South Park - Season 1 -

This is the season’s secret masterpiece. While the humor is juvenile (a gay dog), the episode actually defends homosexuality with shocking sincerity. Big Gay Al is flamboyant, kind, and unapologetic. In 1997, having a cartoon character tell a kid that being "different" is okay was surprisingly progressive. The show proved it could have a heart between the fart jokes.

We were fresh off the sanitized, hug-boxy era of Full House and Family Matters . Adult animation meant The Simpsons —a brilliant, safe, suburban satire. Then, out of the static of Comedy Central, came four crude construction paper cutouts from Hell, Colorado.

And it’s perfect.

Published by: Retro Rewind Reviews Date: [Current Date]

The boys get a starving Ethiopian kid via a mis-sent mail order. It’s the most politically incorrect thing you can imagine, yet it somehow manages to raise awareness about world hunger while making you laugh at Sally Struthers eating a whole turkey. South Park - Season 1

It is raw, juvenile, offensive, and occasionally brilliant. It is the sound of two college kids from Colorado proving that if you are funny enough, you can get away with anything.

Is it the best season of South Park ? No. That’s probably Seasons 4-8. Is it the most important ? Absolutely. This is the season’s secret masterpiece

This episode satirized celebrity culture, Oprah, and infomercials. Mr. Garrison (voice: Trey Parker) falls in love with a gun. Kathie Lee Gifford gets assassinated (off-screen). It set the tone: No celebrity is safe.