Simpson Safari
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Simpsons episode | |
| "Simpson Safari" | |
 |
|
|---|---|
| Episode no. | 264 |
| Prod. code | CABF13 |
| Orig. Airdate | April 1, 2001 |
| Show Runner(s) | Mike Scully |
| Writer(s) | John Swartzwelder |
| Director(s) | Mark Kirkland |
| Chalkboard | "I will not flush evidence" |
| Couch gag | The family forms a chorus line, which turns into a large production number. |
| SNPP capsule | |
| Season 12 November 1, 2000 – May 20, 2001 |
|
|
|
| List of all Simpsons episodes... | |
"Simpson Safari" is the seventeenth episode of the twelfth season of The Simpsons. It aired on April 1, 2001.
[edit] Synopsis
When Maggie eats a magazine, Marge makes Homer do the grocery shopping. Homer mistreats a bag boy at the grocery store, and all the bag boys of Springfield go on strike. Homer goes on a search for food when it runs out, and Santa's Little Helper finds a box of animal crackers which is more than 30 years old. Homer bites into a giraffe, but he doesn't know that it is made of solid gold, which indicates Homer has won a trip to Africa. The maker of the animal crackers (which actually does not make food anymore) originally refuses to honor the prize, but when Homer is injured by the sharp corner of the box, they reconsider, to avoid a lawsuit.
When the family is in Africa, they experience tribal dance, but a hippo chases after the family, who escapes on a raft going down a raging river. The family is saved by a scientist (a spoof of Jane Goodall) who is using monkeys for research, but poachers come to take the monkeys, until it is revealed that the poachers are from Greenpeace and the researcher actually runs a chimp diamond mine. Worried that the Simpsons will report her to the authorities, she offers them her diamonds, which the Simpsons accept. The Simpsons leave Africa, and return to Springfield. On the plane, it is revealed that their former tour guide is now president of the country, with the former president now The Simpsons' Flight Attendant.
[edit] Cultural references
- When Homer is told to 'take it' on the song the natives are singing and launches into some bizarre song lyrics ("nibby nobby nooby...") these are from a real song, "Good Morning Starshine" [1].
- The beauty of an African sunrise, silhouettes of animals, and the rhythmic music playing across the veldt are reminiscent of the opening moments of the Disney animated film The Lion King.
- Also, right after Marge scares a cheetah away, the family is driving and pride rock may be seen in the background.
- Near the end of the episode, where Bushwell's secret diamond stash is revealed, it is remarked that she has diamonds everywhere, to which Marge adds "Even on the soles of her shoes". This is a spoof of the famous Paul Simon song Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes.
- President Muntu can be seen on a billboard wearing a leopard-skin hat and glasses, a spoof of former Zaire president Mobutu Sese Seko.
- When Homer stares in the open mouth of a hippo, he yells "Aah, a hungry hungry hippo!", which is a reference to the children's board game Hungry Hungry Hippos.
- Homer being attacked by leeches is a parody of a scene from the 1951 film The African Queen.
- There is a similar story line with diamonds and apes in the book Congo by Michael Crichton.
- The title of one Tom and Jerry episode called "Sorry Safari".
[edit] External links
- "Simpson Safari" episode capsule at The Simpsons Archive
- "Simpson Safari" at the Internet Movie Database
