Cherokee Hair Tampons
Encyclopedia
"Cherokee Hair Tampons" is the sixth episode of the fourth season
of the animated television series South Park
, and the 54th episode of the series overall. "Cherokee Hair Tampons" originally aired in the United States
on June 28, 2000 on Comedy Central
.
pretending that he is Cartman
, Kenny
pretending he is Stan, and Cartman pretending he is Kenny. Cartman laughs so hard that milk squirts out of his nose. The gag continues as milk shoots out of his nose every time he laughs, even when not drinking. The teacher gives them all an assignment to make a get-well-soon card for Kyle
, and Butters
literally ends up being the card. Stan visits his sick friend, who is, according to his mother, suffering from kidney failure due to diabetes. Since they are unable to find a donor and Sheila is worried about the risks of having Kyle undergo surgery, Sharon suggests to Sheila that she try New Age
healing
to cure Kyle. They visit the holistic medicine store of a newly arrived shopkeeper named Miss Information (misinformation), who tells them that mysterious "toxins" are the cause of Kyle's ailments and prescribes a series of herbs to help him
; they do not help, but she convinces the people of South Park that they are healing him even though it is not visible. The whole town becomes enamored with her remedies and buys such nostrums
as "Cherokee
hair tampons" from two supposed Native Americans
(played by Cheech Marin
and Tommy Chong
) who share her store. Before long, everyone is so hooked on "holistic medicine" that Miss Information can get away with selling coat hangers as "dream catchers
" for very high prices. Meanwhile, Mr. Garrison
is fired for charges of soliciting sex from a minor
. He decides to fulfill his dream of publishing a book and begins to write a romance novel
, in which he manages to use the word "penis
" 6,083 times.
Stan goes to ask Dr. Doctor for help, and the doctor says that Kyle will die unless he gets a kidney transplant from the only other person in town with a compatible blood type
, Cartman. Stan tries to convince everyone that the New Age so-called "healing" is not working and that only a kidney transplant can cure Kyle, but Miss Information insists that the doctor is only interested in making money from the procedure, even as she herself charges exorbitant prices for her holistic healing items. Stan tries to convince Cartman to donate his organ, and Cartman agrees to do it in exchange for $10 million. Stan tries to get people to help him take Cartman's kidney by force. However, only Butters and Timmy show up. When Stan expresses disappointment, Butters mentions Clyde would have come too, had there not been tacos for dinner. An attempt to sneak into Cartman's house and cut his kidney
out while he sleeps proves fruitless, as he wears a "Kidney Blocker 2000". Resigned, Stan laments to Kenny over Kyle's imminent death at the hands of holistic medicine. Kenny, furious at Stan for apparently disregarding Kenny's numerous deaths, says what sounds like Cartman's signature phrase "screw you guy's, I'm going home". This is also reinforced by the fact that Kenny points off screen to the right, just like Cartman. Kenny then walks off, only to be crushed by a falling piano. Mrs. Broflovski brings a very weak and gravely ill Kyle in for a "spiritual healing" by Miss Information's "Native Americans
." To the shock of the citizens, the "Native Americans" take one look at Kyle and declare that he is in need of a doctor. They then admit that they and Miss Information are frauds and that they are really Mexican
. They explain to the townsfolk that Miss Information had convinced everyone that the three of them were Native Americans but that they had simply neglected to set the record straight. Angered, the townsfolk attack and beat Miss Information, and Stan declares that he has a plan to get Kyle a kidney.
Cartman awakens the next day to find the Kidney Blocker 2000 destroyed and red liquid all over his bed. He marches to Stan's house and recovers his kidney, then goes to the doctor and arranges to have it put back in, but not before signing a release form. However, it was all a ruse—part of Stan's plan. Cartman's mom had opened the Blocker and spread ketchup
on his bed to fool him. The form he signed actually allowed Kyle to take his kidney; the kidney that Stan had given him was fake. Cartman is angered, Kyle is better, and Mr. Garrison, now a best-selling author, comes to give him a signed copy of his book, In the Valley of Penises. Cartman is still angry and, as Kyle and Stan laugh at him, milk comes out of Kyle's nose. Cartman expresses relief that Kyle got his "crappy kidney".
South Park (season 4)
Season four of South Park, an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, began airing on April 5, 2000. The fourth season concluded after 17 episodes on December 20, 2000.- Episodes :-External links:...
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 54th episode of the series overall. "Cherokee Hair Tampons" 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 June 28, 2000 on Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
.
Plot synopsis
The episode begins with a substitute teacher coming in to teach the 3rd grade class. The boys mess around with the teacher at roll call, with StanStan 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...
pretending that he is 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...
, 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...
pretending he is Stan, and Cartman pretending he is Kenny. Cartman laughs so hard that milk squirts out of his nose. The gag continues as milk shoots out of his nose every time he laughs, even when not drinking. The teacher gives them all an assignment to make a get-well-soon card for 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 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...
literally ends up being the card. Stan visits his sick friend, who is, according to his mother, suffering from kidney failure due to diabetes. Since they are unable to find a donor and Sheila is worried about the risks of having Kyle undergo surgery, Sharon suggests to Sheila that she try New Age
New Age
The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...
healing
Healing
Physiological healing is the restoration of damaged living tissue, organs and biological system to normal function. It is the process by which the cells in the body regenerate and repair to reduce the size of a damaged or necrotic area....
to cure Kyle. They visit the holistic medicine store of a newly arrived shopkeeper named Miss Information (misinformation), who tells them that mysterious "toxins" are the cause of Kyle's ailments and prescribes a series of herbs to help him
Body cleansing
Detoxification is an alternative medicine approach that proponents claim rids the body of "toxins", accumulated harmful substances that are alleged to exert undesirable effects on individual health...
; they do not help, but she convinces the people of South Park that they are healing him even though it is not visible. The whole town becomes enamored with her remedies and buys such nostrums
Patent medicine
Patent medicine refers to medical compounds of questionable effectiveness sold under a variety of names and labels. The term "patent medicine" is somewhat of a misnomer because, in most cases, although many of the products were trademarked, they were never patented...
as "Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
hair tampons" from two supposed Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
(played by Cheech Marin
Cheech Marin
Richard Anthony "Cheech" Marin is an American comedian, actor and writer who gained recognition as part of the comedy act Cheech & Chong during the 1970s and early 1980s, and as Don Johnson's partner, Insp. Joe Dominguez on Nash Bridges...
and Tommy Chong
Tommy Chong
Tommy Chong is a Canadian-American comedian, actor, writer, director, activist, and musician who is well known for his stereotypical portrayals of hippie-era stoners...
) who share her store. Before long, everyone is so hooked on "holistic medicine" that Miss Information can get away with selling coat hangers as "dream catchers
Dreamcatcher
Dreamcatcher is a Native American cultural object.Dreamcatcher may also refer to:-Entertainment:* Dreamcatcher , a 2001 novel by Stephen King** Dreamcatcher , based on the Stephen King novel...
" for very high prices. Meanwhile, Mr. Garrison
Herbert Garrison
Mr. Herbert Garrison is a recurring character in the American animated television series South Park. He is voiced by Trey Parker. For the first eight seasons of the series, the character was known as Mr. Garrison but underwent sex reassignment surgery in the season 9 episode "Mr. Garrison's Fancy...
is fired for charges of soliciting sex from a minor
Cartman Joins NAMBLA
"Cartman Joins NAMBLA" is the fifth episode of the fourth season of the animated television series South Park, and the 53rd episode of the series overall...
. He decides to fulfill his dream of publishing a book and begins to write a romance novel
Romance novel
The romance novel is a literary genre developed in Western culture, mainly in English-speaking countries. Novels in this genre place their primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and must have an "emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending." Through the late...
, in which he manages to use the word "penis
Penis
The penis is a biological feature of male animals including both vertebrates and invertebrates...
" 6,083 times.
Stan goes to ask Dr. Doctor for help, and the doctor says that Kyle will die unless he gets a kidney transplant from the only other person in town with a compatible blood type
Blood type
A blood type is a classification of blood based on the presence or absence of inherited antigenic substances on the surface of red blood cells . These antigens may be proteins, carbohydrates, glycoproteins, or glycolipids, depending on the blood group system...
, Cartman. Stan tries to convince everyone that the New Age so-called "healing" is not working and that only a kidney transplant can cure Kyle, but Miss Information insists that the doctor is only interested in making money from the procedure, even as she herself charges exorbitant prices for her holistic healing items. Stan tries to convince Cartman to donate his organ, and Cartman agrees to do it in exchange for $10 million. Stan tries to get people to help him take Cartman's kidney by force. However, only Butters and Timmy show up. When Stan expresses disappointment, Butters mentions Clyde would have come too, had there not been tacos for dinner. An attempt to sneak into Cartman's house and cut his kidney
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
out while he sleeps proves fruitless, as he wears a "Kidney Blocker 2000". Resigned, Stan laments to Kenny over Kyle's imminent death at the hands of holistic medicine. Kenny, furious at Stan for apparently disregarding Kenny's numerous deaths, says what sounds like Cartman's signature phrase "screw you guy's, I'm going home". This is also reinforced by the fact that Kenny points off screen to the right, just like Cartman. Kenny then walks off, only to be crushed by a falling piano. Mrs. Broflovski brings a very weak and gravely ill Kyle in for a "spiritual healing" by Miss Information's "Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
." To the shock of the citizens, the "Native Americans" take one look at Kyle and declare that he is in need of a doctor. They then admit that they and Miss Information are frauds and that they are really Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. They explain to the townsfolk that Miss Information had convinced everyone that the three of them were Native Americans but that they had simply neglected to set the record straight. Angered, the townsfolk attack and beat Miss Information, and Stan declares that he has a plan to get Kyle a kidney.
Cartman awakens the next day to find the Kidney Blocker 2000 destroyed and red liquid all over his bed. He marches to Stan's house and recovers his kidney, then goes to the doctor and arranges to have it put back in, but not before signing a release form. However, it was all a ruse—part of Stan's plan. Cartman's mom had opened the Blocker and spread ketchup
Ketchup
Ketchup is a sweet-and-tangy condiment typically made from tomatoes, vinegar, sugar or high-fructose corn syrup and an assortment of...
on his bed to fool him. The form he signed actually allowed Kyle to take his kidney; the kidney that Stan had given him was fake. Cartman is angered, Kyle is better, and Mr. Garrison, now a best-selling author, comes to give him a signed copy of his book, In the Valley of Penises. Cartman is still angry and, as Kyle and Stan laugh at him, milk comes out of Kyle's nose. Cartman expresses relief that Kyle got his "crappy kidney".
External links
- "Cherokee Hair Tampons" Full episode at South Park Studios
- "Cherokee Hair Tampons" Episode guide at South Park Studios