Richard Adler

Richard Adler
Character Information
Gender	Male
Race	Caucasian
Hair	Brown; Balding
Occupation	Shop Class Teacher
Religion	Cult of Cthulhu
Voiced by	Matt Stone
Relatives
Grandmother	Unnamed Grandmother
Uncle	Corey
Unnamed Fiancee (played by Pam Brady)
Appearances
First	"Tweek vs. Craig"

For other uses, see Richard (Disambiguation).

Richard Adler is the shop class teacher at the South Park Elementary. He first appears in the Season Three episode, "Tweek vs. Craig".

He often admonishes students to stop "screwing around" for various reasons, and plays small supporting or background roles in scenes where school faculty are needed.

Background

Mr. Adler is first introduced in "Tweek vs. Craig" when the boys take shop class. He asks which of the kids in class is a troublemaker, which prompts the boys to argue whether it is Tweek Tweak or Craig Tucker. Throughout the episode, he is played by recurring memories of his deceased fiancée, which culminates in a vision of her death, followed by the consumption of nicotine gum. He is dating Pearl, the home economics teacher, but has trouble moving on from his deceased fiancée. He plans to commit suicide after running out of his supply of gum, and after writing his suicide note, Adler planned to commit suicide by laying on a log cutter. However, he is interrupted by a fight between Tweek and Craig, who enter his classroom through the window, killing Kenny in the process. After having a vision including his fiancée, his grandmother, and his uncle, he is finally able to move on.

He returns in "Proper Condom Use", where he speaks at a meeting to agree with Diane Choksondik that the teachers have a responsibility to keep the school children, including Kindergartners, safe if they will "screw around" anyway.

In "Mystery of the Urinal Deuce", he is present as the adults discuss the confusion over the September 11th terrorist attacks, to which he agrees with Skeeter that it was a conspiracy and asks if others are aware there were explosions seen at the base of the towers.

He voted for Barack Obama in "About Last Night..." and wore a grey sweater with Obama's face as well, expressing optimism that everything would be awesome.

In "Elementary School Musical" he appeared alongside Mr. Mackey as one of the commentators at the basketball game.

In "Mysterion Rises", it is revealed that Adler is a member of the Cult of Cthulhu when the boys recognize him attending one of the cult meetings at Jim McElroy's House. He can also be seen in a photograph being arrested as a member of the cult ten years prior to the series alongside Stuart McCormick and his wife.

He played a prominent role with Principal Victoria and Mr. Mackey in "Bass to Mouth" as they tried to avoid another student suicide and work with Eric Cartman to prevent him from teasing the victims of Eavesdropper, leading to them throwing him under a bus.

In "Butterballs", he is confused when he finds Butters Stotch and his grandmother in a school bathroom that isn't supposed to be locked, before offering to help her find the correct girls' bathroom, laughing off her excuse that Butters had allegedly showed her to the wrong room.

He is shown sitting at a bar with Herbert Garrison and Jimbo Kern when Garrison expresses concern about political correctness and immigration in "Where My Country Gone?", leading to Garrison's presidential campaign, though he is not seen attending any campaign events.

In "South ParQ Vaccination Special", he is one of the adults trying to get the COVID-19 Vaccine at Walgreens, seen at the beginning with Mr. Mackey.

Criminal Record

• Attempted murder: In "Bass to Mouth", Mr. Adler, along with Mr. Mackey and Principal Victoria, tried to kill Cartman by throwing him under a moving bus in an attempt to cover up for their crime of serving tainted pizza to the students.
• Violation and obstruction of the Pure Food and Drug Act: In "Bass to Mouth", at Cartman's suggestion, Mr. Adler, Mr. Mackey, and Principal Victoria serve the students pizza tainted with laxatives as a reward for their test scores.

Appearance

Adler is overweight with balding brown hair and has sagging, overly large cheeks. He wears a white long-sleeved shirt, under a green vest, and beige pants. His vest has a diamond-shaped, green and black pattern on it. He also has a band-aid on his head from an unknown injury which he has in all of his appearances.

When he ten years younger, he looked similarly, with slightly more hair behind his ears, darker, no band-aid on his head, and a similar sweater, but a deeper shade of blue and a slightly different pattern. This design is occasionally used incorrectly in the background of present-day appearances.

In the future timeline set in South Park: Post Covid, he wears a white short-sleeved shirt, while retaining the green vest. The diamond patterns on his vest has lined up to form a continuous horizontal band. His nose has slightly reddened.

Images of Richard Adler

Teaching shop class.

At his desk in the shop classroom.

Reminiscing about his fiancee.

After a date with Pearl.

Struggling to sleep.

Attempting suicide.

Embracing Kenny's corpse in grief.

At a PTA meeting in "Proper Condom Use]".

Discussing 911 in "Mystery of the Urinal Deuce".

Sports commentator at a basketball game.

Celebrating Barack Obama.

Arrested in his youth alongside Kenny's folks.

Attending a Cult of Cthulhu meeting.

Getting drinks with Jimbo and Garrison.

Incorrect design at PTA meeting.

Incorrect design at PTA meeting.

Personality

Mr. Adler seems to generally be a relaxed person who is not particularly outspoken. When something makes him feel anxious or guilty, he appears easily overwhelmed, taking a while to move past his fiancée's death and becoming suicidal when he runs out of nicotine gum to deal with it.

He claims to have a low tolerance for troublemakers, asking students to identify themselves or classmates as such, and often expresses concern that students are "screwing around", referring to causing trouble, fighting, not paying attention, or on one occasion, sex itself.

Trivia

• Adler is based on an old shop teacher who taught co-creator Matt Stone.
• He is the only recurring school faculty member played by Matt, as Trey Parker voices Mr. Garrison, Mr. Mackey, PC Principal and others, so he is often Matt's only chance to provide a voice in scenes where he appears. This is why he is almost always accompanied with Mr. Mackey in particular, as this allows Trey and Matt to record together, though he does speak to Butters Stotch on two occasions.
• Even though he is only the shop teacher, he is very often seen accompanying Mr. Mackey or Principal Victoria at meetings and assemblies where other teachers are not present, which would suggest he has a position in the school administration, though this is never stated.

Video Games

South Park: The Stick of Truth

Mr. Adler attends a PTA meeting at the Community Center alongside the other teachers, all of whom are willing to befriend The New Kid when he proves that an attack on the town is imminent. After this mission is complete, he is available for Facebook. He can only be found in the community center during the game.

South Park: The Fractured But Whole

Adler appears in South Park Elementary, where the New Kid can take a selfie with him if they do not "screw around". If they take too long taking the photograph or shake the camera, he may reject the selfie for "screwing around".

Prominence

• "Tweek vs. Craig" - Teaches shop class, and can't get over the death of his fiancée.
• "Proper Condom Use" - Agrees with Ms. Choksondik where they should teach Sexual education to kindergarteners.
• "How to Eat with Your Butt" - Seen watching the school children get their pictures taken.
• "Red Sleigh Down" - (cameo)
• "Fat Butt and Pancake Head"
• "Butt Out"
• "Douche and Turd"
• "Pre-School"
• "Erection Day"- Briefly seen in Jimmy's nightmare.
• "Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow" - Seen at the school standing in the crowd of students and teachers looking at the television.
• "Mystery of the Urinal Deuce" - Talks at the town hall meeting.
• "Le Petit Tourette"
• "The List" - Seen at the school playground watching over the students during recess.
• "Tonsil Trouble" - (cameo)
• "Major Boobage" - Attends the town meeting at the community center.
• "Eek, A Penis!" - Seen in the school foyer.
• "Over Logging" - Attends Randy's speech at City Hall.
• "About Last Night..." - States his support for Barack Obama.
• "Elementary School Musical" - (cameo)
• "The Coon"
• "Eat, Pray, Queef" - (cameo)
• "Pinewood Derby" - (cameo)
• "Dances with Smurfs" - Seen in the school assembly.
• "The Tale of Scrotie McBoogerballs" - Compliments Butters on his novel.
• "200" - Seen at the town's meeting.
• "201" - Seen in the crowd giving Santa in a bear costume to gingers.
• "It's a Jersey Thing" - (cameo)
• "Mysterion Rises" - Shown as a member of the Cult of Cthulhu.
• "Bass to Mouth" - Appears with Mr. Mackey and Principal Victoria in attempting to prevent further suicides from occurring at the school. Second major role since the Season Three episode "Tweek vs. Craig".
• "Reverse Cowgirl" - Appears on one of the bathroom screens sitting on the toilet.
• "Butterballs" - Seen in showing Grandma Stotch where the women's restroom is.
• "Sarcastaball" - Leading the PTA meeting with Mr. Mackey and Principal Victoria.
• "A Scause For Applause" - Seen in the background while Jesus Christ gives his speech.
• "Taming Strange" - In the school staff meeting about the flawed IntelliLink system.
• "Gluten Free Ebola" - In the school staff meeting about Butters burning down the school gymnasium.
• "The Magic Bush" - Seen at the town reception for Laura Tucker.
• "Stunning and Brave" - (cameo)
• "Where My Country Gone?" - Appears near the beginning, talking with Mr. Garrison.
• "The City Part of Town" - (cameo)
• "Naughty Ninjas" - Seen at the police protest.
• "PC Principal Final Justice"- Seen at the gun show.
• "Skank Hunt" - Seen at the school assembly.
• "The Damned" - Seen at Skeeter's Wine Bar.
• "Fort Collins" - Seen in a photograph on the wall of Heidi's bedroom.
• "Not Funny" - Seen at church.
• "The End of Serialization as We Know It" - Seen socializing in the street after the internet was reset.
• "Put It Down" - Seen at the school assembly.
• "Hummels & Heroin" - Oversees Marcus Preston's presentation in the school cafeteria.
• "SUPER HARD PCness" - Seen at the gym during the bombing of Canada.
• "Dead Kids" - Seen speaking to police.
• "A Boy And A Priest" - Seen in church.
• "The Problem with a Poo" - Seen at the Christmas Concert. Later watches Mr. Hankey leave South Park.
• "Shots!!!" - Seen at the PTA meeting.
• "Let Them Eat Goo" - Seen watching Cartman being resuscitated.
• "Tegridy Farms Halloween Special" - Seen at the school assembly.
• "Board Girls" - Seen at the school assembly.
• "The Pandemic Special" - Seen at Randy's presentation and later at the hospital with a mustache.
• "South ParQ Vaccination Special" - Seen outside Walgreens with Mr. Mackey trying to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
• "City People" - As one of the members of the Chamber of Commerce to drive away the City People from the town.
• "Back To The Cold War" - Types on his computer while Mr. Mackey sneaks past him.
• "2000 New Year's Countdown"

Movies

• South Park: Post Covid - Appears in the Shady Acres retirement home.