Are You There God? It's Me, Jesus
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| South Park episode | |
| "Are You There God? It's Me, Jesus" | |
Kenny celebrates his first period. |
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| Episode no. | 47 |
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| Airdate | December 29, 1999 |
| South Park - Season 3 April 7, 1999 – January 12, 2000 |
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| ← Season 2 | Season 4 → |
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| List of all South Park episodes | |
"Are You There God? It's Me, Jesus" is episode 316 of Comedy Central's animated series South Park. It originally aired on December 29, 1999 and featured the then-nearing end of the second millennium.
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[edit] Plot synopsis
As 1999 is ending, Cartman discovers blood coming out of his butt, leading him to believe he is experiencing his first period. He taunts the other boys for not having hit puberty yet, unaware that his bleeding is caused by a minor stomach infection. Kenny later contracts the same ailment, and Kyle, not wanting to be left out, pretends he is also afflicted. The boys consequently abandon Stan and refuse to play with him, believing he is less mature for not having had his period.
Meanwhile, the people of the world flock around Jesus' house, excited about the Millennium and saying that, at the year 2000, Jesus's dad should make an appearance. Jesus contacts his father and tells him about his potential resurgence in popularity, but God (unseen in their conversation) says he will not show up because mankind is not ready. Jesus, wanting to still satisfy the people, books Rod Stewart to play a New Year's Eve concert in Las Vegas; everybody decides to go, because a rumor persists that God will show up.
Stan, meanwhile, prays for his period, but does not get it, so he visits Dr. Mephisto and gets a bottle of hormone pills. Using them causes Stan to grow a beard, have a deeper voice and develop a pair of breasts, but still no "period."
The crowd in Las Vegas for the New Year's concert is enraged upon seeing Rod Stewart (portrayed here as very old and incontinent) and they turn against Jesus. With them preparing to crucify him again, Stan asks Jesus why God does not answer his prayers, and Jesus explains that, if God does everything for you, then your existence has no real purpose. Jesus realizes that this was God's message: Jesus had to figure his own way to get people to follow him. And just as he realizes this, God arrives.
After initial shock over God's appearance (as a small hippolike creature), he offers the people the chance to ask one question. The crowd plans to ask the meaning of life or existence, but before anyone else can ask, Stan comes up and asks why he hasn't gotten his period. God explains that boys don't get periods, and tells the truth: that his friends are sick and Kyle was lying. He then returns to Heaven, saying he will answer another question in the year 4000. Stan is satisfied, and joyfully starts singing "Auld Lang Syne", but the angry crowd turns on him as the credits roll.
[edit] Kenny's Death
Believing that he has his period because his ass is bleeding, Kenny starts using tampons; and because he keeps the tampon in his ass for several days, he eventually bursts from inside out. The doctor's worry is that "he could have been following some kind of crazy new fad. Perhaps the children are all shoving tampons up their ass because they've seen the Backstreet Boys doing it on TV or something."
[edit] Pop Culture References
- The title of this episode is a reference to the 1970 book Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume.
- The physical appearance of God in this episode is roughly equivalent to that of the ancient Egyptian "Ammut, the Devourer" (a chimeric, female personification of divine retribution).
- The melody which plays while Jesus and Stan discuss the nature of prayer is the tune to the song "Onward, Christian Soldiers".
- When the citizens of South Park are waiting to see if Jesus will come out of his house and whether or not he will be scared of his shadow, is a parody of Groundhog Day. In this case, if Jesus isn't scared of his shadow, the next 1,000 years will be filled with peace and love.
- The boys read Women Who Run With the Wolves.
[edit] Miscellanea
- Due to the quick production of this episode (creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone wanted to be able to celebrate New Year's with their families), several elements from previous episodes are recycled in this installment, including:
- Jesus' photo of himself and Santa singing their Christmas debut concert together.
- The X-ray image from the opening number of the previous episode, "Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics" (shown in this episode on the evening news).
- The brief TV footage of Jakov, (from the episode "Jakovasaurs").
- This is the first time a recurring female character has spoken since the death of Mary Kay Bergman.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by: "Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics" |
South Park episodes | Followed by: "World Wide Recorder Concert" |
