Realty Bites
"Realty Bites" | |
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Commentary | Mike Scully Dan Greaney Richard Appel Swinton O. Scott III |
"Realty Bites" is the ninth episode of the
This episode has the final speaking appearance of Lionel Hutz, five months before the death of Phil Hartman. The episode's development grew out of a desire by the writers to do a show focused on Marge, where her job did not work out.
The episode received positive mention in the book I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide and is featured in the special 2003 DVD release The Simpsons: Risky Business.
Plot
After Marge complains about the family spending their weekends idly at home, Homer drags her to a police seized-property auction. While there, he buys Snake's car, Li'l Bandit. Upon seeing this, Snake vows to kill Homer. After the auction, insisting on walking home rather than ride in Homer's new dangerous hotrod, Marge encounters
Meanwhile, Snake escapes from the prison and jumps into Li'l Bandit to retrieve the car from Homer. They start fighting each other to gain control of the moving car, and Chief Wiggum starts chasing them.
Feeling guilty about her deception and concerned for the Flanders' safety, Marge goes to check on them at their new house. There, she tells them the truth about the murders, but they are not upset. Ned and
Production
The writers wanted to do a "Marge episode", but one where her job does not work out, unlike previous episodes.
The piano wire scene was meant to end with Kirk's sandwich being sliced just the way he wanted, until George Meyer suggested that his arm be cut off instead. Mike Scully described the ensuing laughter at his suggestion as the most intense he had ever heard from the staff, saying: "They were literally choking because the joke was so unexpected. It was a shocked kind of laugh, and it just started rolling, one of those laughs that build the more they reverberate through you."[4] In the unemployment line, the unemployment recipient with the bucket hat and the beard is a caricature of George Meyer.[3] Due to Phil Hartman's death, the recurring characters of Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure were retired.[5] As such, this episode is the last speaking appearance of Lionel Hutz, with him only being featured as a background character in some future episodes.[3] Troy McClure's final appearance would be in "Bart the Mother", the third episode of season ten.[5]
Cultural references
The title of the episode is an allusion to the 1994 movie
When Homer drives by Snake for the first time in the convertible he sings, "My name is Luka, and I live on the second floor." The lyrics are from the hit song "Luka" by Suzanne Vega.
At one point in the episode,
When Ned Flanders explains to Marge that they were painting Todd's room red, Todd starts saying "Red room, red room" and moves his finger, like the character of Danny does in the film The Shining.[2]
Lionel Hutz reading the list of wrecked items to Marge is a tribute to the
The newspaper front page reporting the "Jealous Jockey Murders" carries the statement "Mrs. Astor safe" beneath the headline. This is a reference to the front page of
Reception
In its original broadcast, "Realty Bites" finished 21st in ratings for the week of December 1–7, 1997, with a
The authors of the book I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide said, "A simple but enjoyable romp, with the final few minutes in the Murder House particularly funny. Best thing though is the introduction of the hapless Gil, destined to always be a ray of light in any episode!"[2]
The episode is featured in a special 2003 DVD compilation called The Simpsons: Risky Business, along with "Marge Gets a Job", "Deep Space Homer", and "Homer the Smithers".[9]
References
- ^ ISBN 0-06-098763-4.
- ^ a b c Martyn, Warren; Wood, Adrian (2000). "Realty Bites". BBC. Retrieved November 9, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i The Simpsons the Complete Ninth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Realty Bites" (DVD). 20th Century Fox. 2006.
- ^ Scully, Mike (2006). The Simpsons The Complete Ninth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Realty Bites" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- ^ National Public Radio (Interview). Interviewed by Terry Gross. Philadelphia: WHYY-FM. Retrieved June 9, 2007.
- ISBN 0-8126-9433-3.
- ^ Titanic Sinks Four Hours After Hitting Iceberg; 866 Rescued By Carpathia, Probably 1,250 Perish; Ismay Safe, Mrs. Astor Maybe, Noted Names Missing
- ^ "CBS, NBC tie for tops in evening news". Sun-Sentinel. Associated Press. December 11, 1997. p. 4E.
- ^ The Simpsons staff (April 7, 2003). The Simpsons: Risky Business. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 25, 2007.