South Park mocks FCC chair Brendan Carr in new episode 'Conflict of Interest'

South Park returned to air with a brutal new episode that skewers Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, as he faces intensified criticism over his rebuke of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. The episode, titled Conflict of Interest, marks the fifth installment of the show's current season and arrives as Carr is at the center of renewed debate about how political pressure intersects with media regulation. The creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, acknowledged a delay in releasing the episode and said the lapse was their responsibility.

In the satirical narrative, Kyle worries when he learns his classmates are using a prediction markets app to place bets on whether his mother will bomb a hospital in Gaza. He contacts the app’s strategic advisor, a figure drawn to resemble Donald Trump Jr., and demands that someone call the FCC to address what the episode frames as the body’s handling of offensive material. Carr’s caricature is introduced at the White House, where President Donald Trump is depicted in a surreal plotline involving an attempt to abort a child he is having with Satan. The sequence plays out with a series of traps set for Carr, including a fall down greasy stairs and a dose of toxoplasmosis contracted from cat feces. The hospital scene that follows features a doctor warning that if the parasite enters Carr’s brain, he may lose his freedom of speech, underscoring the show’s recurring theme of censorship and political theater.

The episode also includes a tense exchange with a character modeled on U.S. Senator JD Vance, who tells Carr that actions can be pursued in two ways, echoing a line Carr reportedly used in a real-world push on networks over Kimmel. The script leans into familiar South Park territory: rapid-fire celebrity caricatures, hyperbolic legal and constitutional claims, and a finale that ties media pressure to a broader satire of political power in Washington. Carr’s portrayal in the White House segment is juxtaposed with Trump’s outlandish decisions, heightening the absurdist critique that has become a hallmark of the show’s political satire.

The depiction arrives after Jimmy Kimmel publicly rebuked Carr for threats against late-night competitors and their hosts. Kimmel characterized Carr’s actions as not only a potential First Amendment concern but also not a particularly intelligent or even legitimate tactic against a media figure. The contrast between Kimmel’s direct, scathing response and South Park’s farcical treatment of Carr has amplified the ongoing discussion about the role of regulatory figures in shaping speech and media access.

The episode’s release, originally scheduled for September 17, was delayed at the last minute. Parker and Stone later posted a brief explanation on social media, taking responsibility for the delay and thanking Comedy Central and fans for their understanding. "Apparently when you do everything at the last minute sometimes you don't get it done," the pair wrote, adding that the delay was on them and promising to make it up to viewers in future installments. The creators also credited the network for supporting the show’s vision and urged audiences to tune in next week for the continuation of the season’s satirical arc.

The reception to Conflict of Interest has mirrored the broader public conversations surrounding Carr and his approach to media and free expression. Carr has drawn criticism from liberal commentators who argue that aggressive enforcement actions against networks threaten free speech, as well as from conservatives who defend robust protections for media voices. Kimmel’s public remarks during the dispute further amplified the debate about how far officials should go in pressuring media platforms and how satire should respond when confronted with real-world regulatory power.

Comedy Central ultimately chose to pull a rerun of the episode in the wake of the controversy surrounding its release and the heightened attention to Carr’s actions. The network did not provide a detailed statement beyond noting the decision and expressing an understanding of audience expectations, while critics and fans continued to discuss the episode’s provocative take on the FCC chair and the broader implications for speech and media governance.

South Park’s return underscores a longstanding tradition in which the show uses exaggerated caricatures to probe the boundaries between political authority and popular culture. In Conflict of Interest, the creators push that dynamic to a new extreme, depicting a sequence of melodramatic exchanges and improbable plot twists that are designed to expose what the creators see as the performative aspects of real-world political and regulatory battles. The episode’s blend of surreal humor with sharp commentary is consistent with the series’ history of targeting powerful figures on both sides of the ideological spectrum, while inviting audiences to reflect on the fragility of speech and the fragility of institutions tasked with protecting it.

As the season progresses, observers will likely watch how South Park’s inflamed portrayal of Carr and related figures influences public perception of the issue and whether the episode’s provocative approach will spur further discussion about the appropriate boundaries of satire, the responsibilities of regulatory bodies, and the enduring role of late-night television in national conversations about free expression.