Top 10 Craziest Things You Never Noticed in South Park

Any fan of Trey Parker and Matt Stone knows they march to the beat of their own drum. Unlike other major animated shows packed with guest stars, the makers of “South Park” have consistently given celebrities minimal (and often hilariously random) roles since the first season. For example, George Clooney voiced Stan’s dog Sparky, whose only lines were barks, while Jay Leno contributed meows for Mr. Kitty in another episode. Jerry Seinfeld once requested to guest star, but opted out after learning they wanted him to be a turkey. It’s all part of the show’s cheeky charm.

If you’ve ever thought you spotted an alien in “South Park,” you weren’t imagining things. The “Visitors” first appeared prominently in the pilot episode, but they’ve been hidden in dozens of episodes ever since, inserted cleverly into the background of various scenes. These gangly, grey extraterrestrials can pop up anywhere, and spotting them has become a fun challenge for eagle-eyed fans, much like Disney’s “Hidden Mickeys.” Whether it’s one peeking through a window or blending into a mob of townsfolk, the Visitors are a testament to the show’s love for subtle, bizarre details and long-running gags.

Even casual fans of “South Park” are familiar with one of the show’s oldest and most iconic jokes: Kenny meeting a grisly end, followed by Stan and Kyle delivering their famous joint catchphrase. Over the years, Kenny’s constant demises have become such a staple of the series that they’ve been woven into major plotlines, including a deeper exploration as to why Kenny can’t seem to stay dead. But here’s a detail you might not know: Matt and Trey have revealed that Stan and Kyle’s dialogue in these moments is actually aimed at the writers. These clever fourth-wall breaks turn the show’s creators into the “bastards” in question, playfully mocking their own absurd decision to kill Kenny in so many early episodes.

This fun nod to the gentle giant from “Star Wars” began in “Pinkeye,” the show’s first Halloween special. Here, almost every kid dresses as Chewbacca, ruining Stan’s plans to match with his girlfriend Wendy. Chewbacca references have continued sporadically throughout the series’ run, from characters wearing Chewie Halloween masks to the “Chewbacca Defense” in “Chef Aid” to the Member Berries’ mention of the Wookiee at the start of Season 20. Matt and Trey even paid tribute to the character with their band DVDA’s song “I Am Chewbacca.” Granted, if you’re going to pay homage to any “Star Wars” character, the lovable Wookiee is an excellent choice!

Behind the scenes of “South Park” is a close-knit crew, with team members often appearing in supporting roles. In Season 4’s two-parter “Do The Handicapped Go to Hell?” and “Probably,” co-executive producer Anne Garefino portrays Sister Anne, an open-minded nun who helps the kids in town through a theological crisis. According to Trey and Matt, they cast Garefino – who was, at the time, the only actual Catholic they knew – as a nun in reference to her faith. A true showperson, Anne has worked diligently as a producer since “South Park’s” earliest days. And considering some of the stabs the show has taken at Catholicism, it’s clear she has an excellent sense of humor. God bless you, Anne!

Despite the eventual success of “South Park,” its creators knew their irreverent humor might not land with everyone. That’s why, in the original pilot episode, Trey Parker and Matt Stone used the pseudonyms “Tupac Schwartz” and “M.C. Goldstein” in the credits – a move that perfectly set the tone for the show’s edgy comedy. While they used their real names in later episodes, it’s easy to see why Stone and Parker might have hesitated at first. Associating your name with excessive profanity, baby-kicking, and alien experiments on eight-year-olds might raise a few eyebrows. Still, this interesting choice highlights their fearless approach to comedy right from the start.

Season 23’s “Basic Cable” spotlighted diabetic fourth grader Scott Malkinson, giving him his own “show-within-a-show” for its duration. At the end of the episode, sharp-eyed viewers noticed a phone number advertising streaming rights for the fictional “Scott Malkinson Show.” The number, tied to co-creator Trey Parker, was real, and fans who called it were treated to a recorded message: Parker listing absurdly expensive purchasing options for fake series like “The Scott Malkinson Show,” “Tegridy Farms,” and “PC Babies,” all featured in the season. This clever Easter egg was a tongue-in-cheek nod to “South Park’s” $500 million streaming deal, which saw its rights move from Hulu to HBO Max.

Season 9’s “Trapped in the Closet” is “South Park” at its funniest and gutsiest. Its writers absolutely skewer the Church of Scientology, tackling its practices with sharp satire and unflinching honesty. After years of ruffling feathers, Trey Parker and Matt Stone knew exactly how to handle groups prone to backlash – especially one with a reputation for suing its critics. To sidestep any legal drama, they credited everyone involved in the episode as either “John Smith” or “Jane Smith.” This sly move not only protected the crew from potential lawsuits but also added one final jab at the church’s reputation, cementing the episode’s place in “South Park’s” rebellious history.

One spring break, the main four boys decide to go ziplining – and to make a long story short, disaster ensues. Appropriately titled “I Should Have Never Gone Ziplining,” this 2012 episode sees Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny subjected to excruciating boredom, unbearable patheticness, and plenty of “fresh nar nar” (whatever that is). To heighten both the absurdity and the quote-unquote “stakes,” the creators enlisted the voiceover talents of Eric Meyers, who was involved in “I Shouldn’t Be Alive,” the very documentary television series that the episode parodies. Meyers’ deep, overly serious tone turns every mundane setback – like being stuck with talkative strangers or trapped on a slow boat – into a life-or-death crisis.

“South Park” doesn’t dip into the world of “meta” as often as some other modern cartoons (we’re looking at you, “Rick and Morty.”) But Season 4’s “A Very Crappy Christmas” is far more than a holiday special; it’s a love letter to the scrappy origins of the show from the creators themselves. The episode revolves around the boys trying to lift the town’s spirits by making their own animated Christmas short. This, of course, mirrors Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s real-life experience making “The Spirit of Christmas,” the crude short that ultimately launched “South Park.” It's a self-referential masterpiece that brings the show full circle.


Did any of this “South Park” trivia catch you off guard? Share your thoughts in the comments!