A Simpsons a Day – Week 5

2×16 – 029 – “Bart’s Dog Gets an F'” – 7F14

Watched date – 29/01/24 / Original Air Date – 07/03/1991

The Simpsons’ unintelligent dog, Santa’s Little Helper, has been causing the family all sorts of problems. He doesn’t obey commands and is just constantly making a nuisance of himself.

Lisa has the mumps and has to spend a few days home from school. While Marge teaches her sewing, Homer goes to the mall to buy some magazines for her. There he sees and purchases some expensive shoes known as ‘Assassins’, which he saw Ned Flanders with earlier, and which Santa’s Little Helper eventually destroys. Homer eventually goes to the mall’s cookie shop to receive a macadamia nut cookie as well.

Marge shows Lisa a patchwork quilt which is a family heirloom. Lisa makes her own contribution to it, but then Santa’s Little Helper rips it up, and Homer’s cookie gets eaten. With all this done, Homer and Marge consider giving the dog away, but the kids, especially Bart, have grown to love the dog and protest to keep him. Marge tells the kids that while he is a nice dog, he chews up everything, doesn’t obey and isn’t even housebroken. She also points out he hasn’t even passed the obedience classes which they spent a lot of money on. Lisa gives a heartfelt speech before their parents reluctantly agree that they can keep the pooch if he passes obedience school.

Santa’s Little Helper does not do well at the Obedience School as Bart is unwilling to use a choke chain and Santa’s Little Helper still doesn’t understand Bart’s commands at all. In the meantime, Homer and Marge work on an ad for when they do have to sell the dog. The night before the final exam, Homer reminds the kids that if Santa’s Little Helper fails the exam, he will have to go, Bart and Lisa are very upset about this and ask to give the dog another chance but Homer won’t allow it. After no success of the pooch obeying Bart’s commands at Lisa Bart and Santa’s Little Helper play, thinking it will be their last few hours together, Bart tells the pooch if he could understand him, he would know why he has to leave. This bonding breaks down the communication barrier and allows Santa’s Little Helper to understand Bart’s commands, and to pass obedience school much to the family’s (bar Homer)’s happiness. Lisa marked the occasion by creating a new quilt to replace the one that was destroyed.

Fun facts: The first appearance of Emily Winthrop. Criminal/babysitter Ms Botz from “Some Enchanted Evening” has escaped from prison according to a news report from Kent Brockman

Special – Deep, Deep Trouble

Listened/Watched date – 29/01/24 / Original Air Date – 07/03/1991

Another little sidestep “Deep, Deep Trouble” is the 2nd single released from the “Sing the Blues” album with an accompanying music video. It was written by Matt Groening and DJ Jazzy Jeff and recorded in September 1990. The song is a rap performed by the character Bart Simpson about his trouble-making antics. Groening has described it as “the tragic story of Bart Simpson, a bad youth gone worse.”

Another fun song and one I’ve known word for word since its release!

2×17 – 030 – “Old Money'” – 7F17

Watched date – 30/01/24 / Original Air Date – 28/03/1991

After returning to the retirement castle after another lacklustre Sunday outing he meets Beatrice when the nurse mixes up their meds. They start dating and after a month Grampa plans to present Beatrice with a present on her birthday. However, Homer comes for their monthly outing and wants to make an effort this time as they realise their previous days out were boring and unexciting for Grampa. Grampa refuses to go and he tries to explain he needs to see Bea for her birthday but forces him to go. Grampa is in a grump all the way to the Discount Lion Safari, once they arrive Homer takes an off-the-route path and gets stuck in the mud and to make matters worse the lions attack the car and sleep on it. Eventually, they are rescued in the morning, Grampa returns home expecting to visit Bea but turns up to an ambulance driving away and to Grampa’s dismay contains Bea who died of a burst ventricle but Grampa believes she actually died of a broken heart.

Grampa is saddened by the events and Homer tries to say how sorry he was but Grampa is too nettled to listen, blaming Homer for making him miss the final precious moments in Bea’s life. He vows not to forgive Homer and disowns him as a son. Shortly afterwards, Grampa is visited by Lionel Hutz, the executor of Bea’s estate. It turns out Bea was a wealthy widow and left an inheritance of $106,000 to Grampa, she stipulates that Grampa can enjoy this money any way he sees fit. Grampa tries everything from buying a fez to going to amusement parks but none of these makes him happy. While on the rollercoaster Bea appears to him as a poltergeist and tells him if the money isn’t helping him it should go to those who could benefit.

Also at Bea’s request, Homer visits the Simpsons and forgives Homer. At dinner, he announces his intention to give away the money. He plans to have people come talk to him and he will choose who he believes is in the most need of it. The announcement gains media attention and soon a line is formed to make requests for money. He hears everyone out and is unable to make a decision so goes for a walk to clear his mind, he notices the plight of the Springfield homeless and realizes it wouldn’t be enough money to help everyone who needs it most. He then heads on a senior citizen gambling trip with the possibility that he could double or even triple the remaining funds. Homer upon hearing this drives out to find Grampa and gets to him just as he tries to gamble the remaining money. Grampa almost succeeds in losing all of the money.

Outside Homer asks if he has figured out what to do with the money and looking at his hands he realises there are some people who would benefit from the money he helps renovate the retirement home and names the dining room in Bea’s honour.

Fun facts: The first and only appearance of Beatrice Simmons. The first appearance of Professor Frink

2×18 – 031 – “Brush with Greatness'” – 7F118

Watched date – 31/01/24 / Original Air Date – 11/04/1991

After the kids see Krusty performing his show at Mt. Splashmore, the kids beg Homer to take them eventually he agrees. But when Homer rides H₂WHOA he gets stuck halfway down and has to be removed via a large crane, Homer decides to go on a diet. While he searches the attic for his fitness equipment he stumbles across some paintings of Ringo Starr that Marge painted in High School. When discussing with Marge she stated her art teacher scolded her for painting Ringo Starr and she also sent the portrait over to Ringo Starr but never had a response so gave up painting.

Marge takes a painting class at Springfield Community College and paints a portrait of Homer which her teacher praises then it wins the college art show. Meanwhile, Mr. Burns grows exasperated as several hired artists fail to paint a suitable portrait of himself for installation in the Springfield Museum of Fine Arts. After seeing Marge’s winning portrait in the paper Smithers suggests Mr. Burns considers Marge. She reluctantly agrees, and Burns insists that the painting portrays him as a beautiful man. Throughout the painting sessions, Mr Burns heckles members of the Simpsons family which causes Marge’s patience to wear thin. After Homer announces that he weighs 239 pounds, meaning he lost twenty-one pounds. Burns insults Homer and belittles his weight-loss efforts by calling him “The fattest thing he’s ever seen.” This proves to be the last straw for Marge and asks Mr. Burns to leave so that she can finish the portrait without him present.

After stopping Homer from beginning an eating binge brought upon Burns’ insults, Marge concedes that given Burns’ personality, she can’t paint a beautiful picture of him. Homer encourages her to finish the portrait, and around the same time a letter arrives from Ringo Starr praising her portrait and apologising for the later response but he was answering every fan mail ever that he received personally. Now inspired, Marge finishes the portrait and unveils it at the opening of the Burns wing. The painting depicts a naked, frail, and weak Burns with his genitalia covered with different objects. Everyone is flabbergasted until Marge explains that it depicts what Burns is. Despite all his evil, he is at the end of it all a frail and vulnerable human being, who is extension just as beautiful as any other living creature in the world. Everyone even Burns accepts his new glory and praises Marge’s painting. Burns thanks Marge for not making fun of his genitalia, to which she remarks to herself “I Thought I Did”

Nice episode with a bit more back story for Marge and that Homer can lose weight if he wants to.

Fun facts: Guest Appearance from “Sir Ringo Star” as himself. First Appearance of Professor Lombardo

2×19 – 032 – “Lisa’s Substitute” – 7F119

Watched date – 01/02/24 / Original Air Date – 25/04/1991

After Ms Hoover announces that she’s on medical leave for Lyme disease her replacement Mr Bergstrom is brought in as substitute teacher, Lisa instantly finds a connection with him and maybe even a crush. Bart has his name put forward for class president against Martin, Mrs. Krabappel is fed up with Barts’s antics as he jokes around at the front of the class for his speech for candidacy.

Marge asks Homer to spend more time with Lisa and suggests they go to the museum but Homer wants to spend more time with Bart to help out with his campaign, Marge puts her foot down and Homer ends up taking Lisa. At the museum, they run into Mr. Bergstrom and Lisa is embarrassed by Homer’s ignorance. After venting to her mother how Homer ruined her one chance to get to know her teacher Marge agrees to let him come round for dinner, only to find out Ms. Hoover has returned and Mr. Bergstrom has already left. Lisa rushes to his apartment to find he has already left for another job and eventually finds him at the train station. Lisa confesses she will be lost without him and Mr. Bergstrom comforts her with a note simply stating “You are Lisa Simpson”

At school, Bart loses the vote as nobody bothered voting and there were only two votes both for Martin. Back home Lisa takes her grief out on Homer and calls him a baboon, Marge tells Homer to comfort Lisa and that she is very hurt emotionally. Homer is unsure how to deal with Lisa as he finds her crying over her desk and feels uncomfortable seeing his daughter crying. He explains to Lisa how he can’t really understand how it feels to lose someone important as everyone he has ever loved is still with him. He then alludes to Lisa calling him a baboon, and in a loving manner mimics a monkey cheering her up.

Lisa apologises for calling him a baboon and Homer accepts her apology, he then finds Bart still seething over the election results and reminds him that all the job of class president would have really meant was a lot of extra work with little reward, this made Bart feel happy that he lost. Finally heading past Maggie’s room he places her pacifier back in her mouth. Proud he helped all 3 children he goes to bed happy stating he is “on the biggest roll” of his lifetime.

Another reminder that despite his mistakes Homer is actually a good parent overall.

Fun facts: The first appearance of Mr. Bergstrom who was actually voiced by Dustin Hoffman despite being credited as Sam Etic

2×20 – 033 – “The War of the Simpsons'” – 7F20

Watched date – 02/02/24 / Original Air Date – 02/05/1991

Homer & Marge throw a dinner party and Homer ends up blind drunk despite promising he wouldn’t, he ends up ogling Maude as she bends over for some peanuts. Marge is furious and embarrassed and would be attending church alone, Homer apologises to Bart for scarring him and eventually heads to church interrupting the sermon whilst trying to find Marge. Marge signs them up for a couples retreat which Homer thinks he can turn into a fishing trip, Homer sneaks his fishing equipment into the truck even after Marge tells him not to.

At the retreat Homer manages to think of one bad thing about Marge whilst Marge rattles off things for hours eventually, they head to bed and Homer gets up early to sneak out and catch “General Sherman” who he found out resides in the lake on his way to the retreat. Marge catches him and forbids him from fishing again. He agrees and instead goes on a walk, he walks past an unattended boat with a fishing line already attached and notices it has hooked something, he goes to grab it and is then pulled onto the lake by General Sherman.

Fun facts:

2×21 – 034 – “Three Men and a Comic Book'” – 7F21

Watched date – 03/02/24 / Original Air Date – 09/05/1991

The Simpsons head to a comic book convention and Bart finds the first issue of Radioactive Man for $100 which becomes his latest obsession, he begs Homer for the money which he refuses and Marge suggests he get a part-time job. Doing everything he can to avoid doing work he finds money where he can from returning bottles and his coin collection which doesn’t equate to much. Finally, he gives in and agrees to help Mrs Glick with some chores to earn money after a lot of work he is only given 50c’s. Bart manages to scrimp together $35 and heads to the comic book shop to see if he can get it it for cheaper, Martin is doing the same but with $40 and Milhouse is also after something at the shop. Bart realises if they all come together they would be able to afford the comic between them they all agree and each tries to head home with the comic. They all head to Bart’s treehouse and try to discuss equal access to the comic Martin tries to leave with it first leading to all three camping out in the treehouse all night.

A storm hits overnight and eventually, their squabbling leads the comic to fly away in the storm and subsequently chewed up by Santa’s Little Helper then hit by lightning. The boys try salvage the remains in the morning but not much is left, they reflect on how their inability to share led to the destruction of the comic and never notice that the final panel was not shredded and was peacefully being a nest mat for a mother bird.

A fun episode showing how something as simple as sharing a comic book can lead to greed, jealousy and betrayal

Fun facts: First appearance of Alice Glick & Comic Book Guy. Also the first appearance of “Bartman”

2×22 – 035 – “‘Blood Feud” – 7F22

Watched date – 04/02/24 / Original Air Date – 11/07/1991

The final one of Week 5 and the final of Season 2! We open on a new Nuclear Power Plant status sign being unveiled which immediately advises everyone is already in danger. Mr. Burns was supposed to be present but he was a no-show, Smithers runs to find Burns’ who has fallen out of bed and is stuck on his back. After tests, it turns out Burns’ has hypohemia and needs a blood transfusion to save his life.

Hearing this Homer thinks he will be rewarded highly for donating his blood but to his dismay he doesn’t have the same blood type of double-O-negative asking Marge she advises that Bart matches and seems to be the only Sprinfieldian who does. Overjoyed thinking this will make them rich Marge advises it’s one human should help another regardless of reward.

Mr Burns gets the transfusion and seems more alive than ever he writes Bart a thank-you note and plans to pen his autobiography. Homer deems Burns’ meagre thank-you card to be an inadequate response to the gift of life. He immediately writes Burns a venomous letter, but Marge prevents him from mailing it and sleeping on it. The next morning Homer is happy he didn’t mail the letter and sees the situation in a new light. He can’t find the letter and asks Bart if he has seen it to which Bart advises he already mailed it as planned. Homer and Bart try several things to retrieve the letter from the mailbox and are unsuccessful for they head to Burns office to intercept the letter before Burns.

Burns walks in and finds the letter whilst Homer is there and reads it out in front of them, at first he is touched then reads the rest of the letter which simply Homer was being sarcastic. Furious, Burns vows to make Homer’s life miserable, he fires Homer and then orders Smithers to have him beaten up. Smithers can’t go through with it as Homer’s family did save Burns’ life. Eventually, Burns comes to his senses and goes out shopping for a gift. He picks a $32,000 Olmec head which is delivered to the Simpson’s house, Homer questions the gift and wonders what it does, Marge remarks whatever it’s doing it’s doing it now!

Fun facts: The first appearance of the Olmex head Xtapolapocetl would become a common background prop in the Simpson home.