[The long of it]
Okay, I'm confused. Both "Natural Born Kissers (5F18)" and "Large Marge" were both episodes that drew upon sex for their subject matter. Both put Marge in a sexual situation we wouldn't expect to find her in. Both had some silly, over-the-top scenes. Heck, "Natural Born Kissers" dumped Homer and Marge, naked as jaybirds, in front of a football stadium full of people -- on camera giveaway day. Yet while "Natural Born Kissers" came across as a clever, carefully-crafted episode (and one of my favorites for that season), "Large Marge" felt heavy-handed. Why?
After some reflection, I think it's because "Natural Born Kissers" retained a sense of subtlety, despite its outrageous set-up. The climax of the episode, so to speak, is coyly approached. We see Homer and Marge start in a state of marital ennui, then accidentally discover the pleasures of public sex, then slowly raise the stakes until the whole thing goes spectacularly bad. "Large Marge" also starts out gradually. Marge sees (or thinks she sees) Homer flirting, and worries that she may be losing her husband's interest. But, with some help from Manjula, she goes rather quickly from this to getting liposuction at the clinic. Even more quickly, the clinic screws up and gives Marge an impressive pair of breast implants. Admittedly, there's not much the writers can do to reveal this more gradually; after all, the point of the surgery is to change you overnight. Still, it might have helped if (say) Marge tried and failed at a few other ways of getting the "Homey fires" burning before going under the knife.
Once Marge has the surgery, the show becomes as in-your-face as Marge's new "assets." There are some cute moments, like the Maggie's- eye view of Marge when she tries to pick up her baby. I also liked Marge's appearance at an oven mitt convention. She's the busty spokesmodel, and as she walks down the runway to a model oven she thinks to herself, "This sure beats slaving over a hot stove." Most of the remaining jokes are either broad slapstick, obvious social commentary (Hey, shapely women get a lot of attention!), or slightly disturbing. Was anyone really wanting Bart to refer to his mom's "guns?" A song some restaurant patrons and Homer sing in tribute to Marge's new boobs falls flat, as well.
Another thing "Natural Born Kissers" had was an entertaining subplot. It was almost a necessity, since Bart and Lisa could hardly participate in the main plot. The "B" plot in "Large Marge" isn't as good. Bart and Milhouse spot Krusty as a guest villain on the 60s TV version of "Batman." The "Batman" parody is on the screen for a long time, and it's interesting, but it's almost exactly like watching an actual episode of "Batman." I guess it shows how difficult it is to spoof something that's already pretty spoofy.
Anyway, the kids imitate some stunt they see on the show and, in a lame scene, offend some visiting Iwo Jima veterans. Bart implicates Krusty and, even though his "Batman" appearance is over three decades old by now, the town turns out to protest the clown. You've seen this plot before: Bart accidentally gets someone (and that someone is usually Krusty) into trouble, he feels remorse, then concocts a zany scheme to get that person back into everyone's good graces. The "Natural Born Kissers" subplot may have been left unresolved, but it was more creative, plus it had that great "Casablanca" parody, to boot.
So, for these reasons, "Large Marge" is a very different experience from "Natural Born Kissers," despite the relation is subject matter. Despite what some claim, the writers aren't having trouble coming up with good plot ideas. It's coming up with ideas to carry out the plots where they sometimes run into trouble.
[The short of it]
The subject matter is similar to "Natural Born Kissers," but "Large Marge's" approach to it is different -- and too heavy-handed for its own good. There are enough good random lines to keep this from being a bad episode, but too many of the jokes seemed broad, and the attempts at social commentary were too obvious. The subplot isn't as creative, although I like the "Batman" story and the climax had its moments. Despite what some claim, the writers aren't having trouble coming up with good plot ideas. It's coming up with ideas to carry out the plots where they sometimes run into trouble. (C+)
[DYNs]
... the episode received ratings for "D" (dialogue/innuendo) and "V" (violence) but not "S" (sexual situations)? ... Joan Rivers, or someone who looks a lot like her, is at the plastic surgery clinic? ... one of Marge's magazine covers and a spokes model award are on the family room wall? ... Maggie dances happily when Bart teases Lisa in the waiting room?
[References]
Habitat for Humanity (charitable organization) - Springfield's "Domiciles for the Destitute" has similar aim - ... and even similar spokesmen, since Jimmy Carter support both
The Three Stooges (comedy act) - Bush, Carter, and Clinton act like Moe, Larry, and Curly, respectively - Bush even has the same hairstyle as Moe
"Who Let the Dogs Out?" (song) - Radio Disney airs a sanitized version of this song - there's another spoof over the closing credits
"Batman" (TV series) - actually, I'm not sure what Bart and Milhouse watch counts as parody, since the actual series was as goofy as what we saw
"Sweet Valley High" (series of children's books) - Milhouse uses "Sweet Valley High!" as an exclamation of surprise
"Don't Tread on Me" flag - one of the protesters carries a flag with a similar snake, and the phrase, "Don't barf on me"
Chef Boyardee (brand of canned food) - Luigi says, "boyardee!" when he sees the new, improved Marge
O. J. Simpson trial - oven mitt expo slogan, "If the mitt don't fit, we will remit," echoes Johnny Cochran's "If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit"
Greek masks of comedy and tragedy - oven mitt expo features oven mitts with the same expressions
the McCarthy Communism hearings - Krusty claims to have gotten where he is by "naming names" (presumably at these hearings) in the 50s
Jews for Jesus (religious movement) - Flanders mans a booth called, "Shoes for Jesus"
Botox (cosmetic treatment) - the "smile injection" Marge receives is a mild toxin, like this real-life wrinkle treatment
[Previous Episode References]
[5F06] Cookie Kwan, the West Side's #1 realtor, appears [BABF12] Plastic surgeon appears [1F15] Stampy appears [7F14] The people who make Assassins sneakers have a booth at the expo
[FFF]
Historical headlines:
[flag] Chicago Daily Tribune HOME
--------------------------------------------------
D E W E Y D E F E A T S T R U M A N
G.O.P. Sweep Indicated in State; Boyle Leads CityBuilding site sign:
DOMICILES
FOR THE
DESTITUTEHomer's attempt at graffiti:
EL
HOMOCan that Batman shows the Chief:
BAT
CAROUSEL
REVERSAL
SPRAY
[bat logo]Plastic surgery clinic:
STOMACH STAPLES
CENTER
PLASTIC SURGERY CLINICProtest signs at Krusty's:
PARENTS
UNITED AGAINST [puking snake]
KRUSTY'S
EVIL DON'T BARF ON ME
^
|
+- first letter is in red CANCEL
BEAVIS & <- crossed out
BUTTHEAD
JACKASS <- crossed out
KRUSTYFirst convention marquee:
OVEN MITT
CONVENTION IF THE MITT DON'T FIT,
WE WILL REMITMarge's award:
PRESENTER
OF THE MONTH
[gold oven]
[mitt ]Friar's club:
SPRINGFIELD
FRIAR'S CLUBTanker truck:
CHOPPED
LIVERShoe expo marquee:
SHOE
EXPOAt the expo:
FAT TONY'S
CEMENT SHOES
THE LAST SHOES YOU'LL EVER NEED SHOES DREADERICK TATUM STAMPY SAYS:
FOR FOOTWEAR DON'T FORGET
JESUS SHOELACESMarge's booth:
GLOBAL SHOEHORN
News story:
TV CLOWN
SAVES DAY In an unparalleled act of heroism [Krusty with ]
TV's Krusty the Klown saved two [sodden Bart ]
children and an area simpleton [and Milhouse]
from certain death at the hands of
an elephant's mouth, in the
process restoring his good name
and cartoon prospects. In what might have been a blight
on an otherwise mauling-free shoe
expo, Stampy the Elephant
rampaged through the convention
center, crushing several humor
-ously named vendor booths.When the elephant began to eat
[cut off at this point]
Main headline:
Springfield Shopper
-------------------
DAILY NEWS 50�
-------------------
CRAZED MOM
GOES TOPLESS
PHOTOS PAGES 3 - 28Waiting room sign:
SURGERY
RECOVERY
ROOM[Personal Comments & Observations]
Skinner refers to Milhouse as the "comic foil," which is basically his role on "The Simpsons."
hammer.
After losing the 1980 presidential election in a landslide to Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter found himself to be almost a social outcast. No longer on the "A" list for parties and functions, Carter was able to devote himself full time to philanthropic pursuits. One of these was Habitat for Humanity, a program where volunteers help the poor build houses for themselves. TV newscasters were quick to show footage of an ex-President swinging a carpenter's hammer. The public was impressed that Carter not only talked the talk, but walked the walk when it came to charity work. Carter was not only Habitat's most famous spokesman, but it was the first step in rehabilitating his image.
"Mensch" is literally the Yiddish word for "man." It's often used figuratively to mean a *good* man, the kind who would give you the shirt off his back. Batman volunteers to keep Gotham City safe from master criminals, and thus would qualify as a "mensch."
"Goy" is the Yiddish word for a Gentile (especially a Christian as opposed to a Muslim or Buddhist).
Someone at the Krusty protest not only opposes violent TV, but supports recycling, as well. He re-used a sign from protests of "Beavis & Butthead" and "Jackass."
"Beavis & Butthead" was a cartoon airing on MTV that followed the misadventures of two teen-age morons. One of them was a borderline pyromaniac who liked to shout, "Fire! Fire!" Supposedly, this encouraged a young child to play with matches and burn down his family's trailer. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt, but when the kid said he got the idea from "B&B" people were quick to condemn the show. Fortunately for MTV, even more people were quick to become fans of the show. It carried on for a couple more years (which is a long time by MTV standards) and spawned a popular movie.
"Jackass" is (or was, they might have retired it) an MTV live-action show where the hosts do outrageous and/or demeaning stunts like getting in a porta-potty -- which is then flipped over. The stunts tend to be both dangerous and easily imitated by teenagers with too much time on their hands. After a few people inevitably got injured, the protestors called for the cancellation of this series, as well. "Jackass" not only survived this, but also spawned a movie.
Hmmm ... I see a pattern. Perhaps we'll be able to go to a Krusty movie in a couple of years.
So, how large was Marge? Bart tells Lisa that Marge doesn't need a 48-inch chest to be beautiful, which suggests that this was Marge's bustline measurement. From the looks of things, I'd say she's at least a D cup. For a point of reference, former a.t.s. regular Ellen Cohen mentioned that the type of bra you can wear with a strapless dress is uncomfortable for anyone larger than a B cup. So, it looks like classic Marge gained two cup sizes.
* I was surprised to see that the actual Baha Men did the parodies of their songs. I was shocked to see Jan Hooks has returned as Manjula; she sounded much deeper and scratchier than Manjula has in the past.
* Fun with promos: In one of the promos, Bart runs into the room after Lisa allegedly pushed him in the hamper and finds that he can't keep his eyes off Marge's chest. Good thing Fox decided to use this in their ad, because it wound up on the cutting room floor.
- Topless Car Watch: The car Cookie and Lindsay arrive in resembles a Ford Mustang convertible.