The Old Man and the Key
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| The Simpsons episode | |
| "The Old Man and the Key" | |
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| Episode no. | 282 |
| Prod. code | DABF09 |
| Orig. Airdate | March 10, 2002 |
| Show Runner(s) | Al Jean |
| Writer(s) | Jon Vitti |
| Director(s) | Lance Kramer |
| Couch gag | The family enters the living room and find the Blue Man Group performing there. |
| Guest star(s) | Olympia Dukakis as Zelda |
| SNPP capsule | |
| Season 13 November 6, 2001 – May 22, 2002 |
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| List of all Simpsons episodes... | |
"The Old Man and the Key" is the thirteenth episode of the thirteenth season of The Simpsons.
[edit] Synopsis
When a beautiful new woman moves into his retirement home, Grampa Simpson is determined to win her love over the youthful owner of a minivan. After renewing his driver's license Grandpa convinces Homer to let him borrow the car to romance her. Although he impresses the new old gal, he crashes Homer's car in a drag race, and thus loses his love to the competition.
When the younger man takes Grandpa's new girl on a road trip, Grandpa "kidnaps" Bart, taking him on the road to Branson, Missouri to win back the woman from the arms of the younger man. Ray Jay Johnson, Yakov Smirnoff, and Charlie Callas are the stars of the show in Branson they go to see. Grandpa calls out to his lady from on-stage, but then accuses her of only using him for his car, thoroughly dumping her before reconciling with Homer.
[edit] Trivia
- This is the third Simpsons episode in which the title is a pun of The Old Man and the Sea; the other two being "The Old Man and the Lisa" (4F17) and "The Old Man and The "C" Student" (AABF16).
- This is the first episode Jon Vitti has written since Season 7's "Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily".
- Snake's girlfriend in this episode appears to be Gloria, who appeared in the 13th season episode A Hunka Hunka Burns in Love. Though she was originally voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus in that episode, here she goes unvoiced.
[edit] Cultural references
- When Abe and Zelda took off on one of their dates, three old men with long beards imitated ZZ Top as a short part of "Sharp Dressed Man" was played.
- The title references The Old Man and the Sea.
- The closing credits parody those of The Beverly Hillbillies. At the end, Lisa says in a Southern accent, "This has been a Gracie Films presentation", which parodies the line at the end of the Beverly Hillbillies, "This has been a Filmways presentation."
- This episode pokes fun at the XFL. According to Marge, the XFL MVP was sweeping up hair at the beauty parlor. Apparently, he breaks the news to Marge that there's not going to be a new season.
- The drag race parodies a scene from Grease.
- Grampa sings an altered version of Old Time Love by The Rivingtons to Zelda.
