� Skinner actually did get a band (the band indicated in EABF08)? � Patty seems to be enjoying Duffman, but readily leaves to answer the door? � Bart says actually says cowabunga? � Mr. Largo had a line? � The Grampa looking alien from THOHX's alien audience is at the Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con? � Squeeky-voiced teen has brothers (they're all related I guess)? � Marge's "d'oh" at the end (how romantic)?
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (00s comedy movie) - title
Cyrano de Bergerac (play) - Skinner asks if Homer will be his Cyrano
Futurama (television show) - Milhouse asks Mr. Groening to sign his Bender doll
The Jetsons (television show) - Lenny is dressed as George Jetson, the paternal character in this series
Marvel Comics - Hibbert is dressed as Captain America - a kid is dressed as Spiderman - The Incredible Hulk melonballer and man dressed as him at Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con
DC Comics - a man is dressed as Green Arrow - and of course, our Malaysian transsexual, Skinner's Catwoman
Wedding after wedding after wedding:
[8F10] Homer and Marge [8F20] Sideshow Bob and Selma [9F04] King Homer and Marge [1F21] Burns and Jackie Bouvier [2F15] Lisa and Hugh [3F15] Troy McClure and Selma [4F04] Homer and Marge [5F04] Apu and Manjula [AABF06] Homer and Amber; Ned and Ginger [BABF18] Otto and Becky [CABF17] Huck/Nelson Finn and Becky/Lisa [DABF01] Abe and Amber [FABF06] King Henry/Homer VIII and Many Women [FABF11] Bart and Lotta Cooties (hehehe)
[7F21], [AABF05] a comic book convention is attended (and in ____ it's also the Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con) [2F17] Milhouse plays Fallout Boy [3F31], [AABF10], [AABF21], [BABF12], [CABF08], [DABF10], [EABF08] Matt Groening appears [4F03], [5F01] Marge says "d'oh' [4F09] Skinner and Edna begin their relationship [AABF05], [CABF08] CBG in love [AABF05], [BABF11], [BABF22], [DABF20], [FABF04] Futurama is referenced [AABF15] Seymour acts as though he's going to propose [BABF01] Grampa-like alien is seen [BABF10] Seymour and Edna are "engaged to be engaged" [EABF02] Seymour proposes to Edna [EABF08] Seymour and Edna find a band to play at their wedding [FABF11] Seymour and Edna put gifts on their registry
Homer's car was clearly in the driveway in the establishing shot, but is seen immediately after flipped over on the front lawn.
* According to Matt Groening, OFF exists in Futurama as a television show, but the reverse is not true. However, in this episode Futurama is depicted as a TV show in OFF's universe, breaking Groening's rule.
Tonight's episode was a fine outing, tainted only by an insanely rushed ending. First, the good. Skinner and Krabappel were, as in all of their episodes, made into extremely empathetic characters, making both of their plights very relatable and interesting. Ancillary characters were, again, well utilized (Duffman, Nelson, Barney, Otto, the Castrati, Agnes) and all humor was done effectively. Matt's guest spot was short, but sweet, as I had hoped. It was also nice to see the Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con again, along with the various other touches from past episodes (The Larry Davis Experience. And the way the plot developed into a Homer and Marge conflict was nice. However, the other plot developments (the Edna/CBG union, and the ending) were rushed, and felt like they were trying to write themselves out of a hole. Still, Homer and Marge's third wedding was sweet and funny, wrapping it up nicely (and leading us into FABF14) so this episode earns itself a fine 8.5/10. (B+)
So I did a little research on that Groening guy, and here's what I came up with:
Oregon native Matt Groening (pronounced gray-neeng) began his stint as a cartoonist in 1977 with his weekly comic strip "Life in Hell", detailing the lives of Akbar and Jeff, two homosexual identical twins and three neurotic rabbits (Binky, Bongo and Sheba). The strip immediately gained an obscure sort of popularity and led to the generation of a series of books, starting with 1984's "Love is Hell". I believe that he still produces the comics every week.
Another brainchild of Groening was the short-lived "Futurama" (featured in tonight's episode) which had a five season run on FOX. In the show, Philip J. Fry, a slow-witted New Yorker from 1999, is accidentally cryogenically frozen, landing himself 1000 years in the future. The series documented the adventures of Fry, Leela, a sexy cyclops mutant with a fiery disposition, Bender, a boozing robot complete with a real FOX attitude and other employees of the intergalactic delivery service, Planet Express. It was cancelled last year (2003), most likely caused by the second-rate treatment it received from the network. Currently it can be seen as part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim lineup.
But his most obvious claim to fame is � being the brother-in-law of Nickelodeon's "Hey, Arnold!" creator, Craig Bartlett!
Oh yeah, I also remember something about him starting a series of shorts in 1987 with producer James L. Brooks that served as filler on the Tracy Ullman Show. Two years later it landed a full-length show FOX, which, after 8 seasons became the longest running primetime cartoon in history and is the longest running comedy currently on the air. But that one's not important.
Who were those geeky Springfieldians clad in clashing colors and tights surrounding Mr. Groening? Well, _marvel_ at the following explanations and it'll be as clear as A-DC! (I'm so punny):
Captain America (alter-ego of Steve Rogers) was a frail child born in the depression, driven by the horrors on the newsreel footage of Nazis in Europe to enlist in the army. He was at first turned away, but General Chester Phillips of the US Army saw his determination and offered Rogers the opportunity to take part in Operation: Rebirth. In the program, he was administered the Super-Soldier serum and blasted with vita-rays to catalyze the effects of the formula. He became a perfect human specimen and donned his red white and blue uniform (seen worn by Dr. Hibbert in this episode) to fight Nazis in the war. In the final days of the war, an explosion sent him into the frigid waters of the Arctic, freezing him in suspended animation for decades, until the newly-formed Avengers rescued him, at which point he became an integral part of the team.
Catwoman (alter-ego of Selina Kyle) is the world's foremost cat burglar, prowling Batman's hometown of Gotham City. Cunning, stealthy, and mysterious, she is neither super-hero nor arch-villain. Catwoman can stand her ground in a fight with any man, including Batman, and is sometimes a sexy seductress, at other times a steely avenger. Mostly she is just a thief though, ducking the spotlight and innocent bystanders by slinking through the shadows of the famed city.
George Jetson, while not a superhero, or even an above-average person, is a demi-classic sci-fi character. The Jetsons was a short-lived series produced by Hanna-Barbera in the early 60s for three seasons. The second two seasons were only seen in syndication in the mid-late 80s, when the show regained a bit of popularity. It was set in the late 21st century and was similar to the Flintstones; however, while the Flintstone's charm was found in it's prehistoric antics and animal technology, the Jetsons' dynamic was the wonders of the future, from the perceptive of the 60s. The thirty-eight year old George, like most cartoon sitcom fathers, is pretty derivative of Fred Flinstone, with his bumbling ways and ever-thwarted good intentions. He is father of Judy (daughter), Elroy (son), Astro (dog) and later, Orbitty (unidentified alien pet) Jetson, employer of robot maid Rosie and loving husband of Jane Jetson. And to be consistent with the cartoon clich�, George also is the employee of the harsh task master, Cosmo Spacely (though in the future, work is only 3 hours a day, 2 days a week).
Green Arrow, (alter-ego of Oliver Queen) is a modern day Robin Hood who fights crime in the DC Comics Universe. The affluent explorer was on a South Seas cruise when a sudden pitch tossed him off the ship. He was washed onto the shores of the uninhabited Star Fish Island, and found that the only way to survive would be to by taking up his bow, which had gone previously unused, and use it to fire hand crafted arrows to protect and feed himself. He made his way back to his hometown, Star City, by apprehending criminals who stopped by the isle to check their illegal bounty. Once back home, he became the swashbuckling hero known as the Green Arrow and set out to preserve justice.
After being bitten by a radioactive spider, nerdy high-school student Peter Parker (aka Spiderman) developed miraculous spider-like abilities, such as web-slinging capabilities and the skill of being able to climb walls without aid, thus transforming into Spiderman. And after the murder of his adored Uncle Ben, a brokenhearted Peter vowed to use these powers to aid his fellow man, for he had learned an invaluable lesson: With great power, comes great responsibility!
I'll let someone else field the Klingon.
Cyrano de Bergerac is the story of a large nosed poet who is smitten in love with his beautiful, intellectual cousin, Roxane. However, a far more handsome nobleman, Christian, also has his eyes on her. The kind Cyrano offers to refine Christian's romantic emotions into eloquent words for him to deliver to Roxane. The relation to the episode is that Skinner compares Homer to Cyrano in the sense that he too is helping him to express himself to Edna.
General Sweeps Promo:
Announcer: This May, FOX Sunday is the only place for new Simpsons. (Homer, in a super hero outfit, flexes, showboating into a bedroom mirror. The belt on the costume pops off, and his pants fall down, pot belly exposed. OFF is then seen in the kitchen. Bart enters looking forlorn.) Homer: Let's turn that frown upside-down! (Homer lifts up Bart by his ankle.) Bart: Ohh! Dad! Announcer: They're protecting truth, justice, and the American way of comedy � (Homer and Bart are seen in super hero costumes, Homer with a flag in one hand and a pie in the other. Scenes of Homer in costume hanging upside-down from a fire escape ladder and kissing Marge ala Spiderman are then seen. In front of the town hall, where the Dalai Lama is visiting, Homer flails his cape. He is then seen in the Kwik-E-Mart.) Homer: I'm no super-genius! ...Or are I? Announcer: � Discovering love's first kiss � (In the tree house, Milhouse closes his eyes to kiss a girl, but she moves out of the way as Homer climbs up, and Milhouse ends up accidentally kissing Homer.) Homer: Blaugh! Eew! Announcer: � And getting ready for their biggest season finale ever! (Young Marge floats through pink lip-shaped clouds in a patterned sky, does a loop, and lands on a unicorn. In a cabin, young Lenny hands something to young Homer.) Homer: Ooh! A switchblade! I see the switch, but where's the blade? (Cut to the outside of the cabin.) Homer: Oww! Found it! Announcer: The Simpsons-- all new, all May, at 8/7c FOX LOL Sunday.
Promo One:
Announcer: You've got two big reasons to watch a Simpsons Sunday Spectacular! (Two Barts come out and dance as the afore mention words are shown on screen. Cut to a live-action shot of Matt Groening) Announcer: A guest appearance by creator Matt Groening! (He morphs into an OFF-ized caricature of Mr. Groening signing an autograph at a comic book convention. Cut to a shot of Homer.) Homer: Wha? Announcer: And the wedding event of the year! (Cut to a shot of Homer consoling a tux-wearing, sad-looking Skinner in the school gym, which is decorated for a low budget wedding. Homer moves to reveal Edna in a bride's attire looking at Seymour from the back. They step up to the altar where Lovejoy is waiting. Cut to a shot at Moe's with a nervous Skinner sitting in-between drunken Lenny, Carl and Homer.) Skinner: I'm starting to get cold feet! Homer: Your secret's safe with me. (Cut to a close-up of Homer's head.) Homer: Marge, guess what? Skinner wants to bail on his wedding! (The camera zooms out to reveal Homer still sitting next to Seymour at Moe's.) Skinner: You're still talking to me! Announcer: The Simpsons, part of a full hour at 8, FOX LOL Sunday! (Back in the gym, Skinner slowly walks backwards through the aisle to the altar. Homer springs from his chair to guide him in the right direction.)