Amazon.com reviews for
"South Park" (1997)

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South Park Gift Pack Volumes 1-3 (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: Fans of South Park, Comedy Central's wildly successful animated sitcom that's become a cultural phenomenon, can save cash by purchasing all three of the available volumes in this one blandly packaged box set. Each volume contains two episodes from the show's hilarious first season, plus two very tongue-in-cheek, self-mocking fireside chats with cocreators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. The controversial cartoon gained a devoted cult following for its wonderfully unabashed assaults on dull sitcom formulas and political correctness. While the show's animation is beyond primitive, with goofy construction-paper cutouts acting as characters, its writing is hilariously shocking and pushes the envelope of good taste off the table. The six episodes explore the small mountain town of South Park from the point of view of four foul-mouthed yet lovable 8-year-olds. They include level-headed coleaders Stan and Kyle; the fat, terminally pissed off, and hysterical Eric Cartman; and the hooded, incoherent Kenny (who dies in every episode). As such, it's stuffed with toilet humor, graphic violence, and profanity; but South Park also cleverly subverts TV clichés and acts as a scorching satire of America's hypocritical attitudes toward social problems like racism, homophobia, jingoism, neglectful parenting, euthanasia, and so on. Tape 1 includes the sci-fi parody pilot, "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe," and "Volcano," a send-up of Hollywood disaster movies and a commentary on hunting. Tape 2 includes the show's sharpest social critique, "Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride," along with "Weight Gain 4000." Finally, tape 3 wraps up the collection in outrageous style with "An Elephant Makes Love to a Pig," about genetic cloning, and "Death," which tackles euthanasia and, appropriately, offensive television. --Dave McCoy

South Park Vol. 04: Pinkeye/Damien (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: Volume 4 of South Park on home video couples 1997's Halloween special, "Pinkeye," with the Omen-parody, "Damien." In "Pinkeye," the town finds itself in the midst of an epidemic of zombie-ism spawned by the mix of embalming fluid and Worcestershire sauce in the cadaver of the bundled, mumbling Kenny--who, for a change, dies at the beginning of the show. Outside of being one of the more particularly gruesome and gory South Parks, this episode is packed with all of the satire and dark societal humor typical of creators Parker and Stone. Highlights include Cartman's Hitler and subsequent KKK costume and Chef's zombie dance à la Michael Jackson's "Thriller" choreography.

"Damien" has the makings of a classic both for its boxing match between Jesus (of the public access, call-in show Jesus and Pals) and the 350-pound red Beezelbub and for the twistedly excessive celebration of Cartman's birthday. Viewers will find some of the funniest Cartman lines here. He basks in the attention his birthday brings by assigning out gifts to party invitees and stuffing himself with pie, cake, and ice cream, provided by the eerily pleasant Mrs. Cartman, of course. A great pairing of great episodes. One note: even though South Park is animated, it's not for children. --Karen Karleski

South Park, Vol. 05: Starvin' Marvin/Mecha-Streisand (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: Volume 5 of South Park on home video pairs two thematic, daring episodes that are among the louder commentary of creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. "Starvin' Marvin" (1997's Thanksgiving episode) touches on the opposing ideas of starvation and eating in an attack on townspeople by genetically altered turkeys while the boys adopt an Ethiopian boy accidentally sent to them via airmail (they really wanted the complimentary sports watch). An acidic portrayal of Sally Struthers spices this episode, and though the idea of "Marvin" is at first difficult to swallow, the searing hilarity provokes thought. Pointed and very funny.

"Mecha Streisand" was a chance for Parker and Stone to unleash their hatred of Barbra Streisand (as they capriciously state in their filmed introduction). Paying tribute to the Japanese monster-duel movies of the 1960s like Godzilla, the story hilariously portrays Streisand as a rich, egomaniacal celebrity (wonder why) hell-bent on finding the missing relic that will transform her into a giant metal Barbra--a monster who crushes South Park's buildings at one moment while pausing to sign an autograph for Kyle's mother the next. Another highlight of "Mecha-Streisand" is the portrayal of a cynical, laid-back Leonard Maltin who, teamed with Sydney Poitier and Robert Smith of the Cure, band together to battle the evil "Mecha-Streisand." Don't miss "Mecha-Streisand." (For adults only.) --Karen Karleski

South Park: Not Without My Anus (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: South Park built to a frenzy with its two-part special, "Cartman's Mom Is a Dirty Slut" and "Cartman's Mother Is Still a Dirty Slut." Who is Cartman's father? Chef? Chief Running Water? The 1991 Denver Broncos? Well, folks following the saga on Comedy Central were left wondering an extra week, because an April Fools' special was shown between parts 1 and 2, an episode of The Terrance and Phillip Show, the favorite program of young South Parkers. And quite the April Fools' prank it was--even diehard South Park fans may find an entire half hour of Terrance and Phillip to be too much. The flatulence-loving Canadians are subject to a soap-opera plot, in which Terrance is accused of murder, is plotted against by Saddam Hussein, and has a daughter with Celine Dion--all within the first five minutes. Drawn in the same chopped-head style of South Park's Ike, this show is bound to offend everyone, and thereby will probably greatly appeal to adolescent boys. One amusing note, though, is the metacartoon aspect: Terrance and Phillip entertain themselves by watching South Park on TV. While the mockery of Celine Dion and the portrayal of Saddam Hussein taking over Canada are vaguely amusing, unless you're a tremendous fan of farting humor, you're better off sticking with the original South Park videos, which seem almost mature in comparison. --Jenny Brown

South Park, Vol. 06: Mr. Hankey, The Christmas Poo/Tom's Rhinoplasty (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: Volume 6 bundles together 1997's holidays specials, "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo" and "Tom's Rhinoplasty." Outside of the usual mocking social commentary and piercing wit from writers Parker and Stone, viewers will find some great musical performances in the "Mr. Hankey" episode: Kyle's "I'm a Lonely Jew on Christmas" lament; Mr. Hankey's "Howdy-Ho;" Chef's original, yuletide song (as only Chef can do); Cartman's "Kyle's Mom Is a Bitch;" and the finale chorus of the "Mr. Hankey" theme. While the town works to put on a "nondenominational, nonoffensive" school play, Kyle tries to convince family and friends that yes, indeed, the Christmas turd in a red Santa hat that sang and danced in his bathroom is real. The "Mr. Hankey" episode contains the debut of the hilariously true-to-life "um-kay" school counselor, Mr. Macki--who after talking with Kyle about his delusions of a poo, calls him "a twisted, little monkey." Also, included is the unforgettably sick and repulsively funny Mr. Hankey play-kit commercial. Of course, in the end, after all is parodied and sung, people come together in the name of, um, the holidays, I guess.

If "Mr. Hankey" is the South Park musical, then "Tom's Rhinoplasty" is the vomiting special (e.g., Mr. Garrison and Stan). Teacher Mr. Garrison takes a leave of absence to have plastic surgery (which turns his face into the cut-out of David Hasselhoff's--a bizarre effect difficult to watch at first) while the good looks of his substitute, Ms. Ellen, sends the boys reeling into lovey-dovey land. As they compete to woo Ms. Ellen during Valentine's Day season (Cartman: "I'm gonna buy her a vacuum cleaner; chicks love vacuum cleaners…."), Wendy Testaburger's jealousy festers and grows into an explosively funny climax (due in part to the twists on Ms. Ellen's character). Volume 6 is not to be missed... except by your children, of course. --Karen Karleski

South Park - The Best of South Park (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: Best of South Park is right. These two episodes--Rainforest Schmainforest and Chinpoko Mon--represent the potty-mouthed Colorado kids at their most hilarious and cutting, ruthlessly skewering politically correct environmentalism and toy-buying frenzy. In Rainforest Schmainforest our heroic foursome is drafted into the environmentally conscious singing group "Getting Gay with Kids," who sing pop confections about saving the rainforests, complete with variety-show-caliber choreography. On a Central American field trip, escorted by their earnest group leader (voiced by Jennifer Aniston), the kids get lost in the rainforest they're supposed to be saving and find it filled with poisonous snakes and unfriendly natives. Needless to say, the rainforest sucks. Chinpoko Mon, on the other hand, finds the kids in thrall of something that doesn't suck--the immensely popular line of Japanese toys that bears not a little resemblance to Pokémon. In their fervor to collect them all, they don't realize they're falling prey to a Japanese plot to take over the United States, in retaliation for World War II. Chock-full of hilarious details--including market testing for rival toys, and the fact that one of the collectible toys is named "Shoe" (and is indeed just a plain shoe)--Chinpoko Mon scored South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker an Emmy nomination and showcases the TV show at its satiric best. As always, the usual disclaimers apply--this cartoon isn't for kids (especially when the Japanese toy-makers try to distract the Americans by showing them their "very tiny penises--so small!") but for culturally savvy adults. Also includes part 2 of the British documentary Goin' Down to South Park. --Mark Englehart

South Park, Vol. 01: Cartman Gets Probe/Volcano (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: This, volume 1 of three, contains two episodes from the first season of South Park, Comedy Central's wildly successful animated sitcom. In addition, viewers get two very tongue-in-cheek fireside chats with co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. The controversial cartoon gained a devoted cult following for its wonderfully unabashed assaults on dull sitcom formula and political correctness. While the show's animation is beyond primitive, with goofy construction-paper cutouts acting as characters, its writing is hilariously shocking and pushes the envelope of good taste off the table. Episodes explore the small mountain town of South Park through the point of view of four foul-mouthed yet lovable eight-year-olds. They include level-headed co-leaders Stan and Kyle; the fat, terminally pissed-off, and hysterical Eric Cartman; and the hooded, incoherent Kenny (who dies in every episode). As such, it's stuffed with toilet humor, graphic violence, and profanity; but South Park also cleverly subverts TV clichés and acts as a scorching, very frank satire of America's hypocritical attitudes toward social problems like racism, homophobia, jingoism, and neglectful parenting. This volume is a perfect introduction to the show, as it sets up the town's numerous and warped characters and many of South Park's quotable catch phrases. The first, "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe," is basically minor, though funny, as it sends up UFO conspiracy freaks and shows like The X-Files when Kyle's little brother, Ike, is abducted and the boys must get him back. The second, "Volcano," mocks Hollywood's fascination with disaster movies, as an erupting volcano threatens the town. Better, though, is its subplot: when the kids are taken hunting, Stan is unable to pull the trigger, and is ridiculed as weak and sick, thus mocking a prevailing mindset among those who kill for sport. --Dave McCoy

South Park, Vol. 10: Flashbacks/Summer Sucks (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: Would you like to see an episode of South Park in which, for once, Kenny doesn't die? Then volume 10 may be just what you're looking for. "Flashbacks" finds the kids reminiscing over old times while stranded in their school bus, which is teetering on the edge of a cliff. While Mrs. Crabtree goes off for help (and instead finds a hunky truck driver), the kids go over some of the best memories of their short lives, including Cartman's realization that his father really was Broncos quarterback John Elway (psych). There are a lot of plot twists on stories you may have seen and you may wonder why everything's so out of whack--until the nicely bundled ending. This is a solid two-episode pack that includes the funny "Summer Sucks," in which Cartman just can't seem to find a swimming pool free of weeing first graders. --Karen K. Hugg

South Park, Vol. 11: Chef's Salty Chocolate Balls/Chickenpox (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: Animators Trey Parker and Matt Stone poke barbed fun at the Sundance Film Festival and its band of shallow Hollywood producers and hangers-on in this first of two South Park episodes in volume 11. While Chef tries to capitalize on South Park's influx of visitors by cooking up chocolate confections with the appetizing yet repulsive name of "Chef's Salty Chocolate Balls," Mr. Hanky chokes in the sewer from increased sewage flow. This last bit of plot is the hardest to (pardon the expression) swallow, but beyond this it's a wickedly funny tale that rips on Hollywood fads and pseudo-intellectual film lovers. "Chickenpox" is the wildly hilarious story of the boys' parents working together to get the boys to catch chickenpox by staying overnight at Kenny's poor, waffles-for-dinner home. When the boys discover they've been deceived and have "chicken herpes," they seek devious revenge using a herpes-laden prostitute whose antics will make you both cringe in offended horror and laugh hysterically at the same time. --Karen Karleski

South Park, Vol. 12: Roger Ebert Should Lay Off the Fatty Foods/Clubhouses (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: A bit stale with cuss words and easy, mindless insults, South Park, Volume 12 offers "Roger Ebert Should Lay off the Fatty Foods" and "Clubhouses," two decent episodes that will please fans but not necessarily convert newbies. "Roger Ebert" tells the story of the local planetarium, about to go out of business, and its manager hypnotizing school children in order to save it. There are some funny moments here, mostly within the subplot of Cartman auditioning for the Cheesy Poofs commercial, but the much better half of this video is "Clubhouses." Stan and Kyle race against Cartman and Kenny to build clubhouses in order to play truth or dare with girls. In the meantime, Stan's parents are bickering and suddenly divorce, and Stan must cope with the change while pressured by Wendy and Bebe to finish the clubhouse. This is a fertile story, pitting young, experimental attraction against old, tired relationships inside a hilarious script that pokes fun at resentments common to long-married couples and parodies divorcés and their new lovers. A strong episode that could've been just as amusing without Bebe's dull references to Kyle's butt. --Karen Karleski

South Park - Gift Pack 4 (Volumes 10-12) (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: Not exactly the gift pack to gently introduce South Park virgins to the joys of this TV series, the fourth set functions better as a present for devoted fans. It kicks off with "Flashbacks," an episode retracing many of the early classic episodes--with surprise twists, of course, before celebrating South Park during the summer, complete with fireworks and kiddie pee-pee swimming pools. Volume 11 captures the day the Sundance Film Festival came to South Park in "Chef's Salty Chocolate Balls," complete with Hollywood's short attention spans and faux intellectualism, while "Chicken Pox" is an unbelievably gross yet very funny episode dealing in the boys' parents' attempts at getting them chicken pox for their own health. To round out this lovely set are "Roger Ebert Should Lay Off the Fatty Foods"--a tired title for a somewhat tired episode--and "Clubhouses," the much more daring and hilarious of the two in which ideas of love, attraction, marriage, and divorce are all sharply parodied. A solid gift pack with classic South Park schtick. --Karen K. Hugg

South Park, Vol. 2: Weight Gain 4000 / Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: This, volume 2 of three, contains two episodes from the first season of South Park, Comedy Central's wildly successful animated sitcom. In addition, viewers get two very tongue-in-cheek fireside chats with cocreators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. The controversial cartoon gained a devoted cult following for its wonderfully unabashed assaults on dull sitcom formula and politically correctness. While the show's animation is beyond primitive, with goofy construction-paper cutouts acting as characters, its writing is hilariously shocking and pushes the envelope of good taste off the table. Episodes explore the small mountain town of South Park through the point of view of four foul-mouthed yet lovable eight-year-olds. They include level-headed co-leaders Stan and Kyle; the fat, terminally pissed-off, and hysterical Eric Cartman; and the hooded, incoherent Kenny (who dies in every episode). As such, it's stuffed with toilet humor, graphic violence, and profanity, but South Park also cleverly subverts TV clichés, and acts as a scorching satire of America's hypocritical attitudes toward social problems like racism, homophobia, jingoism, neglectful parenting. The finest example is "Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride." When Stan's dog, Sparky, begins showing signs of homosexuality, the boys can't cope and try to change his nature until he finally runs away to a gay pet sanctuary. Meanwhile, Parker and Stone underscore the social ignorance by mirroring this with a huge, macho football game that demands all of the town's interest. Rarely has gay commentary been this pointed or clever on television. "Weight Gain 4000," while humorous, is the weakest of the early episodes and displays the show's unfortunately repeated fixation with celebrities and popular culture. As the town prepares for the arrival of Kathy Lee Gifford, one of her bitter former classmates prepares to settle an old score, Taxi Driver-style. --Dave McCoy

South Park, Vol. 03: An Elephant Makes Love to a Pig/Death (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: This, volume 3 of three, contains two episodes from the first season of South Park, Comedy Central's wildly successful animated sitcom. In addition, viewers get two very tongue-in-cheek fireside chats with co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. The controversial cartoon gained a devoted cult following for its wonderfully unabashed assaults on dull sitcom formula and politically correctness. While the show's animation is beyond primitive, with goofy construction-paper cutouts acting as characters, its writing is hilariously shocking and pushes the envelope of good taste off the table. Episodes explore the small mountain town of South Park through the point of view of four foul-mouthed yet lovable eight-year-olds. They include level-headed co-leaders Stan and Kyle; the fat, terminally pissed-off, and hysterical Eric Cartman; and the hooded, incoherent Kenny (who dies in every episode). As such, it's stuffed with toilet humor, graphic violence, and profanity; but South Park also cleverly subverts TV clichés and acts as a scorching satire of America's hypocritical attitude towards social problems like racism, homophobia, jingoism, neglectful parenting, etc. Of the three volumes currently available, this is the finest. "An Elephant Makes Love to a Pig," is a crazy, raunchy look at genetic cloning--not to mention a parody of Marlon Brando's embarrassing performance in The Island of Dr. Moreau--as the boys try to win a science fair by mating Kyle's pet elephant with Cartman's pot-bellied pig. "Death" addresses both euthanasia and, self-consciously, offensive television. As Stan's 102-year-old grandfather tries to get anyone to off him, South Park parents try and get their kids' favorite TV show--starring the farting, swearing duo, "Terrence and Phillip"--tossed off the air. --Dave McCoy

South Park Vol. 1 (dvd):

Amazon.com video review: Four foul-mouthed tykes in parkas and wool caps navigate the treacherous snows of adolescence such as puppy love, sibling jealousy, and alien abduction in the cartoon that celebrates the American art of bad taste with crude, cut-out animation and construction-paper color. The pilot episode, "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe," establishes the tone and style of all episodes to come: gentle homilies and childhood innocence arising from a twisted plot with grotesque and bizarre twists, in this case involving UFOs, flaming flatulence, and a 20-foot antenna array that springs out of Cartman's butt. In "Volcano" the boys learn the masculine art of hunting endangered species and meet the mythic wilderness monster Scuzzlebutt while oozing lava threatens their town. In "Weight Gain 4000," "big boned" Cartman decides he must slam dietary supplements to beef up for a TV appearance with Kathy Lee Gifford, while Mr. Garrison (egged on by insidious hand puppet Mr. Hat) plots his revenge. Finally, Stan learns tolerance in "Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride" while his elementary school struggles to beat the 72-point spread in the big homecoming game--a major event in a town where many citizens never got past the fifth grade. Sweater-garbed creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone introduce each episode in bizarre fireside chats in which they proclaim every episode their "very favorite" as they exchange longing, moon-eyed glances and their dog Old Scratch changes size and breed from shot to shot. --Sean Axmaker

South Park, Vol. 2 (dvd):

Amazon.com video review: Four more episodes from Comedy Central's animated sitcom South Park are included in the second volume of this series. In "An Elephant Makes Love to a Pig," a crazy, raunchy look at genetic cloning (as well as a parody of Marlon Brando's embarrassing performance in The Island of Dr. Moreau), the boys try to win a science fair by mating Kyle's pet elephant with Cartman's pot-bellied pig. "Death" addresses both euthanasia and, self-consciously, offensive television. As Stan's 102-year-old grandfather tries to get someone to off him, South Park parents try to get their kids' favorite TV show--starring the farting, swearing duo Terrence and Phillip--tossed off the air. In "Pinkeye," the town finds itself in the midst of an epidemic of zombie-ism spawned by the mix of embalming fluid and Worcestershire sauce in the cadaver of the bundled, mumbling Kenny--who, for a change, dies at the beginning of the show. "Damien" has the makings of a classic, both for its boxing match between Jesus (of the public access, call-in show Jesus and Pals) and the 350-pound red Beelzebub as well as for the twisted and excessive celebration of Cartman's birthday. Viewers will find some of the funniest Cartman lines here. He basks in the attention his birthday brings by assigning out gifts to party invitees and stuffing himself with pie, cake, and ice cream, all provided by the eerily pleasant Mrs. Cartman, of course. --Karen Karleski

South Park, Volume 3 (dvd):

Amazon.com video review: Volume 3 of South Park on DVD contains four episodes from 1997. "Starvin' Marvin" (a Thanksgiving episode) features an attack on the townspeople by genetically altered turkeys while the boys adopt an Ethiopian boy accidentally sent to them via airmail. "Mecha Streisand" was a chance for the program's creators to unleash their hatred of Barbra Streisand. Paying tribute to the Japanese monster duel movies of the 1960s, the story hilariously portrays Streisand as a rich, egomaniacal celebrity hell-bent on finding the missing relic that will transform her into a giant metal Barbra--a monster that crushes South Park's buildings at one moment while pausing to sign an autograph for Kyle's mother the next. Viewers will find some great musical performances in the "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo": Kyle's "I'm a Lonely Jew on Christmas" lament; Mr. Hankey's "Howdy-Ho"; Chef's original, yuletide song (as only Chef can do); Cartman's "Kyle's Mom Is a Bitch"; and the finale chorus of the "Mr. Hankey" theme. While the town works to put on a "nondenominational, non-offensive" school play, Kyle tries to convince family and friends that yes, indeed, the Christmas turd in a red Santa hat that sang and danced in his bathroom is real. If "Mr. Hankey" is the South Park musical, then "Tom's Rhinoplasty" is the vomiting special. Teacher Mr. Garrison takes a leave of absence to have plastic surgery while the good looks of his substitute, Ms. Ellen, send the boys reeling into lovey-dovey land. As they compete to woo Ms. Ellen during Valentine's Day season, Wendy Testaburger's jealousy festers and grows into an explosively funny climax (due in part to the twists on Ms. Ellen's character). --Karen Karleski

South Park - Timmy (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: Brace yourself for more of South Park's gross, goofy satire, with three outrageous episodes starring South Park Elementary's most special student. The first bit of animated anarchy introduces wheelchair-bound Timmy, the new "special needs" kid and unlikely school hero. After shortsighted grownups diagnose him with Attention Deficit Disorder, a Ritalin prescription becomes a get-out-of-homework-free card for all of South Park's preteens. The zombified kids shake off their pharmaceutical stupor when Timmy's new headbangin' group takes on a villainous Phil Collins in a battle of the bands. But that's not the last of Timmy. The next time show creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone wheel Timmy out, it's to save the class from the frightening new fourth-grade teacher, who terrifies the kids into building a time machine out of Timmy's electric wheelchair. Finally, Timmy's fondness for a "different" turkey threatens to undermine the massive musical spectacle of the fourth-grade Thanksgiving play. (Warning to the weak-stomached: this episode includes a flashing montage of some very disturbing film images, a good reminder that South Park is not a kids' cartoon.) These episodes, while not as groundbreaking as the early shows, share the same sarcastic creed: leave no sacred cow unskewered. Pharmaceutical companies and factory farms are targeted by the same socially aware spitballs as Soylent Green, The Empire Strikes Back, Phil Collins, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. --Grant Balfour

South Park - Gift Pack 2 (Volumes 4-6) (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: On this second collection of South Park episodes, there's more biting humor in the adventures of those lovable 8-year-olds in South Park, Colorado. This three-tape gift pack features such favorites as "Damien," "Mecha-Streisand," and "Tom's Rhinoplasty," as well as the Halloween, Thanksgiving, and holidays specials. Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are back too--introducing episodes with their special brand of syrupy, sardonic film shorts--this time donned in Western cowboy apparel as "rootin'-tootin' Trey Parker" and "gun-slinging Matt Stone," complete with canned callbacks from children à la Howdy Doody and an Indian companion named "Indian Companion" (played by an unidentified white guy). This second gift pack will well satisfy fans while pleasing new viewers as all episodes gathered are fresh, outrageous, and entertaining. While the first gift pack includes gems like "Weight Gain 4000" and "Volcano," it also featured some of Parker and Stone's more predictable shock-humor episodes. this gift pack, however--though certainly containing shock humor (who can forget Mr. Hanky, the Christmas poo?)--is devoid of any episodes worth skipping over. It's nothing but the choicest South Park hilarity: Cartman's Hitler Halloween costume, the Jesus versus Satan boxing match, Barbra Streisand's evil plot to rule the world, Mr. Garrison's David Hasselhoff face, Sally Struthers, Mr. Hanky--it's all here ... for adults, that is. --Karen Karleski

South Park, Vols. 1-3 (dvd):

Amazon.com video review: Four foul-mouthed tykes in parkas and wool caps navigate the treacherous snows of adolescence, such as puppy love, sibling jealousy, and alien abduction, in the cartoon that celebrates the American art of bad taste with crude, cutout animation and construction-paper color. This collection contains all the episodes from previously collected in three separate volumes. Highlights of this winning set include the pilot, "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe," which establishes the tone and style of all episodes to come. As with other episodes, gentle homilies about childhood innocence arise from a twisted plot with grotesque and bizarre twists--in this case involving UFOs, flaming flatulence, and a 20-foot antenna array that springs out of Cartman's butt. In "Weight Gain 4000," "big-boned" Cartman decides he must slam dietary supplements to beef up for a TV appearance with Kathy Lee Gifford, while Mr. Garrison (egged on by insidious hand puppet Mr. Hat) plots his revenge. "Damien" has the makings of a classic, both for its boxing match between Jesus (of the public access, call-in show Jesus and Pals) and the 350-pound red Beelzebub as well as for the twisted and excessive celebration of Cartman's birthday. "Starvin' Marvin" (1997's Thanksgiving episode) features an attack on the townspeople by genetically altered turkeys while the boys adopt an Ethiopian boy accidentally sent to them via airmail. Other episodes included in this set are "Volcano," "Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride," "An Elephant Makes Love to a Pig," "Death," "Pinkeye," "Mecha Streisand," "Tom's Rhinoplasty," and the musical extravaganza of "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo." --Sean Axmaker

South Park, Vol. 07: Cartman's Mom Is a Dirty Slut (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: The seventh volume of the South Park series contains the classic two-part "Cartman's Mom Is a Dirty Slut" and "Cartman's Mom Is Still a Dirty Slut." Now you don't have to be left hanging to find out who Cartman's dad is (is it Chief Running Water? Officer Barbrady? Mr. Garrison? The 1991 Denver Broncos?).

In these two soap-opera-type episodes, Cartman demands to know who his father is and gets a charming explanation of how babies are made from his mother: "Sometimes the man puts his hoo-hoo-dilly in the woman's cha-cha." But Mrs. Cartman was with so many men at the 12th annual drunken barn dance that it requires a DNA test to determine Eric's father. Luckily, Kyle and Stan enter a video of Cartman's stuffed-animal tea party in America's Stupidest Videos, and win the $3,000 dollars that is needed for the test. But, before Mephesto can reveal the outcome, he's shot by an unknown assailant. Meanwhile, a major snow storm traps the adults of South Park in the school gym where they're re-creating the attempted murder for America's Most Wanted; and there's only one way they can survive the storm: cannibalism. This hysterical South Park doesn't disappoint with the ending (you'll never guess who Cartman's father really is) and provides many memorable quotes. (Cartman singing the Styx's "Sail Away" is irresistible.) Yes, this is a fun animated series, but unless you're ready to do some serious explaining to your kids, remember it's meant for adults. --Jenny Brown

South Park, Vol. 08: Chickenlover/Ike's Wee Wee (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: The 8-year-olds of South Park are back in Volume 8, which includes the hilarious episodes "Chicken Lover" and "Ike's Wee Wee." In "Chicken Lover," someone in South Park is copulating with chickens (only it's phrased a bit more indelicately); unfortunately Officer Barbrady is unable to decipher the clue notes--he can't read. Forced back to elementary school, Barbrady deputizes the kids to restore order in town, as he tries to master the alphabet. Eric Cartman rules with an iron fist ("You will respect my authoritay!"), and we all learn a powerful moral: "Reading totally sucks ass."

Kyle is excited about Ike's upcoming party in "Ike's Wee Wee," and some new thing called a "bris." When he discovers exactly what that entails, he plots to save poor Ike from circumcision--until he learns a secret about his baby brother. Meanwhile, Mr. Mackey, after a stirring anti-drug speech at the school ("And, uh, as for drugs, well, drugs are bad. You shouldn't do drugs"), passes some marijuana around for the kids to smell. When the pot disappears, he's fired. With no money, no job, and kicked out of his apartment, Mr. Mackey escapes into a life of alcohol, pot, and LSD. You haven't seen an animated acid trip until you've seen Mr. Mackey's head floating like a balloon. Yes, South Park is a fun animated series. But unless you're ready to do some serious explaining to your kids, remember it's meant for adults. --Jenny Brown

South Park, Vol. 09: Conjoined Fetus Lady/Mexican Staring Frog (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: The Comedy Channel's animated series South Park has been known to push the envelope on good taste. The first episode on Volume 9, however, jumps into the stratosphere of pure bizarreness. "Conjoined Fetus Lady" is the story of the school nurse who has a still-born fetus growth attached to her face. In a misguided effort to eliminate discrimination in South Park, Kyle's mom proposes Conjoined Twin Myslexia Week to enhance awareness about the malady. Meanwhile, the kids of South Park are traveling the world to compete in that most sadistic of all school events: dodge ball.

The second episode on this video is "The Mexican Staring Frog of Southern Sri Lanka." The kids need to talk to Vietnam vets for a school project, but when they report back with Jimbo and Ned's stories of amusement park rides in 'Nam, Mr. Garrison accuses them of lying and flunks them. For revenge, the kids plant a fake Mexican staring frog of southern Sri Lanka (whose deadly look has been known to kill) for Jimbo and Ned to air on their TV show, "Huntin' and Killin'." When the ploy sends their ratings sky high (up to 12 viewers), Jesus' call-in show ("Jesus and Pals") is forced to enter a ratings war. It's all great fun, but remember, although this is an animated series, it is meant for adults. --Jenny Brown

South Park - Gift Pack 3 (Volumes 7-9) (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: Cartman's mom sleeping around, a man sodomizing chickens, and a school nurse with a dead fetus attached to her face--these are just some of the exciting story lines in the third South Park gift set. Included is the two-part "Cartman's Mom Is a Dirty Slut" and "Cartman's Mom Is Still a Dirty Slut," in which Eric Cartman goes on a quest to discover who his father is. In "Chicken Lover," someone in town is "making love" with the chickens (the only way it can be phrased in front of the delicate 8-year-olds of South Park), but Officer Barbrady can't read the clue notes because he never learned to read. He deputizes the kids in town when he returns to school. "Ike's Wee Wee" involves (as if you couldn't guess) Ike's wee wee, which is about to be circumcised, much to the horror of the kids. "Conjoined Fetus Lady" is the story of the school nurse who has a dead fetus attached to the side of her face, and the final episode, "The Mexican Staring Frog of Southern Sri Lanka," has Jesus competing with Jimbo and Ned in a TV ratings war. These episodes of South Park are among the best, but they're better off in the hands of adults; this is not a kid's animated show. --Jenny Brown

South Park - Winter Wonderland (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: Don't be fooled by the innocent-sounding title of this South Park collection: these episodes are as cheerfully rude and impertinent as ever. "A Very Crappy Christmas" is flush with scatological humor as Mr. Hankey (the Christmas Poo) returns with a whole family of droppings and celebrates the importance of feces in the circle of life in song. Hiii-de ho! As an aside, the Christmas commercial the boys create is none other than Trey Parker and Matt Stone's original video Christmas card "The Spirit of Christmas." In other episodes, "Cartman's Silly Little Hate Crime 2000" parodies both O.J. and Oz when Cartman goes to prison; Jesus plans a Las Vegas extravaganza to celebrate the millennium in "Are You There, God? It's Me, Jesus"; and Cartman starts a boy band in "Something You Can Do with Your Finger." --Sean Axmaker