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| {{Infobox Simpsons episode | {{Infobox Simpsons episode | ||
| | season = 6 | |||
| | episode_name = And Maggie Makes Three | |||
| | episode = 13 | |||
| | image = ] | |||
| | director = ]<ref name="book"/> | |||
| | episode_no = 116 | |||
| | writer = ]<ref name="book"/> | |||
| | prod_code = 2F10 | |||
| | production = 2F10 | |||
| | airdate = ], ] | |||
| | airdate = {{Start date|1995|1|22}}<ref name="officialsite">{{cite web|url=http://www.thesimpsons.com/episode_guide/0613.htm|title=And Maggie Makes Three|access-date=2008-09-27|work=TheSimpsons.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802031601/http://thesimpsons.com/episode_guide/0613.htm|archive-date=2008-08-02|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | |||
| | show runner = ] | |||
| | blackboard = "'Bagman' is not a legitimate career choice"<ref name="book">{{cite book|last=Groening|first=Matt|author-link=Matt Groening|editor1-first=Ray|editor1-last=Richmond|editor1-link=Ray Richmond|editor2-first=Antonia|editor2-last=Coffman|title=]|edition=1st|year=1997|location=New York|publisher=]|lccn=98141857|ol=433519M|oclc=37796735|isbn=978-0-06-095252-5|page=|ref={{harvid|Richmond & Coffman|1997}}|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | |||
| | writer = ] | |||
| | couch_gag = ] reenacts the ].<ref name="BBC">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season6/page13.shtml|title=And Maggie Makes Three|access-date=2008-03-27|last1=Martyn|first1=Warren|last2=Wood|first2=Adrian|year=2000|publisher=BBC|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | |||
| | director = ] | |||
| | commentary = ]<br />David Mirkin<br />Swinton O. Scott III<br />] | |||
| | blackboard = "'Bagman' is not a legitimate career choice" | |||
| | prev = ] | |||
| | couch_gag = ] is seen in a ] of the famous ]. | |||
| | |
| next = ] | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| "'''And Maggie Makes Three'''" is the 13th episode of '']''<nowiki>'</nowiki> ]. It is notable for recounting the ] of ]. | |||
| "'''And Maggie Makes Three'''" is the thirteenth episode of the ] of the American animated television series '']''. It originally aired on ] in the United States on January 22, 1995. In the episode, ] recounts the story of ]'s birth when ] and ] ask why there are no photos of her in the family album. | |||
| ==Synopsis== | |||
| The episode was written by ] and directed by ]. This was both Crittenden and Scott's first episode on ''The Simpsons''. It features cultural references to television series such as '']'' and '']''. Since airing, the episode has received universal acclaim from fans and television critics. It acquired a ] of 10.3, and was the fourth highest rated show on the Fox network the week it aired. | |||
| {{spoiler}} | |||
| When looking through the family ]s, ] and ] comment on the lack of baby pictures for ]. As Marge insists on the weekly hour for the family without watching TV, Homer recalls Maggie's conception and birth. Homer hated working at the ], and had a dream job of working at a ]. Through careful budgeting, he managed to make that dream come true. He quit the power plant, and went to get a job at Barney's Bowlorama. It meant less pay, but also less stress, a friendly atmosphere, and enabled them to have just enough money to get by with the four of them. | |||
| ==Plot== | |||
| However, when ] and ] ] to celebrate this development, she became ]. Knowing that another baby would mean that Homer would have to get a better paying job, Marge tried to keep it a secret from Homer as long as she could, but ] managed to find out. Even though they promised not to tell Homer, they spread the word quickly around town that Marge was pregnant, and threw her a "surprise" baby shower after "forgetting" that Homer was due back from work soon. | |||
| While browsing through the family photo album, ] notices it contains no baby pictures of ]. ] explains why by recounting the story of Maggie's birth: in 1993, Homer hated his job at the ] and dreamed of working at a ], and thus quit after receiving a paycheck clearing him of all his debts, humiliating ] and literally burning a bridge during his departure. Homer subsequently obtained a job at a bowling alley owned by ] uncle, Al. | |||
| After Homer and ] had sexual intercourse to celebrate his new job, she became ]. Marge made ] promise not to tell Homer, though they did not heed this advice, informing various citizens of ], who were all aware of Marge's pregnancy the following day. Despite this, Homer remained oblivious to the news, even when ] directly congratulated him. Homer returned home, where Marge's friends had thrown her a ], though he remained oblivious. When ] casually congratulated Homer on his new job, Homer suddenly realized Marge was pregnant, upsetting him, as his salary at the bowling alley would not be enough to raise more than two children. | |||
| Homer was not happy when he found out about the new baby, and completely unenthusiastic about the impending birth. He was forced to go back to the Power Plant, and ] smugly allowed him to return, but only after placing a plaque in Homer's station saying "Don't forget: you're here forever," to remind him that he could never quit again. As much as he dreaded the idea of having another child, as soon as Maggie was born, Homer immediately fell in love with her and took all of her baby photos to work, positioning them around the plaque to alter it into saying "Do it for her". | |||
| Marge urged Homer to ask Al for a raise, though Al explained the alley's profits prevented him from offering one unless Homer could find a way to increase business threefold. Homer tried to attract more customers by firing a shotgun outside the bowling alley, which only caused a massive panic and large police response - a series of events so absurd, Bart and Lisa do not even believe it until Marge, ashamed, confirms their veracity. Unable to drum up business, Homer quit his dream job and returned to the power plant. Mr. Burns forced Homer to beg for his job back and placed a large plaque near his desk which read: "Don't forget: you're here forever". Homer returns home depressed to find Marge's contractions had begun and takes her to the hospital. His spirits are lifted when he sees Maggie for the first time and instantly falls in love with her. | |||
| ==Trivia== | |||
| *The music during the 'where do the bowling pins go' scene is ]'s '']''. This particular song turns up in many similar scenes and is a favorite of ]. | |||
| *This episode is ]' second favourite episode | |||
| *Technically, Homer's request to God that he "freeze everything exactly as it is" comes true as the basic structure of Homer's life following the conception of Maggie remains mostly unchanged (as a result of the lack of change in ''The Simpsons'' universe over countless seasons). | |||
| *The first person listed in the Springfield telephone book, "A. Aaronson", was previously mentioned in "]", where he is the first listed person in the list of Springfield registered voters and voted for Sideshow Bob. | |||
| *This is the only Simpson Episode to date with Maggie in the title. | |||
| *When Homer discovers where the bowling pins go, the man throwing the bowling ball is Jacques from the episode ]. Nevertheless this episode is set before Marge met him.''' | |||
| Back in the present, ] and Lisa still do not understand what this story has to do with Maggie's missing baby pictures, though Homer claims the photos are safe in a location where he "needs them most". It is subsequently revealed that Homer has taped the photos to the aforementioned plaque: covering portions so that the plaque now reads "Do it for her." | |||
| ==Cultural References== | |||
| *The episode title is a play on the lyric "And baby makes three" from the song "]". | |||
| *At the beginning of the episode, the family watches ''Knightboat'', which is a direct parody of ''].'' | |||
| == |
==Production== | ||
| ], who was then 23]] | |||
| * Homer's calendar reminds him that ] will appear on '']'', however, Jay Leno did not become host of ''The Tonight Show'' until 1992, several years after Maggie was "technically" born (as she appeared in many episodes that aired prior to 1992, including several episodes where ] is seen as the host of ''The Tonight Show''). | |||
| The episode was written by ], and directed by ].<ref name="book"/> This was the first episode Scott directed for the show.<ref name=Scott>{{cite AV media|last=Scott|first=Swinton|date=2005|title=The Simpsons season 6 DVD commentary for the episode "And Maggie Makes Three"|medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> Crittenden also made her debut as a writer for ''The Simpsons'' in this episode. Crittenden was taking a beginners' writing program at ] when former ''The Simpsons'' ] ] hired her on the show.<ref name=Mirkin/> Crittenden's only writing experience before that had been as an intern on the '']''.<ref name=Mirkin/> 20th Century Fox introduced Crittenden to Mirkin, and Mirkin read a script of hers that he liked.<ref name=Mirkin/> When Mirkin first talked to Crittenden, he thought she was a really nice woman who was very mature.<ref name=Mirkin/> Crittenden was only 23 years old at the time, but Mirkin liked her, and he hired her.<ref name=Mirkin>{{cite AV media|last=Mirkin|first=David|date=2005|title=The Simpsons season 6 DVD commentary for the episode "And Maggie Makes Three"|medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> | |||
| * Homer's job in this episode contradicts his position in the nuclear plant, as he did not get promoted to safety inspector until ]. | |||
| * Ruth Powers is at Marge's ] even though she hasn't moved to Springfield yet. | |||
| * When Homer gets back to the Simpson home after crawling back to Mr. Burns to get his job back, you can see while he's talking to pregnant Marge (she is going to have Maggie soon) a picture of Maggie in her current state on the wall. | |||
| * The Simpsons weren't living at 742 Evergreen Terrace until well after Lisa was conceived, yet the two flashbacks show Homer running up the stairs in their current home. | |||
| *The "Don't Forget. You're Here Forever"/"Do It For Her" plaque only appears for this episode. | |||
| * In the flashbacks of Marge telling Homer she's pregnant, when Homer runs up stairs on the wall going up the stair case there is a picture of Lisa although she wasn't even born yet. | |||
| *The flashbacks of Homer ripping out his hair when Marge announced the births of Bart and Lisa contradicts how Homer reacted to the pregnancies in "I Married Marge" and "Lisa's First Word". In "]", Homer and Marge were in Doctor Hibbert's office and Dr. Hibbert broke the news that Marge was pregnant (by implying that he knows why she's been throwing up in the morning), to which Homer shouts, "D'oh!", which echoes down the hall, causing some guy in a body cast to say, "Poor guy" (and in the same episode, Homer's hair fell out naturally, Marge was living with her mom and sisters, and Homer was living with Barney Gumble, so there was no way they could have lived in the house that they live in now because that house wasn't shown until Lisa's First Word). In ], Homer and Marge were living in a rundown apartment (and didn't live in the house that they live in now until Grampa sold his apartment and gave Homer a check to pay for the house), Marge told Homer that she was pregnant herself, and Homer was happy about it until baby Bart flushed his car keys down the toilet. | |||
| *When Homer carries Marge up the stairs they go through a door that shows the other bedrooms but in every single episode before and after and in this episode it leads to the bathroom(shown when Marge beats Homer to the bathroom so she can throw up) | |||
| After Homer quits his job at the power plant, he violently tosses his old boss ] out of the cart he is driving. Homer then drives across a wooden bridge and tosses a match onto it; the whole bridge is instantly engulfed in flames.<ref name=Mirkin/> Mirkin came up with the joke, and said that "the thing with animation is that you can stage almost anything and time it perfectly, something you would not be able to do in ]".<ref name=Mirkin/> As a live-action director, Mirkin said he enjoys the amount of control they have in animation.<ref name=Mirkin/> | |||
| ==Quotes== | |||
| In the episode, Mr. Burns places a "de-motivational plaque" in Homer's station that reads "Don't forget: you're here forever". Homer then places photos of Maggie around the plaque to alter it into saying "Do it for her".<ref name=Mirkin/> ''The Simpsons'' writer ], who enjoys writing jokes that involve ]s or any other forms of ], came up with the idea for this particular joke.<ref name=Mirkin/> The joke is also an homage to ]'s ] features in the '']'' magazine.<ref name=Silverman>{{cite AV media|last=Silverman|first=David|date=2005|title=The Simpsons season 6 DVD commentary for the episode "And Maggie Makes Three"|medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> | |||
| *'''Selma:''' Oh, we promise we won't tell... ''Homer.''<br/>''(At their house, they open the phone book to the first page.)''<br/>'''Patty:''' ''(dials 356756)'' Hello, is this A. Aaronson? It might interest you to know that Marge Simpson is pregnant again.<br/>''(Flash forward. They are on the last page of the phone book.)''<br/>'''Patty:''' Just thought you'd like to know, Mr. Zykowski. ''(hangs up, sighs)'' There. Aaronson and Zykowski are the two biggest gossips in town. In an hour, everyone will know. | |||
| On September 4, 2018, 23 years after the episode's original broadcast, ] ] posted a ] saying that he had noticed a continuity error in the episode: when Marge announces to Homer that she is pregnant with Maggie, a photo of the baby can be seen in the background.<ref>{{Cite web|last=McDonald|first=Andy|date=2018-09-06|title=A 'Simpsons' Producer Noticed A Huge Continuity Error In 1 Episode|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/the-simpsons-continuity-error-maggie_us_5b914362e4b0511db3dffeb6|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620141050/https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/the-simpsons-continuity-error-maggie_n_5b914362e4b0511db3dffeb6|archive-date=2019-06-20|access-date=2018-09-09|website=]|publisher=]|language=en|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | |||
| *'''Marge (regarding a television character):''' That back-talking boat sets a bad example.<br/>'''Bart:''' Says you, ]. | |||
| ==Cultural references== | |||
| *'''Bart:''' You're a pin monkey? Wow! Finally, I don't have to be ashamed of my father's job! | |||
| The ] is a reference to the ].<ref name="BBC"/> ]'s flashback hairstyle is modeled after ]'s.<ref name="book"/> The family watches ''Knight Boat'', a parody of '']''.<ref name="BBC"/> Homer spinning around with a bowling ball in his hand before throwing it into the air and exclaiming "I'm gonna make it after all" is reminiscent of the opening of '']'' where Mary throws her hat into the air.<ref name=book/> | |||
| ==Continuity mistakes== | |||
| *'''Homer:''' (sarcastic) It's wonderful, it's magical. Oh boy, here it comes. Another mouth. | |||
| Although the episode shows Maggie's origin, several plot errors are made that contradict previous episodes "]", "]", and "]".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Emma |date=2018-09-06 |title=The Simpsons producer calls out glaring error in And Maggie Makes Three episode |url=https://metro.co.uk/2018/09/06/theres-a-glaring-error-in-the-simpsons-episode-and-maggie-makes-three-that-even-the-writers-didnt-notice-7918918/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Metro |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tyler |first=Adrienne |date=2020-03-10 |title=The Simpsons Mistake That Meant Maggie Appeared Before She Was Even Born |url=https://screenrant.com/simpsons-show-maggie-photo-before-born-mistake-explained/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ridgely |first=Charlie |date=2018-09-06 |title='The Simpsons' Producer Spots Unnoticed Continuity Error in Classic Episode |url=https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/simpsons-continuity-error-maggie-photo/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-09-06 |title=The Simpsons producer reveals big mistake from the show |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-45433453 |access-date=2024-10-18 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Este es el error de continuidad en ‘Los Simpsons’ que pasó desapercibido durante 23 años (d’oh!) |url=https://www.univision.com/entretenimiento/este-es-el-error-de-continuidad-en-los-simpsons-que-paso-desapercibido-durante-23-anos-doh-fotos |access-date=2024-10-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Zachary |first=Brandon |date=2018-09-06 |title=A Simpsons Producer Just Noticed a Major 23-Year-Old Mistake |url=https://www.cbr.com/simpsons-maggie-photo-error/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-09-06 |title=A blatant continuity error made it into an episode of ‘The Simpsons’ |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2018/09/06/a-blatant-continuity-error-made-it-into-an-episode-of-the-simpsons/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=New York Daily News |language=en-US}}</ref> Among those mistakes are: | |||
| * In a scene before the birth, in the living room of the house, a picture with Maggie's face is seen on the wall. Maggie had not yet been born, although it is believed that it is possibly a photo of Lisa as a baby. | |||
| * The appearance of ] welcoming Marge with the other Springfield women when her debut took place in the episode '']''. | |||
| * Marge's announcement to Homer of her pregnancies at the current Simpson residence and Homer shocked tearing out his hair explaining his baldness when actually; Homer was living with Barney at the time of Marge's pregnancy in the episode ''I Married Marge''. | |||
| * In the episode ''Lisa's First Word'', Homer, Marge and Bart lived in an apartment in the suburbs of Springfield and that is when Homer really finds out about Lisa's pregnancy. In both pregnancies, Homer is happy and not shocked and keep his hair. Lisa's arrival in the family is what really forced Homer and Marge to look for a larger house for everyone and that is when they find and move into the Evegreen Terrace residence. | |||
| * In '']'', Homer keeps yet his hair. | |||
| ==Reception== | |||
| *'''Homer:''' Hey ], any chance you can get me a job here?<br/>'''Barney:''' Hey, sure, Homer. I told you, my uncle owns the place. Hey, Uncle Al, can Homer here have a job?<br/>'''Al:''' Sure.<br/>'''Homer:''' Woo hoo!<br/>'''Al:''' Barney, you're fired.<br/>'''Barney:''' Okay. | |||
| In its original broadcast, "And Maggie Makes Three" finished 47th in the ratings for the week of January 16 to January 22, 1995, with a ] of 10.3.<ref name=ratings>{{cite news|title=What we watch, what we don't...|date=January 29, 1995|page=11|newspaper=]}}</ref> The episode was the fourth-highest rated show on the Fox network that week, beaten only by '']'', '']'', and the ''Rock 'n' Roll Skating Championship''.<ref name=ratings/> | |||
| ] | |||
| *''(Homer is imitating a sperm cell)''<br/>'''Marge:''' Did you have to be so graphic?<br/>'''Homer:''' It's okay, Marge. They pave the way for this kind of filth in ]. | |||
| Since airing, the episode has received universal acclaim from fans and television critics. One-time ''The Simpsons'' writer and comedian ] named it his second favorite episode, and said: "Mr. Burns gives this terrible plaque above his desk that says, 'Don't forget: You're here forever.' It's about how sometimes things don't go the way you planned, which is pretty amazing in a cartoon. Homer then puts up all the pictures of Maggie he's ever taken to strategically cover this horrible thing so it now reads, 'Do it for her.' It gives me a lump in the throat thinking about it."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2006/03/24/ricky-gervais-rates-simpsons|title=Ricky Gervais rates ''The Simpsons''|last=Snierson|first=Dan|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=2008-11-18|date=March 24, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081019065222/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C1176431%2C00.html|archive-date=October 19, 2008|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, the authors of the book ''I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide'', said: "A surprisingly traditional episode. The flashback to 1993 seems a bit odd, but this is a good example of a story that doesn't overly rely on set pieces and confounded expectations for its success."<ref name="BBC"/> In a review of the sixth season, Joshua Klein of the '']'' cited "And Maggie Makes Three", "]", "]", and "]" among his favorite episodes of the season.<ref>{{cite news|title=1994 vintage 'Simpsons' sets a tough standard - Homer's head houses DVDs|last=Klein|first=Joshua|date=September 9, 2005|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|pages=7}}</ref> | |||
| ]'s Adam Finley said the episode "manages to be both incredibly funny and incredibly touching, both signs of a great ''Simpsons'' episode".<ref name="finley"/> He added that "the episode has some great gags in it, but the emotion is very real, too. Homer is not thrilled with the idea of having a baby, and the episode does a wonderful job of showing the dark side of having another mouth to feed."<ref name="finley">{{cite news|url=http://www.aoltv.com/2006/08/10/the-simpsons-and-maggie-makes-three/|title=The Simpsons: And Maggie Makes Three|access-date=2008-10-01|date=2006-08-10|work=HuffPost TV|first=Adam|last=Finley|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130105044251/http://www.aoltv.com/2006/08/10/the-simpsons-and-maggie-makes-three/|archivedate=2013-01-05|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Colin Jacobson at DVD Movie Guide said in a review of the sixth season DVD: "Flashback episodes of ''The Simpsons'' usually work well, and is no exception to that rule. Actually, at this point it’s one of my favorites, but that’s partially because of overexposure to some of the other episodes. In any case, this one has many hilarious moments – such as the scene that explains Homer's hair loss."<ref name=dvdmg>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdmg.com/simpsonsseasonsix.shtml|title=The Simpsons: The Complete Sixth Season (1994)|access-date=2008-10-08|last=Jacobson|first=Colin|year=2003|publisher=DVD Movie Guide|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012044003/http://www.dvdmg.com/simpsonsseasonsix.shtml|archive-date=12 October 2008|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Kevin Wong at ] said the episode is "a touching look at fatherhood".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.popmatters.com/simpsons-season-6-dvd-2496225211.html|title=The Simpsons: The Complete Sixth Season|last=Wong|first=Kevin|date=August 24, 2005|magazine=PopMatters|access-date=January 16, 2022|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | |||
| *''']:''' Well, you know, a healthy baby can bring upwards of $60,000.<br/> '''Marge:''' What?<br/>'''Dr. Hibbert:''' Well, of course, that was just a test. Err, had you reacted differently, you'd be in jail right now. Simply a test. | |||
| ==References== | |||
| *'''Marge:''' Baby shower? You ''know'' I haven't told Homer yet, and he'll be home any minute!<br/>'''Selma and Patty:''' Oh ''really''?<br/> '''Marge (after the door opens, and no one comes in):''' Phew!<br/>'''Homer:''' Hey, it's me. It's hell out there! ...Hey, wait a minute. What are all these presents? It looks like you're... ''showering'' Marge with gifts. Hmm...with little, tiny baby-sized gifts. Well, I'll be in the tub.<br/> ''']:''' By the way, congratulations on your new job, Homer.<br/> '''Homer:''' ...New job? ...Marge is pregnant?! ''Nooooooo!!'' | |||
| {{Reflist|2}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| *'''Homer:''' Thanks for giving me my old job back.<br/>'''Burns:''' I'm afraid it's not that simple. As punishment for your desertion, it's company policy to give you ''the ]''.<br/> '''Smithers:''' Uh, sir, that's the ].<br>'''Burns:''' Ah yes, the special demotivational plaque to break what's left of your spirit. | |||
| {{Wikiquote|The_Simpsons/Season_6#And_Maggie_Makes_Three|"And Maggie Makes Three"}} | |||
| {{Portal|The Simpsons}} | |||
| * {{Snpp capsule|2F10}} | |||
| *{{IMDb episode|id=0757016}} | |||
| {{The Simpsons episodes|6}} | |||
| *'''Homer:''' Ahh, the family photo album! So many memories! Oh look! KNIGHT BOAT! | |||
| ] | |||
| *'''Homer:''' ''(Holding newborn Maggie)'' It's a boy. And WHAT a boy! <br/> '''Dr. Hibbert:''' That's the ]. It's a girl. | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| * ''At the hospital, Mayor Quimby holds a newborn child in his arms while the mother (a young woman) rests'' <br/> '''Quimby:''' This is incredible. It's God's most wondrous miracle. <br/> '''Nurse:''' Sir, I think your wife wants to hold the baby. <br/> '''Quimby:''' My wife? Where? Where?! <br/> ''Runs off in a panic'' | |||
| == External links == | |||
| * {{snpp capsule|2F10}} | |||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 05:40, 17 December 2024
13th episode of the 6th season of The Simpsons
| "And Maggie Makes Three" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |||
| Episode no. | Season 6 Episode 13 | ||
| Directed by | Swinton O. Scott III | ||
| Written by | Jennifer Crittenden | ||
| Production code | 2F10 | ||
| Original air date | January 22, 1995 (1995-01-22) | ||
| Episode features | |||
| Chalkboard gag | "'Bagman' is not a legitimate career choice" | ||
| Couch gag | Homer reenacts the James Bond gun barrel sequence. | ||
| Commentary | Matt Groening David Mirkin Swinton O. Scott III David Silverman | ||
| Episode chronology | |||
| |||
| The Simpsons season 6 | |||
| List of episodes | |||
"And Maggie Makes Three" is the thirteenth episode of the sixth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on January 22, 1995. In the episode, Homer recounts the story of Maggie's birth when Bart and Lisa ask why there are no photos of her in the family album.
The episode was written by Jennifer Crittenden and directed by Swinton O. Scott III. This was both Crittenden and Scott's first episode on The Simpsons. It features cultural references to television series such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Knight Rider. Since airing, the episode has received universal acclaim from fans and television critics. It acquired a Nielsen rating of 10.3, and was the fourth highest rated show on the Fox network the week it aired.
Plot
While browsing through the family photo album, Lisa notices it contains no baby pictures of Maggie. Homer explains why by recounting the story of Maggie's birth: in 1993, Homer hated his job at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant and dreamed of working at a bowling alley, and thus quit after receiving a paycheck clearing him of all his debts, humiliating Mr. Burns and literally burning a bridge during his departure. Homer subsequently obtained a job at a bowling alley owned by Barney's uncle, Al.
After Homer and Marge had sexual intercourse to celebrate his new job, she became pregnant. Marge made Patty and Selma promise not to tell Homer, though they did not heed this advice, informing various citizens of Springfield, who were all aware of Marge's pregnancy the following day. Despite this, Homer remained oblivious to the news, even when Moe directly congratulated him. Homer returned home, where Marge's friends had thrown her a baby shower, though he remained oblivious. When Maude casually congratulated Homer on his new job, Homer suddenly realized Marge was pregnant, upsetting him, as his salary at the bowling alley would not be enough to raise more than two children.
Marge urged Homer to ask Al for a raise, though Al explained the alley's profits prevented him from offering one unless Homer could find a way to increase business threefold. Homer tried to attract more customers by firing a shotgun outside the bowling alley, which only caused a massive panic and large police response - a series of events so absurd, Bart and Lisa do not even believe it until Marge, ashamed, confirms their veracity. Unable to drum up business, Homer quit his dream job and returned to the power plant. Mr. Burns forced Homer to beg for his job back and placed a large plaque near his desk which read: "Don't forget: you're here forever". Homer returns home depressed to find Marge's contractions had begun and takes her to the hospital. His spirits are lifted when he sees Maggie for the first time and instantly falls in love with her.
Back in the present, Bart and Lisa still do not understand what this story has to do with Maggie's missing baby pictures, though Homer claims the photos are safe in a location where he "needs them most". It is subsequently revealed that Homer has taped the photos to the aforementioned plaque: covering portions so that the plaque now reads "Do it for her."
Production
The episode was written by Jennifer Crittenden, and directed by Swinton O. Scott III. This was the first episode Scott directed for the show. Crittenden also made her debut as a writer for The Simpsons in this episode. Crittenden was taking a beginners' writing program at 20th Century Fox when former The Simpsons showrunner David Mirkin hired her on the show. Crittenden's only writing experience before that had been as an intern on the Late Show with David Letterman. 20th Century Fox introduced Crittenden to Mirkin, and Mirkin read a script of hers that he liked. When Mirkin first talked to Crittenden, he thought she was a really nice woman who was very mature. Crittenden was only 23 years old at the time, but Mirkin liked her, and he hired her.
After Homer quits his job at the power plant, he violently tosses his old boss Mr. Burns out of the cart he is driving. Homer then drives across a wooden bridge and tosses a match onto it; the whole bridge is instantly engulfed in flames. Mirkin came up with the joke, and said that "the thing with animation is that you can stage almost anything and time it perfectly, something you would not be able to do in live action". As a live-action director, Mirkin said he enjoys the amount of control they have in animation.
In the episode, Mr. Burns places a "de-motivational plaque" in Homer's station that reads "Don't forget: you're here forever". Homer then places photos of Maggie around the plaque to alter it into saying "Do it for her". The Simpsons writer George Meyer, who enjoys writing jokes that involve anagrams or any other forms of word play, came up with the idea for this particular joke. The joke is also an homage to Al Jaffee's Fold-in features in the Mad magazine.
On September 4, 2018, 23 years after the episode's original broadcast, Simpsons producer Matt Selman posted a tweet saying that he had noticed a continuity error in the episode: when Marge announces to Homer that she is pregnant with Maggie, a photo of the baby can be seen in the background.
Cultural references
The couch gag is a reference to the James Bond gun barrel sequence. Dr. Hibbert's flashback hairstyle is modeled after Arsenio Hall's. The family watches Knight Boat, a parody of Knight Rider. Homer spinning around with a bowling ball in his hand before throwing it into the air and exclaiming "I'm gonna make it after all" is reminiscent of the opening of The Mary Tyler Moore Show where Mary throws her hat into the air.
Continuity mistakes
Although the episode shows Maggie's origin, several plot errors are made that contradict previous episodes "The Way We Was", "I Married Marge", and "Lisa's First Word". Among those mistakes are:
- In a scene before the birth, in the living room of the house, a picture with Maggie's face is seen on the wall. Maggie had not yet been born, although it is believed that it is possibly a photo of Lisa as a baby.
- The appearance of Ruth Powers welcoming Marge with the other Springfield women when her debut took place in the episode New kid on the block.
- Marge's announcement to Homer of her pregnancies at the current Simpson residence and Homer shocked tearing out his hair explaining his baldness when actually; Homer was living with Barney at the time of Marge's pregnancy in the episode I Married Marge.
- In the episode Lisa's First Word, Homer, Marge and Bart lived in an apartment in the suburbs of Springfield and that is when Homer really finds out about Lisa's pregnancy. In both pregnancies, Homer is happy and not shocked and keep his hair. Lisa's arrival in the family is what really forced Homer and Marge to look for a larger house for everyone and that is when they find and move into the Evegreen Terrace residence.
- In Homer's Barbershop Quartet, Homer keeps yet his hair.
Reception
In its original broadcast, "And Maggie Makes Three" finished 47th in the ratings for the week of January 16 to January 22, 1995, with a Nielsen rating of 10.3. The episode was the fourth-highest rated show on the Fox network that week, beaten only by Melrose Place, Beverly Hills, 90210, and the Rock 'n' Roll Skating Championship.
Since airing, the episode has received universal acclaim from fans and television critics. One-time The Simpsons writer and comedian Ricky Gervais named it his second favorite episode, and said: "Mr. Burns gives this terrible plaque above his desk that says, 'Don't forget: You're here forever.' It's about how sometimes things don't go the way you planned, which is pretty amazing in a cartoon. Homer then puts up all the pictures of Maggie he's ever taken to strategically cover this horrible thing so it now reads, 'Do it for her.' It gives me a lump in the throat thinking about it." Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, the authors of the book I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide, said: "A surprisingly traditional episode. The flashback to 1993 seems a bit odd, but this is a good example of a story that doesn't overly rely on set pieces and confounded expectations for its success." In a review of the sixth season, Joshua Klein of the Chicago Tribune cited "And Maggie Makes Three", "Treehouse of Horror V", "Homer Badman", and "Lisa's Rival" among his favorite episodes of the season.
TV Squad's Adam Finley said the episode "manages to be both incredibly funny and incredibly touching, both signs of a great Simpsons episode". He added that "the episode has some great gags in it, but the emotion is very real, too. Homer is not thrilled with the idea of having a baby, and the episode does a wonderful job of showing the dark side of having another mouth to feed." Colin Jacobson at DVD Movie Guide said in a review of the sixth season DVD: "Flashback episodes of The Simpsons usually work well, and is no exception to that rule. Actually, at this point it’s one of my favorites, but that’s partially because of overexposure to some of the other episodes. In any case, this one has many hilarious moments – such as the scene that explains Homer's hair loss." Kevin Wong at PopMatters said the episode is "a touching look at fatherhood".
References
- ^ Groening, Matt (1997). Richmond, Ray; Coffman, Antonia (eds.). The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family (1st ed.). New York: HarperPerennial. p. 164. ISBN 978-0-06-095252-5. LCCN 98141857. OCLC 37796735. OL 433519M.
- "And Maggie Makes Three". TheSimpsons.com. Archived from the original on August 2, 2008. Retrieved September 27, 2008.
- ^ Martyn, Warren; Wood, Adrian (2000). "And Maggie Makes Three". BBC. Retrieved March 27, 2008.
- Scott, Swinton (2005). The Simpsons season 6 DVD commentary for the episode "And Maggie Makes Three" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- ^ Mirkin, David (2005). The Simpsons season 6 DVD commentary for the episode "And Maggie Makes Three" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- Silverman, David (2005). The Simpsons season 6 DVD commentary for the episode "And Maggie Makes Three" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- McDonald, Andy (September 6, 2018). "A 'Simpsons' Producer Noticed A Huge Continuity Error In 1 Episode". HuffPost Canada. Verizon Media. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
- Kelly, Emma (September 6, 2018). "The Simpsons producer calls out glaring error in And Maggie Makes Three episode". Metro. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- Tyler, Adrienne (March 10, 2020). "The Simpsons Mistake That Meant Maggie Appeared Before She Was Even Born". ScreenRant. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- Ridgely, Charlie (September 6, 2018). "'The Simpsons' Producer Spots Unnoticed Continuity Error in Classic Episode". ComicBook.com. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- "The Simpsons producer reveals big mistake from the show". September 6, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- "Este es el error de continuidad en 'Los Simpsons' que pasó desapercibido durante 23 años (d'oh!)". Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- Zachary, Brandon (September 6, 2018). "A Simpsons Producer Just Noticed a Major 23-Year-Old Mistake". CBR. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- "A blatant continuity error made it into an episode of 'The Simpsons'". New York Daily News. September 6, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- ^ "What we watch, what we don't...". Austin American-Statesman. January 29, 1995. p. 11.
- Snierson, Dan (March 24, 2006). "Ricky Gervais rates The Simpsons". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 19, 2008. Retrieved November 18, 2008.
- Klein, Joshua (September 9, 2005). "1994 vintage 'Simpsons' sets a tough standard - Homer's head houses DVDs". Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
- ^ Finley, Adam (August 10, 2006). "The Simpsons: And Maggie Makes Three". HuffPost TV. Archived from the original on January 5, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- Jacobson, Colin (2003). "The Simpsons: The Complete Sixth Season (1994)". DVD Movie Guide. Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. Retrieved October 8, 2008.
- Wong, Kevin (August 24, 2005). "The Simpsons: The Complete Sixth Season". PopMatters. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
