Wow. The first word that came to mind at the end of Trey and Matt's newest episode of SP. Out of all the episodes of this season, Broadway Bro Down screamed nothing but underground meaning. Which is comical considering the fact that the episode centered around the plot of hidden meanings in broadway shows. I'm usually not that much of a fan when it comes to leaving out the 4 boys and focusing strictly on the lives of the adults in the town. However, Broadway Bro Down was the ultimate exception. I did enjoy the fact that we finally got to hear more from Shelly as she began to "open up" and express herself as other than Stan's tormenting older sister. With this, I was also quite intrigued with the story that was unraveling between Randy and Sharon, as over the summer, they had hated eachother and were completely miserable with their marriage.
As the episode progresses through, fans are introduced to a new character, Larry, who was born and raised by a vegan lifestyle while his parents also make him wear a life preserver at all times. Shelly, being tougher than nails against a chalkboard, harrasses the chubby, innocent Larry to a point where he begins to open up and realize he can stand for himself without his life vest and his vegan morals. With this, Shelly befriends Larry and their relationship strengthens throughout. Though most would say this idea lacks the cutting edge controversy that Trey and Matt are known for adding to their shows, it can be said without a doubt that there was some milder, but definitely some hidden controversy behind the subject matter.What I took away from Larry and Shelly was the idea that Trey and Matt were trying to convey to everyday, modern day parents. Now a days, American parents wrap their kids up in pads and life vests and never let them go out into the real world out of fear of corruption and the dangers of society. They instead tend to keep their children wrapped up into their own bubble as they force them to accept their moral upbringings when they were children. When Shelly questioned the parents about Larry and his actual beliefs and wants, I could only picture this same scenario in each and every typical household. Let's face it. Parents have become so tight and strict with their children to the point where I wouldn't exactly be surprised to see kids walking around with life vests as the social norm. Trey and Matt made the social ploy that parents need to lighten up a little and listen to their kids. Just because a parent is a democratic vegan doesn't mean the kid necessarily believes in these principles the same way. The episode basically cried out the idea that parents need to stop trying to surround their kids in these plastic bubbles and actually let them be exposed to the world because it is the only way for these children to "come out of their shells" and mark their place in society as an individual. If parents continue to place life vests on their kids and keep them in their perfect bubbles, we are going to start to see a change in the next generation as robotic children pass us by.
With this in mind, Broadway Bro Down also continued a second story in the background concerning the idea that Broadway musicals contain subliminal messages that make woman want to give their husbands blow jobs. Of course Randy jumped right on the marketing ploy. And of course the celebrity appearances the producers would choose would be famous directors such as Stephen Soundheim, and Andrew Loyd Webber. Randy, along with the other well known broadway directors were depicted as "bros" with the idea in mind that bros spend their time at Hooters watching football games and looking for the occasional blow job. Hence, BROadway. Which by the way, I can't help but say I love the entire idea that we see many proper and eloquent plays produced by men of great esteem and probably had cotillion shoved up their asses at age three, yet unconventionalists, Trey and Matt, come out with this huge broadway hit; the Book Of Mormon. It's almost as if they gave the finger to broadway!Near the end of the episode, Randy had confessed to Sharon the broadway marketing ploy. However, Trey and Matt took this one for a spin as they were almost critiquing the lives of married couples when the concluded with the idea that couples need to be looking out for eachothers personal needs. Though the broadway musicals seemed corrupted, Sharon enjoyed seeing them and Randy was of course content with the after effects.
Finally, the producers did find a way to incorporate their dark humor in as well. I will definitely admit there were times when I was literally laughing out loud, such as when Randy became Spiderman comically destroyed the cast of wicked. There were even some off handed jokes that left me Loling about. However, this had to be one of the fastest character lifespans I have ever seen in a show. The new character, Larry, was brought into the show and then immediatly killed off in the end. The dark fact of the matter was the idea that Shelly's own father (dressed as spiderman) actually killed her boyfriend Larry, and we see towards the end, a depressed and emotionally vulnerable, twelve year old girl, crying in a dark room. Of course, Randy comes in and adds in his commentary about how wonderful that spiderman character was, which was actually quite comical in itself. Hence the genius dark humor."I'm sorry spiderman killed your boyfriend dear." -Randy to Shelly.
Although I would have liked to see the boys get involved, I understand why Trey and Matt kept them off for this episode. I'll give them the freebie for now, but next episode, there better be ALOT of Eric Cartman, Stan Marsh, and Kyle Broflovski. (but especially eric). Let me just say that of course the producers found the best way to end the show, which again left me laughing out loud as their book of morman commercial shot onto the screen. "The Book of Morman. You will get a blowjob."
