One of TV's most popular sitcoms, The Simpsons , became exceedingly popular because it connected to the everyday viewer. Aside from most characters in Springfield apparently suffering from severe jaundice, most viewers can relate to the everyday stories of family life , job woes, and relationship drama represented on the show. One of the most poignant storylines in the show is the family's money problems.
A working-class family, Homer has been forced to make additional funds in any way he can. Bart accidentally gets drunk on St. Patricks' Day, so Mrs. Lovejoy and her gang of concerned mothers complain to Mayor Quimby. It turns out that Springfield still has a centuries-old Prohibition Law, resigning Quimby and Chief Wiggum to enforce it. With Bart's help, he begins his trade by reselling kegs of beer thrown away at the city dump.
When that runs out, he makes his own alcohol in the garage, causing his stills to explode from time to time. This would not be the only time Homer puts his and his family's life at risk to make money. Homer doesn't want to be at work anymore.
Burns makes the employees do calisthenics, and he hates having to do even a single push-up. To prevent any future exercise, he tries to disable himself so that he can be sent home with pay. When his efforts to get hit by heavy objects proves fruitless, he changes tactic, deciding to become hyper-obese.
Already dangerously obese, Homer enlists Bart's help on his journey to hyper-obesity. Concerned, Lisa tells him he can only go along with his plan if he finds a doctor to endorse it.
Since Dr. Hibbert pointedly refuses, Homer visits resident scam artist and doctor, Nick Riviera, who encourages Homer to give up empty vitamins like vegetables in favor of desserts and fried food. Bart wins an elephant on a radio show competition and names him Stampy. Surprisingly, no one books the elephant ride. This convinces Homer to sell Stampy to an ivory dealer who shows up to their house wearing ivory boots and a hat with an ivory check. Trivia Marge's line "I didn't say that for clapping" is a reference to a speech given by John Wayne while he was intoxicated.
Goofs When the family is at the restaurant, Marge is wearing lipstick. In the car on the way home, when she says that she needs quiet, her lipstick disappears. However, in the very next shot, the lipstick has returned.
Quotes Ralph : [after being sprayed by fake blood] I look like cable T. Connections References Paper Moon Soundtracks Pipeline uncredited Performed by The Ventures. User reviews 2 Review. Top review. Another dud S12 episode. Homer and Bart turn to scamming people for money, in another really weak episode from the 12th series of the show, which is becoming one of my least favourite.
Yet again, there's some really dark humour in this episode, that I find off putting, not to mention a climax that feels very rushed.
Not a good episode. Details Edit. Homer said these words to his daughter Lisa during a teacher strike at her school, and they bring to mind how amazing it is that an inept, clueless worker like Homer can avoid being fired from his job at the nuclear power plant. By extension, the takeaway is that workers should not underestimate employment fields that come with decent job security.
Unfortunately, fewer and fewer lines of work are immune to forces like the economic downturn and increased automation across all industries. So pretty much everyone should always have an updated resume at the ready, and be prepared to launch a second career at a moment's notice.
Oh, and do try to do your job well rather than "half-assed," to limit the odds you'll get fired in the first place. Kent Brockman: "Things aren't as happy as they used to be down here at the unemployment office.
Joblessness is no longer just for philosophy majors—useful people are starting to feel the pinch. Lesson: Choose a practical major and career. TV news anchor Brockman, the face of journalism in Springfield, is known for tone-deaf reports like this one, delivered during a season five episode when a casino was proposed to revitalize the local economy.
A concept that quite a few U. His offhand swipe at liberal arts majors obviously calls to mind how important it is for students to choose a college and college major wisely. Lesson: Don't go overboard when success comes your way. Marge is usually the voice of reason on "The Simpsons," but even she could go off the deep end—like in the casino episode mentioned above, when she became addicted to playing the slots. Money-hungry Monty Burns, who of course owned the casino, explained that legalized gambling was "the perfect business: People swarm in, empty their pockets, and scuttle off.
The simple moral is: Don't let success or sudden wealth change who you are, nor what you consider appropriate material for wiping your butt. For that matter, the whole career of Springfield celebrity Krusty the Clown, who built and lost fortunes many times over—once betting everything he had that the Harlem Globetrotters would lose "I thought the Generals were due!
Lesson: Do what you need to do to impress the boss to get ahead. OK, so you might not want to mislead Congress or get quite as up close and personal with your boss as Smithers does with Mr.
But less extreme ways of buddying up to the boss can yield serious benefits in your career. Bart [speaking as Steve Mobs]: "You are all losers. Well, guess what? I have made a fortune on you chumps, and I've invested it all in Microsoft. Lesson: Don't be suckered into buying overpriced technology you don't need. Bart skewers Apple—and trendy overpriced tech in general—by subbing in his voice for Steve Mobs, a turtleneck-wearing stand-in for Steve Jobs, speaking from a big screen to a crowd of over-the-top fanboys at a "Mapple" store.
Guess who is also being mocked here?
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