How does the TV programme South park get away with IT?

Yes, what I was thinking.

Aha sorry! I didn't want to swear incase people got offended or thought I lacked manners, the comment below explains what it means perfectly

The two phrases are not directly interchangeable. Were I to meet you in London, only to find you wearing a Stetson, (just go with it,) I would congratulate you on your choice of headgear. I would call it a breath of fresh air and wish more people would do the same.

And yes, I would be taking the mickey, (that's how we do it over here.)

"taking a mickey" in early 20th century barroom talk , meant to slip someone a knock-out drop like chloral hydrate.

I thought that was slipping a mickey. Btw, one never takes a mickey one takes the mickey.

I think FM mistyped, I've heard slipped him a Mickey as slang for drugging a persons drink.

I'm not sure if Americans have a concise way to say the same thing like 'takes the Mickey'. You would hear someone say that SouthPark did a great send up of Tom Cruise. I need to think about this a little more.

We also have taking the piss, but that can also mean acting unreasonably, unlike ripping the piss which also means making fun of.