Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo aspects of Christmas from South Park to remain politically correct and inoffensive. The episode was written and directed by the series' co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. The Mr. Hankey character was based on an idea from Parker's childhood; when Parker and Stone conceived the "South Park" series, they wanted to make Mr. Hankey the lead character. Heavily influenced by the "Peanuts" Christmas special "A Charlie Brown Christmas" from 1965, "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo" was the first Christmas-themed "South Park" episode, the first musical episode, and the only episode in season one (and therefore the first time in the
A Christmas Story (1972 TV special) they finally find Santa. Timmy's letter is delivered, Gumdrop and Goober make it home safely and a boy's special wish magically comes true on Christmas. The songs featured in "A Christmas Story" included: "Which One is the Real Santa Claus?", "Sounds of Christmas Day" and "Hope" were re-used five years later in the 1977 TV special "A Flintstone Christmas". "Hope" was also re-used in "Yogi's First Christmas" (1980). The special was first released on VHS as part of the "Hanna-Barbera Super Stars" video collection by Hanna-Barbera Home Video in 1989, and re-released again in the 1990s by Turner Home Entertainment.