Hurricane Neddy
| "Hurricane Neddy" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
| File:4f07.jpg | |
| Episode no. | Season 8 |
| Directed by | Bob Anderson |
| Written by | Steve Young |
| Original air dates | December 29, 1996 |
| Episode features | |
| Couch gag | To retrieve the missing couch, Homer inserts coins into a "Vend-a-Couch" coin slot ... only to be crushed by a falling couch; everyone else is uninjured. |
"Hurricane Neddy" is the eighth episode from the eighth season of The Simpsons.
Synopsis
Template:Spoiler Homer lazily enjoys his latest mid-afternoon nap when the winds begin to pick up. Lisa consults her weather instruments and a question-and-answer book and determines a hurricane may soon strike Springfield. Panicked residents quickly gather supplies and food at nearby stores, but Ned remains calm as the main storm approaches.
As various hurricane-related gags play out throughout Springfield, the Simpsons do their best at family bonding. The storm finally passes, and everyone is overjoyed that the storm caused no damage to their home. However, the Flanders family is not so lucky ... Ned's house is the only one that has been destroyed.
Ned is relieved that his family escaped serious injury, but that's of little solace since he does not have homeowner's insurance (having considered insurance "gambling"). The Flanders family is forced to move to the church basement. There, he watches news accounts of the storm's aftermath, and is further discouraged when he is told that the Leftorium had been looted. Seeking answers from God, Maude and Rev. Lovejoy attempt to reassure Ned things will work out fine.
In an attempt to show their community spirit and friendship, Marge commissions everyone in Springfield to rebuild the Flanders' home. The job is completed in record time, and Ned is overjoyed ... that is, until he inspects their workmanship, which turns out to be (at best) shoddy; for example, the door to the main bedroom is only large enough to accommodate a cat at best, although the room itself is apparently its normal size. The makeshift house soon crumbles, and Ned tries containing his anger ... but his temper explodes. He angrily speaks his mind about everyone's efforts, then rants on about specific residents, such as Krusty and Bart, ending his tirade by calling Homer "the worst human being I have ever met!"
Fearing he has lost his mind and on the verge of a mental breakdown, Ned checks himself into the Calmwood Mental Hospital to seek therapy. There, he is treated by his childhood psychiatrist, Dr. Foster, who reminds Ned that – because his parents did not believe in childhood discipline – he was a rambunctious, out-of-control child in need of psychiatric counseling. That therapy involved eight months of continuous spanking, but instead of reforming Ned, it rendered him unable to express any anger at all and resulted in his trademark nonsencial jabbering at moments when he was particularly close to losing his temper. This caused Ned to unknowingly repress his anger, until it built up inside him and erupted in his tirade of insults at the townspeople.
Dr. Foster, now having seen that his earlier therapy was inappropriate, enlists Homer to help Ned learn to appropriately express his emotions, as Homer is the person Ned harbours particularly resentful feelings towards. After several flubbed tries, such as Homer claiming to have slept with Maude, Ned finally admits he resents his beatnik parents because of his upbringing, and suddenly he feels like a weight has been lifted from his shoulders.
Shortly thereafter, Ned is released from Calmwood, and tells everyone he'll try harder at expressing his feelings and letting them know when he is upset, such as when he's really angry "I'm gonna run you down with my car".
Trivia
- In the crowd scene at the end, outside the mental hospital, one of the signs reads "Free John Swartzwelder". John Swartzwelder is a long-time writer on the Simpsons. Swartzwelder himself is seen in one of the mental institution cells, he quickly closes the door as he sees the Simpson family approaching.
- Ms. Lucille Botzcowski (also known as Botz, the Babysitter Bandit.) from 7G01 - "Some Enchanted Evening" makes a cameo appearance pacing around in her cell.
- “The Critic”—Jay Sherman—from 2F31 (“A Star Is Burns”) makes a cameo appearance as well, telling his doctor, "It stinks! It stinks! It stinks!"; the doctor's response to humor him: "That's right, Mr. Sherman. Everything stinks." The Critic had recently been cancelled, and this was the writers' explanation as to why (The Critic creators Al Jean and Mike Reiss were the show runners when Oakley and Weinstein were hired to The Simpsons staff). Also, in the closing credits Jon Lovitz is credited so he probably came in for that small part, seeing as how he had no other part in the episode. (Dr. Foster was Hank Azaria).
- Dr. Foster is later seen in "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Marge", this time sporting a toupee.
- Todd is wearing a Butthole Surfers shirt when the Flanders family is in the relief center ("Look, Dad! I'm a surfer!"). The censors, however, only allowed "Buttho Surfers".
Quotes
- Ned makes his way down the extremly narrow and small hallway in his new home
Ned Flanders: Something's definitely wrong with this hallway! (Ned opens a 4-inch tall door revealing Barney's face)
Barney: Come on in! It's your master bedroom! (Ned slams the door) Ow, my nose! - Ned: Calm down, Neddly diddily diddily diddily, doodily. They did their best shodaiddily iddily iddily diddily diddily. Gotta be nice, hostidididildilidilly ah HELL diddily ding dong crap! Can't you morons do anything RIGHT!? (shocked gasps)
Marge: Ned! We meant well, and everyone here tried their best.
Ned: Well my family and I can't live in good intentions, Marge! Oh, your family's out of control, but we can't blame you, because you have gooooooooood intentions!
Bart: Hey! Back off, man!
Ned: Ooh okay, duuuuude! I wouldn't want you to have a cow, maaaan! Here's a catch-phrase you better learn for your adult years: "Hey, Buddy, got a quarter?" (everyone gasps)
Bart: I am shocked and appalled.
Lisa: Mr. Flanders, with all due respect, Bart didn't do anything.
Ned: Do I hear the sound of butting in? It's gotta be little Lisa Simpson! Springfield's answer to a question NO ONE ASKED! (Wiggum laughs) What do we have here? The long, flabby arm of the law! The last case you got to the bottom of was a case of mallowmars!!
Krusty: (writing it down) Mallowmars, oh that's going in the act!
Ned: Oh, yeah. The clown, the only one of you buffoons who doesn't make me laugh! (to Lenny) And as for you, I don't know you but I'm sure you're a jerk!
Lenny: Hey, I've only been here a few minutes! What's going on?
Ned: (to Moe) You ugly, hate-filled man!
Moe: Hey, hey, I may be ugly and hate-filled, but I... um, what was the third thing you said? (everyone backs away as Ned marches after Homer lastly)
Ned: Homer, you are the worst human being I have ever met.
Homer: Hey, I got off pretty easy.
Cultural references
- It's a Wonderful Life – as in the episode "When Flanders Failed", Homer leads the town to aid Flanders in his darkest hour, though on this occasion the results are far worse.
- The Critic – Jay Sherman makes a cameo appearance in the mental hospital scenes. The Simpsons writers joked that this is what really happened to the character after the series was cancelled. Critic fans, however, don't consider this appearance part of the series' canon.
- Dick Tracy and Pruneface – Ned's "Prune Tracy" remark is a pun on the comic strip detective. It's also an allusion to an off-color joke. Given the progression, the next name would be Dick Face, had Dr. Foster not stopped him.
- Job – The plot of the episode is very similar to that of the Book of Job in the Bible.
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest – Several scenes at Calmwood Mental Hospital are taken from the 1975 movie.
- Swanson TV dinners – The Juvenile Aggression Study film is sponsored by Swanson Angry Man Dinners, a play on Swanson Hungry Man Dinners.