In August 1997 the Comedy Central cable network debuted the animated series South Park. Its irreverent humor quickly became a smash hit, drawing TV audiences in the millions. Not everyone was enamored, though. South Park's frequent depiction of taboo subject matter, general toilet humor, accessibility to children viewers, disregard of decency standards, and portrayal of religion for comic effect have been the main sources for generating controversy and debate over the course of its run. No subject is off limits and people and policies from every political stripe have been skewered.