Free Hat
Encyclopedia
"Free Hat" is episode 88 of the animated series
South Park
. It originally aired on July 10, 2002. The episode ridicules Lucasfilm
's digital altering of George Lucas
' original Star Wars trilogy and Steven Spielberg
's E.T.. The episode also shows huge criticism towards remake
movies.
, Stan
, Cartman
and Tweek, go to see a "re-re-re-release" of The Empire Strikes Back
. Before the movie
, a trailer for the 20th Anniversary release to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
is shown, which points out the various edits made to the movie, as well as a fictional "re-re-release" of Saving Private Ryan
with similar changes, including changing the word "Nazi
" to "persons with political differences" and changing all the guns to walkie-talkies. Finally, the movie they came to see appears, but not before a banner is displayed on the screen (and also read by an announcer) to note the word "Wookiee
" has been changed to "hair challenged animal" and that the entire cast has been digitally replaced by Ewok
s. The four complain about how directors edit their movies to make them more family-friendly
or politically correct
and decide to form an organization to protect classic movies from changes. Cartman
writes "Free Hat" on the advertising poster to persuade more people to come, and as a result hundreds show. However, the crowd mistakenly thinks the rally is to free Hat McCullough, a fictional imprisoned baby killer
.
The crowd focuses on persuading the governor to free Hat, while the boys appear on Nightline
to explain their group's motives. Steven Spielberg
and George Lucas
appear on the show, and when the boys mention changing Raiders of the Lost Ark
, the two directors quickly decide this is a great idea. Determined to stop them, the boys sneak into Lucas' house and steal the master print for the film, but are caught by Lucas. After pleading with him, the boys try playing a "cool island song" to try to "melt his icy heart," but they end up arguing about what kind of heart he has and what type of island song they should be playing. Lucas calls the police, and the boys attempt to convince him to turn away Spielberg. As their attempts begin to sway him, Spielberg arrives flanked by guards brandishing walkie-talkies (which computer generatedly
replaced all weapons in the final chase scene of E.T.), and Lucas relents and gives Spielberg the film. The boys are taken prisoner to be guests at the film's premier, but Tweek escapes.
Following this a fictional commercial plays promoting the upcoming digitally enhanced re-release of the pilot episode of the show "Cartman Gets An Anal Probe
", with Trey Parker and Matt Stone explaining they now have the budget to use the special effects they originally could not, such as characters and creatures from Star Wars in the bus stop scenes. The announcer's final closing teaser line is that you should "Get this special edition quick because another version will likely be coming out for 2003!"
Back at the club, Tweek alerts everybody else to the situation at hand, but they were all upset that the governor would not listen to them about pardoning Hat. Tweek then explains what he and his friends had to go through in their attempt to get the film, but the other members decide to adapt the island song strategy for their own cause, planning to use a "fresh island song" to "cool the governor's hot temper". Meanwhile, Spielberg and Lucas, now joined by Francis Ford Coppola
, start making their way to the premiere in a convoy with the film's print enclosed in an ark being carried. Tweek ambushes the convoy wielding a bazooka
and threatens to blow it up unless the boys are released. The negotiation ends when Spielberg invites Tweek to "blow it back to God", but reminds him all his life has been in pursuit of seeing a great film, and thanks to the new "effects beyond your wildest dreams" he wants to see it screened just as much as Spielberg does. Tweek pauses and is captured as he hesitates. At the premiere, Spielberg reveals his plan to destroy the original film afterwards, and the film begins. Knowing it will be horrible the boys look away while the audience watches. At first, they are awed by the film, but upon seeing the Hovitos who chase Indiana Jones were digitally changed to Ewok
s, they realize the new version is awful. Finally, the film on the screen comes to life as a deadly supernatural entity and fires lightning bolts at all but the whole group watching, gruesomely killing the audience and Spielberg, Lucas and Coppola with it, the aforementioned three having had their faces crushed, melted and exploded respectively like those of René Belloq, Major Toht and Colonel Dietrich in Raiders. When there is finally silence, the kids find themselves untied and open their eyes. Upon seeing the bodies Cartman comments, "Man, that new version must have sucked balls."
Back in South Park, the boys think that they are going to be congratulated for stopping Spielberg and Lucas. However, the boys are congratulated for getting Hat released from prison. Despite the fact that Hat is obviously crazy and asks for a baby, the crowd cheers for him and presents him with one. As the baby tries desperately to escape Hat, the boys say that what they did might not matter now, but will matter later. When Tweek asks what if someone else tries to change the movie, Stan answers that it is "somewhere safe. Somewhere where...nobody will ever find it." The episode ends with a view of an old man placing the original prints inside a box, which he then places inside a warehouse named "Red Cross 9/11 Relief Funds", in a parody of the final scene in Raiders itself.
Animated cartoon
An animated cartoon is a short, hand-drawn film for the cinema, television or computer screen, featuring some kind of story or plot...
South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
. It originally aired on July 10, 2002. The episode ridicules Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm Limited is an American film production company founded by George Lucas in 1971, based in San Francisco, California. Lucas is the company's current chairman and CEO, and Micheline Chau is the president and COO....
's digital altering of George Lucas
George Lucas
George Walton Lucas, Jr. is an American film producer, screenwriter, and director, and entrepreneur. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm. He is best known as the creator of the space opera franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones...
' original Star Wars trilogy and Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
's E.T.. The episode also shows huge criticism towards remake
Remake
A remake is a piece of media based primarily on an earlier work of the same medium.-Film:The term "remake" is generally used in reference to a movie which uses an earlier movie as the main source material, rather than in reference to a second, later movie based on the same source...
movies.
Plot
KyleKyle Broflovski
Kyle Broflovski is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is voiced by co-creator Matt Stone. Kyle is one of the show's four central characters, along with his friends Stan Marsh, Kenny McCormick, and Eric Cartman...
, Stan
Stan Marsh
Stanley Randall "Stan" Marsh is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is voiced by and loosely based on series co-creator Trey Parker. Stan is one of the show's four central characters, along with his friends Kyle Broflovski, Kenny McCormick, and Eric Cartman...
, Cartman
Eric Cartman
Eric Theodore Cartman is a fictional character in the American animated television series South Park. One of four main characters, along with Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, and Kenny McCormick, he is generally referred to within the series by his last name...
and Tweek, go to see a "re-re-re-release" of The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner. The screenplay, based on a story by George Lucas, was written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan...
. Before the movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, a trailer for the 20th Anniversary release to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a 1982 American science fiction film co-produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, written by Melissa Mathison and starring Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, and Peter Coyote...
is shown, which points out the various edits made to the movie, as well as a fictional "re-re-release" of Saving Private Ryan
Saving Private Ryan
Saving Private Ryan is a 1998 American war film set during the invasion of Normandy in World War II. It was directed by Steven Spielberg, with a screenplay by Robert Rodat. The film is notable for the intensity of its opening 27 minutes, which depicts the Omaha Beach assault of June 6, 1944....
with similar changes, including changing the word "Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
" to "persons with political differences" and changing all the guns to walkie-talkies. Finally, the movie they came to see appears, but not before a banner is displayed on the screen (and also read by an announcer) to note the word "Wookiee
Wookiee
Wookiees are a species of bipeds in the Star Wars universe. The most notable Wookiee is Chewbacca, a companion to Han Solo.-Inspiration:...
" has been changed to "hair challenged animal" and that the entire cast has been digitally replaced by Ewok
Ewok
Ewoks originate from the Star Wars films. In the series, they are a species of teddy-bear-like hunter-gatherers that inhabit the forest moon of Endor. The Ewoks live in various tree-huts and primitive dwellings. They first appeared in the film Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi...
s. The four complain about how directors edit their movies to make them more family-friendly
Family-friendliness
Entertainment or information is called "family friendly" if it is considered suitable for all members of the average family. In particular it means that it is not considered inappropriate for children, which may imply restrictions on engagement in, or depiction of, nudity, sex, violence, horror,...
or politically correct
Political correctness
Political correctness is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts,...
and decide to form an organization to protect classic movies from changes. Cartman
Eric Cartman
Eric Theodore Cartman is a fictional character in the American animated television series South Park. One of four main characters, along with Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, and Kenny McCormick, he is generally referred to within the series by his last name...
writes "Free Hat" on the advertising poster to persuade more people to come, and as a result hundreds show. However, the crowd mistakenly thinks the rally is to free Hat McCullough, a fictional imprisoned baby killer
Infanticide
Infanticide or infant homicide is the killing of a human infant. Neonaticide, a killing within 24 hours of a baby's birth, is most commonly done by the mother.In many past societies, certain forms of infanticide were considered permissible...
.
The crowd focuses on persuading the governor to free Hat, while the boys appear on Nightline
Nightline
Nightline, or ABC News Nightline is a late-night news program broadcast by ABC in the United States, and has a franchised formula to other networks and stations elsewhere in the world. It airs weeknights, usually for 31 minutes. Created by Roone Arledge, the program featured Ted Koppel as its main...
to explain their group's motives. Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
and George Lucas
George Lucas
George Walton Lucas, Jr. is an American film producer, screenwriter, and director, and entrepreneur. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm. He is best known as the creator of the space opera franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones...
appear on the show, and when the boys mention changing Raiders of the Lost Ark
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Raiders of the Lost Ark is a 1981 American action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, produced by George Lucas, and starring Harrison Ford. It is the first film in the Indiana Jones franchise...
, the two directors quickly decide this is a great idea. Determined to stop them, the boys sneak into Lucas' house and steal the master print for the film, but are caught by Lucas. After pleading with him, the boys try playing a "cool island song" to try to "melt his icy heart," but they end up arguing about what kind of heart he has and what type of island song they should be playing. Lucas calls the police, and the boys attempt to convince him to turn away Spielberg. As their attempts begin to sway him, Spielberg arrives flanked by guards brandishing walkie-talkies (which computer generatedly
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
replaced all weapons in the final chase scene of E.T.), and Lucas relents and gives Spielberg the film. The boys are taken prisoner to be guests at the film's premier, but Tweek escapes.
Following this a fictional commercial plays promoting the upcoming digitally enhanced re-release of the pilot episode of the show "Cartman Gets An Anal Probe
Cartman Gets an Anal Probe
"Cartman Gets an Anal Probe" is the first episode of the animated television series South Park. It first aired on Comedy Central in the United States on August 13, 1997...
", with Trey Parker and Matt Stone explaining they now have the budget to use the special effects they originally could not, such as characters and creatures from Star Wars in the bus stop scenes. The announcer's final closing teaser line is that you should "Get this special edition quick because another version will likely be coming out for 2003!"
Back at the club, Tweek alerts everybody else to the situation at hand, but they were all upset that the governor would not listen to them about pardoning Hat. Tweek then explains what he and his friends had to go through in their attempt to get the film, but the other members decide to adapt the island song strategy for their own cause, planning to use a "fresh island song" to "cool the governor's hot temper". Meanwhile, Spielberg and Lucas, now joined by Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. He is widely acclaimed as one of Hollywood's most innovative and influential film directors...
, start making their way to the premiere in a convoy with the film's print enclosed in an ark being carried. Tweek ambushes the convoy wielding a bazooka
Bazooka
Bazooka is the common name for a man-portable recoilless rocket antitank weapon, widely fielded by the U.S. Army. Also referred to as the "Stovepipe", the innovative bazooka was amongst the first-generation of rocket propelled anti-tank weapons used in infantry combat...
and threatens to blow it up unless the boys are released. The negotiation ends when Spielberg invites Tweek to "blow it back to God", but reminds him all his life has been in pursuit of seeing a great film, and thanks to the new "effects beyond your wildest dreams" he wants to see it screened just as much as Spielberg does. Tweek pauses and is captured as he hesitates. At the premiere, Spielberg reveals his plan to destroy the original film afterwards, and the film begins. Knowing it will be horrible the boys look away while the audience watches. At first, they are awed by the film, but upon seeing the Hovitos who chase Indiana Jones were digitally changed to Ewok
Ewok
Ewoks originate from the Star Wars films. In the series, they are a species of teddy-bear-like hunter-gatherers that inhabit the forest moon of Endor. The Ewoks live in various tree-huts and primitive dwellings. They first appeared in the film Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi...
s, they realize the new version is awful. Finally, the film on the screen comes to life as a deadly supernatural entity and fires lightning bolts at all but the whole group watching, gruesomely killing the audience and Spielberg, Lucas and Coppola with it, the aforementioned three having had their faces crushed, melted and exploded respectively like those of René Belloq, Major Toht and Colonel Dietrich in Raiders. When there is finally silence, the kids find themselves untied and open their eyes. Upon seeing the bodies Cartman comments, "Man, that new version must have sucked balls."
Back in South Park, the boys think that they are going to be congratulated for stopping Spielberg and Lucas. However, the boys are congratulated for getting Hat released from prison. Despite the fact that Hat is obviously crazy and asks for a baby, the crowd cheers for him and presents him with one. As the baby tries desperately to escape Hat, the boys say that what they did might not matter now, but will matter later. When Tweek asks what if someone else tries to change the movie, Stan answers that it is "somewhere safe. Somewhere where...nobody will ever find it." The episode ends with a view of an old man placing the original prints inside a box, which he then places inside a warehouse named "Red Cross 9/11 Relief Funds", in a parody of the final scene in Raiders itself.