# Simpsons jokes you didn't understand. Hopefully explained! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 4, 2003, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980 "2003-08-04T22:00:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980/21 "2003-08-06T02:04:11Z")
It’s not a parody, but a direct ripoff, um, I mean homage to the character actor who made his whole career out of that line. This question comes up here every month or two, but for the life of me I can’t remember his name. Frank something? ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980/22 "2003-08-06T02:08:57Z")
The actor is question is Frank Nelson. [http://www.dannythestreet.com/franknelson/credits.html](http://www.dannythestreet.com/franknelson/credits.html) ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980/23 "2003-08-06T02:34:09Z")
**Robot Arm** , just a guess here, but could it have anything to do with **Blondie** ’s dog Daisy? ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980/24 "2003-08-06T03:44:04Z")
**Zenster** - I got the Pennsylvania=Transylvania thing. I was just providing background to the episode, so everyone would know what Iw as talking about. But, good explanation anyway. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980/25 "2003-08-06T05:03:42Z")
Twenty bucks says someone is going to ask about “Sneed’s Feed and Seed (Formerly Chuck’s)” ---
**Author:** ![jojothecannibal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/48db29/32.png) [@jojothecannibal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jojothecannibal)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980/26 "2003-08-06T05:41:14Z")
I believe the “Daisy had puppies” is just a humorous unexpected non sequitor. We’re all here overthinking Simpsons jokes, and often missing the all-too-obvious humor. Now as for missing humor, I saw Willie rubbing Ajax on his armpits with a brillo pad. I must confess that I do not know what ajax is, being the sheltered individual that I am… ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980/27 "2003-08-06T05:48:37Z")
Ajax is an abrasive cleanser; like Comet (if that helps any). Check this [link](http://www.drugstore.com/qxp72645_333181_sespider/ajax/cleanser_with_bleach.htm) and scroll down to the directions. ---
**Author:** ![jojothecannibal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/48db29/32.png) [@jojothecannibal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jojothecannibal)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980/28 "2003-08-06T05:50:53Z")
Now I get the joke! ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980/29 "2003-08-06T06:42:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by watsonwil \* > \*\*The episode’s Lisa Goes to Washington has a great gag that plays on Reader’s Digest and the line Brevity is the Soul of Wit. > > Only when someone pointed out my misquote did I realize the BRILLIANCE of the joke.\*\* I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![TeaRoses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@TeaRoses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaRoses)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980/30 "2003-08-06T11:38:35Z")
> [@](#): > > Twenty bucks says someone is going to ask about “Sneed’s Feed and Seed (Formerly Chuck’s)” Sigh. Here’s your 20, I’ll be the idiot. I haven’t watched the Simpsons more than a few times in years but out of a perverse sense of something I read the threads and this is the second time I’ve seen this one. Since the first thread referred to being surprised the censors left it I assume it’s sexual. Inform me. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980/31 "2003-08-06T11:48:27Z")
feed and seed rhyme with sneed. now what would you have to change the last 3 letters in each of those words to to get it to rhyme with Chuck? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980/32 "2003-08-06T11:50:11Z")
Sneed’s Feed and Seed rhymes. What would a similar rhyme be if the name was Chuck’s? ---
**Author:** ![TeaRoses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@TeaRoses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaRoses)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980/33 "2003-08-06T12:33:20Z")
Insert inevitable smily here: :smack: Thanks. Now if somebody would just start a thread about double entendres and movie references in Pokemon I’d be all set. (OK that’s because there’s only a few but I’d be set) ---
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980/34 "2003-08-06T14:02:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KGS \* > “The episode’s Lisa Goes to Washington has a great gag that plays on Reader’s Digest and the line Brevity is the Soul of Wit.” > \*\*I don’t get it. \*\* It gets listed as “Brevity…is wit”. 🙂 In the episode where Homer and Grandpa go into business making love potion, there’s a scene where they’re doing a “Step right up…!” sales pitch and there’s a really goofy guy in the audience who says something like “but I’m unsure of aphrodiaics”- who is he supposed to be? he seems so familiar- old 50’s cartoon character? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980/35 "2003-08-06T14:04:51Z")
You know what bothers me? When someone in an “explain this joke to me” thread references a joke they understand, but don’t explain. For the record, the correct post is: For anyone who missed it, “Sneed’s Feed and Seed (Formerly Chuck’s)” is a joke to get around the censors. Chuck’s store was called “Chuck’s Fuck and Suck”. ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vampire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Space\_Vampire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vampire)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980/36 "2003-08-06T14:07:40Z")
Okay, there’s a flashback episode where Homer is a pin-monkey at the bowling alley. At one point he has to figure out how to bring in more business. There is a scene where he’s brainstorming that has a lot of unusual “shots” that tend to make me think it’s a movie reference, but I don’t know what it’s referring to. And I think I looked it up before, too. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980/37 "2003-08-06T14:12:50Z")
I’m embarrassed to ask, but could someone explain why the “Ayn Rand School for Tots” scene is so funny? I’ve read _The Fountainhead_ but that’s all I know about Ayn Rand. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980/38 "2003-08-06T14:39:15Z")
In the Halloween episode, “Time and Punishment”, Homer shouts “I’m the first **non** -Brazilian to travel backwards in time!” I don’t get it. I’ve asked this before and been told it’s just a random throwaway line. I’m half-resigned to this possibility, but a nagging little voice tells me it has to refer to _something_. And Carlos Castenada and Don Juan were North American, so it ain’t them. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980/39 "2003-08-06T14:54:40Z")
scr4: Here’s the episode [guide](http://www.snpp.com/episodes/8F18.html) for that episode. I vaguely got the joke, but wouldn’t be able to communicate well at all. They do a pretty good job: > [@](#): > > J. D. Baldwin@{jdb} explains, for those illiterates among us: > Ayn Rand was a `philosopher'' who claimed that a complex system of epistemology, aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics and politics could be derived from the simple, `self-evident’’ proposition that `A = A''. Her philosophical system is widely regarded as `right-wing’’, whatever that means. > > Adam Trotter@{ast} adds that the school’s architecture is in the style of Frank Lloyd Wright, who was the model for Howard Roark, the protagonist of ``The Fountainhead’’. Sublight: [Episode guide.](http://www.snpp.com/episodes/2F03.html) Their guess is that it was a reference to Carlos Castenada: > [@](#): > > Mark Johnson’s best guess is that Homer was referring to Carlos Castaneda, “a Brazilian who wrote about his chemical-induced ‘adventures’ about twenty years ago. A rather trendy (for the college crowd) set of books from the late-60’s, early 70’s.” ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980/40 "2003-08-06T14:59:26Z")
Ayn Rand was a pretty severe and austere gal, who never had any children of her own (her own mother’s description of motherhood as “a hateful duty” may had something to do with it). Maybe more importantly, her books are creepily 100% devoid of children; all characters good and evil alike are childless, themselves apparently having sprung fully grown from Zeus’s forehead or some such. Childrearing didn’t appear very high on her list of worthwhile pursuits. Rand was really, really big on self reliance and thought altruism a worthless virtue, kind of the opposite of what you’d expect at school for tots: “Change your own diaper, parasite!” 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simpsons-jokes-you-didnt-understand-hopefully-explained/192980.md?page=3)