| "Poor and Stupid" | |||
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| South Park episode | |||
Kenny surprisingly misses death, causing two NASCAR drivers to crash. |
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| Episode no. | Season 14 Episode 8 |
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| Directed by | Trey Parker | ||
| Written by | Trey Parker | ||
| Production code | 1408 | ||
| Original air date | October 6, 2010 | ||
| Episode chronology | |||
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| South Park (season 14) List of South Park episodes |
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"Poor and Stupid" is the eighth episode and mid-season premiere of the fourteenth season of the American animated television series South Park, and the 203rd overall episode of the series. It aired on Comedy Central in the United States on October 6, 2010. In the episode, Cartman wants to become a NASCAR racer, but he feels that he cannot because he is not "poor and stupid enough" to fulfill his dream. After some experiments, his dream comes true, and he receives his own race car after his consumption of Vagisil brings massive attention to the product, much to the dismay of his friend Kenny, who tries to stop Cartman from giving his favorite event a bad reputation.
"Poor and Stupid" received a mixed reception. 3.139 million viewers watched the episode, according to Nielsen Media Research, making it the second most watched cable television show of its airdate, losing the number one spot to the baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins during the 2010 American League Division Series.
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When Stan and Kyle find Cartman crying in front of his locker at school, he tells them that he is upset over the fact that Mr. Garrison assigned an essay about what the students want to be when they grow up, a subject he does not like to think about. He explains that it is his dream to become a NASCAR driver, and that he believes that this could never happen to people like him, referring to the fact that he is not poor and stupid, as he believes all NASCAR fans and racers are, pointing it out by confirming that Kenny is indeed a huge NASCAR fan, much to their dismay. Stan and Kyle effectively convince Cartman that he is actually very poor and very stupid. He turns to Butters for help in becoming as poor and stupid as he possibly can. He starts this by giving Butters all his money, and orders him to spend it and never give it back. He then consumes Vagisil, after viewing an ad that listed a side effect of short-term memory loss. On race day, Butters convinces a driver to abandon his car because his wife has been raped. When Cartman tries to drive it, his total lack of knowledge causes an accident that puts him in the hospital. The doctor tells a disappointed Cartman that his accident is the stupidest he has ever seen, and Cartman is hopeful again. His antics cause the news media to wonder if all NASCAR fans are this stupid.
An upset Kenny storms to Cartman's house to give him a piece of his mind, but they are visited by Vagisil founder Jeff Hamill and his wife Patty. Since Cartman's determination has brought considerable attention to Vagisil, Hamill presents him with his own Vagisil sponsored car, to the further dismay of Kenny. Cartman's "bigoted and ignorant" statements on his podcast, and resulting media conclusion that "NASCAR really is just for the poor and the stupid", pushes Kenny to try and stop him at any costs. Cartman drives badly at his next race, crashing into drivers and mowing down spectators. Kenny tries to interrupt, but fails and is knocked onto the track. Two cars crash avoiding Kenny, leaving Cartman's as the only car remaining in the race. At that point, Jeff's wife Patty (tired of Jeff's condescending remarks towards her) gets onto the track and takes Jimmie Johnson's damaged car. She beats Cartman and wins the race. Cartman apologizes to Kenny (who, surprisingly is still alive at the end of the episode) for trying to become a NASCAR driver, believing that he is too smart for NASCAR. He demands that Butters give back his money, then yells at him for not being able to do so, while Kenny watches in disbelief and confusion.
"Poor and Stupid" was written and directed by series co-founder Trey Parker, and was rated TV-MA LV in the United States. It first aired on October 6, 2010 in the United States on Comedy Central.
The episode satirizes stereotypes associated with the NASCAR community.[1][2] In the episode, Cartman claims that all NASCAR drivers and fans are poor and stupid, and that he too must become so in order to become a NASCAR driver.[1] The NASCAR drivers are portrayed as well-spoken and the NASCAR fans are depicted as being fairly smart;[3] it is only Cartman's stereotypical impersonation of the NASCAR community that casts them in a negative light.[2]
In its original American broadcast on October 6, 2010, "Poor and Stupid" was watched by 3.139 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research, making it the second most watched cable television show of the night, losing the number one spot to the baseball match between the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins during the 2010 American League Division Series. The episode received a 2.0 rating/4 share, meaning it was seen by 2 percent of the population and 4 percent of the people watching television at the time of its broadcast. Among adult viewers between ages 18 and 49, the episode scored a 1.8 rating/5 share and among male viewers between ages 18 and 34, the episode received a 3.8 rating/12 share.[4]
"Poor and Stupid" received mixed reviews. The AV Club gave the episode a B- rating.[1] IGN gave the episode a score of 7 out of 10. Reviewer Ramsey Isler described the episode as "docile" by South Park standards and asserted that the episode lacks the show's "signature style of biting ridicule". Despite some winning one-liners and sight gags he considered the episode among the weaker episodes of the season so far and hoped for more in future episodes.[2] Brad Trechak of TV Squad said that, while the episode had some humorous moments, the episode "doesn't feel like Matt [Stone] and Trey [Parker] at their best", and criticized the satire as "not [being] the sort of sharp social satire we would expect from South Park."[5] Writing for The Yorker, Simon Cocks wrote that the episode turned out to be "reliable yet ultimately disappointing".[6] Merrill Barr of Film School Rejects was more positive, calling "Poor and Stupid" a "fine episode of South Park".[7]
None of the NASCAR drivers lampooned in "Poor and Stupid" were reported to be offended by their depiction in the episode. Driver Jeff Gordon said that he thought, although the episode was making fun of NASCAR, it was still good publicity for the sport.[8]
"Poor and Stupid", along with the thirteen other episodes from South Park's fourteenth season, were released on a three-disc DVD set and two-disc Blu-Ray set in the United States on April 26, 2011.[9]
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