South Park’s half-assed “year of the fan”: Hasa Diga Eebowai

Earlier today I received the press release copied on the next page of this post, from the fine folks at Comedy Central. In short, Comedy Central is officially declaring 2011 the “Year of the Fan” for South Park, celebrating its 15 years on television. The release goes on to mention how the Year of the Fan will kick off, starting next week at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC).

So, how will Comedy Central be kicking things off? With a star-studded panel appearance, featuring the majority of the voice talent from South Park? Nope. How about just Trey Parker and Matt Stone showing up to answer fan questions? Uh uh. A script reading? No. Autograph booth? A screening of an episode from next season? Please. No, rather than give fans of South Park one hell of a treat this year, which would have included all of the aforementioned coolness and more, we’re being forced to drag our asses out of the convention center to … ride big wheels, sing karaoke and get our faces painted.

Wait … what?!

Now, before you go off on me about how Parker and Stone are likely too busy polishing their Tonys for their successful musical, The Book of Mormon, like resident theater-lifer Brett was quick to point out to me, I’d already thought of this. In fact, I firmly believe this was a golden opportunity for The Book of Mormon to put on a west-coast preview of the show, right in San Diego, and they blew it. Screw Cirque du Soleil in Petco Park. If The Book of Mormon was heard to be putting on a performance there, it would’ve been the most talked about, hottest ticket of the ‘con.

I’m glossing over the fact that this is really all about South Park, but why couldn’t Parker and Stone have taken an hour out of their time in San Diego to talk to the fans for a bit? I’m betting big fans of the show have quite a few questions to ask, after seeing how last season ended. I’ll go out on a limb and say they would have packed Hall H before one of my favorite shows, Supernatural, would (which is heading to Hall H this year). To talk about South Park? The multi-Tony-award-winning The Book of Mormon? Team America: World Police? No question.

As Brett noted later, this would have been a great opportunity to get interested west-coast actors (are there enough to choose from?) to headline at least some of the musical for the fans at SDCC, without the need for expensive stage sets and props. Instead, to kick off the “Year of the Fan,”  we’re getting Cheesy Poofs and snow cones.

I’m going to try to check Comedy Central’s setup next week, when a bunch of us Clackers will be reporting from SDCC throughout our time there. Hopefully I can report that it was a worthwhile visit, but so far I’m thinking what’ll come out of my mouth there is: Screw you guys, I’m going home!

Or: Hasa Diga Eebowai.

Clacked by Keith McDuffee
on Jul 15, 2011 @ 23:51 EST5EDT