# Simpsons 12/7: "The Burns and the Bees" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 8, 2008, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-12-7-the-burns-and-the-bees/476222 "2008-12-08T09:12:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-12-7-the-burns-and-the-bees/476222/1 "2008-12-08T09:12:27Z")
KABF21 Written by Stephanie Gillis A interestingly topical episode, commenting on the mysterious bee extinction that has been confounding many. I liked the whole thing with the billionaires and Mr. Burns’s typically antiquated attempts to be a flamboyant millionaire (although he’s done it before in “Monty Can’t Buy Me Love,” Marc Cuban is probably the best known flamboyant millionaire besides Richard Brans…er, Arthur Fortune). Cuban obviously has a sense of humor. Mak Mu the Human North Pole is quite possibly the best pointless secondary character since Sideshow Raheem. I think it was also used last year, but the Christmas intro was cute. ---
**Author:** ![clarkstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@clarkstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clarkstar)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-12-7-the-burns-and-the-bees/476222/2 "2008-12-08T14:13:26Z")
there is no mysterious bee extinction. and the simpsons featuring lisa is a no watcher for me ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-12-7-the-burns-and-the-bees/476222/3 "2008-12-08T14:50:57Z")
> [@clarkstar](#): > > there is no mysterious bee extinction. and the simpsons featuring lisa is a no watcher for me So you’re saying that [Colony Collapse Disorder](http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=15572) is a myth? ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-12-7-the-burns-and-the-bees/476222/4 "2008-12-08T15:37:08Z")
This episode was a bust for me. I almost gave up on it and bailed but ended up hanging in there. The last joke, about millionaire’s, was a pretty funny comment. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-12-7-the-burns-and-the-bees/476222/5 "2008-12-08T15:44:47Z")
There was a new Simpson’s last night? Not where we were. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-12-7-the-burns-and-the-bees/476222/6 "2008-12-08T15:58:45Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > There was a new Simpson’s last night? > Not where we were. Nor here, just something called the “BCS Show” and repeats of King of the Hill, Family Guy, & American Dad. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-12-7-the-burns-and-the-bees/476222/7 "2008-12-08T16:02:20Z")
[You can see it on Hulu.](http://www.hulu.com/watch/47616/the-simpsons-the-burns-and-the-bees) ---
**Author:** ![clarkstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@clarkstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clarkstar)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-12-7-the-burns-and-the-bees/476222/8 "2008-12-08T16:44:59Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > So you’re saying that [Colony Collapse Disorder](http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=15572) is a myth? yes. yes i am ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-12-7-the-burns-and-the-bees/476222/9 "2008-12-08T17:06:29Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > So you’re saying that [Colony Collapse Disorder](http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=15572) is a myth? You trying to say Jesus Christ can’t hit a curveball? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-12-7-the-burns-and-the-bees/476222/10 "2008-12-08T19:02:17Z")
> [@clarkstar](#): > > yes. yes i am Given that folks like the USDA, as well as the agricultural ministries in a number of countries, say that there _is_ a serious threat of honey bees going extinct, I’m going to go with what they have to say on the matter. > [@Enright3](#): > > You trying to say Jesus Christ can’t hit a curveball? From what I understand, the holes in His hands make it hard for Him to grip the bat, and He tends to get nailed when He goes out for a big event. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-12-7-the-burns-and-the-bees/476222/11 "2008-12-08T20:19:24Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > There was a new Simpson’s last night? > Not where we were. It aired at 8:30. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-12-7-the-burns-and-the-bees/476222/12 "2008-12-08T21:56:08Z")
> [@](#): > > Nor here, just something called the “BCS Show” and repeats of King of the Hill, Family Guy, & American Dad. The individual affiliates must have decided what show to drop. I was watching WFFF out of Burlington and they dropped _King of the Hill_ and ran _Simpsons_, _American Dad_, and _Family Guy_ after the _BCD Show_. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-12-7-the-burns-and-the-bees/476222/13 "2008-12-08T22:08:28Z")
> [@](#): > > It aired at 8:30. Not here. We looked. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-12-7-the-burns-and-the-bees/476222/14 "2008-12-08T22:38:08Z")
Ive been seeing more and more bees lately. which is good, considering I’ve seen a grand total of 0 in the prior 2 or 3 years. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-12-7-the-burns-and-the-bees/476222/15 "2008-12-09T01:04:51Z")
About all I thought about the episode was “Gee, I remember when The Simpsons used to be funny.” I did get a kick out of Mark Cuban’s self-mockery. I’m out of my miiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnd!! ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-12-7-the-burns-and-the-bees/476222/16 "2008-12-09T02:07:37Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The individual affiliates must have decided what show to drop. I was watching WFFF out of Burlington and they dropped _King of the Hill_ and ran _Simpsons_, _American Dad_, and _Family Guy_ after the _BCD Show_. No, I’m looking at [FoxFlash.com](http://FoxFlash.com) (Fox Broadcasting’s official press site) and the official schedule they give for December 7 gives Simpsons for 8:30 Eastern, 8:00 Pacific for all affiliates. TV schedules printed earlier in the week did not list The Simpsons at this time. The Bowl Championship Series seeding airing live did strange things to the schedule- since the BCS seeding aired live, it aired at 5pm on the west coast, so the west coast got a different schedule, with The Simpsons airing in its standard 8:00 timeslot. Since the BCS seeding aired at 8pm on the east coast, people doing the schedules early most likely assumed that The Simpsons would be preempted rather than moved. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e36b37/32.png) [@Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_A_Tame_Lion)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-12-7-the-burns-and-the-bees/476222/17 "2008-12-09T03:37:53Z")
There was a moment in this episode which, I think, clearly demonstrates that _The Simpsons_ simply isn’t the show it used to be. At one point, Mark Cuban appears and says something to the effect of, “Hi, I’m Mark Cuban, flamboyant billionaire.” He says this to no one in particular; just talking to the audience, as it were. _In the very next shot,_ Burns asks Smithers, “Who is that?” and Smithers tells him, “That’s Mark Cuban…” Folks, that’s just plain awful writing. Why the hell do you have the cameo character blandly introduce himself directly to the audience, when you’re going to have him introduced in dialogue literally 5 seconds later? There have to be at least 375 different, creative ways you can make a character known to the audience without having him just state his name as if he were filling out a verbal questionnaire. I don’t remember too many instance of this sort of uncreative effort in _Simpsons_ episodes from back in the day. I get the sense that this is one instance in the general trend with _The Simpsons:_ a lack of effort, bordering on laziness, in which the original creators and writers did not indulge during the early years. That’s why I think the negative critiques–which are often dismissed as plain naysaying–are valid: it really isn’t as good a show as before. “I’m Not A Tame Lion, disgruntled _Simpsons_ fan…” ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-12-7-the-burns-and-the-bees/476222/18 "2008-12-09T03:47:15Z")
> [@Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](#): > > At one point, Mark Cuban appears and says something to the effect of, “Hi, I’m Mark Cuban, flamboyant billionaire.” He says this to no one in particular; just talking to the audience, as it were. _In the very next shot,_ Burns asks Smithers, “Who is that?” and Smithers tells him, “That’s Mark Cuban…” > > Folks, that’s just plain awful writing. Why the hell do you have the cameo character blandly introduce himself directly to the audience, when you’re going to have him introduced in dialogue literally 5 seconds later? There have to be at least 375 different, creative ways you can make a character known to the audience without having him just state his name as if he were filling out a verbal questionnaire. I didn’t see it as awful writing- I saw it as a reference to the fact that Smithers has to remind Mr. Burns constantly who Homer is, despite the fact that the two have crossed paths mulitple times. (“Who is that slack-jawed troglodyte?” “That’s Homer Simpson, sir. He’s one of your worker drones from sector 7G.”\*) I didn’t remember Cuban introducing himself beforehand, but if Mr. Burns doesn’t know who Homer is, it would make as much sense for Mr. Burns to not know who someone is immediately after hearing his name. \*Not an actual Simpsons quote- just an example of what a Burns/Smithers “That’s Homer Simpson, sir” exchange usually sounds like. ETA: Looking at the actual episode, he doesn’t even introduce himself to anyone, just use his own name in a cheer: “Three points! Big 3 for the big D and the big C- Marc Cuban, that’s me!” ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-12-7-the-burns-and-the-bees/476222/19 "2008-12-09T03:54:25Z")
> [@mobo85](#): > > \*Not an actual Simpsons quote- just an example of what a Burns/Smithers “That’s Homer Simpson, sir” exchange usually sounds like. This one’s my favourite: > [@](#): > > Mr Burns > “Really Smithers, I’ll be fine. I’m sure your replacement will be able to handle everything. Who is he, anyway?” > Smithers > “Uh, Homer Simpson, sir. One of your organ banks from sector 7-G. All the recent events of your life have revolved around him in some way.” > Mr Burns > “Simpson, eh?” (From [here](http://www.jumpstation.ca/recroom/comedy/simpsons/burns.html).) ---
**Author:** ![Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e36b37/32.png) [@Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_A_Tame_Lion)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-12-7-the-burns-and-the-bees/476222/20 "2008-12-09T05:12:11Z")
> [@mobo85](#): > > I didn’t see it as awful writing- I saw it as a reference to the fact that Smithers has to remind Mr. Burns constantly who Homer is, despite the fact that the two have crossed paths mulitple times. (“Who is that slack-jawed troglodyte?” “That’s Homer Simpson, sir. He’s one of your worker drones from sector 7G.”\*) I didn’t remember Cuban introducing himself beforehand, but if Mr. Burns doesn’t know who Homer is, it would make as much sense for Mr. Burns to not know who someone is immediately after hearing his name. > > \*Not an actual Simpsons quote- just an example of what a Burns/Smithers “That’s Homer Simpson, sir” exchange usually sounds like. > > ETA: Looking at the actual episode, he doesn’t even introduce himself to anyone, just use his own name in a cheer: “Three points! Big 3 for the big D and the big C- Marc Cuban, that’s me!” I didn’t keep the episode on my DVR, so I was only working from memory. Cuban may not have directly introduced himself, but even as you quote it, it still seems clear to me that the line was written so as to clue in the uninformed who the special guest cameo was. I still see it as a clunky piece of explanatory dialogue. And the gag about Burns never remembering names only works in a context–as with Homer–when you know he’s met that person before. No such thing with Cuban. Meh. I stand by my original slur–it’s the kind of shoddy effort that has lowered a formerly great show to “a little bit better than everything else, sometimes.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-12-7-the-burns-and-the-bees/476222.md?page=2)