I know, I still haven't gotten to the Muppets. I'm saving the best for last. Well, closer to last.
South Park has done many charming but twisted Christmas episodes over the years, but this one is my favorite because it's comprised almost entirely of songs. And it takes the format of an old-school special.
It has a newscaster with 70's hair at the beginning of each act saying "Fighting the Frizzies at eleven!" which I'm told is a reference to the widely circulated bootleg of The Star Wars Holiday Special. I've never seen it.
Song #1: "Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo" sung by a parody of the postman from Santa Claus is Comin' to Town. Pure toilet humor.
Song #2: "The Dreidel Song" sung in rounds
Song #3: Hitler, in hell, singing a very sad rendition of "O Tanenbaum." Satan comforts him by breaking into
Song #4: "Christmastime in Hell" which is funny because it's so freaking absurd. Probably the most offensive song shown on the episode (there was a corresponding album that actually featured a song called "The Most Offensive Song Ever," and even I can't stomach that one), just because of some of the people shown in hell. But we later learn that in the South Park universe, everyone goes to hell.
Song #5: "Carol of the Bells" sung Mr. Mackey
Song #6: Mr. Hankey says "Let's not forget that for some people, Christmas is about the birth of Jesus." Alas, it really is only some. Eric Cartman sings "O Holy Night" but doesn't know all the words, so he sings "Jesus was born, and so I get presents" which is pretty accurate to a child's understanding.
Song #7: My favorite. Mr. Garrison sings "Merry Fucking Christmas." Has to be seen to be believed.
Song #8: Shelly Marsh attempts to play "I Saw Three Ships" on the piano and ends up dropping the piano on Stan and Kyle. Of course.
Song #9: A medley, sung by Santa and Jesus, singing songs about themselves. Again with the absurdity. This one is surprisingly nonoffensive though. I realize a lot of Christians find it offensive that South Park even dares to have an animated version of Jesus, but if you can look past that, he's portrayed as very compassionate and a peacemaker. Santa gets jealous because there are more Jesus songs than Santa songs. He starts to storm away, but Jesus wins him over with a duet of "Let it Snow."
And last but not least, Song #10: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," played surprisingly straight. Even includes a subtle tribute to Mary Kay Bergman, the actress who voiced most of the show's female characters up until this point, and had committed suicide shortly before this episode aired.
Mr. Hankey goes back down the toilet, and the newscaster fights the frizzies. Oh, and Kenny dies.
Visuals: 2 out of 5
Spirit: 2 out of 5
Nostalgia: 2 out of 5
Humor: 4 out of 5
Music: 4 out of 5
Overall: 3 out of 5
No comments:
Post a Comment