When Flanders Failed

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The Simpsons episode
"When Flanders Failed"
Episode no.	38
Prod. code	7F23
Orig. Airdate	October 3, 1991
Writer(s)	Jon Vitti
Director	Jim Reardon
Chalkboard	"Nobody likes sunburn slappers"
Couch gag	They do a little dance.
SNPP capsule
Season 3 September 19, 1991 – August 27, 1992
Stark Raving Dad Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington When Flanders Failed Bart the Murderer Homer Defined Like Father, Like Clown Treehouse of Horror II Lisa's Pony Saturdays of Thunder Flaming Moe's Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk I Married Marge Radio Bart Lisa the Greek Homer Alone Bart the Lover Homer at the Bat Separate Vocations Dog of Death Colonel Homer Black Widower The Otto Show Bart's Friend Falls in Love Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes?
List of all Simpsons episodes...

"When Flanders Failed" is the third episode of the The Simpsons' third season. The episode aired on October 3, 1991. However, many sources list this episode as being broadcast before the previous one, Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington.

1 Synopsis
2 Trivia
3 Cultural References
4 Quotes
5 External links

[edit] Synopsis

Ned Flanders invites the Simpsons to a barbecue party; during the pulling of the wishbone, Homer wishes for the Leftorium, Ned's new left-handed goods store in the Springfield Mall, to go out of business. When the store does indeed close, plunging the Flanderses into debt and misery, Homer must wrestle with the guilt his wish has brought and make things right again.

In a subplot, when prodded to get away from the television and get some exercise, Bart offers to learn karate, only to skip out of each lesson in order to play in the mall arcade. Whenever he is questioned about the techniques he has learned, he refers to the "Touch of Death", an ability seen in one of the arcade games he plays. His actions catch up to him when Lisa prods him to defend her and reclaim her saxophone.

[edit] Trivia

"When Flanders Failed" is famous among fans of The Simpsons for Lisa's use of the word Schadenfreude to describe Homer's initial reaction to the Leftorium's poor business.
If you notice an unusual number of animation glitches in this episode, it's because the animation studio was training a new group of animators and this episode was one of their first efforts, according to the DVD commentary.
In this episode, it is revealed that the following people are left-handed:
- Montgomery Burns
- Moe Syzlak
- Ned Flanders
- Apu
- Barney Gumble
- Sideshow Mel
- Clancy Wiggum
- Akira
- Others

[edit] Cultural References

The title of this episode is a reference to the poem In Flanders Fields.
Homer is watching the CFL draft on TV. The team mentioned is the Saskatchewan Roughriders. A rouge is when the football is kicked into the opposing teams endzone and not returned. The CFL draft is not broadcast on TV. Not even in Canada.

[edit] Quotes

Lisa: (to Bart) "I'm sure you did nothing to discourage this, you scavenger of human misery."
Flanders: "Homer, affordable tract housing made us neighbors, but you made us friends".
Flanders: "In times like these, I used to turn to the Bible for solace, but even the Good Book can't help me now.
Homer: Why not?
Flanders: I sold it to you for seven cents.
Homer: Oh.
Homer: (advertising the Leftorium): It's all here, and it's all backwards!
Mr. Burns: (using a left-handed can opener) The worm has turned, has it not, my tin-plated friend? You were once so proud. Now feel the wrath of the left hand of Burns!
Lisa: Dad, do you know what schadenfreude is?
Homer: No, I do not know what schadenfreude is, please tell me because I am dying to know.
Lisa:It's a German word for shameful joy, taking pleasure in the suffering of others.
Homer: Oh, come on, Lisa. I'm just glad to see him fall flat on his butt! He's usually all happy and comfortable, and surrounded by loved ones, and it makes me feel...what's the opposite of that shameful joy thing of yours?
Lisa: Sour grapes.
Homer: Boy, those Germans have a word for everything.