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South Park season 12

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South Park
Season 12
Home media release cover
No. of episodes14
Release
Original networkComedy Central
Original releaseMarch 12 (2008-03-12) –
November 19, 2008 (2008-11-19)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 11
Next →
Season 13
List of episodes

The twelfth season of South Park, an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, began airing on March 12, 2008. The twelfth season concluded after 14 episodes on November 19, 2008. Saturday Night Live cast member Bill Hader is credited as a consultant starting with this season. Parker was the director and writer in this twelfth season. Stone was also the writer on the third episode of the twelfth season.

Overview

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This season features a new title sequence, replacing the one used since the sixth season. It recreates the original to begin with before using clips from seasons four to eleven which the boys also sing their lines over. These older clips are replaced every half season with newer ones.

In the first half of the season, Mr. Kitty returns to prominence in "Major Boobage" for the first time since season three's "Cat Orgy", while Terrance and Phillip haven't featured prominently since season five's "Terrance and Phillip: Behind the Blow". Canada last featured prominently as a setting in season seven's "It's Christmas in Canada". Most notably in this season is Ms. Garrison's second sex change, returning her to being a man, as Mr. Garrison again: "Eek, A Penis!" is the last episode to date to explore Garrison's much examined sexuality. "Super Fun Time" indicates that following "The List", Stan and Wendy Testaburger are dating again.

The second half of the season begins with "The China Probrem", which marks the return of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas who are again portrayed as villains, despite seemingly dying in season six's "Free Hat". There is also the one two-part story: "Pandemic" and "Pandemic 2: The Startling". The following episode "About Last Night" parodies Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 presidential elections the night before. The episode was written and animated under the assumption Obama would win which turned out to be correct. Parker and Stone said they had considered intentionally redubbing the episode poorly if John McCain had won. This episode also revealed the political alliances of several citizens. "The Ungroundable" marks the return of the Goth Kids who last featured in season nine's "Erection Day".

Kenny McCormick does not die in this season.

Awards

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The season received one Emmy Award and, in May 2009, a Webby Award.[1]

Reception

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Critical response

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The twelfth season of South Park has been met with mostly positive reviews from critics and fans. Travis Fikett of IGN gave the season 7.5/10, saying that it was "good" and "Season 12 isn't bad, it's just not that great. There are a number of misfires and no truly classic episodes. That's a rarity for a series that often has fans calling up friends the next morning to say "Oh my God, did you see South Park?".[2]

Episodes

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See also: List of South Park episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date [3]Prod.
code		U.S. viewers
(millions)
1681"Tonsil Trouble"Trey ParkerTrey ParkerMarch 12, 2008 (2008-03-12)12013.07[4][5]
After having his tonsils removed Cartman contracts HIV, but when he finds out that people no longer care about AIDS he looks for a cure. Kyle finds it funny that Cartman has AIDS and so Cartman finds a way to give Kyle AIDS to settle the score between them.
1692"Britney's New Look"Trey ParkerTrey ParkerMarch 19, 2008 (2008-03-19)12022.97[5]
The boys try to get a photo of pop singing trainwreck Britney Spears to cash in on the news reporting her latest social faux pas, but when Britney survives a suicide attempt that leaves her with most of her head missing, the boys soon discover the real reason behind Britney's downfall and try to save her from further exploitation.
1703"Major Boobage"Trey ParkerTrey ParkerMarch 26, 2008 (2008-03-26)12033.60[5]
In this homage to the 1981 film Heavy Metal, the boys worry when Kenny becomes addicted to sniffing cat urine in order to get high. Meanwhile, Cartman takes in all of South Park's cats and Kyle's dad relapses into being addicted to sniffing cat urine.
1714"Canada on Strike"Trey ParkerTrey ParkerApril 2, 2008 (2008-04-02)12042.80[5]
The head of the World Canadian Bureau (nicknamed the "WGA") leads the country into a strike over residual money made by the Internet. Meanwhile, the South Park boys try to turn Butters into the latest viral video star, in order to make money to give to Canada.
1725"Eek, a Penis!"Trey ParkerTrey ParkerApril 9, 2008 (2008-04-09)12053.50[6][5]
While Mrs. Garrison goes on sabbatical to reverse her sex change and become Mr. Garrison again, Cartman becomes a strict teacher whose unorthodox methods are needed in an inner city school.
1736"Over Logging"Trey ParkerTrey ParkerApril 16, 2008 (2008-04-16)12063.13[5]
In this homage to John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, the Marsh family heads west after the Internet connection goes down nationwide.
1747"Super Fun Time"Trey ParkerTrey ParkerApril 23, 2008 (2008-04-23)12073.08[5]
While the kids are on an educational field trip to a living museum, Cartman forces Butters to sneak away from the class to go to the amusement center, located next door. While they are away, the living museum's cast and the rest of the class are taken hostage by criminals.
1758"The China Probrem"Trey ParkerTrey ParkerOctober 8, 2008 (2008-10-08)12083.73[5]

Cartman and Butters invade a P.F. Chang's after Cartman thinks the Chinese will overtake America. Meanwhile, Stan, Kyle, and Kenny are traumatized after seeing the latest Indiana Jones movie.

Note: This episode was dedicated to Isaac Hayes the voice of Chef.
1769"Breast Cancer Show Ever"Trey ParkerTrey ParkerOctober 15, 2008 (2008-10-15)12092.85[7]
Wendy is fed up with Cartman's jokes when he makes fun of her report on breast cancer, and challenges him to a fight.
17710"Pandemic"Trey ParkerTrey ParkerOctober 22, 2008 (2008-10-22)12102.78[8]
In the first half of a two-part special, world faces a wave of Peruvian pan flute bands. The boys ask for Craig's financial support to form a pan flute band of their own, while the government tries to decide how to handle the "pandemic".
17811"Pandemic 2: The Startling"Trey ParkerTrey ParkerOctober 29, 2008 (2008-10-29)12113.08[9]
Part 2 of 2. The boys are lost in the Andes Mountains where they discover the startling secret behind the attack of the giant guinea pigs. Meanwhile, Randy bravely documents the destruction while trying to save his family.
17912"About Last Night..."Trey ParkerTrey ParkerNovember 5, 2008 (2008-11-05)12123.60[10]
Following the 2008 US presidential election, Barack Obama catches everyone off guard when he arrives at the White House prematurely. Meanwhile, the Barack Obama supporters of South Park celebrate Obama's victory while the John McCain supporters fear the end of the world and take shelter.
18013"Elementary School Musical"Trey ParkerTrey ParkerNovember 12, 2008 (2008-11-12)12132.96[11]
The boys realize they are the only kids at school who are not hit by the new High School Musical fad, making everyone in school break out in song.
18114"The Ungroundable"Trey ParkerTrey ParkerNovember 19, 2008 (2008-11-19)12143.29[12]
A vampire fad is spreading at South Park Elementary, thanks to the movie Twilight. Butters believes that the students interested in this culture are actual vampires and becomes tempted to join them. Meanwhile, the Goth kids are finding their style is becoming mistaken with the new fad and set out to stop it.

Home media

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South Park: The Complete Twelfth Season was released as a three-disc Region 1 DVD box set in the USA on March 10, 2009, nearly one year after it had begun broadcast on television.

South Park – The Complete Twelfth Season
Set Details Special Features
  • 14 Episodes
  • 3-Disc Set
  • 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
  • Subtitles: English
  • English (Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround)
  • Mini-commentaries on every episode
  • 6 Days to South Park: Day-by-day "making of" of "South Park"
  • Making Boobage: Behind the Scenes of "Major Boobage"
  • Behind the Scenes of "…About Last Night"
Release Dates
 United States  United Kingdom

March 10, 2009

24 May 2009

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2009 | The Webby Awards Gallery + Archive". Webby Awards. Archived from the original on March 7, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  2. ^ Fickett, Travis (November 26, 2008). "South Park: Season 12 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  3. ^ "Watch South Park Episodes Online Season 12 (2008)". TV Guide. Archived from the original on August 13, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  4. ^ "Ratings: Lost Finds a Season Low - TV Guide". TVGuide.com. March 14, 2008. Archived from the original on January 10, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Pucci, Douglas (March 17, 2010). "South Park Ratings". Mediaweek. Archived from the original on July 25, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  6. ^ "Nielsen's Most Watched Shows (Cable Networks)". TVbytheNumbers. April 15, 2008. Archived from the original on April 16, 2008. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  7. ^ Comedy Central Ratings Report (October 13–19, 2008). Nielsen Media Research (Report).
  8. ^ Comedy Central Ratings Report (October 20–26, 2008). Nielsen Media Research (Report).
  9. ^ Comedy Central Ratings Report (October 27–November 2, 2007). Nielsen Media Research (Report).
  10. ^ Comedy Central Ratings Report (November 3–9, 2008). Nielsen Media Research (Report).
  11. ^ Comedy Central Ratings Report (November 10–16, 2008). Nielsen Media Research (Report).
  12. ^ Comedy Central Ratings Report (November 17–23, 2008). Nielsen Media Research (Report).
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