Summer Sucks

"Summer Sucks"
South Park episode
Episode no.	Season 2 Episode 8
Directed by	Trey Parker
Written by	Nancy M. Pimental Trey Parker
Production code	208
Original air date	June 24, 1998
Guest actors
Jonathan Katz as Dr. Katz

"Summer Sucks" is the eighth episode of the second season of the animated television series South Park, and the 21st episode of the series overall. It originally aired in the United States on June 24, 1998 on Comedy Central.

Plot synopsis

Summer finally comes to South Park, but that is not necessarily a good thing, because although school is out, there is little to actually do in South Park, with all the snow melted so that sledding, building of snowmen and other winter activities are impossible. What's worse, Colorado has passed a statewide ban on fireworks after a boy from North Park blew his hands off in an accident involving fireworks. In response to this, Jimbo Kern and Ned Gerblansky go across the border to Mexico to buy illegal fireworks. Meanwhile, the Mayor, discovering that snakes are still legal, has the largest one ever made for the town's Fourth of July celebration. It is not until it has been lit that the manufacturer realizes that it will be impossible to extinguish and will not burn out until November of the following year, and the ash travels all across the town and then country destroying everything in its wake.

Meanwhile, Mr. Garrison, previously being prank called by Mr. Mackey and imagining himself burning Shari Lewis's famous puppet, Lamb Chop, begins to have a nervous breakdown because his constant companion, Mr. Hat, has disappeared. He winds up going to see Dr. Katz (complete with squiggle) in New York, who says that he is gay and Mr. Hat (who has homosexual fantasies about Brett Favre in a sauna with a bottle of thousand island dressing, according to Mr. Garrison) is really his gay side. Garrison is unsure what to think, but fortunately the giant snake has somehow traveled all the way to New York and crashes Dr. Katz's office, roasting Dr. Katz to death when it comes in contact with him. Cartman at this time is taking swimming lessons, but has to contend with the fact that first graders keep urinating in the pool. Jimbo and Ned are captured by the border patrol, but manage to escape (again, thanks to the snake) and go back to South Park with their massive fireworks.

The boys finally get their fireworks, and when they shoot them off, they destroy the snake trail and end the terror. The ashes rain to the ground like snow, and people do wintry activities using the black soot. Mr. Garrison reappears with a new companion, Mr. Twig, who has replaced Mr. Hat. During this time, Cartman, being the only person in the pool (which is closed due to the giant snake) has decided to swim all the way from the shallow end of the pool to the deep end. He makes it all the way to the deep end, but his excitement is cut short by the pool being reopened upon the snake's destruction. At that moment, a large group of first graders dive into the pool and begin playing in it, urinating so much that the water turns yellow. Cartman is disgusted by this and immediately leaves the pool.

At the end, Chef pulls up in his car having returned from Aruba. He sees everyone's faces covered in the black ash, and, thinking it is blackface, prepares to give everyone a sound beating.

External links

• "Summer Sucks" Full Episode at South Park Studios
• "Summer Sucks" Episode Guide at South Park Studios
• "Summer Sucks" at the Internet Movie Database
• "Summer Sucks" at TV.com