DVD REVIEW: SOUTH PARK SEASON 15

automaton reminiscent of the Daleks from the original “Doctor Who” – are a perfect combination.

In addition to the above-mentioned episodes that are relatable, or just cleverly written, there are also the ones that make some sort of relevant commentary – something South Park has become famous for. Episodes like “Crack Baby Athletic Association” (which addresses the non-payment of NCAA student athletes), “The Last of the Meheecans”, and “1%” do just this.  “1%” will also – along with “The Poor Kid” and “Bass to Mouth” – please fans of Cartman-centric episodes, as “Broadway Bro Down” will with fans of Randy Marsh (Stan’s dad)(I definitely fall into the latter category). By the way, even though the Guiness records probably do not track South Park much “BBD” easily sets the record for most uses of the word “blowjob” on television, for any network.

Other episodes are funny simply for acting as satire, like “Royal Pudding” turning the British Royal wedding into a Canadian Royal Wedding. This lampooning, at the beginning and end of the episode, makes the main Ike-themed plot line much more worthwhile.

But by far the best episode of the season, and in my opinion a definite gold thumb winner, is “You’re Getting Old.” It’s simply brilliant. The episode has everything you could ask for in a SP episode: social commentary, pop culture references, a real and meaningful message, and of course, swearing and shit humor. I can honestly say I don’t think there’s ever been an instance in the history of mankind – in television, film, or music – where repeated, vulgar sounds of farting and shitting have been directly related to such meaningful metaphors or deep emotional feelings. This 22-minute installment probably had over 200 bowel noises throughout it, and yet I also almost cried at the end. Let’s see fucking Glee do that. Still everyone, even the “anti-dung-ites”, should be laughing throughout almost every minute of this one. The exception is the last segment which, if you aren’t a total robot, should tug gently at your heartstrings. I never thought that would be a sentence I would ever say about South Park, or anything for that matter. Also, the episode’s alternate plot line follows Randy, so you just can’t lose!

Other worthwhile mentions are the twist and the Psycho reference in “City Sushi” as well as the Penn State pedophilia jokes in “The Poor Kid”. By the way, did you know Penn State prefers to be losing at halftime? Because at Penn State they like when you’re a little behind in the locker room.

The disc’s special features contain deleted scenes, which are worth a watch, but the most special of the features is “6 Days to Air”, a look behind the scenes at South Park Studios. It shows the birth and evolution (not creation) of a typical episode – from brainstorming to script to animation to recording – in under a week. It gives fans a unique look into how Trey and Matt come up with the ideas, and a chance to learn other things you might not know about the series. Show of