It didn't take long for South Park to become the staple of American pop culture it is now. Since the show's inception back in 1997 it managed to capture audiences in a way few shows can. Crude, offensive yet always on point with its social commentary, South Park is an institution.
That institution is as strong as ever, as creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker have reached a new deal with Comedy Central that will extend the show through 2019 for another 30 episodes. As usual, Stone and Parker will write, direct and edit every episode, as they've always done.
"‘South Park' remains the bedrock of Comedy Central and we are thrilled that new episodes will continue to entertain audiences for years to come," Comedy Central president Michele Ganeless says. "The series remains as urgent and relevant now as the day it premiered and at nearly 20 seasons in it continues to draw generations of new fans."
A separate deal between Hulu and South Park Digital Studios, which is a joint venture between Parker, Stone and Viacom, has also been announced. The video on demand service will remain the exclusive streaming home of South Park, with each of the new seasons and episodes coming to the service in addition to the 254 episodes of the show that already call Hulu home.
"Through South Park Digital Studios we will continue to aggressively expand the reach of the ‘South Park' brand by pursuing additional extensions and licensing opportunities worldwide," Viacom president Doug Herzog says.
Of course, none of this could happen if Stone and Parker weren't happy with what they were doing. They seem as excited as ever to continue work on the show, despite having done it for nearly two decades.
"We love working for Doug and with everyone at Comedy Central," the two said in a statement. "They've given us an insane level of artistic and creative freedom for almost 20 years. They walk the walk."
The news comes ahead of the show's upcoming 19th season, which will premiere on Comedy Central Wednesday, Sept. 16. Parker and Stone are also working on a brand new South Park video game, titled South Park: The Fractured But Whole.
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