South Park roared back with a new episode called “Poor and Stupid,” the cartoon’s take on NASCAR culture. Or rather, Cartman’s take on the sport. The round brat yearned to be a NASCAR driver but thought he wasn’t “poor and stupid enough.” He gave away what little money he had and tried to make himself dumber by watching a marathon of Two and a Half Men.
Still not feeling stupid enough, he noticed a commercial for Vagisil, which listed among its possible side effects “short-term memory loss.” Inspired, Cartman ran to a drug store and consumed enough of the stuff to “kill every brain cell” he possessed. The ensuing publicity for the product moved the company’s CEO to give Cartman a Vagisil-sponsored car in the next NASCAR race.
The half-hour was fairly anodyne — after all, it was Cartman who was the idiot; the cartoon versions of real drivers such as Jimmie Johnson and Danica Patrick were well-spoken. Cartman was the one who went on a Vagisil-fueled rant for the TV cameras, condemning President Obama and higher taxes.
I’m reasonably sure the manufacturers of a certain feminine hygiene product probably weren’t overjoyed at the depiction of their product, but the company got off easy when compared to other objects of South Park satire.
Me, I liked the Two and a Half Men joke best.
Did you watch?
Follow: @kentucker
South Park has long passed its prime. This episode is garbage like everything to come from the studio over the past two years. No story, no character depth, just contrived attempts to be shocking and disgusting.
When has South Park ever had “character depth”? It’s a cartoon! The characters don’t age!
South Park is hilarious, but you cant take it too seriously.
Funny that you talk about character depth for characters that are drawn in one dimension..hee
Two dimensions. The only one-dimensional object is a line.
Not to be rude, but I think you ladies are having a spot of memory loss from using a certain product too much *ahem*
Agree 100%, didn’t laugh once, the only amusing incidents were Cartman’s initial statement about why he’s crying and the 1st time the Vagisil guy explained his invention for his wife. Other than that – more formula than wit,
boo hoo…and you still watch! and then you come online to search for the episode and read reviews and then take the time to comment! I think while South Park has become “un-funny” in your opinion, you’ve become “un-deniably lazy” in my opinion. Stop watching, flip back over to How I met your mother, and shut up!
“We’re tradin’ paint!”
I’ve been watching the show from the first episode – and was def waiting for this season’s premiere. Since the first show, there have a few duds and I think this is one of them. Like Ken said, it was anodyne. Something that would show up in the middle of the season when the guys couldn’t come up with a new idea for that week. But yes, I did like the 2 & 1/2 Men part — it really looked like the guys!
I found it very Meh but next week they take on Jersey Shore and that should be hilarious.
Well said. The episode was a near total throwaway, with targets both obvious (NASCAR) and wtf (Vagisil?. But despite what others are saying the show is hardly past its prime. Camp Tardicaca, anyone?
Both South Park & The Simpsons are long past their heyday but i keep watching because there’s much worse things on, like Two & A Half Men.
I’m a South Park fan and was anxious for the season premiere, but this episode was a dud. The Two and a Half Man bit was the only thing I found amusing. Otherwise, this show sucked. Hopefully, the next few episodes get better.
Ken Tucker still writes for Entertainment Weekly ??!! F**** !!!!!!!!!!
The first half of this season was amazing, so I’m hoping it was just an “off” episode.
This was the first episode of the season. They do two blocks of 6 episodes per year. This is a new season
Uh…no…this is MID-season premiere. As in the middle of season 14, which started in March. As in this is not a new season. It’s still season 14.
No, wrong Trevor. Not gonna explain. Just go to Comedy Central and see for yourself.
Wrong, Kleg. Trevor is correct. This was a mid-season premiere. Season 14 began in March with 7 episodes, and now the remaining 7 episodes of season 14 will air. Season 15 will begin in March 2011. Check South Park Studios. Big heading that says “Mid-Season Premiere: Poor and Stupid.”
Trevor and Dave are right, Kleg is wrong. Wikipedia also agrees with this being the second half of the season..as do the DVD releases. Sounds like Kleg is the “Poor and Stupid” one.
NASCAR Poor and Stupid HAHA also known as redneck roundy rounds HAHA
I laughed at Cartman eating the Vagisil (mostly out of shock) and the first time he got on the track. After that, it was a whole lot of nothing. The TAAHM reference was dated and obvious and the overall story wasn’t that funny. I’m just glad it wasn’t more of the same preachy, judgmental hot-topic-of-the-week BS they’ve been passing off as a series here recently.
They need more episodes about Butters
Wtf? Why would u have that episode for the season premiere, let alone make that episode at all? I’m literally writing this during this episode since it’s so bad. I dont understand how they can make such funny shows like the FB Episode, the Kanye Episode, and the World of Warcraft Episode, and then serve up this lame crap. The next episode better be good or im done watching this show.
your a nascar fan huh…
Dallas…
It’s “you’re…”
Even NASCAR fans know how to spell.
also, anodyne? this is an entertainment weekly review of a cartoon, not an article in the washington post or something.
I know, puddin’. Big words hurt your brain.
The concept of “big words” is ridiculous. Ilk isn’t a big word, and the vast majority of retards in this country don’t know what it means.
But it’s worth pointing out that no one uses anodyne in routine conversation, and using it to describe a sub par episode isn’t clever or impressive – it’s unclear, annoying, and doesn’t really convey meaning other than the writer was reaching for his thesaurus.
I don’t know what you guys are talking about, I thought this episode was hilarious! If you didn’t like this episode you’re probably a closet NASCAR fan.
I’m a proud NASCAR fan and still thought it was funny. Could have been funnier and may have been if it’d been more scathing.
I almost died when Cartman went off about going straight & turning left! That was freaking hilarious!
Also the part about the Vagisil CEO referring to his wife as his muse and saying the product was safe to use EVERY DAY. I laughed.
Anodyne.. soothing to the mind or feelings, relieving pain. Didn’t find this episode to be soothing or relieving. It did have some funny moments but not one of their best. Vagisil jokes got old really quick. Pedestrian, mundane, but not anodyne.
The episode was horrible. Poking fun at 21/2 men is old, Family Guy and others did it long ago. No one here understood the point, the show was making fun of northerners and “elites” that think all NASCAR fans are dumb rednecks.
You mean NASCAR fans aren’t dumb rednecks? How else would you describe them. This stuff writes itself.
Robert FTW!
YES! lol. nailed it
lol. this episode went WAY over your head didn’t it?