Joe's TV List Shows No Mercy

#43: South Park
(Comedy Central, 1997-present)

OK, say you're easily offended. Then say you're a Christian. Or a Jew. Or a Muslim. Or a Mormon. Or a Scientologist. Or say you're a woman. Or a man. Or perhaps you're black. Or white. Or Asian. Maybe you're gay. Or straight. Or liberal. Or conservative. Or just minding your own business and flipping channels. Well, flip right by South Park, which is merrily celebrating its 11th year of pissing you off for no good reason except that you take yourself too seriously. Trey Parker and Matt Stone continue to write, direct, and edit every episode -- occasionally with three- or four-day turnaround times, allowing them to respond quickly to any real-world headline -- and they don't particularly care who gets caught in the satirical crossfire. Which makes this perhaps the most intellectually honest, least agenda-driven show on TV, and certainly the only series ever to (a) use the s-word 162 times in one half-hour, (b) use the n-word 42 times in another episode, (c) feature a talking stool sample, and (d) win a Peabody Award. That's right, a Peabody. Of course, the South Park movie lost a Best Song Oscar to Phil Collins, so take all awards with a grain of salt.