MyPods and Boomsticks
| "MyPods and Boomsticks" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
| File:BartMina.jpg | |
| Episode no. | Season 20 |
| Directed by | Steven Dean Moore |
| Written by | Marc Wilmore |
| Original air date | November 30, 2008 |
| Episode features | |
| Chalkboard gag | "Prosperity is just around the corner." |
| Couch gag | The family finds Bart writing "I will not bring the chalkboard home" on a chalkboard where the couch usually is. |
"Mypods and Boomsticks"[1] is the seventh episode of the twentieth season of The Simpsons and first aired on Fox, November 30, 2008.[1] Homer becomes suspicious of Bart's new Muslim friend, Bashir, and decides to invite his family for dinner; having offended them, Homer goes to their home to apologize but discovers what he believes to be a terrorist plot to blow up the Springfield Mall. Homer immediately goes on a rampage through Springfield to warn the residents about the impending disaster.[2] In the episode's subplot, Lisa gets her very own MyPod (a parody of iPod). It was written by Marc Wilmore and directed by Steven Dean Moore with Shohreh Aghdashloo of 24 guest starring as Bashir's mother, Mina.[1] The episode was largely known for being the first episode of The Simpsons to have Islam portrayed in a large role.[3][unreliable source?]
Plot
During a trip to the mall, Lisa obtains a "MyPod" from Krusty at the Mapple Store. After Bart interrupts an important message from Mapple founder Steve Mobbs, insulting "Mapple's" user base, he runs into a Muslim boy from Jordan named Bashir and befriends him. After meeting Bashir, Homer is impressed by the boy's manners, but Lenny, Carl and Moe convince him that all Muslims are terrorists, mostly from a 24-like TV show. He invites Bashir's family over to dinner in an attempt to prove to expose them, but openly discriminates. While going to their home to apologize, Homer sees Bashir's father working with TNT in his garage; due to a dream featuring the Genie of Aladdin, he decides to eavesdrop on Bashir's parents talking about Bashir's father's job as a demolition man, but misses part of the conversation and thinks that Bashir's father is a suicide bomber.
He rushes to the Springfield Mall to warn the shoppers (except Patty and Selma), and sees Bart standing near a detonator with Bashir and his father. Homer tries to get rid of the dynamite by throwing it into the river, but it blows up a bridge which leads to the Duff Beer brewery. However, it turns out Bashir's father was planning to blow up the empty Old Springfield Mall nearby. Homer apologizes, and the Simpson family throws a "Pardon My Intolerance" party for Bashir's family. Meanwhile, Lisa becomes obsessed with her new MyPod until she gets a US$1200 "MyBill". She goes to Mapple headquarters and begs Steve Mobbs to consider a reduced payment plan. Steve Mobbs offers Lisa a job at Mapple to help with her bill. Much to her chagrin, Lisa is given a job where she must stand on a street corner dressed as a MyPod, handing out Mapple pamphlets and telling people to "Think Differently."[4]
Cultural references
The title of the episode is a reference to the book and 1971 Disney film Bedknobs and Broomsticks and a famous line from the film Army of Darkness. (A later episode is titled Rednecks and Broomsticks.) The scene where Homer is on a flying carpet is a parody of the film Aladdin; the Genie also makes an appearance. Dan Castellaneta reprises the role of the genie;[5] he had also done the voice of the Genie in the Aladdin television and direct to video series.[5] "MyPod", "MyPhone", "MyCube", "Mapple Store", "Braniac Bar", and "Mapple" are parodies of Apple Inc. and its products,[5][6] and the CEO of Mapple is "Steve Mobbs", a parody of Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs.[5] The scene where Comic Book Guy throws a sledge hammer at the screen is a reference to the famous "1984" Apple commercial.[7]
Reception
Robert Canning of IGN praised the episode; as a whole, he called the episode funny and strong and "gave the now familiar 'suspected terrorist' plot a Simpsons twist," but called the remainder of the Mapple storyline less impressive.[7] Canning ends his review by saying that minus Lisa's involvement after act one, it was a decently funny episode of The Simpsons.[7] He gave the episode a rating of 7.6/10.[7] Daniel Aughey of TV Guide also praised the episode for its jokes but lack of flow, calling it "one step behind".[5] Entertainment Weekly's Five Best TV quotes of the week includes Bart's line of "Wow, all these years I've been petting lambs when I should have been shoving them in my mouth."[8]
The Council on American-Islamic Relations praised the episode and sent a commending letter to Matt Groening.[9] Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the council in Los Angeles, wrote "I applaud your effort in Sunday's episode of 'The Simpsons' to humanize American Muslims by challenging anti-Muslim sentiment in our society. [...] By introducing a professional Muslim family, the 'Mypods and Boomsticks' episode highlighted the diverse make-up of Springfield and brought to light how Americans can work toward mutual respect and inclusion by getting to know their neighbors."[10] During the episode, Homer mistakenly calls God (Allah) "Oliver", and the Islamic holy book (the Qur'an) "the Corona".[11] A spokesperson for Britain's Islamic Cultural Center and London Central Mosque has commented on the episode, telling U.K. newspaper The Daily Star, "I hope Muslims take no notice of the show."[11] Creator Groening defended the episode by saying, "Cartoons deal in stereotypes. We try to be sensitive."[11]
References
- ^ a b c "Listings - SIMPSONS, THE on FOX". 2008-11-08. Retrieved 2008-11-08.
- ^ "New Episode: Mypods & Boomsticks". Simpsons Channel. 2008-11-30. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
{{cite web}}:|first=missing|last=(help) - ^ Ponywether, Ariel (2008-12-01). "Review -- The Simpsons: "Mypods and Boomsticks"". Firefox News. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
- ^ "November 23 - November 29". 2008-11-08. Retrieved 2008-11-08.
- ^ a b c d e Aughey, Daniel (2008-12-01). "The Simpsons Episode Recap: "Mypods and Broomsticks"". TV Guide. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
- ^ The Simpsons Apple spoof likely has many wondering what a "myCube" is
- ^ a b c d Canning, Robert (2008-12-01). "The Simpsons: "Mypods and Boomsticks" Review". IGN. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
- ^ "Sound Bites: TV's funniest lines from November 28 to December 4". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
- ^ Tomaso, Bruce (2008-12-04). "'The Simpsons' commended for mocking Islamophopia". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
- ^ Ayloush, Hussam (2008-12-03). "Thank you letter - Matt Groening" (PDF). Council on American-Islamic Relations. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
- ^ a b c Aughey, Daniel (2008-12-01). "Simpsons Creator Defends Muslim Plot". IMDB. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
