Cartman's Mom Is a Dirty Slut
Encyclopedia
"Cartman's Mom Is a Dirty Slut" is the first season
finale of the animated television series South Park
, and the 13th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on Comedy Central
in the United States on February 25, 1998. It is part one of a two-episode story arc, which concluded with "Cartman's Mom Is Still a Dirty Slut
". The episode follows Eric Cartman
, one of the show's child protagonists, becoming curious about the identity of his father. He discovers that his father is most likely a man his mother had intercourse with during an annual party called "The Drunken Barn Dance". Meanwhile his friends Stan
, Kyle
and Kenny
participate on America's Stupidest Home Videos
, after filming Cartman playing in his yard with plush toys.
The episode was written by Trey Parker
and staff writer David A. Goodman
, and directed by Parker. It featured a guest appearance by comedian Jay Leno
, who provided cat sounds for Cartman's cat. "Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut" had a cliffhanger
ending; the identity of Cartman's father was intended to be revealed in the second season premiere, but Parker and co-creator Matt Stone
wrote an unrelated April Fool's Day episode instead. This was much to the dismay of South Park viewers. This episode was met with positive responses from critics.
named Chief Running Water, at the 12th annual "Drunken Barn Dance". However, Chief Running Water informs him that his mother dumped him for Chef. Chef tells Cartman that his mother preferred Mr. Garrison over him. Mr. Garrison admits that he had slept with Mrs. Cartman, but then argues "but who the hell hasn't!?", to which Mayor McDaniels, Principal Victoria, Jesus and Father Maxi share guilty glances with each other. Dr. Mephisto is willing to perform DNA testing to resolve the issue, but requires $3,000 for the test. Cartman gets depressed, as he does not have the money.
In the meantime, Kyle, Stan and Kenny watch America's Stupidest Home Videos
, they hear there's a $10,000 grand prize for the stupidest home video. They decide to enter the competition with the video they made of Cartman. Cartman approaches Kyle and Stan (Kenny was run over by a train and killed) with the depressing news about his lack of funds to find out his real father. Stan and Kyle agree that if they win the video contest they will give Cartman the $3,000 needed for the DNA testing. Cartman is overjoyed, but quickly becomes extremely angry after seeing the aired video. Though they do not win the competition, as Stan's grandfather wins with a videotape he made of Kenny's death, they receive a $3,000 runner-up prize instead, which is still enough for the DNA test. Dr. Mephesto calls together Cartman, his mother and all potential fathers (including the 1989 Denver Broncos
), when he gets the test results which is wear Kenny comes back to life. When he is about to reveal the identity of Cartman's father, a narrator states that the answer will be revealed in the new South Park episode four weeks later, much to Cartman's annoyance.
"Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut" was written by South Park co-creator Trey Parker
and staff writer David A. Goodman
, and directed by Parker. South Park would sometimes have guest-appearances by celebrities, but they would usually voice a supporting or minor character; Academy Award winning actor George Clooney
had previously provided dog barks for the episode "Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride
". Comedian and talk-show host Jay Leno
provided the sounds Cartman's cat Mr. Kitty in the episode. Leno would return later as himself in the season two
episode "City on the Edge of Forever
". Toddy Walters
provided the vocals for the song used at "The Drunken Barn Dance" (which is a parody of "My Heart Will Go On
"). Walters was romantically involved with Parker at the time the episode was being produced. She would continue to write and sing for the show throughout its third season.
The episode was to conclude with the first episode of the second season, on April 1, 1998, four weeks after "Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut" was first broadcast. However, instead of continuing the episode's storyline, Parker and co-creator Matt Stone
made an episode regarding the South Park minor characters Terrance and Philip, as an April Fool's Day prank on viewers of the show. Upset fans wrote more than 2,000 angry e-mail complaints to Comedy Central
within a week of the episode's original broadcast, and media outlets said some fans harbored a grudge against the show more than five years after the episode was broadcast. "Cartman's Mom Is Still a Dirty Slut
", the second part of the episode, was originally set to air on May 20, 1998, but Comedy Central moved up the airdate to April 22, 1998, in response to the angry feedback from fans.
, television critic Tom Carson stated he felt the episode was " a really plaintive story about craving something, anything, to hold onto", as Cartman tries to adapt the culture of each man he believes to be his father. Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock, author of the book Taking South Park Seriously, also felt the episode was a good example of a "kind of equivalency between ethnic, racial and sexual identities", but felt "the humor lies partly in Cartman's parody of mass culture's stereotypes of Native Americans and African Americans". In his book American politics and society today, Robert Singh noted that the episode gives the most prominent example of how Cartman's rude behaviour is the result of being raised without a father. This correlated with a theory by Paul Cantor, author of the book The Simpsons: Atomistic Politics and the Nuclear Family, regarding Homer Simpson
, of FOX
's The Simpsons
, "that merely by being present, a dutiful and attached father can provide a meaningful influence, despite his dysfunctional behaviour and errant educational ways."
on February 25, 1998. It received a Nielsen rating in the 8.0 range. In Canada
, the episode premiered on The Comedy Channel on August 20, 1998, it was the last of a three-week South Park marathon aired by the network. A little over 300,000 viewers watched the episode, which was a record for the channel, which had only been part of Canada's cable networks for ten months. The complete three-week marathon was watched by an average 186,307 viewers per minute per day.
When first broadcast in the United States, "Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut" gained positive responses from critics. Writing for The Vancouver Sun
, Brian Lowry and Alex Strachan defined "Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut", as well as "Damien", "Mecha Streisand" and "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo", as season one's "classic episodes", commenting that "Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut" was "a heart-warming, tender episode". Carson also praised the episode for its "hilarious sex-jokes". In a top ten list of South Parks best episodes, compiled by Chicago Tribune
reporter Allan Johnson, "Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut" was ranked third, behind "Osama bin Laden Has Farty Pants
" and "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo".
On April 27, 1999, "Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut" was released on the "South Park: Volume 7" VHS
tape which also contained "Cartman's Mom is Still a Dirty Slut
", in a third series of South Park home video releases. Volume 7 was sold along with Volume 8, which contained "Chickenlover
" and "Ike's Wee Wee
", and Volume 9, which contained "Conjoined Fetus Lady
" and "The Mexican Staring Frog of Southern Sri Lanka
". All thirteen episodes of the first season, including "Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut", were released on a DVD box set on November 12, 2002. Parker and Stone recorded commentary tracks for each episode, but the tracks were not included on the DVDs due to "standards" issues with some of the statements; refusing to allow the tracks to be censored or edited, Parker and Stone's commentary tracks were released on a separate CD.
South Park (season 1)
The first season of the American animated television series South Park initially ran for 13 episodes on the US network Comedy Central, from August 13, 1997 to February 25, 1998. The creators of the series, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, wrote and directed most of the season's episodes, while Dan...
finale 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 13th overall episode of the series. It originally 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 on February 25, 1998. It is part one of a two-episode story arc, which concluded with "Cartman's Mom Is Still a Dirty Slut
Cartman's Mom is Still a Dirty Slut
"Cartman's Mom Is Still a Dirty Slut" is the second episode of the second season of the animated series South Park, and the 15th episode of the series overall. It premiered on Comedy Central in the United States on April 22, 1998...
". The episode follows Eric 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...
, one of the show's child protagonists, becoming curious about the identity of his father. He discovers that his father is most likely a man his mother had intercourse with during an annual party called "The Drunken Barn Dance". Meanwhile his friends 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...
, 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...
participate on America's Stupidest Home Videos
America's Funniest Home Videos
America's Funniest Home Videos is an American reality television program on ABC in which viewers are able to send in humorous homemade videotapes. The most common videos usually feature slapstick physical comedy arising from incidents, accidents and mishaps...
, after filming Cartman playing in his yard with plush toys.
The episode was written by 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 staff writer David A. Goodman
David A. Goodman
David A. Goodman is an American writer and producer and a graduate of the University of Chicago, earning an BA in 1984. He was one of the executive producers of Family Guy, beginning its fourth season, joining the show as a co-executive producer in season three...
, and directed by Parker. It featured a guest appearance by comedian Jay Leno
Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno is an American stand-up comedian and television host.From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ,...
, who provided cat sounds for Cartman's cat. "Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut" had a cliffhanger
Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
ending; the identity of Cartman's father was intended to be revealed in the second season premiere, but Parker and co-creator 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....
wrote an unrelated April Fool's Day episode instead. This was much to the dismay of South Park viewers. This episode was met with positive responses from critics.
Plot
Stan, Kyle and Kenny decide to check on Cartman when he does not show up for school. They discover that he is having a "tea party" with his stuffed animals in his backyard. Their school counselor Mr. Mackey advices them to videotape Cartman, so he can study him psychologically. Meanwhile, Cartman does not have a father to take to the annual father-and-son dance and asks his mother who he is. His mother explains that she met his father, a Native AmericanIndigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
named Chief Running Water, at the 12th annual "Drunken Barn Dance". However, Chief Running Water informs him that his mother dumped him for Chef. Chef tells Cartman that his mother preferred Mr. Garrison over him. Mr. Garrison admits that he had slept with Mrs. Cartman, but then argues "but who the hell hasn't!?", to which Mayor McDaniels, Principal Victoria, Jesus and Father Maxi share guilty glances with each other. Dr. Mephisto is willing to perform DNA testing to resolve the issue, but requires $3,000 for the test. Cartman gets depressed, as he does not have the money.
In the meantime, Kyle, Stan and Kenny watch America's Stupidest Home Videos
America's Funniest Home Videos
America's Funniest Home Videos is an American reality television program on ABC in which viewers are able to send in humorous homemade videotapes. The most common videos usually feature slapstick physical comedy arising from incidents, accidents and mishaps...
, they hear there's a $10,000 grand prize for the stupidest home video. They decide to enter the competition with the video they made of Cartman. Cartman approaches Kyle and Stan (Kenny was run over by a train and killed) with the depressing news about his lack of funds to find out his real father. Stan and Kyle agree that if they win the video contest they will give Cartman the $3,000 needed for the DNA testing. Cartman is overjoyed, but quickly becomes extremely angry after seeing the aired video. Though they do not win the competition, as Stan's grandfather wins with a videotape he made of Kenny's death, they receive a $3,000 runner-up prize instead, which is still enough for the DNA test. Dr. Mephesto calls together Cartman, his mother and all potential fathers (including the 1989 Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
), when he gets the test results which is wear Kenny comes back to life. When he is about to reveal the identity of Cartman's father, a narrator states that the answer will be revealed in the new South Park episode four weeks later, much to Cartman's annoyance.
Production
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 staff writer David A. Goodman
David A. Goodman
David A. Goodman is an American writer and producer and a graduate of the University of Chicago, earning an BA in 1984. He was one of the executive producers of Family Guy, beginning its fourth season, joining the show as a co-executive producer in season three...
, and directed by Parker. South Park would sometimes have guest-appearances by celebrities, but they would usually voice a supporting or minor character; Academy Award winning actor George Clooney
George Clooney
George Timothy Clooney is an American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. For his work as an actor, he has received two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award...
had previously provided dog barks for the episode "Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride
Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride
"Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride" is the fourth episode of the first season of the animated television series South Park. It originally aired on September 3, 1997 on Comedy Central in the United States. The episode was written by series co-founders Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and directed by Parker...
". Comedian and talk-show host Jay Leno
Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno is an American stand-up comedian and television host.From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ,...
provided the sounds Cartman's cat Mr. Kitty in the episode. Leno would return later as himself in the season two
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...
episode "City on the Edge of Forever
City on the Edge of Forever
"City on the Edge of Forever" is the seventh episode of the second season of the animated television series South Park, and the 20th episode of the series overall...
". Toddy Walters
Toddy Walters
Toddy Elizabeth Walters is a former actress who is now a singer/songwriter.-Career:Walters went to the University of Colorado, where she met Trey Parker, who was casting for his student film Cannibal! The Musical. She was cast in the role of Polly Pry...
provided the vocals for the song used at "The Drunken Barn Dance" (which is a parody of "My Heart Will Go On
My Heart Will Go On
"My Heart Will Go On" is the theme song/love theme of the 1997 blockbuster film Titanic. With music by James Horner, lyrics by Will Jennings, and production by Simon Franglen, James Horner and Walter Afanasieff ,, it was recorded by Céline Dion...
"). Walters was romantically involved with Parker at the time the episode was being produced. She would continue to write and sing for the show throughout its third season.
The episode was to conclude with the first episode of the second season, on April 1, 1998, four weeks after "Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut" was first broadcast. However, instead of continuing the episode's storyline, Parker and co-creator 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....
made an episode regarding the South Park minor characters Terrance and Philip, as an April Fool's Day prank on viewers of the show. Upset fans wrote more than 2,000 angry e-mail complaints to Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
within a week of the episode's original broadcast, and media outlets said some fans harbored a grudge against the show more than five years after the episode was broadcast. "Cartman's Mom Is Still a Dirty Slut
Cartman's Mom is Still a Dirty Slut
"Cartman's Mom Is Still a Dirty Slut" is the second episode of the second season of the animated series South Park, and the 15th episode of the series overall. It premiered on Comedy Central in the United States on April 22, 1998...
", the second part of the episode, was originally set to air on May 20, 1998, but Comedy Central moved up the airdate to April 22, 1998, in response to the angry feedback from fans.
Theme
Writing for NewsdayNewsday
Newsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
, television critic Tom Carson stated he felt the episode was " a really plaintive story about craving something, anything, to hold onto", as Cartman tries to adapt the culture of each man he believes to be his father. Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock, author of the book Taking South Park Seriously, also felt the episode was a good example of a "kind of equivalency between ethnic, racial and sexual identities", but felt "the humor lies partly in Cartman's parody of mass culture's stereotypes of Native Americans and African Americans". In his book American politics and society today, Robert Singh noted that the episode gives the most prominent example of how Cartman's rude behaviour is the result of being raised without a father. This correlated with a theory by Paul Cantor, author of the book The Simpsons: Atomistic Politics and the Nuclear Family, regarding Homer Simpson
Homer Simpson
Homer Jay Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons and the patriarch of the eponymous family. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and first appeared on television, along with the rest of his family, in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
, of FOX
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
's The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, "that merely by being present, a dutiful and attached father can provide a meaningful influence, despite his dysfunctional behaviour and errant educational ways."
Release and reception
The episode was first aired in the United States on the cable television channel Comedy CentralComedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
on February 25, 1998. It received a Nielsen rating in the 8.0 range. In Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the episode premiered on The Comedy Channel on August 20, 1998, it was the last of a three-week South Park marathon aired by the network. A little over 300,000 viewers watched the episode, which was a record for the channel, which had only been part of Canada's cable networks for ten months. The complete three-week marathon was watched by an average 186,307 viewers per minute per day.
When first broadcast in the United States, "Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut" gained positive responses from critics. Writing for The Vancouver Sun
The Vancouver Sun
The Vancouver Sun is a daily newspaper first published in the Canadian province of British Columbia on February 12, 1912. The paper is currently published by the Pacific Newspaper Group, a division of Postmedia Network. It is published six days a week, Monday to Saturday...
, Brian Lowry and Alex Strachan defined "Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut", as well as "Damien", "Mecha Streisand" and "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo", as season one's "classic episodes", commenting that "Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut" was "a heart-warming, tender episode". Carson also praised the episode for its "hilarious sex-jokes". In a top ten list of South Parks best episodes, compiled by Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
reporter Allan Johnson, "Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut" was ranked third, behind "Osama bin Laden Has Farty Pants
Osama Bin Laden Has Farty Pants
"Osama bin Laden Has Farty Pants" is the ninth episode of the fifth season of the animated television series South Park, and the 74th episode of the series overall. It originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on November 7, 2001; and is notable as the first episode to air after the...
" and "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo".
On April 27, 1999, "Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut" was released on the "South Park: Volume 7" VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
tape which also contained "Cartman's Mom is Still a Dirty Slut
Cartman's Mom is Still a Dirty Slut
"Cartman's Mom Is Still a Dirty Slut" is the second episode of the second season of the animated series South Park, and the 15th episode of the series overall. It premiered on Comedy Central in the United States on April 22, 1998...
", in a third series of South Park home video releases. Volume 7 was sold along with Volume 8, which contained "Chickenlover
Chickenlover
"Chickenlover" is the third episode of the second season of the animated television series South Park, and the 16th episode of the series overall. It aired on Comedy Central in the United States on May 20, 1998.-Plot:...
" and "Ike's Wee Wee
Ike's Wee Wee
"Ike's Wee Wee" is the fourth episode of the second season of the animated television series South Park, and the 17th episode of the series overall. It aired on Comedy Central in the United States on May 27, 1998.-Plot:...
", and Volume 9, which contained "Conjoined Fetus Lady
Conjoined Fetus Lady
"Conjoined Fetus Lady" is the fifth episode of the second season of the animated television series South Park, and the 18th episode of the series overall. "Conjoined Fetus Lady" originally aired in the United States on June 3, 1998 on Comedy Central....
" and "The Mexican Staring Frog of Southern Sri Lanka
The Mexican Staring Frog of Southern Sri Lanka
"The Mexican Staring Frog of Southern Sri Lanka" is the sixth episode of the second season of the animated television series South Park, and the 19th episode of the series overall...
". All thirteen episodes of the first season, including "Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut", were released on a DVD box set on November 12, 2002. Parker and Stone recorded commentary tracks for each episode, but the tracks were not included on the DVDs due to "standards" issues with some of the statements; refusing to allow the tracks to be censored or edited, Parker and Stone's commentary tracks were released on a separate CD.
External links
- "Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut" Full Episode at South Park Studios
- "Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut" Episode Guide at South Park Studios