Simpson Safari Written by John Swartzwelder Directed by Mark Kirkland ============================================================================== Production code: CABF13 Original Airdate on FOX: 1-Apr-2001 Capsule revision B (31-Dec-03) ============================================================================== > "TV Guide" Synopsis ============================================================================== None submitted. [If you use these summaries to determine if you found the right capsule, here's a TV Guide-like synopsis: A labor strike by the local bag boys' union causes a food shortage in Springfield. But Our Favorite Family doesn't care because, thanks to a prize in a box of animal crackers, the Simpsons are going to Africa! -- Ed.] ============================================================================== > Title sequence ============================================================================== Blackboard: I WILL NOT FLUSH EVIDENCE I WILL NOT FLUSH at cutoff Couch: One more time ... the family run on and do a chorus line. They're joined by a line of Rockette-type women. As the camera pulls back, the back wall of the living room is lifted up to reveal elephants doing handstands on one front leg, magicians pulling rabbits out of hats, and other assorted circus performers. The music throughout sounds as though it's from a circus. [See "Comments" section for more -- Ed.] {jac} ============================================================================== > Did You Notice... ============================================================================== Rob Brown: ... SLH was uncharacteristically clever in this episode? ... Kitenge didn't seem to mind the dozens of mosquitoes buzzing around him in OFF's room? Don Del Grande: ... either it never occurred to anybody to go to the Kwik-E-Mart, which doesn't use bagboys, or it quickly ran out of food? ... the guide in Africa sounds like a cross between Carl and Apu? ... Victoria Falls is rated with two black diamonds? (That's a rating for the most dangerous ski runs) ... one of the monkeys is named Jojo, which is Bart's (unspoken) middle name? ... Lisa didn't have any diamonds at the end? ... Marge didn't comment about the things Homer said about flight attendants at the end, even though her father was one? Joe Green: ... Homer eats decades-old food with no apparent ill effects? Darrel C. Jones: ... the Pimple Faced Teen is old enough to vote? Joe Klemm: ... the recycling bin outside of the supermarket? ... the cans of Pringles that the kids get? ... the rice at the supermarket cost $.59? Haynes Lee: ... Marge's hair sticking out the Range Rover? [Land Rover, actually -- Ed.] Jared Rasmussen: ... Homer buys a 6-pack of Duff, although he often keeps cases stored away in the garage? ... Homer fills two shopping carts full of food and they get transferred into only three paper bags? ... a set of skis from "Little Big Mom" in the attic? ... Homer blew the dust off the first animal cracker but no others? ... the hut where the Simpsons were staying was equipped with electricity? ... the elephant skull on the bay by the river? ... Lisa doesn't have any grubs on her plate, which makes sense since she's a vegetarian? Benjamin Robinson: ... no one thinks to do their shopping in some other city? ... Bart really hadn't said anything in a while when he asked the crowd to look at Bushwell's work? ... Maggie has made a tiara from her diamonds? ============================================================================== > Voice Credits ============================================================================== - Starring - Dan Castellaneta (Homer, Tribesman, Warrior 2 {jlm}) - Julie Kavner (Marge) - Nancy Cartwright (Bart) - Yeardley Smith (Lisa) - Hank Azaria (Bag Boy 1, Bag Boy 2, Moe, Carl, Exec 1, N'gungo, Kitenge, Poacher {jlm}) - Harry Shearer (Dr. Hibbert, Manager, Kent Brockman, Lenny, Exec 3, Porter {jlm}, Maasai Chief {jlm}, Warrior 1) - Special Guest Voice - Frank Welker (Africa's Wildlife) - Also Starring - Tress MacNeille (Agnes Skinner, Waitress, Exec 3, Flight Attendant, Bushwell) - Karl Wiedergott (Extra Guy, Muntu {jlm}) ============================================================================== > Movie (and other) references ============================================================================== - "Surfin' Safari" (song) - title of episode is a spoof + Price Costco (store chain) - Homer shops at CostMo Foods + "Alice" (movie and TV series) - waitress says, "Kiss my grits," as Flo does + "Burke's Law" (TV series) {ddg} - Homer's lunchbox - "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" (movie) {jg2} - Homer wins a prize by finding something golden in a food package + KitchenAid (brand of household goods) {bjr} - animal crackers came from Kitchen-Maid + Ali-Foreman fight {jk} - famous heavyweight prizefighting bout took place in Africa in 1974; the cracker box pictures something similar - "The Lion King" (movie) {jr} - the procession of animals by the sunrise - the bay by the river on the right side resembles the "Elephant Graveyard" from the movie ~ Tom Green (comedian/actor) {ct} - tall skinny poacher has an uncanny resemblance to him + "Hungry Hungry Hippos" (game) - Homer meets a real-life version - "African Queen" (movie) {hl} - Homer attacked by leaches just like Bogart + "Shaka Zulu" (movie and 19th century tribal chief) {jg2} - Kitenge uses his name as an exclamation [See "Comments" section for more -- Ed.] ~ "Apocalypse Now" (movie) {hl} - going through dark forbidden river + Jane Goodall (animal researcher) - lived with and studied chimps, just as Joan Bushwell does (looks physically similar, too) - "Terrible Thunderlizards" {jc} - using bees as ordnance ~ "Congo" (book by Michael Crichton) {jc} - primates running an African diamond mine + "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" (song) - Bushwell literally has these + "Planet of the Apes" (movie) + "The Wizard of Oz" (movie) + "King Kong" (movie) - Bushwell's Serious Research pictures are still shots from these movies + DiamondVision (model of large video scoreboard) {ddg} - Bart taunts Lisa with his version ============================================================================== > Previous episode references ============================================================================== - [MG01] When they settled down to sleep at the hotel, the Simpsons' guide said: "Don't let the bedbugs paralyze!" (cf. Marge saying to Lisa: "Don't let the bedbugs bite.") {ah} - [7G09] "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" {bjr} - [7F17] The Simpsons go on safari {dj} - [9F07] Homer talks about Hungry Hungry Hippos {dj} - [9F15], [2F19] Workers go on strike {dj} - [1F06] The divided river and which way to go {hl} - [1F15] Homer tells weird thing on how poachers are good {hl} - [2F13] Simpson family goes overseas {bjr} - [2F15] The phrase "Pepsi Presents" is used {jg2} - [5F02] Lisa tells Bart to "buzz off" when he claims his "diamond vision," which resembles that of a fly ... {ak} - [5F08] The way the African guy reacts as Homer says OFF is going to Africa, is very reminiscent of Marge's shudder when Homer invited Cooder & Spud to live with them {ps} - [5F15] Homer (cf. Grampa) wants to eat a monkey {jg2} - [5F22] Bart desecrates a bird nest {hl} - [AABF20] OFF goes on an overseas vacation that almost turns deadly {jg2} - [BABF08] The way Homer speaks when OFF eats with the scientist is like the "mock-sophisticate accent" in "The Mansion Family" {ps} - [BABF11] "Don't let the bed bugs paralyze you" joke, very reminiscent of the missionaries' warning to Homer {sbn} - [CABF09] Hungry Hungry Hippo reference {sbn} ============================================================================== > Freeze frame fun ============================================================================== - Grocery Store sign {bjr} CostMo Foods - Bag boys' protest signs {bjr} I BAG WE STRIKE UNFAIR AND DEMAND --- RESPECT I VOTE! - "Springfield Shopper" headline {bjr} FOOD SUPPLY CUT OFF --------- EVEN PIES --------- - Homer's Lunchbox {bjr} BURKE'S LAW - Animal cracker factory sign {bjr} [ woman ] [slicing] [ globe ] KITCHEN-MAID, INC. - Catalog Marge reads {bjr} U N N E C E S S A R I E S IN-FLIGHT CATALOG - Pro-Muntu sign {jr} HAIL PRESIDENT MUNTU - More Pro-Muntu signs {bjr} MUNTU MUNTU MEANS BUILDS PROGRESS STADIUMS - Bart's wildlife check-off card {bjr} LION RHINO GIRAFFE ZEBU WARTHOG ELEPHANT BABOON [Each label had a picture of the corresponding animal above it. I think that was a hyena to the left of the baboon, but its label was not visible.] - Wildlife refuge sign {bjr} NGORONGORO WILDLIFE REFUGE - Sign at archaeological dig {bjr} OLDUVAI GORGE - Sign at falls {bjr} VICTORIA FALLS [double-black diamond] - Chimp refuge sign {bjr} JOaN BUSHWeLL'S CMiMP ReFUGe - Dr. Bushwell's log book {jr} SERIOUS RESEARCH - Pro-Kitenge billboard {bjr} HAIL PRESIDENT KITENGE - Dedication {bjr} Dedicated to the hardworking bag boys of America ... ... whose ineptness and greed were the inspiration for this episode. ============================================================================== > Animation, continuity, and other goofs ============================================================================== + Homer usually shops for groceries at the inflated Kwik-e-Mart, not the gas- station. {hl} + In past episodes, Homer sticks up for the little guy [...], but in this one, he's a jerk to the common working man. [Jason Carney answers, "He was being a jerk to a BAG BOY! That would be the common working 14-16 year old."] {sbn} = Homer's lunch box is hinged on the handle end, opposite to convention. {bjr} * The "Rumble in the Jungle" fight between Foreman and Ali took place in 1974, so why is it pictured on a box of Animal Crackers that are from the '60s (according to Marge anyway)? {rb} * The path to the "left" in the episode with the rainbow and the sun was in error. The rainbow was on top of the sun. A rainbow and the Sun are always on opposite sides [of an observer]. {db} * If the tribeswoman took the rings off their necks their necks would atrophy and die from asphyxiation. {hl} * The lip disc is from a South American tribe. {hl} * Rainbows can only be seen right after a rainstorm. {dj} = When Homer pulls out the Animal Crackers box as a "map," the backside is blank (the side with the images of a lion being shot in the face, Muhammad Ali, and the zebras in the convertible). {jr} * Victoria Falls is nowhere near where they would have been. {ddg} = Bart's tongue is green as he compliments Ms. Bushwell's grubs. ["I assumed it was from eating grubs," writes John Jensen -- Ed.] In the following shot it is back to being red. [Note: This is a goof if Bart's tongue was supposed to be green before. It technically isn't a goof if his tongue was never supposed to be green. Got all that? -- Ed.] * Diamonds that come out of mines don't sparkle -- they have to be polished first. {ddg} * All diamond mines are near volcanoes or hot springs, and there were none near Dr. Bushwell's compound. {dj} ============================================================================== > Reviews ============================================================================== Don Del Grande: That was actually a pretty good episode, even with the slow setup opening -- and no copout ending, either (although why Lisa didn't take any diamonds wasn't explained -- maybe she's boycotting diamonds dug with the hands of animal labor?). (A-) Brandon Foster-Gray: This has been the funniest ep. of all season, at least from the ones I have seen. "The Simpsons" are back to being at their best. This is about the only show that I watch regularly, and actually attempt to watch. The best thing is that as shaky as it seemed, this episode really did well with the continuity. Bag boy strike -> no food -> animal crackers -> safari (well there's some steps in between there, but still ... Great ep! BTW, can my review be put on SNPP? :) [Oooh, sorry, we just ran out of room. Better luck next time -- Ed.] (A+) Joe Green: A highly entertaining effort, with enough good jokes (like Homer's "reassuring" comment about being eaten by a crocodile) to compensate for the largely aimless plot. On the other hand, I also thought the "surprise" ending was kind of lame. And seeing as how I used to work as a bag boy, I sure HOPE that text at the end was nothing more than a joke ... (A-) Darrel C. Jones: Another excellent episode. While some of the jokes left something to be desired, the African jokes were funny (the witch doctor especially), and the ending was perfectly zany. A classic, hands down. 10/10 (A+) Michael Nusair: Maybe it's because there hasn't been a new episode in a while, or maybe it's because Teletoon's been showing episodes from seasons 2 - 3, but Homer's voice sounded especially annoying tonight. That aside, "Simpson Safari" was an okay episode. The first two acts were quite entertaining, with a few scattered laughs. I didn't much care, however, for the third act. Diamond-mining monkeys? I don't think so. It's not really that it didn't fit within the context of the episode; I just thought it was stupid. Anyway, this episode had a few laughs, and it was entertaining. The plot certainly wasn't the best we've seen this season, but I guess you can't have everything. [Original Grade: (B--)] (C+) Matt P: "The Simpsons" actually was funny last night. Really. This season has been a woeful disaster, but this episode proved there's still funny stuff for the Simpsons to do (which makes the many misfires this season all the more inexcusable). Not a great episode, but a pretty good one, thereby tying one or two other episodes as best of the season, with a (B+) Mike Parks: Stay in Springfield, Simpsons, the last few traveling eps have been awful, this one was no exception. The first act was far more interesting than the rest of the show. If the producers could have executed the act as well as they did the teacher's strike, this would have been far better. The 2nd act was decent, up until the hippo point. After that, the show seemed to deteriorate, relying on bathroom humor laughs for the rest of the show. One of, if not the, worst episode of this season. (D-) Mike Reed: Another good effort from Swartzwelder. (2 in a row, maybe he's turning it around) Light on plot and/or character development, but high on laughs, and that's what counts, right? (B+) Yours Truly: This is one of those rare episodes that improves in the third act, when the Simpsons (and the audience) meets Joan Bushwell, a chimp researcher with a secret. Before that, we get a contrived (even by today's standards) opening, followed by some over-broad attempts by the Simpsons to go native in Tanzania. Kitenge the tour guide was a high point, and I liked the attention the writers paid to Tanzanian landmarks and tourist attractions. Supposedly, the word "safari" literally means, "hard journey." Thankfully, this safari isn't a hard journey for the viewers, but had the humor been more sophisticated, it would have been a more memorable trip. (C+) AVERAGE GRADE: B (3.03) Std Dev.: 1.0864 (11 reviews computed) ============================================================================== > Comments and other observations ============================================================================== >> Meta-reference corner Haynes Lee: The animal anachronisms (rhino egg, burrowing giraffe) is a jab at the critics in this this newsgroup. Joe Klemm elaborates: Lisa pointing out the biological goofs in the African jungle makes fun of how some people on a.t.s. point out the obvious goofs of incidents that can't happen in real life, but are put there for humorous purposes (example: the man eating elephant in "Skinner's Sense of Snow). Benjamin Robinson: After learning of Kitenge's promotion to President, Homer said that he had been wondering what happened to him. This might be a comment on the way people wonder what happened to unresolved plot threads. On the topic of self-referencing, Mike Reed writes: IMHO, much of this episode was self-parody. Sure, it wasn't quite BABF09 in terms of self- parody, but it was in the same vein. It mocked several concepts of the writing of the Simpsons, such as exposition. Example 1: Narrator Lisa -- A common complaint around here these days is that (usually) Lisa will explain everything for the dumber viewers. Here, we either got an episode where Lisa explained everything all the time, or where the writers realized this flaw and mocked it. I'm betting on the latter. First, she told Marge where their rooms were. Then, Lisa explained that rhinos don't hatch from eggs. Then she told Homer that hippos CAN stand water. Soon, she told Homer to paddle to the left. Then, she said that they were headed for Victoria Falls. THEN, she told Marge that Dr. Bushwell was a woman. Finally, she explained that the monkeys were working as miners. This is either a really crappy episode or a complete self-reference. If it was a ref, it was well-done and well-hidden. Once I figured it out, I was really expecting Homer or Bart to tell her to stop explaining everything (thus, explaining the joke and blowing the entire concept) but they didn't give into temptation and let the joke go hidden. Nice touch, IMO. 2. The plot-booster -- The bag-boys plot booster was a self-ref, but not in the obvious way the autopsy opener from CABF07 was. It wasn't readily evident that it was, until it was brought up again in act III. Normally plot boosters are never referred to later, but here it was, long after we'd forgotten all about the bag boys and their noble fight. Not to mention that Homer kept going on about it despite the fact that they were lost in Africa. (The second plot.) I was pleasantly surprised that they did this. 3. (More) Needless Exposition -- Act three opens with Homer recapping what has happened before for no apparent reason. I mean, everyone there knew what was happening. (For them there was no commercial break.) He was doing it for the casual viewers who might have forgotten. This joke was also not ruined as it could've been: Bart could have said something like "Uh ... Homer? We know" but didn't. Whew! Also note that the tour guide explained to Homer that the skeleton's age was what mattered, and Marge said out loud that the soles of Bushwell's shoes were covered in diamonds, despite the fact that we're seeing it. Also, Bart's "I haven't said anything for a while" is probably what the writers were thinking when they wrote that line for him to say. That's why Lisa didn't say it. (Which would have been more in character.) >> Musical References R. Vain: [The Simpsons are] Listening to Angelique Kidjo in the car. Ann Speyer adds: The few lines we hear him [the guide] sing are from the song "Wé-Wé" by Angelique Kidjo, a musician from Benin, West Africa. The song can be found on her album "Logozo," as well as "Keep on Moving: The Best of Angelique Kidjo." And the English subtitles provided are NOT what Angelique's lyrics actually mean...at least not as far as I know! Chad Lehman: When asked to sing, Homer warbles a line from "Good Morning, Starshine". [Paraphrased -- Ed.] Jean Fontaine: You can hear the Andante from Mozart's piano concerto no. 21 in C major (K.467) when the family is having dinner at the chimp researcher's place. >> And that's just for openers! Benjamin Robinson observes: Tonight marks an unprecedented *seventh* airing for the "chorus line" couch gag, going all the way back to 1992's "Lisa's First Word (9F08)." Matt Groening supposedly said that it was one of his favorites. Don Del Grande, who tracks the couch gags for us, notes that it is one of the longest sequences (meaning it can be used as filler if a show runs short). [Indeed, this was a shorter-than-normal episode -- Ed.] I suspect both of these reasons account for its popularity with the production staff. >> Bagboys (and girls) of the world, unite! "s17mil" remembers: How many can relate to those poor bag boys on last night's ep? I worked for King Kullen for two years (the store was too cheap to employ baggers, cashiers had to do it themselves) and there was this one woman who said that she wanted all of her things in one bag and to not make it heavy ... when Agnes said the same thing, I nearly died. "woozywink" agrees: I as well can relate to that. Old women really do ask for the strangest ways off bagging. Believe it or not, I as well had a woman say the same "everything in one bag ... but not heavy" thing to me ... do you think they have meetings and discuss which insane requests to yammer about? Dave Syndoche: Try working in an electronics store. If I had a dollar for every old woman who came in looking for a "gadget" for some young male relative, or presents for their young male relatives who like "gadgets" I could probably buy something shiny. Shi Bao Nai: my local Kroger has a couple of "self serve" lanes, which I just absolutely love. Nothing against bag boys or cashiers, but it solves the problem of having some idiot in front of you. I'll never forget being behind an old woman who wanted all of her frozen items in one bag, but didn't want the bag to be heavy. She had over 20 frozen items, including two full gallons of ice cream. Frozen stuff is almost always heavy! Then she wanted all of her canned goods in one bag ... The beauty of the self serve lanes is that I can get in and out without having to actually deal with another human being. So when it's 7:00 and I'm surrounded by angry housewives and idiot children, I can just grab my six pack of Southpaw Light and a frozen pizza and check myself out. >> Out of Africa Benjamin Robinson: The writers obviously did some homework for this episode, because many of the landmarks and tourist attractions in real-life Tanzania actually appear in this episode. The Ngorongoro Crater, according to writer P. J. O'Rourke, is a 1,500-mile-deep chasm containing, "a miniature perfect universe of grassland and forest." It is near Lake Victoria, which I'll assume is near the Victoria Falls that the Simpsons took a little trip over. [However, "inc" was quick to point out, "The real Victoria Falls is actually about 1500 miles south of where the Simpsons would be" -- Ed.] We also see Mt. Kilimanjaro (the mountain Homer suggests climbing), and Olduvai Gorge, where the Leakeys discovered the oldest humanoid skeleton. Finally, the native Maasai tribe has settled at least partly in Tanzania. With the revolving parade of national names and leaders, the writers imply that power changes hands frequently in Tanzania. While this does reflect what goes on in many parts of Africa, Tanzania in reality enjoys a relatively stable and peaceful government as of this writing. >> Car Watch safari Joe Green: Kitenge drives OFF around in a Land Rover Defender. [{bjr} adds, "[the] durable but Spartan four-wheel-drive truck is practically the national vehicle of Africa" --Ed.] Benjamin Robinson: The Greenpeace "poachers" arrive on the scene in a black Jeep. It looks like part of the beloved CJ-series. >> And you thought your boss was tough Benjamin Trollip: When OFF escaped from the hippo on the river Kitenge exclaimed "Shaka Zulu!" Shaka Zulu is the most legendary figure in Zulu history (at least as far as we were taught). He led the Zulu race against the British in Natal. He is famous for his 'Bull's Horns' formation that involved circling the enemy and for his unrelenting standards. He made his soldiers run miles, barefoot over thorns to toughen their feet. Also his punishments were very severe; tree trunks were sharpened to a point, and his enemies were impaled on them. At least, this is what I remember from my history classes about 5 years ago ... >> If you're so smart, how come you aren't rich? Justin asks: In The Simpsons Go To Africa episode they come home each with a boatload of diamonds. Why aren't they rich? Don Del Grande answers: Because, oh, let's say, Moe. I mean, because, oh, let's say, after they paid all of the taxes on the diamonds, the money was just enough to pay for the removal of the Matlock Expressway (or didn't you notice that it's not there any more?), or maybe uninsured Grampa ran his car into the Kwik-E-Mart or something. (Or for all we know, Homer signed something at the power plant that says all precious stones obtained by the employees automatically become the property of Mr. Burns.) Bart and Lisa are rich enough as it is, thanks to their 50% of the T-shirt sales from the Krusty Komeback Special Garry Wishart: Because diamonds are worthless, the real money's in sugar. Jason Hoehn: I thought the real money was in grease. S. W. Lucky: All of the Simpsons are experts at finding next and better ways to lose money. Perhaps all the money they made from the diamonds just went to pay one of the unpaid debts from some other show. Gyumaoh: Homer traded them for magic beans. Someone named Yama has a Top, uh, Seven list: 1. Someone stole them 2. Someone offered Homer 20 dollars for them 3. They were actually cubic zirconiums (...conia?) 4. Homer ate them 5. They ended up between the floorboards 6. The Animal Crackers Company demanded the diamonds in return for the trip to Africa 7. They did keep them. They [the family] are in the Homertime house, only returning to the regular house to record new episodes Finally, Aaron "Space Museum" Hirshberg asks: Why didn't one of you knuckleheads say: "Wizard"? >> Coming Attractions Mike Reed: Voice-Over: Can the Simpsons survive in Africa? Homer: I'll need two seats on the plane, for the twins! Bart & Lisa: Are we insane yet?/Are we insane yet? Homer: I told you, yes! -- Bart: Maybe he'll lead us to bananas! Homer: Or more mouth-watering monkeys! Joe Green adds: Fox's print ads for this episode showed Homer saying "I'm voting myself off right now!" >> Miscellaneous, Etc. The Haynes Lee alterna-title for this episode is: The Simpsons Must Be Crazy Joe Green suggests: (ANNOYED GRUNT)kest Africa ============================================================================== > Quotes and Scene Summary {bjr} ============================================================================== % Homer, Bart, and Lisa go grocery shopping for the family. It turns % out that the Simpson family doesn't live on bread alone. Homer: [reading list] "Olive oil, asparagus" ... if your mother wasn't so fancy, we could shop at the gas station like normal people. Bart: [holding up a bag of candy] I need this candy for school. [Homer looks doubtful] Candy class. Homer: Well, okay, but get five bags in case I eat four on the way home. [Bart dumps some additional bags in the cart] Lisa: My teacher said I need cupcakes. Cupcakes to learn. Homer: In the cart. Bart: [toting a big ol' bottle of wine] I'm out of wine. Homer: Cart. [soon, Homer is pushing two full grocery carts. The kids bring up more snack food] Lisa: We need these because, we have to ... [trails off] [they just toss them in the carts] Homer: [holds up a six-pack of that wonderful Duff] My doctor says and my garage mechanic agrees that-- Bart: In the cart. Homer: Woo-hoo! -- "Simpson Safari" % Homer discovers that food shopping can be kind of fun. "Yeah," Bart % agrees, "I wish Maggie had to go to the emergency room more often." % At that moment, the scene shifts to one of Springfield General's % examining rooms. Maggie stands behind an X-ray machine, which % reveals that she has somehow swallowed an entire magazine. Marge % tells Hibbert that it was an issue of "Time," if that matters. % Hibbert becomes concerned, not about the baby's condition (she seems % fine), but because the front page of the Maggiezine has an article % about hard-liners gaining influence in Syria. % % Back at the store, Homer and the other two kids are in the check-out % line. Homer: Wait -- I changed my mind. Stack it in the order I'll eat it driving home. Bag Boy 1: Sir, please! I already bagged it by color, and in order of each item's discovery by man. Homer: Customer's always right; that's what everybody likes about us. Now, mush! [claps hands twice] Agnes: You tell him, Jumbo! [to her lane's bag boy] And you, start over! I want everything in one bag. Bag Boy 2: Yes, ma'am. Agnes: But I don't want the bag to be heavy. Bag Boy 2: I don't think that's possible. Agnes: What are you, the Possible Police? Just do it. Moe: [to his lane's bag boy] Hey, hey, watch what you're doing there, sack monkey. You're bruising my DuraLog. Homer: [poking Bag Boy 1 with a stick] Hurry up! I can't stand here jabbing you all day. Bag Boy 1: Ow! Stop. Bag boys have feelings, too, you know. Homer: No, you don't. Manager: Eh, excuse me. Is there a problem here? Homer: No, I can handle it. [sotto voce to Bag Boy 1] I'll get you, squealer. Bag Boy 1: That's it. On behalf of Sack Stuffers Local 199, I'm calling a strike! -- You have nothing to lose but your chains! "Simpson Safari" % The bag boy jumps up on the counter and quickly gains the support of % the other baggers. Homer is unconcerned. The strike gains % momentum, though, picking up support from unions of fruit packers % and unpackers, shelf dusters, and even unattractive waitresses. To % back up their demands, the strikers use long poles to knock the % groceries out of the customers' hands as they try to leave the % store. % % The intimidation tactics work, at least in the Simpsons household, % where the cupboards are almost bare. Homer: So hungry. There's gotta be some food left. [pulls a couple of cans out of one of the cabinets, and reads their labels] Gopher jerky? Cream of toast? Where did we get all this crap? Marge: Most of it was sent by relatives who couldn't see very well. Bart: [looking in through the kitchen, holding up a birds' nest] Hey, I found some eggs! The mother abandoned her nest. [a large black bird flies up to Bart and pecks at him aggressively, knocking him to the ground] -- That must be the father bird, then, "Simpson Safari" % Santa's Little Helper catches the scent of some food, and starts to % sneak away. The rest of the family notices this, and tries to % follow him. SLH tries to misdirect the family, and then makes a % dash to the attic. He opens a trunk and pulls out a lunchbox. % Before he can eat his prize, Homer snatches the box away with a % triumphant "yoink!" The box is Homer's old "Burke's Law" lunchbox, % and it contains an equally ancient box of animal crackers. Homer % ignores Marge's warning for caution and wolfs them down. When he % bites into one of them, he winces in pain. It turns out the box % contains more than just stale cookies. Bart: Whoa, a solid gold animal cracker. Lisa: [reading box] "Find the golden giraffe and we'll send you and your family to Africa!" Homer: Africa! They're bound to have food there! -- "Simpson Safari" % Homer heads down to Animal Cracker HQ to claim his prize. The % executives are a little reluctant to make good on their promise. Homer: ... and on my free African safari I want to everything on this box. I want to shoot a lion in the face, fight Muhammad Ali, and ride in a convertible with two happy zebras. Exec 1: Sir, that contest ended thirty years ago. We don't even make animal crackers any more. Exec 2: We make household poisons and Christmas lights. Homer: [holding the box up] Your box made promises of a vacational nature, and I expect you to live up to them. Exec 3: We won't, though. Exec 1: Sir, with all due respect, an old box of cookies is not a legal contract. [suddenly, the string on the cracker box breaks, and the box swings into Homer's face] Homer: Ow! My eye! [the executives huddle] Exec 1: We are in big trouble. Exec 2: He could sue us. Exec 3: This defective string ... Exec 1: ... Yeah, it's got very sharp corners ... [they break huddle and turn to Homer] Mr. Simpson, we've decided to make good on your vacation. Homer: Woo hoo! [sotto voce] Hey, mister. Exec 1: Yes? Homer: On the plane, I'm going to need two seats, [points to his rump] for the twins. -- They never go anywhere alone, "Simpson Safari" % Homer gives the happy news to his family. Homer: The Simpsons are going to Africa. Family: Yay! [meanwhile in Africa, two tribesman dance around a fire. Suddenly, one of them stops] Tribesman: What is it, N'gungo? N'gungo: Evil is coming. Tribesman: What shall we do, N'gungo? N'gungo: [puts his mask on the other tribesman's head] You are N'gungo now! [runs away] -- Something wicked this way comes, "Simpson Safari" % [End of Act One. Time: 5:39] % % As they fly to their destination, Lisa likens Africa to a beautiful % jewel. Marge is more impressed with some musical garment bags she % sees in the in-flight catalog. Attention passengers -- please prepare for our landing in Tanzania. [someone in the cockpit hands her a note] I'm sorry, it is now called New Zanzibar. [she is given another note] Excuse me, it is now called Pepsi presents New Zanzibar. -- Flight Attendant, "Simpson Safari" % The Simpsons meet their guide at the airport. Kitenge: Hello, hello, Simpsons. Welcome to Africa. I am your guide, Kitenge. Family: Hey, how you doin' there? Hi, etc. Lisa: Isn't that cute? A bushbaby. [indicates the animal on Kitenge's shoulder] Kitenge: Where? [notices the bushbaby for the first time] Ahh! Shoo! Shoo! [it leaves] Oh, man, I just bought this shirt. -- "Simpson Safari" % The family piles into Kitenge's truck and drives past a series of % billboards extolling a man named Muntu. Marge: Who's Muntu? Kitenge: He is our leader. He seized power in a bloodless coup -- All smothering. Marge: Just like Jimmy Carter. -- Indeed, like all good politicians, "Simpson Safari" % Kitenge and the Simpsons pull up in front of a large boarding house % atop a tree, where they will be staying. A porter says he'll be % down for the luggage but Homer tries tossing it up to him. The % luggage falls short of its mark and lands in a spider web. An % enormous spider sprays venom on the suitcase, shrinking it to a % quarter of its original size. Homer takes the incident in stride. % % At night, Bart tries to shoo away the mosquitoes buzzing around his % bed. Bart: Help! Ooh, this mosquito net's not working. Kitenge: No, no, you have it inside-out. [rearranges it so all the mosquitoes are now on the outside] There. Lisa: When do we get to see the animals? Kitenge: In the morning, little one. Now goodnight, and don't let the bedbugs paralyze. [turns out the light] Marge: Homey, did you remember to tip Kitenge? Kitenge: No he did not. -- Note to self: Always tip Kitenge, "Simpson Safari" % Next morning the family starts their safari. Bart has a book with % pictures of animals in it. When he sees one, he marks its picture % with an "X." Bart: All right! I got another one. [marks a picture of a warthog] Lisa: Hey, you didn't see a warthog. Bart: I'm looking at one right now. Lisa: Mom, Bart implied I was a warthog! Marge: Nobody's a warthog. Bart: What about him? [camera pulls back to reveal a warthog sitting just to Lisa's left] Lisa: Aghh! Bart: [laughs] -- "Simpson Safari" % Marge marvels at the spectacular African scenery. Homer is more % impressed that the truck's odometer has rolled over to 10,000. (He % even takes a picture.) % % Kitenge rolls to a halt in a nature preserve. Kitenge: And now we sit quietly and wait for nature to unveil herself. [a rhinoceros hatches from a large egg] Lisa: Wait, rhinos don't come from eggs. Homer: What did you just see, Lisa? Lisa: I know, but-- Homer: [insistent] What did you just see? [a giraffe sticks its head up through what looks like a prairie dog hole] Lisa: Oh, now, come on. -- "Simpson Safari" % Kitenge points out a cheetah sitting by a tree. Marge looks at it % through binoculars, and says that it doesn't look that fast. Think % again. In the time it takes her to say this and put down her % binoculars, the cheetah has run right up to her. % % As the group drives to their next destination, Kitenge invites Homer % to sing along to some African music. Homer does his best, singing % the nonsense-part of "Good Morning, Starshine." Kitenge abruptly % halts the truck. Marge: What? What is it? Kitenge: Hmmm, poachers. [cut to three men putting a cheetah in a cage] Lisa: [gasps] That's terrible. Homer: Now, honey, poachers are nature's way of keeping the balance. Whenever there are so many species that people get confused and angry, a poacher is born. -- "Simpson Safari" % Kitenge fires a shot with his rifle, which scares the poachers away. % The cheetah uses the distraction to escape. % % With that unpleasantness out of the way, the safari party arrives at % Olduvai Gorge. Kitenge: This is the earliest known fossil of a human being. [indicates a skeleton half-buried in the sediment] It's over two million years old. Homer: Pffft. I've got more bones than that guy. If you're trying to impress me, you've failed. Kitenge: It's not the number of bones, sir, it's the-- Homer: [insistent] You have failed. -- Indiana Homer, "Simpson Safari" % The Simpsons visit a Maasai village. They sit by the campfire with % the village chieftain drinking a traditional Maasai beverage from % cups. Marge asks what kind of blood they are drinking and the % family does a spit-take when Kitenge tells them it's cows' blood. % The villagers find this uproarious. % % Lisa and Bart show off some of the body adornments the Maasai gave % them -- neck rings for the former, and a lip disc for the latter. % Later that night, the family goes more or less completely native and % dances around the fire with the Maasai. % % A fine day of frenzied dancing comes to an end when Homer tries % playing the drums along with the village musicians. Some of the % "drums" turn out to be a hippopotamus, who doesn't take kindly to % having his rear end slapped around. The hippo gives chase. Kitenge % jumps on the hippo's back and covers its eyes. He tells the family % to run for it, and they do, but a river blocks their path. The % hippo bucks Kitenge and stomps him a few times. When the hippo % finishes with him, it turns its attention to Homer. Grabbing a % Maasai shield and spear, Homer directs his family to the river, on % the theory that hippos hate water. Using the shield as a boat, the % family floats away from the riverbank. The hippo tries to follow, % but shrinks away from the water, just as Homer said he would. % % The family isn't out of the woods yet. They are floating toward a % fork in the river. The left branch looks placid, with a rainbow and % calm water. The right branch is an ominous rapids flowing between % banks lined with forbidding rocks. Homer has a tough time deciding % which way to go. Lisa recommends the left fork and for the first % time in the trip, Homer listens to her. He paddles with his hands, % but leeches -- one of them the size of a man's forearm -- quickly % attach themselves to his arms. Homer shakes them off, but as soon % as he does so, a wind pushes the "boat" down the *right* branch of % the river. % % [End of Act Two. 12:23] % % Homer soberly considers the family's circumstances. Homer: Okay, here's the situation: We're hopelessly lost and about to die. [a crocodile roars up from the river. The family screams] Don't worry -- being eaten by a crocodile is just like going to sleep ... in a giant blender. -- Well, that's comforting, "Simpson Safari" % Marge wonders where the river goes, so Homer consults a map. It % isn't that helpful, though, since it's just an outline of the % African continent with a cartoon monkey head superimposed in it. % Despite this, Homer is confident enough to conclude that, according % to the map, there is no river. Marge keeps Homer from walking out % of the boat. % % The family spots some natives peering at them from the jungle brush. % The natives decide to greet them by sharing some artwork, but the % Simpsons misinterpret their intentions. Homer chucks the spear at % them, narrowly missing one of the men. "That's not funny," he says. % "I could have been hurt." His friend sympathizes. % % The family continues to float peacefully down the river. Homer: So, do you think they settled that bag boy strike yet? [the go past a sign reading, "Victoria Falls"] Lisa: Oh, no, we're heading toward Victoria Falls! Homer: Here's why they shouldn't get anything. One-- [the boat goes over the edge of the falls. The camera cuts to the base of the falls, but the Simpsons don't crash on the rocks at the bottom. Instead, they land safely in a giant flower by the riverbank] Homer: Whew. This flower saved our lives! [the petals close in on the family] Marge: Oh, no, it's eating us! Homer: Not a chance. [pushes through one of the petals, and the family walks safely outside] Bart: Wow, Dad, how did you do that? Homer: [slight disdain] It's a flower. -- "Simpson Safari" % The family trudges onward. Bart + Lisa: Are we insane yet? Are we insane yet? Are we insane yet? Homer: I told you, yes. Now, Bart, go to the top of that hill, and see if you can spot our hotel. [points to a large mountain] Bart: Mt. Kilimanjaro? Homer: Go. Bart: [resigned] Okay. [he takes only a few steps before a chimpanzee jumps out of a tree, frightening him] Marge: A chimp! Lisa: Hello, little fella. [the chimp walks somewhere offscreen] Bart: Hey, maybe he'll lead us to bananas. Homer: Or more mouth-watering monkeys. [the family follows the chimp] -- Mm mm good, "Simpson Safari" % The family trails the chimp, even going so far as to swing from % vines, Tarzan-style. Along the way, Homer continues his rant about % the bag boys' strike. (He's against overtime pay, for the record.) % % The chimp leads the Simpsons to Dr. Bushwell's animal preserve. Lisa: This is the place I've read about, where Dr. Bushwell lives among the chimps. Marge: Oh, isn't that sweet? He named it after his wife. Lisa: No, Dr. Bushwell is a woman. Marge: Well, now I've heard everything. -- Marge the progressive, "Simpson Safari" % Dr. Bushwell and the Simpsons enjoy afternoon tea and snacks. Marge: It's kind of you to take us in, Dr. Bushwell. Bart: Yeah. Thanks for the grub. Bushwell: Grubs. Bart: Whatever. [happily eats another grub] Ah, there's a burst of flavor. Lisa: Your work has really inspired me, Doctor, and I love your sensible ponytail. Bushwell: Why, thank you. [to a chimp] See, Jo-jo, she likes it. [the chimp looks a bit put out] Homer: So I noticed your home smells of feces. Bushwell: Yes? Homer: And not just monkey feces, either. Bushwell: Could we talk about something else? Marge: I, I love what you've done with these poles. [Homer sniffs the air] -- "Simpson Safari" % Joan Bushwell describes her daily routine. Bushwell: Every day I get up at 5:30, watch the chimps, eat a quick lunch of roots and water, then more chimp- watching. After dark, I come home and think about chimps until it's time for bed. Homer: You must be the most boring woman on earth. -- "Simpson Safari" % One of the chimps warns Dr. Bushwell of impending danger. The % poachers have arrived at the gate. Poacher: [using a bullhorn] Give us the chimps, and no one gets hurt! Bushwell: Absolutely not! [to the Simpsons] Will you help me defend the refuge? Homer: Anything for these noble animals. [watches a chimp scratch his butt on a tree] So like us. -- Some of us, anyway, "Simpson Safari" % The fight is on. Homer and Bart do fashion grenades from coconuts % and use them to drive the poachers from the refuge walls. They try % to high-five one another, but their aim is off and the two slap each % other in the face instead. Marge and Lisa use blowpipes to shoot % bees at the poachers' tires. The stingers hit the tires with enough % force to puncture their sidewalls and deflate them. Then the % poachers' Jeep inexplicably explodes. Homer bends a tree into a % catapult and places a monkey on it, ready for launch. "Somebody % light this monkey!" he yells, but the chimp doesn't think much of % the idea and attacks Homer instead. % % One of the poachers breaches the camp's walls and starts putting % chimps in a sack. Lisa wrestles with him, and in the fight the % man's outer shirt comes open, revealing a Greenpeace T-shirt % underneath. Lisa is understandably confused. Lisa: Greenpeace? Poacher: That's right. And we're not leaving until we rescue every animal here. Lisa: Well, if you really cared about chimps, you'd know that Dr. Bushwell is their best friend. Poacher: Oh, is that right? Why don't you tell her about the diamond mine, Doctor? Bushwell: Diamond mine? What are you talking about? Poacher: I'm talking about this. [there's a whistle hanging around Dr. Bushwell's neck on a lanyard. The man grabs and blows it. At this signal, a column of tired chimps walks slowly out of a hidden diamond mine] Lisa: [gasps] The chimps are running a diamond mine! Bushwell: Why, what fascinating behavior. I must document this new activity. [takes out a diamond-studded pen and notebook] Lisa: [scolding] Dr. Bushwell! Bushwell: What, these? Why they were a graduation present. -- "Simpson Safari" % One of the Greenpeace "poachers" estimates the mineshaft to be five % miles deep. In the mine itself, a chimp excitedly holds up a % diamond he discovered. His co-worker slaps it away, saying (in % chimp language) that it's just a zirconium. % % A search of Bushwell's house turns up diamonds in nearly every % possible hiding place -- and even on the soles of her shoes. The % Greenpeace man figures Bushwell is one of the world's ten richest % chimp researchers. Lisa: How could you exploit your beloved chimps like this? Bart: I think we should look at her research before we condemn her entirely. [everyone stares at Bart, dumbstruck] I haven't said anything for a while. -- Better to be silent and thought a fool ... "Simpson Safari" % Lisa takes a look at Dr. Bushwell's "research," but it doesn't % exonerate the scientist. Lisa: These are just pictures of monkeys from famous movies! This is disgraceful, Doctor! Bushwell: All right! So I snapped! You don't understand the crushing loneliness and greed. Marge: Don't worry, Doctor. We'll get you all the help you need. Bushwell: [gradually becoming unhinged] No! Don't put me away! [holds up two handfuls of diamonds] I'll give you diamonds. Everybody wants diamonds! Diamonds will make everything all better! Diamonds! Diamonds! [cut to the interior of a plane. The Simpsons, except for Lisa, are carrying an impressive quantity of diamonds] Homer: What a nice lady. Marge: Very nice. Bart: Hey, Lis, check it out. [holds two diamonds up to his eyes. The camera cuts to his point of view, which looks like an image from an insects' compound eye] Diamond-Vision! Lisa: Buzz off. [cut to normal view] -- "Simpson Safari" % The plane taxis past a billboard reading, "Hail President Kitenge." % Sure enough, it's their former tour guide, looking presidential and % carrying a scepter. Homer: Hey, look! Our tour guide got a new job. Marge: Hmm. Quite a promotion. Homer: I was wondering what became of him. Marge: What happened to President Muntu? [Muntu emerges from the back of the plane, wearing a flight attendants' uniform, and pushing a food cart] Muntu: I don't want to talk about it. [tosses some peanuts to Bart] [The Simpsons laugh] Homer: [through his laughter] He got overthrown! Now he's just a stinkin' flight attendant. Hey, where's my pillow? -- "Simpson Safari" % The closing title card dedicates this episode to the bag boys of % America, citing their greed and ineptitude as an inspiration. % % [End of Act Three: 19:51] % % Normal end credit music and Gracie Sound. ============================================================================== > Contributors ============================================================================== {ak} Andrew Krupowicz {bjr} Benjamin Robinson {ct} Chris Trboyevich {db} David B {ddg} Don Del Grande {dj} Darrel Jones {hl} Haynes Lee {jac} James A. Cherry {jc} Jeff Cross {jg2} Joe Green {jk} Joe Klemm {jlm} Jesse L. McCann {jr} Jared Rasmussen {ps} Per_Esben Svelstad {rb} Rob Brown {sbn} Shi B. Nai ============================================================================== > Legal Mumbo Jumbo ============================================================================== This episode capsule is Copyright 2003 Benjamin Robinson. It is not to be redistributed in a public forum without consent from its author or current maintainer (capsules@snpp.com). All quoted material and episode summaries remain property of The Simpsons, Copyright of Twentieth Century Fox. All other contributions remain the properties of their respective authors. The Quote and Scene Summary itself is Copyright 2003 Benjamin Robinson. This capsule has been brought to you by Bushwell's Chimp Refuge and Diamond Mine. This work is dedicated to Raymond Chen, James A. Cherry, Ricardo Lafaurie, Frederic Briere, and all of those who made episode capsules what they are today.