Notes for GABF04 (There's Something about Marrying)

As obviously topical episodes go, this one was pretty good. I don't know how well it will age, but it helps that (as usual) various opinions were supplied, and none were declared right or wrong. The half-and-half split of the episode between the general subject and Patty/Marge/etc. was a good call; Homer's parts were primarily funny, but the personal aspect in the second half added a little extra oomph. I don't think any of us were shocked at Patty's revelation, though obviously the characters all were taken a bit aback. It could be argued that the surprise ending sidestepped a resolution (albeit not fully), but this doesn't seem like the kind of episode where this is a problem. The dramatic highlight was obviously Marge's struggle with her sister's sexuality/marriage; most of the episode was funny as well (the "turnip truck" gag got it off to a good start), and only two "groan" moments come to mind (Barney as road runner, holding on Homer's map). Uh, B+?

DYN: ...stained-glass windows taped to the walls of Homer's chapel? ...no Smithers (at all)? no John? etc.? ...this show has had a _lot_ of weddings over the years? (Do any comedies rival it?)

Previous episode references: 2F31: Tourism wanted, maps to stars' homes 1F08: Town meeting where legalizing something is the answer to Springfield's problems BABF14: "Gay Guide to Springfield" ought to have a significant new entry now 7F19: "Now that I've got your attention" tactic used EABF12: Julio tying the knot 7F15: Patty considers marriage 4F04, 5F04, BABF18: Weddings at the Simpson house 8F20: Selma marries Bob Terwilliger 3F20: Selma has apparently married Lionel Hutz 3F15: Selma marries Troy McClure GABF04: Selma has married Disco Stu (no last name yet) - I guess we're due to see the next one! 7F18: Marge gets a revelation when popping into the bathroom 3F15, FABF12: A Simpson knows something in advance of a wedding that will be a problem

Goof: The mouse on the souvenir mousepad has the buttons on the wrong side (the bottom).

Meta-reference corner: Homer's comment about the map was obviously aimed at freeze-framers, though at least it made sense in the context of the scene (his family might want to read it before he folds it up); for what it's worth, I had read all of them well before he said anything. Variation on the standard back-to-normal observation: "That's the end of Dad's wedding business!" "Why?" Why indeed. (Whether or not the credits gag was an epilogue or an outtake is left as an exercise for the viewer.)

Other stuff

Though a few episodes have had TV-14 ratings before (DABF11, EABF12, and I think a couple more for syndication after the system was introduced), have any had the "parental discretion advised" disclaimer in the past?

How long has the hockey strike/no season been in effect? (I only heard about it recently.) Assuming tonight's couch gag was a reference to that and not a lucky coincidence, I wonder how much lead time was required/supplied.

Misc. on FABF20's third airing: "BFD" was censored again, but this time it sounded like part of the "D" was gone too.

Did you notice that Homer did a really, really good job as a minister?

Did you notice the cars of people flocking into Springfield to marry made a rainbow of colors down the streeet?

Well the show is pretty good at promoting "family values" even if it's not the way some would like it.

There's been no NHL hockey this year. Even before the season started, the CBC was able to announce that they'd be running movies on Saturday night instead of hockey. And I suspect for those who do pay attention (not me) there had been talk of problems well before.

I believe it was a lockout, on the part of the hockey league, not a strike. And since they never came to terms, it was just this week that they announced that the season was cancelled. As I said, I'm surprised they waited so long. Hockey seems to go on endlessly here, and if they have to go from October to May or June, surely they couldn't fit it into February to June.

Michael

Michael Black wrote:

They wouldn't have played a full season, but they had enough time to do a full season plus a short regular season to warm up; that would be enough to be worth doing.

Somebody claiming to be Matt Garvey wrote in news:[email]:

You *do* remember Troy McClure's comment in the 138th Episode Spectacular that the show would remain fresh by having "wedding after wedding after wedding"?

In alt.tv.simpsons, on the "Notes for GABF04 (There's Something about Marrying)" thread, Matt Garvey wrote:

NHL commish Gary Bettman officially pulled the plug on the season the Wednesday before the show aired, but both sides continued informal talks in the hopes of making a last-minute settlement. That failed, and the season was declared really, really canceled the day the show aired.

So that would be, at most, four days of lead time to whip up a couch gag. Of course, the talks dragged on long before the cancellation notice, so the producers could have gambled that the season might be killed, but they'd probably have know way of knowing which day that would happen.

But I didn't notice anything in the opening to suggest a strike. It could have been done because of the strike, or just as a sort of neat opening (though it seems too specific too just have happened). I don't really think hockey has to have been cancelled to legitimize that opening.

On the other hand, the timing is perfect. Which makes me wonder if they can shift openings around at the last moment, after all they have little or no relation to the rest of the episode, and they did switch it to this one because the season was cancelled.

I could see this playing later in the year, when it's already warm but they are still playing hockey.

Michael

The couch gag had already been produced, at the same time as the others. They just held onto it until now, seeing as it was going to enevitably happen (it didn't specifically refer to the cancellation of the season, as has been pointed out, just to hockey). It wasn't just whipped up in a few days (ridiculous notion).