Notes for FABF06 (Margical History Tour)

As expected, that was a good episode. The fact that the characters could make a little escape and also that each story was only several minutes (less filler) really helps; as with the other episodes like this (AABF14, DABF08) I'm guessing there are more accuracy issues than the obvious, but that's forgivable (esp. as Marge may not have the greatest grasp of history anyway). Plenty of funny gags - parodying the real versions and otherwise, and as usual a good choice of characters to represent everyone. I'm kind of tired today so I'm not going to go on in great detail (here or in the capsule submissions)...the only other thing I'll say is that I liked the ending much better than "Tales from the Public Domain (DABF08)"'s show-ruiner; with Homer singing I thought it would end up that way, but it was a nice recap of the whole thing. A-

DYN: ...Itchy and Scratchy is only advertised as being on Tuesdays? ...Dr. Nick's medical knowledge (at least re: the workings of pregnancy and use of leeches) is better suited in the times of both his appearances? ...Bart (as Homer's imaginary heir) describes himself as smart, athletic, and "ever so masculine," and the real Bart is none of these? ...Anne Boleyn seems to be played by Lindsay Naegle? ...Homer/Henry VIII reads "The Yorker"? ...Lenny and Carl...Lewis and Clark...(of course, those were _last_ names, which might explain why Homer said "Carl")? ...the Gateway Arch is made of wood in 1804? (I know very little about the actual history of the thing - when was it actually built?) ...Homer's part in Act II was actually pretty small? ...Marge's mouth continues to be looser (cf. earlier this season)? ...Bart (as Mozart) is left-footed, just as he's left-handed? ...Nelson/Beethoven adapts his trademark laugh to "his" fifth symphony? (Also two Nelson laughs in one episode?)

Previous episode references: DABF03: Dr. Nick doesn't quite get how babies are made CABF08: Sacajawea dollars referred to as worthless in everyday use 9F18: Bart passes off "Beans, beans, the musical fruit" as a real song (and 1F22: another reference to that, in the blackboard)

Other references: Annie: Anne Boleyn's calling card reads "A son'll come out -- tomorrow," in reference to a popular song from this musical Bat out of Hell (song/album by Meat Loaf): Bat out of Salzburg The Jackson 5: Three forgotten brothers, and so forth - but weren't they all boys? Land-O-Lakes: Indian woman on the box (are there more brands that do this?)

Comments: -I don't know if it was intentional, but Homer's suggestion that Lisa (or Elizabeth IIRC) "grow a penis" reminds me of the old anagram for "Spiro Agnew." -Rev. Lovejoy, instead of speaking of the father, son, and holy spirit/ghost, says "the Henry, the Hank, and the holy Harry" - the three leading male actors on the show are Dan Castellaneta (who voiced Homer/Henry), Hank Azaria, and Harry Shearer...maybe this could even be a meta reference, but it's funny either way. -In the ad for next week's show, apparently Milhouse is leaving the show forever; is that just a joke on the promoter's part, or is he really going? (Did Pamela Hayden have a falling-out with the producers and they're making her the next Maggie Roswell?)

Goofs: -Even if all the beheaded people could retain consciousness and even read for a few seconds, talking would be pretty difficult with no diaphragm, lungs, or (perhaps) vocal chords...I know it was a joke... -I got somewhat annoyed when everyone kept referring to Bart's character as Mozart, when it was in the context of a family. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't he be referred to in general as Wolfgang (and similarly Nelson as Ludwig)?

Matt Garvey wrote:

And CABF17...I knew there was another...so now I can suggest my alterna-title of "Non-Treehouse of Horror V" (4F20 plus the others - not counting the other nonstandard ones like BABF19/CABF14, since they're not three separate stories like the others and the TOHs) - any good?

Wolfgang was ahead of himself, and decided on a single name name early, anticipating his fame? So sitting around the dinner table, someone would say "Wolfgang, please pass the peas" and he'd say "I'm not Woflgang. I am Mozart!".

Michael

Michael Black wrote:

Calvin, boy...of desssssssstiny! (cymbals)

Once Upon A Summertime, Just A Dream From Yesterday Matt Garvey wrote:

That wasn't Milhouse they focused on, it was Ralph.

** Captain Infinity ..."Going cold turkey isn't as delicious as it sounds." --Homer Simpson

Yeah, but on the upcoming episodes on snpp.com, http://www.snpp.com/upcoming.shtml , Milhouse is moving to capital city. Make your own opinions...

Okay, here's mine: after Milhouse's sojourn in CC doesn't pan out, due to his ingrained small-town upbringing, he ends up at Moe's, recounting his brief life in CC.

Once Upon A Summertime, Just A Dream From Yesterday Robert Bindler wrote:

What the heck does "Bart fills the vacancy for his best friend "in-house" when he chooses Lisa" mean?

** Captain Infinity

I think what this writer was trying to say was: Back in Springfeild Bart turns to Lisa to fill the void that Milhouse will leave after moving to Capital City:)

Robin:) NRobin1027

"Captain Infinity" said:

Main Entry: in-house Pronunciation: 'in-"haus, -'haus Function: adjective

facilities : not outside <an in-house publication> <a company's in-house staff> - in-house adverb

it appears in quotation marks because bart literally fills the vacancy from within his own house.

Captain Infinity wrote:

But the episode is called "Milhouse Doesn't Live Here [Anymore]" - it seems reasonable to assume he's who they mean and the promo is for those people who don't care to check. Or it could be a big fakeout.

its a fake out, like when they announced bart was going to be emanipated on the 300th show. millhouse will come back in some stupid way in the last minute of the show and it will never be mentioned again...

On Sun, 08 Feb 2004 21:05:56 -0500, Matt Garvey wrote:

It was opened in 1965 as part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. It's actually made of stainless steel.

Oh, Henry candy bars -- Anne's exclamation.

Alan Hamilton wrote:

Ah, good to know - I didn't realize it was so recent! (I knew it was stainless steel, though...)

Psst, Luanne Van Houten is voiced by Maggie Roswell. She's probably moving along with Milhouse, while leaving Kirk in Springfield at a home that Milhouse could probably stay at if he ever moved back from Capitol City because he missed Springfield. Put two and two together.

Burns calling Ludwig by his surname isn't so weird, but the Wolfgang/Mozart thing is an error.

Steve Brown wrote:

Well, that's an interesting deduction...but Maggie has been back for quite some time, so why get rid of her again? On the other hand, it's possible that Pamela (or Tress or Karl, even, who seem to get into a lot of episodes these days) wanted more money or something and they want to get rid of her by cutting out her main character. (Who else does she do, Jimbo, Janey, and Malibu Stacey?)

Matt Garvey wrote:

But, then, his sister's name would ALSO be Mozart, wouldn't it? I think we have to assume that for purposes of this version they had some other last name, and "Mozart" and "Salieri" were their first names. So they were "Mozart Simpson" and "Salieri Simpson" or some such thing. (Just call them "Mo" and "Sally"!)

Incidentally, the Yu-Gi-Oh thing cracked me up because there really IS a display of Yu-Gi-Oh stuff, for no apparant reason, at my local library!

DYN

When Homer pops the apple out of the roast pig's mouth, it is replaced by another. This is a gag that's usually accompanied by a cash register/adding machine 'rattle-ding' sound effect, but I guess it would have interfered with the song underway. An example of this type of gag was seen in "The Critic" when Jay Sherman repeatedly ripped a cigarette out of Doris Grossman's mouth, only to be replaced by another, with the sound effect. She adds, "I can do this all day."

register/adding

She

is the critic good? would i like it?

other U.S. animated shows i like: the simpsons, futurama, king of the hill, family guy and god, the devil and bob.

JQM

Somebody claiming to be "James Q. Morrissey" wrote in news:c08nv6$11o$[email]:

It STINKS!

(Surely you've seen the Simpsons episode where Jay Sherman visits to help judge the Springfield Film Festival. I think it's 2F32, but the geeks here can correct me on the P-code.)

"Ted S." wrote:

<CBG, or maybe Conan's geek-voice>2F31!</cbg>

To the original Critic questioner, the complete series recently came out on DVD, so if it's in your region or you have a region 1 player, definitely pick it up. A critic-al part of everyone's collection.

Bill Le May wrote:

Or Burns' dentures (shudder) in, um, BABF02?

"Matt Garvey" wrote...

Exactly so. Couldn't think of a Simpsons example, but there it is.

Actually, the head remains conscious for about 20 seconds after it's removed. It isn't until the lack of oxygen kicks in before the brain begins to die.

I've read factual accounts of beheadings, and to paraphrase, 'When picked up, the eyes would turn and look at the nearest person, and the mouth and jaw would move, seemingly trying to form words.'

Draebyerg wrote:

Oh cool - so that part is accurate, but clearly the words wouldn't come out with no respiratory organs to move the air.

I guess that's where the "trying" part comes in. ;-]