Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious
"Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious" | |
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The Simpsons episode | |
Episode no. | Season 8 Episode 13 |
Directed by | Chuck Sheetz |
Written by | Al Jean Mike Reiss |
Production codes | 3F27[1] 3G03 |
Original air date | February 7, 1997 |
Guest appearance | |
| |
Episode features | |
Couch gag | The living room is empty. Outside, Homer is struggling with a locked front door while the other members of the family wait impatiently.[3] |
Commentary | Matt Groening Al Jean Mike Reiss Chuck Sheetz David Silverman |
"Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious", also known as "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpialad'ohcious" is the thirteenth episode of the eighth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, that originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on February 7, 1997. When Marge becomes stressed, the Simpsons hire a nanny, a Mary Poppins parody named Shary Bobbins (voiced by Maggie Roswell). The episode was directed by Chuck Sheetz and written and executive produced by Al Jean and Mike Reiss.[3] It was the last episode for which Reiss received a writing credit. In 2014, Jean selected it as one of five essential episodes in the show's history.[4]
The episode was inspired by the 1964 Disney film Mary Poppins.
Plot
When Marge finds that she is losing her hair at an alarming rate, she visits Dr. Hibbert, who informs her that stress is the cause. The Simpson family decide to hire a nanny to perform housework and childcare while Marge recovers. They are unable to find anyone suitable until a woman glides from the sky with a magical-parrot headed umbrella, introducing herself as Shary Bobbins. She is deemed perfect and is hired. Shary proves helpful for the Simpson family, and Marge's hair grows back once her stress subsides. As the reformed family sits down to a perfect dinner, Shary declares her work done and prepares to leave, only for the family to instantly revert to their original state of dysfunction the moment she steps out of the house. Resignedly, she decides to stay, and is ultimately forced to when Grampa accidentally takes her umbrella.
The family begins to treat Shary poorly, and they lose interest in her zest for life and zealous reform. Declaring that the Simpsons will be the death of her, Shary spirals into
Production
Although the majority of the season eight episodes were
Casting
Julie Andrews (who portrayed the titular role in Mary Poppins) was originally slated to appear in the episode as Shary, but in the end, the producers went with series regular Maggie Roswell after hearing Roswell's reading for the part.[6][8] Quentin Tarantino was also asked to guest star as himself in the Itchy and Scratchy short, but he did not want to deliver the lines required, believing them to be insulting.[5] Instead, regular Dan Castellaneta did the voice.[9]
Cultural references
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Mary_Poppins5.jpg/220px-Mary_Poppins5.jpg)
The overall plot is a reference to the 1964 Disney film
The montage of Marge losing her hair features the song "Hair" from the musical of the same name (though the version heard is The Cowsills version).[10] Homer says he has seen Mrs. Doubtfire and believes that some of the candidates for the role of nanny are men in drag.[5] Homer's imagination is a parody of the dancing characters in Steamboat Willie and features the song "Turkey in the Straw".[10] In the park, Groundskeeper Willie is seen singing a cover version of "Maniac" by Michael Sembello. The scene where Principal Skinner attempts to sell Jimbo is a reference to a similar scene in the story Oliver Twist, more specifically he yells "Boy for Sale", a reference to a song in the musical film adaptation Oliver!
The
Shary and Barney Gumble sing a drunken rendition of Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville".[5]
Krusty's television special "Krusty Komedy Klassic" subtly lampshades the implications from its initials which are the same for the Ku Klux Klan. Krusty's "Mad About Shoe" sketch is a reference to the NBC sitcom Mad About You, while the unseen "NYPD Shoe" sketch references the ABC drama NYPD Blue.
Principal Skinner is seen in a short, anachronistically Victorian scene, trying to sell Jimbo Jones in the park ("Boy for sale!"). He answers Jimbo's doubts by stating that this is legal only in Springfield's state and in Mississippi. Until 2009 there was actually no law in Mississippi prohibiting the sale of children.[11]
Reception
In its original broadcast, "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious" finished 76th in ratings for the week of February 3–9, 1997, with a
In 2014, writers for the series picked "Reservoir Cats" from this episode as one of their nine favorite "Itchy & Scratchy" episodes of all time.[14]
References
- ^ Chuck Sheetz (July 2013). "Sheetz how-to sheet timing" (PDF). david knott. WordPress. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- OL 433519M.
- ^ a b Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious Archived 2014-09-04 at the Wayback Machine, BBC.co.uk. Retrieved on March 28, 2007.
- ^ Ayers, Mike (August 18, 2014). "5 Things: Essential Simpsons Episodes". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on June 14, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Jean, Al (2006). The Simpsons season 8 DVD commentary for the episode "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- ^ a b c d Reiss, Mike (2006). The Simpsons season 8 DVD commentary for the episode "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- ^ a b Sheetz, Chuck (2006). The Simpsons season 8 DVD commentary for the episode Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- ISBN 0-7868-6696-9.
- ^ Groening, Matt (2006). The Simpsons season 8 DVD commentary for the episode "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- ^ a b Silverman, David (2006). The Simpsons season 8 DVD commentary for the episode "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- ^ Mott, Ronni (March 6, 2009). "Legislators Make Child-Selling Illegal". Jackson Free Press. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ^ "Top three networks close in ratings". Sun-Sentinel. Associated Press. February 13, 1997. p. 4E.
- The Los Angeles Times. Archivedfrom the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2007.
- Vulture. March 26, 2014. Archivedfrom the original on March 27, 2014. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
External links
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