Ah, gotcha – thanks. (I didn’t see the episode, and I was racking my brain for subtle references to “27”.)
I believe he was reciting the last verse, but I’m not sure. Lisa hit him with the chair just as he was getting to “thick as a brick.”
You obviously did not go to Catholic School.
Oh yeah. Listening to Martin play a recognizeable Ian Anderson tune on the flute, then hearing his “voice” reciting those timeless Tull lyrics, only to see Lisa hit him with a chair was really quite risible. 
“I’m drawing a robot with guns for arms fighting an airplane made of guns shooting guns.”
“…why did women have to invent sleeping on the couch?”
“…at least I’m smarter than you [to the dog]…[in the doghouse] how did THIS happen?!!”
Again, the whole thing deserves quoting:
Marge: Women are as smart as men. Why, a woman invented Liquid Paper.
Homer: Well, you know what a man invented? Actual paper!
Marge: Well a woman also invented the windshield wiper.
Homer: Which goes great with another male invention: the car! [high-fives Bart]
Marge: Ummm, I think a woman came up with nylon stockings. I mean, probably. We certainly use them.
Homer: Let’s see, men also have: rocket ships, suspnsion bridges, constitutional government, snowshoes, brass knuckles…
Marge: [groan]
Homer: …pinball machines, the Renaissance…
[cut to Homer, lying on couch alone at night]
Homer: Oh, why did women invent sleeping on the couch?
A few good moments. The Itchy & Scratchy musical (“Scratchalot”?) was good, though I agree it went on too long.
Loved Jimbo’s line after Dolph parroted the “I love you” gag: “Every joke has a grain of truth in it!” (punches Dolph in the gut).
The “Thick as a Brick” gag was good, too.
Right, it was “Scratchalot,” a la Spamalot. The other marquees cracked me up. “One Guy Named Moe?” HA!
I guess you’ve never seen “The Lion King” musical. The opening sequence with the Itchy & Scratchy musical was fricking hysterical. It was a wonderful parody.
The scene with happy actors dressed as Scratchy’s organs dancing around was worth the entire season.
Sure you can. I do it almost every day at work.
Nathan Lane and Mathew Broderick
in
$$$
“No, I just meant that it’s our differences, of which there aren’t any, that make our sameness exceptional!”
I think it was one of the Better episodes in a while. It definately met standards of other (older episodes) for me, yes its a formula, but that formula is Simpons loud and clear.
“These Dots are itchy!”
“Hey! that was my eating food!”
I also like the Homer and Marge Bed scene. And then it continued to Santas Little Helper. lol.
27 wasnt at all a reference to Weird Al, and his referencing of 27 ?
Skinner: “It’s GROUNDSKEEPER Skinner now Lisa…”
Willie: “ASSISTANT groundskeeper ya’ PUKE!!!”