South Park Extended Through 2011

Kenny gets to die a few more times, thanks to Comedy Central.

"South Park", the Emmy Award-winning, intentionally offensive animated series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, has been extended for another 42 episodes according to a press release. South Park will now air through the year 2011. Not only has the show been extended, Parker and Stone will also get their own work space called South Park Digital Studios. It will be a joint alliance between Comedy Central and and the two animators. The studio will help launch other extensions of the "South Park" cartoon and the beginnings of other animated projects.

Doug Herzog, president of the MTV Networks Entertainment Group, explained the alliance in the statement. ""This extension and the formation of the joint venture are the beginnings of a new era for 'South Park' and COMEDY CENTRAL and a natural evolution of our long-term and prosperous relationship with Trey and Matt. With the new partnership in South Park Digital Studios and the creation of the digital animation studio, we have a tremendous opportunity to truly maximize the potential of the franchise and the incredible creative talents of Matt and Trey across every imaginable platform."

Parker and Stone will continue to animate the "South Park" characters into several different media formats. ..."since Trey and I are in charge of the digital side of 'South Park,' we can offend people on their cell phones, game consoles, and computers too," said co-creator Stone. "It's all very exciting for us." There will also be an expansion of the show's long-running fan website, SouthParkStudios.com. The South Park Digital Studio will have a development facility that includes an animation studio for Parker and Stone to use along with other animators. Ironically, a distinctive mark of "South Park" is its 2-dimensional characters and paper-doll look.

Currently, South Park has averaged over 3 million visitors for every new episode premiere, despite being broadcast for 11 seasons. It is still, after four years straight, the highest rated original cable series among men 18-24 years old. "South Park" focuses on the lives of four middle school-aged kids and their lives in a small town in wintry Colorado. The show is known for taking current events and making episodes based on them, often offending people of all races, beliefs, and creeds. In addition to winning an Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program and a Peabody Award, the "South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut" movie was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Original Song category for the tune "Blame Canada".

SOURCE:
PR Newswire

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