Summer Sucks
Encyclopedia
"Summer Sucks" is the eight episode of the second season
of the animated television series South Park
, and the 21st episode of the series overall. "Summer Sucks" originally aired in the United States
on June 24, 1998 on Comedy Central
.
has passed a statewide ban on fireworks after a boy from North Park blew his hands off in an accident involving fireworks. In response to this, Jimbo Kern and Ned Gerblansky go across the border to Mexico
to buy illegal fireworks. Meanwhile, the Mayor, discovering that "snakes" are still legal, has the largest one ever made for the town's Fourth of July
celebration. It is not until it has been lit that the manufacturer realizes that it will be impossible to extinguish and will not burn out until November of the following year, and the ash travels all across the town and then country destroying everything in its wake.
Meanwhile, Mr. Garrison
, previously being prank called by Mr. Mackey and imagining himself burning Shari Lewis
's famous puppet, Lamb Chop, begins to have a nervous breakdown because his constant companion, Mr. Hat, has disappeared. He winds up going to see Dr. Katz
(complete with squiggle
) in New York
, who says that he is gay
and Mr. Hat (who has homosexual fantasies about Brett Favre in a sauna with a bottle of thousand island dressing, according to Mr. Garrison) is really his gay side. Garrison is unsure what to think, but fortunately the giant snake has somehow traveled all the way to New York and crashes Dr. Katz's office, roasting Dr. Katz to death when it comes in contact with him. Cartman at this time is taking swimming lessons, but has to contend with the fact that first graders keep peeing
in the pool. Jimbo and Ned are captured by the border patrol
, but manage to escape (again, thanks to the snake) and go back to South Park with their massive fireworks.
The boys finally get their fireworks, and when they shoot them off, they destroy the snake trail and end the terror. The ashes rain to the ground like snow, and people do wintry activities using the black soot. Mr. Garrison reappears with a new companion, Mr. Twig, who has replaced Mr. Hat. During this time, Cartman, being the only person in the pool (which is closed due to the giant snake) has decided to swim all the way from the shallow end of the pool to the deep end. He makes it all the way to the deep end, but his excitement is cut short by the pool being reopened upon the snake's destruction. At that moment, a large group of first graders dive into the pool and begin playing in it, peeing so much that the water turns yellow. Cartman is disgusted by this and immediately leaves the pool.
At the end, Chef pulls up in his car having returned from Aruba
. He sees everyone's faces covered in the black ash, and, thinking it is blackface
, prepares to give everyone a sound beating.
South Park (season 2)
Season two of South Park, an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, began airing on April 1, 1998. The second season concluded after 18 episodes on January 20, 1999...
of the animated television series 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...
, and the 21st episode of the series overall. "Summer Sucks" originally aired in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on June 24, 1998 on Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
.
Plot synopsis
Summer finally comes to South Park, but that is not necessarily a good thing, because although school is out, there is little to actually do in South Park, with all the snow melted so that sledding, building of snowmen and other winter activities are impossible. What's worse, ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
has passed a statewide ban on fireworks after a boy from North Park blew his hands off in an accident involving fireworks. In response to this, Jimbo Kern and Ned Gerblansky go across the border to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to buy illegal fireworks. Meanwhile, the Mayor, discovering that "snakes" are still legal, has the largest one ever made for the town's Fourth of July
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
celebration. It is not until it has been lit that the manufacturer realizes that it will be impossible to extinguish and will not burn out until November of the following year, and the ash travels all across the town and then country destroying everything in its wake.
Meanwhile, Mr. Garrison
Herbert Garrison
Mr. Herbert Garrison is a recurring character in the American animated television series South Park. He is voiced by Trey Parker. For the first eight seasons of the series, the character was known as Mr. Garrison but underwent sex reassignment surgery in the season 9 episode "Mr. Garrison's Fancy...
, previously being prank called by Mr. Mackey and imagining himself burning Shari Lewis
Shari Lewis
Shari Lewis was an American ventriloquist, puppeteer, and children's television show host, most popular during the 1960s and 1990s...
's famous puppet, Lamb Chop, begins to have a nervous breakdown because his constant companion, Mr. Hat, has disappeared. He winds up going to see Dr. Katz
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist is an American animated series that originally ran on Comedy Central from May 28, 1995 to December 24, 1999,–with a final set of three shelved episodes airing in 2002–starring Jonathan Katz, Jon Benjamin, and Laura Silverman...
(complete with squiggle
Squigglevision
Squigglevision is a patented method of computer animation in which the outlines of shapes are made to wiggle and undulate. Tom Snyder of Tom Snyder Productions invented the technique, which his animation studio Soup2Nuts subsequently popularized in several successful animated series.Compared with...
) in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, who says that he is gay
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
and Mr. Hat (who has homosexual fantasies about Brett Favre in a sauna with a bottle of thousand island dressing, according to Mr. Garrison) is really his gay side. Garrison is unsure what to think, but fortunately the giant snake has somehow traveled all the way to New York and crashes Dr. Katz's office, roasting Dr. Katz to death when it comes in contact with him. Cartman at this time is taking swimming lessons, but has to contend with the fact that first graders keep peeing
Urination
Urination, also known as micturition, voiding, peeing, weeing, pissing, and more rarely, emiction, is the ejection of urine from the urinary bladder through the urethra to the outside of the body. In healthy humans the process of urination is under voluntary control...
in the pool. Jimbo and Ned are captured by the border patrol
United States Border Patrol
The United States Border Patrol is a federal law enforcement agency within U.S. Customs and Border Protection , a component of the Department of Homeland Security . It is an agency in the Department of Homeland Security that enforces laws and regulations for the admission of foreign-born persons to...
, but manage to escape (again, thanks to the snake) and go back to South Park with their massive fireworks.
The boys finally get their fireworks, and when they shoot them off, they destroy the snake trail and end the terror. The ashes rain to the ground like snow, and people do wintry activities using the black soot. Mr. Garrison reappears with a new companion, Mr. Twig, who has replaced Mr. Hat. During this time, Cartman, being the only person in the pool (which is closed due to the giant snake) has decided to swim all the way from the shallow end of the pool to the deep end. He makes it all the way to the deep end, but his excitement is cut short by the pool being reopened upon the snake's destruction. At that moment, a large group of first graders dive into the pool and begin playing in it, peeing so much that the water turns yellow. Cartman is disgusted by this and immediately leaves the pool.
At the end, Chef pulls up in his car having returned from Aruba
Aruba
Aruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
. He sees everyone's faces covered in the black ash, and, thinking it is blackface
Blackface
Blackface is a form of theatrical makeup used in minstrel shows, and later vaudeville, in which performers create a stereotyped caricature of a black person. The practice gained popularity during the 19th century and contributed to the proliferation of stereotypes such as the "happy-go-lucky darky...
, prepares to give everyone a sound beating.
External links
- "Summer Sucks" Full Episode at South Park Studios
- "Summer Sucks" Episode Guide at South Park Studios