If you've been paying attention to the credits during the last few years of South Park, you'll notice that Trey Parker has directed and written every episode. I've noticed this, too, but in my reviews I've always mentioned the two men together because the show still feels very much like a joint venture to me.
The question remains, though: what is Stone's role if he's not writing the episodes? This article helps explain. It seems that Stone, in addition to serving as an executive producer, doing voices and contributing ideas, also serves as the mouthpiece for the show while Parker works on the creative side of things. Parker would rather create than have to deal with censors and network executives, so Stone steps in to fight those battles.
Ultimately, the two friends have found roles that suit them both, and I think it's worked wonders for the series. Stone isn't as actively involved with the creation as he was in the beginning, but he's still a vital part of the machine. A show as controversial as South Park needs someone willing to stand up for it, after all.
[via Digg]
The Cheers episode Ken Levine's still writing in his head
Giveaway Tuesday: Fastlane - The Complete Series
Giveaway Monday: The X-Files: Revelations on DVD
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-01-2007 @ 12:38PM
MosquitoControl said...
My friends and I actually mock this quite a bit. We noticed it, but were never certain if Matt got nudged out or just took a backseat role happily while collecting his money. We figured it was clearly a mutual decision, as Matt still worked on the movies and did the voices.
So long as the show continues being as strong as it has been I'm happy. It's dipped this season, but that happens from time to time.
Honestly, it's only been in the past two years that I've realized how great this show was. I stopped watching after the second season, catching only a small handful in between as a "guilty pleasure." Then I borrowed a DVD and realized it shouldn't be so "guilty" and should be a must-watch.
Reply
5-01-2007 @ 12:44PM
matriculated said...
It's the exact same working arrangement that Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier have.
Reply
5-01-2007 @ 1:23PM
Borat said...
Stone is Parker's "muse".
Reply
5-01-2007 @ 1:45PM
Jack said...
Stone is the Andrew Ridgley to Parker's George Michael.
Reply
5-01-2007 @ 1:57PM
JStein said...
MosquitoControl: Do you really think it has dipped this season? I'm not arguing with your opinion, but the Easter special still causes milk to shoot out of my nose, even when I am not drinking any. The strength of that episode alone could carry an entire season. SP is always up and down, as they transition from topical humor to zaniness to deep social issues.
Well, I'll climb down off my soapbox now, I've said my peace.
Reply
5-01-2007 @ 2:15PM
MosquitoControl said...
Yeah, I do.
Nowhere near as much as, say, Family Guy, which is tolerable at best, or The Simpsons, which is the antithesis of funny, but the episodes have all been about 7 out of 10 (or 5 out of 7). By this point they'd usually kick out a 9 or a 10.
Nothing has killed me as much as even the simple things, like Randy drawing a penis to demonstrate who was in trouble due to global warming. Haha, potty humor, but so well done.
Reply
5-01-2007 @ 2:42PM
William Watson said...
Thanks for the link. I have noticed this over the years. Not only in the credits, but also in interviews with the other people involved. They also say Trey this and Trey that. Never any love for Matt.
Apparently, he's the pitbull and Trey is the poet.
Thanks for clearing that up for me.
Reply
5-01-2007 @ 4:01PM
Melissa said...
Ooooh, Matt Stone got sexy.
Reply
5-01-2007 @ 4:32PM
Adam from TV Squad said...
Justin Timberlake brought sexy back, gave some to Matt.
Reply
5-01-2007 @ 10:31PM
Phish said...
sounds like a Studio 60 arrangement, with matt and danny!
however, i do believe it would be a CRAPLOAD easier to deal with censors and execs than to come up with all that amazing material week after week!
if one of them were to die in a plane crash, i would hope its stone, cause parker is irreplaceable!
Reply
5-02-2007 @ 4:50AM
Bash said...
See Phish, that's where you are wrong when it comes to creative minds (like the article explained). When you are as creative as Trey you tend to have issues with other people criticizing your work, telling you things have to be changed due to reasons you don't think are valed et cetera. Imagine you work on a bit for an episode and someone tells you that it has to go because "You can not say that on TV" while everyone and ANYone does say it every day, think it, believe it and that's the whole reason why it is so friggin funny.
Also you tend to think your creativeness is more important than anything else. Everything "business" related. Paying the bills. Calculating the budget for an episode. All that.
So without Matt, Trey wouldn't be able to function. At all. He's giving Trey the room to be creative and you can not value this high enough for so many creative minds in history were limited by society from staying creative as long and as good as they can because society demands you to be productive in a way that can be measured. And you know how hard it is to measure art in dinero.
Reply
5-16-2007 @ 12:37AM
Melanie said...
If you read the article, than you would see that there is a link to ANOTHER article that explains more in-depth what Matt Stone's role is on the show. He still is a very active part of the show; just not in the sense that Trey Parker is. If both guys had the exact same personalities,and if they both did the same things as each other on the show, than there most likely would've been a clash of egos and the show would suffer.
#11 summed things up perfectly. It takes more than one person to make a great show and keep it running successfully. Both of them are good at what they do for the show and how they do it.
Reply