Well, that failed to impress me. "Powerhouse" aside, the entire setup for Bart to get a license really made me groan, including Burns mugging at the camera after Smithers' "flaming" line and disregard for most laws of physics (6 fire extinguishers for an entire city block?), and it didn't help that we already saw a less ludicrous way for Bart to get one 11 years ago. I also found it hard to suspend my disbelief that no one would recognize the name "Hitachi"; the problem is just that all of that stuff doesn't quite feel like the Simpsons. (And why no funny titles for Lisa's genealogy books?) After the first act, things looked up a bit - the Bart and Darcy story was interesting (as well as the designated-driver-type device to lead into it), and Lisa's was to the point, but overall it felt about average. This seems harsh, though, so I'll see how I like it when I watch it again. To end on a positive note, I enjoyed the recurring corncob-curtain costume...
Previous episode references BABF04: Same title reference (and same place in production order) 3F17: Bart gets a license to drive 9F22, 4F07, mostly GABF11: In-episode reference to show opening 9F10: Not only are Ogdenville and North Haverbrook mentioned, but key plot points occur in North Haverbrook 4F17: Ketchup vs. catsup FABF20: Bart should remember how "relations" work from this episode 8F10: Marge reminds Homer of her own premarital pregnancy EABF13: Public domain songs specifically mentioned
Goofs Does it even need to be stated that polygamy isn't legal in Utah anymore?
Meta-reference corner Good: -Marge's perennial corn curtains come in useful occasionally -"I'm Bart Simpson, who the hell are you?" dropped into the episode neatly (having not appeared since 7F24, it looks like) -Darcy tells her parents to "lay off the Bartman" (but then again, we saw Bart's other Bartman two weeks ago) Bad: -Bart acting out the show opening in a car was sort of funny but doesn't really belong Ugh...: -Smithers: "I'm flaming!" Cue Burns looking at camera. HA HA! Well, that's it for me...