Since South Park made its debut on August 13, 1997, it's become one of the most renowned television series of all time. The show follows four boys who live in the fictional town of South Park, Colorado. But, before fans knew about Cartman or Chef, the show's creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone met in film class at the University of Colorado. Afterward, they created an animated short The Spirit of Christmas, which opened the door. With the show being on air for long, there's plenty to learn from the cast. But, it's not really for the kids to watch.

The Show Pioneered "Mature" Television

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South Park entered the small screen circuit during the summer of 1997. The show came just in time to reap the benefits of the Federal Communications Commission's latest venture: TV Parental Guidelines.

The rating system went into effect in January of that same year, distinguishing "child-friendly" programming from "adult content." Following the show's premiere on Comedy Central, it became the first weekly series to earn the Mature Audiences label.