4. Modern Television
Episode: Raising the Bar His name is James, James Cameron! How could this not be in a South Park pop culture article? Raising the Bar explores the depths broadcasters have sunk with the likes of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo appearing on The Learning Channel. It is a case study of greed and neglecting your responsibility to educate people, instead bombarding them with negative imagery of toddler pageants and sketti wrestling. A number of modern epidemics are tackled within the episode, the most notable being obesity. When Cartman realizes that gaining even more weight gives him access to a Rascal Scooter he jumps at the chance. Token sees an opportunity to exploit both this and Kyle's concern over the situation, having had his standards lowered by what is acceptable and the chance to make money. The most interesting point in the Raising the Bar comes when South Park turns suddenly introspective and asks whether perhaps they had something to do with lowering the bar. Is it that their pushing of boundaries and toilet over the years have contributed to the dropping standards? Of course before any of these questions need proper answers the world is saved by James Cameron. The lesson we can all take away from this is this: James Cameron doesn't do what James Cameron does for James Cameron. James Cameron does what James Cameron does because James Cameron is James Cameron.