When it comes to Paramount+‘s South Park deal, expect the unexpected. During the Television Critics Association’s 2022 winter tour, the network’s Chief Programming Officer Tanya Giles spoke about what’s to come in Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s raunchy world. Long story short? Don’t expect every special to be like the ones we saw last year.
Giles emphasized that Paramount+’s exclusive specials weren’t always going to be movies, per se. They also won’t always be hourlong specials like the two we saw in 2021. “The beauty of the deal allows just for more South Park in longer forms than the half-hour sitcoms. So last year were treated to the two halves of the exclusive events — the Post Covid and the Post Covid: The Return of Covid,” Giles said. She also highlighted these specials could run anywhere from a typical episode length to the length of a typical movie. “It’s very flexible.”
Giles also spoke about when these specials will premiere moving forward. South Park: Post COVID premiered in November of 2021, and South Park: Post COVID: The Return of COVID premiered a month later. Moving forward, these specials won’t always air at the end of the year. “Not necessarily always at the end of the year, not necessarily two part events. We’re keeping those options open,” Giles said. “Like we said, we’re incredibly flexible in terms of bringing those stories to Paramount+. But there will be two this year.”
Last year, the South Park guys made history with a truly staggering Paramount+ deal. The duo agreed to create 14 specials to the tune of $900 million. These new installments were originally described as movies, but that terminology has changed since the premiere of the first hourlong special. Two specials are set to premiere a year for seven years altogether. But that wasn’t all. South Park the series was renewed through Season 30. Basically, if you’re a fan of Stan, Kyle, Cartman, Kenny, and all their deeply disturbing adventures, you’re going to be set for a looooong time.
