Pandemic (South Park)
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"Pandemic" is episode 1210 (#177) of the animated series South Park,Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page). which was broadcast on October 22, 2008. It is the first of a two-part episode.[1]
Plot
Seeing all the Peruvian pan flute bands that have become popular recently, and the money they can make daily by selling CDs, Stan convinces the other boys to start their own pan flute band. They convince their classmate Craig to invest his $100.00 USD birthday money as venture capital. The plan backfires when the head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security cracks down on all Peruvian flute bands, rounding them up and imprisoning them in Miami, with the boys arrested in the process. The boys attempt to convince their captors that they are American citizens, but the DHS only agrees to release the boys if they agree to go on a mission to overthrow the country of Peru, in order to stop the pandemic of Peruvian flute bands at its source. As the boys are prepared for their mission, Peruvian musicians still interned in the camp warn guards that their captivity will unleash the "Furry Death".
Meanwhile, Stan's father, Randy Marsh, raises the ire of his family by videotaping every mundane household activity with his new camcorder. His camera documents the rampage of giant guinea pigs through town. At the episode's conclusion, it is revealed that the head of Homeland Security is some kind of monster behind the sudden appearance of guinea pigs running loose through the country, and that the reason he sent the boys to Peru is because the only person who could stop it is Craig.
Cultural references
- The guinea pig monsters and shaky cam techniques are a reference to the 2008 movie Cloverfield.[2]
- When Randy speaks into the camera and says "I'm so startled right now", this is a reference to a scene from the movie The Blair Witch Project.
- The Peruvian flute band plot may be inspired by an observation made by David Sedaris in When You Are Engulfed in Flames. He notes, "It is now official: there's no place on earth where you will not find a Peruvian band." based on observations during his travels.