New Kid on the Block
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Simpsons episode | |
| "New Kid on the Block" | |
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| Episode no. | 67 |
| Prod. code | 9F06 |
| Orig. Airdate | November 12, 1992 |
| Show Runner(s) | Al Jean & Mike Reiss |
| Writer(s) | Conan O'Brien |
| Director(s) | Wes Archer |
| Chalkboard | "I will not bring sheep to class." |
| Couch gag | The couch falls through the floor. |
| Guest star(s) | Sara Gilbert as Laura Powers Pamela Reed as Ruth Powers |
| DVD commentary by | Matt Groening Al Jean Mike Reiss Conan O'Brien David Silverman |
| SNPP capsule | |
| Season 4 September 24, 1992 – May 13, 1993 |
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| List of all Simpsons episodes... | |
"New Kid on the Block" is the 8th episode of The Simpsons' fourth season.
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
When the other neighbors, the Winfields, decide to move away because of Homer's constant embarrassing behaviour, Bart and Lisa explore the abandoned house and go into the basement. Bart scares Lisa away, but a beautiful girl surprises him, and he knocks himself unconscious. When he wakes up, the girl says her name is Laura Powers , his new neighbour. Meanwhile, Homer watches an advertisement on television about the "Frying Dutchman," an all-you-can-eat seafood restaurant run by Captain Horatio McAllister and wants to go.
Bart develops a crush on Laura. Meanwhile, Homer and Marge visit Ruth Powers at the house that she and Laura moved in. Ruth tells them she is divorced. Meanwhile, Laura taunts Dolph and Kearney, two of the bullies. Laura looks at Bart's palm and predicts that he is going to be rich. She spits in his hand and says, "And there's the swimming pool." Bart says he is never going to wash that hand again.
Homer can't find a babysitter, so Bart suggests that Laura should babysit them, to which Homer agrees. Bart then takes a bath and dresses up to impress Laura. When she arrives, they share dinner and Bart even accepts a dance with her.
Meanwhile, Homer goes to the restaurant with Marge, but Marge is allergic to fish. Homer orders the all-you-can-eat and eats everything. Captain McAllister kicks him out after midnight. He goes to trial with his lawyer, Lionel Hutz, claiming false advertising. Homer and the captain make agreements. Marge is humiliated that he became the entertainment there as a "remorseless eating machine", or "nature's cruelest mistake". After a meeting in the treehouse, Laura tells Bart she's dating Jimbo Jones.
While Laura and Jimbo kiss, Bart makes a prank call to Moe's Tavern, posing as Jimbo. Moe then comes over with a rusty kitchen knife, causing Jimbo to burst into tears, resulting in Laura dumping him. Afterwards, Bart and Laura make another prank phone call to Moe's and end up laughing.
[edit] Trivia
- According to the DVD commentary for this episode, the all-you-can-eat restaurant sidestory was added to the show after a planned sidestory involving a guest shot by Don Rickles fell through due to miscommunication with the Simpsons staff (someone had told them that Don Rickles wanted to do the show, and he didn't.) There was also another planned sidestory, before the restaurant sidestory, that involved Homer becoming a talented barber, but it was rejected.
- This episode features the first appearance of Captain Horatio McCallister, and the only mention of his real name. This episode also reveals that he isn't a real captain.
- Lionel Hutz calling Homer "the greatest hero in American history" is referenced in the trailer to The Simpsons Movie.
- Clothespins are given to Ruth Powers as a Welcome gift because Springfield has a smell that newcomers arent used to. This was mentioned in the episode Bart's Friend Falls in Love.
- This was the first episode written by Conan O'Brien.
- Mr. & Mrs. Winfield, the Simpson family's little seen neighbors, move away in this episode. They are first seen in episode 3, "Homer's Odyssey", commenting on Homer taking his boulder out for a walk. Mrs. Winfield was seen (and voiced by Tracy Ullman) in "Bart's Dog Gets an F". Marge also mentions Homer getting drunk and making a fool of himself at the Winfields' party in "War of the Simpsons".
- This episode is about one minute shorter than most other Season 4 episodes, at 22 minutes and one second long.
- After the court case when Homer is eating on display a man in the background says "I hear they shaved a gorrila". That was Dan Castellaneta's real voice.
[edit] Cultural references
- The music where the moose was eating the Simpsons' garbage is based on the opening theme song for the hit TV series, Northern Exposure.
- The scene in which numerous sacks of letters to Santa Claus are delivered to court is a direct parody of Miracle on 34th Street ("You want the People of Springfield vs. Kris Kringle, that's next door").
- The aforementioned pornographic film spoofs Wolfgang Peterson's classic movie, Das Boot, although there really is a pornographic film call Das Butt directed by Casey and Peter O'Brian.
- Obviously enough, the episode is titled after the well-known late-80's boy band.
- Lionel Hutz tells Homer he sued the director of The Neverending Story because it ended.
[edit] External links
- "New Kid on the Block" episode capsule at The Simpsons Archive
