Clyde Donovan

Clyde Donovan, (formerly Clyde Goodman and twice incorrectly called Clyde Harris), voiced by Trey Parker, is one of the four main characters' classmates.

Character
Clyde Donovan made his first major appearance in Weight Gain 4000 as an Indian in the play being performed for Kathy Lee Gifford. He has consistently remained present throughout the thirteen seasons, though he has taken on a larger role as part of a gang which Cartman often calls "Craig and those guys."

In the movie, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, it is implied that he is not very clever, or at least not good at mathematics and is often portrayed as one of the less intelligent members of the class. When Mr. Garrison asks him what two times five equals, he guesses twelve. Then again, had he been counting in Octal, this would have been the correct answer.

Clyde appears to be one of the kinder boys, or at least he has a better sense of morality. In Lice Capades, he refused to sock bathe Kenny McCormick when Kenny is accused of having head lice, since Clyde believed himself to be the only one who had lice. He also notified Mrs. Garrison to stop the sock bathing and tried to delay the other boys until she arrived. Clyde is even seen defending Cartman in Marjorine.

In The List, when Clyde is listed on the corrupted list as best looking, he becomes arrogant and self loving of his looks. He attempts to make Kyle feel better for being listed last, though does it in a careless way.

He has a habit of sobbing uncontrollably whenever he witnesses something upsetting. Examples of this are when he hears Cartman singing in 4th Grade, when the adults decide to give all of the money they would have spent on Christmas presents for their kids to the Broflovski's in It's Christmas in Canada, and when he realized that there were no crystal clear lagoons, treasure, and plunder after he joined Cartman's 'Somalian pirate club' in Fatbeard.

Clyde seems to have a liking for adult-related materials. In the episode Make Love, Not Warcraft, he is seen reading an playboy magazine instead of playing the game, and in Ginger Kids, the topic of his presentation is mentioned as "lesbian cheerleaders." In the episode Marjorine, Butters (in the character of Marjorine) says, "...And getting my snootch pounded on Friday nights," to which Clyde responds, "Nice." In the episode Cherokee Hair Tampons, Butters comments that Clyde would have helped in getting Cartman's kidney for Kyle, but his appetite for tacos got in the way. In the episode Clubhouses, he began dating Bebe Stevens though it is unknown as to whether or not this relationship continued.

On several occasions when things get surreal in the show, Clyde shows little or no interest. For instance, when the boys audition for a new fourth friend, and he is eliminated as a candidate, he eventually decides that it is stupid and shows no actual interest in being their fourth friend. Also, while everyone else is obsessing over the World of Warcraft game, he questions its importance and reads Playboy instead, which causes the "rogue" to defeat the other players once again.

He is an avid supporter of the school football team, the South Park Cows, and is extremely upset when the PETA demanded that they change the name and mascot in Douche and Turd. He then is overjoyed at the end when they are able to keep their name.

In Marjorine, Clyde stood up for Cartman when Kyle and Stan were ridiculing him for his discovery of the girls' future telling device. This surprised many of the boys who were in Cartman's basement at the time, including Cartman himself. Although this initially indicates that he's somewhat on Cartman's side, he ignores him along with the rest of the class in The Death of Eric Cartman. He may have only been curious about the future telling device Cartman was reporting and wanted Stan and Kyle to be quiet while Cartman explained. He might also still feel loyalty towards Cartman for returning to South Park in Cartman's Silly Hate Crime 2000.



Appearance
He has medium-brown hair, wears a burgundy coat, grayish-brown trousers, and sometimes wears ocean-blue mittens. Underneath, he has been shown to wear a green T-shirt with a cow's face on the front. He has been labeled "the second fattest kid next to Cartman" despite appearing about the same weight as the others. He has a somewhat nasal voice, similar to that of Craig's. In Quest for Ratings, it is rumored that Clyde only has one testicle, though this is never actually confirmed.

Mysterion
Clyde is the probable candidate for the identity of Mysterion in the episode The Coon. He was shown sleeping in class the day before Mysterion and the Coon (Eric Cartman) met, meaning that he might have been tired from his activities as Mysterion—the camera even zooms in on Clyde when Cartman yells at him for it. This could however be to fool people into thinking Mysterion is Clyde. His voice is also very similar to that of Mysterion's.

He was one of the people that the Coon suggested Mysterion was while talking to him the night they met, and at the end of the episode when Mysterion reveals his/her face Cartman says, "I knew it was you! I even said it before!"

Lice Situation
In Lice Capades, he thought at first that he was the only one in the school who had head lice. He did not want to reveal it or have it found out, because he feared he would be made fun of and embarrassed by Cartman and the rest of the class. However, Clyde's lice problem was not revealed to the others, as Kenny McCormick was accused by Cartman (because he thinks that poor people are most susceptible to head lice). This episode was the first time his last name was 'Harris,' as stated at the lice inspection. However, in the later reruns, this was corrected.

Family
He told the environmentalists in Terrance and Phillip: Behind the Blow that his father, like Randy Marsh, is a geologist (who said there was no evidence of global warming), though Mr. Donovan is only shown with Clyde alongside his mother in the episode, Child Abduction is Not Funny. The couple appear again in the Atheists Club of Red Hot Catholic Love, leading us to believe that Clyde's family, like most of South Parks residents, is Roman Catholic. He has a dog named Rex Donovan, who had a sexual encounter with Stan's dog, Sparky Marsh. His mother is referred to as Martha in "Red Hot Catholic Love." His name suggests Irish or Scottish ancestry.

In the episode Do the Handicapped Go to Hell?, Priest Maxi was caught by the children having sex with a woman named Mrs. Donovan (whom he later described as an evil temptress), however she looks nothing like Martha. Her exact relation to Clyde, if any, has been left ambiguous.

In the season eleven finale, "The List," it is revealed that his father owns a shoe shop. This is why the girls declared him the cutest boy in South Park Elementary; it was so that they could have easier shoe-shopping sprees. However, as mentioned above, Mr. Donovan was supposedly a geologist. Of course, he may have more than one job, or he may have quit geology since "Terrance and Phillip: Behind the Blow," and taken up a career as a shoe store owner. Another version of this goof is that he is not Clyde's real father at all (see below the quotes).

The Donovan family apparently sold their house and moved to another as of the season eight episode The Jeffersons, as it is mentioned that Michael Jefferson bought "the Donovan's old house."

In the season eleven episode Fantastic Easter Special, a fellow in a bunny costume named "Nick Donovan" prays for Jesus to save him.

Sports
Clyde Donovan has been seen as a good athlete and really likes sports. He has been seen playing Baseball in The Losing Edge, playing football for the South Park Cows in Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride and "The Coon" and basketball in Elementary School Musical.

Clyde is also a big fan of the Denver Broncos, as seen in "Marjorine."

Quotes

 * Clyde: "Am I an Indian or a pioneer?"
 * Mr. Garrison: "Do you have a feather on your head?"
 * Clyde: "Yeah."
 * Mr. Garrison: "Then you're an Indian."


 * [Upon hearing that Tweek and Craig are going to fight] "Really? Cool." [the boys stand around waiting] "It's funny 'cause Tweek and Craig both went home about fifteen minutes ago."


 * [Watching the boys fight over who's more likely to win the fight] "Wow. Tweek and Craig really hate each other, huh? This should be a good fight."


 * Mr. Garrison: "Okay, children, let's start the day with a few new math problems. What is five times two?" [when nobody replies] ...Come on, children, don't be shy." [Clyde raises his hand] "Yes, Clyde?"
 * Clyde: "12?"
 * Mr. Garrison: "Okay, now let's try to get an answer from someone who's not a complete retard."


 * Stan: [getting ready for the sledding competition] "All right, where's Clyde?"
 * Clyde: [steps up] "Right here."
 * Stan: "Get on the sled, you fat piece of shit!"
 * Clyde: "For the last time, I'm not fat, so stop calling me fat, goddamn it!" [realizes he's responded as Cartman would, and covers his mouth with both hands]


 * [in an English accent] "You, sir, mocked Cartman before, yet you too sit here demanding answers! Now, damn you, let him speak!"


 * Clyde: [Cartman tries to get him to help the others defeat the "rogue," but he resists] "I'm just gonna stop playing."
 * Cartman: "When Hitler rose to power there were a lot of people who 'just stopped playing.' You know who those people were? The French! Are you French, Clyde?"
 * Clyde: "No."
 * Cartman: "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, Clyde?"
 * Clyde: "All right, all right, I'll do it!"


 * Lead Screener: [writes a note and gives it to him] "Now, now, it's all right. We're going to call your parents and get you to your doctor."
 * Clyde: "Please, you... you don't understand. The other kids are gonna make fun of me forever!"
 * Lead Screener: "I'm sure your friends aren't that cruel."
 * Clyde: "Yes, they are!"


 * Clyde: [in the waiting room waiting to go see the doctor about his lice problem] "This is so... embarrassing."
 * Girl: "I have an ear infection. What are you seeing the doctor for?"
 * Clyde: "I have... AIDS." [his mother and the girl's mother look at him, astonished]

Clyde: I am.


 * [sobbing] "I WANNA GO HOME!"
 * Kyle: people aren't creeped out by gingers!

Name Controversy
Before the episode "Quest for Ratings," Clyde's name appeared as "Clyde Goodman" on South Park merchandise, such as shirts and cups, but in "Quest for Ratings," it was changed to Donovan while the "report" about the state of his genitals was going on. Three seasons later, in "Lice Capades," he was called "Clyde Harris," but only in the first airing of the episode. The creators possibly realized their mistake and changed the name back to Donovan the second time it aired. It still sometimes airs with Harris used. Also, considering the line, "Clyde... Harris, is it?" it may have been a mistake on the nurse's part.

Prominence
Clyde was used as a background character with no other role but to speak or be used at the beginning of the series. However, in seasons two and three, he was often used for brief jokes before he was given a lacking personality in season four. Gradually, he became one of the primary members of the boys' class in season six and onward. He is sometimes overshadowed by Craig.

Possible Family Changes
Since Clyde's surname changed from "Harris" to "Donovan" during the seasons, we may assume that his mother possibly married twice. Clyde once mentioned that his father is geologist (even though Randy is the only geologist in South Park). Later, in show, Bebe mentions that Clyde's father is the shoe shop owner. Also, Clyde was seen with different father in Proper Condom Use near the closing sequence. All these facts makes us assume that John Donovan is just his stepfather, and his real father could be seen in "Proper Condom Use."

Episode Appearances
(Clyde's first talking appearance. He questions what role he'll be playing in the South Park play. He also cries for the first time.)
 * Weight Gain 4000

(Clyde's dog, Rex Donovan, gets raped by Stan's dog, Sparky Marsh.)
 * Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride

(Clyde is the only person who claps for Kevin [called "Casey"]'s weed.)
 * An Elephant Makes Love to a Pig

(Clyde gets bitten by zombie Kenny and turns into another zombie. Later, he eats Bebe's brains out.)
 * Pinkeye

(Clyde makes a bet with Bebe that he can spit the most on Pip.)
 * Damien

(Clyde becomes Bebe's boyfriend after she "breaks up" with Kyle.)
 * Clubhouses

(Clyde points out to Mr. Adler that Tommy, a classmate, got his face removed in the belt sander. Later, he hands out brochures regarding Tweek and Craig's fight.)
 * Tweek vs. Craig

(Clyde wins a yacht in a sexual harassment case.)
 * Sexual Harassment Panda

(Clyde is part of the "Chinpokomon" fad.)
 * Chinpokomon

(Clyde becomes the new Cartman after Cartman gets sent to juvenile hall and suffers the torment Cartman usually would go through.)
 * Cartman's Silly Hate Crime 2000

(Clyde tries to tell the Earth Day committee that there's no proof of global warming; he heard this from his father, who "is a geologist.")
 * Terrance and Philip: Behind the Blow

(Clyde, in the guise of Elrond [the "High Elf of Faragon"], forms a council to decide the fate of the pornographic videotape. At one point, Cartman mispronounces "Faragon," and Clyde calls him an asshole for it.)
 * The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers

(Clyde is a candidate for the boys' new fourth friend but didn't make the second cut, along with Craig and Jason. He didn't appear to mind though.)
 * Professor Chaos

(Clyde, along with the other boys, dresses up and pretends to be a ninja.)
 * Good Times with Weapons

(Clyde takes the new episode of Craig's show and shows it on the big screens.)
 * Quest for Ratings

(Clyde was one of the boys who was invited to Bebe's whore party.)
 * Stupid Spoiled Whore Video Playset

(Clyde is distraught that the South Park Cows are forced to change their name due to the complaints of PETA.)
 * Douche and Turd

(Clyde is one of the boys trying to capture the girls' "future-telling device." He compliments "Marjorine's" supposed sex life.)
 * Marjorine

(Clyde lets the others down by reading Playboy rather than playing World of Warcraft.)
 * Make Love, Not Warcraft

(Clyde is accused of having crapped in the urinal, but his parents reveal that he could not possibly be the culprit because he had had a colostomy.)
 * Mystery of the Urinal Deuce

(Clyde finds out that he has head lice and is frightened of what the other kids might do or say to him.)
 * Lice Capades

(Clyde is listed cutest on the girls' list and lets the popularity go to his head. Later, it was revealed that the girls just dated him because his dad owned a shoe store and they wanted free pairs from Clyde. It was said that he was in the bottom five on the list, also hinting from other clues that Craig was supposed to be first.)
 * The List

(With Stan,Kyle, Kenny, and Jimmy, he is troubled over Steven Spielberg and George Lucas "raping" Indiana Jones.)
 * The China Probrem

(Clyde joins Cartman's Somalian pirate club.)
 * Fatbeard