Top 10 Times The Simpsons Made Fun of South Park
#10: Trey Does Everything!
"Whistler's Father" Lisa's insecurities consume her musical talents after it's discovered that Maggie is a whistling prodigy. The older sister tries to reassure herself that there's talent to go around, using "the 'South Park' guys" as an example. Unfortunately, she then angrily alleges that Trey Parker has more responsibilities than Matt Stone. This was a scathing reference to the division of labor among South Park Studios' creative heads. Parker does a lot more writing, directing, and voice acting. However, Stone leads the all-important business side of things. Moreover, Parker considers his partner essential in coordinating the show's dense content and frantic production. While Stone's more direct creative work is usually uncredited, Lisa can rest assured that Trey hardly does everything.
#9: The Simpsons Reanimated
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"Treehouse of Horror XXV" The Simpson family breaks down in a "Treehouse of Horror" story in which they encounter the ghosts of their original "Tracy Ullman Show" designs. They all ultimately reconcile in the spirit world, but Lisa wonders how many other Simpson incarnations are out there. The house is then occupied by many clones of the family in different animation styles, including “South Park's.” This is one of the most distinct designs in the lineup. There's no need to mention where the animators got their inspiration for this crude cutout aesthetic. It's a loving tribute that gives viewers a fun look at what the Simpsons' animators think a crossover should look like. Unfortunately, their design has never actually been used in "South Park."
#8: Big-Boned Bart
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“The Heartbroke Kid” When an addiction to junk food puts Bart's health at risk, the family sends him to a weight loss camp. He's so deep in denial about his obesity that at one point he claims to just be "big-boned." While a person can technically be “big-boned,” that’s not the same thing as being overweight. It's uncertain whether Bart was directly referencing "South Park" with this line. However, we’ve all come to associate the “big-boned” defense with Eric Cartman. The questionable excuse was popularized as one of Cartman's most famous catchphrases. If these two portly delinquents aren’t cautionary tales to be realistic about one's health, at least they've raised a red flag with the term "big-boned."
#7: “South Park Park”
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“Treehouse of Horror XXXIII” A spoof of “Westworld” ends with androids of the Simpsons family narrowly escaping their own theme park. Unfortunately, it is revealed that they are trapped in a remote landscape, covered with theme parks based on animated sitcoms. Among them is the perfectly named South Park Park. It had to be hard for the animators to pass up the opportunity for this hilarious wordplay. With all the trendy shows that were referenced in this 2022 sight gag, it also displays just how iconic Stan Marsh’s hat is. “The Simpsons”’s dig at pop culture branding may in fact be perfect promotion for a real-life “South Park Park.” It could only be more successful than Cartmanland.
#6: A Free Speech Debate
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"The Squirt and the Whale" It appears "The Simpsons" and "South Park" can be respectful in their competition of satire. In 2010, one of Bart's chalkboard gags reads, "South Park—we'd stand beside you if we weren't so scared." This was in reference to a contemporary "South Park" episode that animated the Prophet Muhammad, in a rough cut. Comedy Central heavily censored the episode, concerned about offending Muslim audiences and provoking extremist groups. This sparked a public debate about the extent of free speech in satire and animation. The matter was so touchy that some broadcasts of the "Simpsons" episode changed the chalkboard gag. Nonetheless, the show took a neutral stance in the controversy, respecting both "South Park's” free expression and the value of practicing it with caution.
#5: ikilledkenny6475
"Homer the Whopper" When Bart and Milhouse discover that Comic Book Guy created his own character, “Everyman,” they encourage him to publish. Comic Book Guy has long feared the response of such prominent members of the online community as ikilledkenny6475. This username is obviously a nod to the "South Park" running joke of Kenny McCormick getting killed and resurrected. It seems to be a loving tribute from "The Simpsons." But it's not so flattering next to the usernames sonofsonofspock and thedorkknight. Bart dismisses these users as losers, while the notably dorky Milhouse confesses to being two of them. "The Simpsons" even has some blows at "South Park"'s fanbase. They still couldn't crush Comic Book Guy's dreams, unlike the Hollywood film adaptation of "Everyman."
#4: The Loathsome Eric Cartman
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"Gorgeous Grampa" When Grampa Simpson considers returning to professional wrestling, Mr. Burns hypes up being a heel in and out of the ring. The acclaimed musical number "High to Be Loathed" alludes to several iconic villains in history and pop culture, including Eric Cartman. There is of course no debating that Cartman is a bad influence on "South Park." Still, it seems pretty harsh to compare him to the likes of Chucky, Darth Vader, and Joseph Stalin. Cartman literally appearing in Burns's shadow is bad enough. Both figures' popularity may also speak to some value in villainy. But it appears that "The Simpsons" and "South Park" will even try to best each other with their worst characters.
#3: Otto Killed Kenny
"O Brother, Where Bart Thou?" Springfield looks a bit like South Park, Colorado during a snowstorm. This Season 21 episode eventually embraces that in one of “The Simpsons's” boldest homages. While Bart and his friends wait for the school bus, the soundtrack and animation jarringly change to a certain other show's style. The kids are even wearing the same wardrobe as their "South Park" counterparts, complete with a parka that muffles Ralph's speech. When he is then struck by the bus, Otto exclaims that he killed Kenny. Well, somebody named Kenny. This offhand gag caught viewers off-guard. "The Simpsons" rarely acknowledges other animated sitcoms this explicitly, let alone openly rips them off. The show clearly has particular feelings about "South Park," positive or negative.
#2: A Third Grade Shoebox Diorama
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"The Cad and the Hat" In an elaborate couch gag, Homer enters other animation sets to find his stolen boat painting. His first stop is a snowy town, which he says looks like a "third-grade shoebox diorama." It's no wonder some kids welcomed him with a barrage of indiscernible screaming and swearing. Although the other sets Homer entered were much more faithful to their shows' original aesthetic, "South Park" got the harshest spoof by far. "The Simpsons" reduced the show to its crude animation and vulgar writing. Homer's remark, "Out of the mouths of babes," even belittles Trey Parker's social satire. Whether this critique was fair, it's one of the most mean-spirited that "The Simpsons" ever made to another show.
#1: Cartoon Violence!
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"The Bart of War" After "South Park's” classic spoof "Simpsons Already Did It," war was declared with "The Bart of War." The episode opens with Bart and Milhouse watching a fictional episode of "South Park," in which the gang attends a benefit concert just to drop celebrity names. A robot then farts out O. J. Simpson for a gory rampage. This is right up the "Itchy & Scratchy" fans' alley. But clearly, the show's crude animation and writing style are not to the taste of "The Simpsons's” staff. Bart's ironic praise of "South Park"'s freshness after a fraction of his show's episode count suggests that Comedy Central's biggest hit lacks longevity. Years later, though, "The Simpsons" and "South Park" are still going strong, and going at it.
