Hurricane Neddy
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"Hurricane Neddy" is the eighth episode of The Simpsons' eighth season and originally aired December 29, 1996.[1], during which Hurricane Barbara viciously strikes Springfield but, by pure chance, the house of Ned Flanders is the only one destroyed. As a result, he begins to lose his faith in not only God but the townspeople around him. It was written by Steve Young, directed by Bob Anderson and[2] guest stars Jon Lovitz as Jay Sherman from The Critic.[2]
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[edit] Synopsis
In midst of a lazy afternoon, the wind starts to pick up which leads Lisa to believe that a hurricane is on the way. The evening news confirms that 'Hurricane Barbara' is close, resulting in panicked citizens storming the Kwik-E-Mart and causing Homer to batten down the Simpson home (albeit very badly). The hurricane strikes and after a few treacherous hours the storm ends and the family cautiously leaves the basement. Initially, they are thankful to see that their home is untouched and Marge comments that everything works out if you have a little faith. Meanwhile, next door Flanders emerges from a heap of rubble and see that his house was destroyed.
Ned is relieved that his family escaped serious injury but it turns out to be little solace since he does not have any homeowner's insurance. The Flanders family is forced to move into the Rescue Center in the church basement. Ned is further discouraged after learning that his business, the Leftorium, was looted following the hurricane. Flanders begins to believe that God is punishing him and seeking answers, he goes to read the bible, but receives a papercut. Flanders sits down in the church and speaks about how he is falling apart, even after doing everything the bible says.
The next day, Marge arrives at the church and takes the Flanders family back to their house, which was fixed by the people of Springfield. Overjoyed, Flanders inspects the house, but begins to become deflated after seeing how shoddy it is. The house soon collapses and Flanders snaps and begins yelling at everyone, calling Homer the worst human being. Flanders then jumps in his car and drives himself to Calmwood Mental Hospital to seek therapy.
While in the mental hospital, Flanders is visited by his childhood psychiatrist, Dr. Foster. Dr. Foster tells Flanders of what he used to be like - an out-of-control child who was raised by beatnik parents who didn't believe in discipline. As a result, the young Flanders went through the University of Minnesota Spankalogical Protocol - eight months of continuous spanking. The treatment worked so well that it rendered Flanders unable to express any anger at all and resulted in his trademark nonsensical jabbering at moments when he was particularly close to losing his temper. This caused Ned to unknowingly repress his anger, until it built up inside him and erupted in his tirade of insults at the townspeople.
Dr. Foster enlists Homer to help Flanders learn how to appropriately express emotions because Homer is the person that Flanders harbors the most resentful feelings towards. After several failed remarks, Homer gets Flanders to admit that he hates the post office and his beatnik parents. Dr. Foster declares that Flanders is cured and he is immediately released.[1][3][4][5]
[edit] Production
Steve Young, a writer for the Late Show with David Letterman, was brought in as a freelance writer to write this episode.[6] The writers had wanted to explore what made Flanders tick and examine what made him act the way he does[6] and the original idea came from George Meyer, who has also wanted an episode about Flanders's faith being tested.[7] One of the key story points came from his friend Jack Handey, a writer for Saturday Night Live. Handey and Meyer had wanted to do a sketch about a down on his luck shoemaker who is visited by a bunch of elves who help him, but make very bad shoes. That inspired the idea that the neighbors would rebuild Flanders's house, but do a bad job and provoke an outburst.[7]
A caricature of John Swartzwelder can be seen shutting the door of a room in Calmwood Mental Hospital.[6] Later in the episode, during the scene where the townfolk are welcoming Ned back, someone can be seen holding a sign that says "Free John Swartzwelder."[7] During the the sequence where Flanders snaps and screams at the town, a man with a ponytail and wearing a white shirt who is a caricature of Bob Anderson can be seen.[8]
[edit] Cultural references
The scene at the beginning of the episode, in which the people of Springfield are going crazy at the Kwik-E-Mart, is based on the LA riots and how everyone was going crazy and raiding the supermarkets.[6] Todd is wearing a Butthole Surfers shirt, however the censors only allowed "Buttho Surfers".[6] Jay Sherman from The Critic, who had previously appeared in "A Star is Burns", can also be seen in the Mental hospital.[6]
[edit] Reception
Marge's line, "Dear God, this is Marge Simpson. If you stop this hurricane and save our family, we will be forever grateful and recommend you to all our friends," was cited by journalist Mark Pinsky as an example of how "Simpson family members are both defined and circumscribed by religion."[9] A journalist speculated some fans, whom he called "nerds," would want an explanation of "how Barney fit through that tiny door to the 'master bedroom' in the rebuilt Flanders family home."[10] The episode currently holds a score of 7.5/10 at the Internet Movie Database[11] and an 8.8/10 on TV.com.[12]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Hurricane Neddy" The Simpsons.com. Retrieved on March 27, 2007
- ^ a b c d e f Hurricane Neddy BBC.co.uk. Retrieved on March 27, 2007
- ^ Martyn, Warren; Adrian Wood (2000). I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide. Virgin Books. ISBN 0-7535-0495-2.
- ^ Episode Capsule at The Simpsons Archive
- ^ Richmond, Ray; Antonia Coffman (1997). The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to our Favorite Family. Harper Collins Publishers, p. 173. ISBN 0-00063-8898-1.
- ^ a b c d e f Weinstein, Josh. (2006). The Simpsons season 8 DVD commentary for the episode "Hurricane Neddy" [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
- ^ a b c Meyer, George. (2006). The Simpsons season 8 DVD commentary for the episode "Hurricane Neddy" [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
- ^ Anderson, Bob. (2006). The Simpsons season 8 DVD commentary for the episode "Hurricane Neddy" [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
- ^ Victoria Combe, "Praise and glory to the God-fearing Homer Simpson: Chaotic cartoon family criticized as dysfunctional is defined by religion, journalist says in book," Standard, St. Catharines, Ontario: August 31, 2001, pg. A.1.FRO.
- ^ Ben Rayner, "Offering up the goods on Springfield's finest; The Simpsons have breached the boundaries of animation. Today a director details how they do it, writes Ben Rayner," Toronto Star, October 30, 2005, pg. C.06.
- ^ Hurricane Neddy IMDB. Retrieved on March 29, 2007
- ^ Hurricane Neddy TV.com. Retrieved on March 29, 2007
[edit] External links
- "Hurricane Neddy" episode capsule at The Simpsons Archive
- "Hurricane Neddy" at The Simpsons.com
- "Hurricane Neddy" at TV.com
- "Hurricane Neddy" at the Internet Movie Database
