Home Away From Homer (GABF15)
... apparently Lisa was practicing her saxophone fingering before Nationwide Public Radio? ... Maggie speeds up her pacifier sucking when Homer plops her in front of the TV? ... Homer has no problem with letting Maggie see Ned bathing? ... CBG and Astrid Weller in the theater? ... Marge was apparently fascinated by the snack bar? ... the girls don't try very hard to fool Ned (one of them pretends to read an oversized book labeled "BOOK")? ... Dr. Hibbert's wife and daughter laugh at the fact that he was looking at internet pornography? ... even the baby in the stroller ... Marge rocks Maggie w/o her pacifier?
Shrinky Dinks (toy) - Ned calls his genitalia a shrinky dink
Origin of the Lutheran church - Ned's note on the door of his house similar
[7G10] an adult themed medium of media circulates Springfield without the star's knowledge [7F15] Hummel figurines mentioned (cf. parodied) [7F23], [8F11] the Flanderses move out [8F16], [BABF04] Ned appears sans-moustache [1F04] Pennsylvania seen [3F01], [FABF10] Ned takes care of Maggie [3F23] residents of Evergreen Terrace move away [4F07] Ned lashes out at his neighbors in front of his property [4F23] a Springfieldian is run out of town in shame, only to be begged to return [CABF18], [EABF10], [FABF12] something sexually oriented can be seen or heard from one neighbor's house to the other [EABF16] Flanders' collectables are destroyed by a member of OFF [FABF01] Flanders rents his house out to college students to raise an extra buck [FABF07] Starving Teachers Moving Co. seen [FABF10] a member of OFF makes gun noises and howls and hand motions in imitation of something [GABF11] a family in need of funds rents out a room to raise some income
Tonight's episode, while based on an obvious premise, was still a very good showing. Flanders' characterization has definitely been shaky in recent years, so his portrayal here was refreshing, with all the humility of the early years mixed with the more human emotions that developed later on. His need to move was well developed, even before the softcore sophomores' introduction (with Homer's imposition while he bathed, his financial woes and Homer's destruction of his figurines), and so the plot flowed naturally. The humor was also top notch, with highlights like the foreign film, Ned's moustache montage, and basically everything else in Humbleton. Back in Springfield, things were good too, however, the idea of an annoying person moving away, only to have someone worse take their place just feels so done before, both by other shows, and The Simpsons ("The Principal and the Pauper" comes to mind), and Coach Clay's cookie cutter characterization does little to aid this situation. Still, the episode managed to be enjoyable throughout, with no notably bad jokes, earning itself an 8.5/10. (B+)
This was advertised with GABF09 as part of an hour-long season finale.
The Father, the Son and the Holy Guest Star (GABF09)
... St. Peter has Father Sean's voice and attitude? ... Marge doesn't bring Maggie to church? ... apparently Marge thinks Bart will die before her? ... the cloud formation resembling a palm tree in Catholic Heaven?
Pluto (Disney character) Bud Bowl (Super Bowl played by beer) - Homer mentions them
Pepe Le Pew (cartoon) - Lovejoy calls Father Sean "Popey Le Pew"
Scooby Doo (cartoon) - "The Ministry Machine" parodies SD's Mystery Machine
[7F13], [9F01], [3F02] a religious fantasy/vision/dream is had [8F22] someone plays the lute [9F01] Homer converts from Protestantism [9F18] Bart is expelled and sent to a Christian school [1F11] Bart says "I Didn't Do It" [2F15] a medieval festival is held [3F18] Nelson gets haw-haw-ed [3F17] Bart speaks Latin (cf. "Latin") [5F23] members of OFF are convinced to join another religion; Lovejoy and Flanders aid in the deprogramming [AABF03] Bart wishes to convert to Catholicism [AABF20] Homer is hit by a blindfolded Bart [CABF16] Homer forces romance between a dog and a cat [DABF02] a member of OFF switches religions and considers Judaism [FABF03] Marge attends a concert with one of her children [FABF10] a member of OFF partakes in a Catholic custom (although I think it was a goof) [GABF10] Bart gets snippety-snipped
Tonight's episode was a nice end to a quality season. While not a classic, as far as religious episodes go, the jabs at the Catholic and Protestant sects of Christianity were all sharp and humorous, culminating in Bart's excellent comment at the end about the small stupid differences and big stupid similarities. His interest in the practices of Catholicism was well developed, aided by the great one-timer, Father Sean (who was well voiced by Liam Neeson), as was Homer's, with his being tantalized by hotcakes and bingo being perfectly in character. However, Marge's resistance to Homer and Bart's newfound faith was poorly handled, seemingly coming from nowhere and never really seeming justified, leaving her to come off as an antagonist of sorts. Still, the laughs in this episode were enough to keep it afloat, and it featured one of the best endings in awhile. All-in-all, a worthy finale, with an 8.5/10. (B+/A-)
Bumblebee Man's exclamation "ŸQue buenos cakos de panno!" about the pancakes was so obviously incorrect that I'm convinced it was on purpose, to poke fun at how horrible his past Spanish has been.
Marge comments on her trademark towering beehive hairdo.
This episode was originally intended to air on April 10th, 2005, but was postponed due to the death of Pope John Paul II, out of respect to the Catholic Church. But now that we've got a new Pope, respect can kiss OFF's ass!
Announcer: It's a season finale miracle, when the Simpsons search for their faith. (Homer and Bart are seen lighting candles in the Catholic church. Cut to the inside of the Ministry Machine, where Bart, Marge, Lovejoy and Flanders sit.) Bart: I'll pick a religion for me: Judaism! [to the tune of Hava Nageela] Don't have a cow, man, don't have a cow, man, have a piece of fish! Oy! (Cut to Father Sean at the Protestant Youth Festival ) Announcer: Liam Neeson guest stars on the hour long season finale of the Simpsons, part of Animation Domination.