The quiet of little South Park, Colorado is shattered by Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo, Charles Manson, angry Canadians, angry Iraqis, and . . . woodland critters.  A compilation of the seven Christmas specials that South Park has aired in its eleven seasons (so far), Christmas Time in South Park has some of the funniest and most outrageous South Park moments in history.  Unfortunately it also has some of the more forgettable ones, too.

CRITIQUE

Mr. Hankey The Christmas Poo (Season 1, Episode 10)

If you eat fiber on Christmas Eve, you may well get a bright “Howdy Ho!” from a singing turd.  Or so says Kyle, even though no one believes him.  Kyle’s increasing insistence on Mr. Hankey’s existence tests his own sanity when the Poo’s hijinks earn him multiple punishments at school.  Meanwhile the students at South Park Elementary attempt to put on a non-denominational, non-anything play.  Rather ham-handed in its criticism of political correctness (even for South Park), but a classic nonetheless.

Merry Christmas Charlie Manson (Season 2, Episode 16)

Kyle, Stan, and Kenny are invited to a Cartman family Christmas in Nebraska.  Much of Cartman’s behavior is explained by his extended family, but just as the boys are as unnerved as can be they get a visit from escaped murderer Charles Manson.  Who turns out to be a nice guy after all.  Cartmanisms like “I’ll kick you in the nuts!” and “No Kitty that’s my pot pie!” haven’t been heard in so long at this point that this episode really shows its age, and isn’t all that notable but for throwing Manson in just for kicks.

Mr. Hankey’s Christmas Classics (Season 3, Episode 15)

Mr. Hankey hosts a musical special with numbers performed by characters from South Park.  Most memorable is probably Mr. Garrison singing “Ding dong, mmkay” in his rendition of the Carol of the Bells.  A little disappointing when it aired (though not along the Terrance and Phillip Special disappointing), and still not anything special today.

A Very Crappy Christmas (Season 4, Episode 17)

Harking back to pre-South Park South Park, the boys make their own cartoon with Mr. Hankey’s help to restore the true Christmas spirit:  Commercialism.  People aren’t buying things they don’t need, and only a few clips from the old Santa vs. Jesus project will get the economy going again.  Meanwhile Mr. Hankey has troubles of his own with a drunken wife, three young nuggets, and erectile dysfunction.

Red Sleigh Down (Season 6, Episode 16)

In a desperate bid to increase his nice-to-naughty ratio before Christmas, Cartman convinces Santa Claus to bring Christmas cheer to Iraq.  In a nod to Three Kings, Santa is captured and ungently interrogated before the boys enlist Jesus to rescue him.  For comic misdirection and sheer hilarity, this is one of South Park’s best.

It’s Christmas in Canada (Season 7, Episode 15)

Ike’s biological parents come down from Canada to take their son back, and somehow the Canadian Prime Minister’s decree overrides all else.  The boys travel to Canada to face the PM himself, hoping to get back in time for presents, and are helped along the way by a Mountie riding a sheep, a French Canadian who can’t drink wine, and a Newfoundlander who can’t engage in sodomy, all because of the PM’s strange new laws.

Woodland Critter Christmas (Season 8, Episode 14)

Another one of South Park’s best and most disgusting episodes, Stan finds an annoyingly happy group of woodland critters near Christmas time who ask for his help.  They have their own virgin birth to protect, and the nasty mountain lion spoils their hopes every year.  There’s more to these critters than they let on though, and soon Stan is cursing the narrator telling this tale in rhyme.

THE VIDEO

South Park is presented in 1.33:1 full screen.  How bad could it be?  I found nothing wrong with it, and the series is broadcast in full screen rather than widescreen.

THE AUDIO

South Park is presented in Dolby Digital Stereo.  There are no other audio choices, languages, or subtitles.

THE EXTRAS

None.  Makes for a fairly easy decision if you already own each season individually.

FINAL THOUGHT

This might be a nice holiday rental if you’re in the anti-Christmas mood, but the disc is surely not a collection of South Park’s best episodes.