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Cartman's involvement with the fried chicken black market closely mirrors the plot of ''[[Scarface (1983 film)|Scarface]]'', the 1983 crime film about the fictional drug lord [[Tony Montana]]. Cartman takes on the role of Montana, and Colonel Sanders resembles the drug kingpin antagonist, [[List of Scarface characters|Alejandro Sosa]].<ref name="CNBC">{{Cite news |last=Wells |first=Jane |title=KFC's New Sandwich-What Would the Colonel Say? |work=[[CNBC]] |date=April 6, 2010 |url=http://www.cnbc.com/id/36191290/ |accessdate=April 7, 2010}}</ref> In "Medicinal Fried Chicken", Cartman travels to a foreign land to meet a dealer, usurps the illegal operation from his local boss, and is ultimately brought down because he ate too much of his own product. All of these plot points mirror the developments in Scarface and Montana's rise and fall as a cocaine dealer.<ref name="Corbin">{{Cite news |last=Swindler |first=Samantha |title=Corbin gets mention in 'South Park' episode |work=[[The Times-Tribune (Corbin, Kentucky)|The Times-Tribune]] |date=April 2, 2010 |url=http://thetimestribune.com/features/x993485348/Corbin-gets-mention-in-South-Park-episode |accessdate=April 4, 2010}}</ref><ref name="miaminewtimes">{{Cite news |url=http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2010/04/south_parks_kentucky_fried_sca.php |title=South Park's Kentucky Fried Scarface Spoof |first=Kyle |last=Munzenrieder |work=[[Miami New Times]] |date=April 1, 2010 |accessdate=April 4, 2010}}</ref> The episode also includes several scenes that mirrors scenes from ''Scarface'', including a moment where Cartman watches a boy get murdered on a helicopter, and the final scene in which Cartman's compound is attacked by gunmen.<ref name="iFMag" /> The episode aired shortly after a video surfaced on [[YouTube]] of an elementary school play based on the film ''Scarface'', which generated controversy until it was revealed the video was a hoax filmed by music video director [[Marc Klasfeld]].<ref name="miaminewtimes" /><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2010/03/scarface_the_elementary_school.php |title=''Scarface'': The Elementary School Play is Staged, Really |first=Francisco |last=Alvarado |work=[[Miami New Times]] |date=March 30, 2010 |accessdate=April 4, 2010}}</ref> The episode also includes references to the 1991 crime film ''[[New Jack City]]''.<ref name="FAQ">{{Cite web |title=FAQ |publisher=South Park Studios |date=April 2, 2010 |url=http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/ |accessdate=April 7, 2010}}</ref>
Cartman's involvement with the fried chicken black market closely mirrors the plot of ''[[Scarface (1983 film)|Scarface]]'', the 1983 crime film about the fictional drug lord [[Tony Montana]]. Cartman takes on the role of Montana, and Colonel Sanders resembles the drug kingpin antagonist, [[List of Scarface characters|Alejandro Sosa]].<ref name="CNBC">{{Cite news |last=Wells |first=Jane |title=KFC's New Sandwich-What Would the Colonel Say? |work=[[CNBC]] |date=April 6, 2010 |url=http://www.cnbc.com/id/36191290/ |accessdate=April 7, 2010}}</ref> In "Medicinal Fried Chicken", Cartman travels to a foreign land to meet a dealer, usurps the illegal operation from his local boss, and is ultimately brought down because he ate too much of his own product. All of these plot points mirror the developments in Scarface and Montana's rise and fall as a cocaine dealer.<ref name="Corbin">{{Cite news |last=Swindler |first=Samantha |title=Corbin gets mention in 'South Park' episode |work=[[The Times-Tribune (Corbin, Kentucky)|The Times-Tribune]] |date=April 2, 2010 |url=http://thetimestribune.com/features/x993485348/Corbin-gets-mention-in-South-Park-episode |accessdate=April 4, 2010}}</ref><ref name="miaminewtimes">{{Cite news |url=http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2010/04/south_parks_kentucky_fried_sca.php |title=South Park's Kentucky Fried Scarface Spoof |first=Kyle |last=Munzenrieder |work=[[Miami New Times]] |date=April 1, 2010 |accessdate=April 4, 2010}}</ref> The episode also includes several scenes that mirrors scenes from ''Scarface'', including a moment where Cartman watches a boy get murdered on a helicopter, and the final scene in which Cartman's compound is attacked by gunmen.<ref name="iFMag" /> The episode aired shortly after a video surfaced on [[YouTube]] of an elementary school play based on the film ''Scarface'', which generated controversy until it was revealed the video was a hoax filmed by music video director [[Marc Klasfeld]].<ref name="miaminewtimes" /><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2010/03/scarface_the_elementary_school.php |title=''Scarface'': The Elementary School Play is Staged, Really |first=Francisco |last=Alvarado |work=[[Miami New Times]] |date=March 30, 2010 |accessdate=April 4, 2010}}</ref> The episode also includes references to the 1991 crime film ''[[New Jack City]]''.<ref name="FAQ">{{Cite web |title=FAQ |publisher=South Park Studios |date=April 2, 2010 |url=http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/ |accessdate=April 7, 2010}}</ref>


Colonel Sanders orders Cartman to stop [[Jamie Oliver]], a British [[celebrity chef]] known for his campaign against fast food, as shown in his show ''[[Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution]]''.<ref name="Movieline" /> Throughout the episode, Cartman is critical of fast food fried chicken eateries that compete with KFC. This includes [[Church's Chicken]], which he said "tastes like cat shit",<ref name="Movieline" /> and [[Boston Market]], when a dealer unsuccessfully tries to pass Boston Market gravy off as KFC gravy to Cartman.<ref name="AVClub" /> Randy says he wants to induce cancer and get medicinal marijuana in time to attend a concert by reggae singer [[Ziggy Marley]].<ref name="Movieline" /> The song playing whilst the group of men bounce around on their enlarged testicles is "Chicken on the Rocks", by [[Jean Jacques Perrey]] and [[Dana Countryman]].<ref name="FAQ" /> After buying marijuana, Randy remarks he has to rush home to watch ''[[Caprica (TV series)|Caprica]]'', the science fiction drama series from the network [[SyFy]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hibberd |first=James |title='Stargate Universe' returns fair for Syfy |date=April 5, 2010 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |url=http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/04/stargate-universe-returns-fair-for-syfy.html |accessdate=April 7, 2010}}</ref>
Colonel Sanders orders Cartman to stop [[Jamie Oliver]], a British [[celebrity chef]] known for his campaign against fast food, as shown in his show ''[[Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution]]''.<ref name="Movieline" /> Throughout the episode, Cartman is critical of fast food fried chicken eateries that compete with KFC. This includes [[Church's Chicken]], which he said "tastes like cat shit",<ref name="Movieline" /> and [[Boston Market]], when a dealer unsuccessfully tries to pass Boston Market gravy off as KFC gravy to Cartman.<ref name="AVClub" /> Randy says he wants to induce cancer and get medicinal marijuana in time to attend a concert by reggae singer [[Ziggy Marley]].<ref name="Movieline" /> The song playing whilst the group of men bounce around on their enlarged testicles is "Chicken on the Rocks", by [[Jean Jacques Perrey]] and [[Dana Countryman]]. On his way to purchase marijuana, Randy sings Buffalo Soldier by Bob Marley. <ref name="FAQ" /> After buying marijuana, Randy remarks he has to rush home to watch ''[[Caprica (TV series)|Caprica]]'', the science fiction drama series from the network [[SyFy]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hibberd |first=James |title='Stargate Universe' returns fair for Syfy |date=April 5, 2010 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |url=http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/04/stargate-universe-returns-fair-for-syfy.html |accessdate=April 7, 2010}}</ref>


==Reception==
==Reception==

Revision as of 00:51, 12 April 2010

"Medicinal Fried Chicken"

"Medicinal Fried Chicken" is the third episode of the fourteenth season of the American animated television series South Park, and the 198th episode of the series overall. It originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on March 31, 2010. In the episode, the South Park KFC is replaced by a medical marijuana dispensary, and Cartman gets involved in black market selling the KFC chicken. Meanwhile, Randy Marsh gets a medical referral for marijuana by giving himself testicular cancer, which makes his testicles grow to grotesquely huge proportions.

The episode was written and directed by series co-creator Trey Parker, and was rated TV-MA L in the United States. "Medicinal Fried Chicken" was first broadcast when Colorado was considering revising state medicinal marijuana laws and restricting fast food eateries. The episode provided social commentary against both types of laws, and suggested legislating lifestyle choices is ineffective and inevitably leads to black markets.

The Cartman drug market subplot was heavily influenced by the 1983 crime film Scarface, with Cartman resembling fictional drug lord Tony Montana and KFC founder Colonel Sanders as antagonist Alejandro Sosa. The episode also included several jokes about Pope Benedict XVI and the child sexual abuse scandals that had been surrounding the Catholic Church at the time. The concept of a former KFC restaurant becoming a medicinal marijuana store mirrors that of a real life dispensary in the Palms community of Los Angeles, California, designed to resemble a KFC.

"Medicinal Fried Chicken" received generally positive reviews, with many commentators praising the social commentary and sophomoric testicle jokes alike. According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by 2.99 million viewers, making it one of the most successful cable programs of the week. Although a KFC spokesman had a lukewarm response to "Medicinal Fried Chicken", officials from the KFC hometown of Corbin, Kentucky, were pleased the city was featured in the episode.

Plot

New state laws prohibiting fast food restaurants in low-income neighborhoods result in the closure of all KFC eateries in Colorado, much to the dismay of Cartman, who is addicted to the food. When Randy Marsh learns a former KFC outlet has become a medical cannabis dispensary, he attempts to give himself cancer to get a doctor's referral for marijuana. After placing his testicles into a microwave oven, Randy successfully gives himself testicular cancer, as well as testicles so large he has to use a wheelbarrow to carry them. Randy obtains his medical referral and starts smoking marijuana regularly. Meanwhile, his testicles continue to grow, to the point that he uses them as a space hopper for movement. Randy convinces his friends that women find larger testicles attractive, and they eventually give themselves testicular cancer as well. The local doctor, unaware of the men's self-irradiation, becomes convinced a recent change in South Park is responsible for the cancer outbreak.

Cartman seeks KFC chicken on the black market by working for a local boy who runs a small KFC cartel from his home. Cartman is eventually sent to Corbin, Kentucky to buy chicken directly from Colonel Sanders. When the boy who was sent to accompany Cartman is revealed to be an informant for healthy foods advocate Jamie Oliver, the boy is executed by the Colonel's men. Cartman nevertheless wins the colonel's approval, but is warned never to betray him. Cartman ousts his previous boss at the South Park cartel and takes over the operation himself, but ends up eating most of product supplied by Colonel Sanders. Later, Colonel Sanders grows furious at Cartman's failure to kill Jamie Oliver, and sends a squad of gunmen to kill Cartman. A fire-fight between the gunmen and police breaks out at Cartman's cartel headquarters, but he escapes unscathed.

Randy's testicles grow so large that he is unable to fit through the doors of the marijuana dispensary. Prohibited by law from purchasing marijuana outside the premises, Randy and the other self-irradiated men begin protesting for larger dispensary doors. The doctor interrupts the protest, claiming the recent ban on KFC had led to rise in testicular cancer because the chicken somehow prevented the illness. Colorado illegalizes marijuana once again and reopens KFC, which has now been re-branded as "Medicinal Fried Chicken". Randy has his cancerous testicles removed and replaced with prostheses, and has the skin from his removed enlarged scrotum made into a new coat for his wife Sharon.

Production

South Park co-creator Trey Parker wrote "Medicinal Fried Chicken".

"Medicinal Fried Chicken" was written and directed by series co-founder Trey Parker, and was rated TV-MA L in the United States. It originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on March 31, 2010. The episode was first broadcast around the same time a great deal of discussion regarding marijuana laws had been generated in Colorado, where South Park is set and where Parker and fellow series co-creator Matt Stone are from. The state had a medicinal marijuana law that allowed patients to obtain cards to purchase marijuana legally, but as of March 2010, an average of 1,000 people were applying for the cards each day, and many of the applications were of questionable validity and intent.[1][2] As a result, state officials had been considering whether to revise the medicinal marijuana law, and "Medicinal Fried Chicken" was likely influenced by those discussions.[1][3] The episode was also based on new Colorado health care laws that threatened to put restrictions on fast food restaurants in the state.[4]

Theme

"Medicinal Fried Chicken" provides social commentary regarding laws against both fast food and marijuana,[5] and suggests legislating lifestyle choices is ineffective and nonsensical.[3] The episode seems to advocate the legalization of marijuana. By demonstrating the exaggeratedly absurd lengths that Randy goes in order to obtain medicinal marijuana, the episode suggests it would be easier and more sensible to simply make cannabis legal.[3][6][4] However, the extremely unhealthy measures Randy takes in obtaining testicular cancer in order to get marijuana can also be seen as a warning that people should not resort to fraudulent medical excuses to get medicinal marijuana.[3] "Medicinal Fried Chicken" also suggests marijuana is less harmful than fast food and, by extension, other legal substances such as alcohol and cigarettes, which further demonstrates the folly of laws regulating lifestyles.[3][6] Additionally, Cartman's involvement with organized crime following the prohibition of fast food suggests that black markets are the inevitable outcome when an addictive substance is made illegal, and that people will go to extreme measures to satisfy their addictions no matter how many strict laws are passed.[1][7]

Cultural references

The fried chicken fast food restaurant KFC is featured prominently in "Medicinal Fried Chicken". The concept of a former KFC restaurant becoming a medicinal marijuana store mirrors that of a real life dispensary in the Palms community of Los Angeles, California. The store, called "Kind for Cures", is abbreviated to be called K.F.C. on its exterior signs and resembles the KFC fast food eateries in appearance, which has drawn national media attention to the dispensary.[8][9] Colonel Harland Sanders, the late founder of KFC still used heavily in the chain's advertisements, is portrayed as a living character in "Medicinal Fried Chicken", although he is portrayed as a drug dealer rather than an entrepreneur. Corbin, Kentucky, the home town of the first Kentucky Fried Chicken, is featured in the episode, though here it is portrayed as resembling a South American drug slum.[10]

"Medicinal Fried Chicken" includes several jokes about Pope Benedict XVI and the child sexual abuse scandals that had been surrounding the Catholic Church at the time.

"Medicinal Fried Chicken" includes several jokes against Pope Benedict XVI and the child sexual abuse scandals that had been surrounding the Catholic Church around the time the episode first aired.[1][11] On two occasions, Cartman states an affirmative response to questions by rhetorically asking, "Does the pope help pedophiles get away with their crimes?" and "Is the Pope Catholic? And making the world safe for pedophiles?" These are references to reports that Pope Benedict XVI ignored warnings and concealed evidence that Rev. Peter Hullermann engaged in several acts of child sexual abuse under the future Pope's watch as Archbishop of Munich and Freising in the 1980s.[11][12] During another scene, Cartman says, "Does a bear crap in the woods? And does the Pope crap on the broken lives and dreams of 200 deaf boys?" This is a reference to reports that Pope Benedict XVI failed to act to reports that Father Lawrence C. Murphy molested up to 200 deaf boys during his time at the St John's Catholic School for the Deaf.[11][13]

Cartman's involvement with the fried chicken black market closely mirrors the plot of Scarface, the 1983 crime film about the fictional drug lord Tony Montana. Cartman takes on the role of Montana, and Colonel Sanders resembles the drug kingpin antagonist, Alejandro Sosa.[14] In "Medicinal Fried Chicken", Cartman travels to a foreign land to meet a dealer, usurps the illegal operation from his local boss, and is ultimately brought down because he ate too much of his own product. All of these plot points mirror the developments in Scarface and Montana's rise and fall as a cocaine dealer.[10][15] The episode also includes several scenes that mirrors scenes from Scarface, including a moment where Cartman watches a boy get murdered on a helicopter, and the final scene in which Cartman's compound is attacked by gunmen.[6] The episode aired shortly after a video surfaced on YouTube of an elementary school play based on the film Scarface, which generated controversy until it was revealed the video was a hoax filmed by music video director Marc Klasfeld.[15][16] The episode also includes references to the 1991 crime film New Jack City.[17]

Colonel Sanders orders Cartman to stop Jamie Oliver, a British celebrity chef known for his campaign against fast food, as shown in his show Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.[11] Throughout the episode, Cartman is critical of fast food fried chicken eateries that compete with KFC. This includes Church's Chicken, which he said "tastes like cat shit",[11] and Boston Market, when a dealer unsuccessfully tries to pass Boston Market gravy off as KFC gravy to Cartman.[5] Randy says he wants to induce cancer and get medicinal marijuana in time to attend a concert by reggae singer Ziggy Marley.[11] The song playing whilst the group of men bounce around on their enlarged testicles is "Chicken on the Rocks", by Jean Jacques Perrey and Dana Countryman. On his way to purchase marijuana, Randy sings Buffalo Soldier by Bob Marley. [17] After buying marijuana, Randy remarks he has to rush home to watch Caprica, the science fiction drama series from the network SyFy.[18]

Reception

In its original American broadcast on March 31, 2010, "Medicinal Fried Chicken" was watched by 2.99 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research, making it the most watched cable television show of the night,[19] and one of the top performing cable programs of the week.[20] Although a slight drop from the 3.24 million viewers of the previous week's episode, "The Tale of Scrotie McBoogerballs", the viewership for "Medicinal Fried Chicken" was considered a strong showing.[19][21] The episode received an overall 1.9 rating/3 share, meaning that it was seen by 1.9% of the population, and 3% of people watching television at the time of the broadcast. Among viewers between ages 18 and 49, it received a 1.7 rating/5 share, and among male viewers between 18 and 34, it received a 3.1 rating/11 share.[19]

It's silliness to the max. That's what South Park does: takes our initial assumptions, pushes them to the limits, and shows us how ludicrous really can be.

Carlos Delgado
iF Magazine[6]

The A.V. Club writer Josh Modell said "Medicinal Fried Chicken" served as a good social satire without becoming too preachy. Modell particularly enjoyed that the other South Park men joined Randy in his absurd testicular cancer scheme, but said the Cartman subplot and drug film parody "fell a little flat".[5] Ramsley Isler of IGN said the giant testes jokes were "brilliantly ludicrous", and did not grow old despite running throughout the length of the episode. Isler praised the ending scene with the scrotum skin coat, and said when Cartman snorted chicken skin like cocaine, "the episode reached a whole new level hilarity".[1] TV Fanatic declared the episode "perfection" and felt it was an improvement over the previous fourteenth season episodes "Sexual Healing" and "The Tale of Scrotie McBoogerballs". The site also praised the episode for use gross-out comedy like enlarged testicles for social satire as well as humor.[4] Carlos Delgado of iF Magazine praised the humor, the references to Scarface and the social commentary, of which he said: "The points were smart, articulate, and, in true South Park style, completely off the wall".[6]

When asked how KFC felt about their portrayal in "Medicinal Fried Chicken", company spokesman Ricky Maynard said only: "As you might expect, KFC Corporation was not contacted by Comedy Central for permission to use our brand in South Park. We had absolutely no say in the show's content."[14] However, officials from Corbin, Kentucky, said they were pleased the city was featured in "Medicinal Fried Chicken", even though it was portrayed as a drug slum. The city has been conducting a campaign to capitalize on its connections to KFC and Colonel Sanders, and Sharae Myers, the city's Main Street manager, said of the episode: "One thing I think is great is that Corbin got the recognition: that the mecca for KFC is in Corbin."[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Isler, Ramsey (April 1, 2010). "South Park: "Medicinal Fried Chicken" Review". IGN. Retrieved April 4, 2010. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  2. ^ "1,000 Coloradans applying for medical marijuana cards per day". KKCO. March 25, 2010. Retrieved April 4, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d e Warner, Joel (April 1, 2010). "Medical marijuana and South Park: Everybody's favorite obscene cartoon takes on Colorado's hottest topic -- plus scrotum coats!". Westword. Retrieved April 4, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c "South Park Review: "Medicinal Fried Chicken"". TV Fanatic. April 1, 2010. Retrieved April 4, 2010.
  5. ^ a b c Modell, Josh (March 31, 2010). "South Park: Medicinal Fried Chicken". The A.V. Club. Retrieved April 4, 2010.
  6. ^ a b c d e Delgado, Carlos (April 1, 2010). "Television: TV Review: South Park - Season 14 - 'Medicinal Fried Chicken'". iF Magazine. Retrieved April 4, 2010.
  7. ^ "'South Park' Tackles Medical Marijuana". Opposing Views. April 1, 2010. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  8. ^ Romero, Dennis (April 1, 2010). "'South Park' Episode Takes Cues From L.A.'s Famous KFC Pot Shop". LA Weekly. Retrieved April 4, 2010.
  9. ^ Behrens, Zach (April 1, 2010). "South Park Pays Homage to L.A.'s Fast Food Medicinal Marijuana Dispensary in Palms". Gothamist. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  10. ^ a b c Swindler, Samantha (April 2, 2010). "Corbin gets mention in 'South Park' episode". The Times-Tribune. Retrieved April 4, 2010.
  11. ^ a b c d e f Miller, Julie (April 1, 2010). "The South Park Casualty Count: 'Medicinal Fried Chicken'". Movie Line. Retrieved April 4, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ Kulish, Katrin; Bennhold (March 18, 2010). "Doctor Asserts Church Ignored Abuse Warnings". The New York Times. Retrieved April 4, 2010. {{cite news}}: More than one of |first1= and |first= specified (help)
  13. ^ Owen, Richard (March 26, 2010). "Pope accused of ignoring pleas to stop priest who molested 200 deaf boys". The Times. Retrieved April 4, 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |tite= ignored (|title= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ a b Wells, Jane (April 6, 2010). "KFC's New Sandwich-What Would the Colonel Say?". CNBC. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  15. ^ a b Munzenrieder, Kyle (April 1, 2010). "South Park's Kentucky Fried Scarface Spoof". Miami New Times. Retrieved April 4, 2010.
  16. ^ Alvarado, Francisco (March 30, 2010). "Scarface: The Elementary School Play is Staged, Really". Miami New Times. Retrieved April 4, 2010.
  17. ^ a b "FAQ". South Park Studios. April 2, 2010. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  18. ^ Hibberd, James (April 5, 2010). "'Stargate Universe' returns fair for Syfy". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  19. ^ a b c Seidman, Robert (April 1, 2010). "Wednesday Cable: "Real World" Hits Lows, "South Park" Stays High & "In Plain Sight" Returns". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 4, 2010.
  20. ^ Kissell, Rick (April 7, 2010). "'Idol,' Fox top week in demos". Variety. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  21. ^ Seidman, Robert (March 25, 2010). "More Good Numbers for "South Park" + "Ugly Americans" and Other Wednesday Cable Finals". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 26, 2010.

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