7 90s South Park Jokes That Make No Sense in 2024

As someone who grew up watching cartoons and sitcoms, I must say that the world of pop culture references can be as intricate and complex as a fine tapestry, with threads from various eras intertwined in ways that only the most dedicated enthusiasts can fully appreciate.

South Park stands out for its quick wit and social satire, yet occasionally the humor that forms the foundation of the show may lose relevance as cultural context shifts over time. With nearly three decades on TV, some of the jokes have grown dated, particularly those from the ’90s which may not resonate as strongly in today’s world.

Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the masterminds behind the show, have openly expressed that seasons 1-3 are not their personal favorites. This could be due to the abundance of older, less common references used in these early seasons. However, it’s important to note that the show remains enjoyable, even during its early stages. As context is added to the jokes, they become clearer and sometimes even funnier with a new layer of humor.

7 Missing Child

In season 2’s “City on the Edge of Forever,” the characters Stan, Kyle, and their companions mysteriously vanish, prompting their parents to put up flyers in search of them. As posters featuring these missing boys appear, surprisingly, a poster of Macaulay Culkin also pops up among them.

From one perspective, having Macaulay Culkin in the movie aligns with the expectations of “Home Alone” enthusiasts, as it’s a witty allusion to Kevin, portrayed by Culkin, being left behind and considered “absent.” Yet, this might not have been the intended humor for Stone and Parker.

An Extra Layer to the Joke

1994 saw Macaulay Culkin stepping away from acting. When this episode aired in 1998, his absence from television and movies was quite noticeable. However, he returned to acting in the 2000s, and today, his fame has arguably increased. Therefore, the humor based on him being “lost” might not be relevant anymore, as after the episode’s release, he was effectively “re-discovered.

6 Scuzzlebutt’s Legs

In Season 1’s “Volcano,” it’s the unexpected character named Scuzzlebutt who emerges as the tragic yet heroic figure. During a hunting trip with Uncle Jimbo, the boys stumble upon an active volcano, believing their fate to be sealed. However, things take an unexpected turn when a massive, shaggy creature, sporting a celery stalk limb and a fondness for basket weaving, appears out of nowhere. This peculiar being, which sports a leg that oddly resembles Patrick Duffy, comes to their rescue.

The Randomness Is the Point

It appears adding Patrick Duffy as Scuzzlebutt’s leg comes across as quite unexpected. Some spectators may speculate a hidden meaning, but this unexpectedness is deliberate.

As per Matt Stone’s account, the actor was selected for his unremarkable qualities, being described as ordinary and not typically popular among fans. To further emphasize this ordinary persona, Duffy-leg was later substituted in a flashback scene of “City on the Edge of Forever” by sports commentator Brent Musburger (known as Musburgur). In various scenes, the leg role has been portrayed by different actors, including Tom Cruise and Ricky Martin.

5 Not-So-Prehistoric Ice Man

In Season 2 of “South Park,” the finale is named “Prehistoric Ice Man.” This episode finds the characters encountering a man frozen from 1996, named Larry. The humor lies in Larry’s struggles to adapt and understand his new time period, particularly with technology like the internet. These jokes underscore the rapid pace of change over such a short span. However, it’s worth noting that some of the depicted changes are indeed accurate reflections of the times.

A Joke Within a Joke

During Larry’s frozen state, some alterations brought a surface-level amusement, like his wife asserting she had a teenage son with her new partner after 2+ years. Contrastingly, remarks from the internet were more intricate. The use of the internet indeed underwent significant transformation from 1996 to 1999, spreading widely in households. In this context, Larry might have genuinely felt outdated compared to his surroundings.

Essentially, certain jokes in here poke fun at the fact that some aspects remain unchanged despite passing 2+ years, while others underscore the massive transformation that took place. A contemporary spectator would probably pick up on the initial layer of amusement, but without additional information, they might fail to fully grasp the ridiculousness of Larry’s predicament.

4 Dr. Katz

After the demise of Mr. Hat, Mr. Garrison embarks on a journey to find solace through therapy. His destination: New York City. Here, he encounters Dr. Katz, a character portrayed with wavy lines, who reveals to Garrison his true sexual orientation as gay. Tragically, Dr. Katz is later slain by a snake made of charcoal, an event that Garrison sees as justified. Regrettably, due to Dr. Katz’s brief stint on the show and the enigma surrounding his character, many viewers are unaware of his subsequent appearances.

A Lesser-Known Crossover

As a dedicated fan, I’d like to highlight that the starring role in the show “Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist” belongs to none other than Dr. Jonathan Katz himself. His comedic prowess in the animated series “South Park” aligns perfectly with its unique, wavy drawing style, which is reminiscent of his own show’s aesthetic. Following an episode on “South Park“, MAD Magazine cleverly created a parody where Dr. Katz relocated to South Park. However, the townsfolk’s antics drove him up the wall, prompting him to plead for a return to New York. It’s worth mentioning that Dr. Katz has also made appearances in other mature cartoons, even gracing the screens of “Family Guy“, which might have left creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker feeling a tad disheartened.

3 T is for What?

After a string of peculiar incidents, including townsfolk mysteriously catching fire and Kyle’s father, Gerald, struggling with impotence, Cartman gets bound to a cross. His friends abandon him there for nearly three weeks. During this time, Officer Barbrady stumbles upon Cartman and commands the officer to release him. However, instead of complying, Barbrady says “T is for turtle” before humming “Nunur nunur nunur” as he departs.

Obscure, but Hilarious

Among various topics, Barbrady’s comment pertains specifically to Sesame Street. The shape resembling a ‘t’ brings about his statement, “It symbolizes turtle.” Furthermore, the sounds “Nur nur” are associated with The Typewriter, a character from Sesame Street who was present until season 32 and was known for a distinctive “noo-nee” sound. Given that this character is less likely to be recognized by viewers, or if recognized, it may not immediately spring to mind after such a long time has passed.

2 Fighting the Frizzies at Eleven

The popular TV series “South Park” aired its Christmas special titled “Mr. Hankey’s Christmas Classics” towards the end of the 1990s. In this episode, Mr. Hankey serves as the host, and it includes various holiday songs like “The Dreidel Song” and “Christmas Time in Hell.” These tunes are interrupted by commercial breaks where a news anchor from real life appears, humorously stating, “Beating the winter chill, at eleven o’clock.” This joke is rooted in the “Star Wars” universe, although it may have been puzzling for viewers even back then as well.

Random Then, More Random Now

Based on Stone and Parker’s explanation, the phrase “Fighting the frizzies” originated from an unauthorized version of the Star Wars Holiday Special. In this special, Rolland Smith, a newscaster, used this line to describe tangled hair. Later, in South Park, they borrowed the phrase and turned it into a boxing match between Rolland Smith and a man wearing a suit representing unruly or frizzy hair, at the end of their holiday special.

1 Barbra Streisand Jokes

Initially in “Mecha-Streisand,” Barbra Streisand is introduced as the main adversary. In a particularly bizarre episode of season 2 titled “Spookyfish” (known for its unusual nature), she makes another appearance within the show’s “Spookyvision.” Her face is integrated into every single scene, despite the episode not being related to her in any way. The humor derived from these scenes is mainly due to their puzzling nature; one might wonder why Streisand was portrayed in such a lampooned manner.

A Villainous Backstory

Behind-the-scenes discussions on the Season 1 DVD reveal that most celebrity parodies in South Park were intended lightheartedly, except for Barbra Streisand. The creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, had disagreements with her stance on a Colorado constitutional amendment. This legislation restricted gay rights protections under local laws, which sparked Streisand to refer to Coloradans as “uneducated hillbillies.

Later on, Streisand expressed her disagreement with her depiction in “Mecha-Streisand,” which eventually resulted in her featuring in “Spookyfish” and subsequent episodes. This background information definitely helps to understand the jokes and her recurring role better, but ultimately, whether it makes them funnier is a matter of personal taste among viewers.

2024-10-26 06:03