Reference in "Bart's Comet."

Wow. Is this a random post or what?

No one seems to have gotten (what I presume to be) the reference intended by the "penguins flying off" scene in this episode. In fact, the only capsule contributor who mentioned it seemed downright confused (understandably enough).

My theory is that it's a 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' ref, paralleling the dolphins leaving Earth (presumably by flying) shortly before the Earth is destroyed.

...and, um...guess while I'm here I'll give some sort of informal introduction. My name is Craig Marinaro, 17 and a half years old, been a 'Simpsons' fan for awhile...I'm an "old-schooler," but I find it possible to enjoy certain modern-day episodes if I shut off my brain. Of course, one shouldn't have to do such to enjoy a 'Simpsons' episode.

I am also fascinated to no end by the supermarket clerk who scans Maggie in the titles. You know, we've looked at that guy (or woman) nearly every week, and we've never actually seen his / her face? Kinda makes one think. About what, I have no idea.

-C Also a "Life in Hell" and 'Futurama' fan...

[email] wrote:

i've always contended it's a flightless/not-flightless kind of gag, viz a viz: penguins have *always* been able to fly, but why bother? the end of the world seems as good a reason as any to (finally) take to the skies.

"dave h." wrote in message news:[email]...

Guess I should have read this before answering the original post, but it re-iterates what I said.

The Rack wrote:

actually, i thought you put it better than i did.

"dave h." wrote in message news:[email]...

Well, thanks :) All is forgiven for reusing a certain dave h. quote once, and passing it off as mine (apparently)? 8D

"dave h." wrote:

And bingo was his name-o! Sincerely, Little Girl

"Craig" wrote in message news:[email]...

I always assumed it had to do with flightlessness of penguins. "The end is coming. You know what? We were fooling you humans all along. We CAN fly..." ...and, they escape. Never gave it two thoughts.

I'm pretty sure it has to do rather with the concept of "the world gone topsy-turvy" (mentioned by Skinner in 8F15 "Seperate Vocations"). The idea is that it's ultimately amusing when we see things escape from their normal operations in art, which is the basis for all comedy anyway. It was a trend in art used by such sixteenth century Dutch artists as Pieter Bruegel. Bruegel's painting "The Netherlandish Proverbs" is perhaps the best example, with everything working opposite its natural order and people acting literally as proverbs quote (in a complex style not unlike Martin Hanford's "Where's Waldo?" books). The key to the painting is a globe, which has been turned upside down, hence the phrase.

-- An XPeeple Production -- "As a child, I always wanted to bite his head off. This is my way of doing that... creatively." -Andy Dick as Marylin Manson "Most critics want to be authors, screenwriters and novelists, [but] they just suck." -Joe Rogan

"Bill McNeal" wrote in message news:[email]...

is

fly..."

is

trend in

Bruegel's

as

Waldo?"

down,

I appreciate the insights. But I'm not clear on what that has to do with a comet impending doom. The world being topsy-turvy is one thing, and the end of the world is another... at least in my frame of reference.

On 20 Jul 2001, Craig wrote:

Oh, great. Just what I needed. Now I won't be able to sleep tonight!

/ Kristian

+-------------------------------------------------------+
|Kristian Ronge                                         |
|[email]    [email]             |
|(civil)                (skola)                         |

|d99, datateknik, KTH (Kungliga Tekniska H�gskolan)     |
|d99, Computer Science, Royal Institute of Technology   |
+-------------------------------------------------------+

Craig wrote:

I think it's just a joke about penguins apparently not being able to fly until they really need to. No one would ever say, "Dolphins can't fly." but people often wonder why Penguins don't. Sincerely, Little Girl