This Little Wiggy
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| The Simpsons episode | |
| "This Little Wiggy" | |
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|---|---|
| Episode no. | 196 |
| Prod. code | 5F13 |
| Orig. Airdate | March 22, 1998 |
| Show Runner(s) | Mike Scully |
| Writer(s) | Dan Greaney |
| Director(s) | Neil Affleck |
| Chalkboard | "I was not told to do this" |
| Couch gag | Bart spraypaints images of the family |
| Guest star(s) | Phil Hartman as Troy McClure |
| DVD commentary by | Matt Groening Mike Scully George Meyer Dan Greaney |
| SNPP capsule | |
| Season 9 September 21, 1997 – May 17, 1998 |
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| List of all Simpsons episodes... | |
"This Little Wiggy" is the eighteenth episode of the ninth season of The Simpsons. It is the second episode to center around Ralph Wiggum, the other being "I Love Lisa".
[edit] Synopsis
The Simpsons family decides to visit the newly open science center in Springfield. There, Bart wanders off and walks into an exhibit of Mars. He meets Ralph there, but Bart's four bullies are also there and stick Ralph in a giant ear. When Ralph is freed by a center employee, Marge and Chief Wiggum are there to meet him. Marge observes that he has a great imagination, but it was time for the family to go home.[citation needed] When Marge realizes Ralph Wiggum, much like herself as a child, has no friends, she arranges for him to spend time with Bart. Bart is unhappy with the arrangement, but later sees it as a benefit when he discovers Ralph's father has a key capable of opening any door in Springfield. Bart and Ralph thus steal the key, and after encountering Springfield Elementary School bullies Nelson, Jimbo, Kearney and Dolph, the six boys go to an unused penitentiary. When Ralph objects, the bullies leave, but not before tossing the key into the penitentiary. Ralph and Bart go in after it, but in the process turn on the electric chair.
Afterwards, while at the Simpsons' house, Bart and Ralph learn the penitentiary will once again be used by the town. Mayor Quimby even sits in the electric chair as a publicity move, unaware it now works. Unable to warn Mayor Quimby by telephone that he may be electrocuted, Ralph points out to Bart that Lisa can probably figure out a way to warn the Mayor. She does indeed launch a small rocket with a warning message attached. The rocket misses the penitentiary but lands at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, and Mr. Burns responds to it (realizing it has been getting free electricity for years) by shutting off the penitentiary's power. By this point, the mayor was in the middle of being electrocuted, but he survived. In the aftermath, the Simpsons congratulate Ralph on pointing out that Lisa could solve the problem. Lisa, at first baffled that she receives no credit, is reminded by Bart that it is rare for Ralph to prove useful, and that he needs a little credit. Lisa thus praises him.
[edit] Cultural references
- The title of the episode is a play on the name of a children's nursery rhyme, "This Little Piggy".
- Robbie the Automaton is a parody of the Robot from Lost in Space as well as Robby the Robot from the film Forbidden Planet. The same robot was also used earlier in Treehouse of Horror VIII.
- Homer's answer machine spoof of "show me the message" is a classic line from the Tom Cruise film Jerry Maguire.
- The name of the toy store is J.R.R. Toykin, a spoof of author J.R.R. Tolkien's name.
[edit] External links
