Fans of South Park are in for a different ride this year, as the iconic animated series shakes up its release schedule and leans harder than ever into topical satire. Season 27, which kicked off July 23, 2025, has already made waves for both its content and the way it’s being delivered. Gone is the weekly drop of new episodes; instead, viewers now get a fresh installment every other Wednesday on Comedy Central, with next-day streaming available on Paramount+. The third episode, titled “Sickofancy,” aired August 20, and the next is set for September 3, followed by another on September 17. This new pattern is expected to carry through the entire 10-episode season, stretching the run into early December—one of the longest in the show’s history.
According to Deadline, this slower, week-on/week-off schedule isn’t just a random experiment. The decision comes down to the show’s unique production process and the creators’ drive to keep their satire as current as possible. "What they’re doing means this year’s episodes need more time than usual to put together, to finish," a source close to the producers told Deadline. With the news cycle spinning faster than ever—especially around figures like Donald Trump, who is at the center of this season’s storylines—creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are determined not to sacrifice the show’s trademark relevance. "No one’s going to sacrifice getting it right, even if we have to push getting it to air, and if that makes the season longer, so be it," the source added.
This year’s season is unmistakably political. The premiere episode, “Sermon on the Mount,” set the tone by featuring Trump, Jesus, and Satan in a surreal plot that saw Trump in bed with the Prince of Darkness. The episode didn’t shy away from controversy, using a photoreal, nude deepfake of Trump wandering a desert and lampooning his legal entanglements with Paramount. As The Guardian reported, the episode’s boldness even prompted a response from the White House. When asked about the backlash at San Diego Comic-Con, Trey Parker offered his trademark deadpan: "We’re terribly sorry....They said, ‘OK, but we’re gonna blur the penis,’ and I said, ‘No you’re not gonna blur the penis’."
The second episode, “Got a Nut,” introduced Vice President JD Vance as a character, marking his debut in the South Park universe. Paramount reported that this episode drew 6.2 million viewers globally across streaming and broadcast platforms in its first three days—a jump from the already impressive numbers for the season opener. According to Deadline, global streaming consumption for the second episode was up 49% compared to the same period after the series’ post-premiere, making it one of the best openings for the show in recent years. Much of this viewership came from streaming, with 1.6 million tuning in on Comedy Central alone, as noted by Katie Campione.
Episode three, “Sickofancy,” which aired August 20, continued the Trump focus, portraying him as a vain and ailing figure obsessed with his image. The episode also brought in tech giants Tim Cook and Mark Zuckerberg, who attempted to bribe Trump with lavish gifts—a classic South Park blend of absurdity and social commentary. Towelie’s misadventures in Washington, D.C., complete with National Guard cameos and jabs at current policies, further cemented the season’s commitment to lampooning federal power and media narratives.
The new biweekly release schedule is more than just a production convenience—it’s a strategic move. As Sportskeeda pointed out, previous seasons (25 and 26) were shorter, with only six episodes each and weekly releases. This year’s expanded 10-episode run means more content, but also more time needed to keep each episode razor-sharp and relevant. The creators’ just-in-time workflow is legendary in animation circles; Parker himself admitted to The Guardian, "I don’t know what next week’s episode is going to be....Even just three days ago, we were like, ‘I don’t know if people are going to like this.’" That flexibility is crucial when the show’s satire is built around headlines that can shift overnight.
Paramount, which now co-owns South Park Digital Studios with Parker and Stone’s Park County, is all in on this approach. Under a $1.5 billion exclusive five-year license agreement, Paramount+ is not only the home for all new episodes but also the exclusive streaming destination for the show’s previous 26 seasons. The long-term plan is ambitious: 50 new episodes over five years, ensuring South Park remains a fixture of both cable and streaming landscapes. As one insider at Paramount told Deadline with a laugh, "We’re not going to argue with what’s working. The numbers are great, the show is getting a lot of attention—if they want to give us a 20-week season for 10 episodes, that’s OK."
For fans, the new rhythm means adjusting expectations. No more tuning in every week for the latest dose of Cartman, Stan, Kyle, and Kenny. Instead, each episode’s arrival is a mini-event, spaced out to stoke anticipation and keep the show in the cultural conversation for months. This extended engagement also benefits Paramount and Comedy Central, who get to stretch out buzz and ratings over a longer period. And so far, it’s paying off—ratings for Season 27 have been the highest since 2018.
Looking ahead, if the current pattern holds, episodes will continue to drop every other Wednesday through December 10, 2025. That would make Season 27’s release the longest in the show’s history, even though it contains just ten episodes. Of course, as always with South Park, there’s room for last-minute changes. The production team, known for their flexibility and willingness to pivot based on real-world events, could always throw a curveball or two before the finale airs.
For now, viewers can catch new episodes on Comedy Central at 10 p.m. ET/PT, with next-day streaming on Paramount+. The alternating schedule ensures that the satire remains as topical as possible, while the show’s return to a longer season format—after two years of shorter runs—signals a renewed commitment to both quality and quantity. And with Trump, tech moguls, and other public figures firmly in the crosshairs, there’s no shortage of material for Parker and Stone to skewer.
In a television landscape where change is the only constant, South Park continues to find new ways to stay relevant, outrageous, and—most importantly—funny. As Season 27 unfolds, fans and critics alike will be watching to see just how far the show is willing to go, and how close to the news it can get before the ink dries.
