South Park: “More Crap”
A couple weeks ago, I recommended a film entitled King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters, well, it appears that Trey Parker and Matt Stone would like to make the same recommendation. Because unless it was a complete fluke, the rivalry between Bono and Randy Marsh last night almost identically parodied that of Derrick Weibe and Billy Mitchell, with Bono playing the latter.
The unwitting villain from King of Kong
Its actually a subtle parody. Very little is similar other than the schematics of the rivalry: being in person versus a video recording, meeting in a logistically equidistant spot, the crowd favorite versus the outsider; but the similarities are there, just might be hard to pick up on given the distinct nature of the two different rivalries. In the film, its pretty self-explanatory just from the title that they’re competing in Donkey Kong. In the episode last night, Randy and Bono are going head-to-head for largest bowel movement.
Probably my favorite moment of the episode was Stan’s asking Bono to just let his father have the record, since Bono has so very, very much. And Randy has so very, very little. I believe the line was (paraphrasing), “You have tons of awards for charity, your music, you’re a billionaire, you have a hot wife and are beloved around the world, seriously, can’t you just fuck off?”. But last night was full of gems like that. From Sharon’s annoyance about the whole ordeal, to the parody of Bono, to everyone’s reaction of the contest to the parallels with the documentary, I couldn’t have asked for a better half-hour. Of course, eating at PF Cheng’s seems relatively unappetizing now, but I’m kind of bearish on Americanized Chinese food anyways.
For the time being, this episode redeemed last weeks overt-simplicity. But it’s a marathon, not a sprint, especially after you’ve been renewed through fifteen seasons and you’re on number eleven. Still, definitely enjoyed the homage to one of the better documentaries of late.
October 12th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
In no way was the episode for the “thinking man” … but it was made up for by the way Bono would answer his cell … “HellooOoOo hellooOOo”
I have been wanting to watch King of Kong for like at least a year now (or at least it seems that way), I don’t think it has ever played in my city. I just await the dvd release I guess.
October 14th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
It was for the thinking man as much as a show about two men competing for largest bowel movement could be for the thinking man. But I certainly understand your point.
I also love the concept of Bono trotting through Africa making all the locals more miserable than they already are with that repetitive, high-octane song.
Definitely worth your while. I don’t even like video games and I love that documentary.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:57 am
[...] I recommended a film entitled King of Kong: A … grideffect October 11th. 2007, 3:58pm Christopher Gabel wrote an interesting post today [...]