Prehistoric Ice Man

"Prehistoric Ice Man" is the eighteenth episode of Season Two, and the 31th overall episode of South Park. It originally aired on January 20, 1999.

Synopsis
Kyle falls down a hole while the boys are playing Crocodile Hunter. In the hole, Stan notices a frozen man from 1996, but the boys argue over who found him. The episode mostly parodies the movie Encino Man.

Plot
Cartman shows the boys an episode of the Crocodile Hunter which inspires them to go up a mountain and search for crocodiles. When Kyle falls down a hole, Stan gets a rope and lowers himself down to rescue him. He soon notices a figure frozen in ice that appears to be a human. The boys go back to town and show the creature to everyone. Dr. Mephesto takes it to his laboratory so he can unfreeze it. The creature gets named "Steve" which was Kyle's choice for a name which angers Stan who wants to call him "Gorak."

In his lab, the boys arrive to find Mephisto has unfrozen the man. It turns out he has been frozen since 1996 and is placed in a habitat of that year. Federal agents arrive who want to use him as a weapon but cover their plan up. People can pay to see Steve who is actually called Larry. Despite being only two years behind people treat him like a neanderthal causing him to be very lonely and unhappy so Stan thinks of a plan.

In the night, Stan breaks in so he can rescue him, but Kyle is doing the same thing. Larry manages to get away to see his wife, who doesn't remember him and has remarried. She also has kids with her new partner that are unusually older than only two years apart would allow. Larry then tries to freeze himself again, but Mephisto arrives along with the federal agents. Stan and Kyle find out about Iowa, a place that is somewhat 1996-themed since they are behind on clothes, music and technology.

They get him to the train station but are pursued. Larry gets on a train but his plans are nearly thwarted. Soon Mephisto, federal agents and even Steve Irwin are chasing after him. They then land a helicopter on the train tracks to block the train but it results in a crash, killing Steve Irwin and giving Larry a chance to escape. He escapes in the helicopter and explains how important friendship is to Stan and Kyle who make up after listening to his advice.