Tonsil Trouble

Last updated
"Tonsil Trouble"
South Park episode
Episode no.Season 12
Episode 1
Directed by Trey Parker
Written byTrey Parker
Production code1201
Original air dateMarch 12, 2008 (2008-03-12)
Episode chronology
← Previous
"The List"		Next →
"Britney's New Look"
South Park season 12
List of episodes

"Tonsil Trouble" is the first episode in the twelfth season of the American animated television series South Park , and the 168th episode of the series overall. Written and directed by series co-creator Trey Parker, it first aired on Comedy Central in the United States on March 12, 2008. [1] In the episode, Eric Cartman contracts HIV due to a botched blood transfusion. When Kyle Broflovski laughs at Cartman's misfortune, Cartman intentionally infects Kyle with his disease as well. The episode was rated TV-MA L for strong language in the United States. In reruns, it airs with the tamer rating TV-14. The episode is a satire on the new and effective AIDS treatments that are inaccessible to the majority of the population suffering from or carrying the disease.

Contents

Plot

During a tonsillectomy, Eric Cartman is inadvertently infected with HIV after a botched blood transfusion. When Cartman's classmates are notified of his diagnosis, Kyle Broflovski begins laughing uncontrollably, believing that Cartman's HIV is justly deserved. A benefit is held for Cartman, but is sparsely attended as cancer has become more focused on. Elton John does not arrive as scheduled, so Jimmy Buffett performs in his place, to Cartman's anger.

When Cartman confronts his friends the following morning, Kyle continues laughing and promptly leaves. Enraged at Kyle's reaction, Cartman sneaks into Kyle's room later that night with Butters Stotch's help and purposely infects Kyle with HIV by drawing his own blood and dropping it into Kyle's mouth as the latter sleeps. Kyle and his mother, Sheila, find out from Dr. Doctor, and Kyle immediately suspects Cartman. A furious Kyle confronts Cartman at the playground and begins beating him until Mr. Mackey breaks them up. Principal Victoria reprimands Cartman for infecting Kyle, as well as Kyle for his perceived tattling.

Further infuriated, Kyle ignores Cartman's apology and goes to Cartman's house, breaking his possessions in retaliation. When Kyle threatens to break Cartman's Xbox 360, Cartman pleads with him, telling Kyle that he has done research that led him to conclude that Magic Johnson's longevity since developing AIDS may lead to a possible cure. Cartman and Kyle travel to Johnson's house and tell him of their discovery. Though he is sympathetic, Johnson is unsure of how he can help. Upon investigation, Kyle and Cartman find that Johnson keeps his money in his bedroom since he does not trust banks. Johnson allows some of his money to be used in research for a cure, and scientists experiment with a concentrated dose of $180,000, which successfully neutralizes HIV particles. The discovery makes worldwide news, and an event is held in Kyle and Cartman's honor. After the emcee mistakenly addresses Kyle and Cartman as "two brave lovers," Kyle reneges on his promise not to break Cartman's Xbox, prompting the latter to run after him.

Cultural references

During most of the episode, Cartman wears an outfit similar to one worn by Andrew Beckett, a fictional character portrayed by Tom Hanks in Philadelphia (1993). [2]

Reception

On its initial broadcast, the season premiere was watched by 3.07 million viewers in the United States. [3]

The episode received generally mixed reviews with the consensus being that the episode "runs out of steam". Travis Fickett of IGN gave the episode a score of 7.2 out of 10 stating "It's a bit like 'South Park by the numbers,' as opposed to being truly inspired and insightful as the show's best episodes tend to be." [4] Brad Trechak of TV Squad also gave a mixed review, saying that "Overall, a good show with some great one-liners. Sadly, it also had a weak ending." [5] Fred of Tvoholic.com gave the episode a very positive review, praising the episode's message about AIDS. [6]

Home release

"Tonsil Trouble", along with the thirteen other episodes from South Park's twelfth season, were released on a three-disc DVD set and two-disc Blu-ray set in the United States on March 10, 2009. The sets included brief audio commentaries by Parker and Stone for each episode, a collection of deleted scenes, and two special mini-features, The Making of 'Major Boobage and Six Days to South Park. [7]

The episode is also included on the two-disc DVD collection The Cult of Cartman. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Cartman</span> South Park character

Eric Theodore Cartman, commonly referred to 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.

"Woodland Critter Christmas" is the 125th episode of the Comedy Central series South Park. It originally aired on December 15, 2004. It was the last episode of the series to have a Christmas theme for ten years until 2014's "#HappyHolograms". This is also the last episode where Mr. Garrison presented as male for a stretch of time, as he came out as a trans woman between season 9 and the season 12 episode “Eek, a Penis!'.

"Night of the Living Homeless" is the seventh episode of the eleventh season of the American animated sitcom South Park. It originally aired on April 18, 2007. This episode marks the end of the first half of the eleventh season, which continued on October 3, 2007. The episode is rated TV-MA LV. It parodies various zombie movies, in particular George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead and Land of the Dead, plus Return of the Living Dead. The episode is also a satire and commentary on how homeless people are often seen as "degenerates to society".

"Le Petit Tourette" is the eighth episode of the eleventh season of the animated television series South Park, and the 161st episode overall. It first aired on Comedy Central in the United States on October 3, 2007. This episode marked the beginning of the second half of the eleventh season. In the episode, Eric Cartman pretends to have Tourette syndrome (TS) so that he can say whatever he wants without getting into trouble. It eventually leads to trouble and he ends up saying things that he would never say. The episode's title is a play on the title of Jean-Luc Godard's 1963 film Le Petit Soldat.

"Imaginationland Episode II" is the eleventh episode in the eleventh season of Comedy Central's animated television series South Park. It originally aired on October 24, 2007. The episode was rated TV-MA LV in the United States. It is the second episode in a three-part story arc that won the 2008 Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program. The three episodes were later reissued together, along with previously unreleased footage, as the uncensored Imaginationland: The Movie.

"Imaginationland Episode I" is the tenth episode of the eleventh season and the 163rd overall episode of the American animated television series South Park. It premiered on Comedy Central in the United States on October 17, 2007. The episode was rated TV-MA LV in the United States. It is the first episode in a three-part story arc that won the 2008 Emmy for "Outstanding Animated Program ". The three episodes were later reissued together, along with previously unreleased footage, as the uncensored Imaginationland: The Movie.

"Imaginationland Episode III" is the twelfth episode in the eleventh season of Comedy Central's animated television series South Park. It originally aired on October 31, 2007. The episode was rated TV-MA LV in the United States. It is the third and final episode in a three-part story arc that won the 2008 Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program. The three episodes were later reissued together, along with previously unreleased footage, as the uncensored Imaginationland: The Movie.

"Britney's New Look" is the second episode in the twelfth season of the animated television series South Park, and the 169th episode of the series overall. It originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on March 19, 2008. In the episode, Kyle Broflovski and Stan Marsh take pity on Britney Spears after a botched suicide attempt, and are consequently intertwined into an ancient conspiracy.

"Major Boobage" is the third episode in season 12 of the American animated television series South Park. The 170th episode of the series overall, it originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on March 26, 2008. The episode was written and directed by series co-creator Trey Parker.

"Canada on Strike" is the fourth episode in the twelfth season of the American animated television series South Park. The 171st episode of the series overall, it first aired on Comedy Central in the United States on April 2, 2008. In the episode, the nation of Canada, feeling disrespected by the rest of the world, goes on a general strike, demanding money, spurring the boys to raise money by creating a viral video.

"Eek, a Penis!" is the fifth episode in the twelfth season of the American animated series South Park. The 172nd episode of the series overall, it originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on April 9, 2008. In the episode, Mrs. Garrison seeks to become a man again through the help of a new medical procedure. The subplot focuses on Cartman's attempt to teach struggling inner-city school children how to succeed by cheating. This plot is a parody of the 1988 film Stand and Deliver, with Eric Cartman playing a role similar to that of Jaime Escalante. The episode was rated TV-MA L for strong language in the United States.

"Over Logging" is the sixth episode in the twelfth season of the American animated series South Park. The 173rd episode of the series overall, it originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on April 16, 2008. In the episode, internet access cuts out in Colorado, which leads to a social crisis, making the Marsh family join a mass-migration west to a camp with scarce Internet access. The episode was rated TV-MA-LS for strong language and sexual content in the United States.

"Super Fun Time" is the seventh episode in the twelfth season of the American animated television series South Park. The 174th episode of the series overall, it originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on April 23, 2008. In the episode, Cartman and Butters narrowly escape a horrific hostage situation at South Park's Pioneer Village, where historical reenactors take their jobs far too seriously. The episode was rated TV-MA-LV for strong language and violence in the United States. This is the last South Park episode produced in 4:3, from the next episode and onward, all other episodes will be produced in 16:9.

"The China Probrem" is the eighth episode in the twelfth season of the American animated television series South Park. The 175th episode of the series overall, it originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on October 8, 2008. It was the mid-season premiere for season 12, and was dedicated to Isaac Hayes, the voice actor of Chef, who died on August 10 of that year. The episode was rated TV-MA-LSV for strong language, sexual content, and violence in the United States.

"Pandemic" is the tenth episode in the twelfth season of the American animated television series South Park. The 177th episode of the series overall, it originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on October 22, 2008.

"About Last Night…" is the twelfth episode in the twelfth season of the American animated television series South Park. The 179th episode of the series overall, it originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on November 5, 2008.

"Elementary School Musical" is the thirteenth episode of the twelfth season of the animated series South Park, and the 180th episode of the series overall. It originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on November 12, 2008. In the episode, a new boy at school helps set off an impromptu-singing-and-dancing craze that the boys vow to never go along with, dragging them down into the dregs of unpopularity.

"The Ungroundable" is the 14th and final episode of the 12th season of the American animated series South Park, and the 181st episode of the series overall. It originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on November 19, 2008. This is the last episode of South Park to be broadcast in 480i standard definition. The episode was rated TV-MA L in the United States. The episode spoofs vampire films including the Twilight craze and The Lost Boys, where Butters believes that he sees vampires in the school.

"The Coon" is the second episode of the thirteenth season of the American animated television series South Park. The 183rd episode of the series, it originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on March 18, 2009. In the episode, Cartman poses as a comic book superhero vigilante named "The Coon", who grows increasingly jealous of the popularity and success of a rival superhero named "Mysterion".

"Fatbeard" is the seventh episode of the thirteenth season of the American animated television series South Park. The 188th overall episode of the series, it originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on April 22, 2009 and in the United Kingdom on April 24, 2009. It was the mid-season finale, marking the final South Park episode for six months. In the episode, Cartman misinterprets news reports about piracy in the Indian Ocean to mean the return of the classic era of swashbuckling pirates, and misleads a handful of South Park boys to voyage to Mogadishu to start a pirate crew.

References

  1. ↑ Episode guide. South Park Studios. Retrieved on 2008-08-17.
  2. ↑ Parker, Trey (November 2008). South Park: The Complete Twelfth Season: "Tonsil Trouble" (Audio commentary) (DVD). Paramount Home Entertainment.
  3. ↑ TV Guide News (March 14, 2008). "Ratings: Lost Finds a Season Low". TVGuide.com. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  4. ↑ Fickett, Travis (March 13, 2008). "South Park: "Tonsil Trouble" Review". IGN. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  5. ↑ Trechak, Brad (March 13, 2008). "South Park: Tonsil Trouble (season premiere)". HuffPost TV. Archived from the original on September 14, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  6. ↑ Fred (March 13, 2008). "South Park: Tonsil Trouble". TVoholic. Archived from the original on 2008-11-19. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  7. ↑ Liebman, Martin (February 26, 2009). "South Park: The Complete Twelfth Season Blu-ray Review". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  8. ↑ Monfette, Christopher (October 2, 2008). "The Cult of Cartman DVD Review". IGN . Retrieved January 25, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.