The Losing Edge
Encyclopedia
"The Losing Edge" is the fifth episode of the ninth season
of the American animated series
South Park
. It originally aired April 6, 2005.
baseball
team, although they do not share their parents' enthusiasm for the sport at all, wishing instead to start enjoying their summer holiday
. When they win their final game, they are at first overjoyed that now they can "start having fun again" however, they discover to their horror that they have to continue playing in the post-season. They decide to try losing their next game on purpose, and thereby get out of the running for the state championship, but the teams they oppose all have exactly the same idea, and while trying desperately to lose, they manage again and again to beat their opponents, whose efforts at throwing games are more successful. Eventually, they get to the final. To their horror, they discover that, if they win that game, their season will start over on the national circuit, meaning they will have to play baseball all summer.
Stan's
father, Randy, takes up the hobby of being a "trash talking dad", being generally obnoxious at every game so as to get into fights with other, equally obnoxious fathers. While training to be the best fighter he can be, he becomes terrified when he meets the Denver team's "Bat Dad", who wears a purple Batman
cowl
and cape, is much bigger than him, and behaves even more obnoxiously. He decides not to attend the game.
Cartman
tells the team that they need someone who "totally sucks ass" to join their team. Kyle
says he knows just the person: his stereotypically Jewish cousin Kyle Schwartz, as he knows his cousin is terrible at any sport. Stan and the others play their game against Denver, who, like the other opponents, do not want to win either. Even drafting Kyle's cousin fails, as the pitcher has been practicing and manages to hit his bat, resulting in a bunt
and subsequent home run after he rounds the bases with no effort from Denver to throw him out. When Denver step up to bat, it is further revealed that they have also learnt to "bat themselves out" - deliberately hitting the ball so that it lands in the gloves of one of the fielders.
Just as it seems the South Park team is sure to win, Randy shows up and begins a huge fight with Bat Dad that spills onto the field, leading the umpires to warn that if either man continues to fight, their team will be disqualified. The South Park team realizes they can lose despite the lopsided score and encourage him to continue to fight. Randy gets back up and soundly defeats Bat Dad, resulting in South Park being disqualified, leaving Denver to waste their whole summer on the national circuit. Amongst the overjoyed boys, Stan tells his father, "You're the greatest", as he is led away by the police in his underwear. After hearing this, Randy jumps for joy as "You're the Best
" plays.
Although Kenny
has no spoken parts in the episode, it is assumed that he is the boy with the golden messy hair, wearing #13.
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...
of the American animated series
Cartoon series
A cartoon series is a set of regularly presented animated television programs with a common series title, usually related to one another. These episodes typically share the same characters and a basic theme...
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 originally aired April 6, 2005.
Plot
The boys of South Park are involved in a Little LeagueLittle League
Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team, although they do not share their parents' enthusiasm for the sport at all, wishing instead to start enjoying their summer holiday
Summer holiday
Summer holiday may refer to:* Summer vacation, a vacation in the summertime between school yearsIn popular culture:* Summer Holiday , an American musical starring Mickey Rooney...
. When they win their final game, they are at first overjoyed that now they can "start having fun again" however, they discover to their horror that they have to continue playing in the post-season. They decide to try losing their next game on purpose, and thereby get out of the running for the state championship, but the teams they oppose all have exactly the same idea, and while trying desperately to lose, they manage again and again to beat their opponents, whose efforts at throwing games are more successful. Eventually, they get to the final. To their horror, they discover that, if they win that game, their season will start over on the national circuit, meaning they will have to play baseball all summer.
Stan's
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...
father, Randy, takes up the hobby of being a "trash talking dad", being generally obnoxious at every game so as to get into fights with other, equally obnoxious fathers. While training to be the best fighter he can be, he becomes terrified when he meets the Denver team's "Bat Dad", who wears a purple Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
cowl
Cowl
This article is about the garment used by monks and nuns. For other uses, see Cowl or Cowling .The cowl is an item of clothing consisting of a long, hooded garment with wide sleeves. Originally it may have referred simply to the hooded portion of a cloak...
and cape, is much bigger than him, and behaves even more obnoxiously. He decides not to attend the game.
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...
tells the team that they need someone who "totally sucks ass" to join their team. 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...
says he knows just the person: his stereotypically Jewish cousin Kyle Schwartz, as he knows his cousin is terrible at any sport. Stan and the others play their game against Denver, who, like the other opponents, do not want to win either. Even drafting Kyle's cousin fails, as the pitcher has been practicing and manages to hit his bat, resulting in a bunt
Bunt
A bunt is a special type of offensive technique in baseball or fastpitch softball. In a bunt play, the batter loosely holds the bat in front of the plate and intentionally taps the ball into play.- Bunting technique :...
and subsequent home run after he rounds the bases with no effort from Denver to throw him out. When Denver step up to bat, it is further revealed that they have also learnt to "bat themselves out" - deliberately hitting the ball so that it lands in the gloves of one of the fielders.
Just as it seems the South Park team is sure to win, Randy shows up and begins a huge fight with Bat Dad that spills onto the field, leading the umpires to warn that if either man continues to fight, their team will be disqualified. The South Park team realizes they can lose despite the lopsided score and encourage him to continue to fight. Randy gets back up and soundly defeats Bat Dad, resulting in South Park being disqualified, leaving Denver to waste their whole summer on the national circuit. Amongst the overjoyed boys, Stan tells his father, "You're the greatest", as he is led away by the police in his underwear. After hearing this, Randy jumps for joy as "You're the Best
You're the Best
"You're the Best" is a song performed by Joe Esposito and written by Bill Conti and Allee Willis, which came to prominence as the music to the All-Valley Karate Championships montage in the 1984 movie The Karate Kid in which the protagonist, Daniel LaRusso , proves a surprisingly formidable...
" plays.
Although 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...
has no spoken parts in the episode, it is assumed that he is the boy with the golden messy hair, wearing #13.
External links
- The Losing Edge Full episode at South Park Studios
- The Losing Edge Episode guide at South Park Studios