"Summer Sucks" is the eighth episode of the second season of the American animated television series South Park. The 20th episode of the series overall, it originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on June 24, 1998. Trey Parker wrote the episode with Nancy M. Pimental. Parker also directed it. In this episode, the South Park boys try to have a fun summer but cannot because there is no snow.[1]
The school year ends and the boys leave school for summer vacation. But because the snow has melted, there is nothing fun to do in their town. They try to play winter games: They make a snowman out of dirt and push a sled down a grassy hill. But these games do not work without snow, and the boys are bored. The only fun thing to do is fireworks, but the government of Colorado has made them illegal.[1]
The mayor of South Park notices that a mild firework called a "snake" is still legal. She plans to set off the biggest snake ever for the fourth of July Independence Day party. But this giant snake gives off smoke and noise. Everyone hides in their houses. The ash turns everyone's skin black.[1]
When Chef returns to South Park, he thinks all the white people are wearing blackface. He tells them to line up so he can punish them.[1]
Other parts of the episode show Eric Cartman trying to take swimming lessons and Mr. Garrison trying to get therapy from Dr. Katz.[1]
South Park's co-creator Trey Parker wrote the episode with Nancy M. Pimental, and Parker co-directed it with fellow co-creator Matt Stone. Stone was in charge of animating the episode (not credited).