Ep 1. Mr. Hankey Christmas Poo
- TV-MA
- December 17, 1997
- 22 min
Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo, is the first episode of the South Park Christmas Time series, which was first aired on December 17th, 1997, and features the titular character Mr. Hankey. The episode has a runtime of 22 minutes and is directed by Trey Parker.
The episode opens with the children of South Park Elementary performing their Christmas play. However, a member of the audience, Kyle, suggests the inclusion of Mr. Hankey, a holiday figure who comes to life in the sewers of South Park and brings presents to those who have a lot of fiber in their diet. The school principal, Mr. Garrison, is outraged by Kyle's suggestion and vows to cancel the play if Mr. Hankey is included.
Despite this, Kyle's mother introduces him to Mr. Hankey when he visits Kyle's home. Mr. Hankey introduces himself and sings a song about himself, much to Kyle's delight. However, when Kyle mentions Mr. Hankey's name at school, the other children refuse to believe him and mock him relentlessly for it.
Meanwhile, trouble is brewing in South Park, as the people are upset over the removal of all religious symbols from public areas. Kyle tells Mr. Hankey about this and suggests that Hankey should put on a Christmas show to cheer the people up. Mr. Hankey agrees and puts on a show with the help of Kyle, his mother, and several other townspeople. However, the show ends quickly when Mr. Hankey emerges from his toilet out of nowhere, startling the crowd.
At the same time, Mr. Garrison is struggling with how to teach Christmas to the class while the school is required to take religion out of the holiday. In the end, Mr. Garrison decides to take the children to see a play in New York City that has no connection to religion.
Overall, Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo, is a fun and quirky episode that perfectly captures the spirit of the holidays. It introduces us to several characters that would become fan-favorites in the series, such as Mr. Hankey himself, and presents the children's views on religion and the holiday season in a light-hearted and entertaining way. The episode is full of festive cheer and humor and is perfect for anyone looking for a good laugh during the holidays.