World Wide Recorder Concert (The Brown Noise)

World Wide Recorder Concert (The Brown Noise)

Season s03
Episode e17
Written By Trey Parker
Production Code 0317
Original Air Date 2000-01-12

Episode Chronology

Story[edit]

Description[edit]

South Park Elementary's entire third-grade class is roped into appearing at a live, world-wide recorder concert put on by the Pox network. But Mr. Garrison is horrified to learn that it will take place in his home state of Arkansas.

His reluctance to go there stems from his experience with child molestation. Or rather, the lack thereof. Apparently Mr. Garrison has never gotten over the fact that his father didn't molest him. He feels, somehow, that it was because he wasn't desirable. Encouraged by Mr. Mackey, he confronts his parents about the issue. Not surprisingly, his father thinks he's insane.

Meanwhile, the boys try to fit in at the recorder concert, called the "4 Million Child Blow 2000." Cartman is obsessed with locating "the brown note," a legendary audio tone that causes anyone who hears it to spontaneously poop their pants. Incredibly, he actually finds it. The boys use it to take revenge on a group of New York kids who make fun of them. They change the kids' sheet music to include the brown note, hoping they'll poop their pants on live TV. Unfortunately, a manager for the show finds the new music and alters it for all the kids.

The concert finally takes place, with all 4 million kids hitting the brown note in unison and everyone around the world poops themselves. But there's a happy ending. In light of this horrendous act, the New York children develop a new respect for the South Park kids.

Mr. Garrison is happy too, because his father finally "molested him." Except that he didn't. We learn that it was actually Kenny G, who was paid $100 to do the job.

What I Learned Today[edit]

"We were so worried about how cool we looked to those New Yorker kids that we forgot we were already totally cool. Even if we don't know what queef means."

Memorable Quotes[edit]

  • "What's Arkansas? Is that a state?" Stan
  • "I'm gonna kick your ass, m'kay?" Mr. Mackey
  • "It's been just under 20 hours since everyone on earth pooped their pants. And people still roam their damaged homes with disbelief and loss." Newscaster
  • "You kiss just like my dad." Mr. Garrison
  • "God dammit! I don't think you children have been working on your fingering!" Mr. Garrison
  • "Well, you look like a bunch of queefs to me!" Smitty from New York
  • "You guys are nothing but MUNG!" Stan
  • "Am I the only sane person left on Earth?!" (Garrison's Father)
  • "Would you have sex with your son to save his life?" (Garrison's Father)
  • "Everybody on earth shat themselves 'cause of you. That's pretty amazing." [Smitty from New York]]

Characters[edit]

Character Debuts[edit]

Smitty, the leader of the New York kids. Also, Mr. Garrison's Parents make their debut.

Body Count[edit]

Kenny, who pooped himself to death.

Locations[edit]

Behind The Scenes[edit]

Where Did The Idea Come From[edit]

Matt and Trey both proudly state that this is "one of the most fucked-up things we've ever done," describing its horrendous take on child molestation as like a "reverse after-school special from hell."

Pop Culture References[edit]

Shout Outs[edit]

When asked where to go by Ms. Crabtree, Mr. Garrison says, "Second star to the right, then straight on 'til morning." It originally comes from the 1904 play Peter Pan, but is actually referencing its reuse in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.

Cartman mentions his affinity for the medical drama Chicago Hope in this episode, saying, "they should bring back another season of Chicago Hope, though. Seriously." When this aired, the hospital drama was in its final season.

Pwn'd[edit]

Kenny G, who according to the episode can be hired to deflower middle-aged men. Also Yoko Ono, who is the incomprehensible "special guest conductor" of the 4 Million Child Blow 2000.

Cartman threatens to find the brown noise and make Kyle crap himself "until he looks like Karen Carpenter", lead singer of the popular 70s duo The Carpenters.

Bonus Factoids[edit]

Pointless Observations[edit]

The Pox network is, of course, a parody of the Fox network.

Mr. Hat beats up Mr. Mackey in this episode. This, along with his daring jailhouse breakout in "Chef Aid", offers further evidence that Mr. Hat is his own man.

The New York kids call the boys "queef", and they are pissed that they don't know what it means. 10 seasons later, they find out first-hand in the episode "Eat, Pray, Queef".

After the boys run through the crowd to try to stop the concert, Mr. Mackey and Mr. Garrison notice them and make comment, but Stan and Kyle can be seen standing to the right of Mr. Garrison.

Season 3[edit]

e1 Rainforest Shmainforest
e2 Spontaneous Combustion
e3 The Succubus
e4 Tweek Vs. Craig
e5 Jakovasaurs
e6 Sexual Harassment Panda
e7 Cat Orgy
e8 Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub
e9 Jewbilee
e10 Chinpokomon
e11 Starvin' Marvin in Space
e12 Korn's Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery
e13 Hooked on Monkey Fonics
e14 The Red Badge of Gayness
e15 Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics
e16 Are You There, God? It's Me, Jesus
e17 World Wide Recorder Concert