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==Production== |
==Production== |
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Bart's go-go ray idea was "stolen" from the opening credits of [[Johnny Quest]].<ref name=Reardon>{{cite video | people=Reardon, Jim|year=2004|title=The Simpsons The Complete Fourth Season DVD commentary for the episode " |
Bart's go-go ray idea was "stolen" from the opening credits of [[Johnny Quest]].<ref name=Reardon>{{cite video | people=Reardon, Jim|year=2004|title=The Simpsons The Complete Fourth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Duffless"| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> Mike Reiss said they did not want to show the hamster getting shocked. But had to for plot purposes.<ref name=Reiss>{{cite video | people=Reiss, Mike|year=2004|title=The Simpsons The Complete Fourth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Duffless"| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The first line [[Richard Nixon]] says, during the Duff commercial, was taken verbatim from the [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedy]]-Nixon Debate during the [[United States presidential election, 1960|1960 Presidential Campaign]].<ref name=Stern>{{cite video | people=Stern, David M.|year=2004|title=The Simpsons The Complete Fourth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Duffless"| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> [[Hitler]]'s head can be seen going by in a bottle of Duff when the quality control man is not paying attention.<ref name=Stern/> Bart sitting in the chair, stroking the hamster is a reference to [[James Bond]] character [[Ernst Stavro Blofeld]], who strokes a cat in his chair.<ref name=Reiss/> The episode contains the first appearance of [[List of recurring characters from The Simpsons#Sarah Wiggum|Sarah Wiggum]].<ref name=Groening>{{cite video | people=Groening, Matt|year=2004|title=The Simpsons The Complete Fourth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Duffless"| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> |
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== Cultural references == |
== Cultural references == |
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[[Image:Duffless.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Bart reaches for cupcakes in a scene that parodies ''[[A Clockwork Orange (film)|A Clockwork Orange]]'']] |
[[Image:Duffless.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Bart reaches for cupcakes in a scene that parodies ''[[A Clockwork Orange (film)|A Clockwork Orange]]'']] |
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When Bart reaches for the cupcakes, it is a parody of the women's breasts in [[A Clockwork Orange (film)|A Clockwork Orange]]<ref name=Reiss/> The Duff clock is a parody of the [[It's a Small World]] clock.<ref name=Stern>{{cite video | people=Stern, David|year=2004|title=The Simpsons The Complete Fourth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Selma's Choice"| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref>In the Duff TV ad, a group of women were leading an anti-sexism protest in front of the McMahon and Tate building, a parody of the McMann and Tate advertising agency from ''[[Bewitched]]''.<ref name=Reiss/>The scene toward the end where Moe points toward individual customers declaring they'll "be back" before pointing toward and addressing the viewer--later revealed to be Barney via a cutaway--is a parody of the end of the movie [[Reefer Madness]].<ref name=Reiss/> |
When Bart reaches for the cupcakes, it is a parody of the women's breasts in [[A Clockwork Orange (film)|A Clockwork Orange]]<ref name=Reiss/> The Duff clock is a parody of the [[It's a Small World]] clock.<ref name=Stern>{{cite video | people=Stern, David|year=2004|title=The Simpsons The Complete Fourth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Selma's Choice"| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref>In the Duff TV ad, a group of women were leading an anti-sexism protest in front of the McMahon and Tate building, a parody of the McMann and Tate advertising agency from ''[[Bewitched]]''.<ref name=Reiss/> The scene toward the end where Moe points toward individual customers declaring they'll "be back" before pointing toward and addressing the viewer--later revealed to be Barney via a cutaway--is a parody of the end of the movie [[Reefer Madness]].<ref name=Reiss/> |
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==Reception== |
==Reception== |
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Revision as of 20:35, 25 January 2008
| "Duffless" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
| File:DufflessSimp.jpg | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 |
| Directed by | Jim Reardon |
| Written by | David M. Stern |
| Original air dates | February 18, 1993 |
| Episode features | |
| Chalkboard gag | "Goldfish don't bounce" |
| Couch gag | Maggie is seated as the rest of the family "overshoot the mark" and run past the edge of the film and return to the couch. |
| Commentary | Matt Groening Al Jean Mike Reiss David M. Stern Jim Reardon |
"Duffless" is the sixtennth episode of The Simpsons' fourth season. It originally aired on February 18, 1993 on Fox. Homer tries to remain sober, at Marge's request. Lisa attempts to prove that Bart is dumber than a hamster, because he ruins her first science fair project.
Plot
Bart is at the school science fair presenting a Go-Go Ray. He zaps all the teachers, resulting in them dancing uncontrollably. Principal Skinner declares "First Prize" to Bart over and over. Bart's dream fades out to Lisa saying into Bart's ear "First prize" again and again.
At breakfast, Lisa shows the family her science fair project, a genetically engineered tomato that is she hopes will cure world hunger. Bart's project is to study the effects of cigarette smoking on dogs, his "volunteer" is Santa's Little Helper. At the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, Homer ducks out of work early and accompanies Barney on a tour of the Duff brewery. After the tour, Homer refuses to let the exceptionally drunk Barney drive home and unsuccessfully tries to knock him out by repeatedly slamming his head in the car door. On their way out of the parking lot, their car is pulled over by Police Chief Wiggum, along with Eddie and Lou. They administer a field sobriety test to Homer, which he passes. But Barney, tells the police officers to give Homer the breathalyzer test, which he fails. Homer is arrested. His license is revoked and he must attend traffic school and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
At school, three days before the science fair, Lisa makes the mistake of leaving her super tomato under Bart's care for a moment. Bart takes the opportunity to hurl it at Skinner, while he is bent over tying his shoe. When Lisa sees what Bart has done with her project, she is furious. Lisa appeals to Marge for help, who suggests she run a hamster through a maze. She takes the idea to heart, but instead of just testing the intelligence of a rodent, she pits a hamster against an unknowing Bart to find out who is smarter. After two simple tests, the hamster leads two to zero.
In bed, Marge gives Homer a magazine quiz about his drinking. Hearing his answers, she asks him to give up beer for a month, to which he agrees. Homer reminisces about the time he first drank beer: using a fake ID to acquire a six pack and eventually passing out listening to Queen.
Bart finds Lisa's project notes and hides them. He plans to lead her on a treasure hunt to get them back but she finds them after just a second. Homer tries not to think about beer while he rides Lisa's bike to work. After a series of severe temptations, Homer crashes the bike as hundreds of bottles of Duff parachuted down on him from the blimp. At the science fair, Lisa's project and chance for revenge are both ruined by Bart's project: "Can hamsters fly planes?". Lisa tries to reason with the ignorant viewers that his project has no scientific merit, but everyone ignores her. A cute hamster sitting in the cockpit of a miniature plane wins over Skinner. He tells Lisa that every good scientist is half B.F. Skinner and half P.T. Barnum before handing Bart the winning ribbon, much to Lisa's dismay.
At Homer's AA meeting, he is kicked out by Reverend Lovejoy after confessing that his desperation for the taste of beer led him to "sneak into the football stadium and eat the dirt underneath the bleachers". He also exhibits more positive changes such as losing weight, saving over $100 and he has ceased to sweat while he eats. After thirty days of being sober, Homer snatches the money and rushes back to Moe's, while Marge asks him to stay home instead. He goes anyway and after seeing the long faces already at the bar, seeing how alcohol has ruined the lives of Barney and the other barflies, goes home. Homer and Marge ride a bike into the sunset.
Production
Bart's go-go ray idea was "stolen" from the opening credits of Johnny Quest.[1] Mike Reiss said they did not want to show the hamster getting shocked. But had to for plot purposes.[2] The first line Richard Nixon says, during the Duff commercial, was taken verbatim from the Kennedy-Nixon Debate during the 1960 Presidential Campaign.[3] Hitler's head can be seen going by in a bottle of Duff when the quality control man is not paying attention.[3] Bart sitting in the chair, stroking the hamster is a reference to James Bond character Ernst Stavro Blofeld, who strokes a cat in his chair.[2] The episode contains the first appearance of Sarah Wiggum.[4]
Cultural references
When Bart reaches for the cupcakes, it is a parody of the women's breasts in A Clockwork Orange[2] The Duff clock is a parody of the It's a Small World clock.[3]In the Duff TV ad, a group of women were leading an anti-sexism protest in front of the McMahon and Tate building, a parody of the McMann and Tate advertising agency from Bewitched.[2] The scene toward the end where Moe points toward individual customers declaring they'll "be back" before pointing toward and addressing the viewer--later revealed to be Barney via a cutaway--is a parody of the end of the movie Reefer Madness.[2]
Reception
The authors of the book I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide, Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood said, "A superb episode with a sincere message. Homer is excellent throughout, but it is the cameos by Principal Skinner and Edna Krabappel that steal the show, especially the latter's reaction to Milhouse's Slinky."[5] Entertainment Weekly ranked the episode as number eleven on their top twenty-five The Simpson's episodes.[6]
References
- ^ Reardon, Jim (2004). The Simpsons The Complete Fourth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Duffless" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
{{cite AV media}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ a b c d e Reiss, Mike (2004). The Simpsons The Complete Fourth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Duffless" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
{{cite AV media}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ a b c Stern, David M. (2004). The Simpsons The Complete Fourth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Duffless" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
{{cite AV media}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) Cite error: The named reference "Stern" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - ^ Groening, Matt (2004). The Simpsons The Complete Fourth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Duffless" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
{{cite AV media}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ Martyn, Warren; Wood, Adrian (1993). "Duffless". BBC. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "The Family Dynamic". Entertainment Weekly (ew.com}. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
External links
