South Park is headed back to our screens this autumn, with another season that is likely to once again set its blistering sights on the current landscape of US politics and society.

Although the famously crude series is nearing its 30th anniversary, the previous run gave it the most headlines it had achieved in years, thanks in large part to its unrelenting satire of President Donald Trump’s second administration.

Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone savaged the recently inaugurated Trump with a storyline in which he began a romance with the literal devil, while Vice President JD Vance was depicted as a baby.

What the sitcom lacked in subtlety it made up for in impact, with South Park seasons 27 and 28 (which aired consecutively last year) becoming the top-rated cable show among 18-49 year olds in North America (via Variety).

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Suffice it to say that American politics hasn’t calmed at all since the comedy went off-air in mid-December, so Parker and Stone will have a lot to catch up on when South Park season 29 premieres on Comedy Central (US) on Wednesday 16 September.

UK release plans are still to be confirmed, but the international rollout was rapid during the last two seasons, with episodes making their way across the Atlantic within 24 hours or so (debuting on Comedy Central UK and Paramount+).

The creators are currently eyeing a fortnightly release schedule for season 29, which will carry it through to a finale in late November – although fans would be wise to take this with a pinch of salt.

The previous run was beset by numerous delays, some of which were story-driven and others by wider factors, leading to a rather messy release pattern that left some viewers frustrated. With any luck, things will go smoother this time.

After some back-and-forth, South Park creators Parker and Stone reached a deal with Paramount last year that secured the show’s future for five years – and it only cost a mere $1.5 billion.

South Park is available to stream on Paramount+. Season 29 premieres in September.

Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

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Authors

David Craig is the Senior Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest and greatest scripted drama and comedy across television and streaming. Previously, he worked at Starburst Magazine, presented The Winter King Podcast for ITVX and studied Journalism at the University of Sheffield.