Hmm, the full opening sequence (new couch gag 
) ?:dubious: Tonight’s episode must’ve ran short.
It wasn’t the full opening sequence. The middle part with Bart on his skateboard and Marge and Maggie was cut.
Best episode of the season. Very funny, almost like a classic episode. And it’s nice to see Homer eventually come out on top.
Two good lines I made a note to remember:
[Homer to dog] Good job, boy. Now we’ll treat your heart murmer, not just ‘see how it goes’.
[Sleeping pill commercial] Nappien attacks your Awakegens.
OK ep, I guess.
The “Sad Eyes” sequence was my favorite. The bacon and eggs smiley faces that turned to frowny faces got a chuckle out of me.
When Lisa said that strange behavior can occur from taking Ambien–I mean Nappien I laughed. When Homer first took the pills I said to myself “I hope those don’t make him do wacky stuff like Ambien does to me!” and then sure enough, he starts doing wacky stuff. Lisa confirming the connection was great.
An example of why I don’t take Ambien anymore: instead of sleeping, one night on Ambien I spent HOURS constructing an elaborate and yet ugly pullchain extension for my ceiling fan… out of craft pipe cleaners. It was very fancy, if hideous. It took ages to construct. Mind you it DID let me control the fan without a stool, but so would a piece of string, which would have been much, much faster. Ambien also makes stuff taste like sand.
The car wash couch gag was already used, in episode 383, G.I. (Annoyed Grunt), aired Nov. 12, 2006.
Anyway, great episode. Great continuity within the story. I liked the zombie montage with “Frankenstein” playing. Matt Groening’s signature was a nice touch in the VCR domino portrait of Homer. And I noticed Maggie had a toy rabbit in her playpen resembling Binky from “Life In Hell.” I also liked how Burns floated out the window, like the feather in “Forrest Gump,” then floated right into the power lines.
Good line from Moe, regarding Burns. (paraphrasing) “How dare he act within character.”
“Zombie file grievance”
Classic.
I love it when the Simpsons point out what their lame parody really is. I figured Ambien was supposed to be Nappien- the logos are similar, and the bird in the commercial is similar to the butterfly in the real ads (except when it defecates the pill, of course). That whole ad was pretty funny- I loved “secret other family.” “Nappien activates your brain’s napping centers and attacks your body’s awakagens. And unlike Sleepia, it won’t cause foot fattening or elbow stink.”
“People owe us because we’re heroes. It’s even on my business card. I printed them on the back of my old business cards.”
(Flips card to reveal inscription “Moe Szyslak, Villain”)
“Zombie montage…”
Nitpick: The giant luna moth is for Lunesta.
Homer’s “Mood swings? Mood swings! MOOD SWINGS!” litany had me almost wetting my pants, esp. when he stuck his face in the foreground. Also, when he’s drowning out Skinner’s lecture with the fire engine’s sirens.
Loved it when Bart & Milhouse dressed Homer up like a woman and sent him into Moes.
Moe closes shop.
Very funny ep. Liked the mood swings gag.
Also, in the long line of intros to get to the real story (volunteer firemen), this was basically a Rube Goldbergian exercise in just how far you can push the absurdity. A bent firepole, a bowl of chili, dalmations, all caused by the Nappien. Funny stuff.
Yeah, I loved the firemen flying through the air after the firehouse pole was knocked askew! I wish they did that kind of physical comedy and slapstick more often.
Bink-182
Heh!
What were the other brands of pacifiers?
In a time when fire fighters are held in reverence, trust the Simpsons to make them look like bumbling inept nasty thieves.
Well Done!
But Apu has already been shown to be a member of the volunteer fire department. Why would he need to be sworn in again? I really hope someone got fired over that gaffe.
Synthonip, Kiddie Kork, Thumbstitue, and Accuteat- none of which are Maggie’s brand.
Did anyone else think “Stewie Griffin” when Maggie was wreaking havoc at the beiginning?
That can be explained away. Springfield had a volunteer fire department in the early seasons of “The Simpsons” but that was replaced by a professional department. (I don’t recall the details but there was an episode some years back that featured a benefit put on for the fire department in which they showed some of the firemen.) When the professional fire department was put of service by Homer’s accident, the volunteer department (along with former member Apu) was re-instated.