Saw this in a recent article in a local paper in NJ:
'South Park' is on. And guess what? They killed Kenny!
Published in the Home News Tribune 2/6/98
By SANDRA KOEHLER On the Go Writer
The jukebox stopped playing, two guys suspended their pool game, and all eyes turned to the televison.
It was 10 p.m. and that meant one thing and one thing only -- time for "South Park."
Every Wednesday night, fans of the red-hot and irreverent animated comedy flock to the Ale 'N Wich in New Brunswick to drink a beer and laugh at the misadventures of four 8-year-old boys who live in South Park, Colo. -- where the school's cafeteria cook sings sexually suggestive songs and aliens think cows are the smartest creatures.
"It's the after-school special gone awry," said Lynne Moulton, 29, a regular Wednesday viewer at the bar.
"South Park," Comedy Central's highest rated show. The cartoon offers a hilarious -- albeit somewhat twisted -- look into the lives of Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman, who deal with real-life issues in the face of erupting volcanoes, genetic experiments and visiting aliens.
Stan is the football star of the group, but his older sister beats him up and he throws up whenever his sweetheart, Wendy Testaburger, talks to him.
Kyle is Jewish and, as the only one with a defined ethnic background, is picked on by his friends. He often uses his younger brother, Ike, to practice his football kick.
Cartman's obesity and opinionated comments earn lots of teasing from the others. Cartman's many misadventures keep him from enjoying his favorite hobby -- sitting on the couch and eating Cheesy Poofs while watching TV. In one episode, Cartman's alien abduction resulted in an embarrassing condition -- flaming flatulence.
Last but not least is Kenny, the poor kid whose speech is rarely understood -- except by the other boys -- because his large, orange parka obsures most of his face.
Kenny has the dubious honor of being killed nearly every episode. So far, he has been stampeded by cows, run over by a car, struck by an alien laser, impaled on a flag pole, attacked by insane turkeys, incinerated by a ball of hot lava, ripped apart by football players, squashed by the Mir space station, split in half with a chainsaw and touched by the Grim Reaper.
But Kenny was spared a gory death in the Christmas episode, which attracted a crowd to the Ale 'N Wich when it first aired in December. The show also drew many patrons when the rerun was shown one recent Wednesday night. All eyes -- even those of bartender Ralph Malanga -- were glued to the TV.
The room exploded in laughter, and the pool players clapped their hands, stomped their feet and sang along with Cartman's holiday tune denigrating Kyle's mom for ruining Christmas.
First-time viewer Raphael Allen, 39, laughed throughout the episode -- especially when Kyle was committed to a mental institution. Allen, whose friends had prepared him for the raw humor and absurd plots, was surprised by the Christmas show's unexpected twist.
"I expected to see this character Kenny die," said Allen, as his friends laughed.
Ask fans why they like the show and you will get a different answer every time.
"It takes every type of social problem to the Nth degree and exploits that," said Moulton, a Rutgers University student.
"South Park" was born when Trey Parker and Matt Stone created a five-minute video Christmas card for former Fox executive Brian Graden. The brief skit, with animated paper cutouts of Santa Claus fist-fighting Jesus, sparked a craze in Hollywood that led to a deal with Comedy Central.
Since the it first aired in August, "South Park" has been steadily gaining viewing disciples. As the show grows in popularity, local stores are selling T-shirts, stickers and hats.
Even the South Park Court street signs in Holmdel have fallen victim to the craze. At least six signs have disappeared since the holidays, Dennis DeBeVoise, a public works employee, told The Associated Press.
There's even talk of taking the half-hour show to the big screen.
However, not everyone loves the show the first time around. "I thought it was really offensive," Moulton said. Of course, when you consider that Jesus is a recurring character who hosts His own talkshow -- well, suffice it say "South Park" isn't for everyone.
But for Moulton, watching it a second time changed her mind.
"The townspeople really represent more aspects of society, and there's more opportunity for humor because they're making fun of everybody," she said. "I guess you have to let down all your politically correct guard."
Source: Home News Tribune
Published: February 06, 1998