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Miscellaneous / Verschiedenes » alt.tv.simpsons » (long) A review of "Million Dollar Abie (HABF09)"
| (long) A review of "Million Dollar Abie (HABF09)" [message #246974] |
Di, 11 April 2006 07:02 |
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[I wrote this last week, but it doesn't look like I posted it. -bjr]
[The long of it]
It says something about the quality of "The Simpsons" when a
lightweight episode like "Million Dollar Abie" makes more of an
impression than most series' regular episodes. Tonight's episode
plays things light, and taken on those terms it's fun to watch.
"Million Dollar Abie" is really three stories in one. It opens with
Homer lobbying the NFL to place its new expansion team in Springfield.
Surprisingly, the NFL agrees, but the deal is scuttled at the last
minute when Abe mistakes the commissioner for a thief and ties him to
a chair. In the second act, he contemplates chucking it all in and
seeing a suicide doctor. (Is Springfield in Oregon now?) Finally, he
becomes a bullfighter, much to Lisa's chagrin.
There are some sensitive moments, but early on the show signals that
silliness will overtake sensitivity. Take the part where Homer lands
that NFL team without any apparent financial backing. (He does sell
naming rights to the stadium, but there's still the matter of paying
for the team itself, plus the league's multi-million dollar entry
fee.) The Springfield Meltdowns are ready for play almost instantly,
instead of the several years' lead time real-world teams need. The
stadium's ready on opening day, too. I'll bet the Tennessee Titans,
who had to play for several years in temporary facilities, would have
loved to have had *that* contractor. Of course, it's all for naught
because apparently the commissioner can yank the team on a whim after
the schedules have been set, and personnel hired. So, some suspension
of disbelief is necessary.
It's possible, though, because most of the jokes are pretty good. The
second act was the high point for me, in spite of the somber subject
matter. The town, with justification, blames Abe for the loss of the
team, and they aren't shy about expressing their displeasure. A group
of fireman pulls a child from a burning building, then picks up Abe
and put him in it. Abe stops by Howard Johnson's for pie before
visiting the suicide doctor. The doctor treads a thin line between
callous and caring, asking Abe to delay his decision, but conceding
it's mainly to give him time to clean out the "death machine." The
machine, incidentally, resembles a giant iPod, and offers choices of
"Instant Death" and "Megadeth." The third act, slightly more dramatic
than the other two, is good. A melodramatic bullfight announcer
provides interesting color commentary. Even a groin-injury joke is
smart, as these things go.
It's an enjoyable show, although I can see why people might object,
thinking the light touch reflects a lack of respect for realism, or
that the show dealt with too many stories at once. The writers (led
by Tim Long, who's a pretty good bet if you want surreal episodes)
manage to keep everyone in character, which helps keep the show from
going over the top. Grandpa's crotchety personality comes off
particularly well here. There's even some room for touching moments.
Lisa's pained expression when she hears the outcome of a bullfight is
more eloquent than any dialogue I can think of. It's possible to have
expanded these stories to occupy an episode by themselves, but I
didn't feel they were given the short shrift.
As we enter the first days of spring, the mood just feels right for a
episode that concentrates on laughs, without reaching for much
emotional depth, or trying to come up new ever more surreal
situations, or showcasing the next big guest voice. "Million Dollar
Abie" hits the spot, and if that's not worth a million, it certainly
isn't chump change.
[The short of it]
This show's three stories in one, all of them taken pretty lightly.
As long as you don't take them too seriously, they make for a pretty
good episode. Abe's crotchety personality serves nicely at the center
of the episode, and the supporting cast is just grounded enough to
keep the show from getting too goofy. The suicide doctor is an
interesting blend of caring and callousness, and I liked the
melodramatic bullfight commentator. Isn't it interesting how a light
episode of "The Simpsons" makes more of an impression that most
series' regular shows? (B+)
[DYNs]
.... Homer's stadium model shows Carl, Lenny, and himself tailgating
in the parking lot?
.... in the model, Homer is puking into a trash barrel?
.... Apu "enhances" the Kwik-E-Mart salsa by emptying a dustpan into
it?
.... some members of the Blue Man Group are in the Vegas trash pile?
.... the promotional song group includes Jar-Jar Binks, Sting, Jack
Nicholson, Michael Jackson, Stephen Spielberg, Cyndi Lauper
(possibly), Quick-Draw McGraw, and Freddie Krueger (and probably
others)?
.... Dreaderick Tatum is seen going into the "Estadio De Toros" (at
about the same time Lenny and Carl show up)
.... the fired "Itchy & Scratchy" writer (from "The Itchy &
Scratchy & Poochie Show"), Ruth Powers, Otto, and Comic Book Guy
lead the crowd running from the bulls?
[References]
"Million Dollar Baby" (movie)
- title of episode a spoof
- both the movie and the episode touch on the theme of assisted
suicide
"Stacked" (TV series)
- like "Boobs," this series is built around casting a sex-bomb
actress in a role where you'd expect an intellectual
"Sportscenter" (TV series)
- ESPN's sports newscast reimagined as "Jock Center"
"Saturday Night Live" (TV series)
- Homer thinks his family's defeatist (or is that realist?)
attitude is, "stinkin' thinkin'," a like taken from the
recurring Stuart Smalley sketches with Al Franken
"60 Minutes" (TV series)
- Springfield has "48 Minutes," which possibly refers to the
running time of the show minus the commercials
Dr. Kevorkian
- isn't the first name of the notorious "suicide doctor" Egoyan?
"Koyaanisqatsi" (movie)
- music similar to the music from the movie plays in the
background as Abe vainly waits for a phone call
iPod (brand of MP3 player)
- Abe is hooked up to the diePOD, which looks like a giant iPod
Megadeth (rock band)
- listed as one of the choices on the diePOD
the Running of the Bulls (annual ritual)
- bulls run through Springfield as crowds dodge them; this is
similar to a bull run held every year in Spain
Manfred Mann (singer)
- Wiggum arrests Egoyan for "Manfred Mann-slaughter"
House Un-American Activities Committee
Abe testifies -- or tries to testify -- before this committee,
charged with exposing "subversive" Communists
[Previous Episode References]
[DABF16] Carmen Electra is a guest voice
[2F14] Carl Reiner mentioned
[DABF09] The leader of Los Jaqueteros appears -- and wears a
commemorative movie jacket
[5F01] The Latin-market soccer match announcer calls the Springfield
bullfighting action
[FFF]
Maggie's toy:
POINT 'N'
LAUGH
Stadium sign:
DUFF BEER
KRUSTYBURGER
BUZZ COLA COSTINGTON'S
DEPARTMENT STORE
KWIK-E-MART STUPID
FLANDERS PARK
Mayor Quimby's welcoming sign:
WELCOME
VEGAS TRASH
Otto's Meltdown T-shirt:
GET
[mushroom]
[ cloud ]
MELTED
Renamed street signs:
Touchdown Ave.
Two-Point-Conversion Ave.
Off-Season Knee Surgery Blvd.
Commissioner's license plate:
COMMISH
Stern church sign:
First Church
of Springfield
TODAY'S TOPIC:
JESUS HATES YOU
Suicide doctor's business card:
DR. EGOYAN
----------
555-0362
The diePOD screen:
diePOD
-------------------
> Instant Death
Slow Painful Death
Megadeth
Signs at the supermarket:
BANANA STRAINED SALT WATER
MUSH PEAS TAFFY
Springfield stadium sign, revised:
SPRINGFIELD
ESTADIO
DE TOROS
OPENING DAY
Lisa's protest sign:
STOP
THE
SLAUGHTER
Post-bullfight headline:
OLD MAN BEATS MEAT
Cleaner where Gil picks up his suit:
SPRING FIELD
C L E A N E R
[Note that the space in "Spring Field"]
Luigi's crate:
FRESH
VEAL
[Personal Comments & Observations]
>> Musical References
During the intro to L.A.'s pitch tape, we hear Randy Newman's "I Love
L.A."
REM's "I Am Superman," (well, their version of it; it may not be their
song originally) plays while Abe looks for the taffy.
>> Personality Parade
Carmen Electra -- Model and actress, currently appearing as the wife
(or is that ex-wife?) of guitarist Dave Navarro. Her reputation is
that she's basically eye candy, which is probably the reason she was
cast in, "Boobs."
Rob Reiner -- Has had a successful comedy career on both sides of the
camera. He was most visible in "All in the Family," playing Archie
Bunker's son-in-law Mike. He is the son of ...
Carl Reiner -- Another successful funnyman who appeared on "The Dick
Van Dyke Show," and worked with Mel Brooks. This means that Rob
Reiner is cold enough to cover up his father's name on the Hollywood
Walk of Fame.
Rob Lowe -- Actor, most recently in NBC's "The West Wing." (Which, in
its final season, airs opposite "The Simpsons.")
"Bennifer" -- Okay, this is two people, actors Ben Afflek and Jennifer
Lopez, who were the subject of one of the most-scrutinized romances in
recent Hollywood history.
"Brangelina" -- Another two-fer, featuring actors Brad Pitt and
Angelina Jolie.
Sarah Silverman -- Just one person, she's an actress who had a
fifteen-minute career on "Saturday Night Live," before moving on to
other series (Fox's own "Greg the Bunny") and movies ("Jesus Is
Magic"). She has a politically incorrect sense of humor, which
sometimes works, and sometimes just induces cringing.
Socrates -- Greek philosopher. He may not qualify as a suicide
victim, as he didn't voluntarily die. After his conviction as a
subversive, he was sentenced to death by drinking hemlock.
Virginia Woolf -- Depressing early feminist writer. "The Hours," an
Academy Award-nominated film, was based on one of her works.
Ernest Hemingway -- Although he was successful and well-regarded
author, Hemingway suffered from depression and ended his life with a
shotgun blast.
Hunter S. Thompson -- Author and "gonzo" journalist, who recently
killed himself during the final stages of a terminal illness.
Charlie Chaplin -- Comic actor famous for his silent work. The man
advertising new condos is dressed as Chaplin's Little Tramp character.
Howdy Doody -- Well, not a real person, but the marionette host of a
hugely popular children's show. He's not a Communist that I know of.
But if he had, would that have made him a Soviet puppet?
Stalin -- Josef Stalin, dictatorial ruler of the Soviet Union from the
1930s to 1953. Abe was obviously on the money in naming him a
Communist.
>> Million Dollar Car Watch
In the promotional video, Rob Reiner drives a Rolls Royce Corniche.
There's a Volkswagen Old Beetle in the cops-vs.-hippies footage.
Later, one of the cars people must run around a yellow New Beetle to
escape the bulls.
>> Miscellaneous, Etc.
Maggie's subtitle was a clever way to allow Maggie to express herself
without having to give up her trademark inability to say anything.
It's easy to overdo it, but I wouldn't mind seeing it every now and
again.
--
Benjamin Robinson bjr7 [at] freenet.tlh.fl.us
This message may or may not contain sarcastic content; your burden to decide
"I'm naked, clueless, and f-e-e-e-ling good!" -- Ratbert
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