Bill Hader remembers origins of ‘South Park’ ‘Fishsticks’ episode that angered Kanye West

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 th...