South Park ‘Spring Break’ episode creates Myrtle Beach Trump MAGA rally. How to watch

Adam Benson
·2 min read

The phones haven’t stopped ringing at Richard Kligman’s Keep on Trumpin’ superstore in North Myrtle Beach.

“We’re actually thinking about doing shirts and decals. Myrtle Beach is on the map,” Kligman said two days after the U.S. 17 Highway South store was skewered by South Park — the raunchy animated TV series known for making fun of anybody and anything.

South Park used its version of the “Keep on Trumpin’” stores in a March 29, 2023 episode titled “Spring Break”
South Park used its version of the “Keep on Trumpin’” stores in a March 29, 2023 episode titled “Spring Break”

For the 26th season finale that aired March 29, the show pilloried South Carolina’s tourism mecca in an episode called “Spring Break” that focused on Mr. Garrison and his partner Rick escaping to Myrtle Beach.

Between faithful recreations of landmarks such as Broadway at the Beach, Ocean Boulevard and the SkyWheel, South Park took creative license: the Gay Dolphin became the “Gay Whale” and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. was dubbed “Dubba Plump.”

“I’m kind of flattered that South Park chose Myrtle Beach,” city councilman Gregg Smith said. “I don’t think it’s good press or bad press. It’s ‘South Park’.”

The episode drew an estimated 365,000 viewers among its key 18-49 demographic, according to Nielsen ratings.

South Park is available through streaming services including HBO Max and Hulu + Live TV.

A South Park guide to Myrtle Beach

Here are the Myrtle Beach landmarks you will see in the South Park episode:

  • Broadway at the Beach

  • Gay Whale (instead of Gay Dolphin)

  • SkyWheel

  • Ocean Boulevard

  • Melting Pot restaurant

  • Myrtle Beach International Airport

  • Dubba Plump (instead of Bubba Gump)

  • Boardwalk arcades

The episode was a social media hit

Social media was also abuzz by “South Park’s” descent upon Myrtle Beach, with several Facebook and TikTok reaction posts drawing thousands of views and shares.

A good portion of “Spring Break” focused on Mr. Garrison leaning back into his Trump persona, rallying in secret and mirroring many of Trump’s big talking points.

Kligman, who opened his store in March 2022, was delighted by the send up.

“If you can recognize the absurdity in all of this then it’s really, really funny. That’s how South park handles any topic,” he said. “Our phones have been ringing off the hook, so people have seen it.”

Mayor Brenda Bethune said she had not seen the episode, but was glad for the profile.

“People are paying attention to us. They know we’re here and some people have the right view of who we are and some people have skewed that view, but we know who we are and that’s what matters,” she said. “There’s a reason 20 million people come here a year.”