History Recap / SouthParkS1E12MechaStreisand

-->'''Cartman:''' No, not when money's involved, stupid!

* TooDumbToLive: The boys all get into a car with Streisand wearing a PaperThinDisguise. Kyle [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this when he asks about [[TooSmartForStrangers getting into cars with strangers]].

** The entire episode is one to Japanese shows like Series/{{Ultraman}} as well as Franchise/{{Godzilla}}, Film/{{Gamera}} and Film/{{Mothra}}.

* ArtifactOfDoom: The Triangle of Zinthar is one part of an ancient artifact that, when assembled, will turn its bearer into a nigh invincible monster.

* TooDumbToLive: The boys all get into a car with Streisand wearing a PaperThinDisguise. Kyle [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] [[TooSmartForStrangers getting into cars with strangers]].
-->'''Cartman:''' No, not when money's involved, stupid.

[[caption-width-right:350: Robert Smith (Music/TheCure) is phoned to help save the day.]]

* AuthorAvatar: The fact that Kyle says that "''Music/{{Disintegration|Album}}'' is the best album ever!" should be understood as the opinion of Creator/MattStone, a known huge fan of Music/TheCure, who voices Kyle.

** Kyle (Matt Stone) calls ''Music/{{Disintegration}}'' "the best album ever."

* AuthorAvatar: The fact that Kyle says that "''Music/{{Disintegration}}'' is the best album ever!" should be understood as the opinion of Creator/MattStone, a known huge fan of Music/TheCure, who voices Kyle.

'''Episode''' – 112\\
'''Airdate''' – 2/18/1998

* CallBack: When Cartman mistakes Streisand's helicopter for an alien spaceship, he [[Recap/SouthParkS1E1CartmanGetsAnAnalProbe covers his ass]].
* CallBack: Creator/SidneyPoitier's co-star is Creator/SallyStruthers, who, as seen once the director cuts, [[Recap/SouthParkS1E8StarvinMarvin starts stuffing her face]].

* WouldHurtAChild: Streisand picks up Kyle and strangles him for information on the Triangle of Zinthar. Later she kidnaps all of them, tortures them for information with medieval torture devices and uses her voice on them.

* CharacterizationMarchesOn: In subsequent seasons, the boys would have instantly seen though the PaperThinDisguise that Streisand uses to fool them into handing over the triangle.

* HereWeGoAgain: After Robert Smith saves the day and leaves, the boys decide to leave the artifact seperated. However, Ike soon finds the artifact and turns into a giant.

* AuthorAppeal: The only explanation why a bunch of eight year old boys (in 1997) are gushing over Robert Smith.
* AuthorAvatar: The fact that Kyle says that "''Music/{{Disintegration}}'' is the best album ever!" should be understood as the opinion of Creator/MattStone, a known huge fan of Music/TheCure, voices Kyle.

* NotZilla: Streisand is obviously changing into the Mechagodzilla from ''Film/GodzillaVsMechagodzilla'' (with Streisand's hair on top, but still), but this is never addressed.

* CallBack: Creator/SidneyPoitier's co-star is Sally Struthers, who, as seen once the director cuts, [[Recap/SouthParkS1E8StarvinMarvin starts stuffing her face]].

The boys go on an archaeology trip and Cartman finds an odd triangle that turns out to be an artifact needed to turn Music/BarbraStreisand into a metal [[Franchise/{{Godzilla}} God]][[RentAZilla zilla]]-like monster.

-->'''Creator/LeonardMaltin''': "Her [[Film/TheOmen1976 mother was a jackal]] and her father was an insurance salesman."
-->'''Chef''': "Woohoohoohoo. An insurance salesman!"

* AuthorAppeal: This explains why a bunch of eight year old boys (in 1997) are gushing over Robert Smith.
* AuthorAvatar: The fact that Kyle says that "''Music/{{Disintegration}}'' is the best album ever!" should be understood as the opinion of Matt Stone, who voices Kyle and is known as a huge fan of Music/TheCure.

* BilingualBonus: The Japanese song literally translates to "Barbara, Barbara, the person we hate the most! Barbara, Barbara, you have a big nose!"

* ContinuityNod: The town being destroyed before by [[Recap/SouthParkS1E5AnElephantMakesLoveToAPig mutant genetic creatures]], [[Recap/SouthParkS1E7Pinkeye zombies]] and [[Recap/SouthParkS1E8StarvinMarvin Thanksgiving turkeys]] is mentioned by a news reporter, right before being destroyed again by Mecha-Streisand.
-->'''Reporter''': [[OhNoNotAgain Oh, goddammit! Not again!]]
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Pip falls over after Cartman kicks him in the nuts, and '''[[NiceGuy Butters]]''' ''laughs'' at this. Granted this is long before Butters was even singled out among the random boys.

* GratuitousJapanese: The Japanese singer who pops up during the fight and sings; notable in that it's actual Japanese (in which Parker is fluent), as opposed to [[AsLongAsItSoundsForeign foreign-sounding gibberish]].

* OneWingedAngel: Streisand uses the completed Triangle of Zinthar to turn into Mecha Streisand and go on a rampage. Creator/LeonardMaltin, Creator/SidneyPoitier and Robert Smith transform as well.

** The entire episode is a ShoutOut to Japanese shows like Series/{{Ultraman}} as well as Franchise/{{Godzilla}}, Film/{{Gamera}} and Film/{{Mothra}}.

** Kyle (Creator/MattStone) calls ''Music/{{Disintegration}}'' "the best album ever."

* TakeThat: The entire episode is one to Barbra Streisand, since she's one of the few celebrities that Trey and Matt genuinely hate instead of just poking fun at her like they do with everyone else. Appropriately enough, she wasn't all too pleased with the "homage" either.

* TooDumbToLive: The boys all get into a car with Streisand wearing a PaperThinDisguise. Kyle does comment about [[TooSmartForStrangers getting into cars with strangers]].

Airdate: February 18, 1998

* AffectionateParody: Of Japanese {{Kaiju}} movies, particularly those made by Toho and Daiei Films. Giant monsters based on the likenesses of Godzilla, Mothra, Gamera, and Ultraman appear to fight each other and cause destruction, all to the campy soundtrack of [[LeftTheBackgroundMusicOn some random Japanese guy who's singing along to all the chaos]].

* AttackItsWeakPoint: Mecha Streisand is only defeated when Smith punches her nose, releasing the Triangle of Zinthar and weakening her severely.

* BigDamnHeroes: Robert Smith of Music/TheCure defeats Music/BarbraStreisand and saves the world.

* ButtMonkey: Pip. He finds an arrowhead and Cartman [[GroinAttack Roshambos]] him for it and then throws it aside since he claims he didn't really want it.

* CharacterizationMarchesOn: In most subsequent seasons, the boys would have instantly seen though the PaperThinDisguise that Streisand uses to fool them into handing over the triangle.

* ContinuityNod: The town being destroyed before by [[Recap/SouthParkS1E5AnElephantMakesLoveToAPig mutant genetic creatures]], [[Recap/SouthParkS1E7Pinkeye zombies]], and [[Recap/SouthParkS1E8StarvinMarvin Thanksgiving turkeys]] is mentioned by a news reporter, right before being destroyed again by Mecha Streisand.
-->'''Reporter''': [[OhNoNotAgain Oh, Goddammit! Not again]]!
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Pip falls over after Cartman kicks him in the nuts, and '''[[NiceGuy Butters]]''' ''laughs'' at this.

* GratuitousJapanese: The Japanese singer who pops up during the fight and sings; notable in that it's actual Japanese (which Trey Parker speaks fluently), as opposed to [[AsLongAsItSoundsForeign foreign-sounding gibberish]].

* HellIsThatNoise: The Boys' reaction to Barbra Streisand's singing.

* NotZilla: Barbra Streisand is obviously changing into the Mechagodzilla from ''Film/GodzillaVsMechagodzilla'' (with Streisand's hair on top, but still), but this is never pointed out by the other characters.
* OneWingedAngel: Barbra Streisand uses the completed Triangle of Zinthar to turn into Mecha Streisand and go on a rampage. Creator/LeonardMaltin, Creator/SidneyPoitier and Robert Smith transform as well.
* PetTheDog: Mecha Streisand stops her rampage in South Park to sign an autograph for Sheila, aka Kyle's mom.

** The ''Mecha Streisand'' robot references the Godzilla movie ''Film/GodzillaVsMechagodzilla''.

* TakeThat: The entire episode is one to Music/BarbraStreisand, since she's one of the few celebrities that Matt and Trey genuinely hate instead of just poking fun at her like they do with other celebrities. Appropriately enough, she didn't like the "homage" either.

* TooDumbToLive: The boys all get into a car with Barbara Streisand wearing a PaperThinDisguise. Kyle does comment about [[TooSmartForStrangers getting into cars with strangers]], only for Cartman to say, "No, not when money's involved, stupid."

* WouldHurtAChild: Barbara Streisand picks up Kyle and strangles him for information on the Triangle of Zinthar. Later she kidnaps all of them, tortures them for information with medieval torture methods and uses her voice on them.

-->'''Reporter''': Oh, Goddammit! Not again!

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Pip falls over after Cartman kicks him in the nuts, and '''''[[NiceGuy Butters]]''''' ''laughs'' at this.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Pip falls over after Cartman kicks him in the nuts, and Butters ''laughs'' at this.

* CoolAndUnusualPunishment: Streisand tortures the boys and brings them to heel just by singing at them.

* TooDumbToLive: The boys all get into a car with Barbara Streisand wearing a PaperThinDisguise. Kyle does comment about [[TooSmartForStrangers getting into cars with strangers]], only for Cartman to say, "No, not when money's involved, stupid."