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This article is about the Simpsons episode; for other uses see Some Enchanted Evening (disambiguation).

"Some Enchanted Evening" was the first full-length Simpsons episode produced, and the thirteenth episode shown on television. The episode features Bart's, Lisa's, and Maggie's encounter with the notorious "Babysitter Bandit".

Synopsis

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Marge is fed up with Homer's thoughtlessness and explains her predicament on Dr. Marvin Monroe's radio call-in show. Monroe urges Marge to confront Homer about her feelings. Homer, who has heard the call on a radio at work, feels bad and – after a stop at Moe's Tavern for advice – brings home a single rose. Marge's mood immediately softens, and a remorseful Homer decides to treat Marge to a night on the town: dinner at a fancy restaurant, dancing, and staying at a hotel room.

Marge attempts to hire a babysitter through the local babysitting service, but is rejected (because of her children's previous antics with babysitters). Homer calls later and – after identifying himself as "Homer Sampson" – is able to get a babysitter.

Later, Ms. Botz – an imposing-looking woman with an intimidating demeanor – arrives to take the job. On Marge's advice, Ms. Botz has Bart and Lisa watch "The Happy Little Elves Meet the Curious Bear Cub." However, it isn't long before Ms. Botz leaves the room, and Bart – having grown bored with the Happy Little Elves – switches to something more to his liking.

Bart tunes into a station airing "America's Most Armed and Dangerous," which is doing a profile of a wanted burglar nicknamed "The Babysitter Bandit." The announcer also warns that the suspect, named Lucille Botzkowski, could be "using a clever alias." A profile of the suspect confirms Bart and Lisa's suspicions: Ms. Botz is "The Babysitter Bandit."

As if on cue, "Ms. Botz" enters the room. Bart and Lisa try to hide, but she easily finds them, ties them up and makes them watch "The Happy Little Elves" tape as Ms. Botz goes about her work uninterrupted. Maggie eventually wakes up and goes downstairs, to discover that her siblings are tied up watching TV. Eventually, Maggie frees Bart and Lisa, and they are able to hit Ms. Botz with a baseball bat.

After tying up Ms. Botz, the kids – finding all their telephones disabled – go to a nearby pay telephone and alert the authorities (via the "America's Most Armed and Dangerous" tipline). Meanwhile, Marge decides to try to call home to check up on things at home, but get no answer. Worried, she and Homer decide to go home ... only to find Ms. Botz bound and gagged.

Homer, thinking his children have gotten the best of another babysitter and unaware of her true identity, frees her and pays her handsomely. After advising Homer to keep an eye on Bart, Ms. Botz makes a clean getaway, just seconds before the Springfield police arrive to arrest her. Homer begins to scold Bart for his behavior toward Ms. Botz, but immediately finds a reporter's microphone shoved in his face, telling him he just freed a wanted criminal. Homer is dubbed the "local boob."

First Screening

According to the commentary for the episode on the Simpsons Season 1 DVD, a debacle erupted when this episode, the first to return from animation in Korea, was screened in front of the production staff at the Gracie bungalow. The animation was reportedly so appalling that the room had cleared by the time the episode finished playing, hastened by executive producer James L. Brooks' infamous initial reaction, "This is shit," and the heated argument that ensued between him and Klasky-Csupo animation studio head Gabor Csupo, who denied that there was anything wrong with the animation and suggested that the real problem lay with the quality of the show's writing. The producers considered aborting production on the series if the next episode, Bart the Genius turned out as poorly, but fortunately it turned out to suffer only a few, easily fixable problems. Afterwards, the producers entreated Fox to push the air date for the series premiere back several months, which was then switched to Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire so that more time could be spent fixing the animation problems with this episode. Directorial duties for the retakes were also handed from Kent Butterworth to David Silverman, who already had considerable experience directing The Simpsons Tracey Ullman shorts.

Deleted Scenes

On the first season DVD, it contains some of the original footage that was redone for this episode. However, no sound effects were finished, but the original dialogue tracks can be heard. The quality of this footage is a little re-mastered but not much.

The following cut out, and later redone, include:

The original opening: Marge is talking to Maggie, while cooking breakfast. Homer and the kids rush downstairs and raid the kitchen for food. Bart and Lisa's "tug-a-war" over the last donut is here, but animated differently. Also, included is brief moment where Marge puckers her lips to kiss Homer. But, Homer drinks her coffee and slams the door on her lips, leaving a mark. This would explain the kiss mark left on the back of the door later in the episode when Marge and Homer leave for their date.

Angry Marge: As an angry Marge waits for Homer, Dr. Marvin Monroe's words plays in her in head, while radios circle above her head. This was re-animated with monstrous visions of home appliances.

Calling a Sitter: An alternate take to Homer's reaction to the old lady on the phone quoting that Homer is a "big ape".

Dancing: An alternate take of Homer and Marge dancing.

Also, there is a commentary on these scenes explaining why they were redone.

Trivia

• The episode's production number is 7G01, as it was the first Simpsons episode produced and, if not for the aforementioned animation problems, it would have served as the series premiere.
• Dr Marvin Monroe's Therapy Hotline number is 555-PAIN.
• When Dr. Marvin Monroe says "I'm as sure as my voice is annoying.", this is referencing how difficult and annoying it was for Harry Shearer to provide Monroe's voice.
• The name of the baby sitting service Marge calls is : Rubber Baby Buggy Bumper Baby-sitting Service.
• Chilly is the elf who cannot love.
• The number for America's Most Armed and Dangerous is 1-800-U-SQUEAL
• The name of the band at the restaurant is The Larry Davis Experience.
• The real name of the Baby-sitter Bandit is Miss Lucille Botzkowski.
• Maggie falls over 22 times.
• This episode is also known for its notoriously crude animation.
• One of the elves' faces on the title card for the elves movie resembles Professor Hubert Farnsworth, a character in Matt Groening's later show, Futurama
• This episode features a rare continuity error in the series. In the scene where Bart is shown sitting tied up on the couch and Ms. Botz walks in carrying a tied-up Lisa in her arms before dumping her on the sofa alongside Bart, you can see quite clearly that the rope Ms. Botz has used to bind Lisa is wound right around her body from the neck right down to her ankles. A few shots later when Maggie comes down and frees her, the rope tying Lisa's legs together at the knees has disappeared.

Cultural References

• The chalkboard gag sentence is a reference to the old "don't yell fire in a crowded theater" rule.
• "America's Most Wanted" - The "America's Most Armed and Dangerous" show is a parody of the FOX network show. The host of the parody is a John Walsh-soundalike.
• The Happy Little Elves - These elf-like creatures are similar to other fantasy folk-type cartoon characters, most notably The Smurfs and The Care Bears.
• "Jaws" - The ominous-sounding music as Ms. Botz approaches Bart and Lisa is similar to the music that plays when the bloodthirsty shark is about to attack in the movie.
• "Patricia" - Homer hums the song, made famous by Cuban bandleader Perez Prado.
• "Some Enchanted Evening" - The episode title is taken from the title of a song from Rodgers and Hammerstein's "South Pacific" and is also the name of a 1978 Blue Öyster Cult album.
• A dirty limerick - When Homer calls the babysitting service he gives them a fake name of Samson, reiterating it with the line "No, I said Samson, not Simpson." This is a reversal of the poem, which ends with "My name is Simpson, not Samson."

Quotes

• Dr. Marvin Monroe: If he doesn't start loving, you'll be leaving.
  Marge: Leave Homer?
  Dr. Marvin Monroe: No, don't use his real name!
  Marge: Leave Pedro?
• Ms. Botz: Come, children, let's go watch the Happy Little Elves.
  Bart: Look, lady, we've seen the Crappy Little Elves about 14 billion times.
• Bart: We know who you are, Ms. Botz - or should I say Ms. Botzkowski! You're the Babysitter Bandit!
  Ms. Botz: You're a smart young man, Bart. I hope you're smart enough to keep your mouth shut.
  Lisa: He isn't.
• (the Simpsons call a babysitter)
  Marge: Wait - what about a babysitter?
  Homer: Whoops.
  Marge: Not to worry. (picks up phone to dial the babysitting service, hearing Moe on the other line after Bart's crank call)
  Moe: Listen you lousy bum, if I ever get a hold of you, I swear I'll cut your belly open!
  Marge: Goodness, must be a crossed wire. (dials phone)
  Receptionist: Rubber Baby Buggy Bumper Babysitting Service!
  Marge: This is Marge Simpson. I'd like a babysitter for the evening.
  Receptionist: Wait a minute - (turns to look at a poster with the Simpson kids' pictures and a header reading "NO! NO! NO!") The Simpsons? Lady, you've got to be kidding! (hangs up, phone rings, picks up again) Rubber Baby Buggy Bumper Babysitting Service!
  Homer: Hello, this is Homer Saaaampson.
  Receptionist: Did your wife just call a second ago?
  Homer: No! I said Sampson, not Simpson!
  Receptionist: Thank God! Those Simpsons - what a bunch of savages, especially that big ape father!
  Homer: D'oh! Actually, the Simpsons are neighbors of ours, and we've found them to be a quite misunderstood and underrated family.

External links

• "Some Enchanted Evening episode capsule". The Simpsons Archive.
• "Some Enchanted Evening" at IMDb

• The Simpsons episodes, season 1