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Wing (South Park)
Encyclopedia
"Wing" is the third episode of the ninth season
animated series South Park
. It was written by series co-creator Trey Parker
and first aired on Comedy Central
in the United States
on March 23, 2005 and was named after New Zealand
singer Wing
, who also stars in the episode. in an eponymous part loosely based on her.
beauty pageant and receive $200, Stan
, Cartman, Kyle
, and Kenny
decide to set up the "Super Awesome Talent Agency" and obtain 10% of his earnings by becoming his agents. They lose him to Creative Artists Agency, however, only to land a singer named Wing
, who is the wife of the City Wok
owner, Tuong Lu Kim. Recently smuggled into the United States
by the Chinese Mafia, Wing has been set to audition for American Idol
, and the boys agree to bring her to Los Angeles
for the competition. This venture does not go as planned and instead enter her into The Contender. Sylvester Stallone
is impressed with her singing even as she is beaten and gives her a chance to sing at his son's wedding, which will give the boys a 10% share of $4000.
However, by this time, Wing has been kidnapped by the Chinese Mafia for not paying the $10,000 owed to them for getting her into the States. The boys go after Wing to get back their client. Both the Mafia and the boys are unaware of the other's intentions; the boys mistake the Mafia for the Creative Artists Agency, the agency that stole Token, while the Mafia think the boys are a rival group. In a shootout at the Mafia's headquarters, Kenny is killed, and Kyle inadvertently manages to kill two Mafia guards. Stan concludes with a monologue about how Wing is a human being and that people's lives should not be sold as commodities which makes the boys and the Mafia realize that their businesses are dirty and exploit the hopes of others. They all decide to quit and go to listen to Wing sing at the wedding, only to find Token waiting tables, trying to earn enough money to get back home as CAA did nothing for him.
, a New Zealand singer of Hong Kong origin. All of the songs the character performs in the episode (including the ABBA
songs "Dancing Queen
" and "Fernando
", and The Carpenters
song "Sing") are actually the real-life Wing singing, taken from previous audio recordings. On the DVD commentary for this episode, series creators Trey Parker
and Matt Stone
explain that they decided to do a show about Wing after a friend led them to her site. They thought that the whole idea of this singer was either a "super sweet joke" or a "super sweet not joke", but continued to listen to more of her music, especially whenever they were frustrated. Parker and Stone contacted Wing on using her songs, and she had to approve her cartoon likeness before allowing her music to be used. Parker also says he received a letter of thanks from her for the sales boost she enjoyed as a result of the episode.
At the pageant, Token performs the song "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine
" by Lou Rawls
. His singing voice was not provided by the usual dubbing actor Adrien Beard
, but is in fact the original Lou Rawls recording of the song. The reason that Beard doesn't provide the singing is that Trey and Matt were dissatisfied with his singing in Here Comes the Neighborhood
. However, Lou Rawls' voice is sped up to the same pitch that all of the actor's voices are shifted to sound child-like. In this case, it would be 3 semitones (from the song's original key of D Major to F Major).
South Park (season 9)
Season nine of the American animated television series South Park began airing on March 9, 2005. This season is home to two of the show's most controversial episodes : "Trapped in the Closet" Season nine of the American animated television series South Park began airing on March 9, 2005. This...
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 written by series co-creator Trey Parker
Trey Parker
Trey Parker is an American animator, screenwriter, director, producer, voice artist, musician and actor, best known for being the co-creator of the television series South Park along with his creative partner and best friend Matt Stone.Parker started his film career in 1992, making a holiday short...
and first aired on Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on March 23, 2005 and was named after New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
singer Wing
Wing (singer)
Wing Han Tsang , popularly known simply as Wing, is a New Zealand singer of Hong Kong origin. She is known for her unique, offbeat singing style.-Career:...
, who also stars in the episode. in an eponymous part loosely based on her.
Plot
Upon hearing that Token has won a contest that will allow him to sing at a 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...
beauty pageant and receive $200, 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, 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...
, 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...
decide to set up the "Super Awesome Talent Agency" and obtain 10% of his earnings by becoming his agents. They lose him to Creative Artists Agency, however, only to land a singer named Wing
Wing (singer)
Wing Han Tsang , popularly known simply as Wing, is a New Zealand singer of Hong Kong origin. She is known for her unique, offbeat singing style.-Career:...
, who is the wife of the City Wok
City Wok
City Wok is a chain of Asian-themed casual restaurants in California, United States and in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.Restaurants are located in Studio City, Coachella, Palm Desert, Thousand Oaks, Orange, San Diego and Santo Domingo...
owner, Tuong Lu Kim. Recently smuggled into the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by the Chinese Mafia, Wing has been set to audition for American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
, and the boys agree to bring her to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
for the competition. This venture does not go as planned and instead enter her into The Contender. Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
is impressed with her singing even as she is beaten and gives her a chance to sing at his son's wedding, which will give the boys a 10% share of $4000.
However, by this time, Wing has been kidnapped by the Chinese Mafia for not paying the $10,000 owed to them for getting her into the States. The boys go after Wing to get back their client. Both the Mafia and the boys are unaware of the other's intentions; the boys mistake the Mafia for the Creative Artists Agency, the agency that stole Token, while the Mafia think the boys are a rival group. In a shootout at the Mafia's headquarters, Kenny is killed, and Kyle inadvertently manages to kill two Mafia guards. Stan concludes with a monologue about how Wing is a human being and that people's lives should not be sold as commodities which makes the boys and the Mafia realize that their businesses are dirty and exploit the hopes of others. They all decide to quit and go to listen to Wing sing at the wedding, only to find Token waiting tables, trying to earn enough money to get back home as CAA did nothing for him.
Production
The character of Wing was based on Wing Han Tsang (曾詠韓)Wing (singer)
Wing Han Tsang , popularly known simply as Wing, is a New Zealand singer of Hong Kong origin. She is known for her unique, offbeat singing style.-Career:...
, a New Zealand singer of Hong Kong origin. All of the songs the character performs in the episode (including the ABBA
ABBA
ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
songs "Dancing Queen
Dancing Queen
"Dancing Queen" is a pop song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA. It was released in August 1976, but was first performed two months earlier, on 18 June 1976, during a Royal Variety Show in Stockholm the evening before the Swedish royal wedding. It was the follow-up single to the hit "Fernando"...
" and "Fernando
Fernando (song)
"Fernando" is a song by the Swedish pop group ABBA. It was the group's first non-album single and was released in November 1975 through Polar Music. Lead vocals were sung by Anni-Frid Lyngstad...
", and The Carpenters
The Carpenters
Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of sister Karen and brother Richard Carpenter. The Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970s. Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and...
song "Sing") are actually the real-life Wing singing, taken from previous audio recordings. On the DVD commentary for this episode, series creators Trey Parker
Trey Parker
Trey Parker is an American animator, screenwriter, director, producer, voice artist, musician and actor, best known for being the co-creator of the television series South Park along with his creative partner and best friend Matt Stone.Parker started his film career in 1992, making a holiday short...
and Matt Stone
Matt Stone
Matthew Richard "Matt" Stone is an American screenwriter, producer, voice artist, musician and actor, best known for being the co-creator of South Park along with creative partner and best friend, Trey Parker....
explain that they decided to do a show about Wing after a friend led them to her site. They thought that the whole idea of this singer was either a "super sweet joke" or a "super sweet not joke", but continued to listen to more of her music, especially whenever they were frustrated. Parker and Stone contacted Wing on using her songs, and she had to approve her cartoon likeness before allowing her music to be used. Parker also says he received a letter of thanks from her for the sales boost she enjoyed as a result of the episode.
At the pageant, Token performs the song "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine
You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine
"You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" is a song performed by R&B singer Lou Rawls on his 1976 album All Things in Time. The song proved to be Rawls' breakthrough hit, reaching number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the R&B and Easy Listening charts. The single also reached...
" by Lou Rawls
Lou Rawls
Louis Allen "Lou" Rawls was an American soul, jazz, and blues singer. He was known for his smooth vocal style: Frank Sinatra once said that Rawls had "the classiest singing and silkiest chops in the singing game"...
. His singing voice was not provided by the usual dubbing actor Adrien Beard
Adrien Beard
Adrien Beard is an American storyboard artist and voice actor. He can currently be heard on the animated cartoon TV series South Park as the voice of Token Black. In addition to voice roles, Adrien Beard also works as the art director and lead storyboarder on the show.-External links:...
, but is in fact the original Lou Rawls recording of the song. The reason that Beard doesn't provide the singing is that Trey and Matt were dissatisfied with his singing in Here Comes the Neighborhood
Here Comes the Neighborhood
"Here Comes the Neighborhood" is the twelfth episode of the fifth season of the animated television series South Park, and the 77th episode of the series overall. "Here Comes the Neighborhood" originally aired in the United States on November 28, 2001 on Comedy Central.-Plot:The children at South...
. However, Lou Rawls' voice is sped up to the same pitch that all of the actor's voices are shifted to sound child-like. In this case, it would be 3 semitones (from the song's original key of D Major to F Major).
External links
- http://wingmusic.co.nz/, Wing's official site, as referenced in the episode.