| Revision as of 00:32, 27 November 2006 edit70.187.188.103 (talk) →Synopsis: Milhouse Van Houten link← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 00:31, 25 December 2024 edit undoPallettown (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users4,478 edits →External links: Added category | ||
| (252 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}} | |||
| {{Infobox Simpsons episode| | |||
| {{Infobox Simpsons episode | |||
| episode_name = Milhouse of Sand and Fog | | |||
| | image = | |||
| episode_no = 359 | | |||
| | caption = | |||
| prod_code = GABF19 | | |||
| | season = 17 | |||
| airdate = ], ] | | |||
| | episode = 3 | |||
| writer = ] | | |||
| | director = ] | |||
| | writer = ] | |||
| blackboard = | | |||
| | production = GABF19 | |||
| couch_gag = A ] menu screen pops up and the "delete this recording now" option is selected | | |||
| | airdate = {{Start date|2005|09|25}} | |||
| guest_star = None | | |||
| | couch_gag = The Simpsons sit down on the couch as normal. A ] menu pops up, asking the viewer if they would like to save the recording or delete it. "Delete This Recording" is chosen and the screen goes black. | |||
| image = ]| | |||
| | commentary = {{Plainlist| | |||
| season = 17 | | |||
| * ] | |||
| * Patric M. Verrone | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| }} | |||
| | prev = ] | |||
| | next = ] | |||
| }} | }} | ||
| "'''Milhouse of Sand and Fog'''" is the third episode of the seventeenth season of '']''. It aired on ], |
"'''Milhouse of Sand and Fog'''" is the third episode of the ] of the American animated television series '']''. It originally aired on ] in the United States on September 25, 2005. The episode was written by ] and directed by ]. | ||
| ==Synopsis== | |||
| {{spoiler}} | |||
| Inspired by ]' suggestion of purposely exposing the boys to the chicken pox, ] invites all the neighborhood kids over to the Simpson house for a "pox party" (at fifteen bucks a head). However, he ends up catching it himself, having no childhood ]. One good thing comes of it, though: Milhouse's folks reconcile. | |||
| Or so it seems. However, ] feels neglected because his parents aren't fawning over him as they once did, competing for his love. Milhouse schemes to break up his parents again, and enlists both ] and a plot borrowed from '']'' The boys leave a ] conspicuously located in Kirk's bed--unfortunately, it's one of ]'s. Luanne thinks Marge is having an affair with her husband, and soon she has Homer questioning his wife's fidelity. An argument ensues, and Bart realizes he may have split up his own parents instead of Milhouse's. | |||
| In this episode, Milhouse’s parents reconcile, which makes him feel neglected, so he and Bart tried to break them up, which accidentally causes Homer and Marge to fight. The episode received mixed reviews. | |||
| Bart schemes to reunite them by pretending to fall off Springfield Gorge into a river, using a ]—but Milhouse's poor eyesight queers the deal, and Bart ends up really taking the plunge. Homer leaps into the rapids and rescues Bart, and through a little trust, Marge saves them both from going over the ]. The Simpsons reconcile, once safely on the bank. Milhouse, not wishing to live in a world without his best friend, leaps over the cliff. Marge worriedly asks if he can swim. "What do you think?" asks Bart. | |||
| == |
==Plot== | ||
| During ]'s sermon, ] is scratching. The family takes Maggie to see ], who diagnoses Maggie with ]. Inspired by ]' suggestion of purposely exposing ] to chicken pox, ] invites all the neighborhood kids over to the Simpson house for a "]". Having no childhood immunity, he ends up catching it himself by drinking from Maggie's milk bottle. ] parents ] and ] attend the party, and after getting drunk on ]'s custom margaritas, they resume their relationship. | |||
| *In the ] church, ], ] and three of ]'s children were seen. | |||
| *The Springfield parents' scheme of purposely exposing their kids to Maggie's chicken pox is a centuries-old (and medically controversial) technique known as ]. | |||
| *This is the second time Milhouse's therapist Dr. Sally Wexler is referred to, the first time being "]". | |||
| *Doctors are actually the idea of pox parties that was used in this episode, claiming people should get the chickenpox vaccine instead as a safer alternative. | |||
| *Bart's fall over the cliff references two past Simpson moments. First, Bart falling on the rocks references Homer's famous fall over Springfield Gorge in "]". Second, the idea of having a Simpson use a dummy over a cliff to fake their death was used by Homer in "]". | |||
| Kirk and Luann inform Milhouse that they are considering reuniting. However, Milhouse feels neglected because his parents are not fawning over him as they did while they were separated. He schemes to break them up again, and ] helps him with a plot borrowed from '']''. The boys place a ], belonging to Marge, on Kirk's bed. Luann finds the bra, assumes Marge is having an affair with Kirk, and informs Homer. When Homer confronts Marge, she angrily denies the allegation and kicks him out of the house. | |||
| ==Cultural References== | |||
| *The term "Pox Box" is a play on the former name of ], ''Fox Box.'' | |||
| *The beginning of this episode (the Pox Party) is similar to the ] episode ]. | |||
| *In the scene parodying '']'', in addition to the cheating scene, it also involves the O.C. gang going to ] (along with a person dressed as ]), with ''The O.C.'''s theme song '']'' playing (Snoopy then forces the O.C. kids to take out money from an ATM at gunpoint). Ryan Atwood, a main character on the show, once played Snoopy in a school musical. ''California'' is also played over the end credits. | |||
| *In one scene, Bart and Milhouse are acting out a song from the play '']'', "]". | |||
| *Marge saves Bart and Homer from going over the falls the same way as ] did with his girl friend in '']''. | |||
| Prodded by ], a remorseful Bart confesses to Marge of what he did, but Marge refuses to reconcile with Homer due to his mistrust towards her. To bring Homer and Marge back together, Lisa inadvertently influences Bart and Milhouse to plan to throw a ] that looks like Bart off a cliff into the river below, while Homer and Marge, after receiving false messages from each other to meet, watch. However, after breaking his glasses, Milhouse accidentally pushes the real Bart off the cliff. Homer jumps into the rapids to save him, but they end up clinging to a rock near a waterfall. There, Bart confesses to Homer what he did, leading Homer to strangle him. Marge advises them to trust her and let go of the rock. They let go, and she catches them while swinging from a rope tied to a tree. Once safely on the riverbank, Marge and Homer reconcile. They see Milhouse, thinking Bart died, jump off the cliff, leaving his fate unresolved. Marge wonders if Milhouse can swim, to which Bart asks "What do ''you'' think?" | |||
| ==Goofs== | |||
| *] worries adult-onset chicken pox will render Homer ]--but years of working in a ] plant have already done that. However, only ] and ] know this, and they covered it up to avoid paying compensation (although this is unnecessary as they already tricked Homer into signing a liability waiver in "]"). Then again, Homer asks if he's sterile in "]", and Marge assures him he is. So either he found out at some point or she was fibbing to avoid an awkward conversation. | |||
| *Milhouse (apparently) already had the chicken pox once, in "]", but it is possible to contract the disease twice. | |||
| * Homer makes an oddly placed allusion to Shakespeare's Hamlet. When Marge screeches her innocence of adultery, Homer quips,'Oooh, "The lady doth protest too much methinks." In its original context, the line is spoken by Queen Gertrude in contempt of the Player Queen's vow of virtual self-flagellation in the event of her husband's death, and thus, while making literal sense in the Simpsons' scene, fails to transmit with any true accuracy. | |||
| == |
==Production== | ||
| Writer ] based the episode on his own experiences at the time since he was raising three children and dealing with chickenpox.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Rachel|last=Shields|date=December 13, 2009|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/20-years-of-the-simpsons-1839329.html|title=20 Years Of The Simpsons|website=]|access-date=September 3, 2023|archive-date=September 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904004357/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/20-years-of-the-simpsons-1839329.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| *'''Milhouse:''' I don't want to live in a world without Bart! ''(jumps down a cliff into the water)'' <br/> '''Marge:''' Can he swim? <br/> '''Bart:''' ''(cool)'' What do you think? | |||
| *'''Marge:''' Maggie, that's not what you do with a ] book! ''(sees Homer flossing his teeth with a Bible's bookmark)'' Homer! <br/> '''Homer:''' What? I forgot to floss today. | |||
| *'''Bart:''' We tried to break up ''your'' parents and we broke up ''mine''! <br/> '''Milhouse:''' Wanna call my ] and tell her how you feel? ''(dials into his ])'' Hello, Dr. Wexler? <br/> '''Wexler (over phone):''' Stop calling me! I'm on my ]! ''(to her husband)'' Yeah, it's that weird kid again. | |||
| *'''Homer:''' Fifteen dollars to infect your kids! Now featuring the Pox box! ''(disclaimer fast)'' Pox Box not recommended for ] or nursing women. As with any ] box, results may vary. ''(normal)'' Pox box! | |||
| *'''Bart:''' I'd pay you a kajillion dollars for you and Marge to get together again. <br/> '''Homer:''' ''(thinks)'' Make it 2 kajillion. <br/> '''Marge:''' Homer! <br/> '''Homer:''' We'll lose the first kajillion to taxes. | |||
| *'''Ralph:'''(when he smells Maggie) I feel like a chicken already! I just laid an egg in my pants! | |||
| *'''Milhouse:''' "Sweet Lizzie McGuire!" | |||
| ==Cultural references== | |||
| ==Broadcasting Information== | |||
| In August 2022, screenshots from this episode were used in social media to erroneously show that the series had ] the ].<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 9, 2022|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-simpsons-monkeypox-idUSL1N2ZL1JY|title=Fact Check-"The Simpsons" did not predict monkeypox outbreak|website=]|access-date=September 3, 2023|archive-date=September 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904004357/https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-simpsons-monkeypox-idUSL1N2ZL1JY|url-status=live}}</ref> Instead, the screenshots from this episode showing Homer with rashes were combined with an image of Homer with a monkey from the ] episode "]."<ref>{{Cite web|first=Dezimey|last=Kum|date=August 15, 2022|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2022/08/15/fact-check-no-the-simpsons-did-not-predict-monkeypox-outbreak/10276019002/|title=Fact check: Viral images of 'The Simpsons' unrelated to 2022 monkeypox outbreak|website=]|access-date=September 3, 2023|archive-date=September 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904004357/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2022/08/15/fact-check-no-the-simpsons-did-not-predict-monkeypox-outbreak/10276019002/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| ==Reception== | |||
| ''']/]''' | |||
| ===Viewing figures=== | |||
| *'''1st Airdate:''' Sunday, ], ] | |||
| The episode earned a 3.7 rating and was watched by 10.46 million viewers, which was the 34th most-watched show that week.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=] Medianet|date=September 27, 2005|url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=092705_03|title=Weekly Program Rankings Report (Sept. 19-25)|access-date=June 10, 2023|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221112748/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=092705_03|archive-date=December 21, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| *'''2nd Airdate:''' Sunday, ], ] | |||
| *'''3rd Airdate:''' Sunday, ], ] | |||
| ===Critical response=== | |||
| '''] & ]''' (]) | |||
| Ryan Budke of '']'' enjoyed the first half of the episode featuring Maggie and the chickenpox but thought the second half "seemed almost phoned in." He also did not like that two of the first three episodes of the season featured Homer and Marge fighting.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ryan|last=Budke|date=September 25, 2005|title=Simpsons: A Milhouse of Sand & Fog|url=http://www.tvsquad.com:80/2005/09/25/simpsons-a-milhouse-of-sand-and-fog/|website=]|access-date=September 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051126091700/http://www.tvsquad.com:80/2005/09/25/simpsons-a-milhouse-of-sand-and-fog/|archive-date=November 26, 2005}}</ref> | |||
| *'''1st Airdate:''' Sunday, ], ] | |||
| *'''2nd Airdate:''' Friday, ], ] | |||
| *'''3rd Airdate:''' Saturday, ], ] | |||
| *'''4th Airdate:''' Tuesday, ], ] | |||
| *'''5th Airdate:''' Sunday, ], ] | |||
| *'''6th Airdate:''' Friday, ], ] | |||
| Colin Jacobson of ''DVD Movie Guide'' said it was a "moderately amusing episode" reexamining the Kirk and Luann relationship since most character changes are undone by episode's end.<ref>{{cite web|first=Colin|last=Jacobson|date=December 10, 2017|title=The Simpsons: The Complete Seventeenth Season (2005-06)|url=http://www.dvdmg.com/simpsonss17.shtml|website=DVD Movie Guide|access-date=September 2, 2024|archive-date=August 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240818182606/http://www.dvdmg.com/simpsonss17.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| ''']''' | |||
| *'''1st Airdate:''' Tuesday, ], ] | |||
| In 2021, Hannah Saab of '']'' named this episode as one of the 10 best episodes featuring Milhouse.<ref>{{cite web|first=Hannah|last=Saab|date=November 13, 2021|title=The Simpsons: 10 Best Milhouse Episodes, Ranked|url=https://screenrant.com/simpsons-best-milhouse-episodes-ranked/|website=]|access-date=September 2, 2024|archive-date=June 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630180112/https://screenrant.com/simpsons-best-milhouse-episodes-ranked/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| ''']''' | |||
| *'''1st Airdate:''' Sunday, ], ] | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| ''']''' | |||
| * "]", an episode of ''South Park'' similarly addressing a pox party intended to spread varicella | |||
| *'''1st Airdate:''' Sunday, ], ] | |||
| ==References== | |||
| ''']''' | |||
| {{reflist}} | |||
| *'''1st Airdate:''' Sunday, ], ] | |||
| == External links == | |||
| ''']''' | |||
| {{wikiquote|The_Simpsons/Season_17#Milhouse_of_Sand_and_Fog|"Milhouse of Sand and Fog"}} | |||
| *'''1st Airdate:''' Wednesday, ], ] | |||
| {{portal|The Simpsons}} | |||
| * {{IMDb episode|0757020}} | |||
| {{The Simpsons episodes|17}} | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 00:31, 25 December 2024
3rd episode of the 17th season of The Simpsons
| "Milhouse of Sand and Fog" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |||
| Episode no. | Season 17 Episode 3 | ||
| Directed by | Steven Dean Moore | ||
| Written by | Patric M. Verrone | ||
| Production code | GABF19 | ||
| Original air date | September 25, 2005 (2005-09-25) | ||
| Episode features | |||
| Couch gag | The Simpsons sit down on the couch as normal. A TiVo menu pops up, asking the viewer if they would like to save the recording or delete it. "Delete This Recording" is chosen and the screen goes black. | ||
| Commentary |
| ||
| Episode chronology | |||
| |||
| The Simpsons season 17 | |||
| List of episodes | |||
"Milhouse of Sand and Fog" is the third episode of the seventeenth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on Fox network in the United States on September 25, 2005. The episode was written by Patric M. Verrone and directed by Steven Dean Moore.
In this episode, Milhouse’s parents reconcile, which makes him feel neglected, so he and Bart tried to break them up, which accidentally causes Homer and Marge to fight. The episode received mixed reviews.
Plot
During Reverend Lovejoy's sermon, Maggie is scratching. The family takes Maggie to see Dr. Hibbert, who diagnoses Maggie with chicken pox. Inspired by Ned Flanders' suggestion of purposely exposing his sons to chicken pox, Homer invites all the neighborhood kids over to the Simpson house for a "pox party". Having no childhood immunity, he ends up catching it himself by drinking from Maggie's milk bottle. Milhouse's parents Luann and Kirk attend the party, and after getting drunk on Marge's custom margaritas, they resume their relationship.
Kirk and Luann inform Milhouse that they are considering reuniting. However, Milhouse feels neglected because his parents are not fawning over him as they did while they were separated. He schemes to break them up again, and Bart helps him with a plot borrowed from The O.C.. The boys place a bra, belonging to Marge, on Kirk's bed. Luann finds the bra, assumes Marge is having an affair with Kirk, and informs Homer. When Homer confronts Marge, she angrily denies the allegation and kicks him out of the house.
Prodded by Lisa, a remorseful Bart confesses to Marge of what he did, but Marge refuses to reconcile with Homer due to his mistrust towards her. To bring Homer and Marge back together, Lisa inadvertently influences Bart and Milhouse to plan to throw a dummy that looks like Bart off a cliff into the river below, while Homer and Marge, after receiving false messages from each other to meet, watch. However, after breaking his glasses, Milhouse accidentally pushes the real Bart off the cliff. Homer jumps into the rapids to save him, but they end up clinging to a rock near a waterfall. There, Bart confesses to Homer what he did, leading Homer to strangle him. Marge advises them to trust her and let go of the rock. They let go, and she catches them while swinging from a rope tied to a tree. Once safely on the riverbank, Marge and Homer reconcile. They see Milhouse, thinking Bart died, jump off the cliff, leaving his fate unresolved. Marge wonders if Milhouse can swim, to which Bart asks "What do you think?"
Production
Writer Patric M. Verrone based the episode on his own experiences at the time since he was raising three children and dealing with chickenpox.
Cultural references
In August 2022, screenshots from this episode were used in social media to erroneously show that the series had predicted the 2022–2023 mpox outbreak. Instead, the screenshots from this episode showing Homer with rashes were combined with an image of Homer with a monkey from the ninth season episode "Girly Edition."
Reception
Viewing figures
The episode earned a 3.7 rating and was watched by 10.46 million viewers, which was the 34th most-watched show that week.
Critical response
Ryan Budke of TV Squad enjoyed the first half of the episode featuring Maggie and the chickenpox but thought the second half "seemed almost phoned in." He also did not like that two of the first three episodes of the season featured Homer and Marge fighting.
Colin Jacobson of DVD Movie Guide said it was a "moderately amusing episode" reexamining the Kirk and Luann relationship since most character changes are undone by episode's end.
In 2021, Hannah Saab of Screen Rant named this episode as one of the 10 best episodes featuring Milhouse.
See also
- "Chickenpox", an episode of South Park similarly addressing a pox party intended to spread varicella
References
- Shields, Rachel (December 13, 2009). "20 Years Of The Simpsons". The Independent. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- "Fact Check-"The Simpsons" did not predict monkeypox outbreak". Reuters. August 9, 2022. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- Kum, Dezimey (August 15, 2022). "Fact check: Viral images of 'The Simpsons' unrelated to 2022 monkeypox outbreak". USA Today. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- "Weekly Program Rankings Report (Sept. 19-25)". ABC Medianet. September 27, 2005. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
- Budke, Ryan (September 25, 2005). "Simpsons: A Milhouse of Sand & Fog". TV Squad. Archived from the original on November 26, 2005. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
- Jacobson, Colin (December 10, 2017). "The Simpsons: The Complete Seventeenth Season [Blu-Ray] (2005-06)". DVD Movie Guide. Archived from the original on August 18, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
- Saab, Hannah (November 13, 2021). "The Simpsons: 10 Best Milhouse Episodes, Ranked". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
