• South Park's 27th season premieres with a pointed episode attacking Donald Trump.
• The creators secured a $1.5 billion deal with Paramount for streaming rights.
• White House responds critically, labeling the show a "fourth-rate" program.
• The episode satirizes Paramount's dealings related to Trump's lawsuit against CBS.
• Trump is depicted in controversial scenes, sparking significant media attention.

The iconic animated series South Park premiered its 27th season on Wednesday with a scathing episode dedicated to criticizing former President Donald Trump, shortly after its creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, secured a hefty $1.5 billion streaming deal with Paramount. The episode, titled "Sermon on the 'Mount," features Trump in contentious scenarios, including lying in bed with Satan and discussing his penis size. The show's satirical narrative also touches upon Paramount's recent $16 million settlement regarding a lawsuit against CBS's 60 Minutes, which Trump accused of deceptive editing, according to BBC, Newsweek, and SFGate.

In the premiere, the show takes direct jabs at both Trump and CBS, effectively commenting on the broader political landscape while showcasing their own precarious position as a show within the Paramount umbrella. As the episode unfolds, it delineates how the company navigated lawsuits and critical financial decisions, alluding to ongoing industry shifts coinciding with the proposed Paramount-Skydance merger still pending regulatory approval, as highlighted by Business Insider and India Times.

The White House's response came swiftly, with spokesperson Taylor Rogers issuing a formal critique describing the series as a "fourth-rate show" that cannot affect Trump’s perceived successes. Rogers remarked, "The Left's hypocrisy truly has no end," while asserting the show's ongoing relevance was questionable after over two decades on air. The spokesperson’s comments underline the increasing tensions between pop culture and politics in the current media landscape, according to Newsweek and India Times.

The premiere episode further explores themes surrounding political power dynamics, poking fun at both Trump and his relationship with media companies, particularly CBS. With critiques of Trump's leadership style and the network's decision-making processes intertwined throughout the episode, "South Park" reaffirms its place as a boundary-pushing entertainment fixture, merging humor with provocative political commentary, according to Business Insider and SFGate.