Marge Gets a Job
| "Marge Gets a Job" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
| File:MargeGetsAJob.jpg | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 |
| Directed by | Jeffrey Lynch |
| Written by | Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein |
| Original air date | November 5 |
| Episode features | |
| Chalkboard gag | "I will not teach others to fly." |
| Couch gag | The family members' heads are on the wrong bodies. |
| Commentary | Matt Groening Al Jean Bill Oakley Josh Weinstein Jeffrey Lynch Jim Reardon |
"Marge Gets a Job" is the 7th episode of The Simpsons' fourth season.
Plot
The Episode starts off with a party for a forced retiree, Jack Marley. It is evident he did not want to retire, and the retirement party entertainment is filled with music praising Mr. Burns.
The Simpson's house is sinking/losing its foundation (or, by the looks of it, simply tipping over) and they have to somehow raise $8500 for repairs. Thanks to Lisa's creative and very impressive resume, Marge gets a job at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant; the job previously held by the newly retired Jack Marley. Homer is worried about working in the same place as Marge.
Meanwhile, Bart does not want to take a test at school, so he fakes a stomachache. Mrs. Krabappel asks, "Bart, have you ever read The Boy Who Cried Wolf?"
From his office, Mr. Burns watches surveillance footage of his plant without enthusiasm. When Marge appears, however, he is enamored and begins a crusade to win her affection. He begins to take advice as to cheer up things around the plant--for example, "Funny Hat Day" and playing Tom Jones' music over the plant's speakers.
Bart returns to school, but when Mrs. Krabappel suggests that he take a make-up test, he immediately begins to groan. ("Ohh, my ovaries!") Grandpa comes to pick him up and on the way home, references The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Again, Bart is unfazed. When he returns to school once more, he is forced to take the make-up test. He begins to protest, but Mrs. Krabappel is unimpressed. "Bart," she says. "To avoid this test, you've had smallpox, the bends, and that unfortunate bout of Tourette's syndrome" (see Censorship note). She places him alone outside the classroom, hands him the test, and leaves.
At Krustylu Studios, the taping of Krusty the Clown's latest show is not going well. A wildlife expert is visiting, and with her is a large hawk and an Alaskan timberwolf, who she warns is spooked by loud noises. Unfortunately for the wolf, "loud" is the word of the day (a la "Pee-Wee's Playhouse"). Celebration and noise ensues, and the terrified animal panics and escapes the studio.
It runs to Springfield Elementary School, where it attacks Bart outside the classroom. He cries, "Wolf!" but Mrs. Krabappel ignores his pleas. Groundskeeper Willie rescues him only after serious damage has been done, and after all of Bart's lies, no one believes that he was attacked by a wolf. Since he feels that he will not be believed, he decides to say that he made it up, thus showing a "little honesty" to Mrs. Krabappel. He then passes out on the floor. Grandpa takes him to the hospital, saying to Bart "We better get some garlic on those wounds before the next full moon" while Willie gives the wolf some alcohol and consoles him about losing, saying that "I was wrestling wolves back when you was at your mother's teat."
Meanwhile, Mr. Burns attempts (with the help of a hostage Tom Jones, whom Marge stated was her favorite singer) to seduce Marge, but when she tells him that she is married, he fires her. She threatens a lawsuit and enlists the help of Lionel Hutz, who is completely unsuccessful and runs yelping from Mr. Burns's squad of real lawyers.
Mr. Burns has a change of heart after seeing how Homer would stand up for Marge. The episode ends as Homer and Marge enjoy a private show performed by the chained-up and quietly protesting Tom Jones.
Trivia
- Lisa's claim that both Pierre and Marie Curie died of radiation poisoning is only half-correct. Marie died of radiation poisoning, but Pierre died in an accident, he was run over by a horse-driven cart, although he was suffering from radiation poisoning at the time.
- The photo of Mr. Burns meeting Elvis, given to Smithers in Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk, is visible in Smithers' office during Marge's interview (which is reminiscent of Richard Nixon meeting Elvis).
- When Homer and his co-workers are confronting the donut man, Homer's hat changes color within the scene.
- Groundskeeper Willie rips off his shirt before he wrestles the wolf, but in the next scene when he tells Bart to go back to class, he is wearing his shirt.
Cultural references
- The song performed by Smithers is a reference to Citizen Kane.
- The song for the "Funny Hat Day" is "What's New Pussycat?", performed by Tom Jones for the movie with the same title.
- In the end a kidnapped Tom Jones with fetters on his feet is performing "It's Not Unusual".
- While Mr. Burns is looking through the surveillance cameras, The Imperial March is being played in the background
- The photo of Mr. Burns meeting Elvis is very close to the photo of Richard Nixon meeting Elvis.
External links
