That '90s Show (The Simpsons)

"That '90s Show"
The Simpsons episode
File:Sadgasm.jpg
Episode no.	Season 19
Directed by	Mark Kirkland
Written by	Matt Selman
Original air dates	January 27, 2008
Episode features
Couch gag	The family is sitting on the couch. The screen zooms out to show them as a painting in a museum.

"That 90's Show" is the eleventh episode of The Simpsons' nineteenth season. It was first broadcast on January 27, 2008. Kurt Loder makes his first guest appearance as himself, while "Weird Al" Yankovic appears for the second time on the show as himself. It was written by Matt Selman, and directed by Mark Kirkland. After Bart and Lisa discover Marge's diploma from Springfield University, Homer and Marge recount one of the darkest point in their relationship.

Plot

The Simpson family, is freezing inside their home since Homer has not paid the heating bill. Bart and Lisa search through an empty box to make the fire hotter, and discover a diploma belonging to Marge from Springfield University. Homer and Marge look shocked to find it, and claim it was from their dating years. After doing the calculations, Lisa discovers that the diploma could only come from later than their high school years. Marge and Homer immediately launch into one of the darker points of their relationship, the 1990's.

In the flashback, Homer and Marge are happily dating, with Marge sporting a shorter hair style. The two currently live in an apartment, Marge is an avid reader, and Homer is a part of a blues group alongside Lenny, Carl, and Lou. One morning, Marge wakes up to find out she had been accepted into Springfield University. She is shocked to learn of the high cost of tuition. Homer, taking pity on Marge, decides to quit his dream of becoming a blues musician and instead decides to work at his dad's popular laser tag warehouse, where he is abused by the children. At Springfield University, Marge is happy with its surroundings, and is surprised when its rebellious Professor Stefanè August charms her intellect, despite Homer's disapproval.

In the present, the repair man arrives and fixes the heater, while Marge continues on with the story. Marge soon begins to admire Professor August, and while caressing Homer after his long day at work, is shocked to learn that she is in love with the professor. Homer and Marge begin to sleep in separate beds. Marge starts talking to Professor August who has also fallen for her. August begins manipulating Marge by telling her Homer is a simple "townie" who would not appreciate her intellect. A shocked Homer arrives and catches the two together. In his anger, he takes his blue's group and alters it to sing a new sound called grunge. His band is renamed to "Sadgasm", and they sing a song called "Politically Incorrect". An angry Marge and Homer soon call their relationship quits, and Marge leaves to go with Professor August.

The episode's second promotional image, featuring "Weird Al" Yankovic.

Homer goes to Moe, who at this point, owns a cigar bar. An angry Homer finds no help from Moe, and makes a new song which causes him to become so famous that "Weird Al" Yankovic parodies his song "Shave me". Marge, finds Homer's music unnerving. Marge and August share their first kiss. When running onto the beach, August reveals he and Marge share two very different views on marriage. After the two argue, Marge breaks up with him, breaking his heart. A miserable Marge watches television and is surprised to see Homer made a song dedicated to her, called "Margerine". A special news report with Kurt Loder interrupts, revealing Sadgasm had broken up and Homer is holed up in his mansion, miserable. Arriving there, Marge thinks Homer had been doing drugs and soon begins caring for him. It turns out the needles were insulin for his diabetes. The two soon re-unite. Marge reveals to Bart and Lisa that she learned "Homey is where the heart is".

Cultural references

• The title is a reference to That '70s Show.
• Per its setting, the episode makes several allusions to the 1990's including popular music, film, television and technology.
• When Homer tells the kids about the great things that happened in the '90s he mentions that it was the decade in which Futurama was made; Futurama shares the same creator as The Simpsons, Matt Groening.
• The band formed before "Sadgasm" was a parody of New jack swing, a popular genre of that era.
• The scene where "Marvin Cobain" calls his cousin Kurt to tell him about the new sound he's "been looking for" is a direct parody of the scene in Back to the Future where "Marvin Berry" makes a similar call to his cousin Chuck.
• The tune for the song "Shave Me" is a parody of the song "Rape Me" by grunge band Nirvana. Also, the tune for the song "Margerine" is a parody of the song "Glycerine" by Bush.
• "Weird Al" Yankovic's parody of Sadgasm's "Shave Me" includes the lyric "Tony Danza, he's the boss...."