Tag: Comedy Central

Top 25 Greatest South Park Episodes of All Time: Nos. 5-1

We’ve reached the final installment of my personal favorite “South Park” episodes of all time. As previously mentioned, picking 25 out of 248 was seriously challenging. I’d love to hear your favorites and please feel free to comment below. The Season 18 (where has the time gone?) premiere airs on Comedy Central tomorrow evening.

If you missed the four previous installments, please find them here:

https://toddmthatcher.com/2014/09/19/top-25-greatest-south-park-episodes-of-all-time-nos-25-21/

https://toddmthatcher.com/2014/09/20/top-25-greatest-south-park-episodes-of-all-time-nos-20-16/

https://toddmthatcher.com/2014/09/21/top-25-greatest-south-park-episodes-of-all-time-nos-15-11/

https://toddmthatcher.com/2014/09/22/top-25-greatest-south-park-episodes-of-all-time-nos-10-6/

And now the crème de la crème of my SP universe:

5. “Chickenlover”

Original Air Date: May 27, 1998 (Season 2)

There is a criminal on the loose in South Park and Cartman wants to track him down. Famously, this is the show with a “Cops” parody in which Cartman informs us all to “respect his authoritah!”.

4. “Trapped in the Closet”

Original Air Date: November 16, 2005 (Season 9)

One of the most notorious episodes of all time, this SP mercilessly took on Scientology, Tom Cruise, R. Kelly, and John Travolta. Shocking and tear inducing funny, there’s a reason this created such an uproar.

3. “The Death Camp of Tolerance”

Original Air Date: November 20, 2002 (Season 6)

Mr. Garrison tries to get fired for his sexual preferences. There’s a gerbil named Lemmiwinks involved. It’s highly inappropriate as SP can often be. And it’s unforgettably hilarious.

2. “Scott Tenorman Must Die”

Original Air Date: July 11, 2001 (Season 5)

Perhaps the most famous episode of all time, this season 5 gem was a game changer in the show’s history. Why? Because it turned Cartman from just a bratty and foul-mouthed kid to a seriously demented and perhaps evil character. It was glorious… and Radiohead makes a cameo, too!

1. “Imaginationland – Part I – III”

Original Air Dates: October 17, 24, and 31, 2007 (Season 11)

The three-part “Imaginationland” episode arch tops my list for many reasons. It’s downright uproarious and endlessly clever. The “Imaginationland” song. The Saving Private Ryan themed war montage. The hilarious nod to James Cameron’s The Abyss. The skewering of Mel Gibson, M. Night Shyamalan, and Michael Bay. The longing for Cartman to get Kyle to perform a deed made on a bet (I won’t get into the dirty details). The Stargate references. Popeye is in it. So is Morpheus. And Luke Skywalker and Jesus and Aslan and Gandalf. And the Woodland Christmas Critters! I mean, come on! “Imaginationland” is stunningly great and the pinnacle of a show that has produced one classic episode after the next.

And there you have it, folks! I hope you enjoyed the list…

Comment away

Top 25 Greatest South Park Episodes of All Time: Nos. 25-21

Time flies, my friends. Want proof? This Wednesday, Comedy Central’s “South Park” begins its 18th season with its 248th episode! The series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone is probably my favorite comedic program of the past two decades. Yes, I’d put it above “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy”. Don’t get me wrong – they’re terrific, too. However, I’m a “South Park” guy. I’ve never missed an episode.

This brings us to my personal list of Top 25 episodes of all time. Simply put, this was hard. Really hard. Like… Sophie’s Choice hard. Yet somehow I’ve managed to do it. Like other lists on this here blog, the top 25 will be a five-part series will additional entries coming everyday until Tuesday, the day before the new season’s debut.

Let’s get to it!

25. “It’s Christmas in Canada”

Original Air Date: December 17, 2003 (Season 7)

Season 7’s season finale and Christmas episode was a brilliant parody of The Wizard of Oz and managed to hilariously incorporate the capture of Saddam Hussein, which had occurred just earlier that weekend.

24. “Fat Butt and Pancake Head”

Original Air Date: April 16, 2003 (Season 7)

No show is better at excoriating celebrities and “Fat Butt and Pancake Head” is a perfect example. Fat Butt is Jennifer Lopez. Pancake Head is Ben Affleck. They were dating at the time. This episode shows Cartman at his crazy best.

23. “Canada On Strike”

Original Air Date: April 2, 2008 (Season 12)

Any episode that has great subplots for Ike and Butters is a winner in my book. The episode’s battle between YouTube celebrities is an all-time classic.

22. “More Crap”

Original Air Date: October 10, 2007 (Season 11)

“South Park” is better than no other at being uproarious yet making important political and social satire at the same time. Yet sometimes – we just want the show to be delicious lowbrow humor. “More Crap” is just that. And it features Randy Marsh at his best and a devastating parody of U2 lead singer Bono.

21. “The Red Badge of Gayness”

Original Air Date: November 24, 1999 (Season 3)

Probably not the favorite episode of Civil War re-enactors, but Cartman’s turn as a frustrated general is comedic gold.

And that’s all until tomorrow when I’ll bring you part two covering numbers 20-16!