DYN ...This is the 1st episode written by Bill Freiberger? ...Jon Vitti is back as a producer (yeah I know everyone already knew he was coming back, but I still find it good news)? ...Homer did punch God in a way (by destroying the church)? ...Smithers was no where to be seen (perhaps he won't attend church because of his sexual preference?)? ...Paul Reiser's Book was a NY Times Bestseller?
References
-Saturday Night Live -SNL used to show members of the studio auidences and displayed message below them, like what happened to Lisa with God Cam.
-Church of Latter Day Saints -Church of Latter Day Druids sign a take-off
Previous Episode References:
[MG34], [7G08], [3F07], [5F07], [BABF07]-It's Christmas [AABF18]-Lindsey Naegle Appears [9F06, 9F17]-Frying Dutchman sign [7G11]-"Officer and a Gentleman" is Mentioned (Last scene in 7G11 is a take-off of the last scene in the movie [1F20]-Reverend Lovejoy disparages the Bible
Freeze Frame Fun
Shirt Lindsey wants Reverend Lovejoy to wear:
FATSO'S Hash House
Signs on Church (Left Wall)
BUZZ GULP N' KWIK-E-MART COLA BLOW
(Center Wall) THE FRYING DUTCHMAN LET'S GET FISCAL (Same pic seen in 9F06) Financial Planning ALL YOU CAN EAT
(Right Wall)
(Picture of Two (Picture of 3 Guys) Gladiators Fighting) ZIP BOYS SPORTACUS Sporting Goods
GODCAM (Lisa has her arms crossed and is mad) "POUTING THOMAS"
Signs on Podium: SPRINGFIELD BELL (pic. of bell)
COOKIE KWAN (pic of REALITOR Kawn)
Watch Ally McBeal It's Great!
People at church (Back to front, L-R)
Back Row (visible): Groundskeeper Willie, Burns Lawyer, x 2nd row: Chief Wiggum, Ralph Wiggum, Sarah Wiggum, x, x, x 3rd Row: Jack Marley, x, x, Selma, Patty, x 4th Row: Mrs. Glick, x, Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa 5th Row: Luann Van Houten, Pyro, x, x, Mr. Largo, x 6th Row: Martin Prince's Dad, Martin Prince, Mrs. Prince(?), x, Mrs. Hibbert, Dr. Hibbert Front: Rod/Todd Flanders(?), Sideshow Mel, x, x
The x denotes faceless background people.
Book Lisa Reads: ZAGAT'S
GUIDE TO WORLD RELIGIONS
Signs that Lisa passes by during sequence:
BED BATH & BAHA'I
WHISKEY a GOD GOD
CHURCH OF THE LATTER DAY DRUIDS
AMISH
Errors
Lenny can be seen walking into church, despite being a Buddhist.
Lenny must of recently converted, since he's been seen in church before. In 5F23 infact he was one of the few people who did not join the cult and was seen at church.
Review: The 1st episode of the Al Jean era begins...and it was decent. The major problem with this episode was that it took two acts to get to the main thrust of the episode, which is Lisa's crisis of faith. It would of done the story better to cut out the gerbial bit and save it for another episode (because it was funny) and get to Burns changing the church and Lisa renouncing the Church at the end of Act I instead, which would of made the story stronger. Still it was a decent episode with some good LOL moments. Good, but not Great, Start to Al Jean's reign. (B-)
Richard Gere's comments about wanting to kick Lenny's Ass was humerous considering recent events. Gere made some news lately when he said that we should not attack the Taliban...rather we should understand them and give them a hug instead. Needless to say this didn't go over too well with a lot of people, particularly in New York. When Gere appeared at the concert for New York he was roundly booed and many people shouted "You Suck!" at him.
Well once again FOX squeezed out the credits when something out of the norm was going on (In this case an alternate version of the theme song). This time it was to promote "24", a show Fox seems to spend 24/7 promoting already. Trust me, there is maybe 1 guy in Idaho who still isn't aware of "24", yet FOX feels we got to hear about it AGAIN. I don't know if this is nationwide or just my local affiliate, but I find this very annoying. Of course this won't change, since this is a practice all the networks like to do, but it still pisses me off all the same.
-Alex Foley