The Jeffersons (South Park)

"The Jeffersons (South Park)"

"The Jeffersons" is episode 117 of the Comedy Central animated series South Park. It was originally broadcast on April 21, 2004 and has been described as "a howlingly funny assault on Michael Jackson." This is the second time in South Park to feature Kenny speaking audible lines, as he is disguised as Blanket and not wearing his trademark parka.

Plot

Mr. Martin Jefferson, an eccentric man-child, and his son Blanket have moved into the Donovans' old residence. When the boys find out that Mr. Jefferson has arcade games, amusement rides and a small zoo at his house, they spend a lot of time hanging out with Blanket. Kyle in particular becomes concerned for Blanket, as his father is too busy being a child to look after him properly. Cartman defends Mr. Jefferson, who has told him that he is his best friend, and provides free toys and entertainment. At the police station, the police receive a report that a wealthy black family has purchased a house in South Park with cash. Sergent Yates and his team, confirming Mr. Jefferson's suspicions, plan to take him down, just as they did Kobe Bryant — not because he is guilty but because he is black and wealthier than them.

At night, Mr. Jefferson sneaks over to Stan's house, dressed in a Peter Pan outfit, shortly followed along by Cartman. Kyle also shows up, accompanied by Blanket. Kyle explains to Stan that he found Blanket wandering around alone in his yard, and is startled by Mr. Jefferson's presence. Kyle and Stan implore Mr. Jefferson to go back home, but to no avail: he and Blanket insist that they are afraid to go home due to fears of ghosts. Reluctantly, Stan shares his bed with Kyle, Blanket, Cartman and Mr. Jefferson. Cartman tells Mr. Jefferson how much he admires him and just as the two are about to kiss, Stan wakes up to only see that he was dreaming about it.

In the morning, Randy and Sharon Marsh are alarmed to find Mr. Jefferson sleeping in their son's bed, but he manages to bribe his way out. The Jeffersons return home as the police, having planted evidence in it the night before, wake up in their squad car. Yates is surprised by Jefferson's appearance, believing that someone made a mistake. He states that he no longer has the stomach for it but vows to continue to frame rich black men only if they are black. After seeing Mr. Jefferson dangle his son out of the window, Kyle realizes they have to get Blanket away from him. Meanwhile, in an attempt to calm Blanket down, Mr. Jefferson plays the nose-grabbing game. Blanket tries to play back but ends up pulling his father's nose off.

Mr. Jefferson is on the phone with his plastic surgeon, since he is literally falling apart. In the meantime, the Santa Barbara Police, after revealing their "good police work" in framing him previously, confirm that Mr. Jefferson is the person Yates is looking. Stan and Kyle dress Kenny up as Blanket in order to sneak the real one out of the house. Jefferson, wearing the Thriller costume, intercepts them and playfully throws Kenny into the ceiling, killing him. The kids are rescued by the cops. While Cartman tries to save Mr. Jefferson from his 'tormentors', Kyle delivers the lesson that he needs to grow up and make a normal life for his son. Realizing he has been missing out on Blanket's childhood, Jefferson plans to give away most of his wealth and get a real job. Seeing that Jefferson will no longer be wealthy, the cops decide to drop the charges, and everybody sings "The Power of Change."

Parody

Amazon.com's official review states Michael Jackson is "portrayed in the episode 'The Jeffersons' not as a child molester, but as an infantile parent who needs to grow up." Maxim magazine states Mr. Jefferson is "a Michael Jackson-like freak", and The National Board of Review's John Gallagher calls this episode "a howlingly funny assault on Michael Jackson."

The song Michael Jackson (as Mr. Jefferson) sings about his "wishing tree" is a parody of Jackson's song "Childhood", the B-side to his single Scream and used famously as the theme to Free Willy 2.