Jokes We Don't Get

**Roger Myers III** · 12-17-2003, 02:57 PM

Paul Harvey's biography of the "obnoxious child who grew up" was of the late attorney Roy Cohn. Cohn made his reputation as the chief counsel to Sen. Joseph McCarthy in the 50s anti-communist hearings, and continued to do dirty work for Nixon and then Reagan. Most interesting fact - and hypocrisy - of Cohn was that he was able to spend his manipulative career hiding the fact that he was a self-hating homosexual while working as a Republican activist in crushing any progress in Gay rights and quashing AIDS research and study, while simultaneously funnelling the latest medical treatments to himself. [This aspect of his life is the focus of Cohn's character as presented in Tony Kushner's drama "Angels in America", now airing in an adaptation on HBO - with Al Pacino as the very-ill Cohn.]

Harvey is perceived as a "populist" who, especially at his advancing age - even then - is very 'out-of-touch' with modern perceptions (which is sort of the source of his appeal). The joke is that Harvey is soooo out of touch that he gives a fawning, sympathetic portrait of Cohn. Also, Harvey's 'profiles' on his radio show always follow the format of reciting the biography, and then, at the very end, revealing who the subject is.

Also, btw, the Blue-haired Lawyer is himself modelled after Cohn - in Dan's vocal performance more than his look.

**whisman** · 12-20-2003, 04:00 PM

This scene is from the archive:

At the risk of editorializing, these women are guilty, and must be dealt
with in a harsh and brutal fashion. Otherwise, their behavior could
incite other women leading to anarchy of biblical proportions. [Pause]
It's in "Revelations", people!

Suddenly Brockman is cut off, and a still shot of Brockman with the
words, "Technical Difficulties, Please Stand By", appears on the screen.

I never got the true meaning of that joke. And while we are on the subject:

In She of Little Faith, Lisa sees a guy in the church saying "Get your money changed", and Lisa says this is blasphemous (sp) How is this blasphemous?

**Andy** · 12-20-2003, 04:58 PM

Many TV stations in the late 20th century cut off editorials on their newscasts in order to promote a more objective program. Brockman's attempt to editorialize was also quite controversial, and depending on how you interpret the Bible, possibly wrong.

And Lisa's just thinks it's blasphemous for a church to sell secular ad space and promote secular activities in the church.

**mr. broom** · 12-20-2003, 07:22 PM

Actually, the money-changing scene is directly taken from the Bible. Money-changers set up in front of the temple, and Jesus in his anger at this disrespect for the sanctity of the temple overturns the money-changers' tables. The whole thing is meant to say in no uncertain terms that the First Church of Springfield is being sacrilegious in its new advertising practices.

**Miss Springfield** · 12-20-2003, 08:04 PM

Whats with the bible stories one where Jesus Vs who? and Jesus comes out in a neckbrace with a manila folder titled my accident...

I think Kent was just acting nuts and taking the issue to a weird level, hence him being cut off so as to stop the station from looking crazy and also the crazy looking guy with the bird coming out of his head adds to the funny when it says technical difficulties please stand by, just like the ants one in deep space homer although they didn't cut him off there he acts nutty.

**Andy** · 12-20-2003, 08:30 PM

Jesus vs. Checker Chariot. Apparently Jesus got hit by a chariot taxi (so assumed because Checker is a popular modern-day taxicab company).

**Tibor** · 12-20-2003, 11:19 PM

This could be a stretch, but is there any link between Swartzwelder and Grampa the writer in The Front? I ask because the episode has some self-referential moments and I have the impression that JS is regarded as a cantankerous old man, in the most endearing way possible.

**whisman** · 12-21-2003, 02:25 PM

Ok, I got two more questions:

What does the title "Grift of the Magi" mean?

In "She of Little Faith", in the rocket commercial, what is with this "yaw control" thing.

**Dennis** · 12-21-2003, 02:29 PM

Originally posted by Robbie Whisman
Question: In C.E.D'oh (the episode where Homer takes over the plant) Marge goes on making up words like "bibble" as in:

"Who gives a bibble"

She does this during dinner and I still have no idea why she is doing that. What is the deal with that scene?

I have a similar question. Why is it like a running joke in seasons 14-15 for Marge to say a word the wrong way?

**whisman** · 12-21-2003, 02:35 PM

Oh yea, like in Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington, when the swear jar breaks, she says something like "fudgekins" or something. What does she say exactly?

**mr. broom** · 12-21-2003, 03:08 PM

Originally posted by Robbie Whisman
What does the title "Grift of the Magi" mean?

"Gift of the Magi" is a story about a poor married couple. The woman sells her long, gorgeous hair to buy a watchband for her husband, who sells his watch to buy her a set of beautiful combs. They both love the gifts in the end, even though they're useless, because each of them sacrificed for the other.
A grift is a con game.

In "She of Little Faith", in the rocket commercial, what is with this "yaw control" thing.

Yaw is a directional control for airplanes, along with pitch. It's being billed as a big, exciting thing even though it's a pretty standard feature.

**vox** · 12-21-2003, 06:18 PM

Originally posted by Mr. Scrooge
"Gift of the Magi" is a story about a poor married couple. The woman sells her long, gorgeous hair to buy a watchband for her husband, who sells his watch to buy her a set of beautiful combs. They both love the gifts in the end, even though they're useless, because each of them sacrificed for the other.
A grift is a con game.

While that's true, I think the title actually relates more directly to something more related to Christmas. When Jesus was born, three wise men came to visit him, known as the magi. They each gave a gift to him: incense, gold and myrrh. Each gift had some significance. Gold means "God with us", incense is a gift for a priest which represents how he would spread God's word and myrrh is a gift for one being buried which represents how Jesus would end his life by being crucified to save believers from there sins and then rose from the dead. Hence, the phrase "Gift of the Magi".

**Miss Springfield** · 12-22-2003, 12:21 AM

When Bart becomes KTK assistant what song is Homer playing in his one man band? I am confused. Is it a real song or just one they made up? (In a flashback of Homer's first job) They go to the box factory and he sneaks out...

Crotis Jivefunk · 12-22-2003, 08:25 AM

Originally posted by brooke2003
When Bart becomes KTK assistant what song is Homer playing in his one man band? I am confused. Is it a real song or just one they made up? (In a flashback of Homer's first job) They go to the box factory and he sneaks out...

It's called Tighten Up by Archie and the Drells.

**whisman** · 12-22-2003, 05:40 PM

In Tis the Fifthteenth Season, Homer says something like "I'm sadder than Maury on a Tuesday."

A) What exactly did he say?
B) What did it mean?

**Dennis** · 12-22-2003, 06:28 PM

He said "This is sadder than Tuesdays with Morrie" or something like that. "Tuesdays with Morrie" is this drama tv movie or something that I haven't seen.

Crotis Jivefunk · 12-22-2003, 09:05 PM

What did Milhouse mean in Bye Bye Nerdie when he said Francine thought she was Babe, Pig in the City?

**MrB** · 12-23-2003, 01:25 AM

Originally posted by Robbie Whisman
In Tis the Fifthteenth Season, Homer says something like "I'm sadder than Maury on a Tuesday."

A) What exactly did he say?
B) What did it mean?

Probably a reference to the Maury Povich show, it highlights certain stories and interviews the relevant people, often focussing on sad stories.

**brazilian812** · 12-23-2003, 06:17 AM

no, its in reference to "Tuesdays with Morrie" which is a made-for-tv movie about a guy (Hank Azaria) who visits an old guy (Jack Lemmon) and they talk a lot, or something. By his comment and and the history of movies like this, my guess is Morrie dies at the end, making it incredably sad, hence Homer's comment

**Charmy** · 12-23-2003, 01:51 PM

Question: In 'Marge VS. The Monorai', the scientist is detailling Lyle Lanley's budget cuts, and ends with 'and the celebrity on the maiden voyage was Gallagher', with obvious disdain. I've heard of Gallagher before but I really don't know who he is. Can someone help me out?

**JMS** · 12-23-2003, 01:56 PM

Originally posted by Charmy
Question: In 'Marge VS. The Monorai', the scientist is detailling Lyle Lanley's budget cuts, and ends with 'and the celebrity on the maiden voyage was Gallagher', with obvious disdain. I've heard of Gallagher before but I really don't know who he is. Can someone help me out?

Gallagher is a comedian from the 80's. His shows consist of mostly physical humor, and he would commonly smash things. That was usually the big part of his act.

**mr. broom** · 12-23-2003, 02:26 PM

Originally posted by brazilian812
no, its in reference to "Tuesdays with Morrie" which is a made-for-tv movie about a guy (Hank Azaria) who visits an old guy (Jack Lemmon) and they talk a lot, or something. By his comment and and the history of movies like this, my guess is Morrie dies at the end, making it incredably sad, hence Homer's comment

"Tuesdays with Morrie" is, in fact, based on a real-life account in a book by the same name by Mitch Albom (Azaria plays Albom in the film). It's about Albom's old teacher, who died of a terminal illness but while he was dying spent time with Albom on Tuesdays. It's a short book, and a very good story, and I recommend it to anyone. It's sad because you know from the beginning that Morrie is going to die, and that's the reference. Very sorry to nitpick about the details--I just happen to really like this book.

**Andy** · 12-23-2003, 04:46 PM

Originally posted by Strong Sad
What did Milhouse mean in Bye Bye Nerdie when he said Francine thought she was Babe, Pig in the City?

It's just a geeky Milhousesque way of saying 'she think she's the cock of the walk' or 'she thinks she's so great.' The fact that Milhouse chose that movie out of all others is just another 'Milhouse is weird' joke.

Also, Tuesdays with Morrie (the tv-movie) was Jack Lemmon's final acting performance.

**deshem** · 12-23-2003, 05:03 PM

I made a whole thread out of this, yet I did not tend to get an answer, so maybe you guys can help out. In the episode "Itchy and Scratchy Land", after Marge and Homer sound interested by Parent Island, Bart and Lisa gasp in anticipation. The scene goes like this:

*GASP!* .......................... YAAAAAAAAAY!

Was this pause bud dubbing, a weird joke or animation goof?

**Andy** · 12-23-2003, 05:07 PM

Probably both a time filler and a dramatic pause, if it weren't a mistake.

**MrB** · 12-24-2003, 02:22 AM

Originally posted by PsycheEnFuego
Probably both a time filler and a dramatic pause, if it weren't a mistake.

Always saw it as a dawning realisation that they were now going to go. IIRC they gasp, then look at each other (in an 'are you thinking what I'm thinking?' kind of way), then cheer.

**whisman** · 12-24-2003, 07:43 AM

Question: In the Father Who Knew Too Little, Detective Colt is inspecting Lisa's locker and Groundskeeper Willie walks by. Colt says to him "You know your the spitting image of (somebody)". Willie says "movin' on." Never got that joke.

**Miguel Sanchez** · 12-24-2003, 07:51 AM

He says Willie's the spitting image of the Aberdeen Strangler. Willie, not wanting upset the detective and have himself arrested leaves him to his searching.

**Roger Myers III** · 12-24-2003, 09:30 AM

1) The Kent Brockman "Revelations" scene was a direct parody of 1975's excellent, Oscar-winning satire "Network", of anchorman Howard Beale's first on-air breakdown, down to the "Pleasse Stand By frame.

2) The Moneychangers' sin, iirc, wasn't that they were set up outside the Temple steps - which was common in the Roman era, but that they were committing 'usury' - charging exhorbitant interest fees to the most desperate.

3) The funny thing about the "Checker Chariot" case is that Jesus wears a neckbrace, which is a signifier that he's "trumping up" his injuries - i.e., its sort of a bogus case, which cab companies encounter all the time. (There's a great "Taxi" episode about it too.)

4) Marge has always done the "fake curse word" thing - as do Flanders, and many, many exceedingly polite folks in real life. You just noticed?

5) In O. Henry's short story, its actually a "fob chain" that the wife gets for him, which is a chain that holds one's vest-pocket-watch. Its a very dandy fashion item, which, along with the combs, indicate that this is a couple that was wealthy but had fallen on hard times.
But, to explain the title, Henry was making a reference himself - to the Magi - the 3 wise men, following the Star of Bethlehem, that visited Joseph & Mary in their tent, and their gift to the couple of Gold, Frankincense, and myrrh (the last 2 are types of rare dried saps that were used in exotic spices.)

6) "Yaw" is the aeronautic engineering term for the positioning of a plane along its fuselage's (long body's) axis, as it changes directions, to the 'left' or 'right'. Far from being a 'common feature', its nearly impossible to control the yaw of a model rocket, or to steer it at all after launch.

6.The joke is that Homer plays the song badly, before being stopped.

7. Hank Azaria won a dramatic Emmy for playing Albom in "Tuesdays with Morrie", a tv-movie adaptation of a book, adapted from his NPR radio series on their program "This American Life".

8. Gallager's signature act was smashing melons with a large mallet. You can see him and the act portrayed in Homer's flashback in "Worst Episode Ever". But here's how 2nd-tier he was - he hired his brother & another guy to portray him at separate gigs to maximize his income... but them later sued his brother for doing it!

9. Milhouse always seems to pick the inapropriate movie example to use - the sequel that tanked because no one went to see it. ("This is like "Speed 2" - but on a bus instead of a boat!")

10. "Time-filler"? Its pretty blatant that, after so much effort, promotion, and pandering, it slowly dawns on Bart & Lisa, and they let it sink in for a moment, that they've just hit upon the point that has tipped the scales in favor of going to Itchy & Scratchy Land.

11. Colt is a complete stranger committing a illegal search of a girl's locker in an elementary school (iirc) in the middle of the night. He's interrupted by the (rightly) concerned & suspicious school janitor, who questions him. In order to get Willie to wilfully ignore him and let him go about his business, he responds with a subtle hint, rather than an accusation, that he recognizes Willie as a never-caught, infamous Scottish criminal. Willie, not wanting to get himself caught up in his own past crimes, get the hint and moves along, which is Colt's intended goal. This of course implies that he is the infamous Aberdeen Strangler - or you can infer that he's had previous nighmarish situations of being mistaken for him by police, and never wants to again. (Nor would the police, if his interriogation in "Who Shot Burns? pt 2" is any indication!)

Happy Holidays, folks!

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