Dead Putting Society

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The Simpsons episode
"Dead Putting Society"
Episode no.	19
Prod. code	7F08
Orig. Airdate	November 15, 1990
Writer(s)	Jeff Martin
Director	Rich Moore
Chalkboard	"I am not a 32 year old woman."
Couch gag	Santa's Little Helper and Snowball II jump on the couch.
SNPP capsule
Season 2 October 11, 1990 – July 11, 1991
Bart Gets an F Simpson and Delilah Treehouse of Horror Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish Dancin' Homer Dead Putting Society Bart vs. Thanksgiving Bart the Daredevil Itchy & Scratchy & Marge Bart Gets Hit by a Car One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish The Way We Was Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment Principal Charming Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? Bart's Dog Gets an F Old Money Brush with Greatness Lisa's Substitute The War of the Simpsons Three Men and a Comic Book Blood Feud
List of all Simpsons episodes...

"Dead Putting Society" is the sixth episode of The Simpsons' second season. The episode aired on November 15, 1990.

1 Synopsis
2 Trivia
3 Cultural References
4 External links

[edit] Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The episode opens as Homer is mowing his lawn with obvious frustration, which prompts some unwelcome advice from next-door neighbor Ned Flanders. Ned invites Homer into his beautiful rumpus room for a beer. Upon seeing Ned's house and observing his exaggeratedly perfect relationships with his wife and son, Homer erupts at Ned, accusing him of showing off. Flanders asks Homer to leave. Homer worries in his sleep about Flanders. Discussing things with Marge, she suggests to him that Ned is a perfect neighbor, but Homer goes for a walk. Meanwhile, Maude Flanders suggests to Ned that he shouldn't be talking to her, and he writes a note to Homer with funny things in it, after hearing from Reverend Lovejoy that the Bible says that a gentle answer turns away wrath. So then Ned Flanders writes a letter to Homer (starting out with "Dear Neighbor,") saying that he's really sorry and that he loves Homer as a brother. When he goes to deliver the message to the Simpsons' house at night, Homer, returning from his walk, sees Ned Flanders at his doorstep. So, to prevent another argument, he leaves Homer with the letter. Homer immediately starts to crack up, and reads the letter to the family at the breakfast table. Marge isn't happy with Homer and thinks that he should just leave Ned alone, and do something with the family. So Homer takes Bart and Maggie for a round of miniature golf at Sir Putt-A-Lot's Merrie Olde Fun Center. They unexpectedly run into Ned and Todd Flanders and end up going golfing together.

The game goes well for everyone, except for Homer, who is obviously still jealous of Ned. Meanwhile, Bart and Todd find out about a kids' miniature golf tournament with a first prize of $50. Bart and Todd decide to enter the tournament. Although Todd is very good at miniature golf, Homer is too confident that Bart will win the tournament ("It is not okay to lose!" he tells Bart at one point). So Homer forces Bart to win by yelling at him, and making him stare at a picture of Todd Flanders, angrily, for 15 minutes every day. But nothing works out. One day, whilst Bart was looking at his trophies (none of which say 'first place'), Lisa then finds Bart and offers to help him practice, through her reading spiritual books that calm Bart's mind and she goes to the fun center to help him practice; he doesn't do as well when Homer is around giving him a hard time. Meanwhile, in the evening, Homer meets up with Ned, where they were arguing angrily (even Ned), on who is better. To find out who's better, Homer then tells Ned to make a bet if he thinks he is better than Homer. At first, Ned refused, but when Homer humiliated him and called him chicken, Ned was really aggravated and decided to call on the bet. In the next scene, Homer and Ned are in the kitchen with Marge, who is forced to sign the bet; the father of the boy who does not win the tournament will mow the lawn of the house of the other player's, in his wife's Sunday dress.

It is the day of the tournament, where Homer gets really furious when he sees Ned and threatens Bart to do perfect, who is now really scared of Homer. When the match started, Bart and Todd started off both doing well. Later on, they were both tied, and they've managed to proceed to the final round of the tournament. In an extremely close match, as it progresses, Bart and Todd each do well, and tie by the time they each do the eighth hole. Bart and Todd are both worried it is difficult for them, and they worry that they could tie, so Bart and Todd both decide they are equally good, and call it a draw. Because of this, Homer and Ned must wear each wife's best Sunday dress and mow each other's lawn and Ned actually enjoys it to Homer's disgust.

[edit] Trivia

This is the first episode to feature the Flanders family prominently.
While the Simpson family and the Flanders family have been neighbours for 8 years, this is the first time Homer has ever been inside the Flanders house.
When Flanders give Homer a draft beer he puts it in a large "Macho Mug". The beer comes from Holland.
Ned Flanders has a bedside phone with Reverend (Lovejoy) Work, Reverend Home, Recycling Center, and Bookmobile on speed dial.
Ned's stationary reads "From the 'Noggin' of Ned"
The Mini Golf Course is called Sir Putt-A-Lot's Merrie Olde Fun Center. It features Ye Gokarts, Her Majesty's Batting Cage, Merlin's Video Dungeon, and Skeeball.
One hole in the mini golf course depicts a monkey that mimics Homer's moves.
The 4th prize for the mini golf tounrnament is a 1/2 price snowcone.
Even though Bart is left-handed, he putts like a right-handed golfer. Also, he uses his right hand when he is writing notes on his experiment (the potato).
On Todd's putter there is an inscription that says "To Todd, Love Dad".
According to the tournament board, Bart beat Ralph Wiggum to get to the finals.
Ned Flanders claims to have been in a fraternity while cutting Homer's lawn in a dress.
When Todd and Bart tie for first they each only received $25 (Half of the 1st place prize) instead of splitting both the 1st and 2nd place prizes.

[edit] Cultural References

The title of the episode is a reference to the film Dead Poets Society.
The Karate Kid is referenced twice: when Bart poses in the "crane" position, and when Ned calls, "Mercy is for the weak."
In the movie Full Metal Jacket, the cadets are ordered to name their M14s, Private Pyle a character in the film names his gun Charlene. In this particular episode of The Simpsons, Homer forces Bart to name his putter, he suggests the name Charlene.