Potty humor and civil liberties: they are two of the hallmark subjects of South Park, so it only makes sense that its 16th season kicks off with those two topics in the forefront. And if “Reverse Cowgirl” wasn’t the most laugh-out-loud funny the show’s done in the recent past, it was certainly had sharp points to make about government encroachment in the lives of Americans. You need not have been personally inspected by a TSA agent at an airport or the subject of a frivolous lawsuit to enjoy the way “Reverse Cowgirl” satirized both the government and those willing to cede personal freedoms under the guises of “safety” and “never having anything be your own damn fault.”
South Park has built much of its reputation on tackling current events and social etiquette, but in the Season 16 premiere, "Reverse Cowgirl," Trey Parker and Matt Stone delivered a double whammy with the TSA -- a subject that was long overdue for a lampooning -- and putting the toilet seat down. And while picking on the Transportation Security Association might feel a bit dated, there was still some unsung comedy to be had. Beginning the episode with the death of Clyde's mom was indeed a wild way to start things out. I always forget just how utterly heinous the show is until a new season kicks off, but after that flush of doom, I was fully back in South Park mode. And the cutaway to the funeral casket was the topper on the bit.