The Town with Matthew Belloni

The F-You ‘South Park’ Episode and the Precarious State of Comedy in 2025

29 snips
Jul 24, 2025
Michael Lasker, a comedy manager at Mosaic, brings insights into the irreverent new 'South Park' episode that’s causing a stir. He discusses how creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker continue to innovate while navigating comedic boundaries. The conversation shifts to the current state of the comedy market, revealing struggles for theatrical films and sitcoms, yet hints at a resurgence of interest in original scripts. Lasker also weighs in on how emerging comedians are moving away from traditional routes towards focus on personal projects and touring.
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ANECDOTE

South Park's Bold $2B Flex

  • South Park creators defied a huge $2B deal to mock Trump and their corporate partners.
  • They maintained their edgy style 27 years in, showing unmatched comedic power and freedom.
INSIGHT

Comedy's Cyclical Nature

  • Comedy success is cyclical, with booms and busts shaping the industry.
  • Past waves prove comedy will bounce back if nurtured properly, like in the 2000s.
INSIGHT

Theatre Comedy Revival Strategy

  • Theatrical comedy is rebounding with studios buying smaller-budget specs to discover new stars.
  • Successful past models show building talent at target budgets can reignite comedy in theaters.
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