I’m talking about when Homer is getting defibrillated in the heart attack episode and uses the blackjack players “another card” signal so they’ll “hit” him again.
Probably, my all time favorite is in the soul doughnut episode when Ned appears as the devil and casually exchanges greetings with Bart who is walking by the kitchen door.
In the chili cookoff soulmate lighthouse scene, Marge rummages after a replacement lamp for the beacon but first has to throw out an empty bulb box that was stuffed back into the cabinet.
When they fly to Japan and Marge says to Homer, “But you liked Rashomon.” and he replies, “That’s not the way I remember it!”
Morningwood Penitentiary would be another.
Let’s hear your favorites. I’m sure all of you will remember howlers that I’ve forgotten during almost two years of Simpsons deprivation.
Remember, these are supposed to be non-obvious little finesses for the cognoscenti that usually blow by a lot of the audience.
My SO just purchased the season 1 DVD set today, and we watched a few episodes. This one should also probably go in that thread about the dirtiest Simpsons lines.
Bart had cut off Jeb Springfield’s head in order to impress Jimbo and some other guys. Later on, Homer is lecturing Bart a little bit about pranking people and states, “You know, boy, I’ve been known to pull a few boners in my day,” or something of the like. Now I dunno if the word “boner” has ever been used in place of “prank,” but man that line had me rolling. Almost slipped by me too, I had to rewind.
In the one episode where they’re rummaging through the closet for an old camera (the one where Barney first tries to give up drinking), you see old memorabilia from previous episodes (Homer also finds Billy Beer).
In the basement, in later episodes, you see the giant Tiki head statue that Burns gave them.
And oftentimes, when we’re shown a large body of water or aquarium, we see Blinky, the three-eyed fish.
Not sure if this fits the category, but I love this scene anyway.
Homer is firing up the backyard barbecue, and squirts lighter fluid on the charcoal for the longest time (seems like minutes, but it was probably only 10 seconds or so). I think he even finishes up one can, picks up another, and finishes it too. He lights a match, and you wait for the obvious joke that he’s going to incinerate half the block. But instead, he drops the match in, and normal, moderate-sized flames spring up. The whole scene is completely understated, as if it has nothing to do with anything.
That reminds me of when they had a garage sale, the camera panned across their table and showed a whole slew of old stuff they were trying to sell. Bart’s “I didn’t do it” catch-phrase T-Shirt, the Tiki Head, and others.
Also, in that same episode, an 80’s T-shirt can be seen that reads “Ayotollah, Assohola!” (But it was folded in a way to block out a few characters of the swear.)
Krusty had a doll that was really crappy. Lisa remarks, “I’d be really upset if someone put the Simpson nam eon an inferior product”, and gives an embarrassed, deadpan look right at the audience.
In one scene Hans Moleman is being strapped in the electric chair. The show cuts away to a scene of Marge and Homer talking. During their conversation, the lights flicker and dim momentarily.
Actually, yeah, it does mean that. But hey, if it’s funny.
Two seasons ago, when they did the sugar-banning episode, the police throw Butterfingers (which are, of course, endorsed by Bart) into the fire. They spring back out. Wiggum says “Even the fire doesn’t want them.”
The mocking of FOX has become pretty un-low-level lately, but I won’t complain.
Homer: “And we can’t watch FOX, because they own those chemical weapons plants in Syria!”
Not much compares to Homer eating the Joe Millionaire promo - except for the spoofing of FOX News (same episode, I think).
In the “vegas wives return” episode, Marge hurts her “driving ankle” and Bart has to drive the car. As he backs it into position, he’s got this perfect deadpan teamster look on his face. I love that.
and
“I’m a rageaholic! I just can’t live without rageahol!”
Also, when Bart and Lisa find a tape of a commercial featuring Bart as a baby. Bart says, “I don’t remember ever being in a commercial” or something to that effect and takes a bite of a Butterfinger.
One random episode where Homer is running up a staircase to a bell tower (I think) and they show an overhead view of the stairs with short->long focus, straight out of Hitchcock’s Vertigo, then go on as if nothing happened.
My fave bit from, curse me, I can’t remember which episode, but it’s where Marge is persuading Homer to learn something new:
Homer: “Marge, I can’t learn something new, every time I do that, it pushes something old out of my head. Remember when I took that winemaking course and forgot how to drive?”
Marge: “You were drunk!”
Homer: “But how?”
OK, looking back, that may seem a lame bit to other dopers, but I liked it.
Why couldn’t I remember which episode it was from? I usually have the best memory for the simpsons (and biology too, hopefully, had exam today!).
