My brother and I were watching an interview with the creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and one of them made a fascinating point about their show. They write the character of Eric Cartman to be, more or less, unlikable, and in some cases, pure evil. Yet, when he claims something is true, he is typically proven to be correct. So every time I watch South Park, I say to myself:
"Cartman is always right." So I decided to undertake what I have called the Eric Cartman project to see how accurate Cartman is over the course of 188 episodes and one movie.
The data I compiled showed that he made 60 total claims. Cartman mostly only made one per episode, but there are a few examples of him making multiple claims in a single episode. Of those
60 claims, I confirmed
41 of them to be correct, which means he is correct
68% of the time. Which verifies Matt and Trey’s claim that Cartman is “usually” right. So now I will go a little further into detail about some of Cartman’s claims and my thought process whether it qualified for the list.
Claims:
Season 1Episode:
Cartman Gets and Anal ProbeClaim/s:
“Stan throws up every time he talks to Wendy.”
Confirmed?
YesThe very first episode features the first claim, and is proven immediately.
Episode:
Weight Gain 4000Claim/s:
“Dolphins live in Igloos”
Confirmed?
No.
He was clearly lying, but it isn’t really debunked either. It's hard to tell when Cartman is lying.
Episode:
VolcanoClaim/s:
“He was in 'Nam”
“He describes Scuzzlebutt. Celery for a hand, Patrick Duffy for a Leg, and weaves baskets.”
Confirmed?
No,
YesHe was lying about being in ‘Nam, but his claim about
Scuzzlebutt is the first claim that is really in the spirit of the list. Around a campfire, he describes this monster and it is shown to be absolutely true a little later.
Episode:
Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat RideClaim/s:
“Stan's dog is gay.”
Confirmed?
Yes.
He is the first to notice and identify Stan’s dog as being gay.
Episode:
Tom's RhinoplastyClaim/s:
“He's 1/4 lesbian.”
Confirmed?
No.
I’m not sure he knows what a lesbian is.
Season 2Episode:
ChickenloverClaim/s:
“Poor people tend to live in clusters..”
Confirmed?
Yes.When Cartman the Cop responds to a domestic disturbance at Kenny’s house and asks who is in the house. Kenny’s father rattles off a long list of people that live with them.
Episode:
Chef's Chocolate Salty BallsClaim/s:
“Independent Movies are black and white films featuring Gay cowboys eating pudding.”
Confirmed?
Yes.This is proven when we see a Sundance screening and the movie features gay cowboys eating pudding.
Season 3Episode:
Rainforest SchmainforestClaim/s:
“Kyle, and Jews have no rhythm.”
Confirmed?
Yes.
If you watch Kyle, he can’t keep up with the other kids during the group dance.
Episode:
Starvin' Marvin in SpaceClaim/s:
“The CIA squeeze your balls until they pop to get you to talk.”
Confirmed?
No.
The kids are tortured by the CIA, but they never perform this act.
Episode:
Red Badge of GaynessClaim/s:
“The South won the Civil War.”
Confirmed?
Almost.
The plot of this episode is based on Cartman being wrong, but going to great lengths to prove he is right. He leads a group of drunken civil war re-enactors to force Bill Clinton to sign a document declaring the South as the winners of the Civil War.
Episode:
Are You There God? It's Me, JesusClaim/s:
“He got his period.”
Confirmed?
No.
This is one of a few times when he is confused about what is actually happening. Hey, he's only 8 years old.
Episode:
The Brown NoiseClaim/s:
“Tells everyone about the "Brown Note"”
Confirmed?
Yes.He confidently explains that there is a note they can play on their recorders that will make you lose control of your bowels. This is proven at the end of the episode in typical disgusting South Park fashion.
Season 4Episode:
Cherokee Hair TamponsClaim/s:
“Milk comes out of his nose when he laughs even if he's not drinking it.”
Confirmed?
Yes.An odd trait he has that is passed to Kyle when he gets one of Cartman’s kidneys.
Episode:
The Wacky Molestation AdventureClaim/s:
“If you call the police and tell them your parents "molestered" you, they'll take them away.”
Confirmed?
Yes.This works so well, every parent is taken away leaving the kids to build their own crude creepy version of “Children of the Corn."
Season 5Episode:
It Hits The FanClaim/s:
“’Meecrob’ is a cursed word.”
Confirmed?
Yes.The kids look through a tome that lists all of the “Cursed Words” that cause destruction and Cartman points out ‘Meecrob’ among them, confirming an earlier statement.
Episode:
Scott Tenorman Must DieClaim/s:
“He got his first pubes.”
Confirmed?
No.
Granted, Cartman was fooled, and thus enacts his most evil scheme. I feel this is a turning point for the Cartman character. There is really no going back from here.
Episode:
Proper Condom UseClaim/s:
“Dogs make ‘milk’.”
Confirmed?
Yes.
He’s right, but he doesn’t really know what is going on.
Episode:
Kenny DiesClaim/s:
“Using stem cells, you can build a Shakey's Pizza.”
Confirmed?
Yes.This is the big reveal at the end of the episode explaining why he was trying to legalize stem cells.
Season 6Episode:
Red Hot Catholic LoveClaim/s:
“If you stick food in your butt, you crap out of your mouth.”
Confirmed?
Yes.His claim is confirmed and serves as the arguably clever metaphor about snobby atheists.
Episode:
Free HatClaim/s:
“If you offer a free hat at a meeting, people will show up.”
Confirmed?
Yes.
Though he meant something else, putting “Free Hat” on the flyer certainly did get a huge crowd.
Episode:
A Ladder to HeavenClaim/s:
“Kenny's house has robot guards.”
Confirmed?
Yes.Though it seems ridiculous, Kenny’s house is shown to have Terminator-style robots guarding his house. Hey, the kid was right.
Episode:
The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two TowersClaim/s:
“Sixth graders hate water.”
Confirmed?
Yes.The wise wizard Cartman makes this claim and for some reason, the sixth graders can’t cross the river to pursue the kids. They don't want to get, wet and generally don't like water.
Season SevenEpisode:
I'm a Little Bit CountryClaim/s:
“He can make himself have a flashback to see what 1776 was really like.”
Confirmed?
Yes.It takes several tries, but he finally knocks himself back to 1776.
Episode:
Fat Butt and Pancake HeadClaim/s:
“He can't control his talking Jennifer Lopez hand.”
Confirmed?
No.
You have to respect his commitment, but he reveals at the very end that he was faking the whole thing.
Episode:
Christian Rock HardClaim/s:
“If they start a Christian Rock band, Christians will buy a ton of albums.”
“Token has a bass guitar in his basement because his family is black.”
“Token knows how to play the bass, because he is black.”
“If he makes a Christian Rock CD it will go platinum.”
Confirmed?
Yes, Yes, Yes, No.
He is pretty dead on with everything he says. He is surprised in the end that Christian music has a different awards system for album sales. Token is also surprised by Cartman’s accurate knowledge of black culture.
Episode:
Grey DawnClaim/s:
“Shutting down Country Kitchen Buffet will defeat the old people.”
Confirmed?
Yes.His strategy is a winner. Old people can't survive without a consistent early meal.
Season 8Episode:
Good Times with Weapons
Claim/s:
“Kyle can’t throw away his weapon, because he is a Jew.”
Confirmed?
Yes.Much to Kyle’s surprise, he is unable to throw away his weapon. Cartman truly knows his Jews.
Episode:
The Passion of the JewClaim/s:
“The Passion of the Christ" portrays the Jews as evil murderers of Jesus.”
Confirmed?
Yes.He guilts Kyle into watching the movie, causing Kyle to feel the need to apologize to Christians for killing Jesus.
Episode:
Something Wal-Mart This Way ComesClaim/s:
“Last thing you do before you die, you crap your pants.”
Confirmed?
Yes.Proven twice in hilarious fashion. Also confirmed two seasons later when Chef is killed.
Season 9Episode:
Mr. Garrison's Fancy New VaginaClaim/s:
“Jews can't play basketball.”
Confirmed?
Yes.If Kyle is the example, then Cartman is dead right.
Episode:
Die, Hippie, Die*Claim/s:
“Hippies are infesting houses.”
“Hippies are gathering for a music jam festival.”
Confirmed?
Yes, Yes. *The entire episode is based on Cartman's correct theory.In classic South Park form, disaster-film king
Roland Emmerich is lampooned. Cartman is the crazed expert predicting a disaster and the authorities not listening, until it is too late. If only they listened to him.
Episode:
Two Days Before the Day After TomorrowClaim/s:
“Jews carry gold in a little bag around their necks..”
“Jews also carry a fake bag of gold to trick people from taking it.”
Confirmed?
Yes, Yes.
Cartman really knows his Jews. In payment for saving his life, Cartman orders Kyle to give up his secret gold.
Episode:
MajorineClaim/s:
The girls have a "device that can see the future."
Confirmed?
Inconclusive.
He is right that the device is in the girls’ possession, but we never see if any of its predictions come true. This is my personal choice for greatest episode, by the way.
Episode:
Ginger KidsClaim/s:
“Ginger Kids have an incurable disease called "Gingervitis."
“Gingers have no souls.”
“Gingers must avoid sunlight. Some Ginger Kids without freckles can, and they are called ‘Day Walkers.’"
Confirmed?
Yes, Inconclusive,
Yes.
A doctor confirms that “Gingervitis” is an actual disease, and the Gingers are seen avoiding the sun. The only question mark is the statement that Gingers have no souls. It seems to be correct, but it is never proven.
Episode:
Trapped in the ClosetClaim/s:
“Anything that is fun costs at least $8”
Confirmed?
Inconclusive.
It seems true, but is not part of the episode.
Season 10Episode:
Tsst
Claim/s:
“He has several theories about why the nanny doesn't have kids of her own.”
Confirmed?
Yes.Like Hannibal Lector, Cartman turns the tables on the woman from ‘Nanny 911’ by picking her apart psychologically causing her to go insane and quit.
Episode:
Mystery of the Urinal DeuceClaim/s:
“9/11 was a conspiracy.”
“Kyle was responsible for 9/11, and the urinal deuce.”
Confirmed?
No, No.
In a rare moment, Cartman is wrong about everything. Though he was mislead about 9/11, as we all were.
Episode:
Miss Teacher Bangs a BoyClaim/s:
“You stick it inside and pee.”
Confirmed?
No.
He claims to know how to have sex, and is wrong. But come on, he’s only 8!
Episode:
Hell on Earth 2006Claim/s:
“If you say "Biggie Smalls" 3 times in the mirror, he appears.”
Confirmed?
Yes.Amazing how it works every time. You should be careful if you try it at home.
Episode:
Go God Go
Claim/s:
“If he freezes himself, he will wake up in the future.”
Confirmed?
Yes.
It works well, too well.
Season 11Episode:
Lice CapadesClaim/s:
“Touching a hot wire to someone's blood can tell if they had lice.”
Confirmed?
No.
Imitating what he saw in “The Thing,” Cartman is trying to figure out who had lice. He touches a heated wire to everyone’s blood samples. The test is a fake to frame Kenny. It turns out they all had lice.
Episode:
The SnukeClaim/s:
“The new kid, Bahir Hassam Abdul Hakeem, is a terrorist.”
“There is a terrorist plot against Hill-Dogg.”
Confirmed?
No,
Yes.
Cartman’s instincts are correct that there is a terrorist plot, but he pins it on the new kid because he is a Muslim.
Episode:
Imaginationland: Episode IClaim/s:
“He saw a Leprechaun”
Confirmed?
Yes.
The movie/trilogy of episodes starts with Cartman betting Kyle that he saw a Leprechaun, and the kids find him. Kyle spends the next two episodes trying to worm out of his end of the bet.
Season 12Episode:
Tonsil Trouble
Claim/s:
“Magic Johnson has the cure for AIDS.”
Confirmed?
Yes.
Cartman convinces Kyle that Magic Johnson has the cure for AIDS. Cartman, Kyle, and Magic all figure out that he does have the cure, only he didn’t know it.
Episode:
The China ProbremClaim/s:
“China is trying to take over America, and the world.”
Confirmed?
No.
here we see Cartman at his most bigoted. Even though China is trying to rule the world, it is never proven in this episode. What we do learn in this episode is there is a line even Cartman won't cross.
Season 13Episode:
The RingClaim/s:
“Statistically speaking, the most germ-ridden place in the world is the mouth of the American female.”
Confirmed?
Yes.We learn this at the end of the episode after Kenny dies from an STD contracted from his new girlfriend.
Episode:
MargaritavilleClaim/s:
“The Jews have hidden all of the money away in their Jew caves.”
Confirmed?
No.
We never see any Jew caves, but I assume he was just lying and trying to incite violence against them.
Episode:
FatbeardClaim/s:
“Somolia is a land where they can have pirate adventures on the high seas.”
Confirmed?
Yes.They teach those Somoli’s a thing or two about how to be a pirate.
Movie: South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut
Claim/s:
“You can't light a fart on fire.”
“More people will come to the meeting if the flier says "punch and pie" will be there.”
Confirmed?
No, Yes.
Kenny is killed proving you can light a fart on fire. And a few people leave their meeting in disgust when they find no punch or pie.