Canada on Strike
"Canada on Strike" | |
---|---|
South Park episode | |
Episode no. | Season 12 Episode 4 |
Directed by | Trey Parker |
Written by | Trey Parker |
Featured music |
|
Production code | 1204 |
Original air date | April 2, 2008 |
"Canada on Strike" is the fourth episode in the twelfth season of the American animated television series South Park.[1] The 171st episode of the series overall, it first aired on Comedy Central in the United States on April 2, 2008. In the episode, the nation of Canada, feeling disrespected by the rest of the world, goes on a general strike, demanding money, spurring the boys to raise money by creating a viral video.
Written and directed by series co-creator
Plot
At a meeting of world leaders, Abootman's announcement of the strike is met with general puzzlement as to exactly what Canada wants. He demands money from the Internet, but storms out when the other delegates try to explain that they cannot simply give money to Canada.
The boys form a plan to raise money from the Internet by recording and posting a video of Butters singing
The strike continues, resulting in the deaths of many Canadians from starvation and the United States' decision to bring in Danish people to fill their positions. Abootman maintains his resolve, questioning the loyalty of Terrance and Phillip when they voice doubts about his strategy and rejecting the boys' offer of the theoretical dollars as worthless. Seeing that Abootman wants to feel as if he has won something, Kyle persuades the other world leaders to give Canada a consolation prize, which turns out to be a supply of bubble gum and Bennigan's coupons. With the strike now ended, the boys return home and Kyle comments on the challenges that content creators face in using the Internet as a source of revenue.
During a celebration party thrown by Abootman, Terrance and Phillip reveal that the strike cost the Canadian public over $10.4 million in lost wages, while the gum and coupons have a total value of only $3,008. Infuriated over Abootman's inept handling of the situation, the Canadians set him and his staff adrift on an ice floe.
Theme
The episode was a criticism of the
In the DVD commentary the creators claim the episode is a "docudrama" instead of a parody of the strike. The strike took place during the making of "The List" during which the creators lamented that they had to work instead of joining with the strike.[6]
Reception
Josh Modell of The A.V. Club gave the episode an A grade, saying that it "was a great episode because the jokes came quick and funny, not because there was some huge point to be made". A notable part of the episode for him was the viral video, "What What (In the Butt)".[5]
Travis Fickett of IGN gave the episode a rating of 7.6. He noted that though it was an "issue" episode, it was still humorous, unlike other such episodes like "Britney's New Look". Overall, while it wasn't a bad episode "the show muddles the argument it's trying to make by letting the parallels to Canada get off track."[2]
Brad Trechak of TV Squad noted especially "the battle royal [sic] scene with all the YouTube people" and the "scintillating conversation" of the Canadians at the episode end. Trechak was "happy to see South Park get back on track to the focus and humor from the previous seasons."[4]
Lawsuit
In November 2010, Comedy Central and
Home release
"Canada on Strike", along with the thirteen other episodes from South Park's twelfth season, were released on a three-disc DVD set and two-disc Blu-ray set in the United States on March 10, 2009. The sets included brief audio commentaries by Parker and Stone for each episode, a collection of deleted scenes, and two special mini-features, The Making of Major Boobage and Six Days to South Park.[11]
References
- ^ "Episode 1204 Press Release". South Park Studios. 2008. Archived from the original on April 3, 2008. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
- ^ a b c "South Park: "Canada on Strike" Review". IGN. April 3, 2008. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ "FAQ". South Park Studios. Accessed on Dec 3, 2008.
- ^ a b Trechak, Brad (April 2, 2008). "South Park: Canada On Strike! - VIDEO". HuffPost TV. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ a b Modell, Josh (April 3, 2008). "South Park: "Canada On Strike"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ Parker, Trey (November 2008). South Park: The Complete Twelfth Season: "Canada on Strike" (DVD – audio commentary). Paramount Home Entertainment.
- ^ Bentley, Jean (November 15, 2010). "'South Park' Sued Over Two-Year-Old 'What What' Parody". AOL TV. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
- ^ J.P. STADTMUELLER, District Judge (July 6, 2011). "Brownmark Films, LLC v. Comedy Partners, Dist. Court, ED". Google Scholar. Retrieved September 2, 2011.[dead link]
- Findlaw. June 7, 2012. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
- ^ Chiger, Kristen, South Park & the Law (September 19, 2012). University of Texas Review of Entertainment & Sports Law, Vol. 14, Fall 2012. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2149334
- ^ Liebman, Martin (February 26, 2009). "South Park: The Complete Twelfth Season Blu-ray Review". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
External links
- "Canada on Strike" Full episode at South Park Studios
- "Canada on Strike" at IMDb