‘South Park’ Gets Emmys Nod As Part of the ‘Arc Towards Justice’ in Plea to Save Art
South Park has really hit it out of the park for Season 27. From having Kristi Noem shoot and kill an untold number of puppies to showing Donald Trump sleeping with the devil, it’s pulled zero punches. It’s been refreshing to see a show so brazenly attack the Trump administration for the endless terror they’re inflicting on the world — especially as other programming has been afraid to navigate any critical waters.
The long-running animated series isn’t frequently featured on the Primetime Emmys — it’s taken home just five statues in nearly 30 years — but on Sunday night, despite not being nominated for a single award (it’s not eligible for the 77th Emmys), the show still received recognition.
In a speech from Chris Abrego, the Television Academy Chairman, he name-dropped South Park in a speech pleading for the future of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The institution was defunded by Congress earlier this summer, and will close its doors at the end of 2025.
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Abrego said the closure was “a reminder about how much our work here matters, especially right now.” To applause, he continued, “In a time when division dominates the headlines, storytelling still has the power to unite us. Television and the artists who make it do more than reflect society — they shape our culture. In times of cultural regression, they remind us what’s at stake and what can still be achieved.”
He went on to name shows like M*A*S*H, Roots, “Norman Lear’s entire body of work,” Will & Grace, The Handmaid’s Tale and South Park, before ending on “the legacy of late night.”
“For generations artists have seized the power of TV to challenge the status quo and bend that arc of history toward justice,” Abrego continued.
While I don’t disagree with any of what Abrego said, I did chuckle at South Park’s inclusion. This might be the first time a show that features so many anal jokes has been included in any speech addressing the “arc of history towards justice.”
To more jokes — and more justice!
