Clubhouses (South Park)

Template:Infobox South Park episode "Clubhouses" is episode 212 of Comedy Central's animated series South Park. It originally aired on September 23, 1998.

Plot

Template:Spoiler Stan and Kyle set out to build a clubhouse (tree house) so they can play Truth or Dare? with Wendy and Bebe. Bebe has developed a crush on Kyle, who she thinks has "such a hot ass." Kyle is reluctant to play, as he has no interest in girls, but is assured by Stan telling him that it's just "so we can make them put bugs in their hair." Cartman and Kenny learn of Stan and Kyle's plans and set about building their own clubhouse based on the schematics for "Ewok Village 2000." Naturally Kenny, as the worker, does the lion's share of the labor- for example, skipping school to wait for the hot tub guys to call. Meanwhile, Cartman, foreman of the project, slacks off notably by eating Cheesy Poofs and watching American Gladiators.

Cartman and Kenny complete their clubhouse first, and Kenny manages to get two 16 year old girls, who have run away from home due to their nagging mothers, to hang out with them. Their attempts to get the girls to play Truth or Dare? ultimately fail. Stan and Kyle eventually finish their clubhouse despite being hampered by not being allowed to use nails. They invite the girls over to play Truth or Dare? On Chef's advice Stan attempts to play it cool; however Kyle jumps in and picks dare. Wendy dares him to "kiss Bebe on the mouth." Pressured, Kyle goes through with it but freaks out and runs out screaming, "Sick!" Subsequently, Bebe breaks up with Kyle (who was unaware they were actually going out) and instantly replaces him with Clyde. Stan and Clyde play Truth or Dare? with Wendy and Bebe. At last Stan gets to ask for a dare, expecting to be asked to kiss Wendy. However, Wendy and Bebe confer, and dare Stan to jam a twig 'up his pee-hole.'

A subplot in this episode is the breakdown of Stan's parents' marriage. Randy and Sharon divorce due to constant bickering despite Mr. Mackey's impromptu attempts at marriage counselling. Sharon informs Stan that it's "pretty much all his fault" but doesn't seem to dwell on the break-up too long, as she introduces Stan to his new stepfather Roy. Initially Roy seems wholesome and understanding but quickly loses patience as Stan won't cut him some slack. Stan has a quick visit with his "bastard" father who is apparently enjoying single life. Randy has bought a sports car, is wearing an earring, flirts with girls at traffic lights and turns up at a party in Cartman's clubhouse organized by the runaway girls. By the end of the episode, Randy and Sharon have gotten back together as Stan sets them up for a meeting in his clubhouse. Having met in a clubhouse years before while playing Truth or Dare? they have a passionate reconciliation. Roy winds up hanging from a tree in a bear trap, an idea Stan gets from watching Fat Abbot.

Kenny's death

Kenny dies in a mosh pit at the party organised by the runaway girls at Cartman's clubhouse. For the only time in the series, Cartman is the one who says, "Oh my God! They killed Kenny!" Kyle shouts "You bastards!" as normal, but he says this as he passes by Cartman's house, presumably unaware of what happened.

Trivia

• In this episode, one of the 16-year-old girls wears a shirt that says "DVDA", in reference to a musical group composed mainly of Trey Parker and Matt Stone, as well as 'Double-Vaginal, Double-Anal': the fictional sexual practice mentioned in Parker and Stone's film Orgazmo, whence the band name is derived.
• Fat Abbot is a parody of the 1970s animated show Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids. Stan's mother tells the boys to watch it, instead of "that horrible show" Terrance and Phillip, but the show features colourful language and themes of violence and sex. In one episode Fat Abbot tells Rudy, "I'll bust a cap in yo nigga ass, shithole!" In keeping with the original show, Bill Cosby appears in one episode to summarize what Fat Abbot and his friends have learned, and signs off with "See ya next time, eatin' the pudding," a reference to Cosby's role as commercial spokesperson for Jell-O pudding. Another twist of irony is Stan's astonishment at the vulgar language by cartoon characters in Fat Abbot, when South Park itself astonished the general public by featuring vulgar language spoken by cartoon characters.