Towlie first appeared in the South Park episode named after him in 2001, introduced as a genetically engineered talking towel created to remind people to stay dry. His habit of getting high instead of helping made him a recurring joke, and his high pitched voice became one of the show's most quoted sounds. Short clips of Towlie later spread through meme edits, reaction videos and soundboards, where a second of his dazed delivery is enough to signal forgetfulness, bad advice or a plan that is about to go wrong.