Notes for JABF21 (Midnight Towboy)

I like meta-references but I really don't like them being shoved in my face. They didn't start for a little while but once they kept coming it didn't help this episode's case. And like so many of late (actually, I'm looking at you, 7:30 HABF21 repeat), it just had so many silly or gross things that I was distracted from the actual story (the extennnnnded milk/paint joke [haha, get it? he drank paint!!], Animal House party, helicopter "towing" [sort of funny till Homer threw the wrench], potato showdown, to name a few). Anyhow, let's see. Actual plot isn't bad for a "Homer no work at SNPP any more" episode, kind of by the numbers, though saved a bit by Maggie's involvement. Even so, I tend to like slightly more isolated displays of her intelligence (FABF09 notwithstanding), so that subplot was a little much itself. Oh, there were good things, too... I'm focusing a bit on the negative here. In particular, I liked the scene with Bart and Lisa trying to help Marge use the computer (even if in JABF10 she was quite proficient with it!); I would assume that it's not unusual, but it is just like trying to teach my own mom how to do anything on it (except for the part where I click around too fast and she gets confused). The Homer mudflap thing was sort of an annoying moment at first, but definitely saved when it was explained. That's all for now! Seeya next week.

DYN: ...Louie turns his radio off by turning the knob clockwise? (Most either push on/off or go CCW to turn off) ...first Arnie Pye appearance in a while? ...the "Under the Boardwalk" number is sung as if the singers knew the scene would end soon (i.e. the next line after "out of the sun" didn't even begin)?

Previous episode references 2F22: Car towing, impound lot, trickery involved with both (and in a neighboring town) 9F07: I'm Mr. Tow, that's my name... (apologies to Mr. Museum) 3F31: Homer's decreasing intelligence by season referred to explicitly HABF06: Rich Texan not only has OCD but a beard and moustache phobia 1F18, BABF10: Marge still has a thing for potatoes (though here they're not baked...yet) BABF02, DABF17: Maggie rescues Homer Sign-covering gags that come to mind (M.I.L.K.): -3G01 (DIE[T]) -EABF03 (Bridge out[standing]) -GABF10 (Welcome Home R[owdy drinkers])

Meta-reference cor^H^H^Hden -Homer says the name of the episode; interestingly, I had been wondering which way it should be pronounced (to rhyme with "tow" or with "cow") -The long thing about the end of act 2 (if this were a teleplay..., not having it end there, then actual caption to denote end of act) -Agnes' handicap license plate is #47683, which is quite close to Maggie's price (just move the 8) -Marge says she's worried about Homer (his absence); Bart: "I know he seems to get dumber every year, but lately he's plateaued" -Maggie tracks down Homer by an "M" from his hair (though he never seemed to lose it, and both of them are there later) Well, it's just a little in-your-face for my taste.

"Don't let the bedbugs bite!" At least three episodes now where that term has been used.

Maybe it was an Australian radio, mate.

Apologies accepted!

In the "Ayn Rand" episode where Maggie escaped from day care, they spoofed "The Great Escape". Music and whatnot. What western movie was that music from yesterday? Various references to cattle drives.

Mr. Museum

Ra-di-o? What's that then, cobber?

Paul

I agree.

I was so busy last night I could not pay attention or videotape the show. But I now remember a "Batman" meta-reference. The Guidopolos guy had a button hidden in a bust of Jon Bon Jovi that opened the door to his prison.

And, what western featured the bars of the prison window being pulled out so people could escape? I know it happened a few times in the Three Stooges.

Mr. Museum

A Few Dollars More, starring Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef.

On Oct 8, 1:42 pm, [email] wrote:

I think you mean "that movie where those cowboys wanted a few dollars more, but I can't seem to remember the name of the movie".

Mr. Museum

On Oct 10, 6:36 am, "[email]" wrote:

Ahh yes. Good catch! You are right. I must point out, however, that there weren't really any cowboys in the movie. It was just bounty hunters and outlaws, along with a weak assortment of bankers, bar tenders, motel clerks, and telegraph operators who were in the movie just to get pushed around by the characters wanting a few more dollars.

wrote

And absolutely no wagons were painted in the making of that movie. For shame!

Paul

On Oct 12, 1:56 am, "Paul Bartram" <p.bartram AT OR NEAR mysoul.com.au> wrote:

I went right to the IMDB to see if Lee van Cleef was in that movie where they painted your wagon, but I can't seem to remember the name of the movie. But he wasn't in it. I know Clint Eastwood was.

Mr. Museum