(Photo by Joe Kohen/Invision for Xbox)
A former staff member of Comedy Central has reportedly leaked information that alleges that seasons 19 and 20 of the popular animated program “South Park” will shift to a live action format. The staffer declined to give their name but claimed to have “worked close to the South Park writing team for some time”.
Comedy Central and series creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone agreed in late 2011 to keep the show running through 2016. Starting with the 2013 season, Parker and Stone shifted to a non-stop ten episode season in contrast with previous seasons where anywhere from fourteen to eighteen episodes were filmed. It was speculated that Parker and Stone were getting weary of the show and the shorter seasons were a way to reduce their work load while keeping things fresh. Parker and Stone continued to switch things up in the most recent season by referencing earlier episodes for the first time in the show’s history. Previously, each episode was a stand alone story – hence how “Kenny” was able to killed multiple times, leading to one of the long-standing gags on the show.
The shift to live action was even teased during the recent season 18 episode “Grounded Vindaloop”. In “Grounded Vindaloop”, the plot circles around the main characters using a virtual reality device. Towards the end of the episode, the character Stan removes the virtual reality helmet and the viewers are treated to a live action shot of the characters standing around a computer. The final three episodes of the season revert back to the standard animated format.
The ex-staffer claims that, “They’re always teasing things in the episodes to see what the reaction from the audience will be. A lot of times things fly over their (the audience) heads and there is no pay off. However, in this case, I heard through the grapevine that the response to the live action scene was positive enough to get execs to sign off on letting them do the next two seasons as a live action show.”
It is unknown of the actors shown in the “Grounded Vindaloop” scene will be cast as the characters for the upcoming seasons. The ex-staff member also allegedly claimed that the upcoming two seasons will be the final two.
The former staffer concluded by saying, “The talk around the office was they never wanted to become something terrible like ‘The Simpsons’ became. They (the writing team) even felt that stretching the show out to twenty seasons, even with reduced episode orders, was pushing it into ‘over staying our welcome’ territory. I will be shocked, even if the new live-action format takes off, if we see any new South Park episodes after 2016.”
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This is a terrible idea. South Park established themselves with their unique style of animation. Going live action for a gag here and there is fine, but I think a whole show like that will be bad.
Agree!
Actually i think they try to ruin it on purpose , just because they got tired of the show , and they are aware that the fans just cant get enough
no i don’t think so. this “former employee” is a fucking liar.
I sure hope this isn’t true. Southpark has always been able to really push the edge because it’s a very politically incorrect animated series. It would not work for live action!
Load of bull, you either made this up or a dumb enough to believe it, either way its some terrible reporting.
This is a joke right?
Looks like someone should vet their sources a little more thoroughly. Season 19 aired two nights ago and was animated.
How could they do this to South park. Cartman had always been a In your face, do what Egbert he wants character, he fed Scott Tinamin his own parents in chili, now they have made him into a big wussy. This is the worst season ever
i just finished watching the last episode of season 19 and none of it was live action. it is one continuous story but i doubt that the final season will be all live action. btw it totally sucks that season 20 will be the final season. they’re a bunch of quitters. the simpsons wouldn’t quit so easilly.