Interesting that in an episode almost entirely about smoking, Patty and Selma show up only at the end. This was OK, but seemed a little hard to get into, since I don't know how realistic it could be (as far as the smoke/smoking actually helping the dancers to perform in the first place - cravings and withdrawal symptoms could kick in that quickly, I guess). I kind of liked Lisa's outrage against ballet, though (and it kind of makes sense in that sort of subversive way). Anyway, more notes below as usual.
DYN: ...even Ned Flanders was in line for an Angelica Buttons book? (Maybe they don't carry the stigma of Satanism that Harry Potter books do?) ...Ned also found a Hardy Boys book that doesn't appear to be about smugglers or pirates? ...based on general layout of the house, Homer appears to be walking purposefully into the corner after he ignores Maggie choking Bart? ...by the end, Bart was wearing Homerlike clothes? (BABF11?)
Previous episode references 7F24, 1F03: Couch gag reminiscent of these (among others) JABF02: Angelica Buttons book series 5F20: Lisa Kudrow mentioned (was new girl Alex in that episode) 2F14: Ballet lessons for Simpsons (Bart then, now Marge and Lisa) BABF15: More dancing lessons for Lisa (that also don't go too well) (NOT in Marge's box of shattered dreams: artist (7F18+), astronaut (8F15), reporter (FABF22), etc., though I liked the stethoscope run) DABF15: Lisa's gymnastic lessons also similar (and her perfect posture like perfect balance in that one) 5F01: Homer could shoot at a target truck (well, not the same type of target) BABF20: Homer trying to get rid of raccoons is like with the badgers CABF03: Sturgeon mentioned (I may be stretching, but it's a funny word) BABF02: "The End"
Other notes
There have not been any consecutive-week episode premieres since JABF17 and KABF01 in November. In fact, most of the gaps have been 3 weeks, and this trend is continuing at least until KABF10 (or whichever one succeeds KABF09)! If that airs 4/27, we're going to have to see a lot of doubling up in May to catch up to 22 episodes again. In fact, it could be much like the situation in season 16: several doubled-up nights near the end of the season and/or a low episode count. (In my notes for JABF20 when this season began, I mentioned how Fox had been promoting this season as "epic," just like season 16, and under the standard of length 16 hadn't really measured up, with 21 episodes being tied for the second-shortest season since season 1! I crossed my fingers then, and that was even before the strike - if it's 21 again, I have to say the ironing is delicious. And let me stress again that I am talking about AIRING seasons, to avoid another semantic debate with Wiseguy.) (I know, strike... it's my impression that it was short enough not to affect this season much, but perhaps the producers or Fox would prefer this in order to have more lead time for the LABFs. Oh my... every time a new production season starts getting referred to, the letter throws me for a bit, but something about the L is even more amusing.)
While it's not too surprising, given the easy nature of the pun, "Smoke on the Daughter" is also the name of an episode of Grounded for Life (and in fact one of the episodes that ran on Fox before moving to UPN). Check out season 2 on DVD, as it's pretty fun; one particular scene about 11.5 minutes in slays me every time.
Finally, did anyone else notice that Fox promo spots today have been listing episode titles in a fairly consistent way (printed under the show name)? Move over, FABF04, HABF11, KABF04, etc.; these don't seem like they're included to make a joke, but just to inform the viewer (imagine!). Specifically, tonight I saw such promos for KABF08, as well as an American Dad repeat and the new King of the Hill. Not every spot has the title, but it's still interesting.
Oh, finally finally, I am almost done the syndication cuts guide for season 18. I have to check a few things one more time and finish typing up the header, but other than that, it's pretty much ready to go!