This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 67.186.182.114 (talk) at 23:02, 26 November 2006 (Quote formatting/correction). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 23:02, 26 November 2006 by 67.186.182.114 (talk) (Quote formatting/correction)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) Episode of the 2nd season of The Simpsons| "Brush with Greatness" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
| File:Brush with Greatness.gif | |
| Episode no. | Season 2 |
| Directed by | Jim Reardon |
| Written by | Brian K. Roberts |
| Original air dates | April 11, 1991 |
| Episode features | |
| Chalkboard gag | "I will not hide behind the Fifth Amendment" |
| Couch gag | The couch tips over with the family sitting on it and Maggie sits in its place. |
| Episode chronology | |
| The Simpsons season 2 | |
| List of episodes | |
"Brush with Greatness" is the 18th episode from the second season of The Simpsons. The episode aired on April 11 1991.
Synopsis
After Bart and Lisa see Krusty do his show at the Mt. Splashmore water park, they ask Homer if they can go there. Homer gets annoyed, but reluctantly decides to take them there. The family goes to Mt. Splashmore, where they ride H2WHOA!, but it is crowded. As Homer goes on H2WHOA!, he gets stuck in there. He is lodged in a section of a pipe, which is taken out. After he is rescued, he realizes that he needs to lose weight, and announces that he will go on a diet.
While Homer is looking for his weights, Bart stumbles on paintings of Ringo Starr that Marge made as a student in high school, when she had a crush on him. Lisa asks Marge what her painting talent was as a schoolgirl, and she says that as a high school student, she was scolded for doing a painting of Ringo Starr. She also recalls sending a painting to him for an "honest opinion", which she also recalls never actually got a response. Lisa suggests that Marge take a painting class at Springfield Community College, which she does. She makes a painting of Homer, which her professor, Lombardo, praises. It wins the college art show.
Mr. Burns wants Marge to paint his portrait for the Burns Wing of the Springfield Art Museum. She reluctantly agrees, as long as Burns insists that the painting portray him as a beautiful man. While Burns heckles Marge as she does the painting, Homer finds out that he weighs 239 pounds, which is 21 less than what it previously was. After Burns insults Homer, Marge insists that he leave the house and is ready to quit until Homer encourages Marge to finish the painting and she gets a reply from Ringo Starr, who is decades behind on answering his fanmail, praising her artwork. She finishes the painting, and at the opening of the Burns Wing, she unveils the painting. The painting depicts a naked, frail, and weak Burns. The people are shocked, until Marge explains that it depicts what Burns actually is. Everyone, even Burns, who is outraged but then accepts his new glory, praises Marge's painting.
Additional notes
- This is the first Simpsons episode to make a verbal use of the word "genitalia" (which caused controversy at Fox), and the first episode in which a former member of The Beatles (Ringo Starr) appears.
- Ringo's fellow Beatles would appear in later episodes: George Harrison in "Homer's Barbershop Quartet" and Paul McCartney in "Lisa the Vegetarian". The Simpsons is the only TV show to have three of the four Beatles guest star (John Lennon died in 1980).
- This episode marks the first appearance of Miss Hoover.
- This episode also marks the first appearance of the Squeaky Voiced Teen.
Cultural References
- "As God as my witness, I'll always be hungry again!!" is a spoof of the famous line from Gone With the Wind.
- Homer works out to music that is similar to the montage music from Rocky.
- As Homer approaches the scale, the music from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is heard.
- A montage sequence of Marge attempting to paint Burns' portrait features Ringo Starr's hit single "It Don't Come Easy".
- A painting of what looks like a Campbell's soup can is visible at the gallery, in a reference to Andy Warhol.
Goofs
Quotes
- The Mt. Splashmore Song:
I wanna go to Mt. Splashmore
Take me take me take me take me now!
Now now now now now!
Mt. Splashmore, take me there right now!
- Lisa: This is a rather shameless promotion.
Bart: Hey, it worked on me!
Lisa: Me too! - (Ringo Starr's reply to Marge's letter)
Ringo Starr: Dear Marge, thanks for the fab painting of Yours Truly. I hung it on me wall. You're quite an artist. In answer to your question, yes, we do have hamburgers and fries in England. But we call French fries "chips". Love, Ringo. P.S.: Forgive the lateness of my reply. audio clip - Lisa: While I know firsthand how fragile young talent is, I'd love to hear the particulars of how your gift was squashed.
- Marge: I think it's a very nice idea. Don't you Homer?
Homer: Do I have to do anything?
Marge: No.
Homer: Great. Fine! Go nuts! - Mr. Burns: Excellent. Once again the wheel has turned and Dame Fortune has hugged Montgomery Burns to her sweet, perfumed bosom. Somebody up there likes me, Smithers.
Smithers: Somebody down here likes you too.
Burns: Shut Up! - Mr. Burns: Ringo?
Smithers: He was the drummer for a rock and roll combo called the Beatles.
Burns: Beatles, eh? Oh yes, I seem to remember their off-key caterwauling on the old Sullivan Show. What was Ed thinking? - Burns: Dah, there is something on my leg. Get it off, get it off.
Marge: It's just a baby.
audio clip - Dr. Hibbert: Provocative, yet powerful.
Miss Hoover: He's bad, but he'll die. So I like it.
Mr. Burns: ... Now, I'm no art critic, but I know what I hate...and I don't hate this. It's bold, but beautiful. Incidentally, thanks for not making fun of my genitalia.
Marge: (to Homer) I thought I did. - Donut delivery man: These donuts are really starting to pile up.
Carl: Yeah, didn't you hear? Homer Simpsons went on a diet.
Donut delivery man: Oh my god! And I just bought a boat!