Weight Gain 4000

Season 1, Episode 2, Aired
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Episode Summary

Cartman wins a national environmental essay contest by plagiarizing Thoreau's Walden. The prize is getting on live TV with Kathy Lee Gifford, who visits South Park. This causes Mr. Garrison to relive a traumatic childhood memory when young Kathy Lee beat him in a talent show. Mr. Hat convinces Mr. Garrison that he must kill her. Meanwhile, Cartman decides to take Weight Gain 4000 so that he can "bulk up" for his big appearance. He becomes so fat that when he is accepting the award from Kathy Lee, the stage collapses at the same moment Mr. Garrison fires at her, hitting Kenny instead. Cartman gets to be on Geraldo, Mr. Hat is committed to a mental hospital, and Chef gives Kathy Lee some sweet lovin'.moreless
8.6
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Cast & Crew

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  • Trey Parker

    Voice of Stan Marsh; Eric Theodore Cartman; Herbert Garrison; Officer Barbrady; Terrance; Timmy; Ned Gerblanski; Satan; Randy Ma

  •

    Matt Stone

    Voice of Kyle Broflovski; Kenny McKormick; Gerald Broflovski; Pip Pirrup; Jesus; Jimbo Kearn; Phillip; Saddam; Various Others

  •

    Mary Kay Bergman

    Voice of Wendy Testaburger; Liane Cartman; Sheila Broflovski; Sharon Marsh; Mrs. McKormick; Mayor McDaniels; Ms. Crabtree; Princ

Fan Episode Reviews (26)

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  • superb

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By futuramarama, Jan 15, 2011 Report Abuse
    Cartman wins an essay and Kathy Lee Gifford comes to South Park to talk to him about it. Everyone is thrilled, except for Mr. Garrison, who holds a grudge against Kathy Lee for beating him in a talent show many years ago. Mr. Hat tells him to kill her. Will he? Or will he be stopped by the police?

    Decent episode. Got somewhat boring in parts but overall it was pretty good for the most part. My final grade for this episode is another B. Not horrible but not overly fantastic either, I do not think anyway. Pretty good episodemoreless

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  • Weight gain 4000...SPOILERS

    8.0
    "Great"
    By masterhal3000, May 20, 2009 Report Abuse
    This is a geat episode but it doesn't have as many laughs as the previous episode 'volcano'. It starts off with cartman coming first in an essay competition, even though his essay is completely fake and this is just Cartman scheming. As Kathy Lee comes to south park MR. Garrisson has flashbacks of when Kathy Lee beat him in a talent show when they were kids. MR. Hat tells MR. Garrisson to assasinate Kathy Lee.... but will he? Meanwhile Cartman tries to 'bulk up' for his big appearance by using 'weight gain 4000' hence the title of the episode. This is a good episode with a great ending.moreless

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  • "Beefcake! Beefcake!"

    6.0
    "Fair"
    By VestalDarkness, Apr 15, 2008 Report Abuse
    Strange occurences continue in South Park as Kathie Lee Gifford comes to town to present Cartman with an award for writing the best environmental essay (even though all the other kids know he cheated). Mr. Garrison's puppet psychosis is explained, and Cartman tries to bulk up for the occasion with limited success. This episode is rather mediocre as a whole, with a loosely formed plot that is still funny in parts, but never really seems to come together. It is safe to say that South Park is at its best when it tackles taboo issues, but this is still a worthy addition to the first season of the budding series.moreless

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  • Weight Gain.. I mean Warning: Coiintains Spoilers

    9.3
    "Superb"
    By joeyissoweird, Mar 23, 2008 Report Abuse
    One of South Park's first episode making fun of a celebrity has to be a not very known celebrity. I thought the creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone just chose any random celebrity to make fun of because.. Come on. Who knows who Kathy Lee Gifford is? Anyways, this episode was pretty entertaining and it was fun to watch. I've noticed that Stan didn't throw up at all while talking to Wendy and even in front of her face saying that Kyle's mom was making them Tuna Fish Sandwiches. The humor in this episode was still not very good, but it is the beginning of Trey Parker and Matt Stone's career in this episode.

    After Cartman wins an essay that he cheated on, Kathy Lee Gifford gets to come to South Park. Everyone is all psyched, except for Mr. Garrison who holds a grudge for her after she won a talent show contest that Mr. Garrison was in. Now, Mr. Hat tries to convince him to kill Kathy Lee Gifford, so he tries.

    This episode was okay, but it wasn't the best of the best. It's still a good addition to the first season of South Park.moreless

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  • Great episode.

    8.8
    "Great"
    By ozai890, Jan 19, 2008 Report Abuse
    This episode was about Eric Cartman. Kathy Lee Gifford comes to South Park to congratulate Cartman. Meanwhile, Mr. Garrison has evil plans for Kathy Lee Gifford. He buys a gun, and plans to shoot her. Luckily, Kyle and Wendy stop Mr. Garrison from shooting Kathy Lee Gifford. Eric Cartman was trying to bulk up to impress Kathy Lee Gifford. He gained like 1,000 pounds and kept saying that that he had muscles, not fat. He was like 2,000 pounds, and Eric Cartman wrote a story about dolphins. This episode was very weird. Overall, I thought it was okay, I give this episode a 8.8.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • When Mr. Garrison asks "why are you looking at me like that Mr. Hat?" the wrinkles on his forehead are gone.

      Edit
    • This is the first episode where Mr. Hat appears to be a separate entity from Mr. Garrison. Edit
    • During Mr. Garrison's flashback, even as an 8 year old, he still has a bald head with gray at the side, yet in the flashback in the episode "Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut," he has a full head of hair like everyone else only 8 years ago. Edit

  • Notes

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    • This is the first appearance of Bebe Stevens. Edit
    • Although shown third on original broadcast, this episode was the second one to be made, and is nearly always shown second on re-runs. The online episodes at southparkstudios.com also feature this episode as the second. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Man: Howdy, Mr. Garrison. Nice gun. Mr. Garrison: Thank you. Woman: Nice gun, Mr. Garrison. Mr. Garrison: Thanks. Hello Officer Barbrady. Officer Barbrady: Nice gun. Mr. Garrison: Thanks. Is there somewhere in town where I can get a good clear shot- er, view of Kathie Lee? Officer Barbrady: You know, I think the book depository would be a good bet. Edit
    • Clyde: Mr. Garrison, am I an Indian or Pioneer? Mr. Garrison: Do you have a feather on your head? Clyde: Yeah. Mr. Garrison: You're an Indian. Clyde: Oh. Edit
    • Mayor: Come on, people! We've got to turn this place around! Hang up those lights, put up that banner, castrate the cows! Cows: Moo?! Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Kathie Lee's vehicle resembles the Pope-mobile a lot. Edit
    • Isaccs Hayes' Joy: Chef's song "Kathie Lee" seems slightly based on Isaac Hayes' song Joy Edit
    • Walden: The essay which Cartman sent in was the novel Walden with Henry David Thoreau's name crossed out. Edit

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