This article originally appeared on an earlier blog and was included in the collection Everyone Else is Wrong (And You Know It): Criticism/Humor/Non-Fiction. I still wouldn't update the list as South Park has lost a lot of its spontaneity and relevance, especially since the series began utilizing whole-season arcs. Still, it has been over a quarter century since the foul mouthed boys of Colorado got into our hearts and I share this list with you, that includes a couple of Christmas specials as we're nearing that season.
When The Book of Mormon opened on Broadway, it became one of the best musicals to grace the Broadway stage in a long time. A glorious homage to the Golden Age of Musicals, the play came from the minds of Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of South Park, and Robert Lopez, one of the creators of Avenue Q. But, while each episode of South Park is created, drawn, and produced the week it airs, The Book of Mormon benefited from workshops and readings in the standard theatre way. And if South Park can be so spot-on with only a few days’ work, imagine how good The Book of Mormon remains.
This list is my top ten personal favorite episodes of South Park, which might be the perfect television show. Why? Because television allows you to connect immediately and nationally on topics of interest. Satire and parody have always worked best on television and not in films, which date, or plays, which fade away. While I love the ripped-out-of-the-headlines episodes, what you will see below are mostly not those episodes. These are episodes that owe their debt not to current affairs, but to the bizarre and random minds influenced by Monty Python.
1. Woodland Critter Christmas
Easily the one that makes your skin crawl even as you hold your sides, this Christmas special from the eighth season is one of the few from the last few years that I think could rank with all the specials we love.
2. The Ring
While this one may descend down the list as the show goes on (due to its’ reliance on the Jonas Brothers being popular and the fad of purity rings), this episode nearly hits the top spot by simply showing us the funniest deconstruction of the Disney company that ever pricked the mouse.
3. Scott Tenorman Must Die
There are three truly great characters in the history of drama: Hamlet, King Lear, and Eric Cartman. This classic episode shows you why.
4. Free Willyzk
A personal favorite, this bizarre episode, about the freeing of an orca, makes little sense but packs a huge punch. The funniest moment may be the realistic drawings of the four boys.
5. With Apologies to Jessie Jackson
Who else could have gotten away with that, even then?
6. Butters’ Very Own Episode
If Cartman is South Park’s greatest creation, then Butters Stotch and Randy Marsh come a close second and third. Butters’ tale is a sad one and yet it’s easy to see why everyone on the show loves to hate him and why we just love him.
7. Sexual Harassment Panda
One of the earliest episodes to catch my attention, it’s still one that cracks me up. A hilarious send-up of the sue-me culture.
8. Gnomes
Step 1: Watch this episode, Step 2: , Step 3: Masterpiece.
9. Timmy 2000
A classic episode, the introduction of Timmy and the parody of the late-‘90’s music culture (Phil Collins, Lallapalooza and the like) is still funny.
10. Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics
One of the great treasures for any South Park collector is their Christmas album, inspired from this Christmas special which consists of music videos to bring you Holiday cheer.
Comments