"Tsst" | |
---|---|
South Park episode | |
Episode no. | Season 10 Episode 5 |
Directed by | Trey Parker |
Written by | Trey Parker |
Featured music | “Don't Stop Believin'” by Journey |
Production code | 1007 |
Original air date | May 3, 2006 |
"Tsst" is the fifth episode in the tenth season of the American animated television series South Park . The 146th episode of the series overall, it originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on May 3, 2006. In the episode, Liane Cartman has problems controlling her son Eric Cartman, and enlists several reality television shows to help with his spoiled behavior.
After Eric Cartman and his mother, Liane, are summoned to Mr. Mackey, in the school counselor's office in regard to Cartman forcing a student into a Saw -esque situation for mocking his weight by handcuffing his leg to a flagpole and telling him that he had poisoned his lunch milk and that the only way he could get to the antidote would be to saw through his leg using a hacksaw, Liane then admits that she cannot control Cartman anymore and, taking the school counselor's suggestions, she turns to Nanny 911 and Supernanny . Though, their attempts to change Cartman's behavior are unsuccessful, with Cartman psychologically harassing Nanny Stella about her decision to not have children when she takes away his Xbox and Jo Frost ending up in a mental hospital, sobbing and eating her own excrement while shouting "It's from Hell!".
Desperate, Liane turns to Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer. Instead of treating Cartman as a human child, Millan uses dog training techniques which prove highly effective, leaving Cartman intensely frustrated. Cartman's behavior improves after a while, although he feels he cannot control his actions. As Liane enjoys her more flexible lifestyle, Cartman plots to kill his mother, and attempts to convince his friends to commit the act. When they reject his proposal, he goes to kill her in his sleep, but his inner conscious convinces him that he does not have the right to kill her, and passes out due to emotional exhaustion.
With Cartman's behavior in check, Millan returns for a final visit. Liane thanks and invites him on an outing, which he declines because he sees her as a client, not a friend. Dismayed at being turned down, Liane asks her son (who was previously her friend) to join her on the outing. After he refuses, she persuades Cartman to spend time with her, saying he can have anything he wishes; this makes Cartman return to his spoiled behavior as the episode ends with a shot of him having an unsettling smile on his face, while ominous music is heard playing.
IGN 's Eric Goldman gave the episode a score of 8.0 out of 10, writing "While not among the terrific episodes that began the season, this was a very fun installment of the show, and a nice spotlight on Cartman and what it might take to finally make him obey." [1] When asked if he was offended by his caricature on the episode, Cesar Millan stated that he thought it and the entire episode was "fantastic". [2]
There are numerous references to popular American reality television programs. Of the most prominent, shows such as Nanny 911 and Supernanny which are both British programs in origin are parodied extensively. Both TV show hosts Stella Reid and Jo Frost are portrayed having accentuated British accents and stereotypically bad teeth. While he reconnects his console with the TV, Cartman sings "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey. Unlike the "real" television shows, neither Stella's or Jo's methods of disciplining unruly children work - ultimately forcing an insulted Stella to refuse to work with Cartman, and Jo Frost being admitted to a psychiatric hospital, eating her own excrement and repeating the phrase "It's from Hell!" Also of note is that Stella mentions never having children of her own, leading to Cartman to cruelly implicate that she is either sterile or incapable of attracting a partner, despite the real life Stella Reid being both married and a mother of one. The Dog Whisperer is also featured in the episode, along with show host Cesar Millan, who, unlike most celebrities that were portrayed on the show, is shown in a more positive light. A Skeksis from The Dark Crystal can be seen as one of the nannies. The visual effect of Cartman's angel and devil subconsciousnesses during the part where he almost attempts to kill his mother in her room was a similar reference to the 1997 science-fiction film Contact . The way Cartman changes as he makes his way down the hallway is a direct reference to the 1980 body horror film Altered States .
As the episode ends, the closing shot of Cartman staring towards the viewer is a reference to the closing shot of The Omen (1976).
"Tsst", along with the thirteen other episodes from South Park's tenth season, was released on a three-disc DVD set in the United States on August 21, 2007. The set includes brief audio commentaries by series co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone for each episode. [3]
Eric Theodore Cartman, commonly referred to mononymously by his last name, is a fictional character in the adult animated sitcom South Park, created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone. He is voiced by Parker, and is one of the series' four main characters, alongside Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, and Kenny McCormick. He first appeared with the name Kenny in the short film The Spirit of Christmas (1992), and later appeared in the 1995 film of the same title before debuting in "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe", the first episode of the series, on August 13, 1997.
Joanne Frost is an English television personality, nanny, and author. She is best known for the reality television programme Supernanny UK, in which she was the central figure. The show first aired in the United Kingdom in 2004 and she has branched off into several other reality shows in the United Kingdom, United States and the Netherlands. Family S.O.S. with Jo Frost addressed issues such as addiction and abuse. Family Matters is a talk show. She has written six books on child care.
"Cat Orgy" is the seventh episode of the third season of the American animated sitcom South Park, and the 38th episode of the series overall. It originally aired on Comedy Central on July 14, 1999. It is the first episode of a three-part story arc, often known as "The Meteor Shower Trilogy", which tells three different stories all taking place on the same night. The other two episodes are "Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub" and "Jewbilee". As such, it features only one of the four main characters, Eric Cartman.
"Cartman's Mom Is Still a Dirty Slut" is the second episode of the second season of the American animated television series South Park. The 15th episode of the series overall, it premiered on Comedy Central in the United States on April 22, 1998. The episode concludes the storyline of the season one finale "Cartman's Mom Is a Dirty Slut"; Mephesto is suddenly shot, just as he is about to reveal the identity of Eric Cartman's father. The four boys and Chef rush him to Hell's Pass Hospital while the town of South Park experiences a massive blizzard.
Liane Cartman, formerly known as Carol Cartman, is a fictional character in the adult animated television series South Park. She is the single mother of main character Eric, who raises him in the fictional town of South Park, Colorado. Liane is considered one of the more prominent parents of all the South Park parents, as she makes many appearances throughout the series.
Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan is a reality television series that featured dog trainer Cesar Millan's work with problem dogs. The series ran for nine seasons, from September 13, 2004, to September 15, 2012.
César Felipe Millán Favela is a Mexican-American dog trainer. His television series Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan was produced from 2004 to 2012 and is broadcast in more than 80 countries worldwide.
"Miss Teacher Bangs a Boy" is the tenth episode in the tenth season of the American animated television series South Park. The 149th episode of the series overall, it originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States October 18, 2006. In the episode, Cartman is appointed to the post of school hallway monitor at South Park Elementary, and takes it personally when an infraction is committed in his jurisdiction. Meanwhile, Kyle discovers that his little brother Ike is in a romantic relationship with his kindergarten teacher Miss Stevenson. Kyle and Cartman team up to put a stop to the inappropriate behavior. Written and directed by series co-creator Trey Parker, the episode features a parody of the television series Dog the Bounty Hunter.
It's Me or the Dog is an English television program featuring dog trainer Victoria Stilwell who addresses canine behavioral problems, teaches responsible dog ownership and promotes dog training techniques based on positive reinforcement. There was also an American television version of the show which ran for four seasons. The show currently airs in about 50 countries worldwide.
Supernanny is a British reality television programme about parents struggling with their children's behaviour, mealtime, potty training, etc. The show features professional nanny Jo Frost, who devotes each episode to helping a family where the parents are struggling with child-rearing. Through instruction and observation, she shows parents alternative ways to discipline their children and regain order in their households. Frost is a proponent of the "naughty chair" theory of discipline and is strictly opposed to hitting and spanking.
"HumancentiPad", stylized as "HUMANCENTiPAD", is the first episode of the fifteenth season of the American animated television series South Park, and the 210th episode of the series overall. It originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on April 27, 2011. In the episode, Kyle is kidnapped after agreeing to an iTunes user agreement, and forced to become part of a "revolutionary new product" that is about to be launched by Apple. Meanwhile, Cartman, who has not acquired an Apple iPad, pesters his mother on the issue, drawing her ire.
"PC Principal Final Justice" is the tenth and final episode of the nineteenth season and the 267th overall episode of the animated television series South Park, written and directed by series co-creator Trey Parker. The episode premiered on Comedy Central on December 9, 2015. It is the third and final part of a three-episode story arc that began with the episode "Sponsored Content" and continued in the episode "Truth and Advertising", which collectively serve as the season finale. The episode parodies the abundance of online advertising, as well as gun politics in the United States, as part of its season-long lampoon of political correctness.
Jo Frost: Nanny On Tour is an American short-lived reality television series, themed around parenting skills, hosted by British nanny Jo Frost. The series ran for 10 1-hour long episodes from January to March 2016 on Up TV. Jo Frost also serves as a producer on the show.
"Shots!!!" is the third episode of the twenty-third season of the American animated television series South Park. The 300th episode overall of the series, it premiered on Comedy Central in the United States on October 9, 2019. In the episode, Randy Marsh revels in a milestone reached by his marijuana farm, much to the ire of his wife. Meanwhile, in a parody of the antivaccine movement, Eric Cartman, terrified of needles, seeks to avoid a required immunization by citing fear that vaccines might make him "artistic", an eggcorn play on the word autistic, that is literally realized in the episode.
Supernanny is an American reality television program about parents struggling with aspects of raising their children. The show, featuring professional nanny Jo Frost, is an adaptation of the British series of the same name. Frost devotes each episode to helping a family where the parents are struggling with their child-rearing. Through instruction and observation, she shows the parents alternative ways to discipline their children and regain order in their households. Frost is a proponent of the "naughty chair" theory of discipline and is strictly opposed to physical punishment. It aired on ABC from January 17, 2005, to March 18, 2011. A spin-off of the show was produced and was titled America's Supernanny.
"City People" is the third episode of the twenty-fifth season of the American animated television series South Park. It is the 314th episode overall of the series, and premiered on Comedy Central in the United States on February 16, 2022. The episode centers upon the reaction of the town of South Park to a mass migration from former city-dwellers, who are depicted with a pigeon-like clucking for staples of urban life, in a parody of gentrification, the series' first since the multi-episode storyline in Season 19.
"South Park The Streaming Wars" is a 2022 American adult animated comedy television special episode written and directed by Trey Parker. It is the third South Park television special produced for Paramount+ and was released on June 1, 2022. It also serves as the 318th overall episode of the television series.
"DikinBaus Hot Dogs" is the fifth episode of the twenty-sixth season of the American animated television series South Park, and the 324th episode of the series overall. It premiered on March 22, 2023. The episode's plot focuses on Eric Cartman's plans to renovate and open a historic restaurant in Colorado, after he is jealously spurred to do so from the paycheck Butters Stotch earns at his new ice cream parlor job.
"South Park: The End of Obesity" is a 2024 American adult animated comedy television special episode. It is the seventh South Park television special, and the 328th episode of the series overall. The special premiered on May 24, 2024, on Paramount+.