ManBearPig

"ManBearPig"

"ManBearPig" is episode 1006 (#145) of Comedy Central's South Park and originally aired on April 26, 2006.

Plot

Al Gore visits South Park Elementary and talks about the terrible ManBearPig, who roams the Earth and attacks humans. ManBearPig is "half man, half bear, half pig; I'm super cereal." After the boys' basketball game is interrupted by another visit from Al Gore, who is disguised (poorly) as the ManBearPig, Stan says the former American Vice President is just desperate for attention, because he has no friends. Al Gore then phones Stan in the morning when it is still dark, and begins pestering him. Gore then breaks down on the phone, and Stan reluctantly agrees to go to a meeting, where Al Gore tells Stan and his friends that ManBearPig is hiding in the Cave of the Winds. At first the children are reluctant to go with him; but when he explains that he will excuse the children from school, they agree to go.

In the cave, Gore first starts asking illogical questions to the tour guide and begins saying "Manbearpig, Manbearpig, Oink, Growl," trying to call ManBearPig. Al Gore forces the kids to follow him off the path saying "This looks like ManBearPig central" and begins shooting wildly with a shotgun while exclaiming," I've got you now, you son of a bitch!!", causing a cave-in that leaves the kids trapped in the caverns, but allowing Gore to exit the cave safely. While there, the boys search for a way out, and Cartman discovers a small cavern filled with gold coins, pearls, and other treasures. He keeps the others from locating it, and starts swallowing the treasure piece by piece to secretly smuggle it out of the cave. Unfortunately for Cartman, the treasure is fake. Unfortunately for everyone else, Gore believes ManBearPig caused the cave-in (instead of him) and that he is still at large.

Meanwhile, a rescue team has been assembled to find the boys, despite Al Gore's pleas that the caves should be filled with molten lead in order to kill ManBearPig regardless of the children. He then diverts the flow of a nearby stream in order to cause a flood that fills the cavern in an attempt to kill the non-existent monster.

The boys meanwhile believe that Cartman, bloated with fake gold and jewels is severely ill, and try to find a way out, carrying him. The cave soon floods (thanks to Gore), and Kyle risks his life to get Cartman to safety. The boys manage to escape just as a memorial service is being held for them, and Al Gore is secretly celebrating the fact he "killed" ManBearPig, and believing he is a hero. Stan abuses Al Gore for using ManBearPig to get attention, but Gore denies this, saying that the man who slayed ManBearPig is not a loser. Cartman tries to walk away but he doesn’t get far before he begins farting out all the treasure. It is revealed to Cartman that that the treasure is fake, used for photo opportunities and is worth “About $14”. Kyle abuses Cartman for making them carry him. While Cartman continues to expel treasure, Al Gore dons a superhero cape and exclaims his intention to make a film starring himself, yelling "Excelsior!!" as he tries to fly away.

Trivia

• Al Gore uses the word "serial" in place of "serious" and "seriously" in the episode. This is in reference to his gaffe on The Oprah Winfrey Show when he was asked for his favorite cereal and his answer was "Oprah." He was mistaking the word "cereal" for "serial," meaning published or produced in installments, as a novel or television drama.

• The music played when Al Gore approaches the children dressed as ManBearPig is from Halloween.
• Cave of the Winds is a real tourist attraction in Colorado.