Capsule Submission for GABF08: The Seven Beer Snitch

The Seven-Beer Snitch (GABF08)

... OFF went to Shelbyville just to shop? ... Homer's reaction during the play isn't shown, as he's just off-screen? ... Moe drinks with an extended pinky? ... Carl opposes an idea that he was on the commitee to think of? ... Snowball II's new name is more logical? ... the switch to open the cell doors is within the reach of one of the inmates? ... the gas chamber _protects_ Homer and Marge from being gassed?

The Seven Year Itch (phrase/movie) - title

Batman - Carl suggests that Springfield be renamed "Gotham City"

Burger King - Barney suggests that Springfield be renamed "Burger King"

CSI - Wiggum references it - and then it's spoofed

Mickey Mantle - Wiggum says "Kicky Mantle"

Peanuts - Marge writes on Snoopy stationary - SLH flies around like Snoopy

[9F10] the town invests in something unnecessary [1F08] Burns opens an institution in Springfield that boosts the financial status of the town [1F14], [2F22] the Springfield/Shelbyville rivalry is showcased [1F15] Snowball II is motivated to perform tricks [3F05] something that should logically release toxic gas ends up protecting people from the exposure of gas [4F03] Drederick Tatum in jail [4F05] [FABF05] Marge's less-than-perfect grasp of the English language is demonstrated [3G04] Homer's hair is shaved off [5F14] Homer becomes an informant [5F20] one of the Simpson family pets gains some extra weight [BABF15] Bart diplays his love of his pet cat [CABF04], [FABF15] Homer does Burns' bidding [DABF17] Lenny and Carl become law enfocement officers [FABF07] Homer uses his extra income to buy Marge jewelery; the citizens of another town belittle the residents of Springfield [FABF11] an SNPP employee becomes a prison guard [FABF17] Homer plots to snitch on a fellow inmate [GABF04], [GABF05] Homer gets/wants a plasma TV

In EABF14, Bart seemed to dislike Snowball II, but now he's concerned about her?

Meh. This episode is destined to become one of the most forgetable of all time. Not much happened, and as a result there wasn't much to interest me. All of the Shelbyville stuff was funny, and a few prison scenes were all right (Fat Tony's always good for a laugh), but otherwise I wasn't wowed by what I saw in the main plot. Nothing was horribly wrong with it, but it was just bland. Snowball II's subplot, on the other hand, had some laughs (SLH as Aviator Snoopy, "Apron Boobsface" and "Shoes Buttback") and provided a way for Bart and Lisa to not get lost in a sea of Homer-centricity, making it the best part of the episode. However, a mere subplot can't save this one from the grasp of mediocrity, leaving it a 7.5/10. (C+)

The "seven year itch" is a phrase commonly used to refer to the urge for one to cheat on one's spouse after seven years of marraige. The phrase lends itself to the title of Marilyn Monroe's 1955 feature film. The plot of the movie revolves around the temptation of the main character (a role comprised by Tom Ewell) to have an affair with Monroe's character, the sexy new neighbor, after having sent his wife and son to the countryside for the summer.

The following exchange from the promo between Homer and Burns was missing from the episode's final cut:

(Homer sitting in front of Mr. Burns, Smithers and the warden in the warden's office.) Burns: How would you like to become a informant? Homer: I don't know, I've never informed anyone about anything.

Announcer: It's three strikes, and Homer's in the joint for life! (Prison guards Lenny and Carl are seen dragging a struggling Homer out of the warden's office. Cut to an evil looking Burns between two guards with nightsticks.) Announcer: Now, the only way he can survive is by ratting out his fellow inmates! (Scenes of Homer's cell where he sits watching Booberella on a big screen, Louie, in a hairnet, being restrained by a guard and a guard holding Fat Tony by the neck with a nightstick in the cafeteria, and giving Homer a thumbs up are shown. Cut to Homer sitting in front of Mr. Burns, Smithers and a guard in the warden's office.) Burns: How would you like to become a informant? Homer: I don't know, I've never informed anyone about anything. (The other inmates are seen being let out of their cells and closing in on Homer's, as he recoils in horror.) Announcer: The Simpsons, all-new at 8/7c, FOX Sunday!

Oz

The tiny hat that Homer wears is a direct ref to the hat that Simon Adebisi wore on Oz (the prison drama on HBO not the place that housed a Wizard)

In article , "Steve Brown" wrote:

Could this be a regional thing? I seem to recall that exchange during the episode. I'm on the west coast.

I don't think I'm merely remembering it from the promo, because I watch almost all TV on my UltimateTV PVR, and generally skip commercials, so I don't think I saw any promos for any of last night's FOX shows.

the

during

watch

so I

I'm also on the West Coast, and I just rewatched the scene again just to make sure. I didn't see it, but if you say you did, I do believe you.

I thought it was in the episode too, and I'm in the east.

There was something about the line that requires some thought to grasp the meaning, and so it stuck in my mind and I was expecting it in the broadcast. And while I can't be sure that it was broadcast, I am quite certain I did not think "but they left out that line".

Michael

Tim Smith wrote:

So, did you record GABF08?

In article ,

Yes, but I deleted it immediately after watching it, as I did not realize that there might be a line that may or may not have been cut that would need checking.

Capsule Submission for GABF08 "The Seven-Beer Snitch"

DYN...

...Shellbyvillians seem much more refined than in 2F22? ...Marge makes a (somewhat) reference to an upcoming (but now presumably delayed because of the death of Pope John Paul II) episode "Father, Son, and the Holy Guest Star" when she says "Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost"? ...the basketball players are playing 3v2? ...unlike Homer, Otto has his first name written on his urine sample? ...Lenny and Carl are hired as prison guards even though Homer gets an interview before them? ...for once (Except, perhaps, in DABF04), Homer isn't the only one abandoning his post at SNPP for a new career (Lenny and Carl get new jobs too)? ...Bart, Lisa, and Marge seem to not care at all that Homer is in jail? ...Snowball II's other family has a doorbell at what seems to be the back of the house? ...the irony of Homer (the "rat") hiding in a big wheel of cheese? ...Fat Tony has a son (Michael) who is presumably around Bart or Lisa's age since Marge drives him home from school? ...how ironic it is that everyone is gassed _outside_ of the gas chamber?

Goofs

- Why would Springfield Billy come to Shelbyville for legalized gambling if Springfield legalized it in 1F08? - The location of the "Future Site Of The Montgomery Burns State Prison" sign changes from attached to the Frank Gehry concert hall to in front of it - Why would Snowball II have to walk by Moe's to get to her other family's house?

Previous Episode References

[2F22] Simpsons venture into Shelbyville [9F10] Springfield has an eclipse [2F31] Springfielders contemplate changing the name of their town [2F31] Marge writes what she is saying that the time [5F19] Someone wishes that something was from Beethoven, the dog movie [7G11] Marge almost has an affair [9F10], [9F22], [4F15], [AABF18] Old forgotten laws of Springfield brought up [GABF05] Homer gets a plasma TV [1F15], [GABF07] Snowball II does tricks, dances [4F21] Bart's imagination seems to be limited to whatever he is looking at (shoelaces, socks/Apron-boobs-face, shoes-butt-back) [EABF07], [GABF06] Booberella on TV [2F06] Channel 6 uses a thermo-cam [DABF16] Homer in an execution chamber

Review

Another forgettable episode. Jokes were minimal, and the disjunction between the A and B stories bothered me. Bart and Lisa (and to an extent, Marge) did not seem to care at all that Homer was in prison. They didn't even mention it or interact with Homer once he was jailed! There was only a half-hazard attempt at the end to join the two plots. What happened to the Simpsons acting like a family? There was no character development at all. Usually I wouldn't mind if there were jokes or satire, but what was this a satire of? Being a snitch in prison? Finally, something we can all relate to. GRADE: C-

Thoughts

Almost everyone in the prison appears to be white (yellow), contrary to the fact that the majority of people in U.S. prisons are minorities (unless you count Italian-Americans as such). Sixty-four percent of prison inmates belonged to racial or ethnic minorities in 2001, according to http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/crimoff.htm ...Then again, Springfield was never known for a significant amount of minorities (or, to quote Shellbyville, "We're home to Christina, Mulsim, and Jew, although not many of the last two"...)

(Capsule

first.

Remember?

That's not really irony, but...

...this is.

We never actually saw the path the she took to get there in its entirety, so I don't see how that conflicts with anything.

Also FABF18, and she's had like 2 other appearances off of TV (GABF04 comes to mind).

Sorry Steve, I didn't know that subject lines were proprietary (even though mine says "Matt Awbrey" next to it, so I don't see how it would be confusing). But I suppose it would be a good idea for me to branch out and find a different one.

Maybe the "wit" of it? Anyway, it was a subtle joke that merited a DYN, IMHO. DYN the irony of misusing the word "irony"?

Yes.

I assumed that the path was through the Simpson's immediate neighborhood, but yes, who knows. According to 2F09, the SNPP parking lot is behind the Simpsons' house, so reality is flexible and I suppose I was being a bit picky.

Add it to the record. I was pretty sure she had had other appearances, but could not remember exactly. Thanks for remembering. And thanks for responding! I always look forward to when someone adds in their two cents about my post.