Season 1 Episode 12 – Mecha-Streisand

When the boys are on a school excursion, Cartman finds an ancient artifact that gets into the hands of Barbra Streisand, and South Park is once again seemingly doomed to destruction… who will save the town?

Original Airdate

18^th February 1998

Guest Stars

• Robert Smith from The Cure as himself

Character Debuts

• Barbra Streisand/Mecha-Streisand

Synopsis

On a school excursion, the boys find an ancient diamond, which after a fight between Cartman and Kyle, finds its way into the hands of the evil Mecha-Streisand… Is South Park doomed once again?

Kenny's Death

Strangled by a tetherball

My Thoughts Back Then

I think I knew who Barbra Streisand was at the time, if I didn’t, I did after watching this. I first watched this aged 14 when I got Season 1 on DVD back in 2005, and was the final episode of the first season that I saw. I liked the fight scenes, but not really knowing who any of the musicians or critics in this episode were hindered my enjoyment of it a little, plus I was still getting into South Park. I did love the 1998 Godzilla film as a boy, so it brought back nice memories of that too.

My Thoughts Now

Trey and Matt kick Indian Companion in final Western intro from the video releases, and try and brainwash him into thinking he's Barbra Streisand.

Starts at a historic American Indian site, where the class are looking for ancient arrowheads. Cartman calls the excursion boring, Mr. Garrison is sleeping under the paper (or trying to – how did he get to be a teacher?)

Kids are looking for Indian arrowheads, Cartman sings a song about how he’s apparently a slave, Stan tells him to shut up. Cartman kicks Pip, and finds another one with drawings that glows and throws it away, it’s then claimed by Kyle. After Kyle appears on the news when it’s found out the triangle is valuable, naturally of course, Cartman wants it back! Especially after he’s called tubby by the newsreader.

Chef is asked by movie critic Leonard Maltin if he's seen Streisand, having seen the news report, tells Chef that the boys and South Park are in great danger. Cartman thinks a helicopter is filled with aliens!

Babs appears and her singing is TERRIBLE! I don’t mind her singing in real life but she’s far from one of my favourites. Babs also disses John Elway (of Denver Broncos fame)... and wants the symbol Kyle has! Namely the Triangle of Zynphon which is also desired by Cartman. In their exchange, Babs calls Stan a pissant little hick! As the triangles are a pair, Streisand wants them for her own use… and Barbrady thinks school is on Saturdays... how did he become a cop?

Cartman cuts a hole in Kyle's ceiling (how?) He's not fit enough to climb the walls... and Kyle’s parents aren't awaken? Must have been extremely stealthy to the point where he’d be an ace assassin in Assassin’s Creed. Assassin’s Creed Colorado perhaps? If you’re reading Ubisoft…

The scene with the real background, whilst Chef and Maltin are in the car driving through the mountains, stuck with me – I’ve always liked whenever South Park incorporated live action footage, which they will do plenty more of to come, one of my favourite uses of this was in Season 3 (also in one of my favourite episodes of that season and the whole series).

Babs has a bad disguise and calls herself Mrs. Jones, and claims she needs it for her kidneys, offers money to Cartman, Kyle says Babs wishes she was still 45 (she was 56 the year this aired). Accepting car rides from strangers? What a thick 8 year old! And that disguise isn’t even that good! Kyle questions Cartman about it though, so at least one of them has some sense here.

Sally Struthers again, and the boys are tied up after the boys are fooled, Cartman is stretched on a pulley and his socks stink, the Diamond of Pantheos is complete! Reminds me of the Tower of London and the torture devices they used in medieval times. And with the Diamond, we now have… MECHA STREISAND! Mecha-Streisand wastes no time in taking damage to the town of South Park.

Newsreader makes references to earlier in the season (mutant turkeys, zombies, lava and of course Mutant Stan), Jimbo calls her a deer (biggest one he’s seen) Japanese Godzilla-esque music plays while she's wrecking the town, and Chef and Leonard Maltin arrive to rescue the boys.

After Leonard Maltin transforms into a giant robot, but is swiftly defeated, Robert Smith (of The Cure fame) is called, he knows what's going on... He’s thankfully free to hop over from England.

Go National Guard! Go Jimbo and Ned! They’re struggling though. Sheila is NOT concerned she's a mechanical monster set on destroying town and killing her... she refers to a sister as well when she’s asking for Streisand’s autograph.Mr. Garrison thinks he's a gunner (yeah right!) Kenny dies not from any debris, or Mecha-Streisand, but from being strangled by a tetherball.

Sidney Portier? We now have a second monster in the fight, and it’s revealed a Japanese singer is in the background, Chef tells him to cut it out! Robert Smith comes to save the day, and turns into Smith-Moth! Finding Mecha-Streisand’s weak spot, Smith-Moth defeats Mecha-Streisand, and she’s off to space (joining Ms. Ellen?) Chef is angry at the singing now, as you can see by his face.

Not sure how many 8 year olds knew who Robert Smith was in 1998, but the town is happy Robert Smith also kicks Cartman in the nuts! We’ve got far better Cartman meltdowns to come though!

Ike... what are you doing? What did you get out of the garbage?! MECHA-IKE?! Oh bother…