One thing about The Simpsons is that just about every show ends with everything exactly the way it was at the beginning. But occassionally they give a nod to something that really should be a major change but everyone chooses to simply forget or ignore it.
My favorites:
Lisa [to a cat]: Well, I guess since I’m out of names, I’ll just call you Snowball II.
Principal Skinner: Wouldn’t that be cheating?
Lisa: Whatever you say Principal Tanzarian
Principal Skinner: Carry on then…
Bart [at Apus weding]: I wish I had an elephant
Lisa: You did…his name was Stampy…you loved him…
According to ‘the principal and the pauper’, Lisa is thus technically guilty of violating Judge Snyder’s order, punishable by torture… but I think Tamzarian is too much of a softy to turn her in.
A few good ‘comic book guy’ ones from the jockey racing episode:
Can’t remember the precise phrasing. Mr Burns is talking to Smithers, Smithers mentions Homer. Mr Burns says, “Simpson, eh? Don’t remember that name…” and Smithers launches into a description of every interaction Burns and the Simpsons have had in the last few years. “Well, his wife painted you in the nude, you’ve fired him three times, run over his son’s dog etc etc”.
The episode where the kids’ are stuck at school because of snow, and Homer attaches part of Flanders’ roof to his car to serve as a snow plow.
Flanders: Hey, whatever happened to the Plow from your old snow plow business?
Homer: I never had a snow plow business!
Flanders: Sure you did, Mr. Plow. You’re wearing the jacket right now!
Homer: I think I know my own life, Ned. :sings: Call Mr. Plow, that’s my name, that name again is Mr. Plow.
Another of my favorites because shortly before it aired I started a “list all of the Simpsons’ jobs” thread so I took the line on the show to be a shout out directly to me.
In the hopes of restoring some of the funny factor: quoty quoty. (I think getting it right often helps.)
Mr. Burns: Who’s that man?
Smithers: Homer Simpson, sir.
Mr. Burns: Simpson, eh? New man?
Smithers: Actually sir, he thwarted your campaign for governor, you ran over his son, he saved the plant from meltdown, his wife painted you in the nude…
Homer: Yes, that’s me, and the guy standing next to me is President Gerald Ford. [gestures to other photos] And this is when I was on tour with the Smashing Pumpkins. Oh! And here’s a picture of me in outer space.
Grimes: You? Went into outer space? You?
Homer: Sure. You’ve never been? Would you like to see my Grammy award?
Homer: [examining a 25 year-old care package his fugitive mother sent him but he only just received] Hey! Space food sticks! Oh, I wish I had these on my space adventure. Did you know I was blasted into space two years ago, Mom?
Mona: Well, sure. I read all about it. It was national news. [fearfully] Do you still work for NASA?
Homer: No, I work at the nuclear power plant.
Mona: Oh, Homer.
Homer: Well, you’ll be happy to know I don’t work very hard. [quietly] Actually, I’m bringing the plant down from the inside. [taps nose secretively]
In “Who Shot Mister Burns Part 1,” Homer, in an attempt to get Mister Burns to remember his name, sent the boss a box of chocolates with a picture of the Simpson family on the bottom. Burns and Smithers uncover members of the family one by one as they eat through the box…(paraphrased)
“Oh, look. That’s little Maggie Simpson, she found my bear Bobo…”
“There’s Bart Simpson…he was my heir for a short time…”
“His dog…he was one of my guard dogs for a while…”
“Marge Simpson…she painted my portrait…”
