The Simpsons 50 through 54

Homer Alone

This episode premiered on February 6th 1992. It was followed by Drexell's class and ran opposite Columbo 91, The 1992 Winter Olympics and The Cosby Show.

The chalkboard gag is "I will not spank others" and the couch gag is a repeat of the pyramid stunt.

The show starts with the classic Roadrunner opening featuring Homer chasing Bart. They break a lamp and Marge says she's not cleaning it up, which she does. She then feeds and changes Maggie while making lunches for the family. Everyone talks at her at once and she gets mad at them. Homer needs her to take his ball to Nicks to get a bottle cap out. The kids screw around and miss the bus so she also has to drop them off at school. They fight in the back seat and she yells at them. Neither of the Nicks Bowling shops knows how to get a bottle cap out of the ball. When Bill and Marty, the radio guys, call a guy to tell him that his wife is dead as a joke, and then Maggie spills milk all over the car Marge freaks out and comes to a stop in the middle of The Springfield Memorial Bridge. Homer, Carl and Lenny are watching at the power plant so Homer rushes to the bridge. After he talks her out they arrest and book her but Mayor Quimby orders the police to release her and declares it Marge Simpson day. Homer considers the whole thing over but then Marge sees commercial for Rancho Relaxo (You can't spell Relaxo without Relax) Marge wants to go on vacation even though Homer points out that they just came back from a vacation to Mystic Caverns (There is a photo of Homer holding Bart over Bottomless Pit). Marge tells Homer she wants to go on her own vacation, he's worried she won't come back but she promises she will. The kids go to stay with Patty and Selma but Maggie refuses to leave the house. Barney comes over to help Homer. Bart digs through Patty and Selma's closet and finds a zit gun. Homer falls asleep and Maggie escapes in search of Marge. Barney offers to make a two cheese omelette, pulls pipe out from under front step. After doing all the activities available at the resort Marge order a hot fudge sundae and tequila, she has it in the tub while watching Thelma and Louise. Marge calls Homer to tell him she's coming home in an hour. The police find Maggie at the ice cream parlor, they are going to charge Homer with criminal neglect but decide to give him a warning. At the trains station the family is exhausted and glad to see Marge, they agree to help out more in the future. 

Roadrunner opening, Bart: (Brat'us Don'thaveacow'us) Homer (Homo Neanderthal'us)

Arnie Pye in the sky. First called Bill Pye in the Bart Gets An "F" episode. First time calling Krusty's monkey "Mr. Genie"

First time we see the power struggle between Mayor Quimby and Police Chief Wiggums.

Around Springfield:

Mall Stores: Sari's Rutalillini, TKO, Nick's Bowling Shop, La Pamperie Hair Salon, The Family Jewel

Buckingham Palace Quick Lube

Phineas Q. Butterfat's Ice Cream Parlor, The sign dropped the "5600 flavors". 

Train stops: Shelbyville, Backwater, Kettlestone Testing Ground and Rancho Relaxo.

Patty and Selma have tongue sandwiches for lunch they offer Clamato, Mr. Pibb and Soy milk to drink. They watch Divorce Court and MacGyver "Harry Dean Anderson will be in my dreams tonight"

Troy McClure is on the information channel for Rancho Relaxo, He does his famous catch line You might remember we from such films as Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die and Gladys The Groovy Mule. Later he mentions he starred with Delores Montenegro (first time) in Calling All Quakers.

Radio station at Rancho Relaxo is coma, WKOMA There really is a KOMA radio station in Oklahoma City featuring classic rock. The first set of songs is about clouds. 

Rancho Relaxo Film choices

Thelma And Louise

The Happy Little Elves Meet Fuzzy Snuggleduck

The Erotic Awakening of S

Rancho Relaxo Activities List

Bungee Jumping

Kayaking

Calligraphy

Cigar Making

Hula Dancing

Homer watches Shakespeare Fried Chicken commercial while lying on Maggie. 

In the Simpson's basement we see the Aztec head from Blood Feud.

Missing Babies hold line, Baby Come Back by The Equals.

Bart The Lover

This episode premiered on February 13th 1992 and ran opposite the previous week's programming. 

There is no chalkboard gag and the couch gag is a repeat of the alien

In a school video Jimmy wants to live in a world without zinc, he can't start his car, call his girlfriend or shoot himself in the head. It was all a dream. Mrs. Krabappal drives home alone. Her car breaks down and the mechanic tells her there is sugar in the gas tank. She puts an ad in the lonely hearts section of Springfield Magazine. Ted Carpenter comes to Springfield Elementary to sell YoYos. Mrs. Krabappal tries to read about the Pilgrims but everyone wants to know if they had yo-yos. When Bart tries a new trick he breaks the aquarium and kills the fish stinky and wrinkles, he gets detention and his yo-yo is confiscated. Kabappel's first date is with Jasper. While she's out of the room Bart finds her personal ad, decides to send her a letter from Woodrow. When it's cold out Marge wants Homer to get a dog house, she says they cost $50, Homer offers to build one instead. Krabappel writes backhand includes racy photo. Todd curse at the dinner table, Ned tries to find out why. Bart asks Lisa to help write a letter, she teases him. Bart asks Marge about any love letters from Homer, borrows the line "yours is a butt that won't quit". Ned learns that Rod's cursing coming from Homer. Bart steals lines from an old movie. Krabappal wants a photo of Woodrow so he take a photo of Gordie Howe and sends it to her. Marge has Homer create a swear jar. Bart writes to Edna and invites her to the Guided Truffle to stand her up, he goes to see Ernest needs a Kidney. When he comes out he sees her crying and feels bad. Homer puts a lot of money in the curse jar. Bart asks why Edna won't go out with the other men at the school, she tells him all their secrets. Homer hurts himself multiple times and doesn't swear but destroys crappy dog house, Marge took the money from the swear jar and bought a dog house. Bart confesses what he did and asks his parents for help writing a break up letter. They write that Woodrow is going away. The show ends with Bart and Edna having detention outside, and Gordie Howe's stats. 

Chef Lonelyheart's Soup For One. chicken noodle

Springfeld Magazine: Krusty Picks Springfield's Best Chili, We Talk With J.D. Salinger (famous reclusive) Springfield On One Dollar A Day by Greg Lovello (image of a wino) Looking For Love Call Klondike 5-3457

Twirl Kings Yo Yo performers: Mr. Amazing, Sparkles, Zero Gravity, The Cobra. Perform tricks to the song Age of Aquarius. Homer thinks he'll get rich off Bart's Yo Yo tricks Marge challenges him to name one person who got rich he thinks of Donald Trump, Arnold Palmer, Bill Cosby

Ned's list of Possible Bad Influences

Bumper Stickers 

Comic Books

Grandma

Television

Rod

Todd stopped watching Davey and Goliath because a talking dog is blasphemous.

Homer sent Marge a drunken post card from the Duff Brewery in Capitol City sent in 1978, Home of the worlds biggest pull tab. Since cans no long use pull tabs it's a Dated Reference.

Bart watches Two for Tunisia on Colorization Theater, actors are blue.

Marge's father was in the navy. 

Dated reference: Earnest Needs A Kidney movie. Earnest P. Worrell was a character created by Jim Varney back in the 80's. There was a series of 10 Earnest movies.

Homer At The Bat

This episode premiered on February 20th, 1992. It ran in it's usual time slot and opposite the same programs as the previous week. 

The chalkboard gag is "I will not aim for the head" (a reference to how the episode ends) and the couch gag is the family goes to jump on the couch but smack their heads together and are knocked out, with only Maggie conscious. 

Homer chokes on a donut, as Lenny is trying to find the Heimlich maneuver poster he discovers a softball signup sheet. Homer builds his own bat from a tree branch that was struck by lightning using it he hits a home run and wins the game. As the team wins Burns makes a bet on the final game so he recruits professional players to be wringers. Clemens busts Homer's Wonderbat. The ringers, except for Darryl Strawberry, all miss the game but at the bottom of the tied final inning Burns replaces Strawberry with Homer. Homer gets hit by a bad pitch and all the players advance so Springfield wins the game. The closing credit song replace by Talking Softball, a version of Taking Baseball by Terry Cashman, who sings both versions. 

The title of the episode is taking from the classic poem Casey at the Bat by Ernest Thayer and the plot is from The Natural.

When Homer says he has a Secret Softball weapon the other workers visualize what it could be: A huge glove, spring shoes, laser gun killing the other team. 

Homer calls his bat Wonderbat, this is in reference to the bat in The Natural, Wonderboy

The first game is between the nuclear plant and the police department. 

Springfield Millionaires Club "You must have more than this to enter $1,000,000

Burns bets Million against owner of Shelbyville power plant owner. We were introduced to Aristotle Amadopolis in Defining Homer. 

The ringer players Burns wants are "Honus Wagner, Cap Anson, Mordecai Three Fingers Brown, However when he finds out they are all dead he has Smithers recruits Jose Canseco, Mike Scioscia, Ozzy Smith (at Graceland), Don Mattingly, Steve Sax (playing with The Steve Sax Trio), Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Ken Griffey Jr. and Darryl Strawberry, Later in the episode Sax arrested by the cops. Scioscia gets radiation poisoning, Ken Griffy Jr. overdoses on nerve tonic, Canseco gets caught at a house fire, Boggs gets into a fight with Barney over British Prime Ministers (Pitt the Elder vs Lord Palmerston) Ozzy Smith falls down the Mystery Spot, Mattingly benched for sideburns. Clemens is hypnotized and thinks he's a chicken. Only Strawberry shows up so Homer is still off the team. 

The writers slipped a dirty joke into the episode when Ken Griffey Jr. drinks the nerve tonic and says "It's like there is a party in my mouth and everyone's invited" 

Mr. Burns wears a Zephyrs uniform, it's a reference to a Twilight Zone episode, The Mighty Casey featuring the Hoboken Zephyrs.

Springfield Mystery Spot "Where logic takes a holiday and all laws of nature are meaningless. First mentioned in the episode Old Money.

First appearance of Sanjay Nahasapeemapetlon, Apu's brother, but not by name.

The power plant team members are wearing a baseball cap with Smilin' Joe Fission on them, the mascot.

Separate Vocations

This episode premiered on February 27th 1992 and was followed by a repeat of The Simpsons (Homer Defined) It ran opposite Columbo 91, Top Cops, and The Cosby Show (The Winter Olympics had ended)

The chalkboard gag is "I will not barf unless I am sick" and the couch gag is a repeat of Bart diving across everyone's lap.

The school is taking an aptitude test. The computer decides Lisa's career should be a homemaker and Bart should be in law enforcement. The school psychologist tells Bart he had him pegged as a drifter, Bart imagines what that would be like. Lisa goes to a music school to see if she could become a professional musician, however the teacher tells her that she has stubby fingers and can never go pro. The Simpsons neighbor Mrs. Windfeld sees Bart going on a ride along with the police and think he's being arrested, she says "well it's about time". While Lisa is giving up on her dreams the cops get into a high speed chase with Snake. Snake gets trapped in parking lot, cops give Bart a gun, Snake tries to run him over but gets stuck in narrow alley. Wiggums makes Bart an honorary cop, gives him Eddy's badge. Bart fingerprints Maggie but doesn't wash her hands which results in handprints all over house. Marge blames SLH for eating the cake until Bart shows her photos of Homer scarfing it down, Bart accidentally includes a photo of his butt. Lisa goes to the Bad Girls bathroom where they are smoking (couldn't show that in the modern world) she convinces the bad girls to egg and toilet paper the school mascot statue. Bart turns in Willie for burning leaves without a permit so Skinner makes him a hall monitor. Bart starts to clean up the school while Lisa slips. Skinner takes Bart to the Seized Property Room and lets him pick out an item, Bart goes for the crossbow. Lisa gets in trouble and decides to steal the Teacher's Edition of all the text books, which she hides in her locker, the teachers panic. Bart finds the books in Lisa's locker and claims he did it. Bart ends up with 600 days detention, Milhouse is the new hall monitor. Bart goes back to writing on the chalkboard, Lisa starts playing the sax again.

When Mrs. Krabappal announces she has a surprise the kids fantasize about what it could be: A Seminole wrestling a crocodile (couldn't do that in the modern world). Elf handing out ice cream, Bart imagines that Mrs Krabappal is really an alien in a mask (5 years before Men In Black) Instead the kids are taking the Career Normalizing Aptitude Test (CANT). Test questions, If you could be any animal which would you choose,  Carpenter Ant, Nurse Shark, Lawyer bird. I prefer the smell of, Gasoline, French Fries, Bank Customers

Between the floors of Springfield Elementary, is a snake coiled on pipe.

Krabappal mentions ex living on beach with marriage councilor 

Poster on classroom wall Give a Hoot, Wash Up. (based on the Give A Hoot, Don't Pollute posters)

Tests flown to Iowa Non-International Airport. Driven to Proctorville Iowa, Home of the National Testing Center. National Testing Center "Controlling Your Destiny Since 1925." The computer stops at Bart's test. Guy with broom says "c'mon Emma" and hits it.

Dr. J. LorenPryor School Psychologist, first seen in Bart The Genius.

Milhouse career, Military Strongman.

Around Springfield:

Li'l Ludwig's Music School.

Who's To Know Motel, owl on sign. Mayor Quimby's car in the parking lot. 

Sideshow Mel rollerblading with dog.

Police car One Ocean Tango, 1OT

Snake licence plate, EX CON

1970's car chase scene, guy crashes into milk truck, it explodes in flames. Crash through cardboard boxes in alley. To Be Continued.... Act II, Death Drives A Stick!

First mention of Eddy the cop's name.

School mascot, the Puma.

When Bart imagines being a hall monitor he sees himself as a court witness with a blue dot over his face and his voice altered to sound like Steve Allen, (the real Steve Allen did the voiceover)

When Principal Skinner asks Lisa what she's rebelling against she says "Whatt'a ya got?" A quote from the movie The Wild One.

Larami Jr. Cigarettes

School Paper headlines: Foodfight Foiled Fishsticks Seized. 

Classic Batman TV show scene change with Bart's face.

Second chalkboard gag "I will not expose the ignorance of the faculty. 

Dog Of Death

This episode premiered on March 12th, 1992 in it's regular time slot and opposite the the normal programs, although the last episode of Drexell's class had run the week before and the week's episode was a rerun.

The chalkboard gag is "I saw nothing unusual in the teacher's lounge" and the couch gag is repeat of the family sitting on Homer

The show starts with a commercial for The State Lottery "Where everybody wins" Actual odds of winning: One in Three Hundred Eighty Million. The jackpot is up to $130M so Homer rushes to the Kwik-E-Mart. As Marge and Homer are talking about the lottery SLH walks into the living room and collapses on the carpet. Homer doesn't win but Kent Brockman does. Grandpa tells the family that their dog is dead but he's just really sick. The vet tells the Simpsons that SLH has a twisted stomach but they can't afford the operation. Mr. Burns won't loan Homer the money so he considers doing the operation himself. The family gives up stuff for the dog operation, Beer, Haircuts, Lottery Tickets and Encyclopedia Generica from the supermarket. Homer suggests the family become traveling acrobats. The next week the lottery draws Marge's numbers but she quit buying because of the dog. Lisa's class has to do a report on Copernicus which just happens to be the next encyclopedia she needed. Bart has to go to the barber college for a haircut and Homer sings for money to buy beer at Moe's. Everybody hates on SLH, Homer doesn't close the gate to the yard and the dog runs away. Ned goes to Mr. Burns who turns the hounds on him but one has become too old to chase people so Burns goes to the pound and adopts SLH. SLH is too nice so Burns uses Clockwork Orange film method to toughen him up. Bart goes to Kent Brockman's house and gets told off, then to Burns who releases the hounds. SLH attacks Bart until he says "I love you boy" and then SLH remembers all the good times and saves him from the other dogs. Everybody is happy. Disclaimer at the end of the show, No dog were harmed in the filming of this episode, A cat got sick and somebody shot a duck but that's it. 

Dated reference, Homer calls home on a payphone.

First time seeing Sanjay Nahasapeemapetlon and mentioned by name. This is also the first time we see the vet (although he remains nameless), the character is based on the classic tv show Dr, Kildare. 

People in Springfield, including Homer, read Shirley Jackson's book The Lottery. (It isn't actually a book but a short story.)

Newspaper headline. Lottery Drawing Today, President, Rock Star To Swap Wives.

Homer's lottery fantasy is to become a huge man covered in gold and diamonds.

Winning lottery numbers 17, 3, 26, 41, 36, 49

The winning numbers for the next week's $40K drawing 3, 6, 17, 18, 29 (Marge's numbers)

The dog operation is $750, that would be $1630 in today's money.

Books in the Simpsons fireplace, Canine Surgery, The Lottery, Fatherhood by Bill Cosby (His show was still running opposite The Simpsons and Homer had been given a copy by the Fatherhood Institute in the episode Saturdays Of Thunder) and Fahrenheit 451.

Kent Brockman makes $500,000 a year.

SLH's adventure, riding a log down the Springfield River, fighting a bear, saving a baby from a burning building, chasing a cat, gets caught by the dog catcher. 

When Ned visits Mr. Burns mansion he's wearing his Assassins running shoes.

Burns dog's name, Crippler.

While putting up posters for SLH Bart covers over a missing poster for Skinner, from the episode Bart The Murderer. 

Clockwork Orange images, dog being smacked with rolled up paper, water bowl kicked over, nuclear blast, kitten playing with yarn, Hindenburg crash, tank running over dog house, dog drinking from toilet getting hit with falling seat, LBJ picking his dog up by the ears.

Only 693 more episodes to go.

Note, I did it again, published the episodes out of order.

 The Simpsons episodes 55 through 59

Colonel Homer

This episode premiered on March 26, 1992. It was followed by reruns of Drexell's class and opposite America's Funniest Home Videos, NCAA Basketball and The Cosby Show.

The title of the show is a reference to Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's manager and there is even an Elvis bit about how the suit Homer wears is made from fabric designed for Elvis in his later Vegas years.

The chalkboard gag is "I will not conduct my own fire drills" and the couch gag is a repeat of the cushions collapsing and the family getting stuck. 

Homer takes the family to the movies but squeezes the car into a compact spot, they have to crawl out the windows.  Homer talks through the movie Stockholm Syndrome and pisses off Marge. Bart and Lisa go to see Space Mutants. Homer gets angry when Marge tells him to shut up and nobody cares what he thinks. Homer goes for a long drive and winds up at the Beer-N-Brawl. Lurleen sings a song that pretty much is about Homer, except for the pickup truck flipping off the interstate. Homer takes Lurleen to Lucky's Records, Your Voice On Compact Disk 25¢. Radio station Fudd 570 AM in Weevileville plays song. Marge becomes jealous of Lurleen. Lurleen hires Homer as her manager, she gets him a set of cowboy duds. Lurleen sings a baseball song about hitting a Homer. Lurleen sings a song to seduce Homer. After appearing on TV Lurleen attempts to kiss Homer but he thinks of Marge. Homer sells his contract with Lurleen to Rebel Yell records and goes home for "snuggling".

Introduction of Lurleen Lumpkin, country singer. She is voiced by Beverly D'Angelo.

Movies at the Springfield Googleplex Theaters. 

I'll fry your face III

The smell in room 19

Space Mutants VI

Honey, I Hit A School Bus

Look Who's Oinking

The Stockholm Affair

Earnest vs. The Pope. (Bart wants to go see Earnest Cuts The Cheese)

Flaming Pete's 75 Miles, 30 Miles, Next Exit, burned out remains of Flaming Pete's. 

Homer drives to The Beer-N-Brawl bar is in Spittle County, they serve Fudd instead of a Duff.  The first act is Yodling Zeke. Someone bashes him with a chair and throws a pig at the stage. 

Sign at the Royal King Trailer Park, 14 days without a tornado. Later the sign is changed to 2 days.

Pop Culture Reference: Homer drives by banjo playing kid from Deliverance when he goes back to Spittle County.

Homer gets his suit at the Corpulent Cowboy western store. (Corpulent meaning fat)

Lurleen records her song at the Hicksville USA Recording Studio

Springfield Variety headline, Hix In Stix Love Chix Lix.

TV Show Ya Hoo, a versions of Hee Haw. The cast (in alphabetical order) Yodlin Zeke (whose head is bandaged from being hit with a chair at the Beer-N-Brawl), Butterball Jackson, Freddie Boy and Yuma (a pig), Cloris Moselle, Big Shirtless Ron, Orville and Hurley, Gappy Mae, Hip Diddler, Rudy, The Ya Hoo Recovering Alcoholic Jug Band, 

Homer sells Lurleen's contract to Rebel Yell Records, a division of Togasake Corporation.

Homer's childhood dream, eat the world's biggest hoagie and he did at the county fair. 

Black Widower

This episode premiered on April 9th, 1992 in it's usual time slot. It ran opposite Columbo 91, Top Cops and The Cosby Show. 

The chalkboard gag is "Funny noises are not funny" and the couch gag is a repeat of the couch getting stolen. 

Selma shows up at the Simpsons with her new boyfriend, Sideshow Bob. He tells the story about how he reformed in prison but Bart doesn't trust him. At dinner he proposes. Bob insults MacGuyver and the wedding is off. Bob comes back to apologize but Homer tells them how to compromise. Selma vows to give up smoking except for after MacGuyver. Bob insists on a honeymoon suite with a fireplace. Bart figures out Bob is out to kill Selma. Cut to the room exploding but Bart is waiting and Selma is in the doorway, she wants a trial separation. Bart explains that he figured out that Bob turned on the gas from the fireplace, that Selma couldn't smell due to her damaged nose. After MacGuyver she would light up her cigarette and the room would explode. After saving Selma chief Wiggums tosses his match into the gas filled room. Bob goes back to jail. 

The show starts off with the Simpsons watching a version of Dinosaurs, a short lived TV series on ABC that copied the format of The Simpsons 

The families imagination about Selma's new boyfriend: Lisa, The Elephant Man, Homer, a head on life support, Bart, a twin of Homer. 

Pop Culture References: When Sideshow Bob is picking up trash on the side of the highway they do the music of Cool Hand Luke. When Bob is cutting the turkey for dinner in prison it's a version of Norman Rockwell's Freedom From Want. When Bob says "Goodbye Cutter, Ice Pick, and Snake I'm going to miss you most of all" its paraphrased from Wizard of Oz. Krusty holding telethon for motion sickness, a take on the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon. He raises 385 thousand dollars. During the Telethon Krusty introduces The Chairman of the Company, a spin on The Chairman Of The Board a nickname for Frank Sinatra. Homer says "To The Simpson Mobile" and they do a take on the Batmobile starting up. Bob spins the chair around and sees Bart, hits the lightbulb that starts to swing and Selma is standing in the doorway, this is a take on the Psycho basement scene.

Bob's prison number 24601

Shelbyville is 34 miles away in this episode.

The Otto Show

This episode premiered on April 23rd 1992. It ran in it's regular time slot and opposite the regular programs.

The chalkboard gag is "I will not spin the turtle" and the couch gag is a repeat of SLH sleeping on it.

Bart and Milhouse goes to a Spinal Tap concert. Homer remembers the good times, in the back seat of his car eating. When the under inflated devil ballon drops and then the stage floods due to the place being a hockey rink the band walks out. The audience gets mad and a riot breaks out. Homer misses it because he's singing in the car. Bart and Homer come home, Marge asks them about Milhouse, he's trapped under a pile of chairs at the stadium. Bart imagines himself as a rock star including his eventual burn out. As he's trying to learn the guitar Lisa teases him with her sax. Bart takes his guitar on the bus and Otto starts jamming out. When he discovers he's late Otto tries to make up time, he takes a shortcut through the burning tire yard and runs Spinal Tap off the road. He races through the police picnic, and winds up crashing into the statue of Jedediah Springfield. Otto loses his job as the bus driver and Skinner takes over his job, he gets stuck trying to get into traffic. Otto goes in for a driving test and sees Patty, he asks if she was always a chick and so she tosses her green (passing) pen and keeps the red (failing) one. Otto fails the driving test and gets evicted. Bart finds him living in the dumpster behind the Kwik-E-Mart and has him move into the garage. After being insulted by Homer Otto goes to retake the test and when he starts telling stories about Homer Patty passes him. 

Dated Reference: Homer finds a can of Billy Beer in his leather jacket pocket. Billy Beer was a brand created by Billy Carter, brother of President Jimmy Carter. Milhouse gets a leather jacket with 50,000 Bazooka Joe comics, back in the day you saved up your gum wrappers and sent them in for prizes. Spinal Tap t shirt shows the band kicking Muammar Gaddafi in the butt. He was assassinated in 2011. When talking about Otto Homer says "This isn't Happy Days and he isn't The Fonz", a reference to the 70's TV show.

Spinal Tap World Tour: London, Paris, Munich, Springfield. 

Gold bars between floors in Simpson house. 

According to his license Otto was born on January 18th 1963

Christopher Guest and Michael McKean do the voices for their Spinal Tap characters.

Bart's Friend Falls In Love

This episode premiered on May 7th, 1992 and was followed by In Living Color, the sketch comedy show created by the Wayans brothers. It ran opposite the regular programs. 

The chalkboard gag is "I will not snap bras" (I wonder how that would go over in the Me Too era) and the couch gag is a repeat of the family falling through the wall. 

The show starts out with Bart stealing Homer's penny jar, the entire scene is a parody of Indiana Jones. Milhouse gets a Magic 8 Ball, Bart asks if he and Milhouse will be friends at the end of the day, the ball says no. A new student, Samantha Stanky, shows up and Milhouse falls in love with her. At the end of the day Milhouse walks Samantha home instead of riding on the bus and then brings her to Bart's treehouse. Bart goes to see what comics Lisa has, when he returns with Doomed Romance Comics he finds Milhouse and Samantha kissing. Lisa worries about Homer's weight so she orders subliminal diet tapes. The warehouse is out of weigh loss tapes so they send vocabulary builders instead. He still eats too much but is using big words. Bart finds the only open seat on the bus is next to Martin. Bart, Milhouse and Samantha go to see Space Mutants VII. After Milhouse tells Bart to stop being a third wheel he rats out Milhouse and Samantha, her father catches them and she gets sent away to an All Girls School. Milhouse is terribly depressed, Bart goes and confesses so they get into a fight, Bart hits Milhouse with the Magic 8 Ball and breaks it. Once Homer quits the language tapes he still overeats and now can't think of common words. Milhouse visits Samantha at the convent run school with a bucket of gummy worms. 

First mention of Skinner in Vietnam. 

Sex ed film. Fuzzy Bunny's Guide to You Know What copyright 1971. Boat Show 4 PM Bob Denver., Ezekiel And Ishmael step out in the hall to pray during sex ed film. A very 70's Troy McClure is featured in the sex tape, You might know me from such educational films like "lead paint, delicious but deadly and Here comes the metric system." 

Bart offers Samantha a copy of Radioactive Man vs. The Swamp Hag since it's the closest to a romantic comic book they have.

Samantha asks if they have any girl comics like Bonny Crane: Girl Attorney, Punkin and Dunkin, The Twinkle Twins or Li'l Knee Socks. 

The topic on Smartline is I'm OK, You're Too Fat.

Lisa imagines Homer's head stone.

Born 9lbs 6oz

Died 492lbs 1oz.

She imagines him being buried in a piano box. 

The Good Morning Burger: 18 oz. beef, soaked in creamery butter, bacon, ham, cheese, fried egg. 

Candy bar commercial, Chocolate, Honey, four kinds of sugar, dipped in creamery butter,

Dr. Marvin Monroe Subliminal Tape Club numer KL5 3700

Itchy and Scratch show "I"m getting buried in the morning" Itchy cuts off Scratchy and his brides heads and ties them to the back of his car. 

Other movies at the Googleplex: Sing Monkey Sing and Hot Grits A Flyin'

The first appearance of Kirk Van Houten, Milhouse's dad.

Milhouse has a Spinal Tap poster on his wall, a reference to the last episode.

At the end of the episode:

Homer Sez: Increase your wordiness.

Satiety: Belt-popping Fullness

Triumvirate: There guys giving orders

Gourmand: Lisa. gourmet, only fatter

Machiavellian: I don't know

Boudoir: Where A French guy does it.

Brother Can You Spare Two Dimes?

This episode premiered on August 27th 1992. It was followed by Martin (Starring Martin Laurence) and ran opposite Who's The Boss?, Top Cops and A Different World (The Cosby Show spinoff). The show was going to be the first of the new fall season but Fox claimed it was from the previous season, which ran three months earlier. The idea was to promote the new show Martin.

The chalkboard gag is "I will not fake seizures" and the couch gag is a repeat of the gymnastics routine.

It's the annual Plant Physical and the sign reads No Jokes. Lenny was going commando so he's standing in line naked. Mr. Smithers discovers that Homer is sterile from radiation exposure. Burns's lawyers tell him to offer Homer $2000 and get him to sign a release paper. Meanwhile Uncle Herb is living under the railroad tracks. Bart tries to vault across couch and crashes into it. The kids lie about it just falling apart. Herb sees a woman having trouble with her baby and has a great idea. In order to convince Homer to sign the form Mr Burns claims Homer won the Montgomery Burns Award For Outstanding Achievement In The Field Of Excellence. Homer asks for a big trophy and an award ceremony so they throw one, similar to the Oscars. Bart insults the Emmys. Homer is so excited he falls out of the balcony. Joe Frasier (former boxer and emcee of the award show) goes to the bar with Homer and gets into a fight with Barney, who ends up in the trash can. Herb sees a headline story about Homer's award and hops a train to Springfield. In Springfield Herb goes to Ned's house where he goes a hot meal and a new set of clothes. The Simpsons play Monopoly and Herb goes broke, when Homer mocks him Herb punches him. Everybody has plans for the award money, Homer wants a chair, Lisa wants to buy books, Bart wants a machine gun and Marge wants a new washer and dryer. Herb asks for the money to build his baby translator. At the Baby Expo Herb sells his invention to the Precious Baby Discount Store and leaves a rich man again.

Mr. Burns says "mother of pearl" 7 years before the premier of SpongeBob.

Disney Joke, Mickey Mouse massage parlors, offers to put pants back on Mickey on the signs.

Hobo camp hobo's, Charlie Chaplin (eating a shoe like in the movie Gold Rush) Emmett Kelly, and the inventor of New Coke. 

Homer's couch memories, Who Shot JR, Hands Across America (which goes through the Simpson's living room for some reason), the fall of the Berlin Wall )Homer changes the channel to Gomer Pyle). 

Smokin' Joe Fraser makes a guest appearance as the person announcing Homer's award.

Train cars going to Springfield, Toxic Waste, Circus Lions, Krusty Brand Sulfuric Acid (in a leaking tank), Emil's Fluffy Pillows.

Homer's chair, the Spinemelter 2000, $1999.99

Pop Culture Reference, Homer asks Sulu looking furniture salesman for "full power" Sees mental trip from 2001 A Space Odyssey. "Excuse me while I kiss the sky" Purple Haze drug reference.

Homer shows Herb the light switch although he doesn't know what it does. When he flicks it on the Christmas lights come on spelling out Merry Christmas and a Happy 1985. The Simpsons have lived in the house since 1984 so Homer must have put up the lights.

Marge gets a dinner recipe from the Utility Grade Beef Council. Utility beef is generally used in canned and heavily processed foods.

New Republic For Children Great Books of Western Civilization Lisa wants to buy books, Paradise Regained, Martin Chuzzlewit, Herman Melville's Omoo and Typee.

Convention signs: Baby Expo. Tu-Fr. Twin Convention, No Triplets! Wackey Wipes, Toy Insurance, Dog In A Ball. Professor Frink has a remote controlled baby in a plane (accidentally flies it out the window)

Herb's gifts to the family: Lisa gets a book subscription, the first one is Ethan Frome and she'll get other books like Beowulf and Less Than Zero. Instead of a machine gun Herb gives Bart a membership in the NRA (I wonder how that joke would go over in the modern world), Marge gets a new washer and dryer and he sells the old ones to Moe, who starts using them for gambling. Herb forgives Homer but he still gets his vibrating chair.

Furniture store name, The Seatery. 

This is the official end of Season Three, even though it was in August. I've managed to get through 60 episodes, only 690 to go.

 The Simpsons 45 through 49

Flaming Moes

This episode premiered on November 21st, 1991 and was followed by Drexell's class. It ran opposite Gabriel's Fire, Top Cops and The Cosby Show. 

The chalkboard gag is "Underwear should  be worn on the inside" and the couch gag is the family gets home to find a couple of burglars stealing the couch, they hop on and are tossed off.

Lisa has a slumber party, the girls go after Bart, he gets his first kiss. They jinx him, he tries to get Homer to say his name but ends up getting punched in the arm for talking. When the girls try to chase him down for a makeover he jumps out the window. Maggie shows up in the living room covered in makeup so Homer heads to Moe's, however the bar is out of beer. Homer teaches Moe how to make a drink, one night when Patty and Selma shows up they drank all of Homer's beer. Homer mixed up all the remains of the alcohol in the house, and some cough syrup. When it catches on fire it comes out really good. Moe steals Homer's recipe and the bar becomes a success. A guy from Tipsy McStagers wants to buy the recipe and steals some of the drink for analysis. Moe changes his sign to Flaming Moe's and the place becomes famous. Aerosmith show up at the bar, Moe gets them to perform and he joins them in a version of Walk This Way. Krabapple hits on Homer. Homer tells off Moe for stealing his drink but it's too loud in the bar. Tipsy McStager offers Moe 1 million dollars for the recipe. Homer goes to a new bar on the bad side of town, the bartender is a one eyed tattooed guy with a shotgun. Moe is on Eye On Springfield. Homer goes to Lionel Hutz but he doesn't have a case. The bar waitress convinces Moe to sell the recipe and split the money with Homer. Homer goes nuts and gives away the secret ingredient, cough syrup, soon everyone is selling the drink and Moe's is back to normal.

Homer watches Eye On Springfield (a parody of Eye On Hollywood) The opening credits feature the Springfield sign, Jebediah Springfield statue, Larry's Chinese Theater complete with handprints in concrete. Sushi in a hot tub. The Nuclear Plant, The mini golf course (first seen in Dead Putting Society), Springfield Downs dog track (First seen in Simpsons On An Open Fire), The Jazz Hole (First seen in Moaning Lisa), Springfield War Memorial Stadium (first seen in Dancin' Homer) the Aztec theater "Closed for repairs" (first seen in The Telltale Head),  The Happy Sailor Tattoo Parlor "managers special up to 12 letters only $15.95 (First seen in Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire)

This show features the first mention of the Springfield tire fire which had been burning for 25 years. (the tire yard had been seen in the opening and wasn't on fire) and Topsy McStagers Good Time Eating And Drinking Emporium. Moe buys a love tester for the bar instead of paying his beer bill. The love tester will be seen in future episodes.

Continuity Error: Dredric Tatum is on Eye On Springfield where they say he grew up in Springfield but in a previous episode they said he was from Capitol City but went to jail in the Springfield Prison.

Pop Culture reference. Lionel Hutz mentions the Frank Wallbanger case of 78 , a joke about the Harvey Wallbangers drink.  Homer shows up at Moe's as Phantom of the Opera with half his face covered by his bath robe. Moe's new waitress leaves to pursue movie career in Hollywood, this was a dig at Cheers and the storyline when Diane Chambers (Shelly Long) leaves to go to Hollywood (The show Cheers ran on a rival network the same night as The Simpsons) There is also a take on the Cheers opening credits with a song that has the same tune but different lyrics and various scenes of Flaming Moe's bar. Krusty attacks photographer, a take on Sean Penn. Moe says "Its like there's a party in my mouth and everyone's invited" (sneaky dirty joke)

Patty and Selma bring slides from their Czechoslovakian vacation and it includes a visit to the Dead Sea. The mention of Czechoslovakia is a dated reference since the country broke up in 1992, a year after the episode aired.

At school they have Inventors We Admire Martin talks about AJP Martin the inventor of the partition chromatograph. later Professor Frink uses one to analyze the Flaming Moe. Bart brings in alcohol bottles to show how to make the Flaming Homer.

Headlines about Moe:

Wizard of Walnut Street

Timely magazine, One Moe for the road

Bar and Stool Magazine Through The Roof!

Bart wears a shirt that says "I got toasted at Flaming Moe's"

Self Aware comment: Homer says "If there was any justice it would be my face on a bunch of crappy merchandise." (just like the Simpsons merchandise in real life)

Phone gag Mr. Jass, first name Hugh. Hugh Jass is at the bar and Bart has to talk to him.

Springfield Background stuff:

Krusty's Non-Narkotik Kough Syrup For Kids

Moe's sign: Bartenders do it till you barf.

King Toots seen next door. 

Dive bar called The Aristocrat.

New Bars that pop up after the recipe gets out.

Flaming Moe's Now Here

The Original Flaming Moe's

Flaming Moes in script

Flaming Meaux

Famous Moe's, Best Moe's In Town

Street cart called Flaming Moe's.

In Homer's imagination Maggie says "Moe" part of the running gag about her not talking.

Instead of the usual closing credit song it's Aerosmith's song Young Lust.

(This is one of my top favorite episodes)

Burns Verkaufen Der Kraftwerk (Burns Sells The Power Plant)

This episode premiered on December 5th 1991 in it's usual time slot. It ran opposite the regular programs except for The Claymation Christmas Celebration on ABC

The chalkboard gag is "The Christmas pageant does not stink" and the couch gag is a repeat of SLH asleep on the couch. 

Mr. Smithers is washing Burns hair, he's upset with his lost youth and considering selling the plant. Homer has a crappy old dollar bill but Smithers gives him a handful of coins. Homer's stock broker calls to tell him his stock went up 25¢ a share and he's up $25. Meanwhile Marge sees on TV that Burns Worldwide went up to $5200. Homer runs into a couple of Germans and tells them that Burns won't sell plant for less than $100 million. The stock closes at 51 7/8th. Homer is the only one who sold low. Burns sells the plant, everyone is worried. The Germans send the alcoholics to a facility in Hawaii. The Germans ask Homer for some safety ideas and he complains about the candy machine not taking old dollar bills, then fantasizes about The Land Of Chocolate. The only person the Germans fire is Homer. The family goes on a budget. Homer tries of fix toaster by jamming fork into it. The old timers laugh at Burns during Bocci Ball game. Marge sends Bart to Moe's to bring Homer home, just after he makes a crank call. Bart sings Teddy Bear Picnic at the bar. Burns shows up at the bar to go slumming but they tell him off and chase him out. Burns realizes that without the power plant nobody fears him, he decides to buy the place back. The crowd at the bar sings Na Na Na Goodbye to Burns. The Germans are desperate to sell so he buys it back for less than he sold it for. Burns insists on hiring back Homer so he can get his revenge on him, however Burns always forgets Homer by the next episode. 

Pop Culture References: Mayor Quimby says Ich Bin ein Springfielder. A reference to the JFK quote. Burns says "Smithers come here, I want you" A reference to the Alexander Graham Bell quote. Burns gives autographed photo of Elvis to Smithers. It's a take on the Nixon meets Elvis photo. Homer tries to build a Battlestar Galactica puzzle, based on the original 1978 series.

Homer's money fantasy

Deluxe hair cut

Deluxe car wash

New Hammer.

Bart's money fantasy

Bad Boy Bart monster truck

Frosty chocolate milkshakes in cement mixer, he drinks until his stomach expands

Jet pack, he writes Eat My Shorts across the sky.

Homer buys a bottle of Henry K. Duff's Private Reserve

Itchy and Scratchy Show, House of Pain or This Old Mouse. Itchy drives a nail through Scratchy's skull in order to hang a photo of the two of them.

Sign above plant drinking fountain Please do not put foreign objects in fountain.

Burns meets the Germans at The Hungry Hun. 

Mr. Smithers learns Sycophantic German

In Homer's fantasy the population of The land of chocolate is 1372

Carrot Cat Food 88% Ash, 12% Carrot

Phone gag "looking for Mrs. O'problem, first name Bea"

I Married Marge

This episode first aired on December 26, 1991 in it's regular time slot. It ran opposite the regular programs except for Entertainers '91 on ABC. (A show looking back at the top entertainers of the year)

The chalkboard gag is "I will not torment the emotionally frail" and the couch gag is the family does a gymnastic move ending up on the couch.

Marge goes to the doctor because she might be pregnant. While they are waiting Homer tells the kids about how he and Marge got married and Bart was born. Flashback to 1980, Homer is working at the mini golf, his job is turning the blade at the windmill hole. Homer and Marge fool around in the castle hole and she gets pregnant. Homer proposes via a card. After they get married Marge and Homer are living on her mother's couch. Homer applies at the Power Plant but the other applicants were in the same frat as Smithers. Homer and Marge get married at Shotgun Pete's, 10th wedding is on the house with punch card. Homer can't get a good job and all their stuff gets repossessed so he runs away. Patty and Selma discover Homer is working at a taco stand. Homer is standing outside the power plant when he see a donut truck roll up. Selma finally tells Marge that Homer is working at the Gulp N Blow. Homer gives Marge an onion ring for a wedding ring but has to take it off because it's hot. Homer decides to try to get a job at the power plant one more time, he barges in and tells Burns that he's a wimp and will take any job. Burns vows to remember Homer's name. Homer goes to Marge but she's at the hospital giving birth. He tells Marge he has a job and then tells off Patty and Selma. Bart's first act is to set Homer's tie on fire. Back in 1991 Marge comes home and announces she's not pregnant. Homer jumps up in celebration and knocks kids to the ground.

The title of this episode is a parody of the 1952 sitcom I Married Joan.

In this episode Homer 24 in 1980.

Homer buys a Barnacle Bill's Home Pregnancy Test because it comes with corn cob pipe. "Ahoy Matey If the water turns blue a baby for you, if purple ye see no baby for thee". The water turns pink.  "If the test should fail to a doctor set sail."

The 1980's references, the candidacy of John Anderson, the band Supertramp, Marge and Homer go to see The Empire Strikes Back at the Aztec Theater, Homer spoils the Big Reveal to the people standing in line for the next showing. Space Mutants I is showing. Homer's bumper sticker says Disco Sucks. They listen to Debby Boone sing You Light Up My Life. Marge calls it their song. Homer and Marge drink Champale. Homer and Barney watch Charlie's Angels. Homer is wearing a I shot JR t shirt, a reference to the Dallas tv series. Mr. Burns plays Ms. Pack Man even though the show is suppose to take place in 1980 and the video game didn't come out until 1982.

Homer says the the first thing Bart will see is a man with a job, Patty and Selma say "Yeah, the Doctor.

Marge refers to the night she got pregnant as when her and Homer Joined the Castle Club. A clever way to sneak in a reference to the Mile High Club.

Continuity Error, in this episode Homer and Marge get married at Shotgun Pete's, a discount wedding chapel across the state line however in The War Of The Simpsons he talks about the big party they threw with all the guests and religious people, Marge points out that it was their wedding. 

Phamplet joke: So You Ruined Your Life with pregnant woman on cover.

Marge works as car hop at Berger's Burgers. First mentioned in Homer's Odyssey

Lisa wants to name baby Ariel a reference to the Disney film The Little Mermaid, Bart wants Kool Mo Dee Simpson, a rapper of the era.

Homer and Marge pick out their ring at The Family Jewels

Marge mentions her dream husband was Ted Bessel, the actor who played Donald Hollinger on That Girl.

Homer's jobs:

Candle Maker at Olde Springfield, "what a crappy candle" "You sir, have ruined our vacation"

Shash-Co Knives, hands knife to woman blade side first.

The Pitiless Pup Attack Dog School, as an attack dummy.

Homer goes to Millions for Nothing! lecture. It's a pyramid scheme. Guy runs off when he hears the cops.

The name of the donut deliver van at the power plant is Rolling Donuts.

Radio Bart

This episode premiered on January 9th, 1992,  it was followed by Herman's Head (a show about a guy's various personalities that lived in his mind, yes Disney stole this idea for Inside Out) It ran against Columbo 91, Top Cops and the Cosby Show. 

The chalkboard gag is "I will not carve gods" and the couch gag is the family jumps on the couch and then bounce around until they are on the opposite side of where they started.

Homer walks in and finds Lisa grinding to a show on TV, a version of Soul Train. Lisa asks for money to buy Bart a birthday gift, Homer see a commercial for the Superstar Celebrity Microphone and orders it for Bart's present. Bart paid $8 to get his name on Krusty's birthday list. Bart gets a label maker for his birthday and goes around the house labeling everything "Property of Bart Simpsons" including Homer's beer. Homer is upset to find that Bart is using the microphone to prop open a window so he duplicates the commercial. Marge convinces Bart to use the microphone and he starts playing tricks on people. First he convinces Homer that aliens are about to invade but Homer is happy that Bart is playing with it. Bart tricks Marge by pretending to be Maggie's voice saying Mama. Bart hide mic under Lisa's bed to listen to her conversation. He makes fart noises in school. Talks to Rod and Todd, pretending to be God and convinces them to bring cookies to his house. Bart pulls ultimate pranks by putting radio down an old well and pretends to be Timmy O'Toole stuck at the bottom. Krusty the Klown does charity song for Timmy. When SLH gets hold of Bart's microphone it's heard from the well and Lisa figures out what Bart is up to and reminds him he used the label maker to put his name on his radio. Bart tries to repel down the well but the cops come along and release his rope, he really becomes trapped in the well but nobody cares since he's such a bad kid. Homer decides to dig him out and the whole town joins in, Jasper says "it's an old fashion hole diggin'. The canary in the tunnel dies and everyone rushed out fearing gas, Dr. Hibbert tells them the canary died of natural causes so they all rush back. Sting breaks through well but is shoved aside by Homer and Marge. The city puts up a Caution Well sign to prevent future accidents. 

The plot of the well rescue is a combination of stories from the real life Baby Jessica who got stuck in an abandon well in 1987 to the movie Ace In The Hole, starring Kirk Douglass, about a cave rescue that literally turns into a media sideshow.

Dated reference The Superstar Celebrity Microphone a take on the Ronco Mr. Microphone including the commercial. Homer sings Convoy, a trucker song originally by C.W. McCall. The label maker Bart gets for his birthday, it presses letters into a sticky plastic strip that can be applied to things, replaced by printed ones done from the computer. 

Bart's birthday coupon book:

Phineas Q. Butterfat's 5600 Flavors Ice Cream Parlor "1 free birthday sundae" It's super small

Jakes Unisex Hair Palace "free birthday shave"

Free Tango Lesson

Wall E. Weasel's pizza place "We cram fun down your throat" (The name appears 16 years before Disney's Wall-E), Bart plays Larry The Looter video game. Other video games "Time Waster" "Coffee Fiend" The pizza place is a parody of Chuck E Cheese.

Bart's birthday presents.

Label Maker (dated reference) Bart prints out "this sucks" and puts on the label maker.

Wool socks

Dr Marvin Monroe's Guide to Etiquette

A cactus

Homer's microphone

Martin Prince gives him matching outfits of cap and jacket.

Rescue Plans;

Hawk, that flies away

Captain Quint from Jaws.  Hook bated with chocolate (pop culture reference)

Professor Frink wants to freeze the boy and leave him for future generations. 

Buried stuff near well:

Triceratops fossile

Buried Treasure with skull on top of chest

Alien spaceship with alien skeleton behind controls.

Singers on Krusty's charity song Sending Our Love Down The Well: Sting (real voice), Sideshow Mel (first time hearing his voice on the show), Rainer Wolfcastle (McBain). Dr Monroe, Lance Murdock, Capitol City Goofball, Dan Ackroyd, Troy McClure, Scott Christian (other newscaster) Stephanie Brockman (Kent Brockman's wife, first appearance) Bleeding Gums Murphy, Mayor Quimby, Krusty, Princess Cashmere. The song and video is a parody of We Are The World, a charity song for African aid. After Bart is exposed the song is topped on the charts by "I do believe we're naked" by Funky See Funky Do (Singers look like Kid and Play). The Countdown host is a version of Casey Kasem and his show American Top 40. Although Kasem is famous for doing cartoon voices like Shaggy on Scooby Doo the voice is done by an impressionist. 

T shirt "I survived Timmy O'Toole Getting Trapped In A Well"

Guy selling Timmy O'Toole baby teeth $6 a bag

After finding out Bart is down the well the reporter is writing a headline Town To Well Boy: "No more free food" by Dave Shutton, he is first seen in Three Eyed Fish In Every Pot episode (this is the first time his name has appeared in the show) . He's called away for another story. Squirrel Resembling Abraham Lincoln Found. Later Kent Brokman does a breaking story about the Lincoln squirrel being assassinated. 

Homer says "That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more", a reference to how Popeye talks. 

Lisa reads Non Threatening Boys magazine featuring various Coreys

Itchy and Scratchy Show: Cat Splat Fever. Itchy pretends to commit suicide by jumping into well. When Scratchy goes to save him he's eaten by alligator, then Itchy shoots his ghost in the head. " The show is dedicated to Timmy O'Toole with yellow ribbon image. 

Lisa The Greek

This episode premiered on January 23rd, 1992, once again followed by Drexell's class and opposite the regular programs.

There is no chalkboard gag in this episode and the couch gag is a repeat of Homer sitting on the dog.

Homer is watching Inside Football Today while he eats non stop snacks. Marge worries about his heart, which clogs up just then, Homer says "a little beer will put out that fire" (will become an episode at a later date) Jimmy Apollo calls the game for Denver so Homer calls Moe and puts a $20 bet down. Lisa interrupts him with the cardboard apartment she made for her doll Malibu Stacy. Lisa is upset when Homer doesn't care so Marge tells her to try out Homer's interest. Marge decides that since Lisa is hanging out with Homer she and Bart should go clothes shopping. Homer calls the Coach's Hotline for tips but they stretch out the conversation because it's $2.99 a minute. Lisa picks Miami and bets $50, meanwhile Krusty calls with another bet. Bart realizes that the security is watching so he writes Get Bent on a shirt cardboard. Marge opens the dressing room door and embarrasses Bart. Homer convinces Lisa to keep his gambling secret and Sunday becomes their special day. Lisa starts placing the bet with Moe. Bart wants to go bowling but the Super Bowl is the next Sunday so they plan for the next week. Homer tells Marge the truth about Lisa's gambling, she's mad but Homer tells her nothing bad will come of it. Lisa asks Homer to go hiking the Sunday after the Super Bowl but he tells her he has plans with Barney. Lisa has a nightmare about being a gambling addict in Vegas, she gets mad and gives away all her Malibu Stacy stuff. Homer apologizes and makes up with Lisa until he asks her who is going to win. She picks the teams based on whether she still loves Homer or not. Moe offers Barney a free beer to keep from telling Homer that he's still a bookie. The Redskins win and the next Sunday Homer goes on a hike with Lisa. The closing song is done in marching band style. 

The title of this show is a parody of Jimmy The Greek, a famous sports analyst and odds fixer. Jimmy was kicked off CBS Sports after making some disparaging comments about Black athletes. 

Pop Culture References: Smooth Jimmy Apollo, a spin on Jimmy The Greek. Smooth Jimmy has literal Big Lock for his Big Lock of the Week. The channel 2 guy has big shoe for Show In Of The Week. Homer says both guys make a good point. Professor Frink uses the Gamble-Tron to predict Cincinnati by 200 points. At Moe's Super Bowl Spectacular he has Super Bread which is a spin on Wonder Bread, complete with the dotted wrapper. Homer buys Marge perfume, Meryl Streeps Versatility, in an Oscar shaped bottle. Streep has three Oscars and has been nominated 6 times, it's a take on Elizabeth Taylor's Passion. The Duff Bowl, a parody of the Bud Bowl commercials which ran from1989 to 1997, Duff Dry wins. Homer tells Moe "I use to hate the smell of your sweaty feet, now it's the smell of victory", a spin on the Apocalypse Now line

Dated Reference: The Washington Redskins are now called the Commanders.

First appearance of Malibu Stacy, a spin on Barbie.

Springfield Background Stuff:

Moe's Tavern where the peanut bowl is freshened hourly.

Mall store Wee Monsieur

Springfield library signs:

The Hip Place To Be

Children's Story Hour Weekdays 2-3 

Give a Hoot Read A Book. 

Card Catalog

Football books Lisa looks up in the card catalog: Homoeroticism in, Oddball Canadian Rules, Phyllis George In

Lisa mentions the tire fire and at the end we see it in the distance during the hike.

Moes Super Sunday Brunch Spectacular. Bologna and white bread.

First Church of Springfield Sign: Every Sunday is a Super Sunday. Only two women in church. Continuity error, no Flanders family.

Super Bowl Halftime Show, Aliens who sing Rock Around The Clock. The 1992 halftime show was a salute to the Winter Wonderland with special guest Gloria Estefan. Meanwhile In Living Color, on Fox, ran a special halftime show complete with a countdown so people could return to the game. The next year the Super Bowl features Michael Jackson as the halftime performer.

At the fancy restaurant Bart asks for the freshest bottle of wine and Lisa requests The Broken Neck Blues.

In the show we see the French guys who Bart was forced to work for in The Crepes Of Wrath, they change the channel from the Super Bowl to a Jerry Lewis movie. Anti Freeze box in the background.

Troy McClure's new show. Handle With Care, Jack Handle a retired cop who shares an apartment with an ex con, "The original odd couple"

Bart destroys solider with magnifying glass three years before Syd in Toy Story.

Lisa tells homer to bet her entire College fund on a game, $23.

Coach's Hotline 1-909-WIN-BIGG (946-2444)

We've reached the 50 episodes mark. In most shows this would mean we were anywhere from one quarter to halfway though. In The Simpsons we've barely scratched the surface.

(I accidentally published these out of order)

The Simpsons 36 though 40.

Stark Raving Dad

This episode premiered on September 19th, 1991 as the first episode of the Fall Season. It was followed by a new show, Drexell's Class (a show about a failed corporate raider who is now teaching school) The show ran opposite Top Cops, The Cosby Show and The ABC Thursday Night Movie, The Jewel Of The Nile. 

Since this episode features an appearance by Michael Jackson, and the whole child molestation controversy, it doesn't air on Disney+ so I had to watch on an unnamed alternate video provider.

The chalkboard gag is "I am not a dentist" and the couch gag is the family plops down on the couch and they fall backwards, leaving a family shaped hole in the wall.

Lisa wakes up Bart to remind him that her 8th birthday is in two days so she demands that he give her a good present. Marge tells Bart to watch Maggie but instead he's calling the Krusty hotline, she climbs up on the ceiling fan and is swinging around. Bart throws his lucky red hat in the wash and it dyes all of Homer's work shirts pink. At the plant Homer gets called in for being a "free thinking anarchist". Homer is required to fill out a take home psychological form but has Bart do it instead, he fails and is committed. Homer does Rorschach Test, sees Bart in a blot and goes nuts. Homer's cell mate is a guy who thinks he's Michael Jackson. Marge goes to the mental institution and tells the doctor there really is a Bart so they set Homer free, they give him a certificate that says "not insane". It's Lisa's birthday and with everything going on everyone forgot. Bart promises to not tell anyone Michael is coming but he tells Milhouse. There is a mob scene in front of the house until "Michael Jackson" shows up and everyone sees he's a big White guy. He helps Bart write a song for Lisa.

The show includes a self aware joke, Burns says "Spare me the tiresome antics of the Simpsons Family"

Bart calls the Krusty hotline 1 909 O U Klown

The take home psychological test is from Dr. Marvin Monroe.

Homer watches a version of America's funniest videos. Man Breaking Hip, Dog On Fire, Baby With A Nail Gun "awe" The Simpsons ran opposite AFV in 1990.

We see the Ambulance clip that first appeared in the One Fish Two Fish episode.

New Bedlam Rest Home For The Emotionally Interesting

Sign on mental institution wall "You don't have to be crazy to be committed here but it helps"

Background guys at the mental institution are from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.  Homer says "Hello" to Chief, he says "hello" back Doctors rush over because it was the first time he spoke, he says "well it's about time someone reached out to me"

Speed dial numbers at the mental institution.

Larry King Show

Oprah

Phil Donahue

Geraldo

Ski Report.

(These also fall into the Dated Reference column because other than the Ski Report they were all popular talk shows of the day.)

New Bedlam Wrongly Committed Hotline hold song Crazy by Patsy Cline

Itchy and Scratchy cartoon, Bang The Cat Slowly, reference to the movie Bang The Drum Slowly. Scratchy swallows bomb wrapped as present, blows his head off.

Bart answers phone "Joes crematorium, you kill em, we grill em. Joe's taxidermy, you snuff em, we stuff em.

When Apu decides to go see Michael Jackson we see the Kwik-E-Mart sign, We never close, and on the reverse side Closed for the first time ever

The John 3:16 guy, Rollen Stewart, is at the Simpsons to see Michael Jackson. Ironically the real guy went crazy and wound up in jail for kidnapping and stink bomb attack charges.

Mayor Quimby changes Route1 from Dali Lama Expressway to the Michael Jackson Expressway.

Springfield Shopper headline. Michael Jackson Hoax, everyone mad at local boy.

The name of the guy pretending to be Michael Jackson is Leon Compowski

In the show Michael Jackson did his dialog but they had an impersonator for the songs. There are two stories, one Jackson insisted on the deal, two it was too expensive to get the royalties for Jackson to do the singing but cheaper to have an impersonator sing the songs. 

Mr. Lisa Goes To Washington

This episode aired on September 26th, 1991 in it's usual time slot. It ran opposite Top Cops, The Cosby Show and Gabriel's Fire (a show about a former cop who was sent to prison and is now a private eye)

The chalkboard gag is "Spit wads are not Free Speech" and the couch gag is Homer sits on SLH.

While going through the mail Homer gets a fake check for $1 million. He rushes to the bank where the teller says it's just a promotional ad. He also gets a free copy of Reading Digest which is holding an essay contest, Lisa decides to sign up, she gets her inspiration from the Springfield National Forest. Lisa can't sleep so she goes to the Winifred Beecher Howe Memorial, leader of the floor mop rebellion and featured on the 75¢ piece, she sees member of congress taking bribe to cut down Springfield Forest. She goes to Lincoln memorial but too many people asking questions. Goes to Jefferson memorial, statue talks back and complains about only being visited when the Lincoln Memorial is too crowded. Homer catches Bart getting a room service massage, he's told that the trip is all inclusive so Homer joins him. Lisa changes her essay to the corruption and bribes in Washington, the judges are shocked and Lisa loses the contest. A congressional Paige hears speech and calls a congressman. The crooked Congressman takes bribe in a sting operation and is kicked out of congress in a couple of hours. (If only reality worked that way) Bart can't stand listening to Mark Russel and shoots him with his slingshot.

The title of the show comes from the Jimmy Stewart movie, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington.

Although they were lost in the woods in season one this is the first official Simpsons trip.

Pop Culture Reference: Bart plays fighter pilot in Spirit Of St. Louis at the Smithsonian. Lisa sees the members of congress as a New Yorker political cartoon. Family stays at the Watergate. Mark Russel appears as the entertainment singing about politics just like in real life. 

Marge whispers dirty joke about Washington monument.

Dated Reference: Home Security Trust "we're not a savings and loan", a reference to the S&L collapse during the Reagan era.  The family finds Barbara Bush in the White House bathtub. Tub installed in 1894. Grover Cleveland would have been President. Ted Kennedy is at speech contest.

Reading Digest, a take on the Readers Digest

Signs at essay contest

Welcome Finalist Reading Digest "Brevity is...Wit" (a joke about Readers Digest condensed stories)

Welcome Patriots Of Tomorrow

Bart and Lisa watch Troy McClure and Deloris Montenegro in Preacher With A Shovel, a movie about irrigation in the old west. 

Springfield National Forest sign, Smoking really burns me up. 

The essay contest is held at the Veterans of Popular Wars hall.

Bart pranks Homer with a 2 AM wakeup call. Homer has pillow mint stuck to the side of his head.

Protest signs outside of White House

No Opinion

Everything's A-OK

No Complaints Here!

One Happy Camper!

Things Are Fine!

(That didn't last)

White House Historical Landmark

On this spot Richard Nixon bowled back to back 300 games.

Homer drools on a US Mint worker, guy has Bronson accent. Tour guide says "no we don't give out free samples"

State seal Corn, beaver, star, nuclear symbol

Springfield Shopper shows photo of congressman with Lisa and headline "Never too busy...."

Winifred Beecher Howe quote "I will iron your sheets when you iron out the inequities in your labor laws"

When Flanders Failed

This episode premiered on October 3rd 1991 in it's usual time slot and against the regular programs.

The chalkboard gag is "Nobody likes sunburn slappers" and the couch gag is a repeat the family dance scene.

Homer is mowing his yard with a weedwacker. Ned comes over and invites Homer to his BBQ. Homer skips the bbq to watch the Canadian football draft however he can't resist the smell and goes over. Flanders announces that he's retiring from selling pharmaceuticals and opens The Leftorium a shop that specializes in left handed items. Ned breaks a wish bone with Homer, Homer wins and he wishes to see Ned's new store fail. Bart is watching TV and sees a commercial for a karate academy, $10 a lesson. Ned's store isn't attracting any customers, everyone comes in for free parking validation. Bart gets bored with the class and goes to arcade to play Touch Of Death. Moe has trouble opening a bottle because of right handed cork screw, Homer doesn't tell him about Ned's store. Bart makes Lisa change tv channel, threatens her with touch of death. Homer is mad because the vending machine only has apples. When he goes to put a suggesting in the box he gets caught and has to wait for Mr. Burns to read it, Burns has trouble using a right handed can opener but Homer doesn't tell him about Ned's store. Homer keeps imagining Flanders at closed store, still refuses to tell anyone. Flanders is having a garage sale, Homer buys up all his stuff for  $75. Springfield Collection Agency shows up, Homer begs for time until he finds out it was Flanders they are after. Homer sees Ned just as he imagined. Bullies steal Lisa's sax, she sicks Bart on them, he gets his butt kicked. Homer goes over to Ned's and finds out that his house is being repossessed and the family is spending the night in the car until they go to Capitol City to live with Ned's sister. Homer feels guilty and calls everyone to go to the shop the next day and saves Ned. 

Weed whacker labeled Property Of Ned Flanders. This is the first time we see items that Homer "borrowed" from Ned but didn't give back.

Homer's wishes:

President Declares World Peace

President Homer Declares World Peace

President Simpsons Wins Super Bowl

Flanders Stupid Left Handed Shop "Going out of business"

RIP Ned Flanders "eh, too far"

Itchy and Scratchy Show "Oh Solo Meow" Scratchy eats bomb disguised as meatball. 

Mall stores: Vendettas, The Ladder Barn, Thongs Are Us, Coming Soon Gum For Less. Simply Shoes And Athletic Wear and Active Wear. Perky Hut

Kids in Karate class read The Art Of War.

Lisa mentions schadenfreude (this was the first time I heard that word)

Ned's shop to be turned into the Libertarian Party Headquarters, he says "I hope they have better luck than I did".

Burns buys left handed roadster with Diner's Club card.

Homer says Ned is the "Richest Left Handed Man In Town", reference to the line from It's A Wonderful Life

Bart The Murderer

This episode premiered on October 10th 1991. It ran in it's usual time slot and against the regular programming. 

The chalkboard gag is "High Explosives and School don't mix" (You couldn't get away with that joke in the modern world) and the couch gag is the family forms a pyramid with Maggie on top.

Bart is looking forward to the day but he starts it off by stepping on a pointy toy, and then he can't find the glow in the dark police badge, Homer already got it out of the cereal, SLH ate his homework and he missed the bus and has to walk to school in the rain. When he finally gets to school he rips his pants and gets hit by a ball. Then he finds out he forgot his permission slip to go to the chocolate factory and gets stuck at school. Skinner makes him seal envelopes for the PTA. While the kids go nuts at the chocolate factory Bart has to walk home in the rain. On the way the wheel pops off his skateboard and he finds himself at the Legitimate Businessman's Social Club at gunpoint. Fat Tony asks Bart to pick a horse in the third race as the Shelbyville Downs, Bart says "eat my shorts" which just happens to be the name of a horse but he's running in the 5th. Tony gets mad so Bart says "don't have a cow man" which happens to be the name of a horse in the third. They make Bart mix a Manhattan. The mob hires Bart to work at the club for $30 a week plus tips. Bart introduces mob to Itchy and Scratchy. Wiggums shows up looking for stolen cigarette truck, the mob is storing them in Bart's bedroom. Homer thinks Bart is taking up smoking so he plants to teach Bart a lesson by making him smoke all the cigarettes until one of Fat Tony's men shows up to pick up cartons. Wiggums holds press conference to assure smokers more cigarettes are on the way. Bart finds out he's working for the mob but they give him a suit so he doesn't quit. Homer goes to club, they let him win at poker so he lets Bart keep the job. Bart gets caught having his gang graffiti the school building and he tries to bribe Skinner to look the other way but gets punished and is late for work. The Big boss shows up for a Manhattan but Louie mixes it wrong. Mob boss gives Fat Tony the kiss of death. The mob goes to have a word with Skinner, when he turns up missing Bart gets worried. Bart dreams about zombie Skinners, killed by different mob techniques, and winds up in the Death House. Bart goes to Fat Tony to ask if they killed Skinner, just then the police show up and arrest them all. Bart ends up in jail with Sideshow Bob. Lionel Hutz is his attorney. Fat Tony and his gang claims that Bart was the leader of the gang and responsible for all their crimes. Just as the judge is about to find Bart guilty Skinner busts into court room. The mob talked nicely to Skinner but he kicks them out. He was trapped under pile of recycled newspapers. The police never searched his garage. Bart quits the mob. They make a movie about Bart as a mob boss but don't pay the Simpsons for their likeness, Homer says the real criminals are those sleazy Hollywood producers, just as producers credits roll.

This episode introduces Fat Tony Williams, Legs and Louie, and Jack Larson spokesman for Laramie Cigarettes. 

Lisa eating Jackie O's (Reference to Jackie Onassis) Free stretch pants inside. Bart eats Chocolate Frosted Frosty Krusty Flakes "Only sugar has more sugar" "Inside Free glow-in-the-dark Police Badge" Other cereals Vitafillers and Kelp Chex (30 years before the kelp craze, another Simpsons prediction)

The chocolate factory is called Ah Fudge, the writers sneak in a joke about a vulgar comment. Chocolate factory mascot Cocoa Beanie.

Troy McClure does the information film on the history of chocolate You probably remember me from The Revenge Of Abe Lincoln and The Wackies Covered Wagon In the West. 

Horses in the third race are all cartoon characters catchphrases. Ain't I A Stinker (Bugs Bunny), Yabba Dabba Do (Fred Flintstone), That's all folks (Porky Pig), Suffering Succotash (Yosemite Sam) and I Yam What I Yam (Popeye). 

Barrel with radioactive symbol in Simpson's basement.

Itchy And Scratchy. The Sound Of Silencers. Cop Itchy does St. Valentine's massacre on cats. 

FBI truck labeled Pizza Delivery Truck until Marge mentions it, it's replaced by Flowers By Irene, (FBI)

Second chalkboard joke "I will not bribe Principal Skinner"

The Big mob boss says "What have I done to deserve this flat flavorless Manhattan", This is a reference to the opening scene in The Godfather. 

Headline Principal Still Missing, Police search for body. Psychic Joins Skinner Hunt. Principal Murder Trial Begins Today (Photo of Bart) Sentencing Today For Dinky Don (cartoon of Bart as octopus with tentacles on Springfield including nuclear power plant)

Princess Opal Psychic predictions. Wedding bells for Vanna White and Teddy Kennedy. Willie Nelson swims English Channel. Splitsville for Delta Burke and Major Dad. 

Seymour Skinner Memorial Fire Hose

Protest signs in Bart's dream Fry Bart Fry Lets Have a Bart-B-que! Kill My Boy (Homer's sign)

Dated reference, put phone books under Bart so he's tall enough for electric chair. 

Bumper sticker on Fat Tony's limo Mafia Staff Car Keepa-u-hands off!

The movie about the Springfield Mob, The Bart Simpsons story starring Richard Chamberlin as Skinner, Joe Mantegna as Fat Tony (actual voice actor of Fat Tony), Jane Seymour as The Woman He Loved and Neil Patrick Harris as Bart. 

Homer Defined

This episode premiered on October 17th, 1991 in it's usual time slot and opposite the regular programs.

The chalkboard gag is "I will not squeak chalk" (squeaking chalk sound effect) and the couch gag is an alien is sitting on the couch watching TV and drinking a beer. When he hears the family coming in he pulls a cord, a trap door opens up and he jumps out of site. 

It's Milhouse's birthday but it turns out Bart wasn't invited to the Saturday party, even Otto was invited. Bart gives him a set of Krusty walkie talkies. When Bart finds out he becomes depressed and stays on the school bus. At work Homer falls asleep while the core overheats. Homer finds himself trapped at his control panel. Homer says "If they look up stupid in the dictionary there'll be a picture of me. Flashback to his training, instead of paying attention to the meltdown button he's playing with a Rubic's cube. Homer does Enie meanie miney moe and hits a button, stops meltdown. Burns names Homer Employee of the Month, Smithers jealous. Bart finds out that Milhouses mother is the one who doesn't want them playing together. Mithouse tries to call Bart on Walkie Talkie but Bart tosses it in the trash. Homer is introduced to Shelbyville nuclear power plant operator, has to give inspirational speech. Marge asks Milhouse's mother to let the boys play together. Lisa wants to write about Homer for the school paper. Bart is allowed to go back to Milhouse's, takes BB gun. During Homer's speech the plant goes into meltdown. Homer does the same thing he did before,  everyone shocked. Wiggum's goes to bank to cash in pennies, prevents a robbery and Magic Johnson slips, loses control of the ball but makes a basket and lands among the cheerleaders, both say they "pulled a Homer Simpson". The episode ends with the family looking up "Pulled a Homer" in the dictionary. 

Dated reference "If you look up X in the dictionary...." Today people look stuff up on Google. Skinner has the kids do a duck and cover maneuver, a hold over from the Cold War era. Meltdown clock stops at 007, a reference to the bomb in Goldfinger.

Homer is reading the USofA Today paper, the headline is America's Favorite Pencil #2 is #1, the story is about how SAT scores are declining at a slower rate. This is a spin on the USA Today, a newspaper dedicated to good news. 

BB gun Dead Eye BB Gun. 

Smither's has a Yorkie. Just another hint. Tells Mr Burns I love you, Offers to kiss Mr. Burns' sorry ass goodbye.

Simpson hired under project BootStrap, "thank you President Ford"

The breaking news story is called Meltdown crisis, the first couple of minutes. 

Mr. Burns tells the new that it isn't a meltdown but an unrequested fission surplus.

The Springfield Reactor is a 1952 slow fission reactor.

The old folks change the channel from the meltdown to Wheel Of Fortune. 

Professor Frink is the new's science expert, he explains the nuclear meltdown death circle. 

Comic Book Guy selling t shirt I survived the Springfield Nuclear Scare

Employee of the month awards, Ham, plaque, discount coupon book and a thumbs up from Mr Burns and a call from Magic Johnson. 

Itchy and Scratchy show My Dinner With Itchy Wine really acid, Scratchy blinded and run over by trolly. Title a reference to My Dinner With Andre.

Krusty Ham. (we don't know he's jewish yet)

First My Two Cents with Kent Brockman

Milhouses mother. First appearance, isn't mentioned by name.

Homer's definition:

Stupid

1) Slow of mind

2) Unintelligent

3) Homer Simpson

Lucky

1) Prone to good fortune

2) Succeeding through chance

3) Homer Simpsons

Fraud

1) Imposter

2) Fake

3) Homer Simpson

Homer

1) American bonehead

2) Pull a Homer- To succeed despite idiocy 

Thus brings us into the third season of the show. Only 707 more to go. 

 The Simpsons 41 through 44

Like Father, Like Clown

This episode premiered on October 24th, 1991. It was in it's usual time slot and ran opposite Columbo (1991) The World Series (Braves vs. Twins) and The Cosby Show. 

The chalkboard gag is "I will finish what I sta" Bart has written a single line and the A drags off the board. The couch gag is everyone sits down and then Bart comes diving in laying across all their laps.

The episode starts at the Krusty show where he hits Mel with an axe handle. His assistant tells him his list of things he's suppose to do including having dinner with Bart but he cancels it, again. There is a hint that the assistant is in love with Krusty. When Krusty fails to show up Bart quits his fan club. The assistant demands that Krusty go to dinner, And while he's there he says grace in Hebrew. Krusty tells the story about how he and his father had a falling out because he is a clown instead of a Rabbi, after dinner Krusty refuses to leave. The next day on his show Krusty starts to have a breakdown, Bart and Lisa decide to get involved. They find out that Krusty's father does a radio show with Reverend Lovejoy, "Gabbin with God". Krusty calls the show but can't talk. The kids try calling to ask about forgiving his son but the Rabbi gets mad. Later Bart pretends to be a Rabbi but again fails. They try to get Krusty and his father together at the Deli but the Rabbi gets angry when he learns what is on a Krusty sandwich. Lisa then gives Bart a bunch of quotes to challenge the Rabbi but they always fail, until they use a quote from Sammy Davis Jr. The Rabbi decides to go see Krusty and they reunite on the show. 

The plot of this episode is based on the movie The Jazz Singer (the modern Neil Diamond version)

Other characters on the Krusty show, Corporal Punishment, Tina Ballerina, and in this episode Donna Mills from Knotts Landing (dated reference). The show also introduces Mr. Genie, Krusty's monkey, but not by name. He's told to go wait in the car when Bart tells Krusty he doesn't have to be "on" and perform at the Simpson house. We also see the band on the Krusty show, Krusty and the Krums.

In this episode we learn that Krusty's real name is Hershel Krustofsky and his father is Hymen Krustofsky, voiced by Jackie Mason. This was a big deal because Mason had pretty much been banned from TV after the infamous "middle finger" comment on the The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. Mason would go on to win the Emmy for this episode.

Dated references, Krusty gets his start playing the Catskills, one the hotbed of Jewish talent. Rabbi Krustofsky says "If you were a magician or a jazz singer" in reference to the movie that the plot of the episode is based on. When Krusty is trying to stick around the Simpson's house he pulls out the record The concert for Bangladesh, the album from the live concert George Harrison put on to raise money for India. The kids tell Krusty that Francois Mitterrand wants to meet with him, he was President of France from 1981 to 1995. The kids also tell the Rabbi that Saul Bellow wants to have lunch, he is a multiple award winning Jewish author.

Itchy and Scratchy Show Field Of Screams Itchy and son run over Scratchy and son with a wheat thresher. 

Springfield Background Stuff:

Krusty Non Toxic Cologne The smell of the Big Top. Warning use in a well ventilated area May stain furniture. Prolonged use may cause chemical blisters.

Krusty calls the 1-909-Sex-Chat but it's just a bunch of guys, including Apu.

Yiddle's Practical Jokes, Magic Tricks and Medical Supplies shop. 

Springfield X theater marquee

For Your Thighs Only

Crocodile Done Me

Doctor Strangepants

Issues at the magazine stand

Ballooning Monthly

Cooking With Coconuts Magazine

Faberge Egg Owner

Ballpoint Ben Digest

Modern Jewish Father

When Krusty is hanging out at the bus stop there is a poster for Scenic South Dakota and he's watching a coin operated movie, Hercules vs. The Martians.

Temple Beth Springfield This Saturday "Coping With Christmas"

Radio Station stuff on wall, Autographed Bleeding Gums Murphy poster, Larry David Experience gold record (a band first seen in the Some Enchanted Evening episode)

Sandwiches at Izzy's Deli:

The Joey Bishop, Jackie Mason (the guest voice on the episode),  Bruce Willis and the Krusty (ham sausage bacon with mayo on white bread)

At the library Lisa reads several books:

The Big Book of the Chosen People

Jewishness Revisited 

Jews on Jews

And Bard reads The Pop Up Bible

Treehouse Of Horror II (The Simpson's Halloween Special II)

This episode premiered on October 31st 1991 (Halloween) It ran in it's usual time slot and opposite Gabriel's Fire, Top Cops and The Cosby Show.

The show starts, just like the first one, with Marge giving a warning to the audience that the show isn't suitable for small children. 

The opening credits pan though the cemetery. The Charlie Brown kids are seen running past the Simpson's house. Marge warns the family that if they eat too much candy they'll have nightmares.

Lisa's Nightmare: The family is visiting Marrakech Morocco, Homer buys a Monkey's Paw despite being warned of the curse. Maggie makes the first wish, for a better pacifier. Bart wish for the family to be rich and famous, soon they are swimming in cash but become annoying. Lisa wishes for world peace. Alines see peaceful world and conquer them with sling shot and club. Homer makes the final wish, for the perfect turkey sandwich, which turns out to be a little dry. Homer throws out the Monkey's paw, Ned takes is and wishes to get rid of alines. Moe chases them off with a board with nail. Of course none of Ned's wishes are cursed.

Lisa wakes up from her bad dream and asks if she can stay in Bart's room

Bart's nightmare: Bart has unlimited powers and forces everyone to maintain happy thoughts, when Jasper doesn't do it he's turned into the man/dog creature seen in Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978 version). Homer is watching football but Bart wants to watch Krusty, he turns Homer into the football and he hits the goal post. Krusty has been on the air non stop. Homer tries to kill Bart but is turned into a Jack In The Box. Marge makes Bart go to Dr. Monroe who says Homer needs to spend more time with Bart. Bart and Homer both say they love each other, Bart wakes up screaming.

The kids both ask if they can sleep in their parent's bed.

Homer's nightmare: Homer is fired from the power plant. Mr Burns creates a robot worker but it requires a brain. Homer takes a job at a cemetery but falls asleep in a grave, Burns and Smithers finds him and uses his brain in the robot. The robot has all of Homer's traits from eating donuts to sleeping on the job. When they return Homer's brain to his body the robot falls over and crushes Burns. Homer wakes up because Bart bit him, he finds that Burn's head has been sewn onto his body. 

"Next week on The Simpsons." Conflict arises when Homer wants to go to all you can eat spaghetti night but Burns has an appointment to meet Queen Beatrix. 

Cemetery Headstones:

Bambi's Mom

Jim Morrison (covered in graffiti, hippies sitting by it and there is a bottle on the stone)

Cajun Cooking (a trend in the 90's)

Walt Disney (In Disney script)

Lose weight now, ask me how

The names in the credits have scary monikers. 

Pop culture references:  Homer is found smuggling souvenirs (the scene is a reference to the movie Midnight Express), Kent Brokman mentions that the President Primaries are only a few months away, The episode aired three days before the 1992 election, Clinton defeated Bush sr. England apologizes to Argentina for the Falklands, a war in 1982. Lisa's shirt: I kissed the Balmoujeloud. A misspelled reference to the Bab Bou Jeloud perhaps? An ancient gate in Marrakech and a reference to the Blarney Stone in Ireland. The kids stay up late to watch Johnny Carson do Carnac The Magnificent. While operating on Homer, Mr. Burns hums "If I only had a brain" then while wearing Homer's brain on his head he says "Look at me I'm Davy Crockett", a reference to Coon Skin Cap craze of the 1950's. Burns says he has a meeting with Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. She was queen until she abdicated the throne in 2013. The Simpsons Calypso album is released on 8-Track, a popular way to listen to music in the 70's but pretty much faded out in the mid 80's

The Simpson's family costumes, Marge is Bride of Frankenstein, Bart is an executioner, Maggie a Witch and Lisa a Totem poll.  Bart's candy bucket is a severed head

This episode features the first appearance of The Gilded Truffle, the fanciest restaurant in Springfield.

Self Aware, The famous Simpsons start to annoy people "at first they were cute and funny but now they're just annoying" (This was said 32 years ago and The Simpsons is still on the air). Bart shirt for $18, says Hi Man instead one of his famous catch phrases (Yes, I had a "Don't have a cow man" shirt). The Simpsons Go Calypso! On CD and 8-Track. In the real world The Simpsons released 6 albums. 

Popular Bart Simpson Billboard: Get a Mammogram Man. A public service message. 

Headline:

World Peace Declared with photo of Lisa.

Monsters Okay Slavery Plan

Springfield Background stuff:

Stores in Springfield

Johnson's Shrimp and Crab House

Howard's Movers

Safely Insurance 

Mr. Dave's Donuts

Horseradisheray

Semi-Painless Dentistry (was in the Season One opening credits)

Prank call to Moe's "I'm a stupid moron with an ugly face and a big butt and my butt smells and I'd like to kiss my own butt."

Dr. Marvin Monroe, Child Psychologist, Member of the Bonerland Medical Association. (reference to Bart's answer about the name of the country on his test)

Lisa's nightmare is based on the short story The Monkey's Paw by W. W. Jacobs

Bart's nightmare is based on the Twilight Zone episode It's A Good Life about a kid with unlimited powers.

Homer's nightmare ends with a scene from the horror movie The Thing With Two Heads.

Lisa's Pony

This episode premiered on November 7th, 1991 It ran in it's usual time slot and opposite the regular programs.

The chalkboard gag is "Bart Bucks" are not legal Tender and the couch gag is Homer lays down on the couch and everyone else sits on top of him. 

The episode starts with The Dawn Of Man, a spin on the opening of 2001.  While all the other monkeys start using tools Monkey Homer just leans against it and takes a nap, fade to the modern world where Homer is taking a nap at work. Lisa calls Homer because the reed on her saxophone is broken she needs a 4 1/2. Homer stops for a beer instead of going to the store. When he finishes he discovers the music store is closed but the guy is at the bar. He refuses to help Homer until Moe talks him into opening. Homer gets to the recital late and Lisa sounds horrible with the cracked reed. To make up for it Homer takes Lisa out for ice cream, the Mt. Bellyache. Homer tries to spend time with Lisa but fails. He decides to go with the quick fix and buy Lisa a pony. The pet shop guy tells Homer to go to the pony farm on Route 401. Homer writes a check and dates it Jan. 1st 2054. When this show aired that was 63 years in the future, now its 31 years away, more than half the time has passed. Homer goes to the power plant loan office. Mr. Burns handles the loan himself. Homer buys the horse for $5000 and plans on keeping it in the garage but ends up having to pay $530 a month for a stable. Homer tries to fake wining a scratch lottery, Apu offer hims a job on the graveyard shift. Homer is completely exhausted. Lisa and Bart find out Homer working at Kwik-E-Mart, Bart goes in to harass him. Lisa decides to give up the pony. 

Homer's calendar features Miss Atomic Pile. The talent show on Thursday November 12th. However the 12th fell on a Tuesday in 1991.

This episode does the too powerful hair drier gag originally featured in the Ullman Shorts.

First appearance of King Toots Music Store, right next to Moe's Tavern. Phineas Q. Butterfat's 5600 Flavors Ice Cream Parlor. (Homer orders the Mt. Bellyache, a wheelbarrow full of ice cream, for $88, $192.75 in modern money.)

The Talent Show talents: A Chinese kid does chair stacking balancing, Milhouse plays Sweet Georgia Brown on the spoons. Bart does imitations of the teachers and gets in trouble. Terri and Sherri do a knife throwing act. Kid sings Ding A Ling but is cut off, Lisa tries to play Stormy Weather but her broken reed sounds horrible.

Marge imagines what is keeping Homer from the show, flat tire, treed by a bear, abducted by aliens, drunk.

Pop Culture Reference: Waking up with horse head in bed complete with the music from The Godfather. Lisa plays Wildfire, a song about a girl and her horse (both ghosts btw). Homer has dream on way home based on Little Nemo in Slumberland comic strip. Johnny Carson makes a Milli Vanilli joke. Homer says "Take this job and restaff it" in reference to the Johnny Paycheck song "Take this job and shove it".

Dated reference: Homer watches video of Lisa on a Beta player. On video Homer is watching Fantasy Island during Lisa's first steps. Carton of cigarettes costs $10, today a single pack of American Spirits costs that much. Homer says if he spend more time doing girly things with Lisa he'll go fruity, you couldn't say that in the modern woke world. 

Springfield Background Stuff:

Pet Shop: All Creatures Great and Cheap. You pet it you bought it. Rubber bones 99¢. The clerk at the pet shop is the guy with Bronson accent. 

The Grateful Gelding Stables. 

Employee Credit Union Ask about our paycheck docking plan.

Fiesta Terrace For Single Living where Apu hooks up with Princess Cashmere. 

Signs in Homer's dream:

Entering Slumberland

Food

Gas

Beds  

There is a mention of Usury laws, they protect the borrower against excess interest rates.

Saturdays Of Thunder

This episode premiered on November 14th. 1991 in it's usual time slot and ran opposite the regular programs. 

The title of the episode came from the 1990 racing movie Days Of Thunder

The chalkboard gag is "I will not fake rabies" and the couch gag is when the family jumps on the couch the cushions fall inward and they get stuck with their feet above their heads.

 Bart is building something in the garage while Homer is watching TV. Just as he's about to buy an on line cleaning product when Patty and Selma show up. Homer takes Lisa to the video store. At the beauty parlor Selma suggests Homer take a fatherhood test. Homer laughs at Patty and Selma's new hair. After failing a fatherhood test Homer discovers that Bart is building a soap box derby car. (Bart had talked about building in in the Itchy And Scratchy And Marge episode). Homer calls the National Father's Institute. At the institute there is a disaster when a shark attacks the kid in the Father And Son Underwater Activities experiment. "Dear God, not again!" Homer uses reverse psychology to convince Bart to let him help with the soap box derby car. At race Martin wins, Nelson comes in second and Bart's car falls apart before finish line. Martin breaks his arm and has Bart drive his car instead. Homer is upset that Bart doesn't want to fix up their car, it collapses under his weight. Bart is upset that Homer stayed home to watch TV but then sees dad in the stands. Bart wins and the scientists at the National Father Institute celebrates.

I can't believe they invented it! The Foam Dome (Homer wears one) The Jet Walker, Mr. Sugar Cube (Homer owns one), Spiffy stain remover (invented by Dr. Nick) which they use to clean Edgar Allen Poe's headstone. 

Troy McClure tv shows: Buck Henderson: Union Buster and Troy And Company Summertime Smile Factory.

Homer gives expiration date on credit card, 1989, changes it to 2012 in habitual liar voice based on Jon Lovitz's character Tommy Flanagan "yeah, that's the ticket". That was 11 years in the future when this episode aired.

Pop Culture References: Homer misses Joe Theismann's knee injury (Unless you have a strong stomach do not google that video). National Father's Institute has a mural of a father and son based on Vitruvian Man by Da Vinci. the National Father's Institute's hold song Cat's in the Cradle. Nelson's car has spoke cutters like the chariot in Ben Hur, he even whips Bart during the race. Homer is in stands with the sun behind him like Glen Close in The Natural.

Dated reference: They go to a video store called VHS Video, Formerly Beta Barn

Movies at the video rental store. 

Panic In Alaska

That Night Over In England

Skoal, The Musical

Da Da Da

Border Sista

The Bad Football

Speed Boat Bloopers

Frisbee 1991

Super Jock

Go Fight, A Cheerleaders Story

Death By Knockout

Bench Clearing Brawls

Blood On The Ice

Football's Greatest Injuries

Lisa looking for a Happy Elves film, first seen in the Simpson's Christmas Special

McBain movie: Black partner Skully just about to retire, gets murdered by Mendoza.  Skully's boat is named Live-4-Ever (Skully is based on Danny Glover's character in Lethal Weapon) Dying just days before retirement becomes a comedy trope in more than just the Simpsons.

Fatherhood test

Name one of your child's friends, Homer says "the fat kid with the thing, the little wiener who always has his hands in his pockets." Homer then makes up the name "Hank Jones" When he takes test again says "Martin"

Who is your son's hero? Homer says "Steve McQueen", in the second test he says "Ronnie Beck"

Name another dad you talk to about parenting, Homer says "next". Second test he asks Ned about parenting but leaves before he gets an answer.

Name your son's hobbies. Homer says "well he's always chewing on that phone cord" Marge points out that he stopped doing it when he was two. Homer says Bart doesn't have any hobbies. Second test says "soap box derby"

The Father Institute gives Homer a copy of Bill Cosby's Fatherhood, "Thank you Bill Cosby, you saved The Simpsons" The Cosby Show was running opposite The Simpsons at the time. (After the whole Cosby revelation that joke wouldn't be allowed today)

Soapbox cars, Bart's is the  Lil Lightning. Martin's is the Honor Roller and Nelson's car is the Roadkill 2000 (a spin on the movie Death Race 2000)

Lisa wants to go to the doctors office for a tetanus update, says she's being "anal". You couldn't say that today.

5 more episodes down. I really feel like we're getting somewhere.