South Park: The End of Obesity

I don't have any especially strong feelings either way about the new South Park special, although I believe it's a fairly valid one. This time, the subject is the American healthcare system, insurance companies, and the maddening labyrinth that these entities will put people through.

However, it also concerns body positivity and uses Eric Cartman to represent something I've sometimes noticed within the body-love discourse. A lot of people simply want the thing that THEY are insecure about to get destigmatized so that they can then poke fun at other people's shortcomings from a position of superiority -- of not being "ugly" themselves. They want to be able to dish it out without having to take it.

Something similar happens in "gender wars" discourse: Many incels espouse that they should be worthy of love even if they are short or thin, but will gladly demonize fat women, while a woman who pushes for fat acceptance may readily use the very language she's decrying when it comes to small schlongs and "skinny b-itches". Both sides will tell you it's totally different when the other does it.

But I digress. How is the rest of the episode/special/"Paramount+ event"? Well, it has some laughs and it lets a lot of characters shine. (Randy, as per usual, gets a pretty funny B story where he gets in on the South Park moms' obsession with semaglutide drugs.)

Also, it has appreciably better cereal mascot gags (yes, cereal/sugar companies also become involved in the plot) than anything we got in Unfrosted.

In this special, South Park makes several statements about modern social trends, and they are all 100% accurate.

It draws attention to how horrible and hypocritical big pharma is, and also evilness of corporations that feed off the unhealthy lifestyle of middle, mid/low, and low class tiers. It also focuses on the plight of the average unhealthy American, and how it IS a choice for many to be overweight, but also how difficult it is to choose a healthier lifestyle. It teaches us acceptance, while farting in the face of social predator morons like Lizzo.

And the jokes are fantastic. There are blatant jokes, and sort of subtle jokes. I especially loved the random 1-sec long doo-wop singing of the classic "Golden Crisps" theme. It's a small, yet blaring piece of evidence that the brains of South Park still got it.

And let us not forget the CLASSIC and typical story arc and motivation of Cartman's character. It's on point, never-changing, and it's one of those episodes where he either gets his just desserts, or it ends with him winning and everyone else frustrated. Either way, it's a win for the audience, especially those of use who have been with the show for eons.

Only a few minor drawbacks to this special. For one, there are a few moments when it seems like they're either phoning it in, or trying too hard to be "typical South Park" (case in point, the side effect of "Lizzo" with the ears). But then again, maybe that's what makes South Park so "South Park" and they're merely sticking to the original recipe of the show.

"Rich people get get Ozempic, poor people get body positivity." It is simple. Nothing amazing, yet it had an effect on me to realize the truth. The medical insurance industry fights to make sure its customers stay sick and die. Providing less medical care is what generates greater profits for them.

Keeping us making phone calls, requesting authorizations, seeking medical care that we paid for, waiting for coverage reviews, and getting less medical treatment, or nothing. "Call back later" when the price is your life.

The rich get whatever they want. The poor on Obamacare get whatever the insurance company gives as the cheapest alternative. Body positivity instead of Ozempic. It is funny, and sad, and true.

My Mom spent several years fighting cancer. Every time she was prescribed an MRI or other expensive scan it took her months to get approved. Did that make it harder for her doctors to fight the cancer? Did it make it easier for her cancer to advance because of the delays?

The insurance company never had her health or her life on their list of priorities. Did her insurance authorization review agent get a quarterly bonus when my mother and other sick people died?

Every time a sick customer dies, the insurance company spends less money on doctors, hospitals, treatments, exams, scans, prescription drugs, etc.

I loved this one and I don't get why others didn't. But comedy is perspective I guess.

My favorite part was the opening theme. If you're a horror fan, you would recognize it as the same theme as Dawn of the Dead (which just passed its 20th anniversary). The tie between the cell mutation and mindless consumption, to a zombie like culture was perfection.

The word play was good, the realistic and unbearable hoops, and struggles with the health insurance industry, the multiple layers of roasts thrown at Lizzo, the vanity and constant need for validation by the moms. I personally enjoyed the show from beginning to end.

For the comments saying they didn't go far enough or the show isn't the same, I think that's a good thing. A show that does the same level of comedy on a constant basis will make the entirety of the show dull and predictable. Creativity is meant to change and flow in different directions. Some people just don't like change, and if you prefer the old episodes, then just put your device on loop and repeat the old episodes then. I remember when everyone who was mad about the opening theme to the series being updated.

This was a fun, and entertaining special. Totally worth the watch. Don't go in with a negative attitude and high expectations. Just relax and enjoy the show for what it is... making fun of everyone and the popular trends.

Weight loss drugs are all the rage though obtaining them can be problematic. However, some of the mothers of South Park clearly have no problem in obtaining them, as Randy Marsh discovers. Meanwhile, Cartman is desperately wanting to lose weight and a weight loss drug would be ideal for him.

Another hilarious, topical, button-pushing South Park special from Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Not the most obvious subject for a comedy show but Parker and Stone have a knack for turning seemingly-unfunny topics into something hilarious.

Some hysterically funny moments and also a great indictment of the US healthcare system.