Well, you knew someone had to do it. Ever since the writer’s strike ended, I’ve been waiting for shows to return so we could get the requisite strike jokes out of the way. Naturally, “South Park,” a show that wasn’t even on strike, got to it first (”South Park” doesn’t fall under WGA regulations). After last week’s return to form, I feel like “South Park” stumbled a bit with this episode. While there were some really funny moments and it was nice to see someone show a different perspective of the strike, it was ultimately unfocused.

The episode, titled “Canada On Strike,” thinly veils Canadians as the Writers Guild, going on strike because the world neglects Canada Appreciation Day. I say thinly veiled because they refer to themselves as “The WGA — The World Canadian Bureau.” They want recognition for their hard work, and some of that internet money everyone talks about. So they stage a big musical number, as Canadians on South Park are prone to do, and strike against the world.

When the kids realize they won’t get new Terrance and Phillip episodes (and Cartman realizes they may have to watch “Family Guy”) Kyle gets on the phone with the head of the WGA (That’s the World Canadian Bureau) and tells him they’ll make money for Canada on the internet. The boys make a viral video of Butters singing “What? What? In Da Butt” and it becomes an internet sensation. The episode picked up for me here, because I can’t resist Butters in costume.

Click to watch Butters’ In Da Butt Video!

Once it’s a hit, the boys go to collect their theoretical money and find themselves in a waiting room with all the other internet sensations looking to claim cash for their videos. Everyone’s there, including the Numa Numa Guy, The Tron Guy, the Laughing Baby, the Star Wars Kid, the Leave Britney Alone Guy (or is it Girl?), The Chocolate Rain Guy, Afro Ninja, Sneezing Panda, and, my nephew’s favorite, the Dramatic Prairie Dog. At first it looked like a Meet The Spartans type spoof, where they just referenced each internet sensation. Then the agenda became clear: Trey Parker hates internet sensations. They start fighting over who has more YouTube hits and end up violently murdering each other. I was laughing my ass off when the Numa Numa guy was fighting Tron, but I could have done without Chris Crocker.

The kids get their check for 10 million “theoretical” dollars, and bring it to the head of the WGA. After realizing it will do nothing to help them, the WGA leader breaks down, and it’s up to the kids to negotiate with world leaders to end the strike. They end up giving out coupons to Bennigans and a bag of bubble gum, equating the (real) WGA’s new deal to an insignificant gesture. The episode ends by repeating an earlier bit between Terrance, Phillip, and the WGA leader that was very similar to Adam Sandler’s old sketch Buddy.

Unfortunately, whenever “South Park” centers an episode on Canada, it fails to deliver the goods. There were a few good spots, like the musical sequence and the news broadcast of the Danish coming to America to take Canadian jobs, proclaiming Denmark as the “Canada of Europe.” But that’s where it ended. Canadian jokes were already mined in the South Park movie. Here, they’re used as a front for the Writers Guild and it was a stretch to have Canada asking for internet revenue. Trey gets his shots in at the WGA, pointing out that the strike cost them more than their new deal compensates, and that it’s nearly impossible to quantify internet earnings and share in theoretical profits. I just wish there was a funnier way to do it.

South Park Canada On Strike Review: 20 Arbitrary Stars Out of 60

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 3rd, 2008 at 1:51 am and is filed under TV, South Park Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Well, you knew someone had to do it. Ever since the writer’s strike ended, I’ve been waiting for shows to return so we could get the requisite strike jokes out of the way. Naturally, “South Park,” a show that wasn’t even on strike, got to it first (”South Park” doesn’t fall under WGA regulations). After last week’s return to form, I feel like “South Park” stumbled a bit with this episode. While there were some really funny moments and it was nice to see someone show a different perspective of the strike, it was ultimately unfocused.

The episode, titled “Canada On Strike,” thinly veils Canadians as the Writers Guild, going on strike because the world neglects Canada Appreciation Day. I say thinly veiled because they refer to themselves as “The WGA — The World Canadian Bureau.” They want recognition for their hard work, and some of that internet money everyone talks about. So they stage a big musical number, as Canadians on South Park are prone to do, and strike against the world.

When the kids realize they won’t get new Terrance and Phillip episodes (and Cartman realizes they may have to watch “Family Guy”) Kyle gets on the phone with the head of the WGA (That’s the World Canadian Bureau) and tells him they’ll make money for Canada on the internet. The boys make a viral video of Butters singing “What? What? In Da Butt” and it becomes an internet sensation. The episode picked up for me here, because I can’t resist Butters in costume.

Click to watch Butters’ In Da Butt Video!

Once it’s a hit, the boys go to collect their theoretical money and find themselves in a waiting room with all the other internet sensations looking to claim cash for their videos. Everyone’s there, including the Numa Numa Guy, The Tron Guy, the Laughing Baby, the Star Wars Kid, the Leave Britney Alone Guy (or is it Girl?), The Chocolate Rain Guy, Afro Ninja, Sneezing Panda, and, my nephew’s favorite, the Dramatic Prairie Dog. At first it looked like a Meet The Spartans type spoof, where they just referenced each internet sensation. Then the agenda became clear: Trey Parker hates internet sensations. They start fighting over who has more YouTube hits and end up violently murdering each other. I was laughing my ass off when the Numa Numa guy was fighting Tron, but I could have done without Chris Crocker.

The kids get their check for 10 million “theoretical” dollars, and bring it to the head of the WGA. After realizing it will do nothing to help them, the WGA leader breaks down, and it’s up to the kids to negotiate with world leaders to end the strike. They end up giving out coupons to Bennigans and a bag of bubble gum, equating the (real) WGA’s new deal to an insignificant gesture. The episode ends by repeating an earlier bit between Terrance, Phillip, and the WGA leader that was very similar to Adam Sandler’s old sketch Buddy.

Unfortunately, whenever “South Park” centers an episode on Canada, it fails to deliver the goods. There were a few good spots, like the musical sequence and the news broadcast of the Danish coming to America to take Canadian jobs, proclaiming Denmark as the “Canada of Europe.” But that’s where it ended. Canadian jokes were already mined in the South Park movie. Here, they’re used as a front for the Writers Guild and it was a stretch to have Canada asking for internet revenue. Trey gets his shots in at the WGA, pointing out that the strike cost them more than their new deal compensates, and that it’s nearly impossible to quantify internet earnings and share in theoretical profits. I just wish there was a funnier way to do it.

South Park Canada On Strike Review: 20 Arbitrary Stars Out of 60

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 3rd, 2008 at 1:51 am and is filed under TV, South Park Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.