Did Cartman Originally Have A Father and Sister on South Park?

Imagine if South Park featured a world where Eric Cartman, notorious momma’s boy, had not just a father on the show, but also a sister. Say whatttttt?

According to a Q&A on the South Park Studios website, the un-aired pilot showed Cartman with both extra family members, although they didn’t have speaking roles. As evidence, the site provided a screengrab from the scene.

As the South Park Studios rep pointed out, adding or omitting characters after a pilot is commonplace on television. Sometimes it even happens after they appear in several episodes. Just ask big brother Chuck from Happy Days.

Although this may seem like a minor change at first, we must remember that Cartman having a father would have made some of the best episodes impossible. “Cartman’s Mom Is a Dirty Slut” and “Cartman’s Mom Is Still a Dirty Slut,” both classic episodes, could never have existed. And forget the April Fools Terrence & Phillip installment, “Not Without My Anus,” ever existing, as it was sandwiched between the two aforementioned episodes.

“201,” the season fourteen classic featuring Cartman’s hand/Mitch Connor, would have lost a major plot point if Jack Tenorman wasn’t revealed to be Cartman’s actual dad as well. I could go on, but hopefully you get the point.

Thankfully, Trey Parker and Matt Stone made the right call in the end, and our treasured classic episodes are safe.