Mr. Garrison

Mr. Garrison
South Park character
First appearance"Cartman Gets an Anal Probe" (1997)
Created byTrey Parker
Matt Stone
Designed byTrey Parker
Matt Stone
Voiced byTrey Parker
In-universe information
Full nameHerbert Garrison
AliasesJanet Garrison
Ethan P. Garrison
Mr. Hammerhead
The President[1]
GenderMale (seasons 1–8; 12–present)
Female (seasons 9–12)
TitleMr. (seasons 1–8, 12–19, 24–present)
Mrs. (seasons 9–12)
President (seasons 20–24)[2]
OccupationSchool teacher
President of the United States (seasons 20–24)[2]
FamilyMr. Garrison Senior (father)
Mrs. Garrison Senior (mother)
Significant othersMr. Slave (ex-boyfriend)
Richard Dawkins (ex-boyfriend)
Allison (ex-girlfriend)
Rick (current boyfriend)
ReligionRoman Catholic
Atheist (formerly)
Home

Mr. Herbert Garrison is a fictional character and occasional antagonist featured in the American animated television series South Park, created by Matt Stone and Trey Parker (who also voices the character). Garrison first appeared in South Park's pilot episode, "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe", which aired on August 13, 1997.

Garrison is primarily employed as a teacher at South Park Elementary, originally of the main characters' third grade class,[3] and currently, their fourth-grade class.[4] In the earlier seasons, Garrison uses a hand puppet named Mr. Hat as a teaching resource; the puppet occasionally shows signs of sentience and has been suggested to be a manifestation of Garrison's own latent homosexual feelings. Mr. Hat was largely retired by the sixth season.[3] Garrison was partially inspired by Parker's kindergarten teacher, who also used a puppet named Mr. Hat,[5] as well as a British literature professor Parker had at the University of Colorado.[6] Garrison is characterized as particularly cynical, especially in comparison with the other adults in South Park, and he is one of the few characters on South Park to have broken the fourth wall.[7]

In the ninth season premiere, "Mr. Garrison's Fancy New Vagina", Garrison comes out as a trans woman, undergoes a sex change operation and renames herself Janet Garrison.[8] In the twelfth season episode "Eek, a Penis!", a disillusioned Garrison undergoes another sex change operation to detransition.[9] During the twentieth season, Garrison is elected President of the United States and serves in the role until the twenty–fourth season. He is never referred to by name during this period, and is exclusively referred to as "the President".[1][4]

Parker has stated that Garrison has become one of the most complex characters on South Park, particularly due to his relationship with Mr. Hat and his sexuality and gender issues. He describes Garrison as "the soap opera element to the whole series. [He] has a real story going on."[6]

  1. ^ a b Parker, Ryan (November 14, 2016). "'South Park' Gives Mr. Garrison Full Trump Look in Post-Election Episode". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Due to Joe Biden wins, the character model will be confirmed later due to COVID-19 pandemic
  3. ^ a b "Herbert Garrison". South Park Studios. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Garber, Megan (February 3, 2017). "The Creators of 'South Park' Have Given Up on Satirizing Donald Trump". The Atlantic. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  5. ^ "What is Mr hat based on? – Theburningofrome.com". Theburningofrome.com. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Trey Parker, Matt Stone (2003). South Park: The Complete First Season: 'Weight Gain 4000' (CD). Comedy Central. Audio commentary.
  7. ^ Bradley, Laura (October 1, 2020). "'South Park' Breaks the Fourth Wall With a Rare Plea for People to Vote". The Daily Beast. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  8. ^ FranchiseFredOfficial (August 21, 2021). "'South Park': Mr. Garrison's Gender Reassignment Operation Was Originally Way More Graphic". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  9. ^ "South Park: 'Eek, A Penis!'". The A.V. Club. April 10, 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2022.