Season 1 Episode 4 – Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride

Stan’s dog turns out to be gay, and Stan doesn’t know how to deal with it. Meanwhile, the Middle Park Cowboys are in town to face the South Park Cows at football.

Original Airdate

3^rd September 1997

Guest Stars

·        George Clooney as Sparky

Featured Music

·        Lovin’ You by Minnie Riperton (1974) – sung in show by John Stamos’ brother (impersonated)

·        Now You’re A Man by DVDA (original music)

Character Debuts

•   Big Gay Al
•   Sparky
•   Pip
•  Bill
•   Fosse
•   Jesus

Synopsis

Stan has a new dog, whom he loves, but he’s worried about which way he swings, and tries to knock the gay out of him. Stan goes on to learn a valuable lesson from Big Gay Al. The football team is meanwhile facing Middle Park, and the stakes are very high. Stan realises that he loves his dog, and doesn’t care what others think.

Kenny's Death

Ripped apart by Middle Park football players.

My Thoughts Back Then

This one I don’t remember as much as some of the other early ones, I still recall enjoying it though when I was 13. I didn’t care for sports at all back then (I know enough to casually talk about several sports now), and I didn’t know much about what being gay was back in 2004 either.

My Thoughts Now

Another fireside chat starts off this episode on home video releases, there are FOUR different dogs here! A dog fight between Stan’s dog Sparky and Sylvester happens, but it turns into making love (which of course Cartman, the negative voice of the 4 boys, mocks)

One thing I noticed as an adult was how Jimbo didn’t make it beyond primary school, and that him and Ned put money on a primary school football game… After practice, Sparky goes for another dog, Stan gets mocked by bullies Bill and Fosse. We also get the first hint that Mr. Garrison might be gay (he thinks gays get blood clots), plus Chef, perhaps the wisest man in town, thinks Garrison is gay.

We also get our first dis against Barbara Streisand in the series, when Bill or Fosse ask if Sparky’s been to a concert of hers, while Kyle is much more supportive. Jimbo bets $500 ($854.55, AU$1140.36 in 2021 money) on the South Park Cows – that’s an insane amount for any match, let alone a primary school one.

I wonder how on earth Stan got another dog, Fifi without his parents noticing, Sparky doesn’t take a liking to her. Stan decides to get another opinion, so he calls the TV show Jesus and Pals, to no response! Stan is depressed and Sparky then runs off from the Marsh residence. The scene where Jimbo and Ned are talking with the bomb dealer about high Fs I also appreciate more as an adult, especially after taking high school music at 14 and 15.

Sparky runs off to Big Gay Al’s gay animal shelter, which Stan finds, whilst looking for him. I also noted how professionally the match, which is won is covered – all that Married… with Children made me appreciate the sports references more. And then there’s the commentary during the match…

Big Gay Al takes Stan on a big gay boat ride, which satirically puts conservatives and Christians in the same basket as Hitler, an early example of South Park mocking everyone, during Al’s history lesson on gays. Stan makes a speech that it’s ok to be gay at the end of the match, which Middle Park wins big time, to an initially negative reception, but then everyone gets their pets back, and are really happy. Most importantly, Stan loves his dog!