The Simpsons Episode-by-Episode: S7E15-17: Bart the Fink/Lisa the Iconoclast/Homer the Smithers

Season 2 - Episode 11: One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish [7F11]

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Original Airdate: January 24, 1991
Writer: Nell Scovell
Director: Wes Archer

Chalkboard gag: "I will not cut corners"
Couch gag: The couch tips over backwards and Maggie pops up from behind it.

Plot synopsis: Homer believes that he has 24 hours to live after thinking he ate the deadly blowfish at a local sushi restaurant.

Guest stars: George Takei (Akira), Larry King (himself)

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One of my favourite moments in this episode is an obvious animation goof where Homer continuously eats a piece of sushi that keeps reappearing in the exact same spot on the table. :p His quick progress through the five stages of death anxiety is great too.

 

Brilliant episode, another personal favorite. Gotta love Homer "reading" The Bible -- on audio cassette, read by Larry King.

 

What part was he listening too at the end, for those who know their Bible? (I don't)

 

It's been years since I saw this one. The one part I remember King reading was the whole "X begat Y, Y begat Z" part. Which is when Homer falls asleep.

 

I don't blame him for falling asleep then.

 

Up...

 

Oh geez....I typed everything up but it looks like I forgot to press Post.

Season 2 - Episode 12: The Way We Was [7F12]

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Original Airdate: January 31, 1991
Writers: Al Jean, Mike Reiss & Sam Simon
Director: David Silverman

Chalkboard gag: "I will not get very far with this attitude"
Couch gag: The couch falls through the floor.

Plot synopsis: When the TV goes out, Homer and Marge tell how they first met in 1974 Springfield.

Guest star: Jon Lovitz (Artie Ziff)

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"Hey, Homer, you're late for English!"
"Pffft, English. Who needs that? I'm never going to England."

 

Season 2 - Episode 13: Homer Vs. Lisa And The 8th Commandment [7F13]

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Original Airdate: February 7, 1991
Writer: Steve Pepoon
Director: Rich Moore

Chalkboard gag: "I will not make flatulent noises in class"
Couch gag: The family dances before getting on the couch.

Plot synopsis: In 2300 B.C., Moses received the ten commandments from God, among which was Thou Shalt Not Steal. In present day Springfield, Homer gets an illegal cable hook-up, which Lisa refuses to watch, for fear of losing her soul.

*Emmy Award Winner for Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour)

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When I watch this episode nowadays, all I can think about is how much Lisa has changed religiously over the years.

 

I remember this one...

 

Season 2 - Episode 14: Principal Charming [7F15]

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Original Airdate: February 14, 1991
Writer: David Stern
Director: Mark Kirkland

Chalkboard gag: "I will not belch the national anthem"
Couch gag: The couch springs out like a bed.

Plot synopsis: Homer sets up a date between Principal Skinner and Marge's sister, Selma. However, it ends up being Skinner and Patty.

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Gotta love "Homer Sexual."

 

I want to comment on The Way We Was before moving on to Principal Charming as of late this has been contradicted by later episodes that Homer and Marge met in the 90's rather than the late 70's. This is the REAL story and there's something so touching about Homer and Marge, particularly when he says:

"Once you stop this car, I'm going to hug you, and kiss you, and then I'll never be able to let you go."

AWWW!

And there's this part:

Homer: [fiddling with the back of the set] Is that better?
Lisa+Bart: NOOOO!
Homer: How's this? [picture gets worse]
Lisa+Bart: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Homer: Okay, everybody remain calm.
[gives the TV a big whack; picture disappears]
Lisa+Bart: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Principal Charming is another great episode, really touching scenes at the end with Patty saying goodbye to Skinner.

Since I'm sure you'd only resent the pity of an eight-year-old niece, I'll simply hope that you're one of the statistically insignificant number of forty-year-old single women who ever find their fair prince.

Go Lisa!

 

Season 2 - Episode 15: Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? [7F16]

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Original Airdate: February 21, 1991
Writer: Jeff Martin
Director: Wes Archer

Chalkboard gag: "I will not sell land in Florida"
Couch gag: Maggie is in Marge's hair.

Plot synopsis: Fearing death, Grandpa Simpson tells Homer that he has a half-brother. This half-brother, Herbert Powell, is a carmaker in Detroit, and wants Homer to design a car for the average man to save his car company.

Guest star: Danny DeVito (Herb)

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The Homer = classic. Great performance by DeVito too.

 

Man I still remember every single one of these episodes.

 

Love this episode, sad how herb is ruined by Homer

 

His life was an unbridled success until he found out....he was a Simpson.

 

Season 2 - Episode 16: Bart's Dog Gets An F [7F14]

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Original Airdate: March 7, 1991
Writer: Jon Vitti
Director: Jim Reardon

Chalkboard gag: "I will not sell school property"
Couch gag: All the family sit on the couch and fit, including the pets.

Plot synopsis: After chewing up Homer's new $125 sneakers and the Bouvier family quilt, Santa's Little Helper is enrolled in an obedience school.

Guest star: Tracey Ullman (Emily Winthrop)

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Best part is when Homer tries to comfort Marge, after the quilt is ruined, and he suddenly notices SLH ate his big cookie. Great reaction.

 

It interesting since the Simpsons started out as shorts on the Tracey Ullman show.

 

I've actually never seen this episode, but it's interesting even by season 2 the Simpsons is referencing itself.

 

Season 2 - Episode 17: Old Money [7F17]

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Original Airdate: March 28, 1991
Writer: Jay Kogen & Wallace Wolodarsky
Director: David Silverman

Chalkboard gag: "I will not grease the monkey bars"
Couch gag: The family finds Grampa asleep on the couch.

Plot synopsis: When Abraham 'Grandpa' Simpson inherits one hundred six thousand dollars from his deceased sweetie, he decides to give it to people who need it most.

Guest star: Audrey Meadows (Beatrice Simmons)

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Homer making the super-fast order at the Krusty Burger drive-thru is pure gold.

 

Season 2 - Episode 18: Brush With Greatness [7F18]

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Original Airdate: April 11, 1991
Writer: Brian K. Roberts
Director: Jim Reardon

Chalkboard gag: "I will not hide behind the Fifth Amendment"
Couch gag: The couch tips over with the family sitting on it and Maggie sits in its place.

Plot synopsis: While Homer tackles his weight problem, Marge takes up painting, a skill which she gave up due to an obnoxious art teacher in high school, and ends up being commissioned to do a portrait of Mr. Burns.

Guest star: Ringo Starr (himself), Jon Lovitz (Professor Lombardo)

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Homer's reaction when he first sees Marge painting Burns is priceless.

 

I want to go to Mt. Splashmore,
Take me, take me, take me, take me now!
Now! Now! Now! Now! Now!
Mt. Splashmore, take me there right now! Yay!

I love Bart and Lisa hassling Homer about taking them to the water park. How many kids copied this? I know I did with my dad.

And what is it with The Beatles and the Simpsons? With the obvious exception of John I think they have all been on there.

 

Mr. Burns: "Thank you for not making fun of my genitalia."

Marge: "Ummm...I thought I did."

 

Season 2 - Episode 19: Lisa's Substitute [7F19]

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Original Airdate: April 25, 1991
Writer: Jon Vitti
Director: Rich Moore

Chalkboard gag: N/A
Couch gag: The Simpsons run in only to discover that the sofa is missing.

Plot synopsis: Lisa's regular teacher falls sick, and gets replaced with a substitute teacher who changes the face of learning for Lisa. Meanwhile, Bart runs against Martin, the class brain, for president of his class.

Guest star: Dustin Hoffman (Mr. Bergstrom)

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Wonderful episode with a great balance between Lisa's and Bart's plots.

 

Bart with the kittens is so funny!

Oh look, this is really cool. When I hit reverse, I can make them go back in!

Martin's dismissiveness of Ray Bradbury is interesting. But what I like is Bart's demanding of more asbestos and has no idea whta it is. And their posters are identical!

And the election results!

Bart: I demand a recount!
Ms. K: [counts the votes] One for Martin. Two for Martin. Would you like another recount?
Bart: [realizing he's beat] No.
Ms. K: [enjoying it] Well, I just want to make sure. One for Martin. Two for Martin. [chuckles]

 

Season 2 - Episode 20: The War Of The Simpsons [7F20]

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Original Airdate: May 2, 1991
Writer: John Swartzwelder
Director: Mark Kirkland

Chalkboard gag: "I will not do anything bad ever again"
Couch gag: Homer's breadth knocks everyone else off one by one.

Plot synopsis: After being embarrassed by Homer during a house party, Marge signs up for Reverend Lovejoy's marriage retreat at Catfish Lake. However, Homer has fishing on his mind, and the only sitter they could get at the last minute is Grandpa Simpson.

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QUEEN OF THE HARPIES!!!