Weight Gain 4000 is either the second or third episode of South Park(there is some confusion there).I liked it a bit more than Cartman gets an anal probe.This episode has Kathy Lee Gifford coming to South Park to give an award to Cartman for his excellent term paper(he actually cheated on it).Wendy(Stan's girlfriend), is jealous of this and decides to get to the bottom of it, meanwhile all the townspeople are excited for Kathy Lee's arrival...except for Mr Garrison & Mr.Hat(his puppet) who plans on killing her, due to the fact that she out-staged them during the school talent show several years earlier.There is a very funny little reference to the Spirit Of Christmas short film in the episode, and overall this episode is pretty entertaining.
19 Reviews
Cartman wins an essay contest
Tweekums16 November 2012
Warning: Spoilers
When it is announced that Cartman has won a national environmental essay competition Wendy is convinced that he must have cheated; nobody else cares though; they are just happy that they might get a chance to be on television when celebrity Kathie Lee Gifford visits the town to present the trophy. The mayor soon gets in on the act arranging for the children to put on a play about the origins of their town and for Chef to sing a song when Kathie Lee arrives. One person is not happy that Kathie Lee Gifford is coming to town; Mr Garrison lost a talent show against her as a child and is still bitter... her visit may give him the opportunity for revenge though!
I've always preferred the earlier seasons of South Park and it is episodes like this that are the reason; there are of course plenty of over the top moments but the core story about a boy cheating in a competition and meeting a celebrity isn't too far fetched. Of course that basic idea is taken to its hilarious extreme by having him try to beef up so he isn't a 'scrawny ninety pound weakling' and ending up even fatter than usual and having Mr Garrison want to kill her. Individual funny moments are too many to mention but highlights include the children's all too realistic performance of the first settlers meeting the Ute Indians, Mr Garrison buying a rifle and Chef's song... all about how he wants to 'make sweet love to Kathie Lee'! Kenny's inevitable death is both funny and gruesome; it also came as quite a shock when I first watched this episode as this was my introduction to the series when it first aired... I had no idea that he always died!
I've always preferred the earlier seasons of South Park and it is episodes like this that are the reason; there are of course plenty of over the top moments but the core story about a boy cheating in a competition and meeting a celebrity isn't too far fetched. Of course that basic idea is taken to its hilarious extreme by having him try to beef up so he isn't a 'scrawny ninety pound weakling' and ending up even fatter than usual and having Mr Garrison want to kill her. Individual funny moments are too many to mention but highlights include the children's all too realistic performance of the first settlers meeting the Ute Indians, Mr Garrison buying a rifle and Chef's song... all about how he wants to 'make sweet love to Kathie Lee'! Kenny's inevitable death is both funny and gruesome; it also came as quite a shock when I first watched this episode as this was my introduction to the series when it first aired... I had no idea that he always died!
"Intelligent and Friendly on Rye Bread with some Mayonnaise"
TWGProductions14 May 2016
Warning: Spoilers
"Weight Gain 4000" is the second (or Third?) episode of Season One and it is another solid episode that improves upon animation, dialogue, and plot. We get some hilarious dialogue with the boys discussing rainbows and then the intelligence of dolphins. I really got a kick out of Cartman's witty comebacks to Stan and might be the highlight of the episode for me. We get two main plots: Cartman ("BEEFCAKE, BEEFCAKE!") and Mr. Garrison/Mr. Hat over Kathie Lee Gifford.
I'm going to try to keep the spoilers to a minimum here so just to summarize: There was an environmental essay contest and the class is shocked that Eric Cartman, the ignorant, loud-mouthed, racist won the essay contest. Wendy spends the entirety (Pretty much all of the episode) trying to prove Cartman cheated. Meanwhile, Mr. Garrison is dumb-founded when he reads the award will be presented by Kathie Lee Gifford who upstaged him and Mr. Hat during Mr. Garrison's childhood. Mayor McDaniels hears of Kathy Lee Gifford coming to South Park and tries to fix the town up before Kathy Lee Gifford arrives in order to benefit herself (Politicians, right?). The mayor tasks Mr. Garrison to put on a play regarding the history of South Park and you could say it didn't go well as Mr. Garrison blatantly says "To Hell with Kathie Lee Gifford" shocking the residents of the town. He goes back and conspires with Mr. Hat to kill Kathy Lee Gifford. As the episode goes on Cartman gets on Weight Gain 4000 ("BEEFCAKE!") and truly shows that he upgraded from fat to mega fat ass towards the end of the show. In the end, Mr. Garrison buys a gun and tries to assassinate Kathy Lee Gifford(Shooting Kenny instead...). Officer Barbrady comes over to arrest Mr. Hat and gets subsequently thrown in a mental institution. Cartman, by the end of the episode, ends up on Geraldo's TV show regarding Obesity and hilariously Cartman doesn't have a problem with it as he says he achieved his dreams.
In the end, watching this episode today in 2016 was great nostalgia as a simpler, more innocent South Park reigned supreme. I highly recommend anyone who has watched the show or hasn't watched it to sit down and watch Season 1 and enjoy the hilarity that is South Park. Overall, this episode gets an 8 out of 10.
One more thing, every episode I want to try to keep tabs on new characters introduced into the show as well as the number of times Kenny has died so I hope you find some fun in this as much as me.
New characters introduced: Mayor McDaniels, Kathy Lee Gifford, Geraldo, Jimbo, Bebe Number of Times Kenny died: 1 Total Times Kenny died in Series so far: 2
I'm going to try to keep the spoilers to a minimum here so just to summarize: There was an environmental essay contest and the class is shocked that Eric Cartman, the ignorant, loud-mouthed, racist won the essay contest. Wendy spends the entirety (Pretty much all of the episode) trying to prove Cartman cheated. Meanwhile, Mr. Garrison is dumb-founded when he reads the award will be presented by Kathie Lee Gifford who upstaged him and Mr. Hat during Mr. Garrison's childhood. Mayor McDaniels hears of Kathy Lee Gifford coming to South Park and tries to fix the town up before Kathy Lee Gifford arrives in order to benefit herself (Politicians, right?). The mayor tasks Mr. Garrison to put on a play regarding the history of South Park and you could say it didn't go well as Mr. Garrison blatantly says "To Hell with Kathie Lee Gifford" shocking the residents of the town. He goes back and conspires with Mr. Hat to kill Kathy Lee Gifford. As the episode goes on Cartman gets on Weight Gain 4000 ("BEEFCAKE!") and truly shows that he upgraded from fat to mega fat ass towards the end of the show. In the end, Mr. Garrison buys a gun and tries to assassinate Kathy Lee Gifford(Shooting Kenny instead...). Officer Barbrady comes over to arrest Mr. Hat and gets subsequently thrown in a mental institution. Cartman, by the end of the episode, ends up on Geraldo's TV show regarding Obesity and hilariously Cartman doesn't have a problem with it as he says he achieved his dreams.
In the end, watching this episode today in 2016 was great nostalgia as a simpler, more innocent South Park reigned supreme. I highly recommend anyone who has watched the show or hasn't watched it to sit down and watch Season 1 and enjoy the hilarity that is South Park. Overall, this episode gets an 8 out of 10.
One more thing, every episode I want to try to keep tabs on new characters introduced into the show as well as the number of times Kenny has died so I hope you find some fun in this as much as me.
New characters introduced: Mayor McDaniels, Kathy Lee Gifford, Geraldo, Jimbo, Bebe Number of Times Kenny died: 1 Total Times Kenny died in Series so far: 2
One of many classics from season 1
jtaslak26 November 2011
I'm going to try to review this without any spoilers... The brand of humor Matt and Trey deploy in the earlier episodes differs slightly from the newer seasons, but it is for the better. Season 1 looks like it was animated with cardboard cutouts, and it probably was, though I'm only certain the first episode was. Anyways, this episode has two plot lines, one for Cartman and one for Mr. Garrison, and the viewer gets a very in-depth view of Garrison's quirks and secrets, etc, and Cartman's insecurities. Weight Gain spawned one of South Park's most popular catch phrases, later seen on t-shirts across America, and is overall laugh out loud funny. Dialogue is stripped compare to the newer seasons but the jokes hit home just as well. Stan and Wendy's relationship is also particularly well done in the earlier seasons, and this episode isn't an exception. After watching so much South Park over the past few years, it's funny that you can distinguish these South Park kids as 3rd graders and their latter renditions as 4th graders. These children are just as profane but much more innocent at the same time. They have yet to spend 15 seasons causing mayhem. To conclude, watch this episode, and all of season 1 while you're at it. It is easily one of the best, though nobody could objectively call it the best. In general, South Park's first 6 seasons have stood the test of time very well, and everything since has been hit or miss. Peace.
Rewatch (Thursday 2nd March)
morganthomasstarwars3 March 2023
"You talkin' to me? There's nobody else here, so you must be talking to me"
The subplot is really good and Mr Garrison is one of the best characters so far, but the main plot of the episode just isn't that good really. Although to be fair it is funny seeing Cartman being really really fat! I mean what a fatty! Anyway I shouldn't say that because fat shaming is wrong and I don't do or say things that are wrong. But yeah I don't really like Wendy as a character, in fact I dislike her, she's really annoying. I still have 76 characters left to fit thr miminum of the review but it should be okay now.
The subplot is really good and Mr Garrison is one of the best characters so far, but the main plot of the episode just isn't that good really. Although to be fair it is funny seeing Cartman being really really fat! I mean what a fatty! Anyway I shouldn't say that because fat shaming is wrong and I don't do or say things that are wrong. But yeah I don't really like Wendy as a character, in fact I dislike her, she's really annoying. I still have 76 characters left to fit thr miminum of the review but it should be okay now.
BEEFCAKE!!!!!!
Nolamoviedude2 February 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Cartman cheats and wins an environmental essay contest so Kathy Lee Gifford is coming to town to give him an award. He wants to get into shape since he will be on tv so he starts taking Weight Gain 4000 because the commercial says it will get you ripped and in the best shape of your life. Well Cartman gets even fatter because he just takes the Weight Gain and doesn't work out.
Mr Garrison tries to assassinate Kathy Lee for beating him in a talent show when they were little. She's in a Pope like bubble most of the time. When She goes to give the award to Cartman, the stage collapses due to his massive amount of weight so Mr Garrison's shot misses Kathy Lee and hit's Kenny.
BEEFCAAAAAAAKE!!!!!!
Mr Garrison tries to assassinate Kathy Lee for beating him in a talent show when they were little. She's in a Pope like bubble most of the time. When She goes to give the award to Cartman, the stage collapses due to his massive amount of weight so Mr Garrison's shot misses Kathy Lee and hit's Kenny.
BEEFCAAAAAAAKE!!!!!!
"Beefcake, BEEFCAKE!"
RainDogJr4 October 2009
Warning: Spoilers
First of all, of course there's a very significant improvement in the animation since the episode Cartman Gets an Anal Probe is the only one not animated with computers. That said, let's focus in the content of Weight Gain 4000: this is a very important episode for the Cartman and not just because he, after cheating in and winning an essay school contest, may appear on TV with Kathie Lee Gifford but also because here we have the first appearance of the anti-hippie Cartman and of the totally spoiled Cartman that gets from his mother what he wants when he wants (and also here we have the fattest Cartman thanks to the weight gain 4000).
Weight Gain 4000 is always mentioned as the first South Park episode that spoofed a celebrity and Kathie Lee Gifford really delivers the goods: first is the constant joke of having all the adults not really caring about other thing but the upcoming visit of Kathie Lee Gifford to South Park (certainly for all the adults the fact that Cartman cheated in the contest is not important at all). It also delivers a really funny subplot with Mr. Garrison ("KILL HER!", loved Mr. Hat in this one and of course the reference to Taxi Driver...I guess everybody has to reference the truly memorable "You talking to me?" at some point) and a truly inspired performance of Chef!
Weight Gain 4000 is always mentioned as the first South Park episode that spoofed a celebrity and Kathie Lee Gifford really delivers the goods: first is the constant joke of having all the adults not really caring about other thing but the upcoming visit of Kathie Lee Gifford to South Park (certainly for all the adults the fact that Cartman cheated in the contest is not important at all). It also delivers a really funny subplot with Mr. Garrison ("KILL HER!", loved Mr. Hat in this one and of course the reference to Taxi Driver...I guess everybody has to reference the truly memorable "You talking to me?" at some point) and a truly inspired performance of Chef!
"Beefcake, Beefcake!!!!"
elliottsimp15 November 2011
Warning: Spoilers
An improvement over the first episode. Weight Gain 4000 mainly focuses on Mr. Garrison wanting revenge of Kathie Lee Gifford after he hears she's coming to South Park. This episode is also the first one to feature Mayor McDaniel who was a frequent character in earlier episodes.
Like the last episode, the pacing of this episode is slow... but that doesn't mean their isn't a lot of great humour. Officer Barbrady particularly stands out. Cartman's plot quest to become a 'beefcake' is also hilarious. His final scene stands out as the best in the whole episode.
Overall, this was another OK episode, though a noticeable improvement over the last one.
Best: - "But Moooooooom" - Basically any of Mr. Hat's lines. - "Get outta my ass you stupid rainbow!"
Like the last episode, the pacing of this episode is slow... but that doesn't mean their isn't a lot of great humour. Officer Barbrady particularly stands out. Cartman's plot quest to become a 'beefcake' is also hilarious. His final scene stands out as the best in the whole episode.
Overall, this was another OK episode, though a noticeable improvement over the last one.
Best: - "But Moooooooom" - Basically any of Mr. Hat's lines. - "Get outta my ass you stupid rainbow!"
Cartman is Fat
RicketyCricketImposter12 December 2021
Weight Gain 4000 (#1.2)
ComedyFan201010 February 2015
Warning: Spoilers
The second episode of the show is one of the highlights of the first season. Cartman wins an essay competition by cheating and will get on TV as Kathie Lee Giffort gets to visit them. And Mr. Garrison wants to take revenge on her because of the competition he lost in the childhood.
The episode is full of classic moments. Let's start with the weight gain. Eric "getting in shape" was hilarious story, "beefcake!". This also includes getting to know more about his mom.
Another character we get to meet is the city mayor and her goal to get publicity also brought many jokes.
And once again there is more of Mr. Garrison. Besides his whole evil plan to kill Kathie Lee he brought a great joke with his school play where little Indians and Pioneers beat each other up.
The episode is full of classic moments. Let's start with the weight gain. Eric "getting in shape" was hilarious story, "beefcake!". This also includes getting to know more about his mom.
Another character we get to meet is the city mayor and her goal to get publicity also brought many jokes.
And once again there is more of Mr. Garrison. Besides his whole evil plan to kill Kathie Lee he brought a great joke with his school play where little Indians and Pioneers beat each other up.
Good, but I like the incidental moments best.
axlrhodes23 November 2021
I have no clue what Trey Parker and Matt Stone have against Kathie Lee Gifford (TV presenter) but they go so far as to appear in a sarcastic introductory video before the episode. The plot is typical of South Park but I find myself laughing more at incidental character moments, like Eric Cartman ordering his mother around while shouting "beefcake" as he slobs on the couch. There's some of Scorsese'sTaxi Driver filtered in with Mr Garrison's plot.
Funny and Eventful!
g-bodyl12 August 2013
The second episode in Season 1 is a dandy and a vast improvement over the first episode. The animation is still simple, but much clearer. I guess we should thank computers for that. The story is great and the jokes are funny. There is still a boatload of potty humor, but that will recur in each episode but I find it appropriate for the kind of show.
This episode, "Weight Gain 4000" is about how Kathy Lee Gifford is coming to town to present Cartman with an award due to his essay. Mr. Garrison plots to assassinate her because of how she beat him in a talent show many years ago. Meanwhile, Cartman uses a new weight product to help him look fit for television.
Overall, this is a pretty funny episode that is better than the first. This crude humor is really something to see especially how it was offensive back in the day. I rate this episode 9/10.
This episode, "Weight Gain 4000" is about how Kathy Lee Gifford is coming to town to present Cartman with an award due to his essay. Mr. Garrison plots to assassinate her because of how she beat him in a talent show many years ago. Meanwhile, Cartman uses a new weight product to help him look fit for television.
Overall, this is a pretty funny episode that is better than the first. This crude humor is really something to see especially how it was offensive back in the day. I rate this episode 9/10.
Decent!
shaburger4 January 2022
The animation in this episode is definitely better than the first episode's animation, it's much more better looking. My favourite joke from this episode is definitely the "pop tarts are frosted" bit and the "BEEFCAKE!" bit too, but all of the other jokes there are pretty funny as well. I like this episode as much as I liked the first one!
Shot
bevo-1367816 December 2020
One of my favorites!
whomeavery23 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I love this episode for no reason but its just one of my comfort south park episodes. Cartman becomes more "big boned" than he already is! Kathie Lee Gifford comes to South Park and Cartman surprisingly wins an essay contest, but it is revealed by Wendy Testaburger that the essay was copied off of the book Walden by Henry David Thoreau. Mr. Garrison tries to get his revenge on Kathie Lee from many years ago when she beat him in a talent show. However, Mr. Garrison is unsuccessful. Cartman was happy that he was going to be on TV, but because of the attempted murder of Kathie Lee, she is escorted out of the area and nobody cares about Cartman because Kathie Lee Gifford is gone. He gets extremely upset. In this episode, Kenny got impaled by a sharp flag pole. Cartman didn't get to have his essay award presented by Kathie Lee on national television, but he gets to be on TV for being morbidly obese.
Another old one
thomasjwinton30 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Here's the parent's guide: Spoilers! Sex/Nudity: 5/10 (TV-PG level): Chef sings about having sex with Kathy Lee, and it is implied that he actually did. Violence: 7/10 (TV-14 level): The whole episode is about a character being assassinated, but it doesn't actually work. Instead, they killed Kenny, which is quite bloody. Language: 6/10 (TV-PG level): Ass, Cracker, and Penis are all used. Drugs/Smoking: 0/10: None. Frightening/Intense Scenes: 7/10 (TV-14 level): See all in Violence category. Overall: 25/50. Recommended Rating: TV-14. Recommended Age Rating: 14+. Compared to the whole series: this episode is very mild. The whole series is 41/50, and this is only 25/50. Although, this episode may actually be the most intense episode in season 1.
Kathy Lee Gifford becomes South Parks first Celebrity Roast
tylerhimesfsu20 January 2022
We get our first glimpse into the twisted mind of Mr. Garrison. Kathy Lee Gifford becomes the first South Park celebrity roast. Kenny dies again. This is the first episode that really feels like traditional South Park.
Cartman Becomes Many Cartmans
Hitchcoc14 May 2022
When Eric wins an essay contest, Kathy Lee Gifford comes to town to give him his award. But the mayor decides to make it all about her. She tries to promote the community through this event. Garrison, who had a run in with KLG in the past, decides first to humiliate her and then kill her. But thing don't always work out.
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