South Park (season 12)
| South Park (season 12) | |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 14 |
| Release | |
| Original network | Comedy Central |
| Original release | March 12, 2008 – November 19, 2008 |
The twelfth season of South Park, an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, began airing on March 12, 2008. The twelfth season concluded after 14 episodes on November 19, 2008.[1] Saturday Night Live cast member Bill Hader is credited as a consultant starting with this season. Parker was the director and writer in this twelfth season. Stone was also the writer on the third episode of the twelfth season.
Contents
Overview
This season features a new title sequence, replacing the one used since the sixth season. It recreates the original to begin with before using clips from seasons four to eleven which the boys also sing their lines over. These older clips are replaced every half season with newer ones.
In the first half of the season, Mr. Kitty returns to prominence in "Major Boobage" for the first time since season three's "Cat Orgy", while Terrance and Phillip haven't featured prominently since season five's "Terrance and Phillip: Behind the Blow". Canada last featured prominently as a setting in season seven's "It's Christmas in Canada". Most notably in this season is Ms. Garrison's second sex change, returning her to being a man, as Mr. Garrison again. This is the last episode to date to explore Garrison's much examined sexuality. "Super Fun Time" indicates that following "The List", Stan and Wendy Testaburger are dating again.
The second half of the season begins with "The China Probrem", which marks the return of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas who are again portrayed as villains, despite seemingly dying in season six's "Free Hat". There is also the one two-part story: "Pandemic" and "Pandemic 2: The Startling". The following episode "About Last Night" parodies Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 presidential elections the night before. The episode was written and animated under the assumption Obama would win which turned out to be correct. Parker and Stone said it was considered intentionally redubbing the episode poorly if John McCain had won. This episode also revealed the political alliances of several citizens. "The Ungroundable", the episode "Breast Cancer Show Ever" marks the return of the Goth Kids who last featured in season nine's "Erection Day".
Kenny McCormick does not die in this season at all.
Awards
The season received one Emmy award and, in May 2009, a Webby Award.[2]
Reception
Critical response
The twelfth season of South Park has been met with mostly positive reviews from critics and fans. Travis Fikett of IGN gave the season 7.5/10, saying that it was "good" and "Season 12 isn't bad, it's just not that great. There are a number of misfires and no truly classic episodes. That's a rarity for a series that often has fans calling up friends the next morning to say "Oh my God, did you see South Park?".[3]
Episodes
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| No. overall |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date [1] | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 168 | 1 | "Tonsil Trouble" | Trey Parker | Trey Parker | March 12, 2008 | 1201 |
| After having his tonsils removed Cartman contracts HIV, but when he finds out that people no longer care about AIDS he looks for a cure. Kyle finds it funny that Cartman has AIDS and so Cartman finds a way to give Kyle AIDS to settle the score between them. | ||||||
| 169 | 2 | "Britney's New Look" | Trey Parker | Trey Parker | March 19, 2008 | 1202 |
| The boys try to get a photo of pop singing trainwreck Britney Spears to cash in on the news reporting her latest social faux pas, but when Britney survives a suicide attempt that leaves her with most of her head missing, the boys soon discover the real reason behind Britney's downfall and try to save her from further exploitation. | ||||||
| 170 | 3 | "Major Boobage" | Trey Parker | Trey Parker & Matt Stone | March 26, 2008 | 1203 |
| In this homage to the 1981 film Heavy Metal, the boys worry when Kenny becomes addicted to sniffing cat urine in order to get high. Meanwhile, Cartman takes in all of South Park's cats and Kyle's dad relapses into being addicted to sniffing cat urine. | ||||||
| 171 | 4 | "Canada on Strike" | Trey Parker | Trey Parker | April 2, 2008 | 1204 |
| The head of the World Canadian Bureau (nicknamed the "WGA") leads the country into a strike over residual money made by the Internet. Meanwhile, the South Park boys try to turn Butters into the latest viral video star, in order to make money to give to Canada. | ||||||
| 172 | 5 | "Eek, a Penis!" | Trey Parker | Trey Parker | April 9, 2008 | 1205 |
| While Mrs. Garrison goes on sabbatical to reverse her sex change and become Mr. Garrison again, Cartman becomes a strict teacher whose unorthodox methods are needed in an inner city school. | ||||||
| 173 | 6 | "Over Logging" | Trey Parker | Trey Parker | April 16, 2008 | 1206 |
| In this homage to John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, the Marsh family heads west after the Internet connection goes down nationwide. | ||||||
| 174 | 7 | "Super Fun Time" | Trey Parker | Trey Parker | April 23, 2008 | 1207 |
| While the kids are on an educational field trip to a living museum, Cartman forces Butters to sneak away from the class to go to the amusement center, located next door. While they are away, the living museum's cast and the rest of the class are taken hostage by criminals. | ||||||
| 175 | 8 | "The China Probrem" | Trey Parker | Trey Parker | October 8, 2008 | 1208 |
| Cartman and Butters invade a P.F. Chang's after Cartman thinks the Chinese will overtake America. Meanwhile, Stan, Kyle, and Kenny are traumatized after seeing the latest Indiana Jones movie. | ||||||
| 176 | 9 | "Breast Cancer Show Ever" | Trey Parker | Trey Parker | October 15, 2008 | 1209 |
| Wendy is fed up with Cartman's jokes when he makes fun of her report on breast cancer, and challenges him to a fight. | ||||||
| 177 | 10 | "Pandemic" | Trey Parker | Trey Parker | October 22, 2008 | 1210 |
| Part 1 of 2. The world faces a wave of Peruvian pan flute bands. The boys ask for Craig's financial support to form a pan flute band of their own, while the government tries to decide how to handle the "pandemic". | ||||||
| 178 | 11 | "Pandemic 2: The Startling" | Trey Parker | Trey Parker | October 29, 2008 | 1211 |
| Part 2 of 2. The boys are lost in the Andes Mountains where they discover the startling secret behind the attack of the giant guinea pigs. Meanwhile, Randy bravely documents the destruction while trying to save his family. | ||||||
| 179 | 12 | "About Last Night..." | Trey Parker | Trey Parker | November 5, 2008 | 1212 |
| Following the 2008 US presidential election, Barack Obama catches everyone off guard when he arrives at the White House prematurely. Meanwhile, the Barack Obama supporters of South Park celebrate Obama's victory while the John McCain supporters fear the end of the world and take shelter. | ||||||
| 180 | 13 | "Elementary School Musical" | Trey Parker | Trey Parker | November 12, 2008 | 1213 |
| The boys realize they are the only kids at school who are not hit by the new High School Musical fad, making everyone in school break out in song. | ||||||
| 181 | 14 | "The Ungroundable" | Trey Parker | Trey Parker | November 19, 2008 | 1214 |
| A vampire fad is spreading at South Park Elementary, thanks to the movie Twilight. Butters believes that the students interested in this culture are actual vampires and becomes tempted to join them. Meanwhile, the Goth kids are finding their style is becoming mistaken with the new fad and set out to stop it. | ||||||
DVD release
"South Park – The Complete Twelfth Season" was released as a three-disc Region 1 DVD box set in the USA on March 10, 2009, nearly one year after it had begun broadcast on television.
| South Park – The Complete Twelfth Season | |||
| Set Details | Special Features | ||
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| Release Dates | |||
 United States |
 United Kingdom |
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March 10, 2009 |
May 24, 2009 |
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References
External links
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Wikinews has related news: South Park episodes available free online |
- South Park Studios - official website with streaming video of full episodes.
- The Comedy Network - full episodes for Canada
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