The fourth season of South Park premiered on April 5, 2000, marking a shift in the show’s evolution with more refined storytelling, sharper satire, and the introduction of some major changes. Most notably, the boys graduate from third grade to fourth grade in the episode Fourth Grade, a rare instance of continuity in the series.
Season 4 is packed with iconic moments and episodes that remain fan favorites. Cartman Joins NAMBLA takes a darkly hilarious jab at online predators, while Trapper Keeper parodies The Terminator and Akira with a bizarre take on school supplies. The Wacky Molestation Adventure turns South Park into a Lord of the Flies-style dystopia, and Something You Can Do with Your Finger showcases Cartman’s hilarious attempt to start a boy band, “Fingerbang.”
One of the biggest additions this season is the introduction of Timmy, the wheelchair-bound student whose limited vocabulary (mostly shouting “Timmy!”) quickly made him a fan favorite. The season also gives us Do the Handicapped Go to Hell? and Probably, which explore the afterlife in only the way South Park can—by sending Kenny to Hell, complete with Satan dealing with relationship drama involving Saddam Hussein.
Season 4 solidified South Park’s reputation for pushing boundaries while proving it could deliver consistently clever and outrageous storytelling. It’s one of the key seasons that shaped the show’s long-term success.
