[The long of it]
By all rights, I should have liked this episode better than I actually did. It has a number of things going for it: Several funny scenes, some social commentary, and an entertaining guest star. Yet, something here didn't quite click for me.
"The Heartbroke Kid" finds a worthy social issue that hasn't been overexposed. Springfield Elementary signs a contract with the company that makes Scammer & Z-Dog snacks, a fun but nutritionally bankrupt line of food. This is pretty much what's happening in schools right now. Bart takes to the new food in a big way, and becomes dangerously obese -- something else that's happening in schools right now. This issue may not be as galvanizing (or as fun) as the Presidential election or debating the proper limits of cell-phone use, but kudos are in order to the writers for discovering it.
In spite of the serious subject matter, there's enough fun to go around. The show opens with some soldiers preparing to meet a formidable new enemy -- a giant stapler. This morphs into Skinner playing at his desk with some green Army men and some office supplies. Groundskeeper Willie takes an extended pratfall down the school stairs on Bart's skateboard. The opening credits are redone in an interesting manner. I'm not a huge "Itchy & Scratchy" fan (sacrilege!), but this episode has a pretty good short in which Itchy, as a cardiologist, chases Scratchy's terrified heart around the doctor's office.
Later in the episode, the family sends Bart to a weight-reduction clinic run by a Jack LaLanne wannabe (played by Albert Brooks). He's a tough character, forcing his clients to pull him around on a chariot while he cracks the whip and makes them confess their dietary sins. He's also got a keen sense of drama. Wanting to show something to Bart, he takes him on an hour-long drive -- and refuses to speak on the way for fear of screwing up the dramatic tension. The man's tough exterior can be shaken, though. Witness the way the camp's misprinted signs fluster him. Brooks does a terrific job voicing this character, and he's the best thing about the episode. Too bad the nature of his role means he can only appear when it's almost over.
So why aren't I loving "The Heartbroke Kid"? Well, despite its importance, the central premise doesn't really bowl me over. For me, watching a show that extols exercise and good nutrition is like eating a bowl of broccoli. It's good for you, but the entertainment value is limited. Also, I think Bart is funnier when he's out doing stuff, rather than passively waiting for things to happen to him. (Literally, in this case, since at times fat Bart barely has the energy to move.) Homer got fat for "King-Size Homer (3F05)" but that episode was funnier for a few reasons. First, part of Homer's character is that he's more passive (or just lazier) than Bart. Second, the story approaches Homer's weight gain in a creative way. He *wants* to become overweight to get better working conditions, so he desperately eats everything in the house. "Heartbroke" uses a more conventional route by getting Bart addicted to snack food, the way a heroin junkie is addicted to smack. On the whole, the plot didn't have that much appeal for me, although I'll concede that might not be a problem for most other people.
On the other hand, there are a few flaws even an excellent premise can't hide. To pay for the camp, the family offers their house as a youth hostel. A group of arrogant German tourists move in, but don't say all that much that's funny. (One exception -- a tourist complains that America hasn't adopted the metric system and says, "What is this? The time of Charlemagne?" Also, Lisa's reaction to the list of junk food ingredients -- she immediately picks up the bullhorn she carries around with her and protests -- veers a little too close to "PC Thug" Lisa. Come to think of it, this has also been a problem in "Don't Fear the Roofer (GABF10)" and "On a Clear Day I Can't See My Sister (GABF05)". I don't mind Lisa having causes, but lately she's been coming off as a bit strident. I'd suggest the writers dial it back a little.
In theory, "The Heartbroke Kid" is a good episode. In practice, it's a so-so one; certainly nothing to be ashamed of, but not as good as "Future-Drama (GABF12)" or "Don't Fear the Roofer." Kind of ironic, really, that an episode about overeating would be a little less than the sum of its parts.
[The short of it]
Several key elements are in place for a great episode. A worthy social issue that hasn't been talked to death. Some funny scenes (I liked the army fantasy opener, Willie's pratfall, and the "I&S" short). Albert Brooks was especially good as the tightly-wound owner of a fat camp. Despite this, the central premise didn't click for me (but might for others). It's kind of like being told to eat your peas. Besides Bart's funnier when he's actively doing things, not collapsed on the couch. Finally, the German tourists subplot wasn't that funny, and Lisa veered a bit close to PC thug territory. Perhaps ironically, the whole of this episode was less than the sum of its parts. (B-)
[DYNs]
... "Itchy & Scratchy" episodes apparently have some continuity, since Scratchy remembers all his past traumas?
[References]
Lunchables (brand of pre-made lunches for children) - Scammer and Z-Dog have a snack called, "Scarfables"
Hare Krishnas (religious group) ~Cookie Crisp (cereal) - one of the vending machine choices is Krishna Krisps
Amazon ~Screaming Yellow Zonkers (snack) - another choice is Amazonkers
Lollapalooza (rock festival)
- or maybe you'd like some Lollapaloozapops
[Interestingly, the word "lollapalooza" is supposed to have
originally meant a brand of really large lollipop. It sounds
like this snack brings things full circle]Dalai Lama (religious leader) - Lisa chooses a Dalai Lamanade
partially hydrogenated vegetable oil - Dalai Lamanade contains "partially hydrogenated petroleum oil"
monosodium glutamate - Lisa notices "monosodium poisonate" on the Lamanade's list of ingredients
"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (book and movie) "cop killer" bullets - one of Bart's snacks called, "Everlasting Copkillaz"
chubby chaser (slang term) - this term, meaning someone who's turned on by fat people, is printed on the camp manager's chariot
Jimmy Kimmel (talk show host) - Marge says, "Jiminy Kimmel"
Wolfgang Puck (chef) - Homer calls one of the German tourists, "Wolfgang Schmuck"
Haagen-Dazs (brand of ice cream) - one of Wolfcastle's quips as he tosses out the ice cream is, "Your Haagen-Days are numbered"
Baskin-Robin (ice cream parlor chain) - Wolfcastle also says, "I'm baskin' in your pain as I'm robbin' you of life"
Rage Against the Machine (band) - Bart says he "Raged against the machine" after attacking the vending machines
"Das Boot" (movie) - now that the family has some cash, Marge proposes giving the tourists "Das Boot" [She wants to give them a boat?]
[Previous Episode References]
[DABF12] Does this count as a "Marge becomes a robot" story?
[3F05] Simpson family member becomes morbidly obese
[9F03] Homer sings the "Yummy Yummy Yummy" song while Neil Armstrong
steps onto the Moon
[DABF03] Bart (and the rest of Springfield) addicted to junk food
[9F22] A faux opening title sequence appears in the middle of an
episode
[3F02] Scratchy impaled by the Space Needle
[9F01], [2F33] Scratchy squashed by the moon
[1F16] Scratchy printed into money
[3F03] Scratchy tricked into eating himself
[EABF10] Scratchy killed in a plane crash with Buddy Holly (et al.)
[9F09] Simpson family member has heart trouble
[9F09] Dr. Hibbert demonstrates the folly of taking "that which
doesn't kill me makes me stronger" literally[FFF]
Bag of snacks:
SCAMMER
& Z-DOGSCARF-ABLES
Vending machine choices:
DALAI
LAMANADE KRISHNA
KRISPSANAZONKERS
LOLLAPALOOZAPOPS
Lisa's bullhorn:
Li'l
AGITATORItchy's office door:
DR. ITCHY
FELINE CARDIOLOGIST
New patient survey form:
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN
_
|_| Churned Into Butter
|_| Decapitated By A Windmill
|_| Impaled By The Space Needle
|_| Squashed By The Moon
|_| Printed Into Money
|_| Tricked Into Eating Yourself
|_| Hung By Your Intestine
|_| Impaled On A Cactus
|_| Killed In A Plane Crash With
Buddy HollyBart's secret candy stash:
EVERLASTING L'il
COPKILLAZ $CAMMERS CHIP- CHOCO-NARDS [?]
HOPSBUCCIN [?]
BALLZ
Patty and Selma's license plate:
MANHATR
[My guess is that Patty had the upper hand in choosing plates
that day]Sign at weight-loss camp:
SERENITY
RANCH WHEN DIET,
EXERCISE AND SURGERY
AREN'T ENOUGHSign in the ranch lobby:
TOUGH
LUCKSign in the car:
P.S.I.
[Oops]
Hate to question such a good joke, but where did that deep stairwell come from in the two- (or at most, three-) story school?
I always figured Hibbert was a general practitioner, rather than a pediatrician, since he's treated numerous adults.
[Personal Comments & Observations]
"Yummy Yummy Yummy (I Got Love in My Tummy)" plays during one of Bart's snack attacks. Dave Barry credits (or blames) Ohio Express for the tune.
The German tourists make Homer sing "99 Red Balloons" -- in the original German -- for a tip.
Overweight Bart's trip home from Springfield Elementary is a slowed- down version of the usual opening sequence. Every now and then, someone asks if it's worth reanimating the opening sequence, since they've had the same one for the last 14 years (except for the couch gag, and Halloween specials, of course). Usually, a majority of people on the group favor keeping things as-is. The minority camp might be able to content themselves with this show's self-parody.
When Bart collapses, Homer tries to revive him by ordering him to "Do the Bartman!" This was the title of a 1991 novelty hit featuring Bart doing some rapping.
Bart may be an extreme example, but critics say that vending machines at schools are contributing to a growing obesity problem in America. The machines are there in the first place to serve a mutual need. Schools need a steady source of money to make up for the usual funding shortfalls. Snack and soda makers need a place to sell their product, and schools are a particularly attractive venue, since there aren't any parents around to say, "no." So, the two sides made a Faustian bargain: Schools allow vending machines to be set up on the grounds, in return for a cut of the profits. The deal that Chalmers and Naegle negotiated is pretty much true-to-life. Consumer groups and nutritionists objected, saying that schools are risking the health of their own students in exchange for cash. I think there have been pushes to regulate the machines, but it's an uphill battle because legislators know the lost vending cash will have to be made up with hard-to-find tax dollars. Unless someone does a Bart Simpson and goes after the machines with an axe, they are likely to be around for awhile.
Parked in front of the Simpson house for Bart's intervention are:
- Hibbert's black Mercedes G-series
- Patty and Selma's VW Thing (haven't seen this one in a while)
- a yellow Porsche 911 convertible, most likely Krusty's
The weight-loss camp owner drives a late-model Volvo station wagon. My guess is that it's an S70.
In the commercials for this episode, Homer says boys aren't supposed to get heart attacks, but rather (among other things) "be eaten by witches." Evidently, that isn't supposed to happen to boys, either, because at airtime the quote became, "... and be smothered by cats." The closed captioning reflected the revised dialogue.