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Guitar Queer-O

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"Guitar Queer-O"

"Guitar Queer-O" is episode 1113 (#166) of Comedy Central's South Park, which was broadcast on November 7 2007.[1] The title and plot parody the video game Guitar Hero. The episode was broadcast ten days after the release of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock in the USA.[2]

Plot

Stan and Kyle are obsessed with Guitar Hero II. Stan's dad, Randy, is happy that the kids enjoy music from his generation, and attempts to impress them by playing "Carry On Wayward Son" on a real guitar. The kids are not impressed, and Cartman says that "real guitars are for old people."

Together, Stan and Kyle manage to score 100,000 points and are immediately contacted by Charles Kincaid, a talent agent. They sign a recording contract and attend a "sex and coke" party with many Colorado celebrities. The record company organizes an event at a local arcade where the two are to score 1,000,000 points to "I Wanna Be Sedated" in front of a live audience; however, the pair's manager takes Stan aside and tells him that Kyle is holding him back. Stan is told that he should dump his friend in favor of new partner, a child named Thad Jarvis, who is so good he can play Guitar Hero "acoustically", meaning that he has memorized what buttons to press at what time and can therefore play without visual or audio clues.

Stan and Thad begin playing together. When Kyle finds out, the two get into a fight and break up their "band". Stan becomes stressed out by the constant rehearsing of Guitar Hero, and stops by a video game store called "EV Games" (a parody of EB Games) to buy a game guide for Guitar Hero. The clerk suggests that he should buy another game to help him "ease the stress." The clerk offers him "Heroin Hero", a game in which the character does nothing but inject himself with simulated heroin while literally chasing a dragon that he can never catch. Stan's addiction shortens his temper and impedes his skill. Thad loses his patience and quits. Stan has to perform solo, and is unable to perform because he had stayed up three days straight playing Heroin Hero (in a parody of a similar sequence in the film Sid and Nancy).

Meanwhile, Kyle plays Guitar Hero II in a bowling alley in exchange for free Frescas. After his meltdown, Stan goes back to the video game store where he buys a different game, and although the clerk tries to get him to buy a game called "Rehab Hero" (which involves getting chased by a dragon), he gets mad and gets a driving game. Stan then sets up the game and plays next to a radio. When the radio begins to play "Carry On Wayward Son", he suddenly remembers all the good times he had playing with Kyle, and "reverses" his vehicle (in the game, but looking backwards as if reversing in real life).

Stan seeks out Kyle, and after a brief confrontation, Stan admits that he was wrong and that he only enjoyed being a video game rock star when he was doing it with Kyle. Kyle forgives him, and the two reunite and (after kicking Randy, who has taken up playing Heroin Hero, off of Stan's XBox) attempt to score 1,000,000 points in front of their friends. They score their million points, and the game congratulates them, but rather than tell them they have unlocked "Super-Stardom" as they expected, the game announces "You Are Fags!" for having spent so much time playing the game (explaining the title of the episode). Stan and Kyle angrily leave, and Cartman and Butters start to play, with Butters requesting that he gets to "be the one to betray you after the sex and drugs party", perhaps not realizing that Stan and Kyle's ordeal throughout the episode wasn't just a game.

These songs are either played or referenced during the episode, and most have appeared in the real Guitar Hero series (being marked with a star if they have). Based on the songs played, the game the children are playing is Guitar Hero II. Although the episode uses the original masters, the real game(s) features covers of all songs with the exception of "John the Fisherman" and "Jordan".

File:Guitar-Her-South-Park.jpg
Stan and Kyle attempt to earn 1,000,000 points in Guitar Hero and achieve superstardom.

NOTE: The Sex Pistols' 'Pretty Vacant' would later be featured on Guitar Hero: World Tour, albeit as a re-recorded version, the year after this episode was broadcast.

Cultural References

When Stan enters the videogame store, there are Ōkami boxes in the back with the name "Wolf". When Stan was playing the racing video game, the level is a reference to the original Ridge Racer game.

Canadian rock band Rush has featured a sound byte from this episode in their live concerts during their 2008 Snakes & Arrows tour. Cartman's line "real guitars are for old people" was triggered during the instrumental break of "The Trees".

Reception

"Guitar Queer-o" drew in 4 million total viewers (P2+) and was the most watched telecast of the year on Comedy Central, as well as the most watched program in all of television for Wednesday night among men 18-34 and the most watched program on cable among persons 18-49.[5]

Despite good ratings, the episode received some mediocre reviews. IGN called it a "lackluster episode" saying that it was "based on a concept that could have proved fun - but ultimately doesn't seem to be enough for an entire episode."[6] TV Squad, on the other hand, gave the episode a somewhat positive review.[7]

Jay Cutler, quarterback for the Denver Broncos, who was insulted in the episode ("You kind of suck, but my dad says you might be good some day") responded lightheartedly, saying "I thought it was funny. They can make fun of me if they want to."[8]

Activision, maker of the Guitar Hero franchise, didn't seem to mind the shot at its product either. In fact, it was presenting sponsor of the July 2 2008 rebroadcast of the episode, using it as an opportunity to promote Guitar Hero: Aerosmith.

Ron Zappolo, of the local Denver Fox news station, who also was shown in the episode, said that in his 37 years on television, this cameo impressed his daughter the most.[9]

A portion of the episode was used on NPR's Day to Day to discuss the idea that the popularity and interest in video games like Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock or Rock Band could supplant traditional instruments for kids.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Episode Guide South Park Studios". Comedy Central. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
  2. ^ "Comedy Central press "Guitar Queer-o" release". Comedy Central. 2007-11-05. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
  3. ^ "Guitar Queer-O (video preview)". southpark.comedycentral.com. Comedy Central. 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2007-11-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "South Park Studios - Preview (Guitar Queer-O episode video preview)". southpark.comedycentral.com. Comedy Central. 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2007-11-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "Comedy Central "The List" press release". Comedy Central. 2007-11-12. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  6. ^ "IGN "Guitar Queer-o" review". IGN. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  7. ^ "TV Squad "Guitar Queer-o" review". TV Squad. 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  8. ^ "Cutler Doesn't Take South Park Insult Personally". CBS 4 Denver. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  9. ^ ""South Park" drops names, takes jabs". Denver Post. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  10. ^ "Virtual or Reality Rock Band?". NPR. 2007-11-28. Retrieved 2008-07-07. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)

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