History Recap / SouthParkS8E11QuestForRatings

* BaitAndSwitch: When the boys tell the pharmacist they want to get high off of cough medicine to come up with ideas, he tells them that's not what they want to get creative. What he was talking about wasn't that DrugsAreBad, but that the brand of cough medicine they had doesn't contain the ingredient that causes highs and shows them all the ones that do.

** On a story-wise scale, one would think the news show would struggle because Jimmy (judging by his disgust when they refuse his interview with the Vice President) would defect to Clyde's show, if not start his own to rival them, with ''or'' without Clyde's crew... but he doesn't seem to hold anger against them, still sticks with them and even helps to expose the cough syrup ring in the school.

* GRatedDrug: Cough medicine. One scene even has Bebe and Red taking some in the girl's room like it's crack.

* JerkassHasAPoint: While the boys go to unethical lengths for ratings, it's fairly understandable why they would be so concerned as their teacher takes their show's ratings incredibly seriously, even basing their grade off their ratings.

* PanderingToTheBase: In-universe example with the boys' revamped news show. They mention adding [[PandaingToTheAudience panda bears]] and hot girls for the sake of appealing to kindergartners and 6th graders, even if they aren't relevant to their stories.

* TakeThat: The unethical behavior of the boys is one towards news reporters who use similar tactics to attract viewers and are more worried about ratings than informing their audience about the truth.

* ButNotTooBlack: InUniverse, Cartman advises Token to adopt a "whiter" voice for his news coverage.

* PanderingToTheBase: In-universe example with the boys' revamped news show. They mention adding panda bears and hot girls for the sake of appealing to kindergartners and 6th graders, even if they aren't relevant to their stories.

* WatchItStoned: The boys end up loving Craig's show while they're tripping on cough medicine, [[EurekaMoment which helps them figure out why it's been pulling such high ratings:]] the kids watching it were also high, because the pharmacist had been selling ''them'' prescription cough syrup, too.

* KickTheDog: Cartman refused to let Kenny be part of the news show because "poor people don't watch the news".

* AgeInappropriateDress: The Raisins Girls already qualified as this but they get new outfits in this episode which are even more inappropriate.

* ButNotTooBlack: InUniverse, Cartman advises Token to adopt a more "white" voice for his news coverage.

* DisproportionateRetribution: Craig's show winds up getting such low ratings the teachers suspends him from school and writes a recommendation to get his testicles removed.

* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Craig's show, "Close-Up Shots of Animals With A Wide-Angle Lens", is exactly that, set to a dinky rendition of "Yakety Sax".

* LowestCommonDenominator: InUniverse. The boys revamp the news show to appeal to this in an effort to boost ratings. It does work, but they still get beat by Craig's new show. This convinces them that Jimmy was right and they need to step up their game rather than rely on flashiness.

* NeverMyFault: Cartman is mad at Kenny for joining Craig's show refusing to take blame when Kenny points out that not only did he not let Kenny join the news show, but he also mocked him for it. This even instigates a lengthy flashback of Cartman gloating at Kenny.

-->"So, this episode marks a very special time in ''South Park'' history, because, this was the first time that we were officially...out of ideas."
* SeriousBusiness: The boys and Craig make shows that rival for viewer ratings, on the school's closed circuit television no less. In this case it is being instigated by the AV teacher, Mr Meryl, who is apparently marking the kids grades according to their numbers, up to and including failing them or requesting their testicles be removed if they don't produce viewers.

Under the supervision of A/V teacher Mr. Meryl, South Park Elementary closed circuit television now features ''Super School News'', with anchors Jimmy Valmer and "Rick" Cartman, cafeteria correspondent Stan Marsh, weatherman Token Black, celebrity gossipmonger Butters Stotch, and sportscaster Kyle Broflovski. However, Mr. Meryl reveals that the news is being trounced in the ratings by Craig Tucker's ''Close-Up Animals with a Wide-Angle Lens'', and unless they can improve their ratings, the plug will be pulled on their show. The boys' mood sours further when Craig puts on a tape of the latest episode of his show in front of an awed crowd at Whistlin' Willy's.

After a brainstorming session, the boys, over [[OnlySaneMan Jimmy]]'s objections, decide to ReTool their broadcast as ''Sexy Action School News'', with Raisins Girls, [[BlatantLies fabricated stories]] and salacious gossip, and random dances with people in panda costumes. Ratings improve, but Craig has also given his show a ReTool as ''Close-Up Animals with a Wide-Angle Lens Wearing Hats'', and is once again top of the ratings charts, leading Mr. Meryl to threaten to give the newscasters Fs. Another brainstorming session fails to produce any worthwhile ideas - until Kyle suggests they try getting stoned on cough medicine, like the sixth graders do.

A trip to the pharmacy leads to [[MushroomSamba a trip of a very different sort]], as the six boys mix and match their cough medicines until their brains have taken off for other galaxies without them... [[WatchItStoned whereupon they find they actually enjoy Craig's show.]] The next morning, after sobering up (and discovering they failed to come up with any good ideas while stoned), [[EurekaMoment they realise why Craig's show is so popular]]: half the school is high on cough medicine. They decide to produce a hard-hitting exposé on the school's cough medicine addiction, part of which involves turning the pharmacist in for supplying drugs to minors.

''Sexy Action School News'' is now leading the ratings, and Mr. Meryl suspends Craig and [[DisproportionateRetribution instructs him to have his testicles surgically removed]], while giving an order for twenty-seven new shows to the six newscasters. However, their well of ideas is still completely dry, and this time, [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere they simply give up and leave.]]

* CallBack: When thinking of ideas on how to beat Craig's show, Cartman mentions doing a report on [[Recap/SouthParkS7E8SouthParkIsGay Crab People]].
-->'''Stan:''' [[SelfDeprecation Dude, I think we can do a little better than Crab People.]]

* * LowestCommonDenominator: InUniverse. The boys revamp the news show to appeal to this in an effort to boost ratings. It does work, but they still get beat by Craig's new show. This convinces them that Jimmy was right and they need to step up their game rather than rely on flashiness.

* BaitAndSwitch: When the boys tell the pharmacist they want to get high off of cough medicine to come up with ideas, he tells them that's not what they want. What he was talking about wasn't that DrugsAreBad, but that the brand of cough medicine they had doesn't contain the ingredient that causes highs and shows them all the ones that do.