(S11E08) I love this show. The genius of it is that it deals with topics intelligently through its seemingly superficial display of toilet humor. The writers go out of their way to show both sides of an issue. It would be very simple (and probably not as ground-breaking) to go into the Hollywood formula of the liberal view, but Trey Parker and Matt Stone hate that Hollywood culture and it shows in every episode.
Where to begin?
Let's start with the uncensored profanity that littered the program (I hadn't heard such flagrant abuse of the "s"-word since the "Standards and Practices" episode of the show a few years back). Since this episode dealt with Tourette's Syndrome and Cartman's abuse of the fact, the profanity flowed as freely as if the program itself had Tourette's. This is the stuff of brilliance.
I loved how Cartman, upon realizing that he could say whatever he wanted by faking Tourette's, sang "I have a Golden Ticket" from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as if he found the way to make himself truly happy. South Park has always been prodigious in its invention of new profanities, but Trey and Matt really outdid themselves with terms such as "titty sprinkles" and "Mexican stinky balls".
I've already seen the Tourette's Syndrome equals profanity gag in other sources, such as the movie Deuce Bigelow: Male Gigolo (performed by one of my favorite improvisational actresses, Amy Poehler). I trusted South Park to deal with the topic with more intelligence and I wasn't disappointed. My first thought on seeing the topic was "Tourette's doesn't necessarily mean you shout curse words", but this is explained later in the episode when the audience is introduced to other children with Tourette's.
What else? I loved the ironic justice of Cartman losing all his inhibitions and suddenly spouting every secret he ever had shows what it must be like for sufferers of the disease. It also gives some depth to Cartman's character, which has, with a few exceptions, tended to be one-note evil. To a degree, he was actually a target of sympathy in this episode.
I hope I wasn't the only one laughing my ass off when the parade of pedophiles, upon realizing that they were appearing on Dateline, shot themselves (do all child molesters carry pistols on them?). Even funnier was host Chris Hansen's response: "Not again."
As mentioned, this is the stuff of brilliance. I eagerly await next week's episode.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-04-2007 @ 12:45AM
Matt said...
As someone who's been watching South Park from the beginning, I have no qualms with saying that tonight's episode is now my favorite episode in the series (replacing Critter Christmas, just barely). I was already in tears within five minutes of the episode starting. Matt and Trey are so brilliant, it hurts, and it's so refreshing to know that South Park isn't going anywhere for a good while.
And, yes, I too laughed my ass off when the pedophile parade started offing themselves. Out of every show I've seen, only South Park and Metalocalypse have made me bust out laughing at the sight of suicide, an act that is typically (and obviously) not a laughing matter. They do it with such...flair, though...I can't help but laugh.
I already can't wait to see how they'll top themselves next week.
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10-04-2007 @ 12:47AM
Stigmata said...
HOW dare they make fun of ppl with this affliction, such pompous AS**OLES!
this is why everyone hates america.
Why cant they just stick to insulting blacks and jews, at least they deserve it! ;)
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10-04-2007 @ 1:11AM
SJ said...
"Piss in the ass!!"
Oh wow what a great episode.
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10-04-2007 @ 1:37AM
josephlovesit said...
Excellent analysis. It's cool to read South Park criticism that understands the show beyond all the hyperbole that surrounds it. I haven't laughed that hard at plain ol' curse words in a long long time. Something about the delivery just nailed it (specifically for the head of the tourrettes foundation.. the way he tried to cover his up like a sneeze was great). "do all child molesters carry pistols on them?" I wondered this too, after that first guy pulled the trigger.
"Piss out my ass!"
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10-04-2007 @ 1:08PM
Frank said...
really? I thought this was one of the weaker season premieres in years.
Kind of an easy concept, and the fact that Cartman suffered an appriopriate justice for it didn't really much more interesting.
meh.
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10-04-2007 @ 2:48AM
Diego M said...
That shit was hilarious, i laughed throughout and it was awesome that they went thrhough to illustrate more about tourette than just curse words. What the hell was up with clyde haha?
anyways, the twist ending was great, how the hell did the pedophiles didn't see the tv station, other than that the episode was damn flawless.
"I touch wieners with my cousin" classic
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10-04-2007 @ 2:56AM
Esoterikal said...
I have to say the line that made me laugh the most was "There aren't really brownies!", not to mention clyde's obsession with saying things to people making him "sooo happy"
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10-04-2007 @ 3:54AM
Kurifurisan said...
I laughed so hard. It's going to be damn impossible to beat the hilarity of this episode.
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10-04-2007 @ 4:11AM
Greg said...
During the "Hits the Fan" episode, didn't they determine that they could never say "shit" again in the show, as it was deemed a literal curse word? I remember them saying in an interview how now that word wasn't allowed in the South Park universe anymore. Or did I totally just make that up?
Also, the delivery of the "Donkey Boner!!!" line in his letter to Chris Hansen was absolutely perfect.
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10-04-2007 @ 5:39AM
Media Glutton said...
Loved the episode, but my question is: how will this one ever be shown in syndication?
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10-04-2007 @ 8:07AM
Jeff said...
"I'm Chhhhrriiiieeaaeeeeaaeessshhh Hhhaaaaeeennsssseeeaaaeeenn...." :D
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10-04-2007 @ 8:18AM
Raz said...
I *loved* the 'They'll probably give me an emmy' line..
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10-04-2007 @ 9:00AM
rulesaremyenemy said...
I loved this episode. It's definitely one of their best. Do you guys think they'll keep Cartman's "tourettes" around for the rest of the season as a running gag?
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10-04-2007 @ 11:04AM
Mike said...
I loved the payoff/punchline/POINT OF THE WHOLE EPISODE:
"If I could call Chris Hanson a bleep bleep bleep on National Television, I'd be so happy."
The "message" I got was reporters like Chris Hanson who "entrap" pedophiles are douchebags.
Best episode of the last few seasons.
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10-04-2007 @ 11:09AM
AD said...
I thought this episode was a big disappointment--it didn't live up to the hype. Some parts were funny, but the rest of the jokes seemed to drag on. I don't know, I just couldn't get into the show for this episode.
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10-04-2007 @ 11:43AM
lucyfan62 said...
It's amazing that there was only one bleep during the entire show (the F bomb, of course), but it was hilarious. I had my own encounter with a Tourettes sufferer years ago when I worked at a record store, and it was a stunning moment that I'll never forget. There were a boatload of funny profanities, but I think "crap filled vagina" was the one that really stunned me!
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10-04-2007 @ 1:43PM
Peanut said...
People who write "meh" should be boned by a pedophile.
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10-04-2007 @ 4:20PM
Dave said...
People who write "meh" should be boned by a pedophile. And then shot in the head by Chhhhrriiiieeaaeeeeaaeessshhh Hhhaaaaeeennsssseeeaaaeeenn.
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10-04-2007 @ 5:29PM
fred said...
wow, that's definitely another vision on the episode as I had. It wasn't bad, but okay at best.
I was really expecting a lot form it maybe, but it's South Park, they usually deliver (remember the season premiere??)
Going for the tourette's jokes was an easy go I think, especially for a "return", and overall it was predictable and not so funny...
http://88.191.26.34/i_watch_tv/2007/10/04/south-park-le-petit-tourette/
Dateline subplot was the best though, for sure.
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10-07-2007 @ 5:12PM
joe totale said...
Best two-word sucker-punch ending ever.
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