[The long of it]
Tonight's episode reminds me of a story I heard about one of the writer/producers -- Mike Reiss, I think -- who was talking with a live audience about how the show was made. In addition to the usual mix of clips, behind-the-scenes stories, and Q&A sessions, he gave souvenirs to audience members who could answer trivia questions. One of the give-a-ways was one of the scripts from the show. After the audience murmured appreciatively, he said, "Don't get too excited, it's a Marge episode." Reiss was joking, but it was a tacit confirmation of what many "Simpsons" fans know: Marge is a terrific supporting character, but she has trouble carrying an episode by herself. The whole idea behind Marge is that she's the dependable, strait-laced member of the Simpson family, the one who tries to rein in the others' flights of fancy. This make here a crucial character but, let's face it, "dependable" and "strait-laced" aren't exactly synonymous with comedy. With an episode about Homer, Bart, or Lisa, the writers can take one of their character traits (Homer's foolishness, for instance) and make a funny story about it. With Marge, the writers typically try to come up with a good reason for Marge to go *against* her character, and they spend so much time justifying the change that the episode ends up contrived, or unfunny, or both.
Yes, there are some classic Marge shows, like "Brush with Greatness (7F18)," so it *is* possible to have a good Marge show. Going by just-the pre-show publicity (admittedly not a reliable indicator), "The Strong Arms of the Ma (EABF04)" doesn't look like it's going go buck the trend. Is anyone really wanting to see Marge bulked up on steroids, fighting people on "Fox Celebrity Boxing?" Hmmm; I didn't think so.
It's just as well, then, that "Strong Arms" really isn't about that at all. Instead, it traces her descent into, and recovery from, a crippling fear of the outdoors. Lead writer Carolyn Omine does a beautiful job with this part, starting with the way she balances the humorous and serious elements of the story. Marge's agoraphobia is triggered when she is mugged, and the mugging sequence is played perfectly; just seriously enough to make the audience care, but not so sinister that it casts a pall on the rest of the episode. There's another fine scene where Marge decides to just live in the basement for the rest of her life. She's telling Homer about this decision from the foot of the basement stairs, and the camera looks down on her over Homer's shoulder as he stands at the top step. The way Marge looks so small and vulnerable, and the hollow way her voice echoes, is quietly touching. What's especially nice is that these moments don't feel tacked on, as if someone decided that we needed "x" amount of sadness at "y" point in the show. It's integrated well with the funny stuff, and when Marge triumphs over her problem it's that much more meaningful.
I don't want to give you the feeling that "Strong Arms" is a downer. There are plenty of good just-for-laughs sequences, like Rainier Wolfcastle's yard sale, and the family's desperation to change Maggie's diaper early in the show. Even after Marge's mugging, there are good moments. When she first tries to step outside, Marge has an agoraphobic hallucination where the mugger's girlfriend just tosses Marge's stolen necklace in a drawer when she's done with it. I also loved the family's well-meaning but bumbling efforts to help Marge get back to normal life.
At the end of the second act, Marge finds inner strength by developing her physical strength. Perhaps the show should have ended right there, but Ms. Omine and the rest of the writers still had another act to fill. The final part of the story has the same faults I cited earlier: Marge has to act way out of character, and the result is so overcompensated it isn't that funny. Okay, perhaps the intent was to show that Marge's emotional tempo swings from under- to over- confident, but wasn't there a way to do it that's less freakish than to show her more buff that Rainier Wolfcastle?
Well, by this point the episode has built up enough goodwill to save it from a bad grade. "The Strong Arms of the Ma" is two-thirds of a good story, and it's worth sitting through the final third (which at least ends well) to watch the beginning. Just tell Marge you like the whole thing, though, or she'll beat the crap out of you.
[The short of it]
For the first two acts, this show bucks the trend toward mediocre Marge episodes. The light and the dark elements are blended gracefully, so nothing seems tacked on. Marge's emotional trauma was quietly touching, and the family's help in getting her over it was terrific. Unfortunately, the writers weren't sure how to end it, briefly turning Marge into a steroid abuser. Oh, well, the first two- thirds are good enough to lift up the rest of the show. I guess Marge doesn't need steroids to carry a show, after all. (B)
[DYNs]
... despite what Fox will have you believe, this is the 300th episode of "The Simpsons" broadcast? ... the Van Gogh self-portrait that Lisa totes in a toy wagon? ... the Ganesha key fob on Apu's restroom key? ... Maggie grabs for the pepper spray? ... the mock Kwik-E-Mart counter is the family's overturned couch? (I hope this wasn't too obvious, but I didn't notice it the first time) ... Bart asks, "What if she doesn't" in Apu's accent? ... Xtopalopaqetl and the Santa suit in the basement? ... Marge's license plate is the production code for this episode?
[References]
"long arm of the law" (expression) - title of episode a spoof
U.S. policy on Iraq - Bart's blackboard punishment echoes government's term for deposing Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein
"Terminator 2: Judgement Day" (movie) - the cyborg hand Lenny picks up is from this movie
"A Party at Kitty and Stud's" (movie) - early porn film from pre-famous action-movie actor (in this case, Sylvester Stallone) [This was later re-released as "The Italian Stallion" after Stallone hit the big time]
Tetris (videogame) - Homer envisions his cargo and passengers as Tetris blocks when figuring out how to load the car
"Twilight Zone" (TV series) - a famous episode ends with the last man on Earth taking comfort that he can read all the books in a library -- until his glasses break, and he can't read them - when this happens to the postman, the distinctive theme music is heard
"Cheers" (TV series) - Homer notices the basement window is like the one on the set of this popular comedy
"Let's Hear it for the Boy" (song) - inspired the name for "Let's Hear it for the Soy" health-food place
iron maiden (medieval torture device) - the female bodybuilders introduced as the "iron maidens"
[Previous Episode References]
[5F16] Powersauce seen [5F12] Moe torches the bar for the insurance money
[FFF]
Box in Wolfcastle's yard sale:
GOLDEN
GLOBE
AWARDS
50�
A POUNDBlue box that Homer loads into the car:
POWERSAUCE
==========
BULK PACKNeon sign at crackhouse:
RESTROOM FOR
CRACK SMOKERS
ONLYTitle of video box:
THE WOMAN
WHO DIED
IN HER HOMEChurch sign:
NO OUTSIDE
EUCHARISTHealth food bar sign:
LET'S HEAR IT
FOR THE SOYBottle of performance-enhancing drugs:
RAGIN'
'ROIDSMarge's bumper stickers:
Moms D.A.R.E.
Against I'M ANTI-CRANK
Meth AND I VOTE Talk to your
just say no kids about
H U F F I N GMarge's license plate:
EABF 04
Homer's note to the kids:
TO
BUY FOOD
WITHBodybuilding competition marquee sign:
WOMEN'S
BODYBUILDING
FINALS FIRST TWO ROWS
MAY GET OILY[Goofs]
= As Kent and Rainier walk outside, the background panning looks "jerky" instead of scrolling smoothly.
+ We know from "Homer the Vigilante (1F09)" that Marge has back-up necklaces, so why doesn't she wear one of those?
+ Marge's bumper stickers must be the magic variety that appear only when mentioned.
= When the lady bodybuilder says "support the arts," she doesn't move her lips.
[Personal Comments & Observations]
"F�r Elise," by Beethoven, plays briefly before the lady bodybuilder smashes the piano.
Snippets of "Love is a Battlefield" (Pat Benetar) and "Relax" (Frankie Goes to Hollywood) play on Moe's jukebox. Both of these songs are nearly twenty years old. I guess Moe doesn't update his jukebox frequently.
Obviously, athletics in general and bodybuilding in particular are competitive ventures, and the competition can be intense. People are willing to go to great lengths to gain an edge, doing long hours of practice and training, exhaustive physical workouts, and working with experienced coaches. Some take it further, and use performance- enhancing drugs, like anabolic steroids. Steroids are very helpful in developing muscle mass, definition, and body strength, but this help comes at a steep price. Various types of cancer are blamed on steroid use. Those who aren't deterred by that may be put off by the fact that steroid use can cause the testicles to atrophy. (Well, I assume that isn't a big concern for Marge.) Steroid users also often suffer from excessive aggression and irritability. It's such a common side effect that it has a nickname: 'roid rage. This is most likely what caused Marge to trash Moe's tavern. For these reasons, steroid use is banned by the athletic and body-building organizations that I know of, although people continue to use it on the sly.
- Kent Brockman washes his Mercedes S-Class during the opening credits to "Eye on Springfield"
- Moe has an early 60's (1962, perhaps?) Ford.
As is often the case, the promotions for tonight's show contained a scene that was dropped at the last minute. Bart (or was it Lisa?) mentioned that Marge could go on "Fox Celebrity Boxing." Homer was sanguine about this, and just hoped Marge could do better than Krusty against Tonya Harding (the disreputable rough-and-tumble figure skater). Between blows, Krusty complains he was promised Scott Hamilton, a successful -- and less intimidating -- male figure skater.
- "Cheers" and "Wings" aired on Thursdays (at 9:00 and 9:30 EST, respectively), so Homer was looking forward to a lo-o-ong nap.