The capsule for "A Tale of Two Springfields" is now available at The Simpsons Archive, at "http://www.snpp.com/episodes.html". You may access it by following the link for episode BABF20.
We plan to have "Insane Clown Poppy (BABF17)" up next. (This is subject to change due to schedule and resource demands, however.)
Not among the world's web-enabled? That's okay -- a copy the BABF20 capsule follows immediately. Enjoy!
A Tale of Two Springfields Written by John Swartzwelder
Directed by Shaun Cashman
==============================================================================
Production code: BABF20 Original Airdate on FOX: 5-Nov-2000
Capsule revision A (2-Jun-02)
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[TV Guide] The 12th season opener - the series' 250th episode - features
the Who. See the Close-up ... {bg}[TV Guide Close-up] The Who appears in the 12th-season opener as the explosion of new telephone area codes signals a revolt in Springfield.
The new lines certainly don't click with Homer, especially after the change
costs him free Who concert tickets. After noting that it's the affluent
side of town that gets to keep the old code, Homer suggests that "we Joe
12-packs" form a separate town. Thus is born New Springfield, whose mayor
- Homer - engineers a campaign of disruption against the snobs of Olde
Springfield. But when his efforts backfire, Homer turns to Roger Daltrey,
Pete Townshend, John Entwistle and Zac Starkey for help. {bf} [TV Guide advertisement] The Best Night of Television is Back! Tonight,
the Who rocks Springfield! Season Premiere The Simpsons Celebrating our
250th episode! New! 8PM". Illustration shows The Who and Homer with
Homer saying "Where's Ringo?". {bg}==============================================================================
============================================================================== Blackboard: I WILL NOT PLANT / SUBLIMIN_AL_ MESSA_GORE_S
I WILL NOT PLANT at cutoff
{The words inside the underscores are in green letters)
Couch: Tonight, a return to the classics: Bart runs in ahead of the
family and slips a whoopee cushion under Homer's spot on the
couch. The rest of the Simpsons run in and sit down. Homer
triggers the prank cushion and is embarrassed. Bart laughs
uproariously.==============================================================================
============================================================================== ... the Olmec stone head was recycled as part of the wall?
Don Del Grande:
... The Who got a "Special Guest Voices" (plural) credit?
... The Who got just a group credit, rather than individual names?
... Frank Welker now gets "Special Guest Voice" credit?
... this is the first blackboard opening (other than the Halloween one
where Bart used blood) that used a color besides white?
... Homer choked Bart with something other than his own hands?
... Miss Hoover, Jimbo, Dolph, and Kearny live on the rich side of town?
... the grass is greener in Olde Springfield?
... Mr. Burns didn't own all of the mineral rights in Springfield?
... the needle on the elevator didn't move?
... at the concert, Principal Skinner wore a Keith Partridge outfit?
... Homer's phone number is now (939) 555-0113?Ahmet Deligonul:
... that Springfield has to be bigger than we thought (running out of phone
numbers)?
... apparently the ISP the Simpsons use still is in the 636 area? Either
that or Lisa accepted the area code change unlike Homer.
... the Simpsons have a laptop and internet connection now? Where do they
find the money for this stuff?
... the Simpsons still have that old bug zapper? I think the last time I
saw it was Treehouse of Horror I ... I'm not sure though
... Skinner is considered one of the rich people?
... Ned Flanders ends up in New Springfield?
... the "angel" from "Lisa the Skeptic" was one of the things used to make
the wall that separated both Springfields? How did Homer get it from
that mall though ... [He didn't. Fat Tony's men did -- Ed.]
... Lionel Hutz was one of the people climbing over the wall into "Olde
Springfield"?Ben Fonter:
... the sign on the catapult read "Rent - A - Pult"?
... the sideways letters before the phone movie read "DUNG JEBEDIAH
SPRING." ?
... the two very tired guys holding up the lanterns behind Brockman for
lighting during the blackout?
... the wall also contains nuclear waste (and who says that can't be
recycled)?Joe Green: ... the Animal Control ad shows a woman attacking an octopus with a broom? ... Akira sits behind OFF at the town meeting
Darrel Jones:
... the exterminator's number is (636) 555-983-7668? [This might be a
goof, though -- Ed.]
... unlike [3F08], Bart is wearing clean underwear in this episode?Joe Klemm: ... the telephone mascot admits to hidden surcharges during the film? ... Krusty was the patient during the blackout? ... the prospectors when the Olde Springfield gets the gold fever? ... Lemon Pledge sponsors the Who concert?
Ryan Mead:
... the mixed-case closed captioning? (This is WGBH's new standard, so get
used to it.)Benjamin Robinson:
... the funny way Homer holds his pen when he writes the area code on his
hand?
... in the phone film, someone had to *splice in* something as generic as
"your town"?
... after Bart is de-pantsed by the bullies, he stays that way for the next
scene?
... a gravestone, a skateboard, and a toilet are among the items visible in
the town wall?
... along with the townspeople, a badger goes over the wall?Hari Wierny:
... the badger snarls just like a dog?
... the Flanders back yard looks extremely luxurious?
... Lisa didn't consider that the badger could have gone under Homer's
shirt to bite him?
... the picture of Phoney McRingRing behind Phoney McRingRing?
... the kids refer to the Frisbee as a "novelty flying disk"?
... when the citizens of Olde Springfield run out of the arena, they all
run in different directions, despite all having the same destination?==============================================================================
==============================================================================
- Starring
- Dan Castellaneta (Homer, Bill, Austin Powers sound bite[?], Willie,
Arizona Cardinals rep, Quimby, Krusty, Mel)
- Julie Kavner (Marge)
- Nancy Cartwright (Bart, Todd, Kearney)
- Yeardley Smith (Lisa)
- Hank Azaria (Carl, Phoney, Chief Wiggum, Moe, Bumblebee Man, Apu, Frink,
Guard)
- Harry Shearer (Lenny, Marty, Burns, Hibbert, Jasper, Brockman, Skinner,
Smithers, Cap'n McAllister)- Special Guest Voice - Gary Coleman (Gary Coleman sound bite) - Marcia Wallace (Edna Krabappel) - Frank Welker (Various Badgers, Santa's Little Helper)
- Special Guest Voices
- The Who (Roger [Daltrey], John [Entwhistle], Pete [Townsend])
- Also Starring - Pamela Hayden (Jimbo) - Tress MacNeille (Phone Lady, Lindsay Neagle, Socialite, Dolph, Nurse[?]) - Karl Wiedergott (Extra Guy)
==============================================================================
==============================================================================
+ "A Tale of Two Cities" (book)
- episode title spoofs this work by Charles Dickens + George W. Bush's "RATS" commercial {jg2}
- Bart's blackboard punishment may have been inspired by this [See
"Comments" section for more -- Ed.] ~ "Seinfeld" (TV series) {jg2}
- this episode's premise is reminiscent of an episode in which Elaine is
distraught because her new phone number is in a different area code + "Woody Woodpecker" (cartoon series)
- the Flanders' woodpecker looks like him {jg2}
- the bird's laugh clearly inspired by Woody + George Bush's 1988 presidential campaign {dj}
- Homer says "read my lips"; Bush said this too, adding the soon-to-be-
broken promise "No New Taxes" + Revelation (New Testament book) {bjr}
- as noted on the show, the sign of the Devil, 666, is similar to old
area code of 636 + "Austin Powers" (movie)
- radio DJs play sound bite (Austin saying "Oh, behave!") from the film
- Principal Skinner dresses up like Austin {jg2} + "Diff'rent Strokes" (TV series)
- Bill and Marty play Gary Coleman's trademark, "Whatchoo talkin'
'bout?" + The Rifleman (TV series) {cl}
- Homer's "The Mayor" parodies the opening sequence of this late 50's
ABC western, from the low camera angle, to the way he flip-cocks his
rifle, to the announcer's voice inflection + the Boston Tea Party
- the Olde Springfieldians disguise themselves as Indians and throw
stolen beer into the river, apparently inspired by the famous Colonial
protest Boston Harbor + the Berlin Wall {jp}
- Springfield's wall similar in purpose + "(I Ain't Gonna Play) Sun City" (song) {ds}
- A song released in the 1980's that invited artists to not play Sun
City [See "Comments" section for more -- Ed.] + "The Partridge Family" (TV series) {ddg}
- mention of Keith Partridge + "Pinball Wizard" (song)
- Moe unwittingly spoofs the original lyric, "That deaf, dumb, and blind
kid sure plays a mean pinball" + "Pac-Man Fever" by Buckner and Garcia (song) {jg2}
- Homer asks the Who to play this [See "Comments" section for more --
Ed.]==============================================================================
==============================================================================
- [7G04], [9F15] Town has big power failure {hmw}
- [7F22] The giant sculpture that Mr. Burns gave the Simpsons is in the wall
{ag}
- [2F22] Bart is harassed by bullies from another town {jg2}
- [2F22] The NS/OS border is quite similar to the Springfield/Shelbyville
border {rt}
- [3F14] Someone is attacked with a phone {dj}
- [3F18] Someone is pecked in the head by a woodpecker {pc}
- [3F21] Homer expresses his appreciation for Grand Funk Railroad {jg2}
- [4F11] John's Santa Claus robot is part of Homer's wall {jg2}
- [4F14] messing with the Springfield dam {hmw}
- [4F16] Homer wears dynamite {hmw}
- [5F02] Professor Frink invents a teleportation device {jg2}
- [5F05] The "angel skeleton" appears as part of the wall
- [5F09] Homer occupies a municipal post {bjr}
- [5F09], [BABF16] Homer meddles with a music concert {bjr}
- [5F22] Homer calls out for Milhouse {hmw}
- [AABF05] Homer chloroforming Marge reminiscent of when he overused his
sleeping pinch {hmw}
- [AABF09] Homer doesn't know Carl's name by memory {hmw}
- [AABF18] A Simpson helps run Springfield, but not that well {bjr}
- [BABF07] Gary Coleman says "What you talkin' 'bout?" {jg2}
- [BABF07] Fat Tony's building company is used {rt}
- [BABF09] The rich guy loses another monocle. He simply must stop being so
horrified {bjr}
- [BABF18] Homer drugs Marge to stop her from talking {bjr}
- [BABF19] Gary Coleman guest stars {pc}==============================================================================
==============================================================================
- Exterminator ad {bjr} ANIMAL CONTROL
[maid ] ---------------
[fighting] (555)X-TERM-N-8
[octopus ]- Homer's reminders to himself {bjr}
[left hand] [right hand]
939 Lenny = white
Carl = black- Concert poster {bjr}
^
The|
Who
[poster background is a British flag]
Live
in
Springfield- The store for liquid persuasion {bjr}
JUST CHLOROFORM
- When playing in Olde Springfield, The Who stay at {bjr}
HOTEL PILLOWMINT
- Concert banner {bjr}
THE WHO
PRESENTED BY LEMON PLEDGE
==============================================================================
==============================================================================
= The bottom part of the door on Santa's Little Helper's Dog House switched
from pink to green. {ds}- The animal control number is (555) X-TERM-N-8, which is outside of both of Springfield's area codes. {ddg}
- As of yet (November 2000), there is no 939 area code in the US. [{jc} notes, "Area code 939 is actually an overlay code for Puerto Rico."] {ds}
- Phones don't do the "do-do-do" thing three times in a row. Instead, they have the message of call error before the sound is played again. {jk}
* Lenny's mentioning of NASA dropping leaflets from space [is a goof]. There
is no possible way that those leaflets would survive the drop through the
atmosphere, especially if Bart's comet was significantly reduced in size.
{bf}c Homer's home number is different on the captioning. {jp}
+ On "Lisa's Date with Density (4F01)," when Homer had the auto-dialer, Mr.
Burns's number is 555-0001. [Nathan DeHoff rebuts, "Couldn't Mr. Burns
have more than one phone line?"] {rv}c Instead of a "test corpse," Bart's captioning lists a "test goat." {jp}
+ When at the meeting, Chief Quimby was with the 939 crew, yet he's with the 636 crew during the town war. {jk}
c Instead of "What does freedom mean to me?" Dolph's homework says, "What's 7 + 14?" in the captioning. {jp}
+ When Marge goes to the Kwik-E-Mart, Apu charges an "out-of-towner tax,"
implying that the store is on the rich side of town. In "The Springfield
Connection," however, Marge's beat of Junkyville and Bumtown included the
Kwik-E-Mart. {nd}c "Those rich snobby Indians" became "That beer never had a chance" in the captioning. {jp}
- Just dropping a water factory won't produce water; Evian, for example, comes from a spring. {ddg}
* Homer claims that there's only enough food New Springfield to survive a few
days, yet they have a deli. [Of course, a deli has to be restocked from
somewhere ... -- Ed.] {jk}- The Who reside on the 12th floor of the hotel (according to the elevator),
but from the picture of the hotel from the outside, there cannot be more
than 8 floors. Maybe 10 at the most, but not 12. {bf}c Homer's "liquid persuasion" line" was, in the captioning, "I'll have to turn on the charm." {jp}
c As Homer tells The Who about the Springfield "squares," the CC has him railing against the "snobs." {bjr}
= When everyone is running through the opening in the wall, groups of people suddenly disappear. {ddg}
==============================================================================
============================================================================== Wilson Banswell: Well this was a stinker for a 250th episode. Not that it was absolute trash, maybe a different episode should have been chosen. There were some good parts, such as when Homer turned off the power to Olde Springfield. But overall most of the episode seemed very implausible and fake. Not like the insane idea of the town splitting it two(that was for satire), but like Marge when explains to Homer the area code problem. It just seemed so fake. A good story can hide some average jokes, but an average story can not hide average jokes. (C)
Stephen Burks: The 250th episode of the Simpsons was possibly the worst since All Singing All Dancing. What started as a war over additional area codes in Springfield led to a class warfare that eventually led to a gratuitous placement of yet another special guest (The Who). While the first act did have decent dialogue, by the end of the episode I had already forgotten what I was watching. This has been going on since last season, so maybe I am just developing ADD. While I did laugh out loud at least a few times, I really do not think it is worth the removal of any plot from the show. (C-)
Ben Collins: I knew The Simpsons was going downhill when it started recycling plots. Now I know Our Favorite Family has passed the point of no return. "A Tale of Two Springfields" is a lame Jerkass Homer episode which owes its soul to another lame Jerkass Homer episode, "Trash of the Titans" (which deserves the Nobel Prize for Literature compared to this episode). "Springfields" starts with an absurd premise that can barely carry a single gag, much less an entire episode, then throws in a barrage of dull, tiresome gags and yet another tacked-on, unfinished "ending." The Who's useless guest shot is a typical desperate Sweeps gimmick; Mike Scully could've saved the money and used Wilson Phillips. For the past few season premieres, I've kept the faith, hoping that this once-great series will reverse its long and painful decline. Then I get on my knees and pray I won't get fooled again. (F)
Nathan DeHoff: I didn't mind the ridiculous premise here so much as I minded the wasted opportunities. I think they could have done more with a split town than they did. I liked the Boston Tea Party and Berlin Wall parodies, and I think the episode could have been funnier if the writers had stuck with such parodies, and developed the plot more logically, rather than just bringing in guest stars at the end to make everything all better. [...] Overall, I'd say this one was typical of recent episodes: a wacky premise leading to a disjointed plot, and not enough jokes (with those that were there often drawn out to the point where they were no longer funny). It wasn't as bad in these respects as some recent episodes I could name, but it wasn't especially great, either. (C)
Don Del Grande: The only thing that stands in the way of this being the "worst episode ever" is the 200 or so episodes that this one was better than. Maybe they went overboard with the "wrong area code" thing, especially in the ending. (A-)
Ahmet Deligonul: It's season 11 all over again! The 1st act started out nice, but when Homer decided to split Springfield in two, it got a little boring. Finally when Homer decides he can't mayor a city and has to get The Who to play, the episode completely sucked. A lot of it didn't make much sense at all. How did the kids go to school? Lots of unanswered questions. (D)
Ben Fonter: Hey, not too shabby! The first act of the new season got off to a wonderful start. The doghouse jokes were wonderful, especially Homer getting the crap beat out of him by a badger. Act II lost little of what Act I had. The splitting of the town worked wonderfully, and the feuding was funny. Pimp Master Brockman and his Golden Showers was hilarious. But the Who dragged down the third act a bit, even though Homer chloroforming Marge was funny. The ending kinda sucked with the badgers. But overall, many funny quotes and good jokes. (B-)
Joe Green: I was somewhat disappointed about this being yet another "Wacky Homer meets a celebrity" episode, but it did have some highly funny moments (i.e. the bullies doing Bart's homework and Kent Brockman's comment about "golden showers"). All in all, it's an average episode for the past few seasons ... not brilliant, but not horrible either. (B-)
Carl Johnson: The story was better than average for season eleven, much in the way that a stink beetle in a mass of cockroaches is better than average. Pretty grim. I didn't much like this one. Worst season premiere ever. Yucko. I give this one a (D)
Darrel Jones: This 12th season premiere/250th episode was lamer than advertised. The chalkboard gag was freakin' brilliant; it doesn't take a reAL GOREat Democratic supporter to find it funny. Acts One and Two were fun as well, but as soon as the Who came in, the whole episode seemed to collapse. Surely they could have done more and better things with the British supergroup; I'm especially bothered they didn't play "Join Together" during the concert. Still, I give it a 7/10 (B+)
Adam Long: Not great, but a little better than I expected. Luckily, The Who's appearance wasn't the focal point of the episode, as the commercials made it out to be. The problem with this episode, I thought, was wasted potential. Having the town separated with the addition of an area code was a more creative and interesting story than the writers have been able to muster in the past couple seasons, and while there were some worthy, creative gags (I actually got a kick out of Homer's repeated failure to use the phone), most of the episode was the typical Scully-era over-exaggeration of the situation. [...] In summary it was just another over-the-top wacky episode with a tacked-on guest appearance. But since it was the hyped Season Premiere and 250th episode, I guess that's understandable. I just hope the season picks up. (C-)
Michael Nusair: I enjoyed this episode. Quite a lot, actually. After a
not-so-promising start (though I did like the Woody Woodpecker part), this
turned out to be a pretty good episode. It had a good share of laughs
(Woody Woodpecker, the gold prospector ("eureka!"), Marge getting
chloroformed ...). Plus, the guest star didn't feel *too* shoe-horned in,
as opposed to some from last season (Kid Rock, Britney Spears). Overall, a
pleasant surprise, and a good way to start the new season. (B+)John Plasket: My phone company recently added a ten-digit dialing policy,
meaning that in order to call ANY number, an area code is required. When
it began, I kept forgetting, and I kept getting the tri-tone. Therefore, I
thought Homer's misadventures were hilarious. This episode was funny.
Okay, so it had a stupid plot ("Homer does <<BLANK>> ... with WACKY
RESULTS!"), but it made me laugh. (A-)Mike Reed: Ouch. When a Halloween episode is less wacky than the season premiere, something's wrong. The only funny parts came at Bart's corn can, and the area code film. The rest was utter garbage. Homer having his insides torn out was the worst "Joke" I've ever seen on the Simpsons, or, come to think of it, anywhere else for that matter. From there, the episode went nowhere, with little to no redeeming humor. This is not the same John Swartzwelder who wrote 7G11, 9F03, and 7F01. This is the work of someone who doesn't know crap about The Simpsons. I'm normally not the person who says this every week, but this was seriously the worst episode ever. (F)
Robin Steinmann: After a really annoying start with an appalling open abdomen, the episode improved to a sensible extent. There were only very few truly remarkable moment, the best being the phone informational, but all in all the team managed to produce a coherent story with a real ending. That's a change to many S11 episode. It was not something to be overly proud, but at least it was a solid base from which improvement is possible. We'll see. (B-)
Robert Todd: Well ... I expected worse. The first 5 minutes seemed to confirm this with both Homer (and Bart) appearing even more visibly stupid than in S11. But the second act, with the war between Old and New Springfield, was pretty good by the Scully-era standard. There have been worse guest appearances than that of The Who, most notably that of U2 in the 200th episode. (C+)
Hari Wierny: A fresh episode, probably the best I've seen in some time now. While there were gags which would have been better left out (such as Homer's disgusting wound under his shirt and continually being subject to physical pain), there we some funny gags too. The main thing which made this episode a nice change to most recent outings is that it chose a plot and stuck to it. The Who were pretty good, but did anyone else notice they tried to sound American in some parts? (B)
Yours Truly: Whether by intention or accident, show No. 250 bears a resemblance to "Trash of the Titans (5F09)," the 200th episode. By my standards, "A Tale of Two Springfields" is an improvement. Homer, despite some over-aggressive moments, is more likeable, plus he has an arguably legitimate cause. Guest stars The Who do a pretty good job. The opening sequence is good, too, even if it exists mainly as a platform to perform one of John Swartzwelder's loopy segues. (I also liked how the final scene referenced it.) Tonight's episode is satisfying in an eccentric way. Perhaps it is the producers' plan to loosely remake past under-performing episodes until they get them right. If so, "A Tale of Two Springfields" is a step in the right direction. (B)
AVERAGE GRADE: C+ (2.20) Std Dev.: 1.0546 (22 reviews computed)
==============================================================================
==============================================================================
Darrel Jones writes: The various Who songs mentioned or played during this episode are: "My Generation", "Won't Get Fooled Again", "Squeeze Box" - Mentioned by Homer in the hotel. "Won't Get Fooled Again" was played later, as the group "broke" the wall.
"The Seeker" - Played at the start of the concert.
"Magic Bus", "Pinball Wizard" - Requested by Homer. The former, along with "Boris the Spider", is one of the two all-time most requested songs at Who concerts.
Speaking of Who songs, Stephen Gutknecht writes: Another The Who fan joke is when homer is at the hotel trying to get the band to perform in New Springfield. Homer says: "What happened to the angry, defiant Who of _My Generation_, _Won't Get Fooled Again_, and _Mama's Got a Squeeze Box_?".
If you are a True(tm) fan of The Who, you would know that that _Mama's Got a Squeeze Box_ is not angry and defiant. It is a playful song about sex :)
- Where is Springfield?
Dave Sibley: The 636 area code is in Western Missouri.
Someone named "Yomazaho" adds: Out of curiosity I had to look up the two area codes. Turns out 636 is listed for: Ballwin, Chesterfield, Crystal City, De Soto, Fenton, Festus, Foley, Herculaneum, High Hill, Hillsboro, Holstein, Imperial, Jonesburg, Manchester, Maxville, O'Fallon, Portage des Sioux, St. Charles, Troy, Truxton, Union, Valley Park, Warrenton, Washington, West Alton, Winfield; Missouri
That's rather funny since there is a Springfield in Missouri but when I search for the area code of Springfield in Missouri it turned up: Springfield, MO, USA -- 417.
Also, 939 is listed as: [ Geographic Relief Code - This code has been "reserved" for future relief of existing codes that will be exhausting at least once in the next 20 years. ]
All looks taken from <http://decoder.americom.com/>.
Ted Mill: One article says 939 has been assigned as an additional area code for Puerto Rico. So we know where Springfield is: right on the Missouri/Puerto Rico border.
Benjamin Robinson: Bart's blackboard gag, where the name "AL GORE" is interpolated into the message, references a tempest-in-a-teapot scandal that took place in the 2000 United States Presidential race. One of Republican candidate George Bush's ads had key phrases (like "Vote for Bush") floating across the screen, in plain sight. To grab the viewer's attention, parts of the "main" phrase might also float in the background in different positions, different sizes (so all you'd see is "OTE FO", for instance), and so on.
Sounds pretty mundane, but in an ad that claimed Democrat Al Gore supported Washington bureaucrats, the last four letters, "RATS," floated across the screen. This was interpreted as being an attempt at subliminally influencing the voters. There's no evidence to show that subliminal anything is even remotely effective. Even if there was, the "RATS" wasn't that hard to notice, and therefore not subliminal. Of course, there's no denying that even the *non- subliminal* message of the ad was, "Don't vote for Gore" -- that's the whole point of a political ad -- so it's not like an anti-Gore sentiment should ring alarms. Despite all this, it was evidently a slow news week because all the reporters covering the election jumped on the story, giving it front-page coverage even after most people had forgotten about it. (Assuming they even paid attention in the first place.) The Bush camp withdrew the ad, saying it was all a ghastly mistake.
Nate Case: Well, I'm sure many of you noticed this, but FOX registered whatbadgerseat.com to match the content of tonight's episode. <http://www.whatbadgerseat.com>
In case the site has disappeared by the time you read it, Ryan Mead explains what it was like: Fox intelligently decided to register the domain name www.whatbadgerseat.com. It links you to a parody site which is part of thesimpsons.com, which "informs" you what badgers eat, what they don't, and a Flash game which "tests your knowledge" by feeding things to a badger.
Speaking of area codes, Jeff Cross has this to say: With everybody and their cat getting cell-phones and pagers, the phone companies are fast running out of available numbers in each area code. I can sympathize with Homer's outrage because I've lived through three area code gerrymanderings myself in Massachusetts: first there was 413 and 617. Then in the early 1990s they carved 508 out of 617. Then in 1998 they further sliced those up, creating 978 out of 508, and 781 out of 617. (Please not that 413 has never been touched during all this.) To top it off, they're now going to add "overlay" codes: they're stacking a second area code on top of the current ones, less 413. I was already fried about the creation of 508, since my home was in a border town, requiring me to call a whole new area code just for the next town over. What I don't get is why Springfield didn't get a second phone exchange instead of a second area code.
Robert Vandergraaf lists the residents of Old Springfield (area code 636): Bill and Marty (KBBL radio show), Mrs. Hoover, Sideshow Mel, Mr. Burns, Skinner, Mrs. Krabappel, Prof. Frink, Mr. Largo (music teacher), Apu and wife, Chief Wiggum, Mayor Quimby, Jimbo, Kearny, Dolph, and Kent Brockman.
And for New Springfield: Captain McAllister, Patty and Selma, the Simpsons, Disco Stu (?), Groundskeeper Willie, Fat Tony, Eddie and Lou (the cops), Lenny, Carl, Barney, Otto, Dr. Nick Rivera, Flanders, Mr. Van Houten (Milhouse's Dad), Moe, Bee Guy(?), Jasper, Hans, and Comic Book Guy.
Benjamin Robinson tells us: Joan Collins is an actress who has played a variety of trashy roles in equally trashy movies. She's also pretty well known as Alexis on the 80's prime-time soap, "Dynasty." Most of her roles involved playing women of, ahem, questionable moral standards, but I don't know if she is that way in real life.
Dave Sibley writes: I personally enjoyed the Yahoo search engine joke arena joke. It's a nice way of poking fun at the fact that just about every sporting arena is now sponsored by some large corporation and the recent ad campaigns by .com companies. Especially since I live near the Conseco Fieldhouse and the RCA Dome.
Dave Sibley explains: Saying you're taking a "golden shower" is a less vulgar way of saying you are being urinated on.
Stephen Burks adds: Urination by one party onto another, usually for sexual purposes (note: This is the second major sexual reference in the past two episodes, the other being "glory hole")
Benjamin Trollip: Famous for its casino, private game reserve (with "over 300 Nile Crocodiles "), Palace of the Lost City Hotel and annual Million Dollar Challenge Golf Tournament, Sun City is probably one of the biggest tourist attractions in South Africa. As the 'city's' Web page says, "Sun City is a world unto its self and has earned its reputation as Africa's Kingdom of Pleasure." I guess Homer felt Olde Springfield had a Sun City flavour to it ...
There may have been more to it than that, as Benjamin Robinson explains: When rock stars of the 80's weren't fighting against world hunger (in Live Aid) or farm foreclosures (Farm Aid), they were protesting apartheid, South Africa's legalized racism. The musicians couldn't single-handedly force the South African government to do their bidding, but they could -- and many did -- boycott playing in the country or working with their musicians. [They were pretty strict about it, too. Paul Simon took some heat for crossing the "picket line" and recording with black South African musicians, even though black people were whom the rock community was trying to help.]
Raising the issue in the public consciousness was another important step in bringing down apartheid. There was a resort called Sun City in South Africa; one of the guys in Bruce Springsteen's band recorded a protest song called "(I Ain't Gonna Play) Sun City." It was a hit -- kind of hard to say "no" to something with such good intentions -- and people got the message even if they never heard of Sun City before.
Incidentally, South Africa finally dumped their apartheid policy, so even if Homer had fooled The Who into thinking Olde Springfield was Sun City, they could have played there without regrets.
Benjamin Robinson: No, sorry, you didn't hear that. According to the closed captions, Homer said, "Take that, Old Snub-field!" This makes rather more sense, since Homer felt snubbed by his old town. Maybe next time, "snuh" fans.
[Posting messages that simply said, "snuh" was a fad on alt.tv.simpsons a while back -- Ed.]
Dave Sibley tells us: "Pac-Man Fever" was by Buckner and Garcia. It was a moderate hit that cashed in on the "Pac-Man Fever" that was spreading across America in the early 1980's. Buckner and Garcia also released an album, called "Pac-Man Fever," full of video game-inspired songs such as "Do the Donkey Kong." The b-side to "Pac-Man Fever" was, depending on the version, either an instrumental version of "Pac-Man Fever" or "Do the Donkey Kong."
The Kon Stamadianos alterna-title for this show is: Homer Hears The Who
Joe Green suggests: Area Code of Honor
According to a Fox press release (via Bill LaRue), this episode received a Nielsen rating of 9.2, with a share of 14. (The rating is an absolute number of people who watched the show. A "share" is the percentage of TV sets in use at the time.)
Greg Doyle: Zac Starkey [is] Ringo's son, and the usual tour drummer for The Who.
Joe Green: Fox's print ads showed Homer and the Who sleeping under a British- flag blanket, a likely reference to the Who's "The Kids are Alright" album.
Hari Wierny: I believe this is the first episode to be aired in the UK only a week after it's premiere in the States.
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============================================================================== % It's feeding time once again for Santa's Little Helper. Bart brings % a bowl of food out to the doghouse, and seems surprised that SLH is % more aggressive than usual. He's even more surprised that at the % same time menacing growls come from inside the doghouse, his dog is % standing outside. It turns out a badger with a nasty attitude has % claimed squatter's rights. SLH is less than enthused by his new % roomie, so the newcomer will have to go. % % Lisa searches for some badger-removal tips on the Internet.
Bart: C'mon, Lis, there's gotta be a way to lure that badger out. Lisa: Well, according to whatbadgerseat.com, badgers subsist primarily on a diet of stoats voles, and marmots. Bart: [hunts through the kitchen cabinets] Hmm, stoats ... stoats ... Lisa: Stoats are weasels, Bart. They don't come in cans. Bart: Then what's this? [triumphantly holds up a can] Lisa: That's corn, Bart. Bart: Must you embarrass me? -- That's what sisters are for, "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% The badger site notes that they will sometimes eat woodpeckers. % Bart "borrows" Rod and Todd's pet woodpecker, and takes him to the % doghouse. The bird is too smart for the boy, though. He pecks % Bart's head and then flies off laughing, until he flies headlong % into a bug zapper and scorches himself. % % The kids are pondering their next move when Homer walks by.
Homer: Television broken? Bart: No. There's a badger in there. [indicates the doghouse] Homer: Badger, my ass -- it's probably Milhouse. [crawls into the doghouse] Milhouse ... Milhouse! [the badger attacks. Homer screams and beats a hasty retreat] It's a badger, all right. Possibly a griffin. Bart, do you have any dynamite in your room? Bart: Tons. Homer: Get it. Lisa: No, Dad, we don't want to kill him. Let's call animal control. Homer: Great idea. Then we should call the doctor about this. [lifts his shirt, revealing a gaping hole in his chest that exposes his internal organs] Lisa: How did the badger do that without ripping your shirt? Homer: What am I, a tailor? -- "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% Homer finds an animal-control service in the yellow pages, and dials % the number.
Phone Lady: [tri-tone] Your call cannot be completed as dialed. Please make sure you have the correct area code. Homer: Area code? But it's a local call! Marge: The phone company ran out of numbers, so they split the city into two area codes. Half the town keeps the old 636 area code, and our half gets 939. Homer: 939!? What the hell is that!? Oh, my life is ruined. Marge: Jeez, you just have to remember three extra numbers. Homer: Oh, if only it were that easy, Marge. [the badger appears at the window] Go away! We got bigger problems now. [the badger leaves] -- Priorities, "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% Homer vows to call everyone he knows, but naturally forgets the new % area code. The repeated tri-tones drive him temporarily mad, and he % curls up in a fetal position by the phone. % % He soon recovers enough to go to work and complain in person.
Homer: [writing "939" on his hand] I hate this new area code. Like I don't have enough to remember already. [looks at his other hand, which has "Lenny = white, Carl = black" written on it] Is that right? Don't you miss the old 636 ... [consults hand] ... Carl? Carl: I'm not sure which one's better. The "6" is closer to the "3", so you got convenience there, but the "9" has less to do with Satan, which is a plus in this religious world of ours. Homer: What really burns me up is they didn't give us one word of warning. Carl: What do you mean? They ran those TV commercials about it, and that big radio campaign. Lenny: Don't forget the leaflets they dropped from the Space Shuttle, and the two weeks we all spent at area code camp. Homer: Not a single word of warning. -- "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% Later Homer is listening to the radio. After the traffic report and % some fun at Joan Collins's expense, it's time for a contest.
Marty: Okay, time to give away freeeee concert tickets. [Bill pushes a button on console] Gary Coleman: [sound bite] Whatchu talkin' about? Marty: What we're talking about, Gary, is The Who. Bill: We're giving away tickets to next week's concert at Springfield's historic Yahoo Search Engine Arena. Homer: [gasps] The Who? I love bands! Bill: And now, we'll dial our big winner at random. [puts a sound-bite tape into the console] Singers: Dialing at random. Marty: Okay, let's start with 5-5-5-0-1-1, and 3! [at home, Homer's anticipation mounts] Homer: That's my number! Jumps near the phone, ready to pick up. Burns: [on radio] Ahoy, hoy! Homer: Hey, that's not me. Bart: Dad, we're not in their area code any more. Bill: Congratulations, you're going to rendezvous with The Who! Homer: [smashes radio] It's not fair! I've been a fan of The Who since the very beginning, when they were The Hillbilly Bugger Boys. Bart: You should call that radio station and let 'em have it! Homer: Good idea! [dials the phone -- and gets the tri-tone again. Bart laughs] You little --! [throttles Bart with the cord. Bart fights back by hitting Homer repeatedly with the receiver. They both eventually pass out on the floor] -- "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% A town meeting is called, with the people sitting on either a "636" % or "939" side of the meeting hall, as appropriate. Homer has come % prepared, strapping dynamite to his chest. Lindsay Neagle, % representing the phone company, addresses the crowd and assures them % their complaints are moronic.
Neagle: This film will explain everything to you in words that you can understand. [a screen drops down, and a little cartoon begins. A cartoon phone walks into his house. He looks like an old- fashioned wooden wall phone, the kind you might see on "Green Acres" or "The Beverly Hillbillies"] Phoney: Hi, I'm Phoney McRingRing, mascot and president of the telephone company, and I'm here to explain why the convenience of one area code in [splice] your town [end splice] has been replaced by the convenience of two area codes. [cut to the audience] Homer: Uh, I have a question, Phoney. Lisa: It's a movie, Dad. Homer: Quiet, honey, Daddy's asking the man a question. [back to the film] Phoney: You're probably thinking, "Sure, more area codes are great, and I don't mind paying the extra hidden fees, but how will I remember all those numbers?" [opens a closet door, and a huge wall of numbers comes tumbling out, burying Phoney] Whoa! Well, scientists have discovered that even monkeys can memorize ten numbers. Are you stupider than a monkey? [cut to the audience] Wiggum: How big of a monkey? [back to the film] Phoney: [laughs] Of course you're not. [The End] -- A convincing argument, "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% The audience is seemingly pacified by the film, except for Homer. % He accuses the phone company of making the film "on purpose" (which % Neagle confirms), and then gets up on stage.
Homer: Now, I'm not one to make trouble, but it seems to me that everyone who got to keep the old, or [air quotes] classic 636 area code lives on [points finger accusingly] the *rich* side of town! Burns: Dooh, poppycock! Socialite: Well, I never! [the man sitting next to her is horrified, and his monocle falls into his drinking glass] Homer: And, as usual, we Joe Twelve-Packs get the royal screw job. Moe: [stands up] Homer's right. We're getting the Joan Collins special. Jasper: He's right! Willie: We're gettin' it but good. [the rest of the 939-ers murmur their approval] Homer: Well, I've had it! You rich snobs aren't pushing us around any more! Brockman: And what are you pathetic slobs going to do about it? Homer: Well, I ... [whips out a detonator and pushes the down on the plunger a few times. Fortunately, nothing happens] Oh, nice wiring, Bart! Bart: It worked on the test corpse. Homer: Okay, plan B. [tosses the detonator aside] Fellow 939-ers, I say we break off and form our own city! [the other 939 people respond enthusiastically, and Homer leads them out of the hall] Barney: Let's go! Bumblebee Guy: �Viva la revolucci�n! Homer: Now who's stupid? -- Everyone on your side of the town? "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% [End of Act One. Time: 7:14] % % Homer completes his declaration of independence by painting "New" in % the appropriate place on an "Entering Springfield" sign. "Now we % just sit back and wait for an NFL franchise," he says, settling into % a patio lounge chair. A representative of the Arizona Cardinals % overhears this, but Homer quickly rebuffs him. The other % townspeople praise Homer for his poise, and nominate him for mayor % of the new town. The notion sits well with Homer, who imagines % himself as the cowboy mayor of a Wild West town.
I reluctantly accept this highly paid, glamorous job. -- Homer Simpson, "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% The residents of Old Springfield are taking the secession in stride. % Already, Mayor has a spiffy new "Olde Springfield" sign to dedicate. % His speech about the importance of making peace with the city's new % neighbor is cut short when a beer can bounces off his head. The % thrower is the Mayor of New Springfield, who doesn't seem interested % in letting the rivalry pass. % % The next morning, Hizzoner has breakfast with his family.
Marge: More wheat cakes, Mr. Mayor? Homer: Read my lips: Yes. [spills a bit of syrup on his "Mayor" sash] Bart: Dad, you got syrup on your sash. Homer: No problem. [tugs on the end of his sash. The part with "Mayor" written on it tears off, revealing a pristine new sash underneath. Homer tosses the old one away] Lisa: Dad, if you ask me -- Homer: [holds up his hand] Stop right there. Lisa: [peering around his hand] -- it's stupid to divide the city over something as silly as an area code. It'd be like you and Mom splitting up every time you had a fight. Homer: Sweetie, you know your mother and I only stay together for the sake of my political career. Marge: That's not true! [a cameraman appears at the kitchen window] Homer: Big grins! [kisses his wife as the cameraman takes their picture] That'll play great in the sticks. [Homer wipes his mouth on his sash, then tears it off to reveal a new one reading, "Time to reorder"] That was fifty already? -- "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% Bart and Milhouse play Frisbee in the park. An errant throw sends % the disc over the border into Old Springfield. Bart runs to % retrieve it, but stops at the border line.
Jimbo: Hey, look what I found -- a novelty flying disc. Bart: Give it back! It's my novelty flying disc. Jimbo: You're in Old Springfield now. Everything on this side of the park belongs to us. Kearney: Hey, his pants are in our park, too. Dolph: Get him! [the bullies jump Bart, and de-pant him, leaving just the underwear] Bart: [slyly] My homework is in your park. Kearney: Let's do it! [grabs homework out of Bart's knapsack] Yoink! [soon the three bullies are earnestly doing Bart's homework] Dolph: [looking up] What does freedom mean to me? -- Freedom from homework? "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% Even Marge's daily shopping is affected by the New/Old Springfield % schism. When she buys toilet paper at Kwik-E-Mart, Apu tacks on a % 50% out-of-towner tax. % % At home, Marge talks about her day.
Marge: I don't know why, but I just didn't feel comfortable until I was back here in New Springfield with my own kind. Lisa: Mom! Marge: They were looking at me ... with their eyes. Brockman: [on TV] As expected, New Springfield's bold experiment with slob rule is a disaster. Homer: Hey! The TV man is talking about us. Brockman: A study shows their crumbling economy is due to their lazy attitude and shoddy work. Homer: How the hell did they find that out? Brockman: Scientists say they're also less attractive physically, and while we speak in a well-educated manner, they tend to use lowbrow expressions like, "Oh, yeah?" and "Come here a minute." Homer: Oh yeah? They think they're better than us, huh? Bart, come here a minute. Bart: You come here a minute. Homer: [shakes fist] Oh yeah? -- Yeah, "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% Homer decides to fight back. He and Bart sneak into the power plant % after dark.
Bart: Dad, I don't think this is such a good idea. Homer: Thank you, *Marge*. Now, let's see how Old Snub- field does without electricity. [throws the switch that disconnects Old Springfield's power. The grid of streetlights is visible through a window. Half of them go out] Woo-hoo! [in a hospital operating room, the lights turn off] Nurse: Oh, no! You can't do heart surgery in the dark. Hibbert: Sounds like a wager to me. Krusty: [on the table] I'll take a piece of that. [cut to Prof. Frink's lab] Frink: I'll now transport Sir Isaac Newton to the modern day. Voice: Warning! Power failure! [the lights go out in mid-transport. Only Sir Newton's legs and hips appear] Frink: Oh, no! Sweet glaven! [the legs chase Frink around the room, kicking him] Ow, ow! Sir Isaac's legs are hurting! -- The perils of science, "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% Later, Kent Brockman reports that in retaliation for the blackout, % Old Springfield has stopped beer truck headed for New Springfield % and poured the beer into the river. % % As counter-retaliation, the New Springfieldians close the town dam's % sluice gates, cutting off Old Springfield's water supply. The % townsfolk stare at the dry riverbed.
Quimby: They got us now. Without water, we're doomed. Skinner: Wait a minute! What's that gold-colored substance in the riverbed? Hibbert: Why, that's gold. [chuckles] Burns: We're slightly richer! [townspeople cheer] -- "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% Kent Brockman, dressed in gaudy gold accessories, crows about the % town's good fortune on the nightly news.
Brockman: With the money made from the gold, Old Springfield was able to buy the Evian water factory and fly it over here from France. [news footage shows several helicopters lowering a factory into place on the old riverbed] Homer: [groans] Brockman: Thanks, Mr. Simpson. Because of you, we're all taking golden showers. [offstage, we hear laughter] What? -- "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% Marge is once again the voice of reason.
Marge: We can't go on fighting with Old Springfield. These people are our neighbors. We see them every day. Homer: You're right. We've got to block them from our sight with a giant wall. Marge: Like the one in Berlin? Homer: Good idea. We should call the guys they used. [picks up the phone and dials, getting the tri-tone, again] Marge: Homer ... Homer: [insistently] It's ringing. -- "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% The wall is built, and at the dedication ceremony, Homer praises Fat % Tony's Low-Ball Construction Company for building it from 90% % recycled materials. Homer thanks the people for staying in New % Springfield, despite their inadequate infrastructure. Carl points % out that, with the roads blocked, there's now way to get food into % the town. Homer can't give a reassuring answer, and the town goes % over the wall. Soon, only his immediate family and the tumbleweeds % are left -- and after a gust of wind, the tumbleweeds are gone, too. % % [End of Act Two. Time: 13:27] % % Homer now has the dubious honor of being mayor of a ghost town. He % walks down the street with his family, grousing about the towns- % people's lack of loyalty. As he passes by stores with interesting % merchandise, he smashes the window and helps himself.
Homer: Anyhow, those rats will come crawling back -- we've got The Who playing here tonight! Lisa: Dad, the arena's in Old Springfield. Homer: D'oh! Bart: Don't give up, Dad! Maybe we can get The Who to play here instead. Homer: Hey, maybe we could. But we'll need some liquid persuasion. [cut to a store selling chloroform. Homer smashes the window and grabs a bottle] C'mon Bart, we're going to bring back The Who! [kisses the chloroform bottle, then immediately passes out] -- "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% Bart revives his father, and they both sneak into Hotel Pillowmint, % where the former Hillbilly Bugger Boys are staying. Almost as soon % as they step off the elevator, they are confronted by the band's % bodyguard, who is so huge he appears to take up most of the hallway.
Guard: Can I help you? Homer: Uh ... Bart: Dad, the chloroform. Homer: Huh? Oh, right. [holds up the bottle] I'll give you this bottle of chloroform if you'll take us to The Who. Bart: D'oh! [slaps forehead] Guard: So you want to see The Who, huh? Well, I'll take you to The Who. [takes them to a doorway] Here's your Who! [throws Bart and Homer through the door. The camera switches positions to show that they have landed right at The Who's feet] Roger: I thought we fired that guard. Guard: Oh, yeah, right; I got fired by The Who. Whatever you say, pal. [does the "crazy" whistle] Wacko. [twirls his finger in the "nuts" gesture, and leaves] -- Good help is hard to find, "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% Homer is in awe. He and Bart start smashing up the hotel room in % the grand rock-star tradition. The band asks them to stop -- they % don't want to lose their pool privileges at the hotel.
Homer: Whatever. The point is, I'm Homer Simpson. John: The mayor of New Springfield? Homer: That's right. Roger: The crazy mayor of New Springfield? Homer: That's right, and I implore you to move your concert to our town. Don't play Old Springfield ... or, as it is sometimes known, Sun City. Roger: We had a handshake agreement with a concert promoter, and that's a sacred bond. Who: [reverently] Sacred Bond. Homer: Come on, what happened to the angry, defiant Who of, "My Generation," "Won't Get Fooled Again," and "Mama's Got a Squeeze Box?" John: We know our songs, Homer. Homer: But those Old Springfield squares are just going to make you cut your hair, turn down your music, and wear frilly shirts like Keith Partridge. Roger: Keith Partridge? Who huddle. [the band huddles to talk things over] John: We'll do it! Bart: Yeah! [Homer and Bart exchange high-fives] John: Just send the car for us. Homer: What, something wrong with your legs? Roger: You're right. The walk will do us good. -- "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% Meanwhile, at the Old Springfield arena, the crowd gathers. Krusty % reminisces.
Krusty: I opened for The Who at Woodstock. I came out in a Beatle wig with a ukulele. Hendrix said he almost plotzed -- his exact words. Mel: [sarcastic] Oh, I never tire of that story. -- "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% Elsewhere, in the arena, Burns berates Smithers for creasing his % jeans, but it turns out the crease is in his leg itself. As the % appointed time for the concert to begin comes and goes, the crowd % grows rowdy. Suddenly, a few bars of "The Seeker" can be heard from % somewhere in the distance. The concert-goers quickly realize what % has happened. The Who are playing New Springfield.
Homer stole our rock performance! That fat, dumb, and bald guy sure plays some real hardball. -- Moe, "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% The crowd storms out of the arena. % % The Who, who are playing on top of Homer's wall, finish up the song. % Pete wonders why they're playing to a crowd of just five people, but % Homer assures them more people will be coming. Meanwhile, he has a % few suggestions.
Homer: Now, these are the tunes I want you boys to play. Roger: Wait a minute. Homer, a lot of these are Grand Funk Railroad songs. John: We don't know "Pac-Man Fever." Homer: Oh come on, it plays itself. [grabs Pete's guitar, and strums randomly] Ah, Pac-Man fever, ah, doo-doo-doo-doo, it'sa drivin' me cra-a-a-a-zy! Look, Lisa! Daddy's in The Who. -- Who Are You? "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% Homer makes an impromptu wig from a discarded mop, and plays for a % bit more, but is hit by a bottle.
Quimby: Give us back our concert, Simpson. Homer: So, New Springfield's looking pretty good now, isn't it, with our ample parking, and daily Who concerts. Roger: Daily? Homer: [aside to Roger] We'll talk. -- "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% Moe yells, "Enough chit-chat. Let's see how you like flaming % garbage." This isn't the name of a new band; the Old % Springfieldians have brought in a catapult and launch payloads of % flaming garbage toward the new town. The first batch hits the % landmark tire fire. As Homer taunts the mob, a second wad of % garbage scores a direct hit on Homer. John throws some water on % him.
John: Oh, please, what's all this fighting about? Pete: Apparently, they have two different area codes. Roger: Well, I'll be chuggered. That's the sticky wicket? Why not just buy telephones with auto-ringup, or as you Yanks call it, speed dial. [the crowd murmurs its approval] Radio Shack has some great ones. Pete: Humph. Says you. Homer: "Magic Bus!" Crowd: Yeah, "Magic Bus!" Roger: Okay, we'll play "Magic Bus" if you tear down this wall. Homer: [pauses to consider] "Pinball Wizard." -- "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% Fed up, Pete decides to do this himself. He turns the amplifier % past ten to "Whuh-oh!" and the band starts playing the Nissan Maxima % theme song (a.k.a. "Won't Get Fooled Again"). The wall crumbles % under the aural assault, and the people rush through the breach to % start dancing.
Homer: Well, Marge, looks like your insane experiment is over. Marge: My experiment? You're the one who came up with this whole idea ... [Homer chloroforms Marge into submission. They dance, sort of, with Homer holding up his woozy wife] -- "A Tale of Two Springfields"
% A badger stands at the crest of a hill overlooking the town. He % signals his troops to begin their attack on the town, now that % everyone is busy dancing. Wave after wave of badgers descends on % the unsuspecting town as the band plays on. % % [End of Act Three. Time: 20:00] % % After The Who finishes "Won't Get Fooled Again," the normal credit % music plays. The Gracie Sound is the "Shh!" lady trying to hush the % tri-tone.
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============================================================================== {ag} Andrew Gill {bf} Ben Fonter {bg} Bruce Gomes {bjr} Benjamin Robinson {cl} Chad Lehman {ddg} Don Del Grande {dj} Darrel Jones {ds} Dave Sibley {hmw} Hari Wierny {jc} Jeff Cross {jg2} Joe Green {jk} Joe Klemm {jp} John Plasket {nd} Nathan DeHoff {pc} Paul Campa {rt} Robert Todd {rv} Robert Vandergraaf
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============================================================================== This episode capsule is Copyright 2002 Benjamin Robinson. It is not to be redistributed in a public forum without consent from its author or current maintainer ([email]). All quoted material and episode summaries remain property of The Simpsons, Copyright of Twentieth Century Fox. All other contributions remain the properties of their respective authors. The Quote and Scene Summary itself is Copyright 2002 Benjamin Robinson. This capsule has been brought to you by New Springfield Bell.
This work is dedicated to Raymond Chen, James A. Cherry, Ricardo Lafaurie, Frederic Briere, and all of those who made episode capsules what they are today.