Butters' Very Own Episode
Encyclopedia
"Butters' Very Own Episode" is the fourteenth and final episode of the fifth season
of the animated television series South Park
, and the 79th episode of the series overall. "Butters' Very Own Episode" originally aired in the United States
on Comedy Central
on December 12, 2001. In the episode, Butters
survives a murder attempt by his own mother and must travel back to South Park in time for his parents' wedding anniversary at Bennigan's
. Meanwhile, Butters' parents join Gary Condit
and O. J. Simpson
in lying to the press about who murdered Butters.
The episode was written by series co-creator Trey Parker
and is rated TV-MA in the United States. It is notable for being the first episode to center around Butters.
expresses excitement about his parents' upcoming anniversary, which they are going to celebrate at Butters' favorite restaurant, Bennigan's
. A few days before their anniversary, Mrs. Stotch asks Butters to spy on Mr. Stotch in order to find out what his gift for her will be. While spying, Butters watches his dad enter first a gay theater and then a gay bathhouse
. Upon returning home, Butters reports to his mother about his father's whereabouts, leaving her appalled by her husbands homosexual affairs, becoming visibly distraught and unhinged. Mrs. Stotch then attempts to murder Butters by dumping her car in a river with him inside, though he survives and has no idea that his mother had attempted to kill him.
Hours later, Mr. Stotch enters the home to find his wife attempting to hang herself. He rushes to her side and explains that his homoerotic tendencies stem from chatting with other bi-curious and married men on the Internet
. He insists that he still loves her and doesn't want to lose his family over his "addiction." Mrs. Stotch then reveals to her husband to having drowned Butters. He promises that he will not let her go to jail. The next day, the Stotches confront the press about their son, stating that he was abducted by "some Puerto Rican guy". As the media centers in on the "missing child" case, the pair are inducted into a club of infamous, highly-publicized characters whose loved ones have also been "taken from them by Some Puerto Rican Guy", including Gary Condit
, O. J. Simpson
, and John
and Patricia Ramsey
.
Butters eventually makes his way home, where he finds his parents' fighting. Upon hearing what the quarrel was about, he scolds them for lying and trying to teach him to lie. Deciding to follow in their son's footsteps, they come clean to the media about the cover-up, revealing many unsettling facts to Butters in the process. Afterwards, Stan, Kyle and Cartman chastise Butters about his unhinged parents. Although he attempts to make light of the situation, Butters admits that he is now probably scarred for life.
, "Butters' Very Own Episode" was rated TV-MA in the United States
, and originally aired on December 12, 2001 on Comedy Central
.
In the DVD commentary, Parker and Stone indicate they planned to make Butters the fourth group member after Kenny was written off the show, and created this episode as a prelude to his assuming a more prominent role in the series.
gave this episode a rating of 8.5, stating, "There are several classic moments in this episode, but it all works so well because of the setup."
South Park (season 5)
Season five of South Park, an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, began airing on June 20, 2001. The fifth season concluded after 14 episodes on December 12, 2001...
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 79th episode of the series overall. "Butters' Very Own Episode" 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 Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
on December 12, 2001. In the episode, Butters
Butters Stotch
Leopold "Butters" Stotch is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is voiced by series co-creator Matt Stone and loosely based on co-producer Eric Stough. He is a fourth-grade student who commonly has extraordinary experiences not typical of conventional small-town...
survives a murder attempt by his own mother and must travel back to South Park in time for his parents' wedding anniversary at Bennigan's
Bennigan's
Bennigan's is an Irish pub-themed casual dining restaurant chain with locations throughout the United States, and in 14 countries and 15 territories outside the continental U.S...
. Meanwhile, Butters' parents join Gary Condit
Gary Condit
Gary Adrian Condit is a former American politician, a Democrat who served in the House of Representatives from 1989 to 2003...
and O. J. Simpson
O. J. Simpson
Orenthal James "O. J." Simpson , nicknamed "The Juice", is a retired American collegiate and professional football player, football broadcaster, and actor...
in lying to the press about who murdered Butters.
The episode 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 is rated TV-MA in the United States. It is notable for being the first episode to center around Butters.
Plot
ButtersButters Stotch
Leopold "Butters" Stotch is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is voiced by series co-creator Matt Stone and loosely based on co-producer Eric Stough. He is a fourth-grade student who commonly has extraordinary experiences not typical of conventional small-town...
expresses excitement about his parents' upcoming anniversary, which they are going to celebrate at Butters' favorite restaurant, Bennigan's
Bennigan's
Bennigan's is an Irish pub-themed casual dining restaurant chain with locations throughout the United States, and in 14 countries and 15 territories outside the continental U.S...
. A few days before their anniversary, Mrs. Stotch asks Butters to spy on Mr. Stotch in order to find out what his gift for her will be. While spying, Butters watches his dad enter first a gay theater and then a gay bathhouse
Gay bathhouse
Gay bathhouses, also known as gay saunas or steam baths, are commercial bathhouses for men to have sex with other men. In gay slang in some regions these venues are also known colloquially as "the baths" or "the tubs," and should not be confused with public bathing.Not all men who visit gay...
. Upon returning home, Butters reports to his mother about his father's whereabouts, leaving her appalled by her husbands homosexual affairs, becoming visibly distraught and unhinged. Mrs. Stotch then attempts to murder Butters by dumping her car in a river with him inside, though he survives and has no idea that his mother had attempted to kill him.
Hours later, Mr. Stotch enters the home to find his wife attempting to hang herself. He rushes to her side and explains that his homoerotic tendencies stem from chatting with other bi-curious and married men on the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. He insists that he still loves her and doesn't want to lose his family over his "addiction." Mrs. Stotch then reveals to her husband to having drowned Butters. He promises that he will not let her go to jail. The next day, the Stotches confront the press about their son, stating that he was abducted by "some Puerto Rican guy". As the media centers in on the "missing child" case, the pair are inducted into a club of infamous, highly-publicized characters whose loved ones have also been "taken from them by Some Puerto Rican Guy", including Gary Condit
Gary Condit
Gary Adrian Condit is a former American politician, a Democrat who served in the House of Representatives from 1989 to 2003...
, O. J. Simpson
O. J. Simpson
Orenthal James "O. J." Simpson , nicknamed "The Juice", is a retired American collegiate and professional football player, football broadcaster, and actor...
, and John
John Bennett Ramsey
John Bennett Ramsey is the father of homicide victim JonBenét Ramsey. He was the first to discover JonBenét's body in the wine cellar of the Ramseys' 15-room home in Boulder, Colorado, on December 25, 1996, just hours after her murder....
and Patricia Ramsey
Patsy Ramsey
Patricia Ann "Patsy" Ramsey was the mother of JonBenét Ramsey, a 6-year-old American beauty pageant contestant who was murdered on December 25, 1996.-Background:...
.
Butters eventually makes his way home, where he finds his parents' fighting. Upon hearing what the quarrel was about, he scolds them for lying and trying to teach him to lie. Deciding to follow in their son's footsteps, they come clean to the media about the cover-up, revealing many unsettling facts to Butters in the process. Afterwards, Stan, Kyle and Cartman chastise Butters about his unhinged parents. Although he attempts to make light of the situation, Butters admits that he is now probably scarred for life.
Production
Written and directed by series co-creator Trey ParkerTrey 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...
, "Butters' Very Own Episode" was rated TV-MA in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and originally aired on December 12, 2001 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 DVD commentary, Parker and Stone indicate they planned to make Butters the fourth group member after Kenny was written off the show, and created this episode as a prelude to his assuming a more prominent role in the series.
Reception
IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave this episode a rating of 8.5, stating, "There are several classic moments in this episode, but it all works so well because of the setup."
External links
- "Butters' Very Own Episode" Episode guide at South Park Studios
- "Butters' Very Own Episode" Full episode at South Park Studios