In the late 1990s the animated comedy series South Park introduced a superhero based on Brian Boitano. The character appeared in several episodes as well as the 1999 film South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. The movie also included the parody song “What Would Brian Boitano Do?” The over-the-top track featured such lyrics as:
When Brian Boitano was in the Alps
Fighting grizzly bears
He used his magical fire breath
And saved the maidens fair
The character and song helped make a Boitano a pop culture icon. Initially wary, he embraced the character and even sold a charity T-shirt featuring the song title. The track also inspired the name of his TV cooking show What Would Brian Boitano Make? (2009–10). In 2003 Boitano appeared in the documentary VH1 Goes Inside: South Park, and he later received a Christmas card from the show’s creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone. According to Biotano, who had never met them, “Matt wrote, ‘I love you!’ and Trey wrote, ‘We love you! Thank you so much!’”