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{{Short description|American actor, animator, and filmmaker (born 1969)}}
{{For|the member of the band E.Y.C.|E.Y.C. (band)}}
{{pp-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}{{Use American English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| image        = Trey Parker by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg
| caption      = Parker at the 2016 [[San Diego Comic-Con International]]
| birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1969|10|19}}
| birth_name   = Randolph Severn Parker III
| birth_place  = [[Conifer, Colorado]], U.S.
| alma_mater   = [[Berklee College of Music]]<br/>[[University of Colorado Boulder]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| occupation   = {{hlist|Actor|animator|writer|producer|director|musician}}
| years_active = 1992–present
| works        = [[List of roles and awards of Trey Parker|Filmography and awards]]
| spouse       = {{Plainlist|
* {{Marriage|Emma Sugiyama|2006|2008|reason=divorced}}
* {{Marriage|Boogie Tillmon|2014|2019|reason=divorced}}
}}
| children     = 1
}}
'''Randolph Severn''' "'''Trey'''" '''Parker III''' (born October 19, 1969) is an American actor, animator, writer, producer, director, and musician.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trey Parker: Biography |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/trey-parker/bio/177632/ |website=[[TV Guide]] |access-date=February 27, 2019 |archive-date=February 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228004628/https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/trey-parker/bio/177632/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Trey Parker |url=https://www.biography.com/people/trey-parker-20989887 |publisher=[[Biography.com]] |access-date=March 6, 2019 |archive-date=March 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331073955/https://www.biography.com/people/trey-parker-20989887 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He is best known for co-creating ''[[South Park]]'' (since 1997) and ''[[The Book of Mormon (musical)|The Book of Mormon]]'' (2011) with his creative partner [[Matt Stone]]. Parker was interested in film and music as a child and at high school and attended the [[University of Colorado Boulder]], where he met Stone. The two collaborated on various short films and co-starred in Parker’s feature-length musical ''[[Cannibal! The Musical]]'' (1993).

Parker and Stone moved to Los Angeles, and Parker made his second feature-length film ''[[Orgazmo]]'' (1997). Before the premiere of the film, ''South Park'' premiered on [[Comedy Central]] in August 1997. The duo possess full creative control of the show, and have produced music and video games based on it. A film based on the series, ''[[South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut]]'' (1999), was well-received from both critics and fans. Parker went on to write, produce, direct, and star in the satirical action film ''[[Team America: World Police]]'' (2004), and, after several years of development, ''The Book of Mormon'' premiered on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] to positive reviews.

Parker has received five [[Primetime Emmy Awards]] for his work on ''South Park'', four [[Tony Awards]] and a [[Grammy Award]] for ''The Book of Mormon'', and an [[Academy Award]] nomination for the song "[[Blame Canada]]" from the ''South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut'' movie, co-written with [[Marc Shaiman]].

==Early life==
Parker was born in [[Conifer, Colorado]], the son of insurance saleswoman Sharon and [[geologist]] Randolph "Randy" Parker II.<ref name=Bio.com>{{cite web |url=http://www.biography.com/people/trey-parker-20989887#awesm=~oCvYSa7R3xZqwl |title=Trey Parker biography |publisher=Biography.com |access-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-date=March 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331073955/https://www.biography.com/people/trey-parker-20989887#awesm=~oCvYSa7R3xZqwl |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=hr/> He was a shy child who received "decent" grades and was involved in honors classes.<ref name="Playboy"/> He idolized [[Monty Python]], which he began watching on television in the [[third grade]]. His later ventures into animation would bear considerable influence from [[Terry Gilliam]].<ref name=Playboy>{{Cite journal |first=Steve |last=Pond |date=June 2000 |title=Interview: Trey Parker and Matt Stone |journal=[[Playboy]] |volume=47 |issue=6 |pages=65–80}} {{cite web|url=http://treyparker.info/archives_playboy_00jun00.htm |title=&#91; shpadoinkle &#93; Trey Parker |access-date=June 15, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727232806/http://treyparker.info/archives_playboy_00jun00.htm |archive-date=July 27, 2011 }}</ref> In the sixth grade, Parker wrote a sketch titled ''The Dentist'' and appeared in his school's talent show. He played the dentist and had a friend play the patient. The plot involved what can go wrong at the dentist; due to the amounts of fake blood involved, Parker's parents were called and were upset, with Parker later recalling that "the kindergartners were all crying and freaking out".<ref name="cnn">{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391792/index.htm|title=''South Park'' creators haven't lost their edge|author=Devin Leonard|date=October 27, 2006|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=June 17, 2011|archive-date=November 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107220939/https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391792/index.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Parker has described himself as "the typical big-dream kid" who envisioned a career in film and music.<ref name="Playboy"/> He made [[short film]]s on the weekends with a group of friends, beginning when he was 14. His father had purchased him a video camera and the group continued making films until graduation.<ref name="Playboy"/><ref name=ny/> He became interested in pursuing music at 17, but only comedy-centered songs; he wrote and recorded a full-length comedy album, ''Immature: A Collection of Love Ballads For The '80's Man'', with friend David Goodman during this time.<ref name="Playboy"/> As a teenager, Parker developed a love for [[musical theatre]] and joined the Evergreen Players, a venerable mountain community theater outside of Denver. At 14, he performed his first role as chorus member in ''[[The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas]]'' and ''[[Flower Drum Song]]'' and went on to also design sets for the community theater's production of ''[[Little Shop of Horrors (musical)|Little Shop of Horrors]]''. In high school, he also played piano for the chorus and was president of the choir counsel.<ref name="frankrich">{{cite magazine|title=Frank Rich's Liner Notes for ''The Book of Mormon''|magazine=[[Playbill]]|date=May 20, 2011|url=http://www.playbill.com/playblog/2011/05/frank-richs-liner-notes-for-the-book-of-mormon/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625214159/http://www.playbill.com/playblog/2011/05/frank-richs-liner-notes-for-the-book-of-mormon/|archive-date=June 25, 2011}}</ref><ref name="denverpost">{{cite news|last= Moore|first= John|title= ''The Book of Mormon'': Colorado's kings of pop-culture subversion|newspaper= [[The Denver Post]]|date= June 12, 2011|url= http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_18257045?source=commented-entertainment|access-date= June 15, 2011|archive-date= June 15, 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110615195404/http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_18257045?source=commented-entertainment|url-status= live}}</ref> As Evergreen was nationally known for its choir program, Parker was a very popular high school student, connected to his position as the head of the choir. He was typically the lead in school plays and was also prom king.<ref name="Playboy"/> While in school, Parker had a part-time job at a [[Pizza Hut]] and was described as a film geek and music buff.<ref name="guardian1">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/apr/01/art.artanddesign|title=Undisputed kings of cartoon satire|author=Paul Harris|date=April 1, 2007|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=June 17, 2011|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624200508/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/apr/01/art.artanddesign|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following his graduation from [[Evergreen High School (Colorado)|Evergreen High School]] in 1988, Parker spent a semester at [[Berklee College of Music]] before transferring to the [[University of Colorado Boulder]].<ref name=hr/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chotzinoff |first=Robin |title=Trey Cool |url=https://www.westword.com/arts/trey-cool-5060031 |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=Westword |language=en |archive-date=November 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129072201/https://www.westword.com/arts/trey-cool-5060031 |url-status=live }}</ref> Parker majored in both film and [[culture of Japan|Japanese]]. During his time there, he took a film class in which students were required to collaborate on projects.<ref name="Playboy"/> In the course, he met [[Matt Stone]]—a math major from the nearby town of [[Littleton, Colorado|Littleton]]—and the two immediately bonded over provocative, anti-authoritarian humor and Monty Python.<ref name=hr/> Parker's first film was titled ''Giant Beavers of Southern Sri Lanka'' (1989), parodying [[Godzilla]]-style rampages with beavers; fellow student [[Jason McHugh]] later remarked that the idea nearly got him laughed out of class.<ref name="guardian2">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2009/apr/02/sout-park-matt-stone|title=Smalltown heroes|author=Johnny Davis|date=April 3, 2009|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=July 1, 2014|archive-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714173236/http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2009/apr/02/sout-park-matt-stone|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Shpadoinkle>[[Jason McHugh|McHugh, Jason]] (2011). ''Shpadoinkle: The Making of Cannibal! The Musical''. Certified Renegade American Publishing.</ref> Parker and Stone wrote and acted in many short films together, among those ''First Date'', ''Man on Mars'' and ''Job Application''.<ref name="shortfilms">{{cite news|url=http://uproxx.com/tv/2013/02/watch-matt-stone-and-trey-parkers-pre-south-park-short-from-college/|title=Rare Matt Stone & Trey Parker Videos|author=Josh Matusak|date=February 13, 2013|publisher=Stand Up NY|access-date=July 1, 2014|archive-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714135220/http://uproxx.com/tv/2013/02/watch-matt-stone-and-trey-parkers-pre-south-park-short-from-college/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="firstdate">{{cite news|url=http://uproxx.com/tv/2013/02/watch-matt-stone-and-trey-parkers-pre-south-park-short-from-college/|title=Watch Matt Stone And Trey Parker's Pre-'South Park' Short From College|author=Josh Kurp|date=February 23, 2013|publisher=[[Uproxx]]|access-date=July 1, 2014|archive-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714135220/http://uproxx.com/tv/2013/02/watch-matt-stone-and-trey-parkers-pre-south-park-short-from-college/|url-status=live}}</ref> Parker later remarked that he and Stone would shoot a film nearly every week, but he has since [[lost film|lost]] most of them.<ref name="yourstudio"/> Parker first used a construction paper animation technique on ''American History'' (1992), a short film made for his college animation class. It became an unexpected sensation, resulting in Parker's first award—a Student Academy Award. Parker recalled sitting in the auditorium in front of students from animation schools such as [[CalArts]], saying, "And there are all these Cal Arts kids behind me who had submitted these beautiful watercolor and pencil things. And here's my shitty construction-paper thing, which makes South Park look like [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Disney]], by the way, and they're all fuming."<ref name="Playboy"/> He graduated with a double-major [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in 1993.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.colorado.edu/today/2013/12/13/south-parks-unsung-genius|title=South Park's unsung genius|date=December 13, 2013|publisher=[[CU Independent]]|access-date=December 14, 2013|archive-date=April 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419034529/http://www.colorado.edu/today/2013/12/13/south-parks-unsung-genius|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Career==
===Career beginnings===
====''Cannibal! The Musical'' (1992–1994)====
In 1992, Parker, Stone, McHugh, and Ian Hardin founded a production company named the Avenging Conscience, named after the [[D. W. Griffith]] [[The Avenging Conscience|film by the same name]], which all four actively disliked.<ref name=WW>{{cite magazine|last=Roberts|first=Michael|title=The South Park Anniversary: The First Trey Parker-Matt Stone Interview|url=http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2007/08/the_south_park_anniversary_the.php|magazine=Westword|access-date=March 25, 2014|archive-date=August 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825232858/http://www.westword.com/news/the-south-park-anniversary-the-first-trey-parker-matt-stone-interview-5858114|url-status=dead}}</ref> Parker again employed the cutout paper technique on Avenging Conscience's first production, ''Jesus vs. Frosty'' (1992), an animated short pitting the religious figure against [[Frosty the Snowman]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parker |first=Ryan |date=2016-09-14 |title=Holy Shit, 'South Park' Is 20! Trey Parker, Matt Stone on Censors, Tom Cruise and Scientology's Role in Isaac Hayes Quitting |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/south-park-20-years-history-trey-parker-matt-stone-928212/ |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=September 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914230950/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/south-park-20-years-history-trey-parker-matt-stone-928212 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vaughn |first=Phillip |date=2017-08-10 |title=South Park turns 20: How to make an all-time classic by insulting everybody |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/south-park-turns-20-how-to-make-an-all-time-classic-by-insulting-everybody-117081000199_1.html |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=www.business-standard.com |language=en |archive-date=November 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105211702/https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/south-park-turns-20-how-to-make-an-all-time-classic-by-insulting-everybody-117081000199_1.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The quartet created a three-minute [[Trailer (promotion)|trailer]] for a fictional film titled ''Alferd Packer: The Musical''. The idea was based on an obsession Parker had with [[Alferd Packer]], a real nineteenth-century [[prospecting|prospector]] accused of [[Human cannibalism|cannibalism]].<ref name=ny/> During this time, Parker had become engaged to long-time girlfriend Liane Adamo, but their relationship fell apart shortly before production on the trailer had begun.<ref name=ny/> "Horribly depressed", Parker funneled his frustrations with her into the project, naming Packer's "beloved but disloyal" horse after her.<ref name=ny/><ref name="cannibalSS">{{cite news|url=http://splitsider.com/2011/03/cannibal-matt-stone-and-trey-parkers-original-twisted-musical/|title=''Cannibal!'': Matt Stone and Trey Parker's Original Twisted Musical|author=Joshua Kurp|date=March 29, 2011|work=Splitsider|publisher=[[The Awl]]|access-date=July 1, 2014|archive-date=January 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119040500/http://splitsider.com/2011/03/cannibal-matt-stone-and-trey-parkers-original-twisted-musical/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The trailer became somewhat of a sensation among students at the school, leading Virgil Grillo, the chairman and founder of the university's film department, to convince the quartet to expand it to a feature-length film.<ref name=cannibalSS/> Parker wrote the film's script, creating an ''[[Oklahoma!]]''-style musical featuring ten original [[show tunes]].<ref name="nonesuch"/> The group raised $125,000 from family and friends and began shooting the film. The film was shot on [[Loveland Pass]] as winter was ending, and the crew endured the freezing weather.<ref name=WW/><ref name="nonesuch">{{cite book|last=Phillips|first=Glasgow|title=The Royal Nonesuch: Or, What Will I Do When I Grow Up?|year=2007|publisher=Grove Press|isbn=9781555847203|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gtY_7UdCLQ0C&q=%22Avenging+Conscience%22+Parker+Stone&pg=PA14|page=14|access-date=October 21, 2020|archive-date=February 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210085518/https://books.google.com/books?id=gtY_7UdCLQ0C&q=%22Avenging+Conscience%22+Parker+Stone&pg=PA14|url-status=live}}</ref> Parker—under the pseudonym Juan Schwartz—was the film's star, director and co-producer.<ref name=cannibalSS/>

''Alferd Packer: The Musical'' premiered in [[Boulder, Colorado|Boulder]] in October 1993; "they rented a limousine that circled to ferry every member of the cast and crew from the back side of the block to the red carpet at the theater's entrance."<ref name=nonesuch/> The group submitted the film to the [[Sundance Film Festival]], who did not respond. Parker told McHugh he had a "vision" they needed to be at the festival, which resulted in the group renting out a conference room in a nearby hotel and putting on their own screenings.<ref name=ny/> [[MTV]] did a short news segment on ''The Big Picture'' regarding the film,<ref name=WW/> and they made industry connections through the festival.<ref name="Playboy"/><ref name="ny">{{cite news|url=http://nymag.com/arts/theater/features/south-park-2011-3/|title=Latter-Day Saints|author=Carl Swanson|date=March 7, 2011|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|publisher=New York Media, LLC|access-date=July 1, 2014|archive-date=July 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718193204/http://nymag.com/arts/theater/features/south-park-2011-3/|url-status=live}}</ref> They intended to sell video rights to the film for $1 million and spend the remaining $900,000 to create another film.<ref name="Playboy"/> The film was instead sold to [[Troma Entertainment]] in 1996 where it was retitled ''Cannibal! The Musical'',<ref name=hr/> and upon the duo's later success, it became their biggest-selling title.<ref name=cannibalSS/> It has since been labeled a "[[cult classic]]" and adapted into a stage play by community theater groups and even high schools nationwide.<ref name="cannibal1">{{cite news|url=http://www.laweekly.com/publicspectacle/2012/02/09/cannibal-the-musical-in-a-high-school-get-the-splash-zone-ready|title=Cannibal! The Musical in a High School? Get the Splash Zone Ready|author=Carl Kozlowski|date=February 9, 2012|work=[[LA Weekly]]|publisher=Beth Sestanovich|access-date=July 1, 2014|archive-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714174551/http://www.laweekly.com/publicspectacle/2012/02/09/cannibal-the-musical-in-a-high-school-get-the-splash-zone-ready|url-status=live}}</ref>

====''The Spirit of Christmas'' and ''Orgazmo'' (1995–1997)====
{{Quote box
 |quote  = We were sleeping on floors thinking, ''Wow, another two weeks and we're going to be fucking rich.'' And pretty soon two weeks turns into two months, and two months turns into two years, and you definitely stop listening.
 |source = Parker on his early career<ref name="Playboy"/>
 |quoted = 1
 |width  = 25%
 |align  = right
}}
Following the film's success, the group, sans Hardin, moved to [[Los Angeles]].<ref name="nonesuch"/> Upon arrival, they met a lawyer for the [[William Morris Agency]] who connected them with producer [[Scott Rudin]]. As a result, the duo acquired a lawyer, an agent, and a script deal.<ref name="Playboy"/> Despite initially believing themselves to be on the verge of success, the duo struggled for several years. Stone slept on dirty laundry for upwards of a year because he could not afford to purchase a mattress.<ref name="Playboy"/> They unsuccessfully pitched a children's program titled ''Time Warped'' to [[Fox Kids]], which would have involved fictionalized stories of people in history.<ref name="hr">{{cite news | url= http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/why-south-parks-trey-parker-171189 | title= Why ''South Park''{{'}}s Trey Parker and Matt Stone Now Say It's 'Wrong' to Offend | date= March 24, 2011 | work= [[The Hollywood Reporter]] | access-date= May 19, 2011 | first= Stephen | last= Galloway | archive-date= November 5, 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111105012034/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/why-south-parks-trey-parker-171189 | url-status= live }}</ref> The trio created two separate pilots, spaced a year apart, and despite the approval of [[Fox Broadcasting Company]] development executive [[Pam Brady]], the network disbanded the Fox Kids division.<ref name="nonesuch"/>

[[David Zucker (filmmaker)|David Zucker]], who was a fan of ''Cannibal!'', contacted the duo to produce a 15-minute short film for [[Seagram]] to show at a party for its acquisition of [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]].<ref name="yourstudio"/> Due to a misunderstanding, Parker and Stone [[improvisation|improvised]] much of the film an hour before it was shot, creating it as a spoof of 1950s instructional videos.<ref name="yourstudio"/> The result, ''[[Your Studio and You]]'', features numerous celebrities, including [[Sylvester Stallone]], [[Demi Moore]], and [[Steven Spielberg]]. "You could probably make a feature film out of the experience of making that movie because it was just two dudes from college suddenly directing Steven Spielberg," Parker later remarked, noting that the experience was difficult for the two.<ref name="yourstudio">{{cite news| url=http://treyparker.info/archives_zap2it_16jul01.htm| title='South Park' Creator Trey Parker Cops to Kooky Universal Spoof| date=July 16, 2001| publisher=[[Zap2it]]| access-date=July 2, 2014| first=Stephen| last=Galloway| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028085139/http://treyparker.info/archives_zap2it_16jul01.htm| archive-date=October 28, 2014| df=mdy-all}}</ref>

During the time between shooting the pilots for ''Time Warped'', Parker penned the script for a film titled ''[[Orgazmo]]'', which later entered production. Half of the budget for the picture came from a Japanese porn company called Kuki, who wanted to feature its performers in mainstream Western media.<ref name="nonesuch"/> Independent distributor [[October Films]] purchased the rights to the film for one million dollars after its screening at the [[Toronto International Film Festival]].<ref name="nonesuch"/> The film received an [[NC-17]] rating from the [[Motion Picture Association of America]], which resulted in the poor box office performance of the film. Parker and Stone attempted to negotiate with the organization on what to delete from the final print, but the MPAA would not give specific notes.<ref name="Playboy"/> The duo later theorized that the organization cared less because it was an independent distributor which would bring it significantly less money.<ref name="Playboy"/>

Parker and Stone also made a short film called ''The Spirit of Christmas'' (although it is now usually called ''Jesus vs. Frosty'').<ref name="nonesuch"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-09 |title=10 Influential Early Web Animations |url=https://listverse.com/2022/09/09/10-influential-early-web-animations/ |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=Listverse |language=en-US |archive-date=October 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019152014/https://listverse.com/2022/09/09/10-influential-early-web-animations/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=2019-12-24 |title=Watch the First 'South Park' Short 'The Spirit of Christmas' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/south-park-spirit-of-christmas-video-short-39256/ |access-date=2022-11-05 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=November 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107150723/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/south-park-spirit-of-christmas-video-short-39256/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Brian Graden]] (then at Fox) liked this short and asked Parker and Stone to produce a video greeting card (for which he paid with his own money) that he could send to friends. Both ''Jesus vs. Frosty'' and ''Jesus vs. Santa'' had ''[[The Spirit of Christmas (short film)|The Spirit of Christmas]]'' as opening credits. Graden sent the film on [[VHS]] to several industry executives in Hollywood; meanwhile, someone digitized the short film and put it on the internet, where it became one of the first [[viral video]]s.<ref name="cnn"/><ref name="nonesuch"/><ref name="time2">{{cite magazine|author=Jeffrey Ressner and James Collins|title=Gross And Grosser|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=March 23, 1998|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,988028-2,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102061843/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,988028-2,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 2, 2010|access-date=April 28, 2009}}</ref> As ''Jesus vs. Santa'' became more popular, Parker and Stone began talks of developing the short into a television series called ''[[South Park]]''. They first pitched the show to Fox, but the network refused to pick it up due to not wanting to air a show that included the talking poo character [[List of recurring South Park characters#Mr. Hankey|Mr. Hankey]]. The two were initially skeptical of possible television deals, noting that previous endeavors had not turned out to be successful,<ref name="Playboy"/> but then entered negotiations with both [[MTV]] and Comedy Central. Parker preferred the show be produced by Comedy Central, fearing that MTV would turn it into a kids' show.<ref name="paulson">{{cite interview|url=http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/about.aspx?id=12881 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209001855/http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/about.aspx?id=12881 |archive-date=February 9, 2010 |title=Matt Stone, Trey Parker, Larry Divney 'Speaking Freely' transcript |access-date=February 8, 2007 |date=March 1, 2002 |subject=Trey Parker |subject2=Matt Stone |url-status=dead }}</ref> When Comedy Central executive [[Doug Herzog]] watched the short, he commissioned for it to be developed into a series.<ref name="cnn"/><ref name="nytad">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/27/business/media/27south.html|title='South Park' Creators Win Ad Sharing In Deal|access-date=October 17, 2008|author=Halbfinger, David M.|date=August 27, 2007|work=The New York Times|archive-date=December 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212065427/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/27/business/media/27south.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===''South Park''===
{{main|South Park}}

====Premiere and initial success (1997–1998)====
The pilot episode of ''South Park'' was made on a budget of $300,000<ref name="Far-out">{{Cite news |first=Kinney |last=Littlefield |title=South Park is a Far-out Place to Play |work=AAP Newsfeed |publisher=[[LexisNexis]] |date=February 1, 1998}} {{subscription required}}</ref> and took between three and three and a half months to complete; animation took place in a small room at Celluloid Studios, in [[Denver]], Colorado, during the summer of 1996.<ref name="Commentary"/><ref name="unairedpilot_dvd_cover">Back cover. {{Cite video |title=South Park – The Original Unaired Pilot |year=2003 |medium=DVD |publisher=Warner Home Video}} (Included with purchase of the following at [[Best Buy]], USA: {{Cite video |title=South Park – The Complete Second Season |year=2003 |medium=DVD |publisher=Paramount Home Entertainment}})</ref> Similarly to Parker and Stone's Christmas shorts, the original pilot was animated entirely with traditional [[cutout animation|cut paper]] [[stop-motion]] animation techniques.<ref name="Commentary">{{Cite AV media | people = Parker, Trey; Stone, Matt | location = Audio commentary for "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe" | title = South Park – The Complete First Season: Episode Commentary | year = 2002 | medium = CD | publisher = Comedy Central}}</ref> The idea for the town of South Park came from the real [[South Park (Park County, Colorado)|Colorado basin of the same name]], where, according to the creators, a lot of folklore and news reports originated about "UFO sightings, and cattle mutilations, and Bigfoot sightings."<ref name="pennington">{{Cite news |title=A cartoon about kids that isn't for them |first=Gail |last=Pennington |date=August 13, 1997 |newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |location=St. Louis, Missouri |page=6E}}</ref>

At the time, Comedy Central had a low distribution of just 21 million subscribers.<ref name= Gournelos>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PCI23BOylt4C|pages=11–19|title=Popular Culture and the Future of Politics: Cultural Studies and the Tao of ''South Park''|first=Ted|last=Gournelos|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7391-3721-5|access-date=February 27, 2016|archive-date=January 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116225257/https://books.google.com/books?id=PCI23BOylt4C|url-status=live}}</ref> The company marketed the show aggressively before its launch, billing it as "why they created the [[V-chip]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKQEuKMFs7U|title=First South Park Commercial before series premiere, 1997|last=WhyTheHorseface|date=August 30, 2011|access-date=December 30, 2016|via=YouTube|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707104247/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKQEuKMFs7U|archive-date=July 7, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The resulting buzz led to the network earning an estimated $30 million in T-shirts sales alone before the first episode was even aired.<ref name= Gournelos/> ''South Park'' premiered in August 1997 and immediately became one of the most popular shows on cable television, averaging consistently between 3.5 and 5.5 million viewers.<ref name= Gournelos/> The show transformed the fledgling network into "a cable industry power almost overnight".<ref name="cnn"/> Due to the success of the series' first six episodes, Comedy Central requested an additional seven; the series completed its [[South Park (season 1)|first season]] in February 1998.<ref name="NYDN1029">{{Cite news |last=Mink |first=Eric |title=''South Park'' comes up with a hallo-winner |date=October 29, 1998 |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |location=[[New York, New York]] |page=89}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Tonight on TV |date=October 29, 1997 |work=[[Newsday]] |location=[[New York, New York]] |page=B35}}</ref><ref>{{cite video | people=Parker, Trey|date=2003|title=''South Park: The Complete First Season'': "Death"|location=Audio commentary |medium=CD|publisher=Comedy Central}}</ref> An affiliate of the [[MTV Network]] until then, Comedy Central decided, in part due to the success of ''South Park'', to have its own independent sales department.<ref>{{cite news|title=Comedy Central will fly solo in '98|work=Multichannel News |author=Forkan, Jim|date=September 29, 1997|url=http://business.highbeam.com/4377/article-1G1-19948327/comedy-central-fly-solo-98|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714121147/http://business.highbeam.com/4377/article-1G1-19948327/comedy-central-fly-solo-98|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 14, 2014}}</ref> By the end of 1998, Comedy Central had sold more than $150 million worth of merchandise for the show, including T-shirts and dolls.<ref name="McCabeJanet">{{Cite book |last1=McCabe |first1=Janet |last2=Akass|first2=Kim|title=Quality TV: Contemporary American Television and Beyond |year=2007 |publisher=I. B. Tauris |isbn=978-1-84511-511-1 |page=91}}</ref> Over the next few years, Comedy Central's viewership spiked, largely due to ''South Park'', adding 3 million new subscribers in the first half of 1998 alone, and allowed the network to sign international deals with networks in several countries.<ref name= Gournelos/>

Parker and Stone became celebrities as a result of the program's success; Parker noted that the success of ''South Park'' allowed him to pursue, for a time, a lifestyle that involved partying with women and "out-of-control binges" in [[Las Vegas]].<ref name="Playboy"/> Their philosophy of taking every deal (which had surfaced as a result of their lack of trust in the early success of ''South Park'') led to their appearances in films, albums, and outside script deals. Among these were ''[[BASEketball]]'', a 1998 comedy film that became a critical and commercial flop, and rights to produce a prequel to ''[[Dumb and Dumber]]'', which was never completed.<ref name="Playboy"/>

==== ''Bigger, Longer & Uncut'' and continued success  ====
[[File:Trey Parker Matt Stone 2007.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Two adult males sitting in chairs; the male at the right is speaking into a handheld microphone|Parker (left) and [[Matt Stone]] (right) continue to do most of the writing, directing and voice acting on ''South Park''.]]
Parker and Stone signed a deal with [[Comedy Central]] in April 1998 that contracted the duo to producing ''South Park'' episodes until 1999, gave them a slice of the lucrative spinoff merchandising the show generated within its first year, as well as an unspecified seven-figure cash bonus to bring the show to the big screen, in theaters.<ref name="charlotte">{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CO&s_site=charlotte&p_multi=CO&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB6D55F54B73880&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Sweet! Creators Sign to Do ''South Park'' Movie|author=''The Charlotte Observer'' staff|date=May 2, 1998|newspaper=[[The Charlotte Observer]]|access-date=March 6, 2011|archive-date=October 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025010459/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CO&s_site=charlotte&p_multi=CO&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB6D55F54B73880&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|url-status=live}}</ref> During the time, the team was also busy writing the [[South Park (season 2)|second]] and [[South Park (season 3)|third]] seasons of the series, the former of which Parker and Stone later described as "disastrous". As such, they figured the phenomenon would be over soon, and they decided to write a personal, fully committed musical.<ref name="blureview3">{{cite news|url=http://collider.com/south-park-bigger-longer-uncut-blu-ray-review/9696/|title=''South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut'' [Blu-ray] – Review|author=Andre Dellamorte|date=October 22, 2009|publisher=Collider.com|access-date=March 9, 2011|archive-date=February 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204220003/http://collider.com/south-park-bigger-longer-uncut-blu-ray-review/9696/|url-status=live}}</ref> Parker and Stone fought with the MPAA to keep the film R-rated; for months the ratings board insisted on the more prohibitive [[NC-17]].<ref name="rating">{{cite news|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00E11FB3A5E0C7A8EDDAF0894D1494D81|title=Loosening a Strict Film Rating for ''South Park''|author=Bernard Weinraub|date=June 29, 1999|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=March 7, 2011}}</ref> The film was only certified an R rating two weeks prior to its release, following contentious conversations between Parker/Stone, Rudin, and [[Paramount Pictures]].<ref name="rating2">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,272257,00.html|title=Putting the 'R' in ''South Park''|author=David Hochman|date=July 9, 1999|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=March 8, 2011|archive-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714184108/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,272257,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Parker felt overwhelmed and overworked during the production process of the film, especially between April and the film's opening in late June. He admitted that press coverage, which proclaimed the end of ''South Park'' was near, bothered him.<ref name="Playboy"/> ''[[South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut]]'' opened in cinemas in June 1999 and received critical acclaim while grossing $83 million at the box office.<ref>{{cite web|title=South Park – Bigger, Longer and Uncut (1999)|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=southpark.htm|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=August 6, 2016|archive-date=November 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116034659/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=southpark.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Parker and Stone continue to write, direct, and voice most characters on ''South Park''. Over time, the show has adopted a unique production process, in which an entire episode is written, animated and broadcast in one week.<ref name="abc3">{{cite web|author=Jake Trapper and Dan Morris|title=Secrets of 'South Park'|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=September 22, 2006|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&page=3|access-date=April 18, 2009|archive-date=May 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511114130/http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&page=3|url-status=live}}</ref> Parker and Stone state that subjecting themselves to a one-week deadline creates more spontaneity amongst themselves in the creative process, which they feel results in a funnier show.<ref name="cnn"/> Although initial reviews for the show were negative in reference to its crass humor, the series has received numerous accolades, including five [[Primetime Emmy Award]]s, a [[Peabody Award]], and numerous inclusions in various publications' lists of greatest television shows. Though its viewership is lower than it was at the height of its popularity in its earliest seasons, ''South Park'' remains one of the highest-rated series on Comedy Central.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2011/122011-2011-ratings-release.jhtml
 |title=Comedy Central press release
 |publisher=Comedy Central
 |date=December 20, 2011
|access-date=March 19, 2013
|url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317120041/http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2011/122011-2011-ratings-release.jhtml
 |archive-date=March 17, 2013
}}</ref> In 2012, ''South Park'' cut back from producing 14 episodes per year (seven in the spring and seven in the fall) to a single run of 10 episodes in the fall, to allow the duo to explore other projects the rest of the year.<ref name="empire">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/28/business/media/south-park-creators-fortify-their-content-empire.html|title=Fortifying the Empire 'South Park' Built|author=David Carr|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 27, 2013|access-date=July 1, 2014|archive-date=July 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711090625/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/28/business/media/south-park-creators-fortify-their-content-empire.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The show's twenty-third season premiered on September 25, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Nissen|first1=Dano|title=TV News Roundup: Comedy Central Sets 'South Park' Season 23 Premiere Date|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/tv-roundup-south-park-comedy-central-1203272467/|website=Variety|date=July 18, 2019|access-date=July 20, 2019|archive-date=August 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806115635/https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/tv-roundup-south-park-comedy-central-1203272467/|url-status=live}}</ref>

''South Park'' has continued, becoming an enterprise worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The franchise has also expanded to music and video games. Comedy Central released various albums, including ''[[Chef Aid: The South Park Album]]'' and ''Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics'', in the late 1990s.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,273973,00.html|title=Shower Hooks|date=January 8, 1999|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=July 24, 2009|last=Browne|first=David|archive-date=March 5, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305072222/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,273973,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/H/Hayes_Isaac/1998/11/27/745908.html|title="Chef" Hayes cooks crazy stew|work=jam! Showbiz: Music|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|access-date=July 24, 2009|last=Nazareth|first=Errol|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120916043148/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/H/Hayes_Isaac/1998/11/27/745908.html|archive-date=September 16, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1999-12-23/music/various-artists/|title=Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics|date=December 23, 1999|work=Phoenix New Times|access-date=July 24, 2009|last=Moorhead|first=M.V.|archive-date=May 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511175421/http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1999-12-23/music/various-artists/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The song "[[Chocolate Salty Balls]]" (as sung by the character Chef) was released as a single in the UK in 1998 to support the ''Chef Aid: The South Park Album'' and became a number one hit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/stats-one-hit-wonders.php |title=One Hit Wonders |access-date=December 21, 2008 |publisher=[[The Official Charts Company]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060221014845/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/stats-one-hit-wonders.php |archive-date=February 21, 2006 }}</ref> Parker and Stone had little to do with the development of video games based on the series that were released at this time,<ref name="sps40">{{cite web|title=40 Questions |url=http://treyparker.info/archives_spstudios.htm |date=October 4, 2001 |publisher=South Park Studios |access-date=January 30, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129004417/http://treyparker.info/archives_spstudios.htm |archive-date=November 29, 2010 }}</ref><ref name="ps2_premiere">{{Cite video|url=http://treyparker.info/video/playstation_18oct00.zip |title=PlayStation 2 Premiere |publisher=TreyParker.info|date=October 18, 2000 |access-date=September 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060226085646/http://treyparker.info/video/playstation_18oct00.zip |archive-date=February 26, 2006 }} {{YouTube|m6jrRQnqeGU|Video}}.</ref> but took full creative control of ''[[South Park: The Stick of Truth]]'', a 2014 video game based on the series that received positive reviews and for which they shared (with Eric Fenstermaker) the 2014 ''Writing In A Comedy'' and Parker won the ''Performance in a Comedy, Supporting'' award by National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers (NAVGTR).<ref>{{cite web|title=NAVGTR Awards (2014)|url=http://navgtr.org/archives/2445|website=National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers|access-date=January 27, 2017|archive-date=March 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322064850/http://navgtr.org/archives/2445/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/10/31/south-park-the-stick-of-truth-delayed |title='South Park: The Stick of Truth Delayed |work=IGN |date=October 31, 2013 |access-date=December 30, 2013 |archive-date=December 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229151525/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/10/31/south-park-the-stick-of-truth-delayed |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=South Park: The Stick of Truth for PC Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/south-park-the-stick-of-truth/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|website=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=August 6, 2016|archive-date=March 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307124448/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/south-park-the-stick-of-truth|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Broadcast syndication]] rights to ''South Park'' were sold in 2003,<ref name="debmar">{{cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=%2Fwww%2Fstory%2F09-03-2003%2F0002010600&EDATE=|title=Debmar Studios Acquires Broadcast Syndication Rights To Comedy Central's(<span class="ltr">R</span>) 'South Park'|publisher=www.prnewswire.com|access-date=May 27, 2009|archive-date=July 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708203507/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/debmar-studios-acquires-broadcast-syndication-rights-to-comedy-centralsr-south-park-71020497.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="esyndication">{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b47952_oh_my_god_south_park_syndicated.html|title=Oh My God! "South Park" Syndicated|date=July 30, 2004|publisher=www.eonline.com|access-date=May 27, 2009|last=Grossberg|first=Josh|archive-date=May 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511141729/http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b47952_oh_my_god_south_park_syndicated.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and all episodes are available for free full-length [[Video on demand|on-demand]] [[streaming media|legal streaming]] on the official South Park Studios website.<ref name="news-25mar2008">{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/news?id=3405 |title="South Park" Creators Trey Parker And Matt Stone And Comedy Central Launch The All-New Southparkstudios.com |access-date=October 19, 2008 |date=March 25, 2008 |publisher=southparkstudios.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080330155318/http://www.southparkstudios.com/news/?id=3405 |archive-date=March 30, 2008 }} (Link not accessible from outside the U.S..)</ref> In 2007, the duo, with the help of their lawyer, Kevin Morris, cut a 50–50 joint venture with Comedy Central on all revenue not related to television; this includes digital rights to ''South Park'', as well as films, soundtracks, T-shirts and other merchandise, in a deal worth $75 million.<ref name="important"/>

In August 2021, Parker and Stone signed a $900 million deal with ViacomCBS to renew the series for six additional seasons and 14 projects on Paramount+.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Walsh |first=Savannah |date=2021-08-05 |title=Trey Parker and Matt Stone Are Making $900 Million Worth of 'South Park' |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/08/trey-parker-and-matt-stone-are-making-900-million-dollars-worth-of-south-park |access-date=2022-11-01 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US |archive-date=February 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210085603/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/08/trey-parker-and-matt-stone-are-making-900-million-dollars-worth-of-south-park |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Parker |first=Ryan |date=2021-10-27 |title='South Park' Creators Elaborate on Paramount+ Movies Plan, Reveal New Details (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/south-park-trey-parker-matt-stone-series-return-1235036882/ |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=November 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124135215/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/south-park-trey-parker-matt-stone-series-return-1235036882/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Faughnder |first=Ryan |date=2022-08-09 |title=Matt Stone and Trey Parker talk 25 years of 'South Park' and their lost 'deep fake' Trump movie |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2022-08-09/matt-stone-and-trey-parker-talk-25-years-of-south-park-and-their-lost-deep-fake-trump-movie |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101210332/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2022-08-09/matt-stone-and-trey-parker-talk-25-years-of-south-park-and-their-lost-deep-fake-trump-movie |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Television and film projects===

====''That's My Bush!'' (2000–2001)====
In 2000, Parker and Stone began plotting a television sitcom starring the winner of the [[2000 United States presidential election|2000 presidential election]]. The duo were "95 percent sure" that [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] candidate [[Al Gore]] would win, and tentatively titled the show ''Everybody Loves Al''.<ref name="Parker2"/> Parker said the producers did not want to make fun of politics:<ref name="Parker2">
{{Cite video
 | people=Parker, Trey
 | date=October 2006
 | title=That's My Bush! The Definitive Collection: "A Poorly Executed Plan"
 | location=Audio commentary
 | medium=DVD
 | publisher=[[Paramount Home Entertainment]]
}}</ref> the main goal was to parody sitcom tropes, such as a lovable main character, the sassy maid, and the wacky neighbor.<ref name="Stone2">
{{Cite video
 | people=[[Matt Stone|Stone, Matt]]
 | date=October 2006
 | title=That's My Bush! The Definitive Collection: "A Poorly Executed Plan"
 | location=Audio commentary
 | medium=DVD
 | publisher=[[Paramount Home Entertainment]]
}}</ref> They threw a party the night of the election with the writers, with intentions to begin writing the following Monday and shooting the show in January 2001 with the inauguration. With the [[2000 United States presidential election#Results|confusion of whom the President would be]], the show's production was pushed back.<ref name="Parker2"/> The show was filmed at [[Sony Pictures Studios]], and was the first time Parker and Stone shot a show on a production lot.<ref name="Parker3">{{Cite video | people=Parker, Trey| date=October 2006 |title=That's My Bush! The Definitive Collection: "Eenie Meenie Miney Murder" |location=Audio commentary |medium=DVD|publisher=[[Paramount Home Entertainment]]}}</ref>

Although ''[[That's My Bush!]]'', which ran between April and May 2001, received a fair amount of publicity and critical notice, according to Stone and Parker, the cost per episode was too high, "about $1 million an episode."<ref name="herald">{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=20010803&id=yCUfAAAAIBAJ&pg=4871,422240|title=Comedy Central Cancels "That's my Bush"|author=Lynn Elber|publisher=AP Newswire|work=Spartanburg Herald-Journal|date=August 3, 2001|access-date=March 14, 2010|archive-date=May 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531054625/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=20010803&id=yCUfAAAAIBAJ&pg=4871,422240|url-status=live}}</ref> Comedy Central officially cancelled the series in August 2001 as a cost-cutting move; Stone was quoted as saying "A super-expensive show on a small cable network...the economics of it were just not going to work."<ref name="sun">{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZwFHAAAAIBAJ&pg=5498,471464&hl=en|date=August 3, 2001|title=''That's My Bush'' cancelled|publisher=AP Newswire|work=Sun Journal|access-date=March 14, 2010|archive-date=May 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531054259/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZwFHAAAAIBAJ&pg=5498,471464&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> Comedy Central continued the show in reruns, considering it a creative and critical success.<ref name="herald"/> Parker believed the show would not have survived after the [[September 11 attacks]] anyway, and Stone agreed, saying the show would not "play well".<ref name="Parker5">{{Cite video | people=Parker, Trey| date=October 2006 |title=That's My Bush! The Definitive Collection: "The First Lady's Persqueeter" |location=Audio commentary |medium=DVD|publisher=[[Paramount Home Entertainment]]}}</ref><ref name="Stone5">{{Cite video | people=[[Matt Stone|Stone, Matt]]| date=October 2006 |title=That's My Bush! The Definitive Collection: "The First Lady's Persqueeter" |location=Audio commentary |medium=DVD|publisher=[[Paramount Home Entertainment]]}}</ref> During this time, the duo also signed a deal with [[Shockwave.com]] to produce 39 animated online shorts, in which they would retain full artistic control; the result, ''[[Princess (Flash series)|Princess]]'', was rejected after only two episodes.

====''Team America'' (2002–2004)====
In 2002, the duo began working on ''[[Team America: World Police]]'', a satire of big-budget [[action film]]s and their associated [[cliché]]s and [[stereotype]]s, with particular humorous emphasis on the global implications of the [[politics of the United States]].<ref name="mania">{{cite news|url=http://www.mania.com/south-park-creators-prepare-team-america_article_38988.html|title=''South Park'' Creators Prepare ''Team America''|first=Patrick|last=Sauriol|date=June 25, 2003|publisher=Mania.com (source: [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]])|access-date=June 12, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018120158/http://www.mania.com/south-park-creators-prepare-team-america_article_38988.html|archive-date=October 18, 2012}}</ref> The film was inspired by the 1960s British marionette series, ''[[Thunderbirds (TV series)|Thunderbirds]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Probst |first=Christopher |date=2022-09-10 |title=The World on a String Team America: World Police |url=https://ascmag.com/articles/team-america |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=ascmag.com |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006181159/https://ascmag.com/articles/team-america |url-status=live }}</ref>

Starring puppets, ''Team America'' was produced using a crew of about 200 people, which sometimes required four people at a time to manipulate a marionette.<ref name="latimes">{{cite news|url=http://treyparker.info/archives_latimes_18sep04.htm|title=Film Has ''South Park'' Guys At End Of Rope|date=September 18, 2004|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 12, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727233018/http://treyparker.info/archives_latimes_18sep04.htm|archive-date=July 27, 2011}}</ref> Although the filmmakers hired three dozen highly skilled marionette operators, execution of some very simple acts by the marionettes proved to be very difficult, with a simple shot such as a character drinking taking a half-day to complete successfully.<ref name="latimes" /> The deadline for the film's completion took a toll on both filmmakers, as did various difficulties in working with puppets, with Stone, who described the film as "the worst time of [<span class="ltr">my</span>] life", resorting to coffee to work 20-hour days and sleeping pills to go to bed.<ref name="latimes" /><ref name="guardian3">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2004/dec/31/news|title=Stone says ''Team America'' was 'lowest point'|date=December 31, 2004|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=June 12, 2011|archive-date=July 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715094251/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2004/dec/31/news|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="infocus">{{cite news|url=http://treyparker.info/archives_infocus_04oct04.htm|title=Puppetry of the Meanest|date=October 4, 2004|publisher=In Focus|access-date=June 12, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727232859/http://treyparker.info/archives_infocus_04oct04.htm|archive-date=July 27, 2011}}</ref> The film was barely completed in time for its October release date,<ref name="foxiness">{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,134467,00.html|title=''Team America'': Sex, Puppets & Controversy|author=Roger Friedman|date=October 5, 2004|publisher=[[Fox News Channel]]|access-date=June 12, 2011|archive-date=October 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011024930/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,134467,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> but reviews were positive and the film made a modest sum at the box office.<ref name="mojo">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=teamamerica.htm|title=Team America: World Police (2004)|access-date=July 2, 2014|archive-date=November 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108130927/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=teamamerica.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Broadway and film studio===
[[File:TreyParkerHWOFApr2013.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Parker at a ceremony for [[Penn & Teller]] to receive a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] in 2013]]

==== ''The Book of Mormon'' ====
Parker and Stone, alongside writer-composer [[Robert Lopez]], began working on a musical centering on [[Mormonism]] during the production of ''Team America''. Lopez, a fan of ''South Park'' and creator of the puppet musical ''[[Avenue Q]]'', met with the duo after a performance of the musical, where they conceived the idea.<ref name=hr/><ref name="lopezint">{{Citation|last=Jones |first=Kenneth |title=''Playbill''{{'s}} brief encounter with Robert Lopez |newspaper=[[Playbill]] |date=April 4, 2011 |url=http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/149477-PLAYBILLCOMS-BRIEF-ENCOUNTER-With-Robert-Lopez |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511010339/http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/149477-PLAYBILLCOMS-BRIEF-ENCOUNTER-With-Robert-Lopez |archive-date=May 11, 2011 }}</ref> The musical, titled ''The Book of Mormon: The Musical of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints'', was worked on over a period of several years; working around their ''South Park'' schedule, they flew between [[New York City]] and Los Angeles often, first writing songs for the musical in 2006.<ref name=hr/> Developmental workshops began in 2008,<ref name="id">{{Citation |last= Adams |first= Guy |title= Mormons to get 'South Park' treatment |newspaper= [[The Independent]] |date= November 19, 2008 |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/mormons-to-get-south-park-treatment-1024598.html |location= London |access-date= August 22, 2017 |archive-date= November 28, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181128003044/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/mormons-to-get-south-park-treatment-1024598.html |url-status= live }}</ref> and the crew embarked on the first of a half-dozen workshops that would take place during the next four years.<ref name=hr/> Originally, producer Scott Rudin planned to stage ''The Book of Mormon'' [[off-Broadway]] at the [[New York Theatre Workshop]] in summer 2010, but opted to premiere it directly on Broadway, "[<span class="ltr">s</span>]ince the guys [Parker and Stone] work best when the stakes are highest."<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/15/theater/theaterspecial/the-path-of-the-book-of-mormon-to-broadway.html | work=The New York Times | first=Patrick | last=Healy | title=The Path of 'The Book of Mormon' to Broadway | date=May 13, 2011 | access-date=February 20, 2017 | archive-date=December 14, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214142015/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/15/theater/theaterspecial/the-path-of-the-book-of-mormon-to-broadway.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

After a frantic series of rewrites, rehearsals, and previews,<ref name=hr/> ''[[The Book of Mormon (musical)|The Book of Mormon]]'' premiered on Broadway at the [[Eugene O'Neill Theatre]] on March 24, 2011.<ref>{{cite news|first = Peggy Fletcher|last = Stack|author-link = Peggy Fletcher Stack|url = http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/51314880-78/mormon-lds-book-mormons.html.csp|title = 'Book of Mormon' musical called surprisingly sweet|work = [[The Salt Lake Tribune]]|date = February 25, 2011|access-date = July 2, 2014|archive-date = September 14, 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140914161927/http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/51314880-78/mormon-lds-book-mormons.html.csp|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>[http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/THE_BOOK_OF_MORMON_to_Open_at_Eugene_ONeill_324_20010101 "'The Book Of Mormon' to Open at Eugene O'Neill 3/24; Previews 2/24"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009185609/http://broadwayworld.com/article/THE_BOOK_OF_MORMON_to_Open_at_Eugene_ONeill_324_20010101 |date=October 9, 2012 }}, broadwayworld.com, September 13, 2010</ref> ''The Book of Mormon'' received broad critical praise for the plot, score, actors' performances, direction and choreography.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://broadwayworld.com/article/Broadway_Review_Roundup_THE_BOOK_OF_MORMON_20110324|title=Broadway Review Roundup: THE BOOK OF MORMON|date=March 25, 2011|website=BroadwayWorld.com|access-date=March 27, 2011|archive-date=October 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011044103/http://broadwayworld.com/article/Broadway_Review_Roundup_THE_BOOK_OF_MORMON_20110324|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[The Book of Mormon: Original Broadway Cast Recording|cast recording of the original Broadway production]] became the highest-charting Broadway cast album in over four decades.<ref name="billboard1">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/470542/adele-reclaims-no-1-on-billboard-200-book-of-mormon-makes-history|title=Adele Reclaims No. 1 on ''Billboard'' 200, ''Book of Mormon'' Makes History|author=Keith Caulfield|magazine=Billboard|date=June 15, 2011|access-date=June 15, 2011|archive-date=May 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521011231/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/470542/adele-reclaims-no-1-on-billboard-200-book-of-mormon-makes-history|url-status=live}}</ref> The musical received nine [[Tony Awards]], one for [[Tony Award for Best Musical|Best Musical]], and a [[Grammy Award]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album|Best Musical Theater Album]]. The production has since expanded to two national tours, a [[Chicago]] production, [[United Kingdom|UK]] production, and as of 2014 Parker and Stone had confirmed that a film adaption was in pre-production.<ref name="empire"/><ref name="important"/>

==== Future projects ====
[[File:Trey Parker and Matt Stone by Gage Skidmore.jpg|right|thumb|Parker (left) and Stone (right) at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2016]]

With sufficient funds from their work on ''South Park'' and ''The Book of Mormon'', the duo announced plans to create their own production studio, Important Studios, in January 2013. The studio will approve projects ranging from films to television to theatre.<ref name="important">{{Citation|title='South Park' Creators to Start Company, Important Studios|author1=Andrew Ross Sorkin|author2=Amy Cozick|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 13, 2013|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/14/business/media/south-park-creators-to-start-company-important-studios.html|access-date=July 1, 2014|archive-date=August 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825053111/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/14/business/media/south-park-creators-to-start-company-important-studios.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On April 13, 2016, [[Universal Pictures]] announced Trey Parker would voice the villain Balthazar Bratt in ''[[Despicable Me 3]].'' The film, released in June 2017, was Parker's first voice role not scripted by either him or Matt Stone.<ref name="DespicableMe3">{{cite magazine | last = Franich | first = Darren | url = http://www.ew.com/article/2016/04/13/trey-parker-despicable-me-3-villain | title = Trey Parker will voice the villain in Despicable Me 3 | date = April 13, 2016 | magazine = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | access-date = April 14, 2016 | archive-date = January 19, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170119032807/http://ew.com/article/2016/04/13/trey-parker-despicable-me-3-villain/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

In the midst of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Parker, Stone, and [[Peter Serafinowicz]] created a web series, ''[[Sassy Justice]]''. The series uses [[deepfake]] technology to insert unrelated celebrities and politicians into the fictional world of a television reporter.<ref>{{Cite web |language=en-GB |date=October 27, 2020 |title=''South Park'' Creators Launch New Deepfake Satire Series ''Sassy Justice'' |url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/tv/south-park-creators-launch-new-deepfake-satire-series-sassy-justice-2801209 |access-date=November 6, 2020 |work=[[NME (magazine)|NME]] |last=Skinner |first=Tom |archive-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107015522/https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/tv/south-park-creators-launch-new-deepfake-satire-series-sassy-justice-2801209 |url-status=live }}</ref> The first episode was posted to [[YouTube]] on October{{nbsp}}26, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.avclub.com/south-parks-trey-parker-and-matt-stone-deepfake-trump-f-1845511602 |last=Colburn |first=Randall |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=October 28, 2020 |access-date=October 28, 2020 |language=en-US |title=''South Park''{{'}}s Trey Parker and Matt Stone Deepfake Trump for New Web Series, ''Sassy Justice'' |archive-date=October 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031022854/https://news.avclub.com/south-parks-trey-parker-and-matt-stone-deepfake-trump-f-1845511602 |url-status=live }}</ref> The team was originally assembled for a film project that was interrupted due to the pandemic, who made the video based on a series of impressions that Serafinowicz developed of a "sassy" [[Donald Trump]].<ref name="nyt">{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/29/arts/television/sassy-justice-south-park-deepfake.html |title=The ''South Park'' Guys Break Down Their Viral Deepfake Video |last=Itzkoff |first=David |date=October 29, 2020 |access-date=October 30, 2020 |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |archive-date=October 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030005038/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/29/arts/television/sassy-justice-south-park-deepfake.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The creators have a handful of shorter videos alongside a 15-minute first episode that may be turned into an ongoing series, film, or other type of project.<ref name="nyt" />

In August 2021, Parker and Stone signed a $900 million deal with [[Paramount Global]] to make six additional seasons of ''South Park'' and 14 movies in the ''South Park'' universe for streaming.<ref>{{Cite news|title='South Park' Co-Creator Matt Stone on his $900 Million Deal|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2021-08-08/-south-park-co-creator-matt-stone-on-his-900-million-deal|access-date=2021-08-09|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=August 8, 2021|archive-date=April 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401224320/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2021-08-08/-south-park-co-creator-matt-stone-on-his-900-million-deal|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2021, Parker and Stone reached an agreement to purchase [[Casa Bonita]] for $3.1 million. A group named "Save Casa Bonita" filed an objection to Parker and Stone's purchase, pointing out that they had in fact made an offer first.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cassady |first=Carly |last2=Rose |first2=Alex |date=19 October 2021 |title='Save Casa Bonita' objects to sale of restaurant to South Park creators |url=https://kdvr.com/news/local/save-casa-bonita-objects-to-sale-of-casa-bonita-to-south-park-creators/}}</ref> Their objection was later withdrawn, and the sale was completed by November 19.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCormick-Cavanagh |first=Conor |date=2 November 2021 |title=Save Casa Bonita Withdraws Objection to Sale of Restaurant to South Park Creators |url=https://www.westword.com/news/casa-bonita-south-park-sale-bankruptcy-objection-withdrawn-12702259 |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Westword |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Cook |first=Lanie Lee |date=2022-08-15 |title=Casa Bonita owners sue to keep some building plans secret |url=https://kdvr.com/news/local/casa-bonita-owners-sue-to-keep-building-plans-secret/ |access-date=2022-08-16 |work=KDVR Fox 31 News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="cbs">{{cite web|url=https://denver.cbslocal.com/2021/11/04/casa-bonita-sale-trey-parker-matt-stone-south-park/|title=Casa Bonita Sale: Bankruptcy Judge Clears The Way For 'South Park' Creators Trey Parker And Matt Stone To Buy Iconic Restaurant – CBS Denver|date=4 November 2021 }}</ref> They spent $40 million renovating the restaurant and hired Chef Dana Rodriguez to update the menu.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://denver.cbslocal.com/2021/11/17/casa-bonita-dana-rodriguez-chef/|title=Casa Bonita Partners With Dana Rodriguez, Acclaimed Denver Chef & Restaurateur – CBS Denver|date=17 November 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Richtel |first=Matt |last2=Williams |first2=David |date=2023-06-06 |title=The Refries That Bind: A Cavernous Cantina Returns, Cliff Divers and All |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/06/us/casa-bonita-restaurant.html |access-date=2023-06-11 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The restaurant had a [[Soft launch|soft opening]] on May 26, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=https://twitter.com/CasaBonita/status/1662169731430744073 |url=https://twitter.com/CasaBonita/status/1662169731430744073 |access-date=2023-06-11 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref> In early June, Casa Bonita began taking reservations although a formal opening date had not been set.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-07 |title=Casa Bonita reopening: Trey Parker and Matt Stone tell New York Times they spent above $40 million on restoration |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/casa-bonita-reopening-trey-parker-matt-stone-new-york-times-spent-40-million-dollars-restoration-colorado/ |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Parker and Stone amended the employee compensation system at Casa Bonita, removing the need for wait staff to earn tips, instead paying every employee $30 per hour, much higher than the Colorado minimum wage, $13.65.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Varanasi |first=Lakshmi |title=The creators of 'South Park' have eliminated tipping at Denver's famed Casa Bonita. Servers now make $30 an hour — and some are mad. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/south-park-creators-eliminate-tips-casa-bonita-pay-30-hour-2023-6 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>

In January 2022, it was announced Parker will produce an untitled film with Stone through their now-renamed production company Park County and [[Kendrick Lamar]] and [[Dave Free]]'s multi-disciplinary media company [[PGLang]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Brathwaite |first=Lester Fabian |date=2022-01-12 |title=Kendrick Lamar is making a movie with the creators of 'South Park' |url=https://ew.com/movies/kendrick-lamar-south-park-creators-comedy-film/ |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=Entertainment |language=en |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101204604/https://ew.com/movies/kendrick-lamar-south-park-creators-comedy-film/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Rindner |first=Grant |date=2022-01-14 |title=Kendrick Lamar Is Making a Movie With the 'South Park' Creators and It Sounds Wild |url=https://www.gq.com/story/kendrick-lamar-pglang-matt-stone-trey-parker-new-comedy-film |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=GQ |language=en-US |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101204935/https://www.gq.com/story/kendrick-lamar-pglang-matt-stone-trey-parker-new-comedy-film |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2" /> In March 2023, it was reported that Parker will direct the film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Starkey |first=Adam |date=2023-03-24 |title='South Park' co-creator Trey Parker to direct live-action comedy collaboration with Kendrick Lamar |url=https://www.nme.com/news/film/south-park-creator-trey-parker-direct-live-action-comedy-collaboration-kendrick-lamar-3419866 |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Exclusive: Trey Parker to Direct Untitled Paramount Comedy From Producers Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free {{!}} Above the Line |date=March 22, 2023 |url=https://abovetheline.com/2023/03/22/trey-parker-directing-new-movie-kendrick-lamar-dave-free-matt-stone-paramount/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nash |first=Anthony |date=2023-03-28 |title=Trey Parker to Direct Slave Reenactment Comedy from Kendrick Lamar |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1276754-trey-parker-to-direct-kendrick-lamar-slavery-comedy |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More |language=en-US}}</ref> It will be distributed by [[Paramount Pictures]].<ref name=":0" /> The live-action film comedy, written by [[Vernon Chatman]], addresses racial issues.<ref name=":1" /> Production is expected to begin in the spring of 2023.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=2022-01-13 |title=Kendrick Lamar, Dave Free & 'South Park' Duo Matt Stone And Trey Parker To Produce Comedy Penned By Vernon Chatman For Paramount |url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/kendrick-lamar-dave-free-matt-stone-trey-parker-to-produce-paramount-comedy-1234912409/ |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=October 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010211927/https://deadline.com/2022/01/kendrick-lamar-dave-free-matt-stone-trey-parker-to-produce-paramount-comedy-1234912409/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Personal life==
Parker married Emma Sugiyama in 2006. Their marriage was [[Marriage officiant|officiated]] by 1970s sitcom producer [[Norman Lear]].<ref name="marriage">{{cite news| url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391792/index.htm| title=How Trey Parker and Matt Stone made South Park a success| date=October 18, 2006| publisher=[[CNNMoney.com]]| first=Devin| last=Leonard| access-date=August 3, 2020| archive-date=November 7, 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107220939/https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391792/index.htm| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="LatterSaints">{{Cite web |last=Swanson |first=Carl |title=Will "The Book of Mormon" Be the Highest Artistic Achievement Yet for "South Park" Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone? |url=https://nymag.com/arts/theater/features/south-park-2011-3/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310201100/http://nymag.com/arts/theater/features/south-park-2011-3/index1.html |archive-date=March 10, 2011 |access-date=2023-04-22 |website=New York Magazine |date=March 4, 2011 |language=en-us}}</ref> The marriage ended in [[divorce]] in 2008.<ref name=LatterSaints/><ref name="DigitalSpy">{{Cite web |last=Eames |first=Tom |date=2013-03-22 |title='South Park's Trey Parker to be a dad |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a467749/south-parks-trey-parker-to-become-a-dad-for-first-time/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103150416/http://www.digitalspy.com/celebrity/news/a467749/south-parks-trey-parker-to-become-a-dad-for-first-time.html |archive-date=November 3, 2013 |access-date=2023-04-22 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="Vulture">{{Cite web |last=Swanson |first=Carl |title=Trey Parker and Matt Stone Talk About Why The Book of Mormon Isn't Actually Offensive, and the Future of South Park |url=https://www.vulture.com/2011/03/trey_parker_and_matt_stone_tal.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314201528/http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/03/trey_parker_and_matt_stone_tal.html |archive-date=March 14, 2011 |access-date=2023-04-22 |website=Vulture |date=March 11, 2011 |language=en-us}}</ref><ref name="ContactMusic">{{Cite web |date=2013-03-22 |title=South Park Creator Trey Parker To Be A Dad |url=https://www.contactmusic.com/news/south-park-creator-trey-parker-to-be-a-dad_3570082 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609153219/http://www.contactmusic.com/news/south-park-creator-trey-parker-to-be-a-dad_3570082 |archive-date=June 9, 2013 |access-date=2023-04-22 |website=Contactmusic.com}}</ref>

Parker subsequently began a relationship with Boogie Tillmon, whom he later married in 2014. Parker gained a stepson through this relationship.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Parker|first1=Trey|title=Felix Kjellberg (a.k.a. PewDiePie) by Trey Parker|url=http://time.com/4302406/felix-kjellberg-pewdiepie-2016-time-100/|access-date=November 14, 2017|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=April 20, 2016|archive-date=May 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510001639/http://time.com/4302406/felix-kjellberg-pewdiepie-2016-time-100/|url-status=live}}</ref> Their daughter was born in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |last=David |first=Mark |date=2015-06-08 |title='South Park' Co-Creator Trey Parker Dumps Brentwood Parcel |url=https://www.dirt.com/more-dirt/real-estate-listings/south-park-co-creator-trey-parker-dumps-brentwood-parcel-1203523759/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423183043/http://variety.com/2015/dirt/real-estalker/south-park-co-creator-trey-parker-dumps-brentwood-parcel-1201514678/ |archive-date=23 April 2016 |access-date=2023-04-22 |website=DIRT |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Eggertsen |first=Chris |date=2016-07-22 |title='South Park' creator Trey Parker has an amazing Elon Musk anecdote |url=https://uproxx.com/hitfix/south-park-20-20-big-highlights-from-the-awesome-comic-con-panel/ |access-date=2023-04-22 |website=UPROXX |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Purdom|first1=Clayton|title=Trey Parker coaxing his 3-year-old daughter to swear is sort of heartwarming|url=https://news.avclub.com/trey-parker-coaxing-his-3-year-old-daughter-to-swear-is-1798254404|access-date=November 19, 2017|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=November 16, 2016|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040030/https://news.avclub.com/trey-parker-coaxing-his-3-year-old-daughter-to-swear-is-1798254404|url-status=live}}</ref> The couple divorced in 2019, citing irreconcilable differences.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gifford|first1=Storm|title='South Park' co-creator Trey Parker pulls plug on marriage to wife Boogie after 5 years|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-news-trey-parker-divorce-20190305-story.html|work=[[New York Daily News]]|access-date=March 6, 2019|date=March 5, 2019|archive-date=March 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306113048/https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-news-trey-parker-divorce-20190305-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> While they remain divorced, they have since reconciled to co-parent their child.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walters |first=Liz |date=2021-05-21 |title='South Park' Co-Creator, Trey Parker, Settles Divorce |url=https://theblast.com/6490198/south-park-co-creator-trey-parker-settles-divorce/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822171522/https://theblast.com/6490198/south-park-co-creator-trey-parker-settles-divorce/ |archive-date=August 22, 2021 |access-date=2021-08-22 |website=The Blast |language=en-US}}</ref>

Parker resides in [[Los Angeles, California]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Flemming |first=Jack |date=April 16, 2019 |title='South Park' creator Trey Parker drops $6.2 million on modern Brentwood pad |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/hot-property/la-fi-hotprop-trey-parker-brentwood-modern-home-20190416-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627183825/https://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/hot-property/la-fi-hotprop-trey-parker-brentwood-modern-home-20190416-story.html |archive-date=June 27, 2020 |access-date=June 25, 2020 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> He owns properties in [[Steamboat Springs, Colorado]]; [[Kauai|Kauai, Hawaii]]; [[Seattle|Seattle, Washington]]; and [[Midtown Manhattan]] in [[New York City]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Turrentine |first=Jeff |date=October 27, 2016 |title=South Park Co-Creator Trey Parker's Hilltop Retreat in Colorado |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/south-park-trey-parker-colorado-home |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627175210/https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/south-park-trey-parker-colorado-home |archive-date=June 27, 2020 |access-date=June 25, 2020 |website=Architectural Digest}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2013/08/29/breaking-news/man-sentenced-in-break-in-at-kauai-home-of-trey-parker/|title=Man sentenced in break-in at Kauai home of Trey Parker|date=August 30, 2013|access-date=June 25, 2020|archive-date=June 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625144618/https://www.staradvertiser.com/2013/08/29/breaking-news/man-sentenced-in-break-in-at-kauai-home-of-trey-parker/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=David |first=Mark |date=April 23, 2019 |title='South Park's' Trey Parker Adds Homes in New York, Los Angeles |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/south-park-trey-parker-adds-164558985.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626145444/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/south-park-trey-parker-adds-164558985.html |archive-date=June 26, 2020 |access-date=June 25, 2020 |website=Yahoo}}</ref>

In a September 2006 edition of the [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] program ''[[Nightline]]'', Parker expressed his views on religion, stating that he believes in "a [[God]]" and that "there is knowledge that humanity does not yet possess" while cautioning that it would take a long time to explain exactly what he meant by his belief in God. Parker believes all religions are "silly". He stated: "All the religions are super funny to me... The [[Historicity of Jesus|story of Jesus]] makes no sense to me. God sent His only Son. Why could God only have one son and why would He have to die? It's just bad writing, really. And it's really terrible in about the second act." Parker further remarked, <blockquote>Basically... out of all the ridiculous religion stories which are greatly, wonderfully ridiculous—the silliest one I've ever heard is, 'Yeah... there's this big giant universe and it's [[Expansion of the universe|expanding]], it's all gonna [[Big Crunch|collapse]] on itself and we're all just here just 'cause... just <nowiki>'</nowiki>''cause'''. That, to me, is the most ridiculous explanation ever.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Secrets of 'South Park' |first1=Jake |last1=Tapper |first2=Dan |last2=Morris |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/story?id=2479197&page=1 |date=September 22, 2006 |work=[[Nightline]] |publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |access-date=2022-03-14 |archive-date=November 7, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107083324/https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&page=1 |url-status=live }}</ref></blockquote>

A 2001 ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' article described Parker as "[[Apoliticism|not overly political]]" and quoted him as saying he was "a registered [[Libertarianism in the United States|Libertarian]]".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Brownfield|first=Paul|date=April 4, 2001|title=Fitting Square Pegs in an Oval Office|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-apr-04-ca-46452-story.html|url-status=live|access-date=July 30, 2021|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|language=en-US|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730203153/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-apr-04-ca-46452-story.html}}</ref> In 2004, Parker summed up his views with the comment:

<blockquote>What we're sick of—and it's getting even worse—is: you either like [[Michael Moore]] or you wanna fuckin' go overseas and shoot Iraqis. There can't be a middle ground. Basically, if you think Michael Moore's full of shit, then you are a super-[[Christianity|Christian]] [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]] whatever. And we're both just pretty middle-ground guys. We find just as many things to rip on on the [[Left-wing politics|left]] as we do on the right. People on the [[Far-left politics|far left]] and the [[Far-right politics|far right]] are [[Horseshoe theory|the same exact person]] to us.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.movieweb.com/news/trey-parker-and-matt-stone-talk-team-america-world-police|title=Trey Parker and Matt Stone talk Team America: World Police|date=October 4, 2004|access-date=December 30, 2016|archive-date=March 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110308181922/http://www.movieweb.com/news/trey-parker-and-matt-stone-talk-team-america-world-police|url-status=live}}</ref></blockquote>

==Discography==
=== Albums ===
==== Soundtrack albums ====
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of soundtrack albums, with selected chart positions
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width:10em;"| Title
! rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Details
! colspan="4"| Peak chart positions
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! style="width:45px;"| [[Billboard 200|US]]<ref name="US-200">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/280028/south-park/chart?f=305|title=South Park – Chart History: Billboard 200|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=January 14, 2015|archive-date=December 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201132750/https://www.billboard.com/artist/280028/south-park/chart?f=305|url-status=live}}</ref>
! style="width:45px;"| [[Canadian Albums Chart|Can]]<ref name="Canada">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/280028/south-park/chart?f=309|title=South Park – Chart History: Canada|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=January 14, 2015|archive-date=November 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129085320/https://www.billboard.com/artist/280028/south-park/chart?f=309|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Chef Aid: The South Park Album]]''
|
* Release date: November 24, 1998
* Label: [[Columbia Records]]
* Formats: [[Compact disc|CD]], [[Gramophone record|vinyl]], [[Music download|digital download]]
| 16
| 14
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (soundtrack)|South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut]]''
|
* Release date: June 15, 1999
* Label: [[Atlantic Records]]
* Formats: CD, vinyl, digital download
| 28
| 20
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics#Album|Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics]]''
|
* Release date: November 23, 1999
* Label: [[Sony Music Entertainment]]
* Formats: CD, vinyl, digital download
| —
| —
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Team America: World Police#Music|Team America: World Police]]''
|
* Release date: October 19, 2004
* Label: [[Sony Music Entertainment]]
* Formats: CD, vinyl, digital download
| —
| —

|-
| colspan="10" style="font-size:8pt"|『—』denotes releases that did not chart
|}

==== Cast recording ====
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of cast recording albums, with selected chart positions
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width:10em;"| Title
! rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Details
! colspan="1"| Peak chart positions
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! style="width:45px;"| [[Billboard 200|US]]<ref name="billboard">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/470971/the-book-of-mormon-cast-album-scores-impressive-chart-debut|title=''The Book of Mormon'' Cast Album Scores Impressive Chart Debut|first=Keith|last=Caulfield|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=May 26, 2011|access-date=June 8, 2011|archive-date=June 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130623164733/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/470971/the-book-of-mormon-cast-album-scores-impressive-chart-debut|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[The Book of Mormon: Original Broadway Cast Recording]]''
|
* Release date: May 17, 2011
* Label: [[Sh-K-Boom Records|Ghostlight Records]]
* Formats: [[Compact disc|CD]], [[Gramophone record|vinyl]], [[Music download|digital download]]
| 3
|-
| colspan="10" style="font-size:8pt"|『—』denotes releases that did not chart
|}

===Songwriting and other appearances===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" border="1"
|-
! scope="col"|Year
! scope="col" style="width:26em;"|Song
! scope="col"|Artist
! scope="col"|Album
! scope="col"|Contribution
|-
! scope="row"|1998
| "[[Chocolate Salty Balls]]"
| [[Isaac Hayes]]
| ''[[Chef Aid: The South Park Album]]''
| Writer
|-
! scope="row"|1999
| "[[Blame Canada]]"
| [[Mary Kay Bergman]]
| ''[[South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (soundtrack)|South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut]]''
| Co-writer, composer
|-
! scope="row"|2000
| "[[Timmy and the Lords of the Underworld]]"
| Himself and [[Matt Stone]]
| {{N/A|Non-album single}}
| Co-writer, composer
|-
! scope="row"|2017
| "Hug Me"
| [[Pharrell Williams]] and himself
| ''[[Despicable Me 3#Music|Despicable Me 3: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]]''
| Co-writer, composer
|}

==Filmography and accolades==
{{main|List of roles and awards of Trey Parker}}
* ''[[Cannibal! The Musical]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Orgazmo]]'' (1997)
* ''[[BASEketball]]'' (1998)
* ''[[South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Terror Firmer]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Run Ronnie Run!]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Team America: World Police]]'' (2004)
* ''[[The Aristocrats (film)|The Aristocrats]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Despicable Me 3]]'' (2017)<ref name="DespicableMe3"/>
* Untitled [[Kendrick Lamar]] film (TBA)

==See also==
{{portal|Animation|Comedy|Film|Television|United States|Colorado|Biography}}
{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080325105532/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/behind/creator.php Trey Parker and Matt Stone] at the [https://southpark.cc.com/ Official South Park Website]
* {{IMDb name|5295}}
* {{IBDB name|488723}}

{{Trey Parker and Matt Stone}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Trey Parker
|list =
{{Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production}}
{{BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards}}
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Original Score}}
{{DramaDesk MusicalDirection 2001–2025}}
{{DramaDesk Lyrics 2001–2025}}
{{DramaDesk Music 2001–2025}}
{{HelpmannAward MusicalDirection}}
{{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Music}}
{{MTV Movie Award for Best Musical Moment}}
{{TonyAward MusicalDirection 2001–2025}}
{{TonyAward MusicalBook 2001–2025}}
{{TonyAward MusicalScore 2001–2025}}
}}
{{Subject bar |portal1=Biography |portal2=Comedy |portal3=Animation |portal4=Television|portal10=United States |portal6=Film |portal7=Music|portal27=Theatre|portal8=Video games |portal9=Colorado |commons=yes |commons-search=Category:Trey Parker |q=yes |d=yes |d-search=Q44414}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parker, Trey}}
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