South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have teamed up with actor Peter Serafinowicz for a deepfake news show titled Sassy Justice. South Park is viewed by many as the pinnacle of satirical humor. Though the animated series has been on since 1997, it shows no signs of slowing down and has already been renewed through 2022. Recently, South Park aired a "Pandemic Special," which examined the many issues of 2020, including the coronavirus, schools reopening, and the U.S. presidential election. The episode proved the show remains relevant despite its age. This is due in no small part to Parker and Stone.
Though the duo is arguably best known for South Park, the two have found success in other forms of media as well. They notably partnered with Frozen's Robert Lopez to craft the music, lyrics, and book for the award-winning musical The Book of Mormon. Parker and Stone are also known for their voice acting, which extends beyond South Park. Meanwhile, Serafinowicz has starred in movies like Guardians of the Galaxy, Shaun of the Dead, and Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. However, he's also been featured in many political satire videos where he voices Donald Trump using different accents.
Now, Parker, Stone, and Serafinowicz have joined forces for Sassy Justice. Earlier this week, a video was uploaded to the show's YouTube channel revealing a deepfake version of Trump as Fred Sassy, a reporter in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Throughout the show, Sassy "interviews" Al Gore, Michael Caine, and others, making for a surreal experience. Check out the video below:
Deepfakes are hardly new to Internet culture. Though the ethics of them could be debated, deepfake videos that gain attention are usually created for entertainment purposes, such as adding a different actor to a well-known movie. The technology behind videos like this one is impressive, resulting in a hyper realistic final product. However, that's also what makes it dangerous, even if it is being used for comedy in this particular video.
All told, Sassy Justice offers an interesting and humorous take on the concept of deepfake videos. The show will likely be seen by some as controversial, especially since Parker and Stone are involved. The release of Sassy Justice is also uniquely timed just before the election, though it's hard to say if its debut will have any impact on the outcome. At the very least, the show provides a distraction from the current news cycle.
Source: Sassy Justice