[The long of it]
Remember "Seinfeld?" Along with "The Simpsons" and "Frasier," it was one of the best comedies of the 90s. Jerry's done pretty well since he decided to hang it up, but fate hasn't been as kind to his supporting cast. Michael Richards starred last year in a private eye sitcom that quickly crashed and burned. Jason Alexander repeated that feat this year. Julia Louis-Dreyfus has been luckier. She has sidestepped the embarrassing sitcom trap, and landed in a guest role in tonight's "Hunka Hunka Burns in Love." As if that weren't enough, she managed to nab a pretty good episode.
Like most of the episodes this year, tonight's show takes a while to hit its stride. The family goes to Springfield's Chinatown district, where Homer is disappointed with his vague fortune-cookie note. The restaurant manager challenges Homer to do better, and surprisingly he does. Homer's hired, right on the spot, to write new fortunes. The Chinatown scenes have their moments, but overall were too wacky for my taste. I liked when one of the old fortune-writers compared Homer to "a young me." His cohort answers, "Yung Mi was a hack compared to this guy." Most of the beginning, though, consisted of goofs on Chinese stereotypes (at one point, animal control workers sedate a New Years' Dragon with darts), and Homer sneaking around to overhear people reading his fortunes.
Fortunately, it isn't long before we get to the good stuff. One of Homer's fortunes winds up in the hands of Montgomery Burns. It says that the old man will fall in love on Flag Day -- which is that very day. "Well," Smithers suggests, "we're the only two people in the room." It's one of the better "Is Smithers gay?" gags that I've seen in a while, because it doesn't hit you over the head. Monty brushes Smithers off as a joker, and we can see how he can come to this conclusion. I also liked Smithers reaction when Burns drags him out on the town to hunt for babes.
Predictably, Burns meets with little success and even fewer women, until he runs into Gloria, a police officer played by Julia Louis- Dreyfus. She goes out with him, at first just for kicks, but later because she genuinely loves him. The transition is nicely handled, with Gloria being a reluctant lover at first, and then gradually warming up to Burns. Watching the them together, it was hard not to think of Elaine, Dreyfus's "Seinfeld" character, who shared Gloria's knack for dating people with eccentric quirks. (For all I remember, there might actually have been a "Seinfeld" where Elaine dates an older man.) By the way, if you're worried that the Burns-Gloria relationship will turn into an icky love affair like the CBG-Mrs. Skinner thing, you can relax. It's implied that the two consummate their love, but nothing is shown. Thank goodness.
Dreyfus's good performance carries over to the third act where her ex- boyfriend Snake tries to win her back. Their casual bickering contrasts with Snake's dead-serious criminal behavior, generating a humor that helps this act keep the momentum the rest of the story has built. (She went from Snake to Burns? Jeez, this woman *is* a magnet for oddballs!) There's also some good black humor here. When Snake threatens to pistol-whip Homer, Homer thinks it's some kind of desert topping, � la Cool Whip. Later, when he sees Snake's hideout shack, Homer asks, "who'd you have to kill to get this place?" "I dunno," Snake deadpans, "I think his name was Gustavson."
Ah, yes, Homer is in this episode -- just when you thought this "Simpsons" wasn't going to have any actual Simpsons in it. Homer and Burns team up to help score with the lady. Now, at this point I must confess that I saw the promotions implying that this would happen, and didn't think they could pull this off without seeming contrived. Why, after all, would Burns entrust his love life to the bumbling Homer? It turns out the two meet randomly. Homer runs down the street at the exact moment Burns needs to prove how young he is by hanging around with a youthful pal. A coincidental meeting may isn't the most clever way of getting two people together, but it works well here because there really isn't another logical reason for Homer to help Burns. The partnership also leads to the show's best scene: Homer tries Burns's super-aphrodisiac on himself, with results that Marge can only call "amazing."
"Hunka Hunka Burns in Love" isn't a deep show, but it is funny, and it has an engaging guest star. Perhaps Richards and Alexander should get in touch with Dreyfus's agent. After all, they can certainly do worse than a "Simpsons" guest spot.
[The short of it]
It takes a while to hit its stride, but this episode does build both momentum and laughs. Julia Louis-Dreyfus has a good run on the show, playing a funny character not that far removed from "Seinfeld's" Elaine. Homer and Burns team up to good effect, and for once the third act doesn't peter out. Toss in some good moments (Smithers' attempted flirtation with Burns, and the aphrodisiac scene stand out), and "Hunka Hunka" shapes up to be a good episode. (B+)
[DYNs]
... the winning Florida Lotto numbers were 0-1-2 and 0-0-0-1? This has nothing to do with "The Simpsons," but they broadcast the numbers during the opening credits, and I thought those numbers were kinda weird? ... even Maggie grabs a fortune cookie? ... the socialite Monty woos must be a divorc�e, since she had a husband in "Children of a Lesser Clod (CABF16)"? ... we don't learn Gloria's name until Snake says it toward the end of the show?
[References]
"Hunka Hunka Burnin' Love" (song) - inspired the title
"Fun Size" candy bars - Bart's blackboard gag alludes to these bite-sized bars
Toys'R'Us (toy store chain) - Springfield's Chinatown has a Toys "L" Us
China-Tibet conflict - spills over into animosity between Chinatown and Tibet Town
Bob's Big Boy (restaurant chain) - Chinatown has Bob's Big Buddha - there's a statue in front of the restaurant of Buddha holding up a bowl of food; cf. Big Boy holding a plate with a burger on it
"Lady and the Tramp" - spaghetti-eating scene similar to the one from this movie
Cool Whip (whipped cream topping) - Homer thinks "pistol whip" is something similar
Ferrari Testarossa (exotic car) - Burns drives a Bugatti Sexarossa
[Previous Episode References]
[1F16] Smithers says a less-than-sincere "oh ... goody" [4F22], [AABF15], [CABF16] The rich socialite woman appears [AABF20] Mr. Pennybags appears, and makes his exit in a Monopoly icon [1F08] Mr. Burns runs his own casino [AABF16] Mr. Burns steals the Loch Ness monster [2F16] Mr. Burns shot by baby ... [2F16] ... and blots out the sun [5F15] "Crazy Lady" voice recycled for the angry pie-theft victim [2F07] Sex potion improves Homer and Marge's bedroom life [7F15] Someone triumphantly yells, "Calloo, Callay!" [9F21] Still picture of George Harrison from this episode
[FFF]
Store in Chinatown:
TOYS "L" US
Chinese Restaurant:
Bob's
Big
BUDDHAChinese Menu:
CHICKEN ROLLS Fried rolls filled w/chicken and vegetables
CHOW MEIN Fried egg noodles smothered in your choice of sauce and vegetables
SHARK BUTT
With Assorted Vegetables Sauteed In Any Of These
Butt - Garlic - Curry - Black BeanLEMON CHICKEN Strips of chicken breast fried and served in a tart lemon sauce
Videogame at the Bowl-A-Rama:
NUKE
CANADASnake's mailbox:
SNAKE
(AKA JAILBIRD)[Oops!]
* Since the fortunes are written in English, why would Lisa need to use a Chinese keyboard?
- Smithers says it will be Flag Day for "twelve more seconds," suggesting that it's near midnight, but his watch indicates something like quarter after 9 or 10.
+ Burns has dated women who presumably had their original hair and teeth -- Lily Bancroft from "Burns, Baby, Burns (4F05)," for example.
Anti-goof: Homer's backside is still scorched from the fire when he and the family walk into the sunset.
[Personal Comments & Observations]
Is Smithers Gay?: When Burns reads that he will find true love on Flag Day, Smithers immediately suggests that it is he and Burns who will be lovers.
Later, he is obviously distressed when the lady strippers back him into a corner.
In the United States, Flag Day falls on June 14th. If you own a U.S. flag (and a lot more of us do nowadays), you're supposed to fly it on this day. Flag Day is a minor holiday; you don't get off work, schools and banks remain open, and even the greeting card companies don't make Flag Day cards.
Gloria's ride is a Ford Thunderbird, circa 1958-1960. The headlight and taillight details are a little off, but the car is still recognizable. Pretty nice ride for someone on a parking cop's salary -- maybe Snake stole it for her before he got sent up the river.
It must have been Old Ford Day on the show -- Snake walked past not one but two 1957 Ford sedans. (Or rather, the same sedan twice since the background was recycled.)
Burns says that the car seen in this episode is a "Bugatti Sexarossa." As you might suspect, Bugatti never made a car by that name. Moreover, the car we see doesn't resemble any Bugatti that I know of. It does make sense that Burns would have a Bugatti in his garage, though. In their day, Bugattis were exclusive motor cars aimed at the very upper crust. Today, the cars can fetch six or even seven figures at auction.
Trilobites are small creatures that lived in the oceans by the untold millions, *before* the age of the dinosaurs. They were oblong-shaped, had a hard shell, and lots of little shrimp- or lobster-like legs. The trilobites mysteriously died out long ago, and their fossils are a common find today. I'm impressed that Snake knows about them.
- Rudolph Valentino was the Mel Gibson of the silent film era, a handsome leading man who made ladies' hearts flutter.
* Marge insists everybody should be "paired up," while Lisa is equally convinced that some people are happiest when alone. Maybe I'm reading too much into the conversation, but I get the idea that later in life, Marge will be pestering Lisa to get married, whether Lisa wants to or not.
As speculated, tonight's episode was dedicated to George Harrison, the musician and ex-Beatle who passed away late last week. In my opinion, he got a better dedication episode than did Linda McCartney ("Trash of the Titans (5F09)").