# Favorite Simpsons running gag? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 10, 2007, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085 "2007-08-10T00:09:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/41 "2007-08-10T20:47:20Z")
[QUOTE=SiXSwordS] So close and yet so far. [Alexander Graham Bell](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello) initially used Ahoy (as used on ships) as a telephone greeting. Edison suggested hello. [/QUOTE] D’oh! ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/42 "2007-08-10T21:12:25Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] I also think “Arnie Pye, with Arnie in the Sky” is genius. [/QUOTE] I often wondered if I was the only one who got this joke. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/43 "2007-08-10T21:15:18Z")
[QUOTE=SiXSwordS] A favorite Burns anachronism line: **Burns** : I’d like to send this to the Prussian consulate in Siam by Aeromail. Am I too late for the 4:30 auto-gyro? [/QUOTE] I’m a big fan of when Burns asks about how his “blue chip” investments, Amalgamated Spats and Confederated Slave Holdings, are doing: “They’re, uh. Steady.” And referring to the pedals of the car as the velocitator and deceleratrix. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/44 "2007-08-10T21:21:48Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] I also think “Arnie Pye, with Arnie in the Sky” is genius. [/QUOTE] What exactly is the joke there? ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/45 "2007-08-10T21:29:35Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] I miss Troy McClure’s movie titles and educational videos. [/QUOTE] The low quality and outdated school media in general: > [@](#): > > The moon belongs to America, and eagerly awaits the arrival of our astro-men But, [Troy, you may remember me, McClure](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjmpE9VlehU) (youtube) had some great ones: > [@](#): > > You may remember me from such medical films as: “Alice doesn’t live anymore” and “Mommy, what’s wrong with that man’s face.” and who could forget: > [@](#): > > Mmm, that’s good Billy ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/46 "2007-08-10T21:30:40Z")
[QUOTE=dnooman] What exactly is the joke there? [/QUOTE] He’s deliberately not using the obvious “pye in the sky”. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/47 "2007-08-10T21:36:39Z")
[QUOTE=iamthewalrus(:3=] I’m a big fan of when Burns asks about how his “blue chip” investments, Amalgamated Spats and Confederated Slave Holdings, are doing: “They’re, uh. Steady.” [/QUOTE] Don’t forget Transatlantic Zeppelin, Congreve’s Inflammable Powder, U.S. Hay and the up-and-coming Baltimore Opera Hat Company. 🙂 I love these as well. The episode where they go to Cuba has a lot of them- thinking Homer is from Colliers magazine, “The new Packards we’ve been hearing about”, and thinking Batista is still in power. And Wiggums “that was really more of a burgundy” response to the APB on a maroon 1939 Stutz Bearcat is sublime. The outdated 50’s filmstrips are classic- the little kid not wanting to live a world with zinc in it, or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/48 "2007-08-10T21:47:38Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] The outdated 50’s filmstrips are classic- the little kid not wanting to live a world with zinc in it, or something like that. [/QUOTE] Yeah. Maybe you already know this, but that’s a terrific parody of a real, and real awful, educational film called “A Case of Spring Fever,” in which a demonic little cartoon spring torments a man who wishes that springs didn’t exist, turning the man into a frightful bore who annoys all of his friends by prattling on endlessly about springs. Mystery Science Theatre showed ‘Spring Fever’ during its last season. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/49 "2007-08-10T22:17:36Z")
[QUOTE=Malthus] He’s deliberately not using the obvious “pye in the sky”. [/QUOTE] :smack: ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/50 "2007-08-10T22:27:05Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] Yeah. Maybe you already know this, but that’s a terrific parody of a real, and real awful, educational film called “A Case of Spring Fever,” in which a demonic little cartoon spring torments a man who wishes that springs didn’t exist, turning the man into a frightful bore who annoys all of his friends by prattling on endlessly about springs. Mystery Science Theatre showed ‘Spring Fever’ during its last season. [/QUOTE] [A Case of Sping Fever](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v58argQ3l-M) A fine(?) example of what you’ll find at the [Prelinger Archives](http://www.archive.org/details/prelinger), where MST3K got most of its public-domain short films, including this one. No springs! Hee hee hee! ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/51 "2007-08-10T22:44:52Z")
The references to Mr. Plow in later on episodes always get a wee giggle from me. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/52 "2007-08-10T22:50:27Z")
[QUOTE=mobo85] [A Case of Sping Fever](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v58argQ3l-M) A fine(?) example of what you’ll find at the [Prelinger Archives](http://www.archive.org/details/prelinger), where MST3K got most of its public-domain short films, including this one. No springs! Hee hee hee! [/QUOTE] Nooo springs!! Haha. Boy I can’t even fathom how many hours I’ve spent on fixing the couch. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/53 "2007-08-10T22:51:51Z")
[QUOTE=An Gadaí] The references to Mr. Plow in later on episodes always get a wee giggle from me. [/QUOTE] The giant Aztec head that Mr. Burns gave to Bart as a thank-you for his life-saving blood donation. Several episodes depict it languishing in the basement, and (IIRC) it was one of the Simpson family items on sale at their street fair. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/54 "2007-08-10T22:55:49Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow] “Midge.” [/QUOTE] Explain this one to me. I noticed in the movie, Moe called Marge “Midge”. When did this start and why? ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2007, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/55 "2007-08-10T22:57:46Z")
[QUOTE=Mahaloth] I noticed in the movie, Moe called Marge “Midge”. When did this start and why? [/QUOTE] For some reason, Moe has _always_ believed Marge’s name is Midge. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2007, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/56 "2007-08-11T00:23:16Z")
[QUOTE=ArchiveGuy] I really, really miss Lionel Hutz. ☹ [/QUOTE] Never heard of 'im. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2007, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/57 "2007-08-11T00:23:23Z")
**Marley23** , **mobo85** , thanks- just today I was debating whether to buy a DVD with 30 minutes of these classics for 10-15 bucks for shits and giglges- it didn’t occur to me that they would be out there for free. ---
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2007, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/58 "2007-08-11T00:41:46Z")
Grampa Simpson… He represents the time “before” the present… Like Mr Burns, but in a watered down way. His argument with Marge’s Mom about various home remedies… “Smeckler’s Powder!” His references to the past seem to show the compression effect of history… (He’s old, so he must remember Napoleon)… He talks about the Kaiser, wooden nickles, dresses in zoot suits, swing dances, and such… Seems to have direct knowledge and involvment in all major wars previous to Vietnam You can find your own examples if you search You Tube for Grampa Simpson… Regards FML ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2007, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/59 "2007-08-11T01:01:56Z")
[QUOTE=The New and Improved Superman] The giant Aztec head that Mr. Burns gave to Bart as a thank-you for his life-saving blood donation. Several episodes depict it languishing in the basement, and (IIRC) it was one of the Simpson family items on sale at their street fair. [/QUOTE] “Not Aztec, _Olmec_.” ---
**Author:** ![Hoops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoops/32/6408_2.png) [@Hoops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoops)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2007, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085/60 "2007-08-11T06:00:39Z")
[QUOTE=Malthus] He’s deliberately not using the obvious “pye in the sky”. [/QUOTE] This is a characteristic type of Simpsons humor: putting an obvious joke out there and then declining to use it. My favorite is the name of Bart’s teacher: Mrs Krabappel. Nobody, not even her students, seem to notice that it could be pronounced _crabapple_. This led to a memorable gag: Homer: “Bart’s teacher’s name is Krabappel? I’ve been calling her Crandall!” Just for a split second, when he utters the first syllable of Crandall, you think he’s going to say crabapple. Possibly one of the fastest gags in TV history. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-simpsons-running-gag/415085.md?page=4)