South Park Season 12 XII Episode 7 ‘Super Fun Thyme’

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is that time of year again, when the creators of South Park find it necessary to tease their audience, like the selfish harlots they truly are. They get us salivating and guffawing with their 7 stellar episodes, then they take their mid-season hiatus to go do whatever it is that famous television creators do (drugs). So alas, while I will take this opportunity to comment a little on last weeks episode, I am sullen, for tonight I will have no South Park to accompany my glass of whiskey.

Last Wednesday’s episode was the seventh in what I have already referred to as a stellar season. While it is virtually impossible for me to rank the individual seasons or episodes, season 12 has so far shown a high level of insight into the mind of a child as well as a high level of social relevance: two key components of SP over the years. Additionally the episodes of season 12 have taken some of the characters to a new place, a place we have never seen but from which there is no retreat.

In “Major Boobage” we saw a softer side to Cartman. Not the usual feigned compassion to reach his own ends. Cartman exhibited real, genuine concern for the kitties of South Park. Some may say it was selfish, just so he could keep his kitty. But then why would he take in all of his neighbors’ kitties too? It figures that Cartman’s glimmer of compassion was shown toward cute fuzzy animals, rather than humans, but we still got to see a softer side to Eric Cartman.

Another interesting character development in the same episode was that portrayed by Gerald Broflovski. Gerald has always been the smart one, the responsible one, the level-headed parent. And while he has had his lower moments-like jerking off in a hot tub with Randy Marsh- Gerald is still one of the most respectable characters in South Park. It is unfortunate that he had to suffer such a traumatic episode when he was reintroduced to his old-tyme fix of cheesing his fucking brains out on cat piss. His plummet to rock-bottom and ascent back on top makes Gerald a more flawed, more real character-and one to admire.

The final character development I would like to talk about happened in last week’s episode: Super Fun Time. Pretty much all the kids in South Park fell into their usual personalities as their Pioneer Village field trip turned into a hellish nightmare. As usual, Cartman had the perfect plan to undermine the authority figures: ditch the trip and spend the day at Super Phun Thyme: the phunnest place in South Park (aside from Casa Bonita.)

Little did Cartman know that he would have to deal with the antics of the Stotch boy. Butters showed a new level of dogged determination, and endearing friendship in his refusal to release Cartman’s hand. We are used to Butters always following the rules, but we’re also used to him breaking them, getting grounded, and learning from his mistakes. It makes sense that this is one rule he would not break. He was commanded by his teacher to never release his partner’s hand, and that is just what he did. Butters’ refusal to let go proved to save the boys’ lives after they fell from a street light and hung only from their entwined hands. Butters displayed compassion, friendship and strength, an odd combination for the Stotch boy.

Another notable occurrence in the episode was the non-death of Kenny. They almost killed him, and easily could have, but thanks to Stan’s quick thinking, Kenny’s death has been postponed.

Also hysterically funny was the resolve of the residents/employees of Pioneer Village. They never broke character. Even as the smithie faced a loaded gun, he still would no acknowledge the modern world. His final words were of brave resoluteness, and Smithie died both nobly and needlessly- a unique achievement.

I hope you all enjoy your South Park-less Wednesdays for the time being. Maybe I’ll take up a hobby, ship in a bottle?

South Park Season 12 XII Episode 6 ‘Over Logging’

South Park seems to be on a roll when it comes to ripping off other movies. Pretty much every show you can think of has done this, especially shows that have been around for a dozen seasons. However SP manages to work multiple film references into one show. Many shows do this as well. Take the painfully mediocre show that will go unnamed, whose initials are FG. The difference with South Park is the show has multiple references worked into its plot, not just mentioned randomly. Mine is a recounting of the long established “random jokes” argument that SP fans have used against FG fans for millennia. It is more than a cartoon controversy, more than joke-telling schism. This division is as universal as Paul’s “silly love songs” versus John’s protest hymns. I am and always have been a Lennon man. Sorry Paul, I’ve seen you live, and loved every minute of it. But Give Peace a Chance, come on, do it for me.

The movie references in this week’s South Park were plentiful and thoroughly woven into the show’s plot, themes and message. The first obvious allusion was to a disaster movie of some kind. It wasn’t immediately clear to my buddies and me weather the show was referring to 28 Days Later or I Am Legend. Who knows? Who cares? The point is, the show took the world ending plot, worked it in, didn’t dwell on it, but still had something to say about it. The next apparent movie reference was more in-depth, more detailed and very entertaining. The cartoon turns to a rich sepia tone as the characters announce their plan to go “Californy Way.” The Grapes of Wrath was a classic film released in 1940 starring Henry Fonda as the patriarch of a clan of Okies headed west in search of jobs and fertile land. The story, based on an acclaimed John Steinbeck novel, hearkened back to the hard times of the great depression and focused on the downtrodden determination and fortitude of the hard-working farmer.

As Randy Marsh and the residents of South Park lament- “My internet done up and went away”-they are speaking to a larger meaning about the vulnerability of our society in our dependence on digital. Adding another irreverent and classic SP slant was the porn story line championed by Randy Marsh. When encouraged to realize his stick figure fantasies he “searched” for some for a varied, well-rounded assortment of dirty dirty porn. Japanese girls exchanging fluids, namely vomit; Interracial gangbang; shemales; bestiality; and finally Brazilian fart fetish porn. As if these “search” terms aren’t vivid enough for the average viewer to imagine, the show takes it one step further, in classic SP fashion. . .

Randy Marsh sneaks up on the trailer at the transient cap in Californy. Sitting on the desk inside is what he seeks, a computer. He slips through the window and in the precious few minutes he has manages to search for almost every one of his fetishes. The best part is the participatory nature of the experience. The audience gets to listen in on puke noises with Japanese voices in the background; a woman seeming to have a wonderful time with a loud elephant; and what can only be described as the sounds of Brazilian fart porn. The big payoff of the whole experience is when the residents of the transient camp burst into the trailer only to realize that there was no tiger attack. Good ‘ole Randy Marsh tries to pass it off as ectoplasm, but clearly covering him and the environs was nothing other than his own excessive spooging. . .

There was one more film reference that was admittedly brief and random, almost falling into the manatee ideal ball FG category. Like the melodic interlude of a Beatles song, the occasional random allusion is necessary, it lightens up the humor, gives you instant gratification before the final comedic payoff. The government’s efforts were futile in fixing the internet, they tried every means of communicating with it. In this case “the internet” was an enormous wireless router. The communication method was a guy at a piano tapping out a distinct melody. This scene was a clear reference to Close Encounters of The Third Kind- a 1977 Spielberg film about talking to aliens using lights and sound. Richard Dreyfus, flying saucers, mashed potato mountains, should I go on? See it. Wundarbar.

There is admittedly a reference in the show that I did not pick up on. At the end, in the requisite cathartic conclusion, Randy was dressed in a Native American outfit and had a particular manner to him. I didn’t get it and would appreciate any feedback as to its meaning.

The finale of the show was the realization of Kyle’s genius yet predictable plan to unplug and re-plug “the internet.” It worked, everybody happy. Bottom line: Appreciate the internet but don’t rely on it too heavily, there is a whole big analog world out there. Only use the internet for porn twice a day.

Crystal Ball #1- Bangkok Dangerous

As the world premier entry in my crystal ball posting category I am happy to honor what I expect to be one of the most stunningly bad films of the summer, even decade. The original Bangkok Dangerous was probably a good flick. Telling the story of a deaf assassin who hears not his gunshots nor his victims’ pleas for mercy. Compelling, thrilling, sexy. About the only thing that can mess up this cool-man role is the one and only Nick “lets find some rockets” Cage. While one must laud his performances in such great films as Face Off and The Rock, Cage is more often a disappointer than an impresser. Owing much of his fame to his relation to the Coppola clan (he is the nephew of the great Francis Ford) Nick Cage is notoriously one-dimensional as an actor. His idea of nuance is pausing before each statement, squinting a little, and delivering the line like he’s hitting on a cocktail waitress. “You want to get out of here, come back to my place, find some rockets and have a peach, I can eat a peach for hours.” That line is a compilation of the most memorable lines of Cage’s career-both of them. I get the feeling that Cage is some big dork masquerading as a cool actor. He puts so much effort into sounding cool that he has no strength left to act. His roll in Bangkok Dangerous (BD) will surely add another deep notch to his commemorative belt of action characters with a sentimental side. In the case of BD his sentimentality is clearly evinced by his long hair with receding hairline. The only “danger” in this film is that Cage’s wig will fall off and he’ll be left naked and talent-less, and the Pang brothers will be asking “why the hell did we remake Bangkok Dangerous, and why the hell did we cast some washed up never-has-been instead of Jet Li, or Brad Pitt.”

South Park Season 12 XII Episode 5 ‘Eek, A Penis!’

This season’s fifth episode was excellent. So far season 12 is shaping up to be very satisfying, if not outstanding. One of my favorite things about SP is the realism in the show’s depiction of childhood. For instance, in “Fun With Weapons” the errant boy’s reminded me of myself and my friends as kids, constantly figuring out creative ways to injure each other and set our action figures on fire.

I was very entertained by Cartman’s hand-raising tantrum last Wednesday. He acted as if his arm was going to pop out of its skin. The best part is, everyone either knows THAT kid or knows what it feels like to want to be called on so bad you almost mess your pants. I must confess I was, on occasion, THAT kid. Talking is about the only thing I like more than writing so I can relate to Cartman’s anxiety. However once selected to lead the class, Cartman’s anxiety turns to downright vindictiveness: yelling all the time and smackin’ kids with the pointer.

Cartman’s character arc takes an unexpected, alopecic turn when he is asked to teach troubled keedz in an underachieving high school a la Dangerous Minds and the Substitute and Lean On Me and Sister Act II. Little did I expect that the SP writers would spoof Stand and Deliver, 1988’s original ‘teacher uplifts troubled keedz’ flick. Starring Edward James Olmos as academic maverick Jaime Escalante, Stand and Deliver is about a Bolivian math teacher who manages to turn an east LA school’s decrepit math department into a paragon of Advanced Placement success. Adding another dimension to the spoof was the fact that Escalante was actually accused of cheating-or rather his students’ scores as “suspect.” His students retook the test and verified their original scores.

Cartman’s transformation into Eric Cartmenez was as unforeseen and blatantly racist as it was hilarious. Some may ask: “Since when is racism hilarious?” Racism was probably one of the most ancient and human forms of humor AND bigotry. I personally am not offended by the Jew jokes liberally slathered on by Cartman, so I don’t feel bad laughing when the show makes fun of other races. That being said, I thought Season Ten’s portrayal of Caesar Milan, the Dog Wheesperer, was rivaled in racism and hilarity by Eric Cartmenez’s accent, demeanor, and sense of fashion. “How do I reach these keedz?” Check out the pictures below. The first is a mural of Olmos(left) and the real Jaime Escalante(right), notice how Olmos is wearing the same shirt as Mr. Cartmenez.

Also noteworthy was the reemergence of Mr. Garrison. Not only is South Park on the forefront of social commentary, it is also on the forefront of biotechnology. I dream of a world where one day replacement penises can be grown on the back of a mouse. Incidentally I was in fourth grade when they grew that ear on the back of a mouse. That was over 10 years ago. Very soon we will be able to grow organs on their own. Recently a mouse heart was “printed” using an inkjet-like device that sprayed stem cells instead of ink. Similar to rapid prototyping, this kind of procedure would allow somebody to “print” themselves a living working penis, ear or anything else they could imagine. If this existed, SP could alternate between Mr. and Mrs. Garrison on a weekly basis.

South Park Season 12 XII Episode 4 ‘Canada On Strike’

Episode 4 of this season resurrected Canada as a recurring character in the show. While I would have thought it was impossible to come up with a new way of lambasting our northern neighbors, last Wednesday I was proven wrong. The episode started out making fun of Canada in the same old fashion as always: calling them “lame” and making fun of their accents. This is too easy yet eternally effective. I got a kick out of the image of Ike standing before the assembled South Park Elementary, proudly announcing his Canadianness to the world. Ike always cracks me up, especially his stone-faced stoicism in response to Cartman’s hateful Canada-bashing. For some reason, with his big head and broken English, Ike always elicits sympathy from me. (I still can’t get over Ike all decked out in a suit and briefcase in the episode when he runs away to avoid getting his weewee snipped.)

Episode 4 was a little light on the hysterics, with relatively few knee-slappers. However what it lacked in slapstick it made up for in substance. Usually I am critical of South Park’s lack of subtlety when it comes to conveying a message. The show has evolved so that pretty much every episode has a moral of some kind; set up with clever metaphors and wonderful double entendre. A lot of thought and creativity goes into establishing the show’s meaning. Unfortunately this subtlety is always destroyed by some last minute, beat-the-audience-over-the-head approach where Kyle or Stan explains the entire meaning of the episode in plain words. I understand this kind of explanation is sometimes necessary, especially given the younger demographic of the shows audience. Take episode 3 of this season. At the very end of the whole cheesing fiasco, Kyle explicitly points out the compassion Cartman showed his kitties, drawing the comparison to the holocaust that was already made very clear.

In “Canada on Strike” the message was so subtle that I have to admit it did not dawn on me until a few days later, when I spoke to my buddy Abie about it (check out his sports blog on my links). While watching I couldn’t figure out why the World Canada Organization kept referring to itself as the WGA. I thought maybe it was something silly about Canada that I wasn’t aware of. Consequentially I failed to see the significance of the demand for more “internet money.” It is now painfully obvious to me that the episode was a comment on the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike that went on for a number of months, bringing the television industry to a temporary standstill. As television writers themselves, I was proud of the show’s writers who were willing to poke fun of themselves, thereby staying true to the unofficial South Park mission of making fun of EVERYBODY.

Lastly I would like to give a shout-out to Butter’s YouTube hit: “What What in the Butt.” SP did a perfect interpretation of a viral video sensation. I also appreciated the guest appearances of past YouTube micro-celebs such as “Leave Britney Alone” girl and the Dramatic Gopher, whose captivating one-eyed ogle was a perfect, if not expected, conclusion to the YouTube stars’ bloody shootout.

Overall, what this episode lacked in all-out funniness it made up for in deftly crafted subtlety. Good looks to the SP crew for stepping up their story writing. I would love to see more messages conveyed in this way, without belaboring the point to death. Looking forward to tonight’s episode. Happy Wednesday.