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Major Boobage "Major Boobage" "Canada on Strike" "Eek, A Penis!" Eek, A Penis!
"Canada on Strike"
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S12E4-Thumbnail
Episode no. Season 12
Episode 4
Production no. 1204
Original airdate April 2, 2008
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"Canada on Strike" is the fourth episode of Season Twelve, and the 171st overall episode of South Park. It first aired on April 2, 2008.[1]

Synopsis[]

The head of the World Canadian Bureau leads the country into a long and painful strike and the responsibility of brokering a settlement rests with the boys.[1]

Plot[]

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

When "Canada Appreciation Day" in the US is mocked and doesn't bring Canada the respect its' citizens believe it deserves, the leader of the World Canadian Bureau, Stephen Abootman, leads a nationwide strike of Canadians to garner respect and more money, without actually specifying how much they want and for what reason they would need it. They demand, "some of that Internet money" from other UN nations, who are completely confused, but are denied. Meanwhile, Kyle Broflovski is worried about his brother Ike Broflovski, who is also on a strike out in the freezing weather. Kyle's concern for his brother and reruns of Terrance and Phillip episodes convince the boys that they need to try and negotiate an end to the strike. After talking to Stephen Abootman; Eric Cartman, Stan Marsh and Kyle Broflovski put a video of Butters Stotch singing "What, What In the Butt" on YouTube which becomes an instant hit to try and make 'internet money'.

Canadian spirits are down when there is no world interest in the strike and Terrance and Phillip talk about ending it. Things get worse when the Danish (who share the Canadian's trash can heads) flock to the U.S. to take the places of Canadians. Meanwhile, the boys wait in line at the "Colorado Department of Internet Money", where they meet other YouTube phenomena such as Tay Zonday ("Chocolate Rain"), Ghyslain Raza (although he is Canadian he does not have a floppy head) and Chris Crocker ("Leave Britney Alone"). The other YouTube celebrities begin to argue about who is the most famous, which quickly descends into violence, and most of them end up killing each other. The boys manage to be first in line; they receive 10 million "theoretical dollars", 1 for each viewing of the YouToob video.

They take the money to the WGA in Canada, but it's rejected because it isn't real money. Stephen Abootman refuses to give up the strike being he doesn't want to admit that he led everyone astray. He gets a call from the UN asking if they could transform Newfoundland into a theme park once all the Canadians are dead. Stephen is reduced to tears, cracking under the realization that he's gonna look like a fool regardless of if he calls off the strike or not. Kyle takes the call and asks the UN to give Canada something small at least, and act as if 'they are giving something big'. The UN gives Canada free coupons for Bennigan's and bubblegum to each Canadian as a consolation prize, and Canada 'wins the strike'. The boys return home and Kyle tells Ike he can stop striking. He then recites what he learned from all of this:

"We thought we could make money on the Internet. But while the Internet is new and exciting for creative people, it hasn't matured as a distribution mechanism to the extent that one should trade real and immediate opportunities for income for the promise of future online revenue. It will be a few years before digital distribution of media on the Internet can be monetized to an extent that necessitates content producers to forgo their fair value in more traditional media."

Back in Canada, as a victory party is held by the WGA, Terrance and Phillip, whose attitudes in this episode reflect that of the show's two creators (Matt Stone and Trey Parker) arrive and uncover that by not working during the strike Canada lost 10.4 million dollars and the gumballs and coupons are worth roughly $3,008. They accuse Abootman of trying to look good so they wouldn't "set him adrift". As it turns out, Canada lost far more revenue by going on strike than they gained through it. Canada is outraged and Abootman, along with his assistants, ends up banished and set adrift on an ice floe.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Canada on Strike (Season 12, Episode 4). southparkstudios.com.


  1204: "Canada on Strike" edit
Story Elements

Stephen AbootmanWorld Canadian BureauCanadaYouToob • "Canada on Strike" • "What, What In the Butt" • Internet Celebrities • "Celebration" • "Chocolate Rain" • "Dragostea Din Tei" • Pizza Nut

Media

ImagesScriptExtrasWatch Episode

Release

South Park: The Complete Twelfth Season

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