The Jeffersons (South Park)
Encyclopedia
"The Jeffersons" is episode 117 of the Comedy Central
animated series South Park
. It was originally broadcast on April 21, 2004 and has been described as "a howlingly funny assault on Michael Jackson
."
, Kyle
, Cartman
and Kenny
are riding their Big Wheels when they noticed that someone new has moved into the Donovans' former residence. When they stop to inspect the house a little boy named Blanket tells them they moved to South Park to escape city life. He invites them inside but they decline, but rethink the offer when Blanket tells them they have Arcade Games inside. They then realize the House is filled with toys and games, and the backyard is a circus.They meet Blanket's father Mr. Jefferson
a wealthy, eccentric, effeminate, pale-skinned man-child (who is really Michael Jackson
but calls himself Michael Jefferson and wears a Fake moustache
) invites them to play with him and climb 'his wishing tree' and bursts out into song.
Kyle begins to notice Mr. Jefferson is neglecting his own son and paying more attention to the other children. He starts to feel bad for Mr. Jefferson's son and brings it up with his friends, after which Cartman warns Kyle to not ruin his relationship with Mr. Jefferson. Stan tells his parents about the Jefferson's and Sharon Marsh decides to invite them over to a dinner party they are having with Gerald and Sheila Broflovski and Stephen and Linda Stotch. The adults try to talk with Mr. Jefferson later that night at the dinner but he is more shy around adults then children, and manages to revolt the other parents when he praises the kids. Cartman becomes jealous that they are having Mr. Jefferson over without him and starts to feel paranoid that he is being besmirched to Mr Jefferson by his friends.
Later that midnight at Stan's house, he is woken by Mr. Jefferson dressed up as Peter Pan
who wants to play. Cartman then comes through the window after Mr. Jefferson not wanting Stan to have Mr. Jefferson all to himself. Kyle then shows up at the door with Blanket who he found alone in his backyard. Mr Jefferson suggests a sleepover between the boys and even though they are reluctant they agree. That next morning Stan's parents walk in to see Mr. Jefferson in Stan's bed and reprimand Mr. Jefferson for this instance of inappropriate behaviour and tell him to leave, he offer Stan's parents $100 dollars each to be quiet. Sharon forbids the boys to see Mr. Jefferson anymore, none who have a problem with it except Cartman.
Meanwhile at the Park County Police Station Harrison Yates about gets a report about the Jefferson's that says they are wealthy and black, and the whole department sets off to frame him for a crime as they express their disdain for African Americans who are wealthier than them. They spend that night planting cocaine
and blood in Mr. Jefferson's home and wait for him to come home. When Mr. Jefferson returns with Blanket from Stan's house they see he really isn't black and they abort the operation, sick with themselves that they had almost put an innocent white man in jail.
Mr. Jefferson refuses to let Blanket outside anymore because he thinks everyone is against them. Stan and Kyle start to fear for the safety of Blanket after seeing Mr Jefferson dangle him from the balcony of his house. They decide to rescue him from the house by replacing him with Kenny in his bed
.Harrison Yates returns home planning on quitting the force, but his wife tells him into him telling him 'framing wealthy black people is in his blood', and encourages him to stay on the force. Harrison agrees and decides to check into the Mr. Jefferson case to see what went wrong.
Mr. Jefferson, meanwhile is desperately trying to stop his face from falling apart from year of plastic surgery, and calls his Plastic Surgeon in California
to see if he can fly out and put his face back together that it falling apart. Harrison Yates at that time is calling the Santa Barbara Police Department, Mr. Jefferson's former residence and they alert him that they framed a rich black man of molestation
who didn't look black at all, and he ran away before the trial. Stan and Kyle try and smuggle Blanket out of the house but are confronted by a horribly disfigured Mr. Jefferson who wants them to play. They run away to Blanket's room and Mr. Jefferson, upon seeing Kenny dressed up like Blanket, throws him in the air playfully. However, Kenny is thrown too high and is killed when his head smashes through the ceiling. Mr. Jefferson chases the other three outside where the Police Department is waiting to arrest him for the molestation charges put on him by the Santa Barbara Police force and a crowd gathers around.
Cartman then jumps to the defense of Mr. Jefferson, saying he is tired of all the 'lies' being spread about Mr. Jefferson. He adds that Mr. Jefferson may be different but it was only because he had to work all the time when he was young and never had a childhood of his own, which was why he associated more with children. Kyle then adds to it by explaining to everyone that it might seem logical that the police really do spend all their time framing rich black people (the police look at each other nervously at this point) and that it might be OK that Mr Jefferson acts like a child because he never had a childhood, but delivers the message that he has to grow up because he has a child of his own now. Mr. Jefferson then sees what he should do and decides to be more of a father to Blanket and give away their wealth to the needy, no longer leaving a reason for the Police to arrest him since he is no longer rich.
is "portrayed in the episode 'The Jeffersons' not as a child molester, but as an infantile parent who needs to grow up." Maxim magazine states Mr. Jefferson is "a Michael Jackson-like freak", and The National Board of Review's John Gallagher calls this episode "a howlingly funny assault on Michael Jackson.".
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
animated 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...
. It was originally broadcast on April 21, 2004 and has been described as "a howlingly funny assault on Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
."
Plot
StanStan 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...
, Kyle
Kyle 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...
, 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 Kenny
Kenny McCormick
Kenneth "Kenny" McCormick is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is one of the four central characters along with his friends Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, and Eric Cartman. His oft-muffled and indiscernible speech—the result of his parka hood covering his...
are riding their Big Wheels when they noticed that someone new has moved into the Donovans' former residence. When they stop to inspect the house a little boy named Blanket tells them they moved to South Park to escape city life. He invites them inside but they decline, but rethink the offer when Blanket tells them they have Arcade Games inside. They then realize the House is filled with toys and games, and the backyard is a circus.They meet Blanket's father Mr. Jefferson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
a wealthy, eccentric, effeminate, pale-skinned man-child (who is really Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
but calls himself Michael Jefferson and wears a Fake moustache
Fake moustache
A fake moustache or false moustache is an item of prosthetic make-up used in dressing-up, acting, espionage and crime. Fake moustaches are made in different ways, but usually require the wearer to use spirit gum to affix the moustache to his face. Some have a self-adhesive backing...
) invites them to play with him and climb 'his wishing tree' and bursts out into song.
Kyle begins to notice Mr. Jefferson is neglecting his own son and paying more attention to the other children. He starts to feel bad for Mr. Jefferson's son and brings it up with his friends, after which Cartman warns Kyle to not ruin his relationship with Mr. Jefferson. Stan tells his parents about the Jefferson's and Sharon Marsh decides to invite them over to a dinner party they are having with Gerald and Sheila Broflovski and Stephen and Linda Stotch. The adults try to talk with Mr. Jefferson later that night at the dinner but he is more shy around adults then children, and manages to revolt the other parents when he praises the kids. Cartman becomes jealous that they are having Mr. Jefferson over without him and starts to feel paranoid that he is being besmirched to Mr Jefferson by his friends.
Later that midnight at Stan's house, he is woken by Mr. Jefferson dressed up as Peter Pan
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie . A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with...
who wants to play. Cartman then comes through the window after Mr. Jefferson not wanting Stan to have Mr. Jefferson all to himself. Kyle then shows up at the door with Blanket who he found alone in his backyard. Mr Jefferson suggests a sleepover between the boys and even though they are reluctant they agree. That next morning Stan's parents walk in to see Mr. Jefferson in Stan's bed and reprimand Mr. Jefferson for this instance of inappropriate behaviour and tell him to leave, he offer Stan's parents $100 dollars each to be quiet. Sharon forbids the boys to see Mr. Jefferson anymore, none who have a problem with it except Cartman.
Meanwhile at the Park County Police Station Harrison Yates about gets a report about the Jefferson's that says they are wealthy and black, and the whole department sets off to frame him for a crime as they express their disdain for African Americans who are wealthier than them. They spend that night planting cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
and blood in Mr. Jefferson's home and wait for him to come home. When Mr. Jefferson returns with Blanket from Stan's house they see he really isn't black and they abort the operation, sick with themselves that they had almost put an innocent white man in jail.
Mr. Jefferson refuses to let Blanket outside anymore because he thinks everyone is against them. Stan and Kyle start to fear for the safety of Blanket after seeing Mr Jefferson dangle him from the balcony of his house. They decide to rescue him from the house by replacing him with Kenny in his bed
.Harrison Yates returns home planning on quitting the force, but his wife tells him into him telling him 'framing wealthy black people is in his blood', and encourages him to stay on the force. Harrison agrees and decides to check into the Mr. Jefferson case to see what went wrong.
Mr. Jefferson, meanwhile is desperately trying to stop his face from falling apart from year of plastic surgery, and calls his Plastic Surgeon in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to see if he can fly out and put his face back together that it falling apart. Harrison Yates at that time is calling the Santa Barbara Police Department, Mr. Jefferson's former residence and they alert him that they framed a rich black man of molestation
People v. Jackson
People vs. Jackson was a 2005 trial involving recording artist Michael Jackson. The accuser was a boy, Gavin Arvizo, who was 13 years old at the time of the alleged crimes...
who didn't look black at all, and he ran away before the trial. Stan and Kyle try and smuggle Blanket out of the house but are confronted by a horribly disfigured Mr. Jefferson who wants them to play. They run away to Blanket's room and Mr. Jefferson, upon seeing Kenny dressed up like Blanket, throws him in the air playfully. However, Kenny is thrown too high and is killed when his head smashes through the ceiling. Mr. Jefferson chases the other three outside where the Police Department is waiting to arrest him for the molestation charges put on him by the Santa Barbara Police force and a crowd gathers around.
Cartman then jumps to the defense of Mr. Jefferson, saying he is tired of all the 'lies' being spread about Mr. Jefferson. He adds that Mr. Jefferson may be different but it was only because he had to work all the time when he was young and never had a childhood of his own, which was why he associated more with children. Kyle then adds to it by explaining to everyone that it might seem logical that the police really do spend all their time framing rich black people (the police look at each other nervously at this point) and that it might be OK that Mr Jefferson acts like a child because he never had a childhood, but delivers the message that he has to grow up because he has a child of his own now. Mr. Jefferson then sees what he should do and decides to be more of a father to Blanket and give away their wealth to the needy, no longer leaving a reason for the Police to arrest him since he is no longer rich.
Reception
Amazon.com's official review states Michael JacksonMichael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
is "portrayed in the episode 'The Jeffersons' not as a child molester, but as an infantile parent who needs to grow up." Maxim magazine states Mr. Jefferson is "a Michael Jackson-like freak", and The National Board of Review's John Gallagher calls this episode "a howlingly funny assault on Michael Jackson.".
External links
- The Jeffersons Full episode at South Park Studios
- The Jeffersons Episode guide at South Park Studios