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Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Is This the Best South Park Episode Ever?

Posted by on Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 4:11 PM

I have been wondering this for quite some time.

 

Comments (47) RSS

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Gomez 1
The Scott Tenorman episode? Several of my friends do. It's up there IMO. I have a hard time picking a single favorite South Park episode, though. A lot of them are fairly entertaining.
Posted by Gomez http://gomezticator.livejournal.com on August 11, 2009 at 4:16 PM
2
It was the best for a long time. Then Margaritaville came along!
Posted by Atlas5 on August 11, 2009 at 4:19 PM
michael strangeways 3
i still have a huge soft spot for the Thanksgiving episode with Timmy and Gobbles the Turkey.
Posted by michael strangeways http://www.seattlegayscene.com/ on August 11, 2009 at 4:22 PM
4
Yes.
Posted by Jonah Spangenthal-Lee on August 11, 2009 at 4:22 PM
5
That's always been my contention.
Posted by April on August 11, 2009 at 4:25 PM
thegeneral 6
Considering how horrified I was the first time I saw it, yes, probably.
Posted by thegeneral on August 11, 2009 at 4:27 PM
7
Yes, yes, yes, dear god yes. It may be the best half hour of tv ever aired, frankly. I was just watching south park last night for the first time in months and found myself thinking "God, do I have the Scott Tenorman episode saved anywhere? No other one gets close to it." The pacing, the plot points, the fabulous execution at the end (no pun intended), it's all absolutely amazing.
Posted by Juris on August 11, 2009 at 4:28 PM
8
I don't know - the Heavy Metal episode ranks pretty high up there.
Posted by Gordian on August 11, 2009 at 4:28 PM
9
The John Edward "Biggest Douche in the Universe" episode is a strong contender.
Posted by dicon on August 11, 2009 at 4:30 PM
emma's bee 10
I thought the Mormon episode was the best.
Posted by emma's bee on August 11, 2009 at 4:37 PM
spoiler alert 11
as a total radiohead junkie, i will say that's the only south park episode i've ever seen. glad to hear it's a good one!
Posted by spoiler alert on August 11, 2009 at 4:46 PM
12
Am I the only one that likes the Scientology episode?
Posted by St. Beretta on August 11, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Westlake, son! 13
Link is broken for me... anyone care to name the episode, or at least discuss what happens in it?
Posted by Westlake, son! on August 11, 2009 at 4:58 PM
14
My vote's for 'Fat Butt and Pancake Head'. Cartman at his weirdest and most petty. And the ending. The sweet, twisty ending. "Ha ha ha ha ha ha. I got you kinda."

But the Tenorman chili was mind-blowing at the time.
Posted by arcos on August 11, 2009 at 5:05 PM
Jason Josephes 15
Easily in the top three. I always laugh aloud when Cartman is trying to buy the movie ticket, asking "And how much is that in pubes?"
Posted by Jason Josephes http://www.myspace.com/bluemoonseattle on August 11, 2009 at 5:16 PM
slake 16
1. The Return of Chef
2. Trapped in the Closet (Scientology episode)
3. Chili con Carnival
4. You've Been Served ( Butters kills a bunch of people)
Posted by slake on August 11, 2009 at 5:22 PM
17
hello cartman gets an anal probe
Posted by Swearengen on August 11, 2009 at 5:29 PM
18
Anything that starts off with pubic hair and ends up with a Titus Andronicus reference is pure genius.

The first time I saw this episode I remember laying on the floor, tears streaming down my face, unable to move I was laughing so hard.

Besides what other people have mentioned a couple of other greats are "Starvin' Marvin in Space" and "Ladder to Heaven".
Posted by Lilting Missive on August 11, 2009 at 5:48 PM
19
yes.
Posted by Ryan on August 11, 2009 at 5:57 PM
20
I vote Awesome-O.
Posted by Some guy at a desk on August 11, 2009 at 6:00 PM
21
That actual episode is 501 - Scott Tenorman Must Die. That website also only works in the US for what it is worth.

Margaritaville (1303) is awesome in its allegory, but almost all of season 13 has been amazing so far. I didn't care for Eat, Pray and Queef though. I just don't think Terrance and Phillip are that funny.
Posted by Aprotosis on August 11, 2009 at 6:04 PM
Dougsf 22
That was one of my favorites for a long time. I usually don't give points for "holy shit not that funny but am I really seeing this?" ones, but there's a special place in history for the "Imaginationland" episodes.
Posted by Dougsf on August 11, 2009 at 6:08 PM
johnyawl 23
No
Posted by johnyawl on August 11, 2009 at 6:25 PM
skye 24
towelie!
Posted by skye on August 11, 2009 at 7:52 PM
25
It's certainly near the top, but I think the St. Peter Rabbit episode where Stan kills Jesus and Woodland Critter Christmas with mountain lion cubs attempting to perform an abortion on a porcupine to prevent the birth of the anti-Christ are strong competitors as well.
Posted by Smartypants on August 11, 2009 at 9:43 PM
COMTE 26
So, everyone DOES know this is just a rip-off of the finale of Shakespeare's "Titus Andronicus", no?

And personally, I think the J Lo episode probably hit the peak for funny/gross.
Posted by COMTE http://www.chriscomte.com on August 11, 2009 at 9:58 PM
Posted by Original-er Andy on August 11, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Will in Seattle 28
@27 for the second place win.

But it's really the religious episodes that were the best.
Posted by Will in Seattle http://www.facebook.com/WillSeattle on August 11, 2009 at 10:53 PM
29
@26 When you borrow from Shakespeare, it's a literary reference, not a "rip-off". It is assumed the audience gets it. That's what makes West Side Story, Ten Things I Hate About You, and Scott Tenorman Must Die *good
*.

Also Strange Brew, the Bob and Doug MacKenzie movie.
Posted by Monty on August 11, 2009 at 11:33 PM
Puty 30
No, but it's very, very goddamn good.

The Mormon episode is the best, as someone said.
Posted by Puty on August 12, 2009 at 12:33 AM
31
For me it was Starvin' Marvin and the aliens "MARKLAR!" I think that's because I grew up with a religious background though. When told that "you'll all burn in hell!" and the alien responds with "that's nice, thanks for stopping by" I thought I was going to crack a rib from laughing so hard.

All the religous themed ones really get me though - Scientology, Mormons, Catholics... all fantastic.
Posted by malwae on August 12, 2009 at 12:33 AM
32
Margaritaville beats every other episode hands down
Posted by Ryan-T http://hintcafe.com on August 12, 2009 at 4:39 AM
33
"I made you eat your parents, Ha Ha Ha HA Ha Haa!"
Posted by steakhaus on August 12, 2009 at 7:42 AM
Griffin 34
If this episode is a ripoff of Titus Andronicus, then Titus Andronicus is a ripoff of Ovid's Metamophoses (Philomela and Procne).
Posted by Griffin on August 12, 2009 at 7:48 AM
JF 35
I'm a fan of the cartoon wars trilogy. The three episodes of ripping on the Family Guy was pretty classic.

Also Matt and Tre wanted to show the prophet Muhammad in cartoon form but Comedy Central pussed out and axed the bit. The episode gets extra points for calling out the station for their censorship.
Posted by JF on August 12, 2009 at 7:51 AM
mr. herriman 36
the michael jackson one was outstanding, as was the terry schiavo one. kenny in a "persistent vegetative state" and everyone else in this huge battle over whether to keep him alive or not?

those two are my favorites of the ones i've seen, but there are many, many more that i haven't seen.
Posted by mr. herriman on August 12, 2009 at 8:04 AM
Matt from Denver 37
For me, it wasn't just the Titus Andronicus plot that made this stand out, it was the fact that Cartman was lapping up the tears. THAT doesn't happen anywhere in Shakespeare.
Posted by Matt from Denver on August 12, 2009 at 8:24 AM
38
Yup! Seconded only by the Xmas Blood Orgy special!

I also enjoy the Imagination Land two parter. That one was like watching my 1980s toy-box come to life!
Posted by sall on August 12, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Enigma 39
@35 That is an especially amusing cop-out because early in the show's history (before 9-11) there was an episode about the all the deities getting along just dandy as the "Super Friends". Muhammad, Jesus, Krishna, Buddha. All for our amusement. To make this hypocrisy even more glaring, I wish Matt and Trey had included a reference to this ep in the South Park ep. Oh well.
Posted by Enigma http://approvereferendum71.org/ on August 12, 2009 at 10:05 AM
40
Yes it is the best South Park episode ever!!
Posted by frankie8 on August 12, 2009 at 10:09 AM
41
Just having Thom Yorke say "Cancer of the Ass" a few times has put this episode on top for me.
Posted by Wallander on August 12, 2009 at 10:43 AM
willisreed 42
No question - this is definitely the best SP episode EVER!
Posted by willisreed on August 12, 2009 at 12:49 PM
43
Woodland Critter Christmas! Followed by ImaginationLand.

WCC is the single sickest thing ever on TV, IMHO.
Posted by Mike Friedman on August 12, 2009 at 8:20 PM
44
Yes it's my favorite episode.

So is this one

http://stansdad.com/season12/episode13/

I now ONLY play shooty-hoops - ba BAM ba BAM BA BAM!
Posted by Fred34 on August 13, 2009 at 6:48 AM
Violet_DaGrinder 45
It's pretty fucking great, but I don't think anything tops Imaginationland.
Posted by Violet_DaGrinder http://www.imeem.com/jukeboxmusic51/music/y1malqpG/prince-the-new-power-generation-featuring-eric-leeds-on-f/ on August 14, 2009 at 6:25 AM
46
Hello?? What about the episode where Cartman takes a picture of Butters' penis in his mouth while Butters is passed out on cough syrup?!?! The scene where Cartman explains to his mom how the photo came to be is probably the best South Park moment EVER.
Posted by rockstar08191980 on August 14, 2009 at 8:44 AM
47
My top 3:
1. Biggest Douche in the Universe
2. Scott Tenorman Must Die
3. Super Best Friends
Posted by Bees on August 14, 2009 at 12:20 PM

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