One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish
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“One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish” is the eleventh episode of The Simpsons’ second season. The episode was first broadcast on January 24, 1991.
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[edit] Plot
Bored with having meatloaf for dinner, Lisa suggests that the family, instead of having pork chops the next night, go to the new sushi bar, "The Happy Sumo". Homer reluctantly accepts, and the family drives to the restaurant. When they arrive, Homer starts by ordering a few things, but when he discovers that "this fish is delish!", he eats everything on the menu, including a type of sushi called Fugu.
The chef in charge is busy making out with Edna Krabappel in the parking lot, so his apprentice has to slice the fugu, of which certain parts are toxic. The apprentice tries to do it carefully, but Homer becomes very impatient, and the apprentice is forced to serve it. Homer considers it a treat, but it is poorly prepared, and Homer is told that he may have been poisoned.
Homer and Marge go to the hospital, where Dr. Hibbert informs Homer he is indeed going to die and has 24 hours left to live. He actually has 22 (since Hibbert left Homer waiting too long; in reality, blowfish poison kills far more swiftly). Homer is told that he is expected to go through five stages of grief, all of which he experiences as the doctor lists them for him. He eventually accepts his fate and makes a list of all the things he wants to do on his last day on Earth.
On his last day, the things Homer does are: have a man-to-man talk with Bart, in which he teaches him to shave. He then listens to Lisa play her saxophone. Then he borrows Ned Flanders’s camcorder to make a video for Maggie, which she can look at when she is older (he also briefly considers attending the Flanders family’s barbecue; accepting in the belief that he will be dead the next morning). He has to cross out "plant a memorial tree" so that he can reconcile with Grampa, until he is arrested for speeding. Homer calls Barney, who is asked to pay $50 to bail him out, because Homer does not want Marge to know that he is in jail. Leaving jail and with not much time left, he tells off Mr. Burns, has one last drink at Moe's Tavern with his friends, and then hurries home in time to say a good-bye to his family and be "intimate" with Marge.
At midnight, Homer visits each family member, who are all asleep, and says goodbye. Feeling glum, he listens to Larry King read the Bible on tape, to which suddenly his head drops and it appears his body has stopped working. Marge awakens the next morning and is panicked that her husband is not by her side. She runs downstairs and finds Homer, collapsed in the armchair. As she mourns, she realises that his drool is still warm. She wakes him up and drums in the fact that he is alive. Homer then prances around in an overjoyed state and vows to live life to its fullest. In typical Homer fashion, he is soon back on the couch watching a bowling tournament and eating (lite) pork rinds.
[edit] Debut appearances
Characters making a first appearance in this episode are:
[edit] Goofs
- No matter how much sushi Homer wolfs down, at no point is he ever seen with less than two pieces on his plate, even if it appears he has grabbed it all.
[edit] Trivia
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- According to DVD commentary, the FOX censors almost did not let them use Shaft’s theme song. They had to dig up footage of the Academy Awards ceremony at which the song was sung in order to be able to use it.
- The karaoke patron that introduces himself as "Richie Sakai" is a caricature of producer Richard Sakai.
- The video at the end of the episode with Homer eating pork rinds on the couch is recycled from "Moaning Lisa", with bowling sounds (and credits) overlaid. According to the episode commentary, a deleted scene of Homer and his family at the Flanders' barbecue is described, with various acts of Homer's causing undesirable results.
- This is the first episode with a shortened opening sequence (clouds, blackboard, SNPP, grocery store, sax solo, driveway, couch, credits). Additionally, a slightly different version of Lisa’s sax solo was introduced for use on this and other Season 2 episodes with this opening sequence.
- Homer and Marge have not missed "Pork Chop" night since "The Great Pig Scare" In '87.
- While Homer eats his sushi, one pice keeps reappearing no matter how many times Homer puts it in his mouth.
- Fugu is in fact a poisonous fish and must be prepared in a special way to avoid harm as seen in this episode. Sushi chefs usually must work several years before being allowed to handle that fish and must pass difficult tests in order to gain a certificate to prepare fugu.
[edit] Cultural references
- The title is a play on the Dr. Seuss book One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.
- Bart and Lisa sang the theme song to the movie Shaft, “Theme from Shaft” by Isaac Hayes.
- The song Richie Sakai sang in the karaoke bar is “Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves” by Cher.
- Homer experiencing the stages of grief as he learns of them is a spoof on the movie Airplane!.
- The sequence when Homer rushes home is a parody of film The Graduate. The same guitar chords can be heard as when Dustin Hoffman character rushes to the church. The parody also includes Homer banging the windows using both fists.
- At the end of the Bible tape, Larry King mentioned the San Antonio Spurs, a professional basketball team.
[edit] External links
