Former South Park writer Bill Hader revealed the origins of the famous Fishsticks storyline while inducting the show’s creators into the Television Academy Hall of Fame last Thursday (August 13) in Los Angeles.
As well as being a TV star with shows such as Saturday Night Live and Barry, Hader was a writer on the anarchic animated show from 2008-17.
He made a special introduction for the pair at the induction ceremony, where he recalled the genesis of the famous Fishsticks storyline from season 13. In the episode, Cartman creates a juvenile joke playing on how the word “fish sticks” sounds the same as “fish dicks”. The gag draws the ire of Kanye West, leading to a typically chaotic outcome. During his speech, the comedian explained how the titular joke came to be.
Hader recalled being on a writer’s retreat in Seattle, exploring ideas for episodes. He explained that Parker and Stone were keen to watch salmon swim upstream at the city’s famous Ballard Locks. Confused by the request, the comedian recalls watching the origins of the famous storyline while watching the salmon.
“They’re in front of me, I’m behind them, and they’re kind of contemplate just quietly watching the salmon go through the locks. And then Matt said to Trey, ‘Man, imagine if one of these fish just was on a motorcycle and just Evil Knieveled all the other fish.’ And then And Trey said, ‘Yeah, and he has a big fish dick.’ Silence. And Matt said, ‘Did you say fish stick or fish dick?’ Trey went, ‘Fish dick.’”
“Matt went, ‘Dude, are you saying fish stick like those sticks of fish you bake and eat? Are you saying fish dick like a fish’s penis?’ And Trey went, ‘A fish’s penis, dude.’ Later on the ride home, they were both deep in thought. And Trey kind of asked the group, he said, ‘Has anybody ever made that joke before? The fish dick joke.’ And he Googled it and he was like, ‘Guys, no one’s ever made that joke before.’ And so they all got really excited.”
“And Trey said, ‘OK, what if Cartman comes up with a joke and he says, ‘Do you like fish dicks? Do you like to put them in your mouth? Then I guess you’re a gay fish.’ And the joke becomes massive. Everyone in the world loves it. Leno’s doing it. Letterman’s doing it. And Matt goes, ‘Yeah, and what if It’d be great if someone without a sense of humour takes the joke seriously. So, who’s someone without a sense of humour? And in unison we all said, ‘Kanye West.’”
“So, they went, ‘Great. So, Kanye hears the joke. He gets really upset, and he has a press conference where he’s like, ‘I am not a gay fish.’ And then the episode is him accepting that indeed he is a gay fish. And he jumps into the ocean. He sings a ballad. And then he he has sex with a fish. So, they came up with the whole thing in the car.”
Reflecting on his time working with the duo, Hader concluded: “They write like their entire reputation hangs on every joke, every plot turn, and they care deeply that the emotion of the episode tracks, not just the jokes. They want you to feel how badly Kanye West wanted to fuck that fish.”
Kanye West has shown hostility toward the episode over the years, referencing it in several songs including 2010’s ‘Gorgeous’, ‘Watch The Throne’ track ‘Made In America’, and a leaked demo for the 2021 song ‘Life Of The Party’. The artist has also demonstrated that he doesn’t understand the joke in various interviews.
South Park has made headlines in the past year for its jokes aimed at President Donald Trump. In May, Trey Parker has explained that the hostile responses from The White House have prompted them to keep going.
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