"Something You Can Do with Your Finger" is episode 56 of the Comedy Central series South Park. It originally aired on July 12, 2000.

Plot synopsis

In a dream, Cartman sees himself and the rest of the gang becoming the next big boy band to sweep the nation, earning them (or, at least, him) the admiration of thousands of beautiful women and $10,000,000, his pursuit of which becomes a running plot line over the following few episodes. Convinced that his dream is a message from God, Cartman corrals Stan, Kyle, Kenny and eventually Wendy (since all boy bands must have five members) into making a band called Fingerbang. Cartman believes that the term refers to the action of pretending one's hand is a gun; it seems that only Kenny knows the actual definition, but no-one else believes him. The boys and Wendy attempt to secure a gig at the mall but must first evade two ornery mall security guards by causing a stampede.

Stan's father inexplicably throws a fit when he discovers what his son is up to and forbids him to take part in the band. It is eventually revealed that he was once in a famous boy band ("The Ghetto Avenue Boys") back in the 1980s. He dropped out of high school and left his friends and family behind to pursue this fame. Although initially wildly successful, the band was quickly replaced due to its members' getting "too old". Deep in debt and properly shamed, Randy was forced to sell his possessions and return home with the remainder of his earnings to complete his education.

After a heart-to-heart, father-to-son conversation, however, he agrees to let Stan play, deciding that his son has to make his own mistakes in order to learn. The two rush to the mall for the gig, where Cartman is desperately stalling for time while they try to find a replacement for Stan.

Stan and Randy arrive in the nick of time — just in time, in fact, for Kenny to be crushed by an elevator, reducing their numbers once more to four. Randy gallantly steps in to replace Kenny and perform the song. When one of the few remaining listeners asks for an autograph afterwards, the group realises that, what with all this "fame" that they have acquired, they will never be able to live normal lives. They promptly break up the band.

Censorship

In syndication, a shot of Cartman's mom urinating into a cup during a clip from a pornographic movie featuring Mr Mackey, which accidentally finds its way onto the audition tape with which Cartman and his band wins reluctant favour with the eccentric mall manager, is removed. The syndicated version leaves in Wendy's audition for the band but mutes out the first part of "contaminated water" (sounds like Cunt-aminated) with a loud, piano-chord sound effect.

References

External links

• Something You Can Do With Your Finger at the South Park Studios Episode Guide

Notes