A Simpsons a Day – Week 7

3×08 – 043 – “Lisa’s Pony” – 8F06

Watched date – 12/02/24 / Original Air Date – 07/11/91

Homer promises to pick up a new reed for Lisa’s Saxophone so she can perform at 7 at the school’s talent show, Homer agrees and arrives at the music shop 5 minutes before closing. He decides to have a beer in the five minutes before it closes at Moe’s next door. He heads back out with 15 seconds to spare to see it had already closed. He heads back into Moe’s dejected and realises the owner is in Moe’s having a drink. Homer convinces the owner to open back up and barely remembers what he needs to get. He finally purchases a reed but arrives late at the talent show to hear Lisa butchery her performance.

Homer tries to apologise and make it up to Lisa but all his attempts meet with rejection. After looking through previous Homer videos Homer discovers how much Lisa hates him and how much he has ignored her needs and achievements due to watching TV or dealing with Barts’s shenanigans. In bed, Marge suggests Lisa needs time and she will forgive him, but Homer decides a “quick fix” is needed and plans to buy her a pony. Marge advises against this but Homer explains he has been a laughing stock doing all the girly things Lisa has made him do.

To afford a pony he applies for a loan through the Power Plant Credit Union which Mr. Burns personally approves, Homer buys the pony (named Princess) for Lisa. Lisa wakes up the next day to find Princess in bed with her and gallops into her parent’s room, Marge berates Homer for making such an extravagant purchase even after she warned him not to. Bart is also angry as he feels left out and requests a moped which Homer refuses. Homer soon finds out the Pony can only be boarded at the place he bought it from at $500 a month and combined with all other expenses Marge warns they could be in serious financial trouble.

To cover all costs Homer takes a night job at the Kwik-E-Mart, working back-to-back jobs leaves him no room to sleep and he either sleeps at his post at the Power Plant or the Kwik-E-Mart. Homer eventually collapses in front of the family in the garage and that’s when Lisa realises what Homer is doing to afford the pony. Lisa sells the pony back to the stables and advises Homer can quit the Kwik-E-Mart as the pony is not worth seeing Homer suffer just so she can have a pony.

Fun fact: The first appearance of Millicent & “Princess” The Simpsons have a Beta tape VCR

3×09 – 044 – “Saturdays of Thunder” – 8F07

Watched date – 13/02/24 / Original Air Date – 14/11/91

Bart is set on winning first place at a local soap box derby but he must build his own Meanwhile, Patty & Selma call Homer a bad parent. Following the conversation and to prove the sisters wrong Marge advises he fill out a fatherhood quiz which Homer is unable to answer any questions. Homer ends up going to the National Fatherhood Institute and he is given a book about parenting and follows the book’s advice.

He finds out Bart is building a soapbox racer and offers to help and Bart eventually agrees. Unfortunately, Homer’s less-than-adept building skills give Bart a very shoddy, rickety piece of junk for a racer (named Li’l Lightnin’). This is especially so in comparison to Martin Prince’s personally designed and built space shuttle-like racer, the Martin B-57. Martin and Bart form an alliance vowing that either must somehow beat Nelson and his very intimidating racer, the MIG-17, armed with every dirty trick in the book.

When the race is underway, Bart can barely reach any kind of noticeable speed with Homer’s racer and becomes a laughingstock for it. Meanwhile, Martin has difficulty controlling his racer, as it is moving too fast, which eventually causes his racer to smoke-bust and burn. After getting injured, Martin finds that he can no longer race and opts for Bart and himself to combine forces by having Bart race Martin’s racer over the racer he and Homer built. Bart seeing no other way to win agrees, which breaks Homer’s heart. When Bart later apologizes and desires Homer’s best wishes, Homer selfishly denounces both Bart and Martin, telling Bart to do whatever he likes.

Dejected, Bart trains for the final race with Martin’s newly tuned racer. When the big day finally arrives, the family prepares to go and show their support for Bart. Everybody that is, except for Homer who is still sulking. Despite Bart’s pleas he refuses to come to the race or at the very least wish his son luck, which leaves Bart devastated. Witnessing the whole thing, Marge’s patience finally runs out and she scolds her husband for his selfish behaviour. To illustrate her disappointment, Marge reminds Homer that for years, she defended him from his detractors, including her sisters, Patty and Selma, who repeatedly told her that Homer is a terrible and incompetent father. Her face falling, Marge reluctantly admits that she was wrong and everybody else was right. Though it clearly pains her to do so, Marge reluctantly admits that in light of Homer’s recent behaviour and his inability to support his son for helping out a friend, Homer has proven beyond any doubt that he really is a bad father!

This statement only makes Homer feel worse. Turning away from his family, he orders them to leave him alone with his depression, which they do. Sometime later, Homer watches as the final preparations are made for the race. Quietly reflecting on his selfishness and depression, he goes to the fridge, which has the fatherhood test pinned to it. Looking at the questions, he starts to answer them: –

Name your son’s hobbies – Building a soapbox derby racer.
Name one of your child’s friends – Martin.
Who is your son’s hero – Three times soapbox derby champion, Ronnie Beck.
Name another Dad you talk to about parenting – Homer cheats on this one. When Ned walks past the window, Homer goes outside and asks him a random question and when Ned starts to answer, leaves before Ned can finish.

Realizing that he has come to learn a lot about his son, the now cheered-up Homer drives down to the race to support Bart. At the starting line, Homer wishes Bart luck and tells the boy that no matter how the race turns out he will still be proud of him. The race is tough as Nelson pulls every dirty trick in his arsenal, but eventually, through his skill, Bart comes out on top and the “team” enjoys their victory. Bart also meets his new hero, three-time soap box champ Ronny Beck, who hands Bart his trophy. Bart and Homer act like sore winners, which embarrasses Marge who reminds them they should be good winners. Bart then protests that this is the first time he won something and he may never do it again. Bart shares a hug as Homer finally becomes a good father to his son.

Fun fact: The sign at the video store reads “VHS Village, Formerly The Beta Barn”

3×10 – 045 – “Flaming Moe’s” – 8F08

Watched date – 14/02/24 / Original Air Date – 21/11/91

Homer visits Moe’s Tavern and realises it is having financial trouble when the beer supply has been stopped, Homer advises he created an amazing drink one time after Patty and Selma made the family sit through slides from their latest vacation. Unable to find a beer Homer mixes a drink from leftovers of loads of other beers and accidentally uses cough syrup. He deemed the drink tasty but after it is lit on fire from Patty’s cigarette he discovered it greatly enhanced the flavour. Homer named the drink “The Flaming Homer”

Fun fact: Aerosmith are the first band to make guest appearance. Moe cheats at solitaire. The character of Collette the waitress and the “Flaming Moe’s” theme song are inspired by “Cheers”

3×11 – 046 – “Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk” – 8F09

Watched date – 15/02/24 / Original Air Date – 05/12/91

Homer learns he owns stock in the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, and sells his 100 shares for 25 cents a piece to a shady stock broker, netting $25, which he spends on an expensive beer. Soon after the sale, he learns that the value of the stock had kept rising over the course of the day to end at $52 per share. While Homer misses out on the windfall – he could have made $5,200 – other employees who clearly had larger shares make small fortunes, buying new cars and Lenny gets a facelift. Homer regrets selling so low for beer and his family’s disappointed about Homer’s recklessness.

The reason for the stock’s inflated value is because a depressed Mr. Burns wants to sell the plant to pursue other interests. The sale is completed at a value of $100 million to two German businessmen, Hans and Fritz, who have been hanging out in Moe’s looking for just such an opportunity. They immediately begin a thorough evaluation of the plant and its employees. When they interview Homer, he is unable to intelligently answer their questions and begins slipping into a now-infamous fantasy about cavorting through “The Land of Chocolate.” Homer soon gets laid off.

A depressed Homer mopes around the house, insisting he is a competent safety-minded worker while jabbing at a plugged-in toaster with a mangled fork. Meanwhile, Burns is not having a good time in retirement and decides to go to Moe’s Tavern to have a drink. However, Burns is called out by Homer, who says he lost his job after the sale. Homer asks if Burns’ money cheers him up, but when Burns says yes, Homer tries another avenue if his money expresses love for him. When Burns says no, Homer and the other barflies start a chant of “Nobody loves you” and similar taunts. Humiliated, Burns leaves Moe’s Tavern and remarks to Smithers that the men no longer fear him as he is no longer in a position of power. He also realizes ownership of the plant gave him that power and prestige and is resolved to regain ownership.

Meanwhile, the Germans, who have completed their assessment, are shocked by the substandard conditions of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, and realize it will cost another $100 million to bring the plant up to code. Burns, noting their desperation to sell, offers them $50 million for the plant saying that, “you will find it [the offer] most unfair.” Burns cleans out his old office, which the Germans had made into a nursery, except for a toy pig. He takes a letter opener and orders Smithers to hire Homer Simpson. When Smithers reminds Burns of the disrespectful behaviour of Homer at the bar, Burns says he is well aware of that, and remarks how Homer will work for Burns a long time, likely forgetting about the incident and how the Sword of Damocles is dangling over him. When Homer lets his guard down, Burns selects his idea as evidenced by stabbing the toy pig. The episode finishes at the Simpson residence, where Homer, having just gotten off the phone, joyously tells Marge and the kids that he got his job back.

Another episode with some more focus on Mr. Burns

Fun fact: Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk translates to “Burns to Sell the Power Plant”.

3×12 – 047 – “I Married Marge” – 8F10

Watched date – 16/02/24 / Original Air Date – 26/12/91

Marge and Homer are worrying that Marge may be pregnant again. After a home pregnancy test gives inconclusive results, Marge drives to Dr. Hibbert’s office. Homer begins to tell Bart, Lisa, and Maggie about how he and Marge got married, and Bart’s birth thereafter.

Homer begins his story in 1980, while he was working at a miniature golf course and still dating Marge. One night on a romantic date, after seeing The Empire Strikes Back, Homer and Marge make love inside of a golf course castle. Shortly after, Marge discovers that she is pregnant. Homer decides to propose to Marge, and she eagerly accepts. The two marry in a small wedding chapel across state lines while Marge is pregnant. The two spend their “wedding night” at Marge’s parents’ house, sleeping on a couch in the living room. Needless to say, this aggravates Marge’s mother and sisters extremely, who all despise Homer.

Unfortunately for Homer and Marge, Homer’s wages are not enough to pay for his new family. Homer attempts to apply for a job at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, but his interview goes horribly, partly due to his ineptitude and the blatant favouritism displayed by Waylon Smithers (the other two applicants are members of his college fraternity). So Homer tried many jobs but none of them worked out (one job offer turned out to be a scam). After many of Homer and Marge’s newly purchased baby supplies and Marge’s wedding ring are repossessed, Homer decides to leave and find a job, to provide for Marge and his unborn son Bart… Marge is brought to tears by Homer’s absence. In a parody of Raising Arizona, Homer leaves a letter to a sleeping Marge describing the above. However, even in sorrow, Homer still winds up irritating Patty, who complains to Homer to “not scratch the pen so loud”.

Homer gets a job at a Gulp ‘n’ Blow taco restaurant, where Patty and Selma find him after nearly chokes on a taco filled with hair. Patty, who has absolute hatred for Homer, insists that they remain silent about it to Marge, simply to let her find him by “reading about it in the Society Pages”. But Selma, feeling sorry for Marge and some pity for Homer, plans to tell Marge the truth. Marge, now well into her third trimester of pregnancy, finds Homer and convinces him to come back home with her. Homer feels ashamed and unworthy to be Marge’s husband as he is not able to afford an appropriate wedding ring, but Marge tells him any ring is fine, so long as it is from him. Homer plans to apply for a job at the Nuclear Power Plant once more, this time marching into Mr. Burns’ office and telling Burns dramatically that he will be the perfect spineless employee. Burns is so impressed that he hires Homer on the spot. Homer, glad that he has this well-paying job and that only “This could only happen in America” while skipping with joy can now buy back the repossessed wedding ring and baby items.

When Homer returns to Marge’s house, he discovers she has gone into labour and is already at the hospital. Marge’s mother Jacqueline offers to take Homer to the hospital (on the condition he never calls her “mother” again). Homer arrives shortly before she gives birth, where Patty snipes at Homer, saying he doesn’t belong in the delivery room. Sick of constantly being bullied and belittled by Patty, Homer angrily tells Patty to shut up. Then Patty insults him again (“Hey listen, fat boy!”). Then, in a rare fit of passionate rage, he angrily snaps at Patty (“No, YOU listen!”), demanding respect with such verbal force that it intimidates Patty into silence. He then turns to Marge, telling her of his success at finding a job. The rest of the delivery goes smoothly, except for one minor incident (“Homer, for God’s sake, let the doctor deliver the baby!”). After the baby is born, Homer and Marge choose to name him Bart. Bart takes Homer’s cigarette lighter and lights his tie on fire. Homer quickly dips the tie into a glass of water, gets mad at Bart (“Why you little–!!”) and tells Marge that he did it on purpose, but Marge tells Homer how could Bart do that as he is just ten minutes old.

After Homer finishes telling his flashback story, he tells Bart that the day he was born, Homer received the best gift a man could get and says he and Marge were blessed twice more with Lisa and Maggie. Marge arrives home with the news that she is not pregnant, to which they are relieved, and they are grateful.

Another nice back story episode that builds on from the Season 2 episode.

Fun fact: Semi followup to “The Way We Was – 02×12” which they refused to tell how Bart was born. Currently sets Barts year of birth at 1980 6 years after they met.

3×13 – 048 – “Radio Bart” – 8F11

Watched date – 17/02/24 / Original Air Date – 09/01/1992

It is Bart’s birthday, and Homer doesn’t understand what to get for Bart as a present. He observes an ad on TV for the Superstar Celebrity Microphone, which can be used to send voices over the radio. Homer jumps on the idea and orders one for Bart. However, at his birthday party (held at Wall E. Weasel’s), Bart is less than enthralled by it and is unenthusiastic about his other gifts as well. He ends up showing the most interest in the label-maker that Patty and Selma get him and uses it to put “Property of Bart Simpson” labels on many things in the house, including a radio, Homer’s rear and a can of beer (to Homer’s dismay), and Santa’s Little Helper.

Homer tries to show Bart how great the microphone is, but Bart isn’t convinced, largely due to Homer yelling full blast into the microphone, creating heavy feedback. However, Marge also tries it out (keeping her voice down), and Bart is sold and decides to have a little fun of his own with the microphone. After trying it out on a few unsuspecting victims (he manages to make Rod and Todd Flanders believe that God is talking to them through the radio), Bart lowers his radio down into an old, abandoned well and calls for help over the radio, pretending to be a boy who has fallen into the well. Groundskeeper Willie falls for the prank and tells the whole town about the boy in the well. Then several townspeople gather around the well, and Bart explains that he is an orphan named Timmy O’Toole. Due to the size of the well, none of the city’s police force can fit inside it to go rescue Timmy, and they can’t simply pull him out with a rope because (as “Timmy” explains) his foot is caught under a rock.

Several townsfolk attempt to come up with solutions to free the boy. A carnival is held near the well to benefit Timmy O’Toole and Krusty the Clown decides to work with musician Sting to create a song called “We’re Sending Our Love Down the Well,” also as a benefit for Timmy. On TV, Channel 6 News provides frequent updates about Timmy, and an Itchy & Scratchy episode (“Cat Splat Fever”) is dedicated to him.

However, Bart’s ruse is broken when Lisa sees him wrestling the microphone away from Santa’s Little Helper. The dog’s growls through the microphone make the townspeople believe that something is wrong with Timmy, and the local news immediately reports on his “possibly feral condition”. Lisa confronts Bart, warning him that his prank is going to end up backfiring. Bart scoffs at this until he remembers that he used his label-maker to put a “Property of Bart Simpson” label on the radio in the well.

Later that evening, Bart returns to the well to retrieve the radio and attempts to climb down into the well using a rope. When Springfield Police Officers Lou and Eddie see the rope, they untie it, sending Bart plummeting down into the well, where his foot ends up trapped under a rock—much like the story he made up to fool everyone. Bart calls for help and explains to Lou and Eddie about his prank. The two officers then decide to leave Bart in the well.

The next day, Marge asks what the police are doing to help Bart. Chief Wiggum says that there is equipment located in Shreveport, Louisiana that can get Bart out of the well, but because Bart tricked the public, there is very little public support to help him. Mayor Quimby considers helping Bart, but in the wake of negative public opinion, he renounces his support and proclaims “Let him stay down there!”, which draws cheers from his brainwashed constituents.

Bart Crying in a Well
Later that evening, Marge and Homer return and drop a sweater down for Bart to wear. As Bart ponders his situation and considers that he’ll be trapped down in the well for the rest of his life, Homer is suddenly inspired to dig a tunnel to get Bart out. Before long, several other citizens (including Sting) have joined in the effort (although Jasper is convinced that they are just digging holes), while Kent Brockman reports on the assassination of a squirrel. After several hours, they manage to reach Bart. Homer assures Bart that they’ll make sure that no one else will ever fall down the well.

The final shot shows Groundskeeper Willie posting a small sign nearby that says “Caution: Well” (instead of the more sensible option of just boarding up the well). As Willie finishes pounding the signpost into the ground, he says, “That should do it!”

Another one of Barts pranks that spirals out of control!

Fun fact: Sting appears as himself

3×14 – 049 – “Lisa The Greek” – 8F12

Watched date – 18/02/24 / Original Air Date – 24/01/1992

Rapidly eating high-cholesterol, high-sodium, high-fat snacks, Homer sits down for another Sunday of football. Lisa entered the room to show her dad a shoe box apartment she made for her Malibu Stacy dolls. Homer isn’t at all interested, especially after Denver – on whom he has bet $20 – gives up a quick touchdown.

Lisa complains to Marge that her Dad doesn’t show interest in what she wants to do, Marge suggests spending some “quality time” with Homer by taking up his interests. Lisa plans to join her father on the couch, and an annoyed Homer reluctantly agrees. By now, New England is crushing Denver 35-7 and has just forced another Broncos fumble. In the end, Denver loses 55-10, and Homer angrily blames the TV (and sports anchorman “Smooth” Jimmy Apollo) for losing his bet.

Homer chooses to try again on the Miami-Cincinnati game and calls a 1-900 “guaranteed pick” service for advice; however, it soon becomes clear the only thing “The Coach” wants is the caller’s money. A desperate Homer turns to Lisa to pick a winner, and she picks the Dolphins, Homer quickly calls Moe’s Tavern to place his $50 wager. Lisa questions Homer about the call and likens sports betting to putting a lot of toppings on ice cream. In the end, the Dolphins win, and Homer and Lisa celebrate.

Meanwhile, Marge has taken Bart shopping and does everything possible to humiliate Bart: buying terrible and nerdy clothes and ignoring his distaste, opening his dressing room door while he is in his underwear while customers watch and without closing it, overlooking any comments he has about getting beaten up if he wears these outfits and leaving Bart in the family car to be tormented by Jimbo, Nelson, Kearney and Dolph, thinking they are his friends.

Lisa becomes very adept at choosing winners of football games, and Homer cleans up, much to Moe’s annoyance. Homer declares every Sunday “Daddy-Daughter Day.” With his new money, he starts buying expensive presents for the family and treating them to fine dining. Marge eventually wants to know where Homer’s extra income is coming from and gets the truth, but Homer says it’s not a big deal.

The next day at breakfast, Lisa says she is looking forward to spending the “Daddy-Daughter Day” after Super Bowl XXVI going hiking at Mount Springfield. However, Homer announces he has already made plans with Barney to go bowling, and that “Daddy-Daughter Day” is over until the next football season. Lisa realizes that all Homer wanted was to exploit her prognostic abilities to help him gamble. Marge is upset at Homer and Bart taunts him with the new swearing device that Homer bought for him. Heartbroken and plagued by a dream that she grows up to be a three-times divorced, tired, chain-smoking casino hopper, Lisa then gives up all the Malibu Stacy toys that Homer bought for her.

Homer realizes he needs to make amends with Lisa, but she is too hurt to even talk with him. When pressed by Homer, she makes a cryptic prediction as to the winner of the game: If she still loves Homer, Washington will win; if she doesn’t, Buffalo will win. Homer becomes even more anxious over his relationship with Lisa as Super Bowl Sunday approaches. When he hears Lisa mournfully play her saxophone, he leaves for Moe’s Tavern to watch the game.

Homer mopes throughout the game, especially after Buffalo jumps to a 14-7 halftime lead. The game is highlighted by a corny halftime commercial for Duff Beer, an equally silly halftime show and Troy McClure’s promo for his new situation comedy, which premieres right after the Super Bowl. In the end, Washington rallies in the second half and scores at the last second to win the game. Homer is happy and Bart proudly says to Lisa that she still loves Homer, to which she agrees.

Homer cancels his bowling date with Barney and – on the Sunday after the Super Bowl – makes good on his promise to go hiking up Mount Springfield with Lisa. Though he quickly becomes winded during the hike, he still appreciates spending time with Lisa… and then exhaustedly asks if they can go home.

A nice bonding episode for Homer & Lisa even though it is to Homer’s financial advantage.

Fun fact: When this episode aired all of the teams that Lisa picked the winners for actually came true. For years to come, FOX would repeat the episode and change up the team for the next Super Bowl winners and 98/100 times, Lisa predicted the winning team.
During the end credits, a marching band version of the theme is played.