Tonsil Trouble

"Tonsil Trouble" is the first episode of the 12th season (episode 1201) and the 168th overall episode of South Park. It originally aired on March 12, 2008. This episode may have been the creators protest that many pharmaceutical companies have cut funding to research Aid's treatments. .

Plot
Cartman learns that he has to have his tonsils taken out, and at first is reluctant but agrees when promised ice cream after the surgery. He wakes up later in a hospital bed, the procedure over. Unfortunately, during the surgery, the doctors at Hell's Pass Hospital, in a one in a billion fluke, accidentally gave him a blood transfusion using blood infected with HIV instead of donor's blood.

At South Park Elementary, Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Butters are warned of Cartman's disease and that they should not treat him any different. Upon discovering this, Kyle finds the irony of it hilarious, to the anger of Cartman.

Deciding to get revenge, Cartman (assisted by Butters) breaks into Kyle's house with a syringe of his HIV infected blood, and squirts it into Kyle's mouth, who consumes it.

Upon taking a trip to Hell's Pass Hospital, Dr. Doctor informs Kyle and his mother that he has HIV. Realizing it is Cartman he attacks him at school and engages in a fight, but it is broken up by Mr. Mackey. Principal Victoria makes Cartman apologize for giving Kyle HIV and then asks Kyle to apologize for being a "tattle-tale". Leaving the Principal's office, Cartman believes they are even now, but Kyle does not agree and races to Cartman's house where he destroys Cartman's toys and pulls Clyde Frog's head off. He is then about to break Cartman's Xbox 360 but Cartman convinces him to stop, telling him he knows how he can cure the virus. Intrigued yet still angered, Kyle agrees to listen to what Cartman has to say. He says that they should ask Magic Johnson as he has had AIDs for "50 years".

Visiting Magic Johnson, it soon becomes clear that money is the cure for HIV. Money repels the virus as Magic has slept with his money for years, not trusting any banks.

Cartman and Kyle are cured by having vast amounts of money injected into their bloodstream. They are congratulated for it with a Jimmy Buffett concert, singing "Cureburger in Paradise", but Kyle decides he is still going to break Cartman's Xbox.

Continuity
Cartman acknowledges how he has broken into Kyle's house many times before, something which he has not noted before despite having been seen numerous times, including "Casa Bonita".

Cartman squirts his blood into Kyle's mouth. Blood transfusions normally cause serious problems when not crossmatched, but Cartman has the same blood type as Kyle, as stated in "Cherokee Hair Tampons." Because of this, Kyle suffered no problems from ingesting Cartman's blood.

Cartman's Xbox also reappears, having been seen previously in "Tsst". Clyde Frog is also seen, having his head ripped off by an enraged Kyle, once again inferring Cartman's love of his stuffed toys.

AIDS has been a subject of previous episodes including "Jared Has Aides" which made a play on the word 'Aides' in that all the other characters believed it to be AIDS. Upon learning the truth it was laughed off, and it was then revealed it was approximately 25 years since AIDS first arising and it was finally funny, but judging by this episode it is no longer considered funny. The prospect of Cartman getting or wanting to get Kyle infected with AIDS has also been mentioned in several episodes.

A flag with a picture of a cow on it and the words 'Cow Days' appears in Cartman's room. This is a possible reference to the South Park festival and episode entitled Cow Days.

Cultural References
Cartman's Philadelphia Baseball Cap and Scarf worn during the majority of the episode is a reference to the movie Philadelphia in which Tom Hanks plays a man infected with AIDS.

Jimmy Buffet appears in this episode twice singing "AIDSburger in Paradise" and later "Cureburger in Paradise", this is a pun on his song "Cheeseburger in Paradise".

Production
This episode features a new opening sequence. It begins with the camera zooming out of Stan's eye as the characters fall into place like in the original version. Then various clips from past episodes are played out like in the Season 6 - 11 opening. As the boys sing their lines they move about across the screen while minimized clips are played out. The crowd scene is also redesigned and includes future atheists, The Lollipop King and Jesse Jackson amongst others. The theme music remains the same as the one introduced in "Make Love, Not Warcraft".

South Park Studios tried their best to keep this episode's plot a secret until broadcast, just as they did with "With Apologies to Jesse Jackson", but it was still revealed, ableit later than usual.

Trivia

 * Kyle states that Aids isn't funny even though Aids had been officially declared funny in the episode "Jared Has Aides"


 * Since Kyle is the only one in South Park with the same Blood Type as Eric Cartman, Kyle is the only one who could have given him the AIDS. This means that either Kyle has had AIDS, somebody in South Park died of AIDS before the surgery, or that someone from a different town gave blood that was infected with AIDS.
 * In the episode "Red Sleigh Down" Kyle's cousin Kyle said if Cartman cured Cancer and AIDS he would still owe Santa 2 presents.
 * Last Appearance of Clyde Frog until Dances with Smurfs.
 * In this episode Cartman seems to be really afraid of Kyle but in other episodes such as "Damien" and The "Imaginationland triology" he isnts afraid as a matter of fact he hits him.

Memorable Quotes

 * "We're going to do everything in our power to make this up to you, Eric. For starters, I think I owe you some ice cream."
 * "Fuck your ice cream, you said I'd be fine! You all said I'd be fine!"
 * ——Doctor, Cartman


 * "Fuck you Jimmy Buffett! You fuckin' suck!"
 * "Ooh poopsiekins, be nice."
 * "Fuck you mom! I have fucking AIDS!"
 * ——Cartman, Liane


 * "We're not just sure, we're HIV-positive."
 * ——Cartman