Simpsoncalifragilisticexpialad'ohcious
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"Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious" (a reference to the song and long word supercalifragilisticexpialidocious from Mary Poppins) is the thirteenth episode in the eighth season of The Simpsons. It features a Mary Poppins lookalike (voiced by Maggie Roswell, as Julie Andrews was unavailable[citation needed]) who tries, initially succeeds, but ultimately fails to get the family straightened out. It featured many musical themes. Despite being read as "Simpsoncalifragiliscticexpialid'ohcious", the episode's title features "(Annoyed Grunt)" as this is officially the only way "d'oh" can be written in episode scripts. Although the songs are not credited to the Sherman Brothers they are parodies of their 1964 motion picture song score.
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[edit] Plot
The Simpsons are watching the Krusty Komedy Klassic (the acronym of which is not winning over the audience at the Apollo Theater). Bart and Homer ask Marge to get them a milk and beer, and Lisa informs her that there is a 6-foot long blue hair in her soup. Marge realizes that she is losing her hair and breaks down. She goes to Dr. Hibbert, who correctly guesses that stress is the problem. They decide to hire a nanny, and make sacrifices to afford her.
They start interviewing job applicants. Homer scares off the first few (thinking that they are in drag, à la Mrs. Doubtfire) and seems to take a liking to Kearney's strict (albeit violent) approach, but Marge shoots that down. Lisa and Bart recite what they think would be a "Perfect Nanny" ("anyone but Grandpa"). As an answer to their prayers, a woman holding an open umbrella glides down from the sky. She introduces herself as Shary Bobbins (and goes on to claim to be "an original creation, like Rickey Rouse, or Monald Muck"). She seems perfect, so they hire her.
First order of the day - clean up the kids' rooms. She sings a song, advocating cutting corners, calling it the "American Way", and the room is clean in no time (although it reverts back to is original messy state as soon as they leave). They go outside for a walk (the kids properly dressed), and everyone seems to know her well. In fact, the whole place starts to resemble nineteenth-century England. As they fly kites, Mr. Burns passes by and seems rather scroogey ("Bah! Humbug!") about the whole thing, but Shary convinces him to fly a kite and he enjoys himself.
At home, Marge's hair seems to be returning to normal. She and Homer are very impressed by Shary. At night, Shary sings "Barney the Boozehound" to put Bart and Lisa to sleep. The next day, after serving breakfast, she declares that her work here is done. On her way out, she sees Homer throttling Bart and the whole family seems to be on edge. She realizes her work is far from complete.
The family now starts to treat her rudely and lose interest in her songs and zest for life. The kids stop listening to her. Uncharacteristically, she gets depressed and drowns her sorrows in beer. The family then realises that they have crushed her spirit. Marge advises her to leave as she cannot change this family. Apparently she has not taught them a thing. They sing that they are "Happy Just the Way [They] Are". So she decides to leave.
As she flies through the air, Lisa wonders if they will ever see her again. Homer assures her they will, unmindful of the fact that Shary Bobbins has been sucked into a passing plane's jet engine, and presumably will not be seen again.
[edit] Trivia
- The name that the young Rainier Wolfcastle sings is Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen.
- The hot dog Apu has is the one that got him fired in "Homer and Apu".
- In the "Making Of..." feature on the Kill Bill Volume 2 DVD, Quentin Tarantino can be seen wearing a t-shirt with his Simpsons likeness and quote pictured on the front.
- A scene and song were cut from the episode, where Patty and Selma sing "I Love to Smoke" to the tune of "I Love to Laugh" from Mary Poppins. In fact, one line from the song, "Although we'll croak by the year 2003", refers to how the writers didn't expect the show to still be on by then.
- Just as Sherri Bobbins is a parody of Mary Poppins, Groundskeeper Willie serves as a parody of Dick Van Dyke's character. Like Van Dyke, Willie is seen playing several instruments in the park and singing. However, Willie sings "Maniac" , an obvious parody of Flashdance and even douses water on himself after the song, just like in the movie.
[edit] Cultural reference
- The episode is largely a parody of the film Mary Poppins.
- "What do you do, what do you do?" is a reference to Speed (film).
[edit] Goofs
- The statement Skinner makes about selling Jimbo being legal in only Springfield's State and Mississippi is a reference to the latter state's late ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment. [citation needed]
- When Sharry Bobbins is singing in the park, you see Chief Wiggum relaxing. But behind him Snake is robbing Moleman and Snake's hair is blue instead of red.
- When Bart is sitting on his bed, playing "Whipping Cupcakes," the number of cupcakes stuck to the wall is inconsistent from one angle to the next, throughout the scene.
[edit] Quotes
- Homer: Your mother seems really upset about something. I better go have a talk with her...during the commercial.
- Lisa: I'll stop buying Malibu Stacey clothing.
Bart: And I'll take up smoking and give that up.
Homer: Good for you, son. Giving up smoking is one of the hardest things you'll ever have to do. Have a dollar. (gives a dollar bill to Bart)
Lisa: But he didn't do anything!
Homer: Didn't he, Lisa? Didn't he? Wait, he didn't! (Snatches dollar back from Bart) - Moe (after Homer quits his Civil War reenactment society): Damn! Now we need another Ambrose Burnside.
Barney (as Abraham Lincoln): Well, I'm not too sure about our Stonewall Jackson.
Apu (as Jackson, but with a turban): The South shall come again!! - Mrs. Pennyfeather: Hello, I'm Mrs. Pennyfeather. I understand you are looking for a nanny.
Marge: Pleased to meet you.
Homer: Wait a minute, Marge. I saw Mrs. Doubtfire. This is a man in drag! (starts pulling at her hair as if it were a wig) You're phony! Fakey, phony broad! (runs after her) Gimme those!
Marge: Homer, we're never going to find a nanny if you keep doing that!
Mrs. Pennywinkle: Hello, I'm Mrs. Pennywinkle. (Homer chases her) - Shary: Hello, I'm Shary Bobbins.
Homer: Did you say Mary Po—?
Shary (quickly): No, I definitely did not. I'm an original creation, like Rickey Rouse, or Monald Muck. - Homer: Question one: Do you have any bad habits?
Shary: No, I'm practically perfect in every way.
Homer: Well, so am I. (drinks milk from carton and scratches his behind then belches). - Homer: Question two: who was your last employer?
Shary: Lord and Lady Huffington of Sussex.
Homer (whispering): Marge, do we know them?
Marge: No.
Homer: Come on! Isn't he the guy I bowl with? The black guy?
Marge: That's Carl.
Homer: Oh, yeah! (stops whispering, back to Shary) So! I understand you worked for Carl, eh? - Marge (after Shary glides up the railing): My, she seems too good to be true!
Homer: I'll say. Her butt waxed the banister.
Marge: Ooh, I can see myself! - Mr. Burns: Bah, humbug.
Shary: Oh, Mr. Burns, I think you'll find all life's problems just float away when you're flying a kite. (gives him one)
Mr. Burns: Balderdash! This is the silliest load of...(watches his kite) Oh, look at it fly! Whee-hee-hee-hee-hee! Look at me, Smithers! (dark clouds gather ominously) I feel practically Superduperfragicalicexpiala-d'oh! (lightning strikes the kite and shocks Mr. Burns, knocking him to the ground) What's this strange sensation in my chest?
Mr. Smithers: I think your heart's beating again.
Mr. Burns: Oh, that takes me back. God bless you, Shary Bobbins. - Bart: Sing us a song, Shary Bobbins.
Lisa: Yes, sing us a song.
Shary: I've been singing you songs all day! I'm not a bloody jukebox! - Shary: Bart, don't you remember? Cleaning up can be a game.
Bart: I got a better game. It's called whipping cupcakes. - Lisa (as Shary is floating away): Do you think we'll ever see her again?
Homer: I'm sure we will, honey. (Shary is sucked into a passing plane's turbine) I'm sure we will. - Groundskeeper Willie: Shary and I were engaged to be wed back in the old country. Then she got her eyesight back, and suddenly the ugliest man in Glasgow wasn't good enough for her.
Shary: It's good to see you, Willie.
Willie: That's not what you said the first time ye saw me! - Quentin Tarantino: What I'm trying to say in this cartoon is that violence is everywhere in our society, you know, it's like even in breakfast cereals, man.
- Lisa: We have suggestions for the new nanny,would you like to hear them?
Homer:You have my undivided attention.(in Homer's brain we see a black and white segment with goofy animals dancing to "Turkey in the straw".)
