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| {{Infobox Simpsons episode| | |||
| {{Infobox Simpsons episode | |||
| episode_name = Million Dollar Abie| | |||
| | image = | |||
| episode_no = 372| | |||
| | caption = | |||
| prod_code = HABF09| | |||
| | season = 17 | |||
| airdate = ], ] | | |||
| | episode = 16 | |||
| show runner = ]| | |||
| |
| director = ] | ||
| |
| writer = ] | ||
| | production = HABF09 | |||
| blackboard = I will not flip the classroom upside down. ''(The classroom is upside down)''| | |||
| | airdate = {{Start date|2006|04|02}} | |||
| couch_gag = A ] menu screen pops up and the "delete this recording now" option is selected | | |||
| |
| guests = *] as himself | ||
| *] as Jock Center Host #2 | |||
| image = ]| | |||
| | blackboard = "I will not flip the classroom upside down" ''(The classroom is upside down)'' | |||
| season = 17 | | |||
| | couch_gag = The Simpsons sit down on the couch as normal. A ] menu pops up, asking the viewer if he would like to save the recording or delete it. "Delete This Recording" is chosen and the screen goes black. | |||
| color = #EFEFEF | |||
| | commentary = ]<br />Tim Long<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />Steven Dean Moore | |||
| | prev = ] | |||
| | next = ] | |||
| }} | }} | ||
| "'''Million Dollar Abie'''" is the sixteenth episode of the ] of the American animated television series '']''. It originally aired on the ] in the United States on April 2, 2006. The episode was written by ] and directed by ]. This is the first episode to have a ] title of the film '']'', with the second being "]" in season 21. | |||
| In this episode, Grampa attempts suicide after angering the town and becomes a matador when the procedure is stopped. Actor and director ] appeared as himself. The episode received mixed reviews. | |||
| ==Synopsis== | |||
| ==Plot== | |||
| {{spoiler}} | |||
| The commissioner of pro football, Bud Armstrong, wants to expand the league, and Homer leads the charge to get the new franchise in Springfield. ] puts forth a strong package for the Springfield Meltdowns and the new stadium. The owners award the new team to Springfield. The town quickly builds Homer's new stadium and changes the street names to football-related names. When Armstrong comes to Springfield to announce the new team, he gets confused by the new street names. He stops for directions at the Simpsons' house and is greeted by ], who welcomes him in as he is watching ]. However, Grampa is watching a television program about burglars who act as the commissioner did, so he knocks Armstrong unconscious. The rest of the family arrives home and finds him tied up. The commissioner declares neither he nor the league will ever return to Springfield. Homer gets angry at Grampa for costing the town the team. | |||
| When it is announced that the commissioner of pro ] (Bud Armstrong) wants to expand the league, Homer leads the charge to get the new franchise in Springfield. At first his family doesn't think he could do it, but Homer manages to put forth a surprisingly strong package for the Springfield Meltdowns and the new Duff Beer Krusty Burger Buzz Cola Costington's Department Store Kwik-E-Mart Stupid Flanders Park. | |||
| The town becomes furious with Grampa for his actions. Grampa is depressed and seeks assisted suicide. The doctor tells Grampa to reconsider before following through with it. After waiting twenty-four hours with no one phoning him, Grampa goes back to the clinic the next day. To make it a more peaceful experience, they project in front of him, at his request, hippies being beaten by police while music from the ] plays. Grampa nearly dies, but ] ends the procedure, telling the doctor that voters have overturned Springfield's assisted-suicide law. Grampa thinks he is dead and runs through town without fear. He soon learns he is not dead and decides to live without fear. Meanwhile, the city turns the unused football stadium into an arena for bullfighting despite ]'s protests. Grampa decides to become a matador. | |||
| The commissioner narrows down the choice of the two cities to either Springfield or ]. L.A. puts forth an anti-Springfield video hosted by ] and features a song sung by celebrity impersonators that ends with them singing "Springfield Blows". All the owners decide that Springfield is the lesser of two evils, and the Commissioner awards the new team to Springfield. The town gets "Meltmania" and "Downs syndrome" and quickly builds Homer's new park and paints the town in the team colours (orange and purple) and changes all of street names to football related names. | |||
| Grampa wins his first fight with a bull, but Lisa wants him to stop hurting and killing animals. Grampa says that people are cheering him for his success, but Lisa says she has always cheered for him until now. In the next fight, he sees the bull that he is about to kill and spares its life. He releases all the bulls, which immediately start running through the streets of Springfield, causing destruction and injuring everyone. Lisa is proud of Grampa, and the two reconcile in two floating chairs tied to balloons, but they both are in danger by two bulls flying with balloons. | |||
| On the day when Springfield is officially announced as the new team, the Commissioner gets confused by all of the new street names and gets lost. He stops for directions at the Simpsons' house and is greeted by ], who welcomes him in. However, Grampa starts to fear that the commissioner is a burglar and attacks him and ties him up. The rest of the family arrives home disappointed that the commissioner didn't show and is shocked to find him tied up in their living room. The commissioner is so angry that he declares that the Meltdowns will never be and leaves, never to return. | |||
| ==Production== | |||
| The entire town starts to hate Grampa, and the expensive stadium has to be used for farmers' markets. Grampa is so depressed that he decides to seek out a doctor who will help him commit suicide. The doctor tells Grampa to reconsider, and Grampa decides that if anyone calls him in the next 24 hours, he won't go through with his plan. The call never comes and Grampa goes back to the clinic the next day. Grampa comes very close to being killed but the police show up just in time to stop it. | |||
| Actor and director ] appeared as himself.<ref name="Finley"/> | |||
| ==Cultural references== | |||
| Grampa thinks he's dead and runs through the town, seeing "Hamburger Heaven" and a ] impersonator. He soon learns that he isn't dead, gets a new lease of life and decides to live it up. Meanwhile, the city decides to turn the unused football stadium into an arena for ]. Despite Lisa's protests, Grampa decides to become a matador. Grampa wins his first fight with a bull, but he decides that killing bulls isn't his forte and talks to Lisa about giving up. Grampa isn't sure, but in the next fight he sees the bull that he's about to kill and decides to spare its life. He releases all the bulls, which immediately start ] of Springfield, causing a great deal of destruction. Lisa is proud of Grampa and the two reconcile. | |||
| In the "Springfield Blows" music video, ] from the '']'' film franchise is seen.<ref>{{cite web|first=Michael|last=Kennedy|date=February 4, 2020|title=Every Freddy Krueger Appearance on The Simpsons|url=https://screenrant.com/freddy-krueger-simpsons-tv-show-appearances/|website=]|access-date=October 18, 2024|archive-date=July 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715030737/https://screenrant.com/freddy-krueger-simpsons-tv-show-appearances/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| The euthanasia machine, the "diePod", is named after the ] media player and bears a physical resemblance to it.<ref name="Finley"/> | |||
| ==Trivia== | |||
| *The teaser for the upcoming '']'', which had previously only appeared during the previews for '']'', made its TV debut during this episode. Homer's dialogue is different: in the movie he expressed uncertainty; in the TV airing, he says "I forgot what I'm supposed to say!" Both versions end with him saying "Uh oh, we better get started" when the movie's release date of ], ] is given. | |||
| *When Abe is waiting for someone to call him, the simulated time lapse effect and music parody the movie '']'', a movie parodied seven years earlier in the episode "]". | |||
| *The bodies of the ] can be seen in the ] garbage barge. | |||
| *During the scene where the citizens of Springfield are running from the bulls, you can see a bearded man with a hat in the corner. He is modelled after long time Simpsons writer ] and has appeared in several episodes, notably as one of the writers in "]" and one of the bachelors in "]". | |||
| *An outtake shown during the closing credits shows a young Abe "naming names" to the ]. | |||
| *The sounds that can be heard in the basement when Homer was in there are:<br /> 1. Power tool whirling<br /> 2. Hammering<br /> 3. Typewriter key clanking, return carriage dings<br /> 4. Pinball machine jingling<br /> 5. Bowling pins falling<br /> 6. European siren wails (used previously in ])<br /> 7. Children in a ghostly voice saying "Ring around the rosy." (also used previously in ]) | |||
| *The full name for the new Springfield Stadium is (as shown on Homer's model):<br /> DUFF BEER<br /> KRUSTYBURGER<br /> BUZZ COLA COSTINGTON'S<br /> DEPARTMENT STORE<br /> KWIK-E-MART STUPID<br /> FLANDERS PARK | |||
| *The names ] covered up with his first and last name in the video are ], his father, and ]. | |||
| *The euthanasia machine Abe is hooked up to is called the diePod, an obvious spoof of the ever popular ] series of MP3 players created by ]. | |||
| *This was the fourth episode of ''The Simpsons'' to be classified M in Australia. It received an advisory notice for "Adult themes". The episode premiered on ] at 8.30pm, Tuesday 8th August, followed by a re-run of "]". | |||
| *It is revealed in this episode that Luigi's restaurant is closed on Mondays. | |||
| The scene where Grandpa seeks assisted suicide is also a reference to the scene in the film '']'' where the character played by ] seeks a similar fate.<ref name="Finley"/> | |||
| ==Cultural References== | |||
| *The title of this episode is a play on the 2004 movie '']''. | |||
| *The celebrities who appear in the "Springfield Blows" video include ], ], ], Jim Jam Bonks (The Simpsons' parody of ]), ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. | |||
| *The ] center is a spoof of the one in '']''. | |||
| *One of the options on the diePod's menu is "Megadeath", an allusion to the thrash metal band ]. | |||
| *Dr. Egoyan, the doctor that helps Grampa try to kill himself an obvious reference to ]. | |||
| *The name of the ] song that Grampa requested may be pennyslvania 6-5000. | |||
| *The song that plays when Abe goes down is '' ] by ] from the 1974 album, '']''. | |||
| *The song that plays when Abe 'lives it up' is '']'' by ] from their 1986 album, '']''. | |||
| *The euthanasia clinic is right next to a ] just like in ]'s '']''. | |||
| == |
==Reception== | ||
| ===Viewing figures=== | |||
| *When Marge makes her comments about the bull taunter and bull stabber, she points to them conversely. When she mentions the bull taunter, the picador who lances the bull is shown. | |||
| The episode earned a 2.4 rating and was watched by 7.84 million viewers, the 51st most-watched show that week.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=040406_04 |title=Weekly Program Rankings (Mar. 26-Apr. 2)|publisher=] |date=April 4, 2006 |access-date=June 10, 2023| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100528010100/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=040406_04| archive-date= May 28, 2010 | url-status= dead}}</ref> | |||
| *After the diePod is hauled away, there is junk on the floor. In the next shot of the floor, it is clean. | |||
| ===Critical response=== | |||
| ==Quotes== | |||
| Adam Finley of '']'' liked the jokes and the scene where Grampa kills the bull. His favorite moments were when the bulls were floating and when the firemen threw Grampa into a burning building.<ref name="Finley">{{cite web|first=Adam|last=Finley|date=April 3, 2006|title=The Simpsons: Million Dollar Abie|url=http://www.tvsquad.com:80/2006/04/03/the-simpsons-million-dollar-abie/|website=]|access-date=October 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060405034700/http://www.tvsquad.com:80/2006/04/03/the-simpsons-million-dollar-abie/|archive-date=April 5, 2006}}</ref> | |||
| *'''Grandpa:''' I thought he was gonna rob the house and steal all them pictures of Bert and Lucy! | |||
| Colin Jacobson of ''DVD Movie Guide'' thought it was not funny to discuss the ethics of bullfighting. He also noticed that it was another episode discussing suicide after the episode "]" earlier in the season.<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=October 18, 2024|archive-date=August 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240818182606/http://www.dvdmg.com/simpsonss17.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| *'''Dr. Egoyan:''' As you surrender your body, what musical and visual orientations would you like to experience?<br>'''Abe:''' I want to hear the ] and see cops beating up ]s! | |||
| On ''Four Finger Discount'', Guy Davis and Brendan Dando did not like the episode, calling it "sad and depressing" to feature Grampa attempting suicide and killing a bull.<ref>{{cite podcast|first1=Guy|last1=Davis|first2=Brendan|last2=Dando|title="Million Dollar Abie" Podcast Review (S17E16)|work=Four Finger Discount (Simpsons Podcast)|date=July 6, 2023|url=https://www.fourfingerdiscount.com.au/episodes/million-dollar-abie-simpsons-podcast-review|time=2:15|access-date=October 18, 2024}}</ref> | |||
| *'''NFL Commissioner:''' ''(looking at street signs)'' The names on this map say Main Street and Evergreen Terrace, but all I can see are Two Point Conversion Avenue and Off-Season Knee Surgery Boulevard. | |||
| ==References== | |||
| *'''Homer:''' You're a useless old man. Name one thing you do for this family! <br/> '''Grandpa:''' I watch the baby. <br/> '''Marge:''' Where is the baby? <br/> '''Grandpa:''' You left me with a baby?! | |||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
| == External links == | |||
| *'''Maggie (in baby talk with subtitles):''' Bald mommy is sure to fail! | |||
| {{Wikiquote|The_Simpsons/Season_17#Million_Dollar_Abie|"Million Dollar Abie"}} | |||
| {{portal|The Simpsons}} | |||
| * {{IMDb episode|0787753}} | |||
| {{The Simpsons episodes|17}} | |||
| *'''Grampa:''' If I knock him out, I'll be a hero. And people will listen to my loose-brained nonsense. | |||
| ] | |||
| *'''Lyrics to "Springfield Blows":'''<br /> ''L.A. makes great movies<br /> And awesome TV shows<br /> Springfield don't make nothin'<br /> 'Cause Springfield blows<br /> Springfield blows ''(3 times)''<br /> Yes, Springfield blows<br />'' | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| *'''Lisa:''' No wait, wait! Bullfighting is a cruel, pseudo-sport!<br /> '''Homer:''' Lisa's right! It is a cool, super sport! | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| *'''Homer:''' I've come up with our team — the Springfield Meltdowns! And here is our stadium, sponsored by corporate naming. It's the ''] ] ] Costington's Department Store ] Stupid ] Park''! So, Homer do good? <br/> '''Marge:''' Homer do great! ''(they kiss)'' Uh, maybe Homer brush teeth first. | |||
| *'''Young Abe:''' ''(at an ] meeting)'' I would like to name the following friends of mine as members of the ].<br /> '''Speaker:''' You're just here to test the microphone.<br /> '''Young Abe:''' Fred Wilson, my brother Bill, ], the ], ], ]... ''(gets removed by security guards)'' | |||
| *'''Sideshow Mel:''' "Touchdown Avenue"? Delightful!<br /> '''Jimbo:''' Who ya talkin' to? Your imaginary girlfriend?<br /> '''Sideshow Mel:''' Oh! Isn't your mother a well-known ]?<br /> '''Jimbo:''' ''(gasp)'' You win this round, Mel. | |||
| *'''Dr. Egoyan (waiting for Grandpa to die):''' One more minute. <br/> ''(], Eddie, and Lou burst in)'' <br/> '''Wiggum:''' Freeze! The voters just overturned the assisted suicide law! <br/> '''Dr. Egoyan (getting handcuffed):''' I'll kill you all!...when the law is reversed. <br/> '''Wiggum:''' I'd like to see you try!...when the law is reversed. | |||
| *'''Souvenir Jacket Guy:''' We should make the stadium a bull fighting ring. If the bull dies, the crowd goes wild. If Grandpa dies, the crowd goes wild. Either way, we make a fortune. | |||
| *'''Lenny (after Grandpa opens the outer gate):''' I don't know what he's doing and I'm smart. Not book smart or street smart or brain smart, but...something. | |||
| ==Broadcasting Information== | |||
| ''']/]''' | |||
| *'''1st Airdate:''' Sunday, ], ] | |||
| *'''2nd Airdate:''' Sunday, ], ] | |||
| '''] & ]''' (]) | |||
| *'''1st Airdate:''' Sunday, ], ] | |||
| *'''2nd Airdate:''' Friday, ], ] (Encore Screening) | |||
| *'''3rd Airdate:''' Monday, ], ] | |||
| *'''4th Airdate:''' Tuesday, ], ] | |||
| ''']''' | |||
| *'''1st Airdate:''' Tuesday, ], ] | |||
| ''']''' | |||
| *'''1st Airdate:''' Saturday, ], ] (]) | |||
| *'''1st Airdate:''' Sunday, ], ] (]) | |||
| ''']''' | |||
| *'''1st Airdate:''' Sunday, ], ] | |||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 01:45, 25 December 2024
16th episode of the 17th season of The Simpsons
| "Million Dollar Abie" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |||
| Episode no. | Season 17 Episode 16 | ||
| Directed by | Steven Dean Moore | ||
| Written by | Tim Long | ||
| Production code | HABF09 | ||
| Original air date | April 2, 2006 (2006-04-02) | ||
| Guest appearances | |||
| |||
| Episode features | |||
| Chalkboard gag | "I will not flip the classroom upside down" (The classroom is upside down) | ||
| Couch gag | The Simpsons sit down on the couch as normal. A TiVo menu pops up, asking the viewer if he would like to save the recording or delete it. "Delete This Recording" is chosen and the screen goes black. | ||
| Commentary | Al Jean Tim Long Matt Selman Carolyn Omine Michael Price Tom Gammill Max Pross Steven Dean Moore | ||
| Episode chronology | |||
| |||
| The Simpsons season 17 | |||
| List of episodes | |||
"Million Dollar Abie" is the sixteenth episode of the seventeenth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 2, 2006. The episode was written by Tim Long and directed by Steven Dean Moore. This is the first episode to have a parody title of the film Million Dollar Baby, with the second being "Million Dollar Maybe" in season 21.
In this episode, Grampa attempts suicide after angering the town and becomes a matador when the procedure is stopped. Actor and director Rob Reiner appeared as himself. The episode received mixed reviews.
Plot
The commissioner of pro football, Bud Armstrong, wants to expand the league, and Homer leads the charge to get the new franchise in Springfield. Homer puts forth a strong package for the Springfield Meltdowns and the new stadium. The owners award the new team to Springfield. The town quickly builds Homer's new stadium and changes the street names to football-related names. When Armstrong comes to Springfield to announce the new team, he gets confused by the new street names. He stops for directions at the Simpsons' house and is greeted by Grampa, who welcomes him in as he is watching Maggie. However, Grampa is watching a television program about burglars who act as the commissioner did, so he knocks Armstrong unconscious. The rest of the family arrives home and finds him tied up. The commissioner declares neither he nor the league will ever return to Springfield. Homer gets angry at Grampa for costing the town the team.
The town becomes furious with Grampa for his actions. Grampa is depressed and seeks assisted suicide. The doctor tells Grampa to reconsider before following through with it. After waiting twenty-four hours with no one phoning him, Grampa goes back to the clinic the next day. To make it a more peaceful experience, they project in front of him, at his request, hippies being beaten by police while music from the Glenn Miller Orchestra plays. Grampa nearly dies, but Chief Wiggum ends the procedure, telling the doctor that voters have overturned Springfield's assisted-suicide law. Grampa thinks he is dead and runs through town without fear. He soon learns he is not dead and decides to live without fear. Meanwhile, the city turns the unused football stadium into an arena for bullfighting despite Lisa's protests. Grampa decides to become a matador.
Grampa wins his first fight with a bull, but Lisa wants him to stop hurting and killing animals. Grampa says that people are cheering him for his success, but Lisa says she has always cheered for him until now. In the next fight, he sees the bull that he is about to kill and spares its life. He releases all the bulls, which immediately start running through the streets of Springfield, causing destruction and injuring everyone. Lisa is proud of Grampa, and the two reconcile in two floating chairs tied to balloons, but they both are in danger by two bulls flying with balloons.
Production
Actor and director Rob Reiner appeared as himself.
Cultural references
In the "Springfield Blows" music video, Freddy Krueger from the A Nightmare on Elm Street film franchise is seen.
The euthanasia machine, the "diePod", is named after the iPod media player and bears a physical resemblance to it.
The scene where Grandpa seeks assisted suicide is also a reference to the scene in the film Soylent Green where the character played by Edward G. Robinson seeks a similar fate.
Reception
Viewing figures
The episode earned a 2.4 rating and was watched by 7.84 million viewers, the 51st most-watched show that week.
Critical response
Adam Finley of TV Squad liked the jokes and the scene where Grampa kills the bull. His favorite moments were when the bulls were floating and when the firemen threw Grampa into a burning building.
Colin Jacobson of DVD Movie Guide thought it was not funny to discuss the ethics of bullfighting. He also noticed that it was another episode discussing suicide after the episode "We're on the Road to D'ohwhere" earlier in the season.
On Four Finger Discount, Guy Davis and Brendan Dando did not like the episode, calling it "sad and depressing" to feature Grampa attempting suicide and killing a bull.
References
- ^ Finley, Adam (April 3, 2006). "The Simpsons: Million Dollar Abie". TV Squad. Archived from the original on April 5, 2006. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- Kennedy, Michael (February 4, 2020). "Every Freddy Krueger Appearance on The Simpsons". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- "Weekly Program Rankings (Mar. 26-Apr. 2)". ABC Medianet. April 4, 2006. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
- 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 October 18, 2024.
- Davis, Guy; Dando, Brendan (July 6, 2023). ""Million Dollar Abie" Podcast Review (S17E16)". Four Finger Discount (Simpsons Podcast) (Podcast). Event occurs at 2:15. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
