# Tonight's Simpsons episode was so surreal (spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 2, 2005, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-simpsons-episode-was-so-surreal-spoilers/302028 "2005-05-02T05:25:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-simpsons-episode-was-so-surreal-spoilers/302028/1 "2005-05-02T05:25:36Z")
Yeah, I know it was a nod to A Beautiful Mind and the Simpsons is all about cultural references, but it was still a bizarre episode and weirdly dramatic in parts, like when Homer fell off the roof right before he went to the mental hospital. Come to think of it, there have been oddly dramatic moments in a lot of episodes this season. The episode was also paced weirdly since there wasn’t a subplot (except for the Santa’s Little Helper subplotette). It was just a really unusual episode all around. I wish we would have seen Dr. Foster instead of Dr. Hibbert, that would have given it more continuity with past episodes. The Stephen Hawking explanation at the end cracked me up (nice animation too). I actually liked this episode, and I haven’t liked many of them this season. I just don’t expect the Simpsons to do the whole reality-slip thing. Threw me off guard. What did you think? Some good lines: “I own the Little Caesar’s down the block. Pizza pizza… pizza pizza… pizza pizza… oh, sorry, that button gets stuck.” “My subconscious is a genius!” ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-simpsons-episode-was-so-surreal-spoilers/302028/2 "2005-05-02T06:10:26Z")
I thought the “pizza pizza” line was tasteless… until I realized that [really was](http://imdb.com/name/nm0370071/) Stephen Hawking. Apparently he has quite a sense of humor for a paralyzed physicist. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-simpsons-episode-was-so-surreal-spoilers/302028/3 "2005-05-02T14:29:14Z")
The second episode was pretty good too. For those of you who missed it, it involved Bart getting addicted to junk food thanks to new vending machines in the school, and getting sent off to fat camp. A highlight was a parody of the _Simpsons_ opening credits with the now obese Bart struggling on his skateboard to get home. “Son, I’m gonna tell you a story about a young man who came here and failed. Well, that _is_ the story. I shouldn’t call a sentence a story.” “Mondays, 9 o’clock, CBS- they say everybody loves that guy, but I don’t get it.” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-simpsons-episode-was-so-surreal-spoilers/302028/4 "2005-05-02T14:33:19Z")
I laughed out loud at one point: The quicksand in the litter box. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-simpsons-episode-was-so-surreal-spoilers/302028/5 "2005-05-02T14:53:25Z")
Did anyone see Hank Azaria on one of the late night shows? This might have little to do with the show but he told one story that I thought was really funny. It turns out that the cast of The Simpsons were waiting for Stephen Hawking to arrive. He was 10 minutes late and the people on the set were quitely waiting for him. The guy who does the voice of Principal Skinner broke the silence by saying “does this man have no sense of time.” I thought that line was wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-simpsons-episode-was-so-surreal-spoilers/302028/6 "2005-05-02T14:56:35Z")
Can’t wait til we get it this side of the pond. I loved ‘Beautiful Mind’ ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-simpsons-episode-was-so-surreal-spoilers/302028/7 "2005-05-02T14:59:52Z")
Can someone spoil the last minute or so of ep 2? The local FOX station had some hiccup and cut out in the middle of the talk between Homer and the fat camp guy in the car. And it’s good to know that Ray Romano is every bit as irritating on other peoples’ shows as he is on his own. ---
**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:** [May 2, 2005, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-simpsons-episode-was-so-surreal-spoilers/302028/8 "2005-05-02T15:04:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Can someone spoil the last minute or so of ep 2? The local FOX station had some hiccup and cut out in the middle of the talk between Homer and the fat camp guy in the car. That was it. They were driving to the fat camp, having a bizarre conversation, and it went into the credits. Albert Brooks’ character was far and away the best part of that episode. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-simpsons-episode-was-so-surreal-spoilers/302028/9 "2005-05-02T15:15:40Z")
The first episode was uneven, but I thought the second was fantastic. I thought the parody of the opening credits with fat Bart was hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-simpsons-episode-was-so-surreal-spoilers/302028/10 "2005-05-02T15:25:48Z")
“Monday night at 9:00 on CBS.” “Okay, what night?” “Monday.” “And at what time?” “9:00.” “Okay, and it’s on NBC?” “No, it’s on CBS.” “So if I turn on my radio…” “No, it’s on the TV.” “At 3:00.” “No, at 9:00.” “And if I wanted to see this, what channel should I tune in to?” “CBS.” “And what night is this on?” “Monday.” “So turn on the radio Monday night…” “No, it’s on the television.” “On NBC?” “No, CBS.” I thought this was the best part of the whole episode. I’ve never seen such blatant corporate shilling in my entire life. ---
**Author:** ![rpinrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@rpinrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rpinrd)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-simpsons-episode-was-so-surreal-spoilers/302028/11 "2005-05-02T15:29:12Z")
> [@continuity eror](#): > > (except for the Santa’s Little Helper subplotette). I’m having a complete brain lapse. How was the Santos L. Halper subplotette resolved? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-simpsons-episode-was-so-surreal-spoilers/302028/12 "2005-05-02T15:30:14Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > That was it. They were driving to the fat camp, having a bizarre conversation, and it went into the credits. Brooks: We’ve got a long drive ahead. Wanna pull over at a motel? We can split a room. H: But where will _I_ sleep? b: We can worry about that when we’re standing naked before the bed. My god, no wonder you eat. You’re a catastrophe! What you eating now? H: Cheeseburger. B: Give me half. I don’t want the meat, just the cheese. No, I want the meat. Don’t tear it, _bite it!_ H: I don’t want to. B: Let me have the whole thing, you’ll get some later. H: You’re a selfish jerk! B: I’ve smelled it. It has to be eaten. H: But it’s my burger! B: I’m driving. I’ll kill us. H: Fine. I’d rather die. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-simpsons-episode-was-so-surreal-spoilers/302028/13 "2005-05-02T15:34:22Z")
Ray Romano was involved, so I skipped the whole thing. Sounds like I didn’t miss anything. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-simpsons-episode-was-so-surreal-spoilers/302028/14 "2005-05-02T16:07:25Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Can’t wait til we get it this side of the pond. I loved ‘Beautiful Mind’ With apologies to the OP. . .it has nothing to do with “A Beautiful Mind”. It’s not nearly a spoof of it. For a segment of the episode, some people are convinced that Homer’s friend is imaginary. It had more in common with “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” or “Harvey” than anything. But it really wasn’t a nod to anything, if you ask me. Still it was a pretty funny episode. The bit that **Lord Ashtar** quoted was real funny. Ray & Homer’s voices together was somewhat sublime. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-simpsons-episode-was-so-surreal-spoilers/302028/15 "2005-05-02T16:34:27Z")
> [@Lord Ashtar](#): > > I’ve never seen such blatant corporate shilling in my entire life. Did you hear that, Foxy the Fox Network Fox? ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-simpsons-episode-was-so-surreal-spoilers/302028/16 "2005-05-02T16:40:48Z")
> [@rpinrd](#): > > I’m having a complete brain lapse. How was the Santos L. Halper subplotette resolved? Lisa: I’m sure everyone happier with Santa’s Little Helper here to love them. Marge: Yeah. I bet the old people will be acting like young people, like in those cell phone ads everyone hates. (SLH is in front of the TV, dressed as an old person, watching along with the retirees. He tries to eat a bug, but can’t reach far enough) Marge: (gasps) He’s become one of them! Here boy. Want a treat? SLH: Eh. Marge: We’d better get you home. Come on, Lisa. Lisa (in a rocking chair, as an old person): Right after _Pat Sajak._ Marge: Oh, geez louise. (drags Lisa and SLH away) Crazy Old Man: You know, it’s too bad. We’ve had that dog as long as I can remember. Grampa: What dog? Crazy Old Man: Who the hell are you? Grampa: I wish I knew. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-simpsons-episode-was-so-surreal-spoilers/302028/17 "2005-05-02T16:58:17Z")
> [@Lord Ashtar](#): > > I thought this was the best part of the whole episode. I’ve never seen such blatant corporate shilling in my entire life. I was a little annoyed, as it was a DIRECT rip from a previous routine that Homer did with the Movementarians about their free seminar. When is it? It’s this weekend. And what does it cost? It’s free. And how much are you CHARGING for this free seminar? It’s free. And when is it? ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-simpsons-episode-was-so-surreal-spoilers/302028/18 "2005-05-02T17:03:30Z")
Or from “Mr. Lisa Goes To Washington” Faith: These are special VIP badges. They’ll get you into places other tourists never see. Homer: Miss, what does the `I' stand for? Faith: Important. Homer: Ooh. How about the `V’? Faith: Very. Homer: Oh. And Miss, just one more question. Faith: Person. Homer: Ah… What does the `I’ stand for again? ---
**Author:** ![RumMunkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@RumMunkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RumMunkey)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-simpsons-episode-was-so-surreal-spoilers/302028/19 "2005-05-02T17:05:53Z")
Did anyone else think the fat camp drill instructor guy was an awful lot like Hank Scorpio?? ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-simpsons-episode-was-so-surreal-spoilers/302028/20 "2005-05-02T17:22:58Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > With apologies to the OP. . .it has nothing to do with “A Beautiful Mind”. It’s not nearly a spoof of it. Yeah, their nod to A Beautiful Mind was in the second episode with Homer’s mother. Beginning of last season, I think. Homer obsessively examines newspapers for amusing headlines, with glowing letters rearranging themselves before his eyes. (Has there ever been a thread about how godawful that movie was?) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-simpsons-episode-was-so-surreal-spoilers/302028.md?page=2)