[The long of it]
Think that Bart Simpson is Principal Skinner's nemesis? Think again. Comic Book Guy made his life a misery (and grossed out everyone else, including the audience) when he dated his mother. Now, he threatens to steal his fianc�e in "My Big Fat Geek Wedding." Skinner should be relieved he doesn't have a sister or attractive cousin around.
After a courtship of six years (in our time frame, if not Springfield's), Skinner and Krabappel finally tie the knot. Or at least that was the plan. Skinner comes down with cold feet and Krabappel, fed up at last, walks out on him at the last minute. Edna and Seymour's romantic troubles have been funny the before, like in "Special Edna (EABF02)," but the first two acts of this story were almost as passionless as their near-marriage. Tighter editing may have helped; some of the scenes in the Moe's Tavern, and the run-up to the wedding itself, ran too long without much comic payoff. Consider the way Edna finds out about Skinner's last-minute jitters: She overhears him talking about them to Homer. It's practical and believable, yet somehow not that funny. (I did like the way she made her displeasure known. When Rev. Lovejoy asks if anyone who wants to halt the wedding, Edna says, "I do." Lovejoy says to her, "No, you say that *later*.")
Later, Krabappel falls for CBG while she stops by to return his lowbrow but amusing wedding present. CBG's hookup with Skinner in "Worst Episode Ever (CABF08)" may not have been easy on the eyes, but it had a modicum of plausibility since the two had the same fault- finding view of the world. I'm not sure what Edna sees in CBG. Eventually, Marge offers the explanation that CBG is just a "rebound guy," which I suppose makes sense, but it would have been nice to have this reason earlier in the story. (Perhaps when she was talking to Edna the day after the near-wedding, Marge could have offered Edna to avoid rebound guys, which of course Edna would ignore.)
Throughout all this, there's a parallel story where Marge and Homer deal with their own marital boredom. I liked the idea of having the Simpsons' problems mirror Edna and Skinner's, but I would have liked it better if the subplot had been better-integrated with the main story. As it is, it feels tacked on.
The story perks up considerably in the third act, with its climactic showdown at a science-fiction convention. The highlight here is a guest appearance, as "the creator of 'Futurama'," of Matt Groening. (Is Fox still broadcasting this program in OFF's universe? If so, could they send us copies?) Homer kicks off the third act by conducting an enjoyable rendition of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," with new lyrics to suit the situation. The first two acts had their moments as well, like Edna's bachelorette party, the double "Cyrano de Bergerac" parody, Otto's "amazing" speech, and Homer's battery- whittling.
"Geek Wedding" represents the apparent close of a long-running story arc. (Two arcs, if you count the scene with Barney at Moe's Tavern.) Beginning with 1997's "Grade School Confidential (4F09)," the Skinner- Krabappel affair ends with neither a bang nor a whimper but with a practical, almost dispassionate finality. Given the principals involved, that not only seems fitting, but inevitable. It's too bad that the episode itself couldn't have had more of a spark. Maybe Homer could whittle up a batch of new batteries.
[The short of it]
Skinner and Krabappel's low-passion love affair ends with a similarly dispassionate episode. The first two acts of this show have their moments, but there are too many scenes that run long without much comic payoff. The third act perks things up considerably, with a great rendition of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" (sing it, Nancy!) and a funny cameo by Matt Groening his own self. The idea of Marge and Homer having parallel troubles with marital ennui is nice, but not integrated well enough. "Geek Wedding" has more spark than Skinner, but only enough to lift it just above average. (C+)
[DYNs]
... Lisa does the "dancing on Daddy's shoes" bit at the "wedding" reception? ... Marge doesn't follow her own advice, since Homer something of a "rebound guy" for her? (She started seeing him after dumping Artie Ziff.) ... Lisa's not in the closet band?
[References]
"My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (movie) - title a spoof
"The Natural" (movie) - theme music from the film plays after Nelson blasts the kickball out of the park
Billy Bass (novelty toy) - Bart imagines Skinner mounted and singing like this plastic novelty fish
"Harvey" (movie) - man talks to a giant rabbit only he can see
Peter Lorre (actor) - Barney's rabbit sounds like him
"Cyrano de Bergerac" - Homer and Marge secretly feed lines to Skinner and Krabappel, respectively
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" (movie) - Homer leads a children's choir version of this tune
[Previous Episode References]
[7F15] Selma's too-tight polka dot dress appears [2F15], [BABF18] Skinner presides over an abortive wedding attempt [AABF05] It's Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con time again! [4F04] Homer has a second wedding
[FFF]
Marge's bedtime reading:
RECIPES
To Think
About
IN BEDHighway sign:
^
| THE
BORDERAdult board games:
L i B i D O
THE NAUGHTY WORD SCRABBLE GAME
Yellow pages ad:
U - S A V E
STRIPPERS IF WE SEND YOUR DAUGHTER
... IT'S FREE!Wedding banner, outside:
SKINNER-KRABAPPEL
WEDDING IN GYM
NO DARK-SOLED SHOESWedding banners, inside:
GO BRIDE
GRRROOM PRIDEWedding comic:
I DO
COMICS -----------
(OH NO! *SOB)
(I MARRIED THE)
(HIGH SCHOOL)
(PRINCIPAL!)
----------Convention sign:
BI-MONTHLY
SCIENCE FICTION
CONVENTION WARNING:
YOU COULD BE PHOTOGRAPHED
AND USED IN ADS ...
LOOKING LIKE THAT[Oops!]
= After the bachelor party, the establishing shot of the Simpson home shows Homer's car in the driveway. A few minutes later, it's overturned on the lawn.
[Personal Comments & Observations]
Homer tells CBG that a "fat, balding guy" has his pick of desirable women. This might refer to the fact that many pundits wonder how Homer manages to hang onto a woman like Marge.
Matt Groening -- Creator and executive producer of "Futurama," a well- made but ill-stared animated science-fiction comedy. "Futurama" was cancelled after five seasons (four, really; the fifth was just leftovers from the previous season), but seems to be a bigger hit in the "Simpsons" universe. Perhaps it's what Springfield's Fox affiliate broadcasts Sunday nights at 8:00. Groening is also the creator of "The Simpsons," which was not mentioned on the show for obvious reasons, and the alterna-comic "Life in Hell," which wouldn't have been relevant at a convention of science-fiction fans.
Speaking of fans, Groening's dialogue sounds like a litany of fan behaviors that annoy him: Getting his name wrong, hounding him for autographs at inopportune times, and making unrealistic demands.
Not to sound catty, but Groening must be suffering from The Who Syndrome -- he's drawn to look younger than he actually is. His hair looked distinctly grayer in an interview he did for AARP's revamped "Modern Maturity" magazine.
Vera Wang -- Fashion designer admired for her simple yet elegant dresses and gowns. Not invited to any weddings lately? Then tune in to the next Hollywood awards show, as many of the lady celebrities wear Wang-designed dresses.
Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis -- Former first lady, married to President Kennedy. After Kennedy's assassination, she married Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, earning the nickname "Jackie O." Many of her admirers couldn't figure out what she saw in him, and eventually rumors spread that she didn't *really* love him. They remained married for quite some time, though. (Rumor also had it that Jacqueline wasn't in love with Kennedy, either. Another reason to take gossip with a grain of salt.)
Or at least, as much fun as it's possible to have with production codes. "My Big Fat Geek Wedding" is episode number FABF06. "The Wandering Juvie," which aired a couple of weeks earlier, showed Skinner and Krabappel arguing over wedding preparations. But wait! "Juvie" is episode FABF11 -- five shows *after* tonight's episode. That sort of numbering oddity isn't unheard of, but it is rare. The only other time I can think of offhand is the two parts of "Who Shot Mr. Burns." Those episodes had codes 2F16 and 2F20, rather than the consecutively-numbered codes you'd expect.