10 Best ‘South Park’ Easter Eggs You Thought You Missed

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The mature animated series “South Park” is humorous, intelligent, and brimming with both subtle (and not so subtle) references known as Easter eggs. An Easter egg in media can be a secret joke or hidden element, though its definition has broadened to encompass references as well, some of which are intentionally concealed like real-life Easter eggs, while others might elude the average viewer’s notice.

On this list, you’ll find some Easter eggs sprinkled across the South Park series that range from lesser-known to widely recognized. These hidden gems include subtle dialogue and surprise appearances, making the show even more enjoyable for dedicated fans.

10
Kenny’s Intro Lines

Among the dearest characters in the entire series of South Park, Kenny is renowned for being a loyal friend, caring brother, yet harboring rather unusual interests. Throughout the opening sequence of each episode, he can be heard singing a faintly audible line, the content of which has evolved through different phases. In earlier seasons, his lyrics were about his preferences regarding girls, whereas later they hinted at plans involving Britney Spears. During Season 6, Timmy took over Kenny’s role and sang about himself instead, but since Season 7, Kenny has returned with his original, unaltered line that has remained consistent since Season 10.

Other Intro Changes

Over time, both Kenny’s dialogue and the intro have undergone significant transformations in terms of animation style, music, and even content. For instance, “Goth Kids 3: Dawn of the Posers” saw a complete revamp of the intro, featuring new lyrics and a stronger emphasis on the main goth characters. Despite this particular episode not ranking high among our Halloween specials, the refreshed intro was well-received by fans.

9
Kenny Without his Hood

From my perspective as a movie buff, I’ve noticed that Kenny’s unique attribute is his muffled speech, largely due to his iconic orange parka that often conceals his face. Yet, in certain episodes, we get glimpses of Kenny without his hood, revealing a clearer sound of his voice and unmasking his face (which, let’s be honest, resembles many other characters, but with its distinct dirty blonde hair). It’s quite amusing that because these hoodless appearances are so rare, some viewers don’t even recognize Kenny on screen!

Hoodless Appearances

On numerous occasions, Kenny has been spotted without his signature hood, including in episodes like “The Jeffersons” and “The Losing Edge”. Interestingly, even when he’s not wearing his mask or hat, these hoodless appearances often serve to emphasize a particularly humorous or intense moment. Moreover, there are instances where these hoodless moments are crucial to the plot, such as in “The Coon”, where Mysterion unmasks himself to Kyle, though it may have taken viewers some time to decipher the revelation.

8
Kenny’s Various Deaths

Throughout this collection, you’ll find numerous references to Kenny, but perhaps the most well-known is this one. At the start of the series, Kenny’s grisly demise was a recurring event, followed by his unexpected return in the subsequent episode. Some of these deaths contributed significantly to the plot, while others served for humor or surprise. Although Kenny’s deaths have become less common in recent seasons due to his character having a smaller role in the show, it’s always enjoyable to revisit the imaginative ways he met his end and his irritation that no one else seems to recall these events.

Oh My God, They Killed Kenny!

Previously mentioned, an Easter egg doesn’t require concealment to be impactful. In this context, Kenny’s frequent deaths function as a secret inside joke for astute viewers. Interestingly, his survival in “Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo” was a significant plot twist, marking the first time he made it through an episode. However, his joy was short-lived as he was transformed into a platypus and shot in the following episode.

7
References to South Park’s Original Shorts

Before the creation of “South Park,” the duo Matt Stone and Trey Parker brought forth two animated Christmas specials titled “Jesus vs. Frosty” and “Jesus vs. Santa.” In the former, the boys inadvertently bring a malevolent snowman to life, while in the latter, an angry Jesus confronts Santa for stealing his holiday limelight. These early works significantly contributed to the emergence of “South Park,” and eagle-eyed viewers might catch several nods to these specials throughout various episodes.

The Shorts vs. the Show

In “The Simpsons Already Did it”, the kids suggest Tweek add a nose to his snowman, causing him anxiety that the snowman might come alive and harm him. Stan then queries, “Tweek, when did that ever happen, if not that one instance?” Furthermore, in “Red Sleigh Down”, Cartman utters “Oh, my!” which is echoed by the others saying “Jesus”, much like they did in the short film. Most strikingly, during “A Very Crappy Christmas”, the kids make a cut-out animation reminiscent of “Jesus vs. Santa”.

6
Hidden Celebrity Voices

Over the years, South Park has showcased some fantastic guest appearances, ranging from the heavy metal group Korn, who portrayed themselves in “Korn’s Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery,” to the streamer PewDiePie, who made an appearance in “#REHASH” and “#HappyHolograms.” The show has also highlighted lesser-known artists like Wing in the eponymous episode, while actors such as Bill Hader have taken on multiple roles and even worked behind the scenes as a staff writer and consultant. Additionally, some actors have given surprise performances that might have gone unnoticed during an initial viewing.

From Pop Culture to Pets

South Park frequently pokes fun at various celebrities through its episodes, with creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone often lending their voices to these famous figures. An unusual occurrence happened during the episode “The Cissy,” where Lorde’s character was portrayed by both Parker and the actual singer Sia, who also sang her track “Push.” Surprising appearances from celebrities include Henry Winkler voicing the Kid-Eating Monster in the episode “City on the Edge of Forever” and George Clooney lending his voice to Stan’s dog Sparky in “Big Gay Al’s Big Gay Animal Sanctuary.

5
Movie References

Essentially, the film references in “South Park” have become a significant aspect of the series. They range from direct allusions, such as the “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy parody in “Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers,” to more hidden tributes, like the nod to “Psycho” in “City Sushi.” Furthermore, some episodes may seem centered around a particular movie initially but actually pay tribute to another one, for instance, “Dances with Smurfs,” which was less about the Smurfs and more about honoring “Tron.

The Movie’s Movie References

It turns out that the South Park series isn’t the only one with movie references hidden within it – the South Park film, “Bigger, Longer, & Uncut,” also includes a significant number of nods to the musical “Les Miserables” and Disney classics like “The Little Mermaid.” Although viewers don’t have to be familiar with these other movies to enjoy “Bigger, Longer, & Uncut,” having that knowledge enhances the viewing experience and gives additional reasons to appreciate its soundtrack.

4
TV Show References

In terms of television references, South Park doesn’t hesitate to incorporate them into its content, ranging from blatant ones like “Chinpokomon” based on Pokémon, to subtler ones such as kids dressed as Star Trek characters that might only last a scene. These references can be tributes to the shows they mimic, but at other times, their purpose is much more critical or satirical.

Easter Eggs Across Genres

One of the most recognized TV allusions from South Park can be found in “Cartoon Wars,” where it took a critical stance against Family Guy and introduced a character resembling Bart Simpson. However, South Park has also lampooned reality TV, talk shows, and numerous other formats and genres. Consequently, several other shows have referenced South Park as well, spanning from sitcoms like The Office to animated series such as The Powerpuff Girls.

3
Episode Callbacks

For a significant period, the TV series South Park primarily consisted of unconnected episodes. Occasionally, though, it made subtle nods to past events, like the Antonio Banderas blow-up doll from “Korn’s Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery” in “Make Love, Not Warcraft,” or the Chinpokomon that appear in both those same episodes. Similarly, “Elementary School Musical” references “Pandemic 1 and 2” when Craig mentions being away in Peru, and Cartman giving gifts to people he wronged in “The Death of Eric Cartman.” Since South Park didn’t start getting serialized until at least Season 18, these references are enjoyable and unexpected for viewers.

Some Intentional, Others Accidental

It’s worth noting that not all callbacks in the series were intentionally hidden easter eggs or meant to reference earlier episodes. Some, like the spelling of Tolkien’s name as “Token” in certain episodes, are more coincidental and could be seen as offensive. However, since Season 18, these references have become more about maintaining the show’s continuity rather than intentionally hiding easter eggs. It’s still enjoyable to spot these subtle nods to earlier episodes, which serve as reminders of the broader South Park universe.

2
Actor and Celebrity References

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but appreciate how South Park cleverly weaves in not only hidden celebrity voices but also subtle references to numerous celebrities. For instance, in the episode “City on the Edge of Forever,” a missing photo of Macaulay Culkin is shown, acknowledging his brief absence from the media spotlight in the ’90s. Furthermore, in “Volcano,” Patrick Duffy was initially depicted as Scuzzlebutt’s leg, but was later replaced by Brent Musburger during a flashback in “City on the Edge of Forever.” This playful jab at the interchangeable nature of these actors and commentators might have gone unnoticed by many viewers.

Bigger Celebrity Parodies

Indeed, certain celebrity appearances were pivotal within the series, for example, the portrayal of Tom Cruise in “Trapped in the Closet”, Barbra Streisand in “Spookyfish” and “Mecha-Streisand”, and Kanye West/Ye in “Fishsticks” and “The Hobbit”. These aren’t exactly Easter eggs, as they weren’t intentionally hidden or meant as a secret inside joke. However, it could be argued that there’s some flexibility in this definition, since delving into Parker and Stone’s feelings towards Streisand gives more depth to her character in “Spooky Vision”, while recognizing “Fishsticks” and “The Hobbit” enhances the experience of “Cupid Ye”.

1
Aliens

In numerous South Park episodes, a recurring Easter egg can be found: the elusive gray aliens, or “Visitors,” who’ve been present since the show’s inception. They famously administered Cartman an anal probe in the pilot episode and have occasionally popped up unexpectedly in the background of scenes. Although their appearances have decreased in more recent seasons, it still brings a smile to spot them blending into one of South Park’s bustling crowds.

Have You Seen Me?

In many episodes, a poster of a Mysterious Visitor can be found in the cafeteria, asking, “Have you spotted me?” This seems to be an homage to other hidden references, or Easter eggs, which is typical of the show South Park, known for its cleverness and storytelling that often references itself. As we move forward into the upcoming season, it’s likely that we’ll encounter more Easter eggs, perhaps featuring our favorite extraterrestrial characters once again.

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2025-04-17 02:03