The Simpsons 31though 35

Brush With Greatness

This episode aired on April 11th, 1991. It ran in it's usual time slot and opposite Father Dowling Mysteries, Top Cops and The Cosby Show. 

The chalkboard gag is "I will not hide behind the Fifth Amendment" and the couch gag is a repeat of the couch crashing sideways.

The show opes with Krusty appearing at Mt. Splashmore. Bart and Lisa bug Homer to go to water park until he gives in. Homer can't fit into swimsuit. Lisa fakes crying to get to the front of long line. Homer pretends to be line inspector. Hoper gets stuck in waterslide so they send in more kids to unplug the ride. Eventually have to remove pipe to get him out, the incident appears on local news. Homer is so embarrassed that he goes on a diet. While looking for his exercise equipment Homer finds a bunch of paintings of Ringo Starr made by Marge. Marge gave up painting because of cruel teacher and no response from Ringo. Marge signs up for painting classes at community college, Apu is there and signs up for screenwriting class. Lombard teacher draws Groening rabbit. Marge's teacher submits her painting to the community art show she wins first place. Burns is donating an art wing of the local museum and wants a portrait but he rejects all paintings and sculptures so he plans to hire Marge. Donut guy freaks out when he finds that Homer went on diet. Burns insists Marge paint him.  Ringo goes through old fan mail finds Marge's painting. Burns insults Homer's weight, Marge kicks him out. Marge gets letter from Ringo praising her painting. Marge is inspired and paints Burns nude, she explains that she painted him that way to show him as an old fragile person. Burns thanks her for not making fun of his junk, she said she did.

The first appearance of Mt. Splashmore

Signs at Mt. Splashmore

2 hours free parking

Nose plug rental

Trauma center on premises

This park is not copless so please don't go topless

Wavewalker, you will get wet

H2Whoa!

Rock-A-bye Riptide, Water Changed Hourly (kids pool)

Stop If you have Athletes Foot Impetigo or Yeast Infection.

Springfield community college extension center "Where old dogs learn new tricks"

The Krusty the Clown show features Kroon Along With Krusty, which is just an attempt to get kids to beg to go to Mt. Splashmore, which Bart and Lisa do with the repeatedly asking question bit.

Pop Culture Line for H2Whoa is Escher's print of Ascending and Descending, When Homer goes on his diet he paraphrases the Gone With The Wind Line "as god as my witness I'll always be hungry again" Mr. Burhs reads a Ziggy comic strip in the funny papers. At the art show featuring Marge's painting there is a Warhol Soup Can print in the background.

In a reverse Pop Culture, The scene where Homer gets stuck in the water slide tube would be plagiarized in the The Gang Goes To The Water Park episode of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia.

This is the first appearance by a former Beatles, Ringo Starr, who does the voice of his own character. He use to reply to fan mail personally just like in the show but in 2008 he asked fans to stop sending stuff for autographs. Ringo also sings It don't come easy in the episode. The show also featured the first appearance of Ms. Hoover but only as a background characters, not by name or profession.

Homer weights 260 pounds. On his diet he drops to 249, then 239. In the episode Homer's Night Out he weight 239 pounds so  he got back to his original weight. 

There are more hints about Smithers feelings toward Burns.

Lisa's Substitute

This episode aired on April 25th, 1991 in it's usual times slot opposite the usual programs.

There isn't a chalkboard gag in this episode and the couch gag is a repeat of the missing couch.

Ms. Hoover has Lyme disease and won't be teaching the class. Skinner explains the disease to the class basically saying it will spread to Hoover's brain and kill her. For show and tell Bart bring a video of the cat giving birth. The new substitute, Mr. Bergstrom shows up dressed like a cowboy and asks the kids to name three things wrong with his costume. Lisa tries to guess, she points out he's wearing a State of Texas belt buckle and a revolver which hadn't been invented in the time period he claimed to be from, and says there were no Jewish cowboys, even though there were. Bergstrom points out that he's wearing a digital watch. Meanwhile Terri and Sherri nominate Bart for for class president, Homer starts pushing Bart to win. Marge wants Homer to take Lisa to the museum, he claims he has plans with 'the boy" but ends up going. Homer finds out the museum is free but it's suggested donations of $4.50. Homer feels stupid compared to Bergstrom and Lisa gets mad at him for ruining museum outing. Marge suggests inviting the teacher over for dinner but when Lisa gets to school she discovers that Ms. Hoover it back, she didn't really have Lyme disease. The class polls are open until after recess but Bart hold victory party before anyone votes and loses to Martin. Lisa goes to Mr. Bergstrom's apartment, finds he packed his Copernicus costume and is catching the train to Capitol City. Lisa chases down Bergstrom, he tells her it's the life of a substitute teacher, he's on his way to the projects. Bergstrom gives Lisa a note, "You are Lisa Simpson" Lisa does the chasing the train bit. Lisa gets mad at Homer for not caring and calls him a Baboon. Homer has a talk with Lisa and pretends to be a monkey. He then talks to Bart and points out that Class President is an empty title. Both kids feel better.

Dustin Hoffman does the voice of Mr. Bergstrom but the credits list the actor as Sam Etic (semitic, get it?)

This is the first time Ms. Hoover is mentioned by name. She catches Lyme disease which was the popular plague of the day.

Pop Culture References: In his campaign speech Martin names the science fiction authors, Asimov Bester, Clark. Other nerdy kid suggests Ray Bradbury, Martin scoffs and tells the class to "Keep watching the skies", a quote from the movie The Thing From Another World. Mr. Bergstrom reads Charlotte's Web. Mrs. Krabappel hits on Bergstrom, he replies "You're trying to seduce me",  a take on the classic scene from The Graduate. The school paper shows a double photo, Martin holding a paper with Simpson Defeats Prince on it while the headline reads Prince Beats Simpson, this is a reference to the  Dewey Defeats Truman headline in the Chicago Tribune after the 1948 election. There is a mention of Leland Stanford and the Golden Spike, the final spike driven into the Transcontinental Railroad. The train Mr. Bergstrom rides to Capitol City is called The Afternoon Delight in reference to the Starland Vocal Band hit song.

School paper headline:

Bart to Martin, Eat My Shorts

School election posters

A vote for Bart is a vote for Anarchy. (both candidates hang this poster)

SEX! Now that I have your attention vote for Bart!

Martin Prince, Yes Martin Prince

Lunch Menu:

Sloppy Joes, Tater Tots, Fish Sticks.

At the Natural History Musseum:

Welcome to the Childarium and the Age of Heroes sandwich shop.

Homer puts his hand on Tesla ball, two hairs stand up.

In this episode Marge says no little girl can be happy unless she has faith in her daddy. Later this will come back. Was it planned?

The War Of The Simpsons

This episode aired on May 2nd, 1991 in it's usual times lot and opposite the usual shows.

The chalkboard gag is "I will not do anything bad ever again" and the couch gag is a repeat of everyone popping off except Homer. 

The Simpsons are throwing a party. Flanders runs the bar pissing off Moe. Barney talks to Patty and Selma they mace him. Homer gets drunk and causes a scene, passes out on the floor. The next day he and Marge have a fight. At the Sunday services Reverend Lovejoy announces marriage retreat at Catfish Lake, Marge signs them up. When the arrives she babysitter remembers taking care of Bart and runs away, they ask Grandpa to watch the kids. Bart has a separate list which includes smoking cigars. A guy at gas station tells Homer about General Sherman, a 500 pound catfish. Ned and Maude are at the marriage retreat because Maude underlines passages in Ned's Bible. Marge spends several hours listing out Homer's faults. The next day Homer gets caught trying to sneak out to go fishing. Marge tells him off so he goes for a walk. A kid leaves a fishing pole by the dock, Homer accidentally hooks General Sherman. Bart throws a party, the house gets trashed, Grandpa fakes crying until the kids clean up the mess. Homer catches General Sherman but after Marge tells him off he throws it back. Worm shop guy changes his story to include an exaggerated version of Homer.

Homer describes their wedding as a big bash with a band, champaign and holy men. This will be one of the continuity issues in the future.

A tray at the Simpson party spells out Try Our Party Snacks, Bart changes it to Boy Our Party Sucks.

Pop Culture Reference: When Homer remembers himself at the party he sees it as a Hirschfeld drawings. The other couple at the marriage retreat are Johnny and Gloria characters from the movie Who's Afraid Of Virginia Wolfe? Homer says catching General Sherman will make him most famous fisherman, more famous than that bald guy on TV.

Church pamphlets:

 Bible Battlers

Satan's Boners

Good Grief More Satan's Boners

 It's Not Cool To Fry In Hell.

Guy at church looks like Hitler

There is another scene from the McBain movie, He shoots the rules book.

This episode features the first appearance of Snake, the career criminal. Someone invites him to Bart's party. This is the first Nelson "Ha Ha".

Three Men And A Comic Book.

This episode first aired on May 9th 1991 in it's usual time slot and opposite the regular programs. (It was the last episode of Babes before it was cancelled.)

The chalkboard gag is "I will not show off" (written in an Old English font) and the couch gag is a repeat of the couch falling over backwards.

The kids are going to a comic book convention, on the way they talk about how Richie Rich died and became Casper. Bart tries to get in for the discount price by dressing like Bartman. Bart sees the first edition of Radioactive Man and wants to buy it, but it costs $100. Homer pulls reverse question bit by asking Bart if he'll give up asking for the money. Marge tells the story of how she saved up money to buy an E-Z Bake Oven. Patty and Selma have normal voices until they have free time and start smoking. Bart cashes in a bottle at the Kwik-E-Mart and smashes the coin collection Patty and Selma gave him. He tries a lemonade stand but isn't selling so he turns to beer. The cops show up and he bribes them will a free drink. Bart works for Mrs. Glick cleaning her yard. After a week's work she pays him 50¢. Bart comes home to complain about work, Homer tells him he's proud of Bart figuring out work is for chumps. When Bart goes by the comic book shop Martin is there trying to buy the comic book, then Milhouse comes in, they decide to pool their money and buy it. However when they start to head home they can't decide on who should keep it so they spend the night in Bart's treehouse. Martin comes up with a plan to share the book however it means he gets it first, Bart insists they all stay there for the night. They all start to distrust each other. When Martin heads to the restroom Bart thinks he trying to steal the comic book and ties him up. Bart and Milhouse get into a fight, the comic flies out of the treehouse, SLH chews it up and then lightning strikes it. Marge shows up and orders the boys into the house. The next morning Homer discovers that he left his car window down and the boys find the remains of the comic book. 

The title of this episode came from the 1987 movie Three Men And A Baby.

Pop Culture References: Sign at convention 12th (pasted over past numbers) Annual "Close Encounters Of The Comic Book Kind" Convention. A reference to the Close Encounters movie that came out in 1977. Wannabe comic book art is evaluated by Jolly Jack Tate. This is Matt Groening in real life who would evaluate comic book drawings when he was promoting The Simpsons at various functions in the early days. Otto creates a comic book called Busman with a drawing that looks like a Frank Frazetta painting. The distrust plot of the episode came from the movie The Treasure Of The Sierra Madres. The TV Fallout Boy actor Buddy Hodges appears at the convention, he's a take on Burt Ward, the tv Robin. Bart asks Buddy about the death of Dirk Ricktor, similar to the death of the original Superman George Reeves. Buddy Hodges appearing in Cats as Rum Tum Tuger. Danial Stern does the voice over of future Bart thinking about getting a job, spin on The Wonder Years. Radioactive Man's origin story is similar to The Hulk. Milhouse wants Carl Yastrzemski card with the big sideburns, he was a player for the Boston Red Sox from 1961 through 1983.

Admission: $8, $5 if you're dressed like a cartoon character. $18 and $11 in the modern world.

First appearance of Bartman, Bart's superhero alternate identity.

Mayor Quimby (first time he calls himself Diamond Joe) thanks the crowd for contributing $300 ( $668 in the modern world.) to the local economy. Quimby says he feels like Radiation Man and is mocked by Jimbo. 

Radioactive Man promotes Laramie Cigarettes.

Radioactive Man comics: #72, where marries Larva Girl. #9 introduction of Fallout Boy. Radioactive Man #1 worth $100, $220 in the modern world. (The first Superman comic sold for $3 million dollars)

This episode introduces Comic Book Guy. Has degree in Folklore and Mythology. His shop is The Android's Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop, the sign in the window says"Take me to your comic books and baseball cards"

Poster on Patty and Selma's teen bedroom wall, Beach Blanket Beethoven. 

Bart coin collection, The Coins of Bolivia, another gag about Patty and Selma's trips. Coins worth 3¢ American. The guy at coin exchange has Bronson voice but different face 

Marge goes to Jakes Unisex Hair Palace, there she talks to Mrs. Glick, voiced by Cloris Leachman. (Her brother was killed in WWI when he held a hand grenade for too long.) 

Blood Feud

This episode aired on July 11th 1991, it ran in the middle of summer because of production problems and Fox trying to create a third Summer Season. It was followed by True Colors (a sitcom about a Black husband and a White wife and their kids from a previous marriage) It ran opposite reruns of the regular programs except for an ABC special, Sea World Celebration. 

The chalkboard gag is "I will not sleep through my education" and the couch gag is a repeat of crashing through the floor.

Mayor Quimby is dedicating the new power plant warning sign but Mr. Burns doesn't show up. Homer laughs at sign pointing out that if the core melts down there won't be power to light up the sign. Burns is suffering from hypohemia, Smither's offers up his blood but Burns is Double O Negative. Homer calls Marge and finds out Bart has the same blood types. Bart doesn't want to donate blood but Homer tells him the story of Hercules and the Lion. Bart's blood saves Burns, he sends them a thank you card and nothing else so Homer writes him nasty letter. Marge convinces him that it would be a bad idea to send it so he decides to not do it, however Bart mails the letter instead. Homer tries to break into the mail box and then plans to flood the box but gets caught by the mailman. Burns decides to write a book so he hires a ghost writer but the guy only want to know the salacious stuff so Burns plans to write it himself. Homer goes to the post office claiming to be Mr. Burns but doesn't know his first name. Homer tries to get the letter back from Burn's desk but gets caught and Burns reads it in front of him. Burns plans to crush Homer but Smithers won't go through with it. Instead they go to the mall to find something special. Burns brings the Simpsons an Olmec head. Xt'Tapalatakettle.

Phone gag "Mike Rotch"

Otto runs the blood mobile. 

Pop Culture References: Burns plays Jai Alai, a popular game in Latin countries. It had a brief popularity in the U.S. in the late 80's and early 90's but most of the courts were abandon when the next big thing came along. Burns says "revenge is a dish best served cold" Star Trek quote. Springfield post office has a mural of a mailman making a delivery through storms and darkness and dog attacks, it's a take on Michelangelo's God And Adam

Burns writes book with quill. 

Smilin' Joe Fission is seen on new warning sign

Nuclear Plant Conditions 

Relax, everything is fine

Minor radiation leak. Roll up windows

Meltdown. Flee City

Core Explosions. Repent Sins

Emergency room sign, Cash Only.

Ghostwriter's books

Like Hell I Cant

Up From The Muck

Unsinkable Sadruddin Mahbaradid

Mall stores

The Brushes Are Coming, The Brushes Are Coming

The Tam O'Shanter Connection

Sweet Home Alabama "The store with things from Alabama!"

Wicked Excess

Plunderer Pete's "Conversation Pieces From Around The World" (has a chest labeled HMS TITANIC in the front window)

Burns gift costs $32,000, $71,223 in modern money.

The name of Burn's book is Will There Ever Be A Rainbow? He gives one to Homer.

This ends the 1991-92 season. There will be some changes in the Fall season.