# Simpsons 3/1: "How the Test Was Won" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 2, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955 "2009-03-02T02:19:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955/21 "2009-03-02T20:47:34Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > This is the second episode where it was used. Second straight time with a very strong couch gag, too - and it looks like they’ll use a new billboard and maybe a new remark for Ralph each week. Barney also said, “HEY!” when Bart landed on him with his skateboard. The previous time he belched. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955/22 "2009-03-02T20:53:54Z")
I am a day late and a dollar short but… Sigh…ANOTHER joke at my poor college’s expense…and I am not about to help the cause by asking WHAT exactly they were making fun of. As a refresher… “Where were these studies conducted?” “Ball State” Now was the joke saying the “Helena” answer was right even though the gym teacher said it was wrong? Or was the joke about the method of teaching? Cuz I think it could kinda go either way… ---
**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:** [March 2, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955/23 "2009-03-02T20:59:33Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I tuned in just as the Homer-injury montage was playing and was afraid it was going to be a clip show, but it was okay. Same here - and when they real storyline began, I was worried it was going to be a completely lame, disjointed episode. But it pulled out of the spin, and ended up pretty good. > [@](#): > > Lisa freezing up was somewhat uncharacterstic, I thought There was a whole episode based around it last season (or earlier this one…my sense of time is gone) - the crossword episode, where a major plot point was that she always sabotages herself when the chips are down. ---
**Author:** ![BlueOhio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/439d5e/32.png) [@BlueOhio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueOhio)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955/24 "2009-03-02T20:59:56Z")
Ball State is Snake’s alma mater - where he played lacrosse, correct? “Ha ha - Goodbye student loan payments!” ---
**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:** [March 2, 2009, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955/25 "2009-03-02T21:01:39Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Or was the joke about the method of teaching? This, but it’s not really a joke about Ball State, per se. It’s Ball State, their method is to chuck balls at the students. It’s a pun. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955/26 "2009-03-02T21:07:52Z")
I thought it was a really funny episode. What did you think about the joke about the intersection of Cesar Chavez Blvd and Martin Luther King Blvd? (I thought the suggestion was that this was a sign that they were in a really bad neighborhood.) And I didn’t even pick up on the Sideshow Bob entering the bar as a Kelsey Grammer reference. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955/27 "2009-03-02T21:21:13Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > This, but it’s not really a joke about Ball State, per se. It’s Ball State, their method is to chuck balls at the students. It’s a pun. I do remember BSU being Snake’s alma mater, and that was just to add to the other line of jokes about his past…but Truth be told I figured it was about the method of teaching as opposed to the quality. Ha ha…puns ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955/28 "2009-03-02T22:28:19Z")
I’m confused about Skinner running around in circles on the shipping container. It seems his goal would have been to rescue Ralph from the garbage barge. But then we see his goal was to deliver a piano to a music school for the under privileged? I’m sure I’m missing something. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955/29 "2009-03-02T22:31:28Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > I’m confused about Skinner running around in circles on the shipping container. > > It seems his goal would have been to rescue Ralph from the garbage barge. But then we see his goal was to deliver a piano to a music school for the under privileged? I’m sure I’m missing something. No, his goal was to move the falling pianos away from the path of the barge (which had ralph on it). If Skinner hadn’t moved the container it would have hurt Ralph…the musical orphanage was just a cheap joke (albeit a funny one) ---
**Author:** ![Iggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Iggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggins)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955/30 "2009-03-02T22:35:05Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I thought it was a really funny episode. What did you think about the joke about the intersection of Cesar Chavez Blvd and Martin Luther King Blvd? (I thought the suggestion was that this was a sign that they were in a really bad neighborhood.) > > And I didn’t even pick up on the Sideshow Bob entering the bar as a Kelsey Grammer reference. I’m from Portland, Oregon, so the Chavez/MLK corner was really funny. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955/31 "2009-03-02T22:51:41Z")
> [@BlueOhio](#): > > Ball State is Snake’s alma mater - where he played lacrosse, correct? > > “Ha ha - Goodbye student loan payments!” It’s also Superintendent Chalmers’ alma mater. He also grew up in Intercourse Pennsylvania and went on a vacation to Lake Titicaca. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955/32 "2009-03-02T23:11:31Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > There was a whole episode based around it last season (or earlier this one…my sense of time is gone) - the crossword episode, where a major plot point was that she always sabotages herself when the chips are down. Yeah, you’re right, as well as the whole football-betting episode when Lisa’s final predication may or may not be indicative of whether or not she loves Homer. I’m beginning to realize that Lisa isn’t merely my least favourite primary character, but actually leaning toward being an overall negative. It’s a lot funnier when she shows a Bart-ish trait, such as laughing at Itchy and Scratchy or lazily doing the “ching-ching-ching-ching” thing during the carny episode. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955/33 "2009-03-02T23:23:41Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > It’s also Superintendent Chalmers’ alma mater. He also grew up in Intercourse Pennsylvania and went on a vacation to Lake Titicaca. Oh wait…this is who I was thinking about when I agreed to it being Snake’s alma mater Who is Snake then??? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955/34 "2009-03-02T23:26:03Z")
Snake (Jailbird) is the dude with the California voice and the tattoo. He’s constantly robbing everyone in town- mostly Apu. His college education apparently included time at Princeton and Middlebury. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955/35 "2009-03-02T23:56:03Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Snake (Jailbird) is the dude with the California voice and the tattoo. Pack of smokes in his sleeve, too. ---
**Author:** ![bufftabby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bufftabby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bufftabby)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955/36 "2009-03-03T00:05:49Z")
Snake is the hottest felon around. I’m still not sure what to think about the change in the opening sequence. I fear change. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955/37 "2009-03-03T00:09:06Z")
Oh yeah, duh When did they say he went to Ball State? I’m clearly not the biggest Simpsons fan ever, but I have seen my fair share of episodes…I guess I missed that one Edit: I Wikipediad it and got the answer. Either someone on staff went there, or they just have some weird fascination with my school. Either way, it’s cool to have it heard on something as cool as the Simpsons. ---
**Author:** ![ekweizn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7c8e57/32.png) [@ekweizn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekweizn)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955/38 "2009-03-03T00:09:39Z")
Has anyone else found the cropping of the new HD episodes for standard definition to be weird? ---
**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:** [March 3, 2009, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955/39 "2009-03-03T00:16:35Z")
I haven’t seen them cropped… ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2009, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955/40 "2009-03-03T00:17:36Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Either someone on staff went there, or they just have some weird fascination with my school. The name’s funny, man. It’s hard to argue otherwise. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-3-1-how-the-test-was-won/487955.md?page=3)