Jokes on popular stuff have always been common in SP. Stuff like the kids playing with N64 controllers (chipokomon) mentioning the Dreamcast (tooth fairy) and buying the Gamesphere, an obvious joke on the Gamecube (the towlie episode). Lately it has become more and more realistic. The Wii episode "go god go" and the GH one "guitar queer-o" were clever and funny, but the Warcraft one felt too commercial. But as of late I've seen the X360 way too frequently, like in the the AIDS episode when is even drawn with a higher detail than anything else on the scene. Is just me or SP has gone from featuring stuff as a novelty to charging companies for product placement?
Obviously yes, but it's still funny so I don't really mind. I must admit that I admire capitalism though.
It probably is, but so far they seem to be tastefully integrating the placements, as in it's still about the story and the show is not yet a 1/2 hour commercial, unlike some movies I could mention.
Of course, but it brings benefits for them. Its not selling out in that they are giving up what the show was. In my opinion, its as good as ever, its remaining culturally relevent to today's college students (trust me, Im in college ;P lol), the creators enjoy most, if not all, of the products that they show, and it simply brings something unique to the table that no other show can do, and thats have fun at todays products, with permission and support from the companies. Theres more, but I just woke up so bleh
The way i look at it, if they can make some extra cash for product placement and not have it affect the humor of the show ( which it hasnt, i personally think this season is the funniest yet, and ive been watching since episode 1 ) then why not? all its gonna do is give them more money, which hopefully they put back into the show to make it that much better. now if it gets to the point where every episode is like a 1/2 hour commercial then i would have a problem with it, but as it is now it seems like the product placement there using is actually relevant to the story at hand ( as hawanja and borman have also said) and not just tasteless. on another note, has anyone seen the "Boost Mobile" episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force? Nothing but 12 minutes of shameless, blatant boost mobile plugs but dammit it was hilarious.
Wow I never realized it was like that and if it was then yeah, its by far the best way its ever been used... Like this movie the island had SO many stuff in it, xbox, puma, and all VERY noticable
The episode about Warcraft, was simply because one of their animators was playing it more than working. They approached blizzard about it. I enjoyed it, i love machinima but I kinda am dissappointed that a standard user can't make a machinima with that episodes detail simply because Blizzard gave them the models and they animated certain scenes that couldn 't be done in game. as for the Boost MObile Aquateen - that was hilarious. Pure product placement but very obvious to the point of purpose hilarity.
Thats the kind of product placement you have to avoid, the one thats too "in your face", borderline subliminal.
Hate me, but i lost interest in South Park for quite some time. The funny shows i end up watching are The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, and re-runs of Seinfeld and Coupling (UK). As for Cartoons, Simpsons and American Dad.
South Park probably did what Family Guy did. Started out as a clever funny show then turn into ass when the mainstream got ahold of it. I thought about it and some of the old South Parks and the movie really were pretty good...
I think the new South Parks have been pretty damn entertaining, in a geeky sort of way. Its certainly unique, and far different then what they were doing during the earlier seasons, but it just shows that taking a chance and changing things up can work out.
Anyone knows if Parker & Stone are still at the head of production? or they just put their names on it and pass by to collect the money? I think Mark almost got a job in the studios, maybe he knows something.
Honestly, for a few years now and a couple of episodes aside, South Park is probably the best social commentary on television (as sad as that is).
