The notorious South Park 5th Anniversary Special in 2002 became unforgettable when a green-screened Danny DeVito made his bizarre entrance, turning what was billed as a wild Hollywood party into one of the strangest television events. Fans who paid to watch the Danny DeVito South Park special via pay-per-view were met with a tongue-in-cheek send-up that has since become a curious piece of television history.
A Satirical TV Event in the Early 2000s
Before streaming became mainstream, cable audiences often paid extra for exclusive content on pay-per-view, which not only delivered blockbuster events but also let audiences, especially teenagers, access content that sometimes pushed boundaries. In this environment, creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone launched the South Park 5th Anniversary Special, inviting fans for a $6.95 virtual celebration filled with show highlights, rare celebrity cameos, and the creators’ own irreverent humor.
The marketing suggested a star-studded party, capitalizing on the South Park phenomenon’s milestone. Viewers tuned in expecting a night packed with excitement, but what unfolded quickly subverted expectations, echoing the creators’ penchant for unconventional humor.
An Empty Celebration and Offbeat Humor
The special was framed as a spoof episode of a faux TV show named Wild Parties, where the audience was welcomed as guests to the
hottest, wildest party in all of Hollywood.
— Host. Yet the venue itself was nearly deserted—just Parker and Stone, energetically drinking, dancing, and even inhaling air from balloons, while a seemingly uninspired bartender and TV presenter lingered in the background. The emptiness seemed intentional, highlighting the contrast between the hype and the reality, a running gag throughout the event.
Despite the moments of dry humor among the hosts, genuine celebrity presence was limited. Jay Leno and Hugh Hefner joined only via satellite feed, and American Pie actor Chris Klein made a fleeting in-person appearance at the club before leaving almost immediately. The sparse guest list amplified the intended sense of anticlimax, making each brief interaction and awkward moment stand out.
Danny DeVito’s Hilarious Appearance
The most memorable moment arrived when the show “welcomed” Danny DeVito. Rather than physically showing up, DeVito was digitally superimposed onto the scene through a green screen, appearing as out of place as a cartoon character in live action. This quirky insertion became the highlight of the night, further underlining the spoof-like, surreal nature of the gathering. The appearance was later resurfaced online around DeVito’s 81st birthday, recalling the oddity of his virtual cameo. The event concluded with the host reflecting,
This has certainly been a memorable party,
— Host, followed by a wry final note:
I’ll remember it in my dreams for many nights to come. And wake up screaming.
— Host.
Real Celebrations and the Legacy of the Special
Although the 5th anniversary event was intentionally awkward, Trey Parker and Matt Stone have since participated in more conventional South Park celebrations. Notable among these were the 15th anniversary party in 2011, which drew a real crowd including popular guests like Duran Duran, and the major 25th anniversary concert held in 2022. These events featured the festivities and attendance the original special lampooned.
Looking back, the South Park 5th Anniversary Special serves as a comedic critique of Hollywood‘s tendency for excessive self-congratulation. By intentionally producing a lackluster “party,” Parker and Stone asserted the show’s outsider status—even during a major milestone. Today, the irony is further appreciated, as the once pay-per-view exclusive is now freely available online, offering viewers a chance to witness the creators’ subversive humor and the infamous Danny DeVito cameo without any cost.
This tongue-in-cheek celebration not only highlighted the unpredictable humor of the South Park creators but also set a tone for how the series would mark its milestones, mixing satire with a distinct outsider sensibility. With Danny DeVito’s weird and wonderful involvement, the event left a unique mark in television history, continuing to amuse fans years later.
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