Paramount+ is where many of us look for the loud, boisterous stuff—Sly Stallone running the Tulsa underworld, the latest Star Trek voyage, and, apparently, UFC fights at the White House. But quietly tucked away behind Taylor Sheridan’s cowboy hat sits an excellent documentary library that’s easy to scroll right past.
Every week, though, we pull a few of the good ones off the shelf that we think will make your weekend. For this installment, we’ve got a portrait of an iconic country music firecracker who was more than just someone famous’s wife, the rescue and revitalization of a legendary Colorado restaurant/theme destination by none other than the South Park guys, and a nature series that dives deep into the Great Barrier Reef.
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Casa Bonita Mi Amor!
South Park’s creators revitalize their childhood wonderland
South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are nothing if not fervent supporters and lovers of their home state of Colorado. They grew up there, their long-running animated show is set there, and the restaurant they consider to be the greatest place on earth, the endlessly-referenced Casa Bonita, is there. So when the beloved and bizarre hybrid playground/restaurant/dinner theater, that Kyle once called “the Disneyland of Mexican restaurants,” went under during the pandemic, who better to buy it and restore it to its former glory?
The 2024 love-letter documentary feature, Casa Bonita Mi Amor!, tells the whole story. Using archival footage and interviews with the original founders and designers, we get a history lesson on the Mexican-themed extravaganza and how it was built in an old department store location in Lakewood, Colorado. The 88-minute doc then traces Casa Bonita’s humble origins in 1974 to becoming the most visited attraction in the state, through its decline and its eventual closure in 2020.
Quiz
Name that South Park character
Trivia challenge
Think you know the residents of South Park? Match these clever clues to the
right character.
Main KidsAdultsRecurringPersonalityBackstory
This fourth-grade student is fiercely loyal to his friends, has a habit of getting
into increasingly absurd situations, and is rarely seen without his distinctive orange parka that
covers most of his face. Who is he?
That’s right — it’s Kenny McCormick! Kenny is instantly recognizable by
the orange parka that muffles his speech throughout the series. He’s also the unsung hero of the group,
often showing surprising bravery despite his misfortunes.
Not quite — the answer is Kenny McCormick. Kenny’s orange parka is his
signature look, making him one of the most visually iconic characters on the show. He’s known for his
muffled voice and his remarkable resilience.
This character is a fourth-grade teacher at South Park Elementary who is known for
his optimistic catchphrase, his fondness for his students, and his tendency to get swept up in
ridiculous town-wide panics. Who is he?
Correct — it’s Mr. Garrison! He has been the boys’ teacher for much of
the series and is one of South Park’s most complex recurring adult characters, going through some truly
wild personal transformations over the years.
That’s not it — the answer is Mr. Garrison. As the boys’ longtime
teacher, Mr. Garrison is one of the most frequently appearing adults in the show, known for his
unpredictable personality and satirical storylines.
This cheerful, naive boy lives with strict, overbearing parents who ground him
constantly. He is often used as a pawn by his so-called friends but remains endlessly sweet-natured
and forgiving. Who is he?
Yes, it’s Butters Stotch! Butters is beloved by fans for his pure heart
and optimism despite constantly being taken advantage of. His parents, Linda and Stephen, are notorious
for their extreme overreactions to his behavior.
Not quite — the answer is Butters Stotch. Butters stands out in South
Park for being genuinely kind in a town full of chaos. His trusting nature and strict home life have
made him one of the show’s most endearing characters.
One of the four main boys, this character is known for his dry wit, his tendency to
be the moral compass of the group, and his habit of vomiting whenever he encounters something he
finds truly upsetting or revolting. Who is he?
That’s right — it’s Stan Marsh! Stan’s vomiting gag is one of the show’s
running jokes, often triggered by romantic or disgusting situations. He frequently serves as the voice
of reason among his friends, even when things spiral completely out of control.
That’s not correct — the answer is Stan Marsh. Stan is one of the four
central characters and is often positioned as the most grounded of the group. His recurring vomiting
reaction and his moral sensibility are two of his most well-known traits.
This character is the only son of a strong-willed single mother and is best friends
with Stan Marsh. He frequently clashes with Cartman and is known for his green ushanka hat and his
passionate sense of justice. Who is he?
Correct — it’s Kyle Broflovski! Kyle is known for his strong moral
convictions and his ongoing rivalry with Cartman. His mother Sheila is one of the show’s most memorable
adult characters, famous for her fierce protectiveness and loud personality.
Not quite — the answer is Kyle Broflovski. Kyle is one of the core four
boys and is defined by his sense of ethics and his deep friendship with Stan. His clashes with Cartman
are a cornerstone of the show’s humor and storytelling.
This South Park adult is the town’s school counselor, famous for ending nearly every
sentence with a drawn-out version of his own name as if it were punctuation. He regularly holds
assemblies about drugs and behavior. Who is he?
That’s right — it’s Mr. Mackey! His verbal tic of saying his own name at
the end of sentences is one of the show’s most quotable running gags. As school counselor, he’s often
tasked with delivering serious messages that quickly go off the rails.
That’s not it — the answer is Mr. Mackey. Mr. Mackey is South Park
Elementary’s well-meaning but hapless counselor. His signature speech pattern and his earnest attempts
to guide students through life lessons make him instantly recognizable.
This character is highly manipulative, self-serving, and theatrical, often launching
elaborate schemes to get what he wants. Despite his many flaws, he occasionally shows surprising
vulnerability, which makes him one of the show’s most compelling figures. Who is he?
Correct — it’s Eric Cartman! Cartman is widely regarded as one of
television’s most iconic antiheroes. His schemes are often absurdly elaborate, and while he rarely faces
consequences, occasional glimpses of genuine emotion keep audiences fascinated by him.
Not quite — the answer is Eric Cartman. Cartman is the show’s most
notorious character and one of the most analyzed figures in animated television. His combination of
cunning manipulation and rare moments of real feeling makes him endlessly compelling to fans.
This South Park character is a fourth-grade student known for his perpetually
anxious personality, wild hair, and dependence on coffee. He was famously set up in a fake
relationship as part of a student council scheme involving another boy. Who is he?
That’s right — it’s Tweek Tweak! Tweek’s constant anxiety and caffeine
dependency are played for laughs throughout the series. The storyline in which he and Craig were falsely
depicted as a couple became one of the show’s most unexpectedly heartfelt arcs.
Not quite — the answer is Tweek Tweak. Tweek is recognizable by his
jittery behavior and disheveled appearance. His parents run Tweek Bros. Coffeehouse, which ironically
fuels his anxiety with endless caffeine rather than helping it.
Your Score
/ 8
Thanks for playing!
The back half of Casa Bonita Mi Amor! is a full-on renovation show, as Matt, Trey, and an army of contractors, electricians, builders, and designers fully realize the work, and expense (a $6 million “touch-up” balloons into a major $40 million overhaul) they’re in for. From a new high-dive show (yes, divers), to costumed performers, animatronics, and a revamped Black Bart’s Cave, will they pull it off before opening? Casa Bonita Mi Amor! has a perfect 100% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes.
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David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef
A true champion of nature returns to the reef after sixty years
There’s nothing quite like a nature documentary or series hosted by the one and only Sir David Attenborough. From his calming voice and British accent to how he wears his love and concern for nature on his sleeve, I could watch his programs all day. David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef sends the world’s most famous naturalist (who recently turned 100!) back to the ocean he first explored in 1957.
Now in his late eighties at filming (the series first aired in 2015), Attenborough returns to Australia’s reef—the largest living structure on Earth—armed with marine scientists, a personal submersible, and filming technology that didn’t exist on his first visit.
David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef investigates how the 1,400-mile reef was built over thousands of years, the beautifully-astonishing creatures that live there, and the increasing threats of warming seas and coral bleaching. The series blends Attenborough’s narration with stunning underwater cinematography, CGI effects and recreations, and interviews with reef researchers rather than celebrity talking heads. Three 44-minute episodes cover the reef’s formation, the species that live and visit there, and what must be done for it to survive.
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June
The country music trailblazer who was nobody’s sidekick
Real country music fans will appreciate this critically-acclaimed (100% on Rotten Tomatoes) documentary feature from 2024 for finally shining a long-overdue spotlight on June Carter Cash, who was a monumental figure in American music long before marrying her famous husband.
Throughout her 60-year career, the multi-instrumentalist, comedian, actress, author, and five-time-Grammy winner carved her own distinct path into mainstream entertainment, from the late thirties to her death in 2003. Directed by Emmy winner Kristen Vaurio (Going Clear), June is a 98-minute documentary that traces Carter Cash from her Appalachian roots in the pioneering Carter Family—daughter of Maybelle Carter—through her comedy and stage work, her co-writing of Ring of Fire, and her 35-year marriage to Johnny Cash.
The story is told largely through rare, never-before-seen archival footage, mixed with candid sit-down interviews with standout guests such as Reese Witherspoon (who won an Oscar playing June in Walk the Line), Kacey Musgraves, Dolly Parton, and Willie Nelson, alongside family members Carlene Carter, Rosanne Cash, and John Carter Cash.
- Operating System
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FireOS
- Resolution
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4K
You never know what you’ll find
This week’s pics are the happy result of some deep scrolling through the Paramount+ documentaries. As a huge South Park fan, I was overjoyed to land on the Casa Bonita doc—it’s a fun watch. Hopefully you’ll find something you like on this list, too. But if not, we cover all the major streaming services in How-To Geek, so be sure to check them out as well.
- Subscription with ads
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Yes, $8/month
- Simultaneous streams
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- Live TV
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Select live sports (NFL on CBS & UEFA Champions League)
- Price
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Starting at $8/month or $60/year
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
