Gnomes (South Park episode)

Infobox Television episode
Title = Gnomes
Series = South Park


Caption = The Underpants Gnomes' business plan.
Season = 2
Episode = 17
Airdate = December 16, 1998
Production = 217
Writer = Pam Brady
Trey Parker
Matt Stone
Director = Trey Parker
Guests =
Episode list = List of "South Park" episodes
Season list = Infobox South Park season 2 episode list
Prev =
Next ="Gnomes" (often referred to as "Underpants Gnomes") is the 30th episode of Comedy Central's animated series "South Park". It was originally broadcast on December 16, 1998. This episode marks the first appearance of Tweek and his parents [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0705927/] .

Plot

Mr. Garrison, whose job is on the line since he doesn't teach anything relevant, makes the class do oral presentations on a current event for the town committee in hopes to save his job. Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny are grouped together with Tweek, a jittery child, who suggests that the presentation be on the "Underpants Gnomes," tiny men who sneak into his house and steal his underwear. To prove their existence to the skeptical boys, he has them stay at his house [http://www.tv.com/south-park/gnomes-a.k.a.-underpants-gnomes/episode/2446/summary.html] .

Tweek's parents, who own a coffee shop, give the boys coffee to help them stay up. The boys drink too much coffee, and end up wired, bouncing off the walls of Tweek's bedroom. Tweek sits on his bed watching. The boys finally come down from their caffeine rush, and start to work on their project. While they argue ideas, Tweek notices the underpants gnomes walking single file into his bedroom toward his dresser. After stealing several pairs of Tweek's underpants, the Gnomes walk out of his bedroom, unnoticed by the other boys. Meanwhile, Tweek is freaking out and trying to get their attention. They finally stop arguing and tell Tweek to shut up.

The coffee shop which Tweek's parents own is about to face competition from a big conglomerate called "Harbucks", and may go out of business. Mr. Tweek then writes a report for the boys, which they can present with a layer of sympathy so the town committee would be moved enough to help stop Harbucks and throw them out of town.

Mr. Garrison sees right through the presentation, but is surprised to see the town committee buying it, so he plays along. As Mr. Tweek planned all along, the committee follows the boys' advice and indeed helps Mr. Tweek combat Harbucks. They all appeal to Mayor McDaniels, who helps by setting up a proposition, called "Prop 10". If it passes, Harbucks will be thrown out of town. After the boys appear on TV, the whole town is turned against Harbucks and its representative, Mr. Postum. Mrs. Tweek, upset by the tactic, feels that they are only using the boys for their own benefit and quits.

Crowds appear outside of the Harbucks coffeehouse to protest, while Mr. Postum tries to appeal to kids to sell his coffee. He uses a camel mascot and is scolded by a mother who doesn't want her son having caffeine. On the day of the vote, the mayor has the boys do a speech around the same time Mr. Postum does. The boys face more pressure from Mr. Garrison when he tells them that they need to do another presentation. When they try to conceive one, they see the Underpants Gnomes for themselves, who explain their whole motive. The Underpants Gnomes are businessmen of sorts, and they know a lot about corporations, and explain them to the boys in their underground lair. Kenny is flattened by a falling trolley cart used by the Gnomes during the visit.

When the boys come up to give their presentation for the vote, they do a report that is completely different from their previous piece. They are now saying that corporations are good, and are only big because of their great contributions to the world, such as Harbucks with their great coffee. While speaking they admit that they didn't write that previous paper, which causes Mr. Garrison to be carried away when he lashes out at the boys. Mrs. Tweek applauds their honesty and admits to the same facts herself. Then she convinces the whole town to try Harbucks Coffee, which is famous because it tastes great. When everybody does try it, they all agree, including Mr. Tweek.

References in pop culture

One of the running memes on Slashdot comes from the gnomes' business plan in this episode, where people will say something to the effect of "1. (action) 2. ??? 3. Profit!!!" [http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig3/cantor3.html]

External links

* [http://www.southparkstudios.com/guide/217 Episode guide at Southparkstudios.com]
* [http://www.southparkstuff.com/season_2/episode_217/epi217script/ Script at Southparkstuff.com]
* [http://www.southparkzone.com/episodes/217/Gnomes.html Details]

References