[3F20] Much Apu About Nothing
Much Apu About Nothing Written by David S. Cohen
Directed by Susie Dietter
=======================================================================
Production Code: 3F20 Original Airdate in N.A.: 5-May-96
Capsule revision C, 10-Jun-96
"TV Guide" Synopsis {sp}
Marge and Homer staunchly support a proposal to deport all illegal
immigrants from Springfield, until they learn it would affect Apu,
who buys fraudulent identification documents from Fat Tony (voice
of Joe Mantegna).
Opening Sequence
COUCH SCENE
Homer is a carpet and the other Simpsons' heads are mounted on
a wall; a hunter carrying a gun comes in and sits on the couch.
He sets his gun next to the couch and lights his cigar.
(Recycled from 3F09.)
Did you notice...
... Selma apparently married Lionel Hutz while we weren't looking?
... the mailman (excuse me, fe-mailman) looks like Lunch Lady Doris?
... Lisa fails to note that Native Americans are immigrants too?
(see below)
... Dr. Nick Riviera cheats by having everything written on his arm?
Ricardo A. Lafaurie Jr.:
... Kent Brockman is reporting from the sky instead of Arnie Pye?
... Moe says "immigants" from the start?
... Mayor Quimby says "Yay" along with the crowd?
... Maggie is being shown less and less with her pacifier?
... Mrs. Glick is shown carrying a "Homer says Get Out" sign?
... Dr. Nick Riviera is an illegal immigrant?
Haynes Lee:
... Mayor Quimby putting white-out on the documents?
Benjamin J. Robinson:
... Ned's still driving that Geo?
... the fancy house George Bush bought is still across the street?
(Admit it, you thought it was going to disappear after "Two Bad
Neighbors (3F09).")
... the "Great White Hunter" and "Nuke" video games in the Kwik-E-
Mart?
... Apu mispronounces the New York (NY) Mets as, "nye mets?"
... once again, we see a 48-state map? Does anyone in Springfield
recognize Alaska and Hawaii?
... Dr. Nick cheats on is citizenship exam, by having the answers
written on his arm?
... Maggie did not suck even once on her pacifier this whole
episode?
Jason Hancock:
... Ned's Geo has driver and passenger-side air bags?
... the two bottles of white-out on Mayor Quimby's desk?
... the "BEAR PATROL" message on the front of the van is printed
backwards the way ambulances do it?
... Barney seems to like Rod Stewart (judging by the sign)?
... Apu wears a New York Mets jersey?
... the dots on the first shot of the map represent state capitals?
... Homer points to Chicago on the map?
... the immigration service's calendar is for May 1996?
Dale Abersold:
... the cheesy 60's era sitcom music that played while the bear
walked through the streets?
... the First Act had a lot of slapstick?
... that odd substance OFF was eating for dinner?
... Lisa's devious plot to get herself some candy?
... once again, Bart was limited to a tiny role?
... Prof. Frink's predictions about the future of computers were
precisely wrong?
... Selma had at least one marriage that we haven't heard about?
Veronica Marquez:
... we don't see from what country Abe is originally from?
... Moe is an immigrant?
Kevin Horsch:
... the initials to Apu's alma mater, Springfield Heights Institute
of Technology? [Think about it --ed]
Don Del Grande:
... Homer makes $95.96 a day, not the $40 mentioned in 1F17?
... the "Evergreen Terrace" street sign now says "Evergreen"
directly above "Ter"?
... Ned's car's airbag covers the entire front seat?
... Ned is just about as fat as Homer?
... Selma pronounces Sideshow Bob's last name with a "soft G"?
... there are three open boxes of baking soda in the refrigerator?
... Homer doesn't wear socks?
... the Springfield Shopper now costs 35 cents?
... Homer's statement is from "Springfield Power Company", not SNPP?
... Maggie eats with her hands?
Rick Senger:
... the Simpsons' refrigerator has no food and three boxes of baking
soda in it?
... Barney enjoys the sensation of the animal tranquilizer and
actually drinks the drug straight from the dart?
... as the bear is loaded onto the U.S. Forest Service truck, Barney
is loaded onto a Moe's bar truck?
... Mayor Quimby swipes Moe's pic-a-nic basket?
... when he first moved to America, Grampa lived in the head of the
Statue of Liberty until he filled the head up with garbage?
... Moe and Homer mispronounce a bunch of words and use bad grammar
as they disparage the ability of immigrants to speak English?
Mark Richey:
... Leon Kompowski in the town hall crowd?
... the Great White Hunter video game at the Kwik-E-Mart ties in
with the couch gag?
... the bras in Selma's room?
... the picture of Patty & Selma at Easter Island?
... the stovepipe hat chart?
... the May calendar in the immigration office?
... Burns casting a ballot?
... Helen Lovejoy blowing out a candle?
... Hans Moleman flushing a toilet?
Tom Baker:
... Apu *actually* sold Homer a "Yes on 24" button to get three
dollars?
[Haynes Lee predicted that the Bumblebee guy would be revealed as an
illegal immigrant!... see 3F15. --ed]
Cast
Starring
- Dan Castellaneta (Homer, Barney, Quimby, Willie, Abe, Abe's dad
- Julie Kavner (Marge, Selma)
- Nancy Cartwright (Bart, Nelson, Kearney)
- Yeardley Smith (Lisa)
- Hank Azaria (Wiggum, Moe, Quimby's assistant, Apu, Apu's father,
Prof. Frink, cat)
- Harry Shearer (Ned, Kent Brockman, Lenny, Skinner, Lou, Eddie,
proctor)
Also Starring
- Pamela Hayden (Abe's mother)
- Tress MacNeille (Manjula)
- Maggie Roswell (Maude, Helen, Apu's mother)
- Russi Taylor (Uter)
Special Guest Voice
- Joe Mantegna (Fat Tony)
Movie, Music, and other References
+ Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing"
- episode title
"Psycho" {mar}
- Ned's screaming is straight out of this film
"Tarzan" {jh}
- Homer swinging from the wire is similar
+ Country Bear Jamboree {bjr}
- the phrase, "Country Bear Jambaroo," is similar to this
Animatronic Disney attraction
"We're here, we're queer" at St. Patrick's Day parade {bjr} {ddg}
- Homer lifted this chant from one of the more aggressive gay-
rights factions
+ Yogi Bear
- Moe's remark about "smarter than the average bear" and the bear
stealing "pic-a-nic" baskets
California's Proposition 187
- fervor over Prop. 24 similar
+ B-2 Stealth Bomber {bjr}
- the Bear Patrol plane is one of these hi-tech, hi-cost bombers,
with a coat of white paint
+ The "Milk Miracle" in India six months back {bg}
- Apu offering Ganesha Yoo-Hoo is a reference to this (see below)
+ Satyajit Ray's film series "The Apu Trilogy" {et}
- Apu's father seems to be the image of the actor who played Apu's
father in the S. Ray films
+ Army Recruitment Poster {bjr}
- "I Want You ... Out!" spoofs the famous "Uncle Sam" join-the-army
advertisement
+ "Casablanca" {mar}
- the "Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow" line is out of this
film
~ "Herman's Head" {ddg}
- Louise's father was working on "Turkey Jerky" (OK, it's a
stretch...)
+ "Cat Fancy" magazine {jh}
- "Cat Fancier" is a parody
+ National Geographic {jh}
- map used by Homer is from there (see below)
+ "The New Colossus", poem by Emma Lazarus {vm}, {mar}
- Wiggum's line is a paraphrase of this poem, about the Statue
of Liberty: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses
yearning to breathe free"
Freeze Frame Fun
Watching the bear being taken away {ddg}
Moe
Reverend and Mrs. Lovejoy
the Flanders family
Apu
Mr. and Mrs. van Houten
the Android's Dungeon owner
Krusty
Lenny
Carl
Jasper
Otto
Nelson
Skinner
Lionel Hutz
Ruth Powers
Mrs. Glick
Jimbo
Skinner
Willie
Dr. Hibbert
Dr. Nick Riviera
People in mob (front to back, as Homer leads the charge) {jh}
Homer
Marge
Apu
Lionel Hutz
Ned Flanders
the comic book guy
Ruth Powers
Principal Skinner
Nelson
Jimbo
Krusty
Willy
Lou the cop
Mrs. Glick
Dr. Nick Riviera
Rev. and Helen Lovejoy
Lenny
Jose Lafaurie {jl} also notes that Leon Kompowski (the fat bald
guy who thought he was Michael Jackson in 7F24) is in there
somewhere.
Don Del Grande {ddg} also notes that Herman and Hollis Hurlbut
were present, and when Quimby announces Prop. 24, Miss Hoover,
Mr. Largo, and Ms. Albright are present.
Homer's paycheck {ddg}
Gross Pay (40 hours) 479.80 ($11.995/hour)
Federal Withholding 56.25
FICA 36.34
State Withholding 10.45
Municipal Tax 9.37
Bear Patrol Tax 5.00
------
Net Pay 362.19
Prop. 24 signs
Yes on 24
United States for United Statesianas
Homer says "Get Out"
The only good Foreigner is Rod Stewart
Buy American
Get Eurass Back to Eurasia
Cities we see on the map (by state) {jh}
- Illinois
Alton, Chicago, Decatur, *Peoria, Rockford, *Rock Island
- Indiana
Fort Wayne, Gary, Indianapolis, *Kokomo, *Terre Haute
- Iowa
Ames, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fort Dodge,
Mason City, Sioux City, Waterloo
- Kansas
Kansas City, Norton, Topeka
- Michigan
*Escanaba, Lansing
- Minnesota
Mankato, Minneapolis, Rochester, St. Cloud, St. Paul
- Missouri
St. Joseph
- Nebraska
*Ainsworth, Grand Island, Lincoln, Norfolk, North Platte, Omaha
- South Dakota
Pierre, Sioux Falls
- Wisconsin
Eau Claire, Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee, Wausau
(* indicates place whose name we can't see all of, either due to the
camera angle or due to Homer's hand in the last shot.)
Boxes in the Kwik-E-Mart stockroom {jh}
Duff Beer (stack of 7 cases to left of door)
Krusty Bar (three boxes, top shelf)
Turkey Jerkey (two boxes, middle shelf)
Tubbb! (one large box, bottom shelf)
Taking the citizenship test {ddg}
Apu
Luigi
Pedro the Bumblebee Man
Dr. Nick Riviera
the "sugar thief" from 1F17
Moe (in disguise)
At the picnic table (looking down from Homer's POV) {jh}
Lisa Marge
Apu Grampa
Bart Barney
Ned and Maude Flanders Prof. Frink
Rev. and Helen Lovejoy Dr. Nick Riviera
Homer
Technical Credits (if you care) {vm}
Overseas Animation: Rough Draft Studios (Chang, Myung Nam) {ddg}
Assistant Director: Chuck Sheetz
Animation Timers: Pat Shinagawa, Brian Sheesley
Storyboard: Martin Archer, Christian Roman, Ted Mathot, Susie
Dietter, Chris Moeller
Character Design Supervisor: Dale Hendrickson
Character Design: Scott Alberts, Joseph Wack, Mark Howard, Matt
Groening, Sam Simon
Background Design Supervisor: Lance Wilder
Background Design: John Krause, Maria Marrioti-Wilder, Edgar
Duncan
Previous Episode References
- [7G09] A Simpson has a run-in with a bear
- [7F24], [9F21] Leon Kompowski appears {jl}
- [8F03], [2F12] Fat Tony appears
- [8F08], [1F06], [2F21] Moe's nationality is referenced {vm}
- [8F20], [3F15] Selma's previous marriages
- [9F01] Apu's god Ganeesha is seen {ddg}
- [1F10] Apu stays with OFF {jh}
- [1F14] Ned drives a Geo {jh}
- [1F17] The sugar thief is seen {ddg}
- [1F18] Yoo-Hoo is referenced {vm}
- [2F02] Elections are held in Springfield {jh}
- [2F06] Groundskeeper Willie exposed as immigrant {hl}
- [2F06] Flags with less than 50 stars are seen {vm}
- [2F11] Kent Brockman: "Democracy doesn't work" (cf. Homer) {jh}
- [2F31] Entertainment Weekly seen {jh}
- [3F03] Lisa's animals activism {hl}
- [3F05], [3F09] Tubbb! reappears {jh}
- [3F09] The mansion in front of the Simpson home is seen
- [3F13] Apu is a semi-legal immigrant {vm}
Animation, Continuity, and other Goofs
= In the first scene of the episode, the bear was standing at an
intersection, that promply disappeared. Also, the house on the
corner looked like the old Simpson place. Of course, it could be
track housing. {mar}
= When Homer is watching TV, you can see directly through one of the
house's front windows through a doorway, but one of the walls of the
TV room should have its own front window (so you shouldn't be able to
see the front of the house from the TV room through a doorway) {ddg}
= There was no writing on the mailbox until Homer said "Impson family."
{mar}
* When Homer rolled away from the house after Bart grabbed his pants
and he fell, his pants should not have landed directly on top of him.
{ddg}
* I'm not sure how Principal Skinner could have phoned ahead for a
spur-of-the-moment mob. [I think that was the joke --ed] {vm}
= During the first dining room table scene, the close-ups had everyone
eating pie, while the long shots still had them eating dinner. {mar}
= When Homer opens the envelope with his pay statement, the envelope
instantly disappears, leaving just the statement. {ddg}
= Why would Kearney need a fake ID when he's apparently not a minor?
(See 3F13.) {jl}
* There is an Indian Institute of Technology in 5 Indian cities, but
Calcutta is not one of them. {hl}
= While we see the full scoop on how Apu came to enter the United
States, no mention is made of Sanjay and his children. What about
them? {vm}
* What, nobody involved with the show has a passport? Apu's did not
have an expiration date, and all of the words were in English whereas
a real passport has them in French as well. {ddg}
* Apu's birthday in his fake passport is January 9, 1962, which can't
be true considering it's been at least 16 years (nine for studies
plus seven since his student visa expired) since he started graduate
school. {ddg}
- Apu's head is drawn much larger than usual when he says "Store credit
only".
+ Selma's former marriage surname order was Terwilliger, then McClure
in 3F15; now, Hutz is between them. {vm}
+ Homer was registered to vote in 2F02, and you can't become
"unregistered", yet he claims he's not registered now. {ddg}
= On the first shot of the map, Michigan is colored orange, but it is
colored blue in the closeup. {jh}
= Apu falls asleep in his open book with pages facing upward; when he
wakes up the book is closed; in another shot, the book is open again
with pages facing downward. {am}
= During the long shot, Apu's book is not only back open, but there's a
pen and paper on the table. {mar}
= During the party scene, Dr. Riviera was first not at the picnic
table, then there with no coat, then with a white coat, then with a
brown coat, then gone. {mar}
+ Apu has been summoned to jury duty before (see 1F19). {jh}
Comments and other observations
Other References
Here are some references that don't fit anywhere else:
Yoo-Hoo for Ganeesha: Haynes Lee: "There was a religious Hindu
craze in India last year when the religious elephant statues drunk
milk."
Abe sees the Statue: Haynes Lee: "Chrysler chief Lee Iaoccoca
immigrated from Italy and his first sight of America was the Statue
of Liberty."
24 = 187
The Prop. 24 controversy mirrors this real-life California proposition.
Benjamin J. Robinson remarks, "Proposition 187 was one of the most
divisive issues on the 1994 California ballot. Essentially, it
sought to deny government services -- such as education, and
medical aid -- to people who had entered this country illegally.
Backers of the new law said that it would stop the drain of public
money by people who weren't even supposed to be in the country in
the first place. Opponents argued that this proposition unfairly
punished people who were quietly trying to make a better life in
America, and would not be of much benefit to the public treasury,
either. Since most immigrants -- legal and otherwise -- in
California were of Hispanic or Latino descent, some Prop. 187
opponents saw the law as racially motivated." Jose Lafaurie notes
as well, "If your name sounded Spanish or you looked Spanish, the
police could rightfully pull you over and ask for your green card
under this law." Proposition 187 passed at the polls and should
have taken effect January 1st of 1995, but was recently overturned
by the courts.
Benjamin Robinson adds, "No one ever spelled out what Proposition 24
would do, but it appears that it gave the police the power to
deport anyone who was not either a citizen or a legal immigrant.
Ironically, they are already allowed to do this under federal
immigration law. (Well, actually, I think Springfield's finest
would have to tip off INS rather than deporting people themselves.)
Therefore, Prop. 24 is actually redundant."
Don Del Grande asks rhetorically, "If Proposition 24 deports people
`from Springfield', why not just have the illegal immigrants go to
Shelbyville?" They hate the town enough to dump their problems
there. See 2F20 and 2F22.
Chris Courtois adds, "The main concept was to discourage illegal
immigration by prohibiting illegal aliens from receiving any public
moneys, including welfare, medical care, or public schooling.
Notably absent from the proposition were any sanctions against the
employers that hire illegal aliens. (Rush was spouting that all
these aliens are not getting jobs as busboys, maids, and migrant
farm workers, but are risking everything so they can go on welfare,
a belief satirized with Apu's "Which way to the welfare office"
line). The proposition also coincided with governor Pete Wilson's
bid for reelection. Prior to the campaign, polls indicated only 2%
of Californians were strongly concerned about illegal immigration.
Wilson attached himself to the proposition and began hyping it,
essentially turning an issue with which no one was concerned into
the centerpiece of his campaign, while conveniently ignoring real
issues like California remaining in a recession while the rest of
the country was recovering. (Similar to Quimby diverting attention
from the bear tax complaints to illegal immigrants). A third
parallel was as election day approached, proposition 187 became
"politically incorrect" and only the most vehement dittoheads would
publically admit to supporting it; however, come election day, the
proposition passed with a huge majority (Just like crowds of
Springfieldians chanting their opposition but 95% of them voting
"yes".) One last parallel to the California election was pondering
a proposition which contained laws already on the books. In the same
election, California voters were asked to vote on the "3 strikes
law", which had already been approved and enacted by the legis-
lature several months back."
Product Placement Corner -- brought to you by Nike
Benjamin Robinson notes, "That bottle of Yoo Hoo Apu offered to Ganesha
sure was realistically drawn, wasn't it? (Yoo Hoo is some sort of
chocolate-flavored soda concoction.) Perhaps it is the favorite
drink of the animation staff."
I'll be X's, you be O's
Benjamin Robinson says, "Contrary to what Apu thinks, the problem of
computerized tic-tac-toe has been pretty well solved. Indeed, one
of my assignments in my sophomore year was to write a tic-tac-toe
program. The instructors took off points if they could beat your
program.
"Also, Apu's punch cards should have had sequence numbers on them.
These numbers told you which card went first, which went second,
and so on. People in the punch card days weren't so accident-free
that they never dropped decks of cards. Therefore, several columns
on the end of the card were reserved for a sequence number. If the
cards got out of order, you could put them in a card sorter, which
would re-order them for you. Or maybe it would just mangle them
completely -- it was all in the hands of fate.
"If you ever wrote code in FORTRAN-77 you may have wondered why
your statements couldn't go past column 72. It's because columns
73 through 80 were reserved for the sequence number. The
restriction was kept even as FORTRAN gradually moved from cards to
video terminals. [Perhaps this is why my crappy NeXT computer
limits all my lines to 72 columns. --ed] Fortran-90 now gives you
the option of coding past column 72."
Where you're coming from
Benjamin Robinson says, "Evidently, Lisa might not know (or might
dispute) the Land Bridge theory. This theory holds that the native
Americans walked over -- immigrated, if you will -- an isthmus of
land that used to exist between Russia and Alaska. The land was
covered over when the oceans rose. Furthermore, according to a
growing body of evidence, humans originated in Africa, and then
emigrated to every other point on the globe. So not only is
America a nation of immigrants, but so is Canada, Mexico, France,
China, India, Japan...."
All about India where their clothes are different from ours
Jason Hancock notes, "The size of the student body at the Calcutta
Institute of Technology is a reference to India's large population
(about 937 million, according to the 1996 World Almanac, which
places it only behind China). On top of that, Calcutta is one of
the world's largest and most overcrowded cities with some 11
million people (even though it's only India's second largest city,
behind Bombay)."
Balaji Gadhiraju says of the Yoo-Hoo drinking Ganesha, "Six months back
the whole of India went crazy about a statue of Ganesha drinking
milk when it was offered to him with spoons. Later some people
came up with theories why it happened. One theory is as most of
the statues are made of marble and because of surface properties
of marble the milk when offered forms a very thin and invisible
(for the naked eye) layer and drips down. This really became a very
big issue six months back in India."
He continues, "Though there are some snake charmers, mainly in villages
and small towns, people generally dont play with them. It is not
that you can see people playing with snakes everywhere."
About Apu's betrothed: "This custom was practiced upto 100 years
back and that too in only certain regions of india. Nowadays it is
so rare that practically it is not existing. Also it is Illegal."
I'll be in the cold ground before I recognize New Mexicah
Jason Hancock says, "New Mexico became a state on January 6, 1912,
while Arizona was admitted on February 14, 1912 (according to the
World Almanac). I don't think there actually was a 47-star flag
like Homer showed Apu, as the flag went from 46 to 48 stars, but I
do know there was a 49-star flag between the times Alaska and
Hawaii became states."
Dial-a-Waltz
Jason Hancock says, "Homer's map was published by the National
Geographic Society, judging by its design. Although it looks like
the animators must have used a black-and-white Xeroxed copy (as NGS
maps are usually in full color), the details are there, including
rivers, airports, and highways. BTW, the elevations (509 in Iowa,
595 in Wisconsin, and 376 in Illinois) given on the map are in
meters, not feet, and represent each state's highest point."
Where is Springfield? (a.k.a. who is Chuckie Finster's mom?)
Jason Hancock says, "The continuing saga of `Where is Springfield?'
shows that in this episode, Lisa seems to be pointing to an Eastern
state which we can't see thanks to Bart's head. (Will we EVER find
out where Springfield is, or will this thread go on forever?) It
would have to be between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachians,
as we see the Atlantic coastal states in one shot. But now, thanks
to Lisa mentioning that Springfield is nowhere near Chicago, we
know it is NOT in Illinois as some people on a.t.s have said. So,
at least in this episode, Springfield seems to be somewhere in the
southeast."
Don Del Grande notes additionally, "We now know Springfield (or at
least `this Springfield') is not in the Great Lakes region or in
the western half of the country, although the USA map is missing
`Five Corners'."
Moe Knows Zilch
Veronica Marquez ponders, "Maybe the writers want to keep us guessing
about just where Moe is from? In `Flaming Moe's', Moe seemed to
be of British origin, since the waitress refered to him as `Morris'
but, in `Bart's Inner Child', Moe's inner child chides him for
not talking with an Italian accent. So much for that. But wait,
in `The Springfield Connection', Moe is revealed to have some sort
of Arabic origin since his real name is Mohamar. Just where is
Moe from?"
Uter is not alone
Don Del Grande says, "I don't know what happened during, say, Desert
Storm, but what happened to Uter in school definitely happened to
a number of Middle Eastern (not necessarily Iranian, either) kids
where I went to high school during the 1979-81 Iranian hostage
incident."
Homer's Tax Refund
From Don Del Grande:
"Homer makes about $25,000/year
Standard deduction $6550
Five exemptions $12,500
Taxable income: about $6000
Federal tax owed: $904
Federal tax withheld: $2925
HOMER'S REFUND: about $2000"
Now that's something we need to know later in life. :-)
Entertainment Weekly (a phrase that might or might not fit OFS :-)
From Mark Richey, "Entertainment Weekly is a popular magazine dealing
with, of all things, entertainment. It's TV critic, Ken Tucker, is
an unabashed fan of OFF. An article last September, about the
discussions about Who Shot Mr. Burns on a.t.s., first brought me to
this newsgroup.
"Tom Cruise is a hugely popular movie star. Nicole Kidman is his
mildly popular movie star wife. It's highly probable that if they
haven't been on EW's cover together before, they will be before
long.
Cotton Mather
Homer's 9th grade history notes start with his name. Cotton Mather was
the son of minister Increase Mather (they got weird names, don't
they?), who was a Harvard graduate and a peacher in the 1680's and
1690's. He very much advocated against spectre evidence in
witchcraft trials, and for smallpox inoculations. He published
more than 400 works.
Reviews
Dale Abersold - Based on who the writer and director are, I was not
expecting very much from this episode (they have produced some of
my least favorite eps). Much to my surprise, they put together
this wonderful piece of political satire. Homer's pro-immigrant
speech at the end was a classic. Grade: A-.
Chris Courtois - "Much Apu About Nothing" was a welcome return to the
satirical tone of the early seasons which made me a fan of the
show. While not quite up to those lofty levels (it was a little
too preachy and obvious in some spots, and OFF took a back seat to
the "message"), it was certainly one of the strongest efforts of
this season. As a Californian who went through the whole
Proposition 187 scenario (the obvious model for Proposition 24) I
found the jabs insightful, and downright hilarious. Even the anti-
bear hysteria was on target!! And finally a "message" episode where
Lisa got to behave as a real character instead of a platitude-
spouting PC thug. The new writers are learning. Only the
obviousness of some of the moralizing weakened this episode. A-.
Don Del Grande - Better than usual, once the bear stuff was out of the
way (although seeing Ned in a raging panic was a refreshing change)
Jason Hancock - Like last week, another mixed bag here. The "Where is
Springfield?" map gag was pretty funny when I realized it was a
slam at one of the two a.t.s threads that will never die. But
aside from that (and the bear scene, which had _nothing_ to do
with the plot), the laughs were few and far between. Lots of good
FFF/DYN material here as well, but other than that, average.
Grade: C+.
Haynes Lee - A different type of episode with more substance but less
of the references. However the linking material was weak. Jumping
from bears to immigrants was a bit much of a non sequitur. GRADE:
B
Adam Lipkin - Well, It was an odd way to get the main plot of the show,
but once they did, man oh man was it a good one. Everything from
thinly veiled profanity to a dig at us here on a.t.s. Oh, and lots
of great lines and laughs. Grade A all the way.
Veronica Marquez - This episode should have been hilarious to me for
all sorts of reason, but it just didn't gel. My grade is a D.
Mark Richey - A ridiculous plot makes for a subpar episode. While I
guess that it was supposed to be funny that banning illegal
immigrants is a moot point, it simply wasn't funny. Like [3F19]
(...Flying Hellfish), this was an episode sorely in need of a
subplot. Grade: C
Benjamin J. Robinson - A refreshing surprise -- a message episode that
doesn't get bogged down with the message. "Much Apu About
Nothing" makes its point, largely manages to avoid preachiness, and
is consistently funny to boot. The stories of Grampa's and Apu's
past are the highlights, as is the answer (nudge, nudge, wink,
wink) to the question of Springfield's location. (B+)
Robert Gretta - [Responding to above] I wish that I saw the same
episode that you did. The one they televised here was horrible.
D-. [...] I think someone stole all the Simpson characters that
I've known and loved and replaced them with humorless liberal
zombies (I'm NOT a republican). Even the animation of this episode
was terrible. This was by far the worst Simpsons show I had ever
seen. In fact, if "She's the Sheriff" were on I would have turned
the channel.
Matt Rose - Professor Frink in the 70's had me ROTF. I thought this
episode was a bit void of jokes, but I liked the story idea. I also
liked the bear thing at the beginning. (Was that Gentle Ben?) I
also was glad to see Lisa acting more like herself again. Overall,
this one wasn't as good as 3F18, but it was better than last weeks.
Still, it was good enough to keep the recent string of good
episodes going. 3 stars (out of 5), or if you want a letter grade,
B+.
Glen Ryan - Grade: C-. I dunno, I just like the old days, and there
just wasn't much to the episode...I might be flamed for this, but
IMO if they can't consistently put out better material than this,
OFF should be allowed to pass on before it turns to utter boring
sitcom-style drek...
Rick Senger - While this one had it's heart in the right place, it was
too preachy at the expense of humor. It displayed both sides of a
highly controversial issue with some of the usual Simpsons wit and
style, but it needed more jokes and less moralizing. Due to the
low volume of audible laughs in the group I saw it with, I would
have to mark this as one of the lesser episodes this season in
terms of entertainment value, although the political message was
well-presented IMO. C+.
Yours Truly - Much of the sentiment was direct and maudlin (even when
it wasn't), and the question of where is Springfield was dodged
more directly than usual, but the topic (anti-immigration fever)
was long needed. I'm a resident of California and went through all
the Prop. 187 crap, so I can relate. As far as the bear goes, it
was useless (like the trampoline in 1F05). I'm giving it a B+.
AVERAGE GRADE: C+/B- (2.65)
Quotes and Scene Summary
A bear wanders through Evergreen Terrace, and Ned nearly hits him
with his Geo. Panicked, Ned crashes the car and struggles to enter
the house. Eventually he crashes through glass near the front door.
A helicopter observes the bear.
This is Kent Brockman with a special report from the Channel 6 News
Copter. A large, bear-like animal, most likely a bear, has wandered
down from the hill in search of food or perhaps employment.
-- Perhaps on `Gentle Ben', "Much Apu About Nothing"
This reporter urges families to stay indoors.
Homer laughs and pities the poor `Impson Family' (whose mailbox is
being chewed by the bear) while the rest of the "Impson" family look
out the window worriedly.
Homer: Let's all calm down. Everyone's going to be just fine, as long
as I have enough beer.
[opens the refrigerator only to find boxes of baking soda]
[screams] All right, that does it. If I'm going to be trapped
in the house, I gotta go out and get some beer.
-- Bear problems in Springfield, "Much Apu About Nothing"
Homer's hare brained scheme ends up in a pantless face to face
confrontation with the bear. And none too soon, for the police soon
arrive on the scene and tranquilize the bear. And Barney.
Book 'em Lou. One count of being a bear. And one count of being an
accessory to being a bear.
-- Chief Wiggum arrests a bear and Barney, "Much Apu About Nothing"
While the bear is carried away by the U.S. Forest Service, Barney
is being carried away by Moe.
Maude: Oh, Marge... it was horrible! We were trapped in the house all
afternoon... and, well... we had to drink _toilet_ water!
[sobs]
Marge: Well, things were bad everywhere.
Homer: I'm sick of these constant bear attacks. It's like a frickin'
country bear jambaroo around here!
-- Or jamboree even, "Much Apu About Nothing"
Ned reminds Homer that this is the only bear this town has seen, but
Homer gets the whole town with him with a catchy chant...
Homer: We're here, we're queer, we don't want anymore bears.
Crowd: We're here, we're queer, we don't want anymore bears.
Lenny: Hey, that's a pretty catchy chant. Where did you hear it?
Homer: Oh, I heard it at the mustache parade they have every year.
-- "Much Apu About Nothing"
The crowd busts through City Hall and bangs on the mayor's door.
Assistant: Sir, there's an unruly mob here to see you.
Quimby: Does it have an appointment?
Assistant: [consults clipboard] Yes, it does.
Skinner: I phoned ahead!
-- Never can be too prepared, "Much Apu About Nothing"
Homer: Mr. Mayor, I hate to break it to you, but this town is infested
by bears.
Moe: Yeah, and these ones are smarter than the average bear. They
swiped my pic-a-nic basket.
Helen: [frantic] Think of the children!
Quimby: All right, I promise to take swift and decisive action against
these hibernating hucksters.
[crowd cheers and leaves]
[Quimby pulls out a picnic basket]
Heh heh heh... [eats a sandwich]
-- Diamond Joe Yogi?, "Much Apu About Nothing"
Later, a full-force Bear Patrol is on watch. Homer watches proudly.
Homer: Not a bear in sight. The Bear Patrol must be working like a
charm.
Lisa: That's spacious reasoning, Dad.
Homer: Thank you, dear.
Lisa: By your logic I could claim that this rock keeps tigers away.
Homer: Oh, how does it work?
Lisa: It doesn't work.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: It's just a stupid rock.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: But I don't see any tigers around, do you?
[Homer thinks of this, then pulls out some money]
Homer: Lisa, I want to buy your rock.
[Lisa refuses at first, then takes the exchange]
-- Maybe he wants it as a pet, "Much Apu About Nothing"
The mail arrives.
Homer: Woo-hoo! A perfect day. Zero bears and one big fat hairy
paycheck.
[opens it up]
Hey! How come my pay is so low? ... Bear patrol tax! This is
an outrage! It's the biggest tax increase in history!
Lisa: Actually, Dad, it's the smallest tax increase in history.
Homer: Let the bears pay the bear tax. I pay the Homer tax.
Lisa: That's home-_owner_ tax.
Homer: Well, anyway, I'm still outraged.
-- And with good cause, "Much Apu About Nothing"
The mob is back, yelling "Down with taxes! Down with taxes!"
Quimby: Are those morons getting dumber or just louder?
Assistant: [checks his clipboard] Dumber, sir.
-- Dumb and dumber, "Much Apu About Nothing"
"They want the bear patrol but they won't pay taxes for it." Quimby
thinks of a novel solution. He announces that taxes are high because
of illegal immigrants and that they should be disposed of.
Immigants! I knew it was them! Even when it was the bears, I knew it
was them.
-- Moe Szyslak, "Much Apu About Nothing"
In one week, the town will vote on a special referendum on
Proposition 24, the proposition to get rid of immigrants. Everyone
cheers, including Quimby.
In class, a mob surrounds Uter as Nelson pulls his suspenders.
Nelson: Hey, German boy. Go back to Germania!
[everyone laughs]
Uter: I do not deserve this. I have come here legally as an
exchange student!
Skinner: Young man, the only thing we exchanged for you is our national
dignity.
[everyone laughs]
-- And a trouble student, "Much Apu About Nothing"
Willie: [threatens children] You want to pick on immigrants? Then
pick on Willie!
Skinner: Willie, please. The students want to pick on someone their
own size.
-- Ach, "Much Apu About Nothing"
At home, Lisa attempts to talk things out with Homer.
Lisa: I don't see how you can support Proposition 24, Dad.
Homer: Open your eyes, Lisa! Our schools are so jam-packed with
immigrants, people like Bart have lost the will to learn!
Bart: There's no denying it, Sis.
-- More spacious reasoning, "Much Apu About Nothing"
Lisa reminds the family that the Simpson family immigrated here,
and Abe gives in.
Abe: [narrating] The story of the Simpson family began in the Old
Country. I forget which one exactly. My dad would drone
on and on about America. He thought it was the greatest
thing since sliced bread, sliced bread having been invented
the previous winter.
Abe's dad: [holds up an America pamphlet] See that, son? That's where
we're going to live. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow,
but someday.
Abe: Later that day, we set sail for America.
Abe's dad: [points at the Statue of Liberty] See that, son? That's our
new home.
[later, the family has moved in... to the Statue]
Young Abe: [playing on Statue's arm] Yay! I love America!
Abe's mom: Abe! Supper's on!
[back to reality]
Abe: We had to move out once we filled the entire head with
garbage.
-- The story of the Simpson family, "Much Apu About Nothing"
At the Kwik-E-Mart, Homer tells Apu that it'll be great once all
the immigrants are shipped out of Springfield.
Apu: Sir, it may surprise you to know that _I_ am an immigrant.
Homer: You? Pfft, get out.
-- Well, duh, "Much Apu About Nothing"
Apu is an illegal immigrant. He will have to leave if Prop. 24
passes.
I wish I could have stayed one more year or two. There was so much I
wanted to see and to do and to have done to me.
-- Apu Nahassapeemapetilan, "Much Apu About Nothing"
Homer almost changes his mind. Almost.
[End of Act One. Time: 8'22"]
At Moe's Tavern, Moe and the barflies put up signs.
Moe: You know what really aggravazes me? It's them immigants. They
wants all the benefits of living in Springfield, but they ain't
even bother to learn themselves the language.
Homer: Hey, those are exactly my sentimonies.
Barney: [babbles]
Moe: Yeah, you said it Barn.
-- Said what?, "Much Apu About Nothing"
Marge and family (sans Homer) wade through a crowd of picketers to
the Kwik-E-Mart, where Apu offers Ganesha Yoo-Hoo to make the
protestors go away. Apu tells Marge the story of how he graduated
at the top of his 7,000,000 class at Calcutta Technical Institute to
come study in America. His family and his child bride bid him fare
well. At the Springfield Heights Institute of Technology, Apu
learns from Professor John Frink.
[in the late '70s]
[Frink stands in front of a huge mainframe]
Frink: Well, sure, the Frinkiac-7 looks impressive [to student] Don't
touch it! [back to class] But I predict that within 100 years
computers will be twice as powerful, 10,000 times larger, and
so expensive that only the five richest kings in Europe will
own them.
Apu: Could it be used for dating?
Frink: Well, technically, yes, but the computer matches would be so
perfect as to eliminate the thrill of romantic conquest. Ha-ho-
ha-hey-hoo.
-- Nostradamus he ain't, "Much Apu About Nothing"
After nine years, Apu completed his thesis, a series of punch cards
comprising the world's first tic-tac-toe program. To pay off his
loans, he worked in the Kwik-E-Mart and decided to stay once his visa
had expired.
What you're saying is so understandable. And really, your only crime
was violating U.S. law.
-- Marge to Apu, "Much Apu About Nothing"
Marge: You know what? I'm going to vote No on 24.
Lisa: Mom, you're the greatest! ... Can I have this licorice? [grins]
-- Not the best suckup in town, "Much Apu About Nothing"
Late at night, Kearney purchases cigars, beer, and other items with
a fake ID. Instead of prosecuting, Apu lets Kearney go, but first
he has to say where he got the fake ID.
From Fat Tony, he did. Apu pays lots of money for fake IDs, birth
certificates, etc. Tony strongly urges Apu to act American.
The Kwik-E-Mart is decked with Yankee attire. Homer talks to Apu
but notices that he talks American now.
What do you say we take a relaxed attitude towards work and watch the
baseball game? The nye [New York] Mets are my favorite squadron.
-- Apu acts American, "Much Apu About Nothing"
But when Homer inquires about Apu's statue of Ganesha, Apu cracks
and breaks down when he realizes he failed his parents.
This passport is a cheap forgery! A cheap $2,000 forgery!
-- Apu Nahassapeemapetilan, "Much Apu About Nothing"
You must love this country more than I love a cold beer on a hot
Christmas morning.
-- Homer to Apu, "Much Apu About Nothing"
Homer: Darn it, Apu, I'm not gonna let them kick you out!
[pulls a "Yes on 24" button off his shirt]
I never should have bought this button. Can I have my three
dollars back?
Apu: Store credit only.
-- Business-minded even in grief, "Much Apu About Nothing"
[End of Act Two. Time: 14'41"]
Homer brings Apu to the Simpson house.
Lisa: All right! Now you have all the Simpsons behind you.
Apu: That's nice, although three of you are below voting age.
Homer: And I'm not registered.
-- Proposition 24 furor, "Much Apu About Nothing"
The family try to think of a way that Apu can stay in the country
Bart asks "Why not marry some American broad, then dump her once you
get your citizenship?"
The broad for the job is Selma.
Homer: [on phone] Hello, Selma? Selma my dear, how are you? ...
Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh. Listen, shut up for a second. How
would you like to marry Apu so he doesn't get deported?
Selma: I'd rather eat poison. My name's already Selma Bouvier
Terwilliger Hutz McClure. God knows it's long enough without
Nahassapeema-whatever. From now on, I'm only marrying for
love. ... Mmm, possibly once more for money.
-- Like the black widow, but not deadly, "Much Apu About Nothing"
The family ponders on this problem at the dinner table.
Apu: Oh, it's hopeless. Oh, poor Apu.
Abe: Hey! The government can't control the sky. What if you lived
in a balloon?
Lisa: That's it!
Bart: Hear that? Hear that, mom? She's as dumb as me.
Lisa: No, not what he said. What he is. Grandfather, as in
grandfather clause. Apu, how long ago did you visa expire?
Apu: Seven years, but I don't--
Lisa: There's an amnesty that was declared for people who've lived here
as long as you. You can take the citizenship test!
Marge: But the vote on Proposition 24 is on Tuesday. You'll have to
pass the exam before then.
Apu: Oh, that is not nearly enough time to learn over 200 years of
American history.
Homer: Oh, it can't be that many. Come on, Apu. I'll be your tutor.
[everyone looks worried]
-- And that means party down, "Much Apu About Nothing"
Homer teaches Apu facts about American history, like that the 13
stripes on the American flag are for good luck, and the electrical
college, while Chief Wiggum and boys prepare to deport the
immigrants. The day before the exam, Homer asks Apu to study his
9th-grade history notes. Apu tries to study, but falls asleep after
reading two words.
In the morning, Apu wakes up.
Apu: Ohh, I fell asleep! I have forgotten everything that Mr. Homer
taught me!
Lisa: Perfect. Let's roll.
-- Apu takes the citizenship test, "Much Apu About Nothing"
Through another sea of protestors, Apu takes the written exam, then
the oral exam.
Proctor: All right, here's your last question. What was the cause of
the Civil War?
Apu: Actually, there were numerous causes. Aside from the obvious
schism between the abolitionists and the anti-abolitionists,
there were economic factors, both domestic and inter--
Proctor: Wait, wait... just say slavery.
Apu: Slavery it is, sir.
-- "Much Apu About Nothing"
Apu is now a citizen, and Homer throws a "Welcome to America" party.
Apu: Today, I am no longer an Indian living in America. I am an
Indian-American.
Lisa: You know, in a way, all Americans are immigrants. Except, of
course Native Americans.
Homer: Yeah, Native Americans like us.
Lisa: No, I mean American Indians.
Apu: Like me.
-- Blame Columbus, "Much Apu About Nothing"
If I could just say a few words... I'd be a better public speaker.
-- Homer J. Simpson, "Much Apu About Nothing"
Homer makes a rousing speech against Proposition 24, and makes
another chant. Unfortunately, this just isn't enough, as the
proposition passes with a record 95% vote in favor.
When are people going to learn? ... Democracy doesn't work!
-- Homer J. Simpson, free-thinking anarchist, "Much Apu About Nothing"
At the Kwik-E-Mart, Apu opens a letter containing a jury duty summons
He sobs as he celebrates his first day as a true American citizen...
by throwing the paper away.
Marge is happy that things worked out for everyone. Well, almost
everyone...
Ach... ingrates.
-- Groundskeeper Willie is deported, "Much Apu About Nothing"
[End of Act Three. Time: 21'23"]
Contributions
{dga} - Dale Abersold
{fb} - Frederic Briere
{bg} - Balaji Gadhiraju
{ddg} - Don Del Grande
{jh} - Jason Hancock
{hl} - Haynes Lee
{jl} - Jose Lafaurie
{vm} - Veronica Marquez
{am} - Adam Monteiro
{jm} - John Murray
{sp} - Serge Polishchuk
{mar} - Mark Richey
{bjr} - Benjamin J. Robinson
{et} - Edward Tverdek
Legal crud
The above compilation of observations, quote summaries, statistics, and
other miscellaneous information copyright 1996 Chips-Fey Productions.
Not to be used in a public forum without explicit permission from the
author (Ricardo A. Lafaurie Jr.) or his brother Jose Lafaurie.
Any quoted material above remains property of the original authors;
mainly, quoted material and episode summaries remain property of The
Simpsons, and copyright to Twentieth Century Fox. The compilation is
what I did. So don't sue.
Huge thanks and applause applause to Dave Hall for sending me the notes
from alt.tv.simpsons while I was away on my damn six-day weekend.
Have you had your candy necklace today?