At the time, the episode brought "South Park" its highest ratings to date, with approximately 3,208,000 viewers; about 40,000 more than tuned into ABC's "Prime Time Live". Comedy Central's debut screening in February 1998 marked the first time a cable station had beaten one of the Big Three television networks during prime time viewing, and "Robert Smith Kicks Ass" T-shirts were reportedly "doing a healthy trade among Cure fans" soon afterwards. Smith later described the impact of the episode on his twenty-odd nieces and nephews to "Q" magazine: "Being in "South Park" has made a huge impact on their lives. Now that I'm a cartoon character I'm fully accepted into their world". He told Belgian magazine "Humo":