Stephen Colbert took a moment during his “Late Show” monologue on Thursday evening to commend his fellow comedians at Paramount for their bold and innovative approach. He specifically highlighted the season premiere of “South Park,” which featured AI-generated footage of President Trump stripping nude in the desert.
Colbert began by mentioning Trump’s recent executive order related to AI, emphasizing the importance of allowing private AI innovation to thrive without government interference. He jokingly agreed with Trump, noting that without such freedom, gems like the “South Park” clip wouldn’t be possible. The audience responded enthusiastically as the footage played, with Colbert praising it as a message of hope for the current times.
In response to Trump’s executive order aimed at preventing “woke AI” in the federal government, the “South Park” Season 27 premiere doubled down on its satire. The episode depicted Trump in various outrageous scenarios, including flaunting an uncensored micro-penis, cozying up to Satan, and threatening legal action against dissenters. The show concluded with an AI-generated deepfake, deviating from its usual animated style.
The White House reacted to the episode, dismissing “South Park” as irrelevant and desperate for attention. However, creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone reaffirmed their commitment to Paramount by signing a new deal for 50 episodes over the next five years, reportedly valued at $1.5 billion.
The segment from Colbert’s show showcasing the “South Park” clip can be viewed below:
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Overall, the collaboration between Colbert, “South Park,” and Paramount demonstrates the power of comedy to push boundaries and provoke thought in today’s increasingly polarized society. As AI technology continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how creatives leverage it to deliver impactful and entertaining content.
