Freak Strike
Encyclopedia
"Freak Strike" is the 3rd episode of the sixth season of the Comedy Central
series South Park
and the 82nd episode of the series overall. It originally aired on March 20, 2002.
on which several children with bodily defects are shown. A girl born with no midsection wins a gift certificate, so Kyle
, Stan
, Cartman
, and Butters
decide to try to get on the show with a faked deformity
to win a prize. The group decide that Butters should be the one to go on the show with balls
on his chin
, which Cartman called "Chinballalitis". Butters reluctantly agrees, and two geek
s in town make fake balls to put on Butters.
Butters then flies alone to New York
to appear on the show. In the green room
, he meets other variously deformed people, who welcome Butters to their union
, which ensures that US
TV
talk show
s interview their members regularly. Man with Foot on Head tells Butters that they hate it when people fake a deformity — for example, "Lobster Boy," who simply turned out to be a lobster
. When they found out about this, they boiled him alive. Butters nervously agrees that he hates fakers, too.
On the show, Maury
introduces Butters as "Napoleon Bonaparte
from South Park." Butters tells Maury that the kids at school make fun of him, and wins a trip to the largest miniature golf course in the world. Stan, Kyle, and Cartman are watching the show at home, and Cartman is angry that Butters got "their" prize. He calls Maury and tries to get himself on the show. The operator tells him they aren't currently interviewing people with deformities, but are trying to find "out of control kids" for a future episode. Cartman convinces his mom to take him on that show and lie that he's out of control.
Butters is grounded
by his parents, who say he embarrassed them on national TV and gave his grandmother a mild stroke
. The freaks come to Butters's house looking for him — they want him to strike
with them, but they can take back the limelight that was stolen from them. Fear of being discovered as a faker leads him to reluctantly agree, and he goes on strike with the group, which includes South Park's Nurse Gollum from the episode "Conjoined Fetus Lady
" the Thompsons from the episode "How to Eat with Your Butt
", Joseph Merrick
, Rocky Dennis, Andy Dick
, Concrete
, Liza Minnelli
, and Kevin, Dr. Mephisto's odd assistant.
Cartman and his mom go on Maury. Seeing a teenage girl named Vanity swear, physically beat her mother, and boast about her "out of control" way of life, Cartman dresses up as a slutty girl to try win the prize. For everything she says, he makes up an even more outrageous story. During this sequence, he repeatedly says, "Whateva! I do what I want!" Also featured is a four month old baby named Chantal, who frequently strips naked, though this is likely because she does not understand what she is doing, and is not really out of control.
The deformed people's union hijacks the TV studio's video screen and broadcasts a plea to the audience. They say that they are the "real" freaks, and they should not lose their means of employment to people who are only freaks because they are "stupid trailer trash from the South". The union members, featuring Butters, sing a song about looking for the "True Freak Label" on talk shows, and most of the audience agrees and leave the studio. Cartman is irate that Butters once again ruined his chance to win a prize. He runs outside and rips the fake balls off of Butters's chin. Butters fears he will be found out, but the union chases Cartman, who "ripped poor Napoleon's balls right off!," not realizing they were fake. Butters thinks things might not turn out so badly for him, but his parents arrive in a taxi
, and he knows he's in trouble again.
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
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 82nd episode of the series overall. It originally aired on March 20, 2002.
Plot
The boys are watching an episode of MauryMaury (TV series)
Maury is a syndicated American tabloid talk show hosted by Maury Povich.When the series first aired in 1991, the show was called The Maury Povich Show and was produced by MoPo Productions in association with Paramount Domestic Television...
on which several children with bodily defects are shown. A girl born with no midsection wins a gift certificate, so 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...
, 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...
, 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...
, 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...
decide to try to get on the show with a faked deformity
Deformity
A deformity, dysmorphism, or dysmorphic feature is a major difference in the shape of body part or organ compared to the average shape of that part.Deformity may arise from numerous causes:*A Genetic mutation*Damage to the fetus or uterus...
to win a prize. The group decide that Butters should be the one to go on the show with balls
Testicle
The testicle is the male gonad in animals. Like the ovaries to which they are homologous, testes are components of both the reproductive system and the endocrine system...
on his chin
Chin
In the human anatomy, the chin is the lowermost part of the face.It is formed by the lower front of the mandible.People show a wide variety of chin structures. See Cleft chin....
, which Cartman called "Chinballalitis". Butters reluctantly agrees, and two geek
Geek
The word geek is a slang term, with different meanings ranging from "a computer expert or enthusiast" to "a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts", with a general pejorative meaning of "a peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, esp[ecially] one who is perceived to...
s in town make fake balls to put on Butters.
Butters then flies alone to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to appear on the show. In the green room
Green room
In British English and American English show business lexicon, the green room is that space in a theatre, a studio, or a similar venue, which accommodates performers or speakers not yet required on stage...
, he meets other variously deformed people, who welcome Butters to their union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
, which ensures that US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
TV
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
s interview their members regularly. Man with Foot on Head tells Butters that they hate it when people fake a deformity — for example, "Lobster Boy," who simply turned out to be a lobster
Lobster
Clawed lobsters comprise a family of large marine crustaceans. Highly prized as seafood, lobsters are economically important, and are often one of the most profitable commodities in coastal areas they populate.Though several groups of crustaceans are known as lobsters, the clawed lobsters are most...
. When they found out about this, they boiled him alive. Butters nervously agrees that he hates fakers, too.
On the show, Maury
Maury Povich
Maurice Richard "Maury" Povich is an American TV talk show host who currently hosts his self-titled talk show Maury.-Personal background:...
introduces Butters as "Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
from South Park." Butters tells Maury that the kids at school make fun of him, and wins a trip to the largest miniature golf course in the world. Stan, Kyle, and Cartman are watching the show at home, and Cartman is angry that Butters got "their" prize. He calls Maury and tries to get himself on the show. The operator tells him they aren't currently interviewing people with deformities, but are trying to find "out of control kids" for a future episode. Cartman convinces his mom to take him on that show and lie that he's out of control.
Butters is grounded
Grounding (punishment)
Grounding is a form of punishment given to children, preadolescents or adolescents by their parents for misbehavior....
by his parents, who say he embarrassed them on national TV and gave his grandmother a mild stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
. The freaks come to Butters's house looking for him — they want him to strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
with them, but they can take back the limelight that was stolen from them. Fear of being discovered as a faker leads him to reluctantly agree, and he goes on strike with the group, which includes South Park's Nurse Gollum from the episode "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....
" the Thompsons from the episode "How to Eat with Your Butt
How to Eat with Your Butt
"How to Eat with Your Butt" is the tenth episode of the fifth season of the animated television series South Park, and the 75th episode of the series overall...
", Joseph Merrick
Joseph Merrick
Joseph Carey Merrick , sometimes incorrectly referred to as John Merrick, was an English man with severe deformities who was exhibited as a human curiosity named the Elephant Man. He became well known in London society after he went to live at the London Hospital...
, Rocky Dennis, Andy Dick
Andy Dick
Andrew R. "Andy" Dick is an American comedian, actor, musician and television/film producer. His first regular television role was on the short-lived but highly influential Ben Stiller Show. In the mid-1990s, he had a long-running stint on NBC's NewsRadio...
, Concrete
Concrete (comics)
Concrete is a comic book series created and written by Paul Chadwick and published by Dark Horse Comics. His first appearance is Dark Horse Presents #1...
, Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
, and Kevin, Dr. Mephisto's odd assistant.
Cartman and his mom go on Maury. Seeing a teenage girl named Vanity swear, physically beat her mother, and boast about her "out of control" way of life, Cartman dresses up as a slutty girl to try win the prize. For everything she says, he makes up an even more outrageous story. During this sequence, he repeatedly says, "Whateva! I do what I want!" Also featured is a four month old baby named Chantal, who frequently strips naked, though this is likely because she does not understand what she is doing, and is not really out of control.
The deformed people's union hijacks the TV studio's video screen and broadcasts a plea to the audience. They say that they are the "real" freaks, and they should not lose their means of employment to people who are only freaks because they are "stupid trailer trash from the South". The union members, featuring Butters, sing a song about looking for the "True Freak Label" on talk shows, and most of the audience agrees and leave the studio. Cartman is irate that Butters once again ruined his chance to win a prize. He runs outside and rips the fake balls off of Butters's chin. Butters fears he will be found out, but the union chases Cartman, who "ripped poor Napoleon's balls right off!," not realizing they were fake. Butters thinks things might not turn out so badly for him, but his parents arrive in a taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
, and he knows he's in trouble again.
External links
- Freak Strike Full episode at South Park Studios
- Freak Strike Episode guide at South Park Studios