Rainforest Shmainforest/Trivia

Trivia

 * This episode marked the first time that the theme song was modified for the season, though only slightly. The most noticeable change was that Stan, Kyle and Cartman and Kenny's lines were re-recorded. This variation of the theme song would last until the episode "Do The Handicapped go to Hell?".
 * Some of the choir members would return in subsequent episodes to become recurring background classmates: Bradley, an unnamed black-haired boy, Millie, Heidi (shown with black hair for most of this episode, with her hair appearing in the usual light brown color in a few shots), Esther, and Sally.
 * Craig speaks for the first time in this episode, despite having regular appearances since he first featured in the Season 1 episode Damien.
 * Though Jake appears to be eaten by a carnivorous flower, he's shown alive in a few shots afterward due to an animation error. It could still be taken that he is alive.
 * After Cartman leaves, he's mistakenly shown running from the Yanagopa with the rest of the group, also due to an animator's error. Cartman can be seen also after he leaves walking with the others down the river.
 * During the first GGWK number Sally loses her clip on her hair and Heidi's hair shifts from black to brown and back.
 * In the final GGWK number, an unnamed orange-haired boy is shown in Jake's spot. He quickly disappears.
 * Kelly sat by Kenny for most of the trip. However, whenever the children looked out of the window she could be seen two seats behind Cartman.
 * In this episode we find out Stan is afraid of snakes.
 * Throughout the episode Kelly always said Kenny's name wrong.
 * Cartman, who apparently believes people need to show nature who's boss can be seen whacking multiple animals on the head with a stick while chastising them. Including a Coral Snake (who had just eaten and crapped out their tour guide), a Three Toed Sloth, and a Squirrel Monkey. The snake, however, is angered by Cartman smacking it, hisses and chases Cartman away.
 * This episode is listed as, "Choir Tour" in the Comedy Network full video lists.
 * Kenny actually manages to survive, given Kelly's action.
 * Kyle admits Cartman had been right once before.
 * Although Cartman taunts Kyle for being a bad dancer, he dances and has rhythm in "Elementary School Musical ".(It is possible he learned to dance since then.)
 * The President's desk has six bullet holes and one aide has an eyepatch.

References to Popular Culture

 * The episode is a commentary on people blindly joining environmental groups. Often taking huge stances to preserve areas without ever taking the time to try and live there. It was also formed based on Trey Parker's own personal opinion of the rainforest and Costa Rica after a visit there.
 * Miss Stevens, the Choir Teacher, was voiced by Jennifer Aniston. During the time this episode aired Aniston was most popular for being on the sitcom Friends.
 * One of the G.G.W.K. states that the rain forest provides 30% of the worlds oxygen. It's actually 28%, but why split hairs?
 * When Cartman pleads to Mr. Mackey not to join them up with G.G.W.K. he says in the tone of an actor in a Minstrel show.
 * Costa Rica in this episode is depicted as a third-world country (and in the episode, it certainly looks like one). This would be inaccurate as it is ranked #54 in the Human Development Index ranking it as a Developing Country.
 * The president of Costa Rica was Miguel Ángel Rodríguez when this episode aired. He was the country's president from 1998-2002. The character who appears as Costa Rica's president in this episode looks nothing like Miguel Ángel Rodríguez.
 * When in the rainforest the children come across a squirrel monkey which is native of the area. They are also an endangered species as identified in the episode. As is three-toed sloth.
 * However coral snakes are not native of Central America, they are located only in the southern United States. (although it ate their tour guide whole, it is entirely possible they misidentified the creature)
 * While in the woods during the thunder storm, the group is visited briefly by actor Tony Danza. He was best known for his role on the sitcom Who's the Boss. At the time this episode aired, he was then on the The Tony Danza Show.
 * When talking to the soldiers to try and get food Stan asks for a Taco Supreme. This is a common menu item at Taco Bell.
 * Miss Stevens reads Newsweek magazine. The magazine was first launched in 1933.
 * Cartman grumbles about how he could be at home watching Fat Abbott. Fat Abbot, is a parody of the cartoon Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids.
 * Miss Stevens believes that she is guided by the spirit of Maya the mother of Buddah.
 * Among the heads of victims of the Yanogapa is a camera. This may be a reference to the film Cannibal Holocaust, a 1980 Italian exploitation film. In the film, a group of documentary film makers go into South America searching for proof of a lost cannibal tribe, and terrorize the natives in order to get sensational footage. They end up getting killed by the tribe they are looking for and their cameras and film cans on display around their village.
 * The natives using the choir teacher as a sacrifice is very reminiscent of the scene in King Kong where Ann Darrow is put out as a sacrifice for Kong.
 * When everyone is surprised that Eric Cartman helped rescue them he angrily responds "Who did you expect, Merv Griffin?" Merv Griffin (1926-2007) was a television host, singer and media mogul. He is best known for his creation of Merv Griffin Productions.
 * Guest Stars: Toddy Walters as Kelly, Jennifer Anston as Miss Stevens
 * Destruction of the 4th wall: After Stan and Kyle say their catchphrase, Kelly asks "who's they?" Ironically, the catchphrase "Ohmigod they killed Kenny"/"You bastards". Is always a 4th wall break as it was revealed the line is aimed at Trey and Matt, as technically THEY killed Kenny.

Kenny's Death

 * As Kelly is explaining to Kenny how their long-distance relationship will work; Kenny is struck by lightning (there was no storm or rain). Kelly is horrified and immediately starts giving Kenny CPR. She really surprises Stan and Kyle when she actually succeeds at reviving him, and Kenny is seen alive and well for the remainder of the episode. This is the first time in the show someone had ever tried to resuscitate Kenny, and the second time Kenny survived an entire episode.

Controversy

 * Despite the episode airing in 1999 in the U.S. and a few years later in Latin America (except in Brazil, MTV Brazil aired it in 1999), the episode has caused a bit of controversy in February 2007 over the comments that Cartman made about Costa Rica saying that the city "smells like ass" and the way the creators show the country full of "prostitutes, shantytowns and trash." The Costa Rican Government was reportedly "not amused" with this episode.

Goofs

 * In the first airing of this episode the school bus driver that drives to the rainforrest is a man with brown hair, when they arrive he is replaced with Ms. Crabtree, the regular bus driver. (This was corrected on future airings)
 * While looking out the windows of the school bus in San Jose, Cost Rica the children see a poor run down village, while the reflection shows a modern urban city.