Considering 'South Park's amazing length and cultural relevance, fans have endured long periods of speculation over when its increasingly prolific creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker would hang up their parkas, and finally close the doors on the long-running series. As the series heads into a 17th season, and Parker and Stone prepare the launch of their own studio, might 'South Park's days be coming to an end? Learn when season 17 premieres and for how many episodes inside!

'South Park' creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker likely enjoy more creative freedom than most in Hollywood, but is their most famous series coming to a long-rumored close? An interview with the New York Times reveals that the series' upcoming 17th season will air a reduced number of episodes, airing 10 episodes over a single run as opposed to the usual 14, broken up in two 7-episode runs. The show's 17th season will premiere the first of its ten episodes on Wednesday, September 25.

“Why did we do seven and seven to begin with?” Stone asked. “We just sort of made that up. And we are switching to 10 for the same reason. It just sounded like a good number, and we won’t break up the year so we can more easily do other stuff.”

'South Park' remains contracted through a 20th season in 2016, but with the recent announcement of the creators' development of Important Studios, it isn't hard to imagine that attentions could be drawn elsewhere over time.

Well, what say you? Are you disappointed to learn 'South Park' season 17 will air fewer episodes? Do you think Matt Stone and Trey Parker will continue on with the series through season 20?

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