Going Down to South Park 06.12.08: Chef's Chocolate Salty Balls

Posted by Jerome Cusson on 06.12.2008

Just what I want to talk about...balls

Tonight’s episode marks the return of Mr. Hankey, in my opinion of the most overrated characters on the show. I think he’s only been in one episode that I’ve found funny and that came two seasons later when he met his family. The name of this episode is actually funnier than the episode itself.

Robert Redford, yes the Academy Award winner, complains about how they’ve crowded Sundance so much that the resources have been depleted. The decision is made to move the festival to South Park. Mr. Garrison and his new partner Mr. Twig discuss the first annual festival. The kids make fun of Godzilla and Indepednence Day before finding out these are all independent films. Cartman defines indy films as black and white hippie movies about gay cowboys eating pudding. But Brokeback Mountain was in color? And I never saw them eat pudding?

Wendi has far nicer things to say as Cartman makes more gay cowboy jokes. He is sent to the principal’s office for calling Wendi a bitch. Garrison wants the other kids to write about one movie showing at the festival. We see a bunch of people going around the town on cell phones. Cartman yells at Stan for his girlfriend getting him in trouble. Eventually, they run into Chef, who is selling his own brand of soul food. Because of the festival, Chef is being a good capitalist by trying to cash in. Some of his brands of cookies is “Fudge’ems” or Fudge this.”

Stan and Wendi go see the first film of the festival. This oughta be fun. Cartman says Wendi will be the death of him and Chef is burying the fudge joke into the ground. When Stan and Wendi are at the film, it’s a little disturbing and the audio sounds quite bush league. Stan sees the women having sex and is a little weirded out. Kyle is on the can taking a crap when we hear the familiar rings of Mr. Hankey.

After a news report talks about the festival, Kyle talks about what he heard while on the can the previous night. Stan complains about the quality of the theater, and Kyle suggests putting showing the films on Cartman’s ass. Fat ass jokes come aplenty in this episode, and Cartman says his line. Robert Redford is very happy about the results of this festival. It is revealed that he wants all the little mountain towns to resemble Los Angeles. Isn’t that nice?

Chef announces his latest project, Chocloate Salty Balls. Mr. Hankey is heard again, and the kids begin a trek through the sewer as Chef sings about his salty balls, the edible ones. Cartman wants to leave the sewer. They run into Mr. Garrison in a snorkeling outfit. He asks the children if they know how to file a police report. After responding no, he walks away. Boy, was that random. Next up is some Goonie joke. Cartman certainly is enthusiastic about saying “Screw you guy, I’m going home.” He’s said it like five times during this episode.

Mr. Hankey makes his long awaited entrance and after small talk, he announces that he’s sick because of the fragile ecosystem of the sewer. Because everyone is eating so healthy, his home is being ruined. Meanwhile, at the festival a movie called Gay Cowboys Eating Pudding is shown. The director does not look like Ang Lee, and the stars don’t resemble Heath Ledger or Jake Gyllenhal. Thank God for that. The boys tell the awaiting audience about Mr. Hankey being sick and they plead with them to stop eating so healthy. Instead of listening, they take this as an opportunity to cash in on the story and make a movie dealing with the story of Stan and his little buddy. Instead, Cartman takes advantage of the situation. Robert Redford thanks everyone for the festival and announces they’re building a Hollywood Planet restaurant.

Kyle goes underground to find Hankey playing the organ like the phantom and still remaining very sick. Kyle wants to take him to the surface, but the piece of poo fears he’ll dry up on account of the sun. Kyle won’t let his friend die. Stan and Wendi see another movie called Hankey and Me. Hankey becomes a monkey and Kyle is played by Tom Hanks.

The mayor asks Robert Redford if they can call off the whole thing because of the negative impact the festival is having. That has no effect and Redford threatens to sue the little town for everything it has. Cartman’s deal isn’t very good either as he gets stiffed when it comes time to pay him for the film that was just made.

Cartman gets a whopping three dollar. Stan yells at Cartman for selling out. Chef is also a sell-out. Kyle goes up to Redford and her assistant with Mr. Hankey. Sadly, the little piece of crap has completely dried out and is almost ready to die. His last fleeting words are “There is another Skywalker.” Hold on. “One time, when you were sleeping, I put myself in your mouth and had my friend take a picture.” Ummmm, wow. We get a Frosty the Snowman moment. Stan and Wendi finally see the gay cowboy movie. He pukes all over the place when Wendi finally holds his hand. The movie also causes him to puke as well.

With Mr. Hankey in intensive care, Kyle wants to know if poo goes to heaven. Chef sure hopes not. He gives him some salty balls for Hankey. They seem to reinvigorate the piece of poo.

Cartman sells some Hankey and Me t-shirts. Redford announces the opening of the new Hollywood restaurant and that the festival would be back forever. Hankey gets fired up and yells at all the festival goers. One would assume Trey and Matt had a bad experience at a festival because they this episode flat-out trashes them in everything that happens. Redford tosses the poo against the wall and almost kills him. The salty balls work their magic once again.

This is where things get good. If you’ve ever seen Fantastia, you’d appreciate what Hankey does a lot more. Hankey has a whole lot of shit rise to the surface and drive the Hollywood folks away. So now the whole town is covered in crap. But at least they’re saved from those damn Hollywood types. Everyone learns something, especially Cartman. And we are out.

The “Screw You Guys, I’m going home” for best line/moment of the episode: Fred Savage wearing a shirt that says “I’m Fred Savage” and being made fun of throughout the episode. I couldn’t make it through this recap without mentioning that.

The Pip moment for worst line/moment of the episode: What the hell was Garrison even up to in the sewer?

The “Oh My God, they killed Kenny!” moment: Kenny is killed by a stampede of festival goers.

The 411: Trey and Matt clearly show their disdain for Hollywood and the type of people that reside there based on this episode. I’m not sure how accurate their portrayal of Robert Redford is, but they certainly got their message loud and clear throughout this entire episode. I’m very happy with how things turned out and this episode was far better than I remember it being.

Final Score:  7.5   [ Good ]