all Ill say
So from the crew
We hope that you
Enjoy this Wednesday

Yes! It airs Wednesday!


See you in October.

]]> Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:26:23 PDT http://www.southparkstudios.com/community/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37700 http://www.southparkstudios.com/show/blog/view_blog_entry.php?id=3662 People often call up and ask what we do with our time when we work on holidays such as Easter. South Park town shuts down for no one! NO ONE! Not even Jesus! This Easter, while working, I had the privilege to interview someone very special here at South ParkPA Kenny. The transcription is as follows via good ole fashion G-chat:

Steve: So Kenny, happy Easter.
Kenny: Happy zombie Jesus day to you sir.
Steve: Where you from?
Kenny: Milwaukee
Steve: Oh, Im sorry! Moving on. -Audience laughs-
Kenny: So whats the scoop on the episode this week?
Steve: Well honestly Im very pumped because I once raced a pinewood derby car.
Kenny: I love pinewood derby cars!!!! Theyre my third favorite derby car!
Kenny: How was it coming in to work on Easter?
Steve: It was weird considering Ive never worked on Easter... wait arent I the one interviewing you?
Kenny: Well, what made you want to interview me?
Steve: Frankly Im fascinated by the way you answer phones and your food choices are terrific. How do you go about selecting the crews snacks?
Kenny: Why thank you! Youre no slouch yourself! Well, I think about what I want to eat, and then I consider how much money I can spend on the stuff that I want, then if I have any money left over I try to buy snacks for the rest of the crew.
Steve: Ok. Fair enough. Whats your favorite color?
Kenny: So basically if I get $100 to buy snacks with, I spend $98 dollars on Lean Pockets and $2 on fruit and veggies. Orange.
Steve: Delicious and healthy!
Steve: This was a weird interview. Im not exactly sure why we just did that.
Kenny: Well Steve, great question!
Steve: What?
Kenny: Whats your favorite thing about working at South Park?
Steve: The interviews over.
Kenny: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT WORKING AT SOUTH PARK?
Steve: I guess its the free food and the millions of fans that ask for my autograph.
Kenny: Niceno one asks for your autograph do they?
Steve: Kenny
Kenny: Ok fine.
Steve: Good.
Kenny: one more thing
Steve: No.


Yes, I agree that was weird. I also agree it was possibly a bit pointless, but I wanted to give the faithful blog readers some insight as to what we do with the little down time we have here.

PS a congratulatory mention in next weeks blog to the person who pokes Nathan Chaffetz (PA Nate) the most this week on the Facebook. If you have to friend him first, do it! Please be relentless in your poking 17 to 15 times a day is suitable. And also a mention for the person who has the weirdest hometown name (I have no idea why I wrote that but I am curious.) Enjoy this weeks show

DOUBLE PS: If you race pinewood derby cars let me know!!! I will kick your asses!!

Love and Hugs and

PA Steve

]]> Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:36:24 PDT http://www.southparkstudios.com/community/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37482 http://www.southparkstudios.com/show/blog/view_blog_entry.php?id=3652
Episode 1305 is only hours away from its premiere. This is the fifth week of our seven week run. We may be a bit tired in the office, but that wont prevent another great episode of South Park from being produced. Be excited.

But what is it about South Park that gives it so much depth? I would argue that its the combination of humor and socio-political commentary that makes South Park such a valuable part of American Culture. Not everyone would agree.

My grandmother believes that South Park consists entirely of toilet humor. However, Matt and Trey are one step ahead of her. Their creation of Terrance and Phillip, perhaps in defiance of more conservative viewers like my grandmother, underscores what a show with just fart jokes really would be like and contrasts with the nuanced themes written in to South Park episodes.

My grandmother is almost 90. She has lived through the depression , WWII, The Korean War, Vietnam, the Assassination of JFK, Watergate, and Michael Bays entire career. She has seen true evil in this world and continues to live. Yet, she would (I pray she has never actually watched this) balk at the cartoon image of Martha Stewart queefing sparkles and ribbons from last weeks episode. It is this sort of obtuseness that has prevented so many people from seeing South Park as not only an hysterical cartoon, but also an intellectual dialogue on many social and political issues during its thirteen year long run.

That being said, the subject of toilets, if not toilet humor, has dominated the South Park office for some time now. After a few weeks of poor toilet etiquette, a sewer line broke; As a result, a certain PA had to mop up fecal water in the South Park HD Studio bathroom. That may not be as glamorous as recording back round voices for a show late Tuesday night, but shit needs to be taken care of.



Thats exactly the attitude the South Park office has, which is why you, the viewer, will get a timely, hilarious, and insightful episode tomorrow night - and perhaps a fart joke or two. But, farts are funny. Sorry Grandma, its true.

-Nathan R. Chaffetz, Production Assistant

P.S. We had lunch from a certain upscale China bistro today, so maybe we are full of shit after all.

]]> Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:47:56 PDT http://www.southparkstudios.com/community/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37307 http://www.southparkstudios.com/show/blog/view_blog_entry.php?id=3642
Hey guys,

Happy March 31st!
PA Steve here to keep you updated on all things South Park. I dont want to give anything away about tomorrow nights episode so, I wont. Take that!

Instead, I want to tell you an epic tale of terror and amazement. Our story begins

In last weeks episode Stan had a hard time returning Randys Margaritaville machine. Now, most people think South Park is a cartoon and the material things and characters in the show are pure imagination. Well folks, Im here to tell you youre wrong. The other day I went into the writers room and there it was, gleaming with margarita making goodness THE Margaritaville.. magically un-smashed and intact.



I picked it up and held it like youd hold a baby with a shaved ice switch. After the choirs and angelic lights ceased to gleam down upon me I decided that I, Steve the PA, must steal the office Margaritaville and set it free.

I wouldnt be able to do it alone so I enlisted the help of a couple friends you might recognize. PA Kenny Cartman Head Lane and PA David Satan Head Madson (shown below).



Together we fought off all those who cruelly held such an innocent Margaritaville captive. Our quest to bring freedom to this innocent shaver of ice mixer brought us to Matt and Treys heavily guarded offices. After realizing they werent so heavily guarded we eluded both Matt and Trey. My arch nemesis PA Lord Chaffington The Fire Helmet was the only one who had the power to stop me now. In epic movie battle form we proceeded to head-butt each other across the entire office. It was a battle hard fought (shown below).



At the end of the hard fought battle (shown above) I was forced to utilize a cheap eye poke shot. Luckily his eye poke deflector was down at the time and I hit the target successfully with my pointer followed by my pinky finger. Left blind in one eye and partially blind in another, PA Lord Chaffington the Fire Helmet was forced to surrender the Margaritaville to me!

As Kenny Cartman Head Lane and David Satan Head Madson escorted me into the Rockies over looking our little Mountain town. As the sole protector of all things Margaritaville, I looked back on todays events here at South Park and thought to myself how lucky I am to be awake and alive.

And as I set the Margaritaville free...



I remembered Im going to be up all night helping finish this weeks episode which, I promise, will not disappoint!!!

(No Margaritavilles were harmed in the telling of this tale)

Love,
PA Steve
]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:44:51 PDT http://www.southparkstudios.com/community/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37212 http://www.southparkstudios.com/show/blog/view_blog_entry.php?id=3629
HEART OF TUESDAY NIGHT DARKNESS
The 24th of March, 2009

Day fifty-two here at South Park Studios. Damn its hot. We have now traveled deep into the heart of Season Thirteen and there is no turning back. We have suffered no losses but I can see my comrades are tired and will be in need of coffee soon. Coffee I will have to make. Up ahead in the distance I can see the faint outline of a finished episode. Itll be a good one. It is not completely clear yet but my hunter instincts tell me the episode deals with Randy showing South Park how to live in this financially troubled era of ours.

If we continue on our present course well reach it by tomorrow. Tomorrow at 10pm Eastern Time. *cough cough* Excuse me. I need a glass of water.

Waters good. Beer would be better.

The darkness is closing in now. Soon it will be night and later it will be morning. I begin to hear the restless groans and stretching of animators, story artists, producers and editors. Theyll be up all night...just like they are every Tuesday night. They are making the show and I will be here with them. Moving fast and silently among them, causing no disturbance. One false move and Ill have to buy them snacks. Lots of snacks. About one hundred and fifty dollars worth.

I have to go now. Danger lurks on every side. Everyone watch out for tomorrows episode. If it airs, it means I made it and will speak with you again in about three weeks.

Sincerely
Joseph David Madson Conrad
]]> Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:24:28 PDT http://www.southparkstudios.com/community/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37108 http://www.southparkstudios.com/show/blog/view_blog_entry.php?id=3619 Dearest South Park fans,

This is my first Tuesday night at South Park. Ill be staying up all night helping our crew work on Episode 1302, The Coon. I could not be more excited. It was not long ago that I would pull all-nighters studying for microeconomics exams. Now Im getting paid overtime to stay up all night and work on an episode of South Park. Whos laughing now, Professor Herrera?

However, when I explain my job to outsiders (mainly my buddies who make 70 K + a year working for failing investment banks) they laugh at me. They call me a coffee bitch. The truth is, they are correct. I am a coffee bitch; but at least I work for a viable TV show. Thanks to the insolvency of the very companies that pay inexperienced frat bros 70 K + a year to play with Excel all day long, our economy is ruined. People are depressed. They need a distraction from their miserable lives. They need South Park.


The coffee I brew every morning, as seemingly trivial as it might be to outsiders, does help bring South Park to the public. Furthermore, bleak economic forecasting suggests a continuing demand for South Park. Therefore, unless I mess up the coffee (or the toneragain,) I have some degree of job security. Whereas my banker buddies are likely to be unemployed shortly when their crappy employers downsize again.



If you think Im just trying to talk myself up, then I say, Screw you guys, Im going home.when the supervising producer lets me sometime tomorrow morning.

I have a long ladder to climb, but at least my first rung is at South Park, not CitiBank (Think: Mr. Liu Kim)

]]> Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:26:01 PDT http://www.southparkstudios.com/community/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37058 http://www.southparkstudios.com/show/blog/view_blog_entry.php?id=3609
Welcome back, South Park aficionados!

Its that time of year again. The new season of South Park is upon us, and I for one, couldnt be happier. Not only are the new episodes going to be great, but I am so happy to have a job right now. That makes me part of the exclusive club of 2% of Americans to be currently working. Im not sure if my numbers are correct, but thats my guesstimation.

Im really looking forward to tomorrow nights episode, entitled The Ring. It concerns what happens to Kenny when he takes his new girlfriend to a Jonas Brothers concert .

This episode is special to me because I think it is actually based on my life. In case you dont know, my name is Kenny. This makes for hilarious banter when I introduce myself at a party and someone asks where I work-

What did you say your name was.?

Kenny

.and where did you say you work?

South Park

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago my girlfriend begged me to take her to the new Jonas Brothers 3-D movie that was in theatres. I said Sure, absolutely. Who are the Jonas Brothers? She said Theyre like Dave Mathews meets the Rolling Stones crossed with a little bit of the Beatles. Sold I said.

The following Monday, Trey asked me what I did over the weekend and I told him all about it. He must have thought it would be a great idea for a show. So there you have it, ripped from my life and brought to you via the magic of television

Just kidding, Trey never asks me about my weekends.

Okay, enough with the tomfoolery. All the departments here at South Park Studios are about to put in our weekly round the clock workday to bring you a great episode, and I must be getting back to business.
Thanks for checking in, and stay tuned for updates throughout the season.


]]> Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:38:32 PDT http://www.southparkstudios.com/community/forum/viewtopic.php?t=36980 http://www.southparkstudios.com/show/blog/view_blog_entry.php?id=3567 If I could turn back time

Just in time for the holidays, we come to the end of another great season. In approximately 72 hours from this posting, most of the South Park crew will be looking back on Season 12 through the bottom of a pint glass. Or if you're Steve, Kenny, or David, it'll be through a midori sour snifter. They can't get enough of those things. Regardless, it's well deserved after 7 weeks of backbreaking hours that make even the top Navy S.E.A.L.S. cringe. And by the way, how awesome is that movie? Just hearing Mr. Big's 'Strike Like Lightning' makes me want to do pushups in the rain. Anyway

Some of the readers out there ask, 'how can I work for South Park? I know I'm not as awesome as Gary, but give me a shot! Damn, look at his thighs.' Let me give you some words of advice. Squats, squats, squats. That and a love of Ritmo Latino.

Now, rather than give you the 12 best things to happen in Season 12, I want you to give you the 12 things not to do around Matt or Trey if you ever come into contact with them, in or outside of the office. You never know, it may come in handy one day.

DO NOT:
12. Call Matt 'Trey', or vice versa.
11. Make fun of people who like KFC or Taco Bell.
10. Follow them to the bathroom and hand them a script under the stall.
9. Fart, then say 'I fah-ted!' a la Terence and Philip.
8. Ask them to sign something, and if you're lucky enough to get them to sign something, reply with a disappointed sigh.
7. Ask them to listen while you "do" Cartman for them.
6. Tell them how great the MPAA is.
5. Ask them if they ever party with Seth MacFarlane.
4. Tell them, 'remember that time you (insert something here from"Baseketball)"and then say 'that was so awesome!'
3. Sing 'America, Fuck Yeah,' Especially before introducing yourself.
2. Rag on the Denver Broncos.
1. Forget to tell them how awesome the PA Blog is.

Oh yeah, I haven't mentioned this week's episode. It's great. You should watch it!

So now that we are coming to an end, I want to share some pictures with you that I have gathered over that last few months. We look forward to your comments. See you for another great season of South Park in March 2009!!



Kenny getting ready for our Fiesta Mixer.


Nate (former PA turned Ass. Editor) with his pony lap desk.


A Starbucks employee who stayed on her break instead of helping her coworkers with our 65 latte order. It's called teamwork, look it up.


Kenny right before invented the sexual maneuver known as the 'Buckeye.'


Steve, trying his hand at bird wrangling. Pun intended.


This blog is dedicated to Nate (1979-2007), RIP. Goth for life my friend. Goth for life.

]]> Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:53:03 PST http://www.southparkstudios.com/community/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35903 http://www.southparkstudios.com/show/blog/view_blog_entry.php?id=3561 Dear You,

For those of you wondering the outcome of Kennys bet, (see last entry), it was I, David, the new PA here at the fantastic South Park Studios resort and casino who has won. And in accordance to the rules and regulations, as the funniest/best-looking/smartest of the PAs, it is my sworn duty to update you, the devoted South Park follower, on the latest goings-on.



After a weeks worth of activities, I think its safe to say the daily requirements of a PA at South Park are like those of any other studio. By 9 am the coffee must be made, the printers filled with paper, the kitchen restocked and the mud-wrestling pit re-moistened. Then its time for making runs, (to drop-off and pickup), the destinations for which can be as diverse as accounting firms, Comedy Central, the supermarket, rehab, prison, Hell, the ER, and of course the post office. Catered meals must be ready on time or I take a beating from my supervisor. Ironically this only happens to new PAs named David who were born in 1985 and who bear a striking resemblance to no one in particular.

Anyway its time to get you amped for this Wednesdays episode.

Do you like music? dancing? school? Then see High School Musical 3. However if you like rich satire on music and dancing and school, then dont miss tomorrows episode. Matt, Trey and the entire crew are, as always, working on no hours sleep. Everyone is charged by Red Bull, coffee, and a delicious Penne pasta mixed with sun dried tomato, a dash of julienned basil, sprinkled with pine nuts, with a touch of aged Balsamic, and lovingly garnished with olive oil.

These guys are on the edge, sacrificing an entire evening of sitting naked on the sofa with a brew viewing whatever cheap hackneyed humor TV has on a Tuesday night to make us, AMERICA, keel over with laughter. This of course means its best for me, the new PA, a stranger in their midst, not to make any sudden movements.

Hope you guys enjoy yourselves tomorrow night! LATERS.
]]> Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:23:04 PST http://www.southparkstudios.com/community/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35794 http://www.southparkstudios.com/show/blog/view_blog_entry.php?id=3544 Thanks Steve!!!

Hey there South Park-orinos!!!!!

Thanks for checking back in with us. Hope all is well? Sincerely, I hope that. Hows your week been? I want all of you to let me know how youre doing. Yes, thats right, I want you to comment on this blog and tell me about yourselves. Feel free to also tell me how awesome I am.

This is definitely not a ploy to see which one of the PAs can get more comments on their blog than the others.

Gary, Steve, Dave, and I, most certainly did not make a bet to see who the fans of the show think is the funniest/best-looking/smartest out of the PAs here at South Park. Did I mention how great I think you all are? Well, I think that. And Im Kenny. The PA.

Anywho, tonights a big night here at South Park. In case you havent heard, America will be deciding who will be our next president*. But, more importantly, the staff here at South Park will be up all night working on Wednesdays show. Which means we, the PAs, have been given the noble task of giving the staff updates throughout the night on the election. This is a very big deal, since the premise of tomorrows show may or may not depend entirely on the outcome. Who ever said, South Park isnt topical was lying through there teeth if you ask me. (No one said that. And no one asked me.)

Well, thats all for now. Im off to count some more votes. (And by that, I mean go to Baja Fresh for Trey.)



*I just found out today but apparently George W. Bush is the president of the United States!

]]> Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:39:38 PST http://www.southparkstudios.com/community/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35681