The students at South Park Elementary are trying to perfect their Christmas pageant, starring Kyle as Joseph, only for their efforts to become mired by Kyle's mom, who objects to her Jewish son being in a Christmas play. So while she and Mr. Garrison bicker, the kids go outside to try and catch snowflakes on their tongues, like those kids in some other Christmas cartoon did, only Kyle is told not to because apparently it is illegal for Jewish folks to eat Christmas snowflakes. So while the other kids go off to see Santa, Kyle sings about being a lonely Jew at Christmas. Political correctness continued to plague the holiday as the town becomes split over the various icons of Christmas. The Jews (Gerald and Sheila) object to Jesus, others object to Santa, and so the mayor tries to think of a new Christmas icon. Kyle suggests Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo, who comes out of the toilet every year and gives presents to those with fiber in their diets. However, nobody expresses any interest in this concept and Kyle's parents forbid him from ever mentioning Mr. Hankey again. But that night, the little fecal matter man pays Kyle a visit, and sings a festive song while "decorating" the bathroom. Unfortunately, he goes limp when Kyle's parents come in, and assume it was their son who smeared crap all over the walls.
Kyle brings Mr. Hankey to school to prove his existence, but unfortunately Stan, Cartman and Kenny only see a lifeless turd in a box. Kyle is sent to see Mr. Mackey, the school counselor, who is more patronizing than helpful and prescribes Prozac. He happens to see Mr. Hankey in his coffee cup and he flips out. Kyle is convinced he's crazy and so his friends have him committed. On the night of the pageant, the play was stripped of virtually everything having to do with Christmas, and not just Jesus and Santa, but lights because they offend epileptics, and a star hanging above a shark tank, which Kenny has to remove...he is successful. Phillip Glass orchestrates the play, which turns out to be an interpretive, new-age mess which sparks a riot among the folks in attendance. We break for a commercial wherein a mother gives her kids a Deluxe Make-Your-Own-Mr. Hankey set. Charming. Back to the show, the kids decide the only way to save the day is to believe in Mr. Hankey, and so he comes to life, stops everybody from fighting, and tells them all what really matters this time of year: forget all the bad stuff and just have fun. So now, everybody believes, Kyle is deemed sane, and it's a happy holiday after all. And Merry Christmas, Kenny, you survived your first episode!
Fans of South Park will cherish this classic. I always say this show had the best Christmas episodes, and for the first eight seasons, they did. This one introduces us to Mr. Hankey, and it makes Kyle a very identifiable character, since I'm sure kids who are Jewish or any other religion get excluded from Christmas activities. The message about political correctness ruining Christmas is still as pertinent today as it was in 1997. More and more, stuff to do with the Nativity and Jesus is becoming banned, and most people say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. It's annoying! So this Christmas, go back to the days when South Park was funny and poignant and not cluttered with pop culture references and watch Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo.
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