South Park is made on a weekly basis in order to remain flexible

[Jin Wah]

South Park is a long-running adult animated series that follows friends Cartman, Kyle, Stan, and Kenny and their misadventures in the titular town. Known for humor that's just as crude as its animation, the series tends to be very timely, with episodes such as season 24, episode 1, "South ParQ Vaccination Special" commenting on issues like the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether the series is commenting on hotly debated political topics, social issues, or just wants to tell a simple story about a school's pajama day, South Park has been loved by its wide audience since its start in 1997.

To the dismay of some, it was recently announced that South Park season 25, episode 4 would be airing a week later than expected, airing next week on March 2nd rather than the previously expected date of February 23rd. Speculation as to why this is points to one popular theory that has to do with the show's recent change in streaming platforms. In 2020, South Park was removed from its long-time streaming platform Hulu and found a new home on HBO Max. Soon after that, though, a new deal was struck between creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker and Paramount+. The deal states that several South Park specials will stream on Paramount+, starting with the "Post Covid" special. Even though there is no official statement as to the reasoning behind the delay, some are speculating this is the reason.

That’s another no, albeit a more confusing one. Right now, HBO Max has the streaming rights to South Park the series. However, Paramount+ has the rights to 14 exclusive specials. We’ve already seen two of them, meaning there’s 12 to come over the next few years. Basically if you want to stream South Park on a streaming service, HBO Max is your best bet.

South Park Season 25 Episode 4 Online
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South Park Season 25 Episode 5 Online
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Unlike many other shows, South Park is made on a weekly basis in order to remain flexible and respond to any big stories it might want to skewer. The show is often finished the night before it is meant to air, as shown in the documentary 6 Days to Air. Because of this tight and exhausting schedule, week-long breaks midseason are common, as is seen between season 23, episode 7, "Board Girls" and season 23, episode 8, "Turd Burglars." After the first three episodes of the season, such as the complex episode revolving around Token Black's real name, it is likely the crew just wants a little break before South Park season 25, episode 4 to get ahead on future episodes.

It is possible that the episode didn't air this week due to a delay, though. In 2013, the show missed its deadline for the first time due to a power outage at the studio. Another similar incident could have caused the delay, although nothing is confirmed. Season 25 is also shorter than past seasons, with only six episodes confirmed in comparison to the regular ten. With the team working on season 25 alongside the specials, the South Park crew may be scaling back the intense production process of this season to give themselves more breathing room. Although fans will have to wait a little longer, they will still get to enjoy South Park season 25, episode 4 when it comes out on March 2nd.