South Park Archives

South Park (Not Suitable For Children) is now streaming on Paramount Plus!

READ MORE

South Park Archives
Register
Advertisement


Night of the Living Homeless "Night of the Living Homeless" "Le Petit Tourette" "More Crap" More Crap
"Le Petit Tourette"
2382615145 ab6347760c
S11E8-Thumbnail
Episode no. Season 11
Episode 8
Production no. 1108
Original airdate October 3, 2007
Episode chronology
Previous Next
"Night of the Living Homeless" "More Crap"
List of all South Park episodes

"Le Petit Tourette" is the eighth episode of Season Eleven, and the 161st overall episode of South Park. It aired on October 3, 2007.[1]

Synopsis[]

Cartman discovers the joys of having Tourette's syndrome. Drunk with the power of saying whatever he wants without getting in trouble for it, he lines up national TV coverage to take advantage of his new life with no filters.[1]

Plot[]

SPW pic -- Spoiler Spoiler warning!
Plot details follow.

At a toy store, Cartman encounters a boy named Thomas with Tourette's syndrome. After realizing the potential for a new scheme by learning about the disease, Cartman bounds off in joy, singing "(I've Got a) Golden Ticket". Four days later, Liane Cartman takes him to the doctor, believing he has Tourette's. After being diagnosed, Cartman innocently explains that the school staff will not understand what is wrong, but the doctor assures him the school will be informed.

The next day, Cartman walks through school swearing at everyone he passes. Kyle warns him that Principal Victoria is nearby, but Cartman greets her with insults as well. Due to him being diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome, this incites no negative reaction from her. Kyle questions the authenticity of Cartman's behavior and claims to everyone that he is faking. Cartman quickly takes Kyle aside and explains to him that he missed the previous day's assembly, which explained Cartman's condition. Kyle tells him that he does not have it, and Cartman sarcastically claps, congratulating Kyle on his realization. Cartman explains how brilliant it is, and that Kyle can go be a "Buzzkill" and attempt to stop him if he so wishes; Kyle then storms off in anger. Cartman continues his false tirade by greeting and then spewing vulgarities at Mr. Mackey as he passes by.

Ms. Garrison, who cannot tolerate Cartman who is being too distracting, goes to Principal Victoria about his behavior. Principal Victoria introduces Garrison to Mr. Donaldson, from the Tourette's Tolerance and Understanding Foundation, who has come to teach about the disease. At that moment, Kyle enters pursued by Cartman who is frantically apologizing. Kyle explains Cartman is making his disease up, but Mr. Donaldson is extremely angered at this, as he too has Tourette's, and foolishly dubs Kyle a bully. Kyle is taken to The Children's Therapy Center where Mr. Donaldson runs a support group. The children, including Thomas, explain the struggles of Tourette's- and how difficult it is to live with. Kyle opts to apologize, unable to explain how only Cartman was faking. Kyle, accompanied by his parents outside, is then forced to apologize to Cartman. Kyle reluctantly does so, and Cartman heads off happily. But not before leaving strong evidence to Thomas that Cartman is faking it.

Meanwhile, on Dateline. Chris Hansen announces he has received a letter from a "brave little boy with Tourette's" (Cartman) who wants them to film him. Knowing he plans to use his television appearance to spout anti-Semitic hate speech, Kyle confronts Cartman to try to stop him. Cartman refuses, stating how he has already won, to which Kyle vows not to give up. Cartman then asks Kyle if he has any idea how liberating it is to say whatever comes to mind without restriction, before accidentally mentioning how he wet his bed last night.

At Whistlin' Willy's, everyone congratulates Cartman for his bravery. It is announced he will go on national television as the spokesperson for Tourette's, which worries Thomas, so he later teams up with Kyle, knowing Kyle was right about Cartman, who himself accidentally blurts out that he is making the whole thing up- as well as other secrets such as crying at night because of not having a Dad. After slipping up about his crush on Patty Nelson, he dashes to the bathroom. He realizes that he has said whatever he wants for so long without thinking about it that he has lost the ability to filter anything. Cartman asks Butters what he should do, passing it off as his cousin who is experiencing this, but then says that he and cousin "touched wieners". Cartman then dashes out the building in complete embarrassment.

Cartman then visits Chris Hansen and explains that he will not be doing the show due to his grandmother's death, but afterward dismissively blurts out that she is fine. Hansen makes Cartman have a seat and informs him that he was tracking a pedophile during To Catch a Predator and that the pedophile got away. Dateline eventually found him, but the pedophile committed suicide. Hansen threatens that he hopes Cartman will not have to be tracked down only to find him committing suicide in the same manner, insinuating that he will have Cartman murdered for not going on the show, to which Cartman admits that he urinated himself. Five minutes before the show, Cartman prays to God begging for a miracle while at the same time blaming Him for his predicament.

Outside the studio, Kyle and Thomas concoct a plan. Thomas invites pedophiles into the studio, pretending it is his home. When the pedophiles are in the studio, they recognize Hansen and realizing that they are on Dateline, commit suicide via shooting themselves in the head. The terrified audience flee the studio followed by Hansen, who Thomas blurts obscenities at. Craig calls Thomas the luckiest boy in the world and asks him if he would like to hang out sometime.

In the now-abandoned studio, Kyle tells Cartman smugly that he is beaten and will not be going on television. However, Cartman hugs Kyle, to his surprise and anger, and thanks him- explaining how he has been saved from humiliating himself on live television. He then leaves to find a psychiatrist to help him control what he says. As he skips off singing "(I've Got a) Golden Ticket", Kyle and Thomas simultaneously exclaim, "Aw, shit!".

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Le Petit Tourette (Season 11, Episode 8). southparkstudios.com.


  1108: "Le Petit Tourette" edit
Story Elements

Tourette's SyndromeTourette's Tolerance and Understanding FoundationThomasMr. DonaldsonChris HansenDatelineColorado Neurology Center • "(I've Got a) Golden Ticket"

Media

ImagesScriptExtrasWatch Episode

Release

South Park: The Complete Eleventh SeasonSouth Park: The Cult of Cartman

Advertisement