• Wikisimpsons needs more Featured Article, Picture, Quote, Episode and Comprehensive article nominations!
  • Wikisimpsons has a Discord server! Click here for your invite! Join to talk about the wiki, Simpsons and Tapped Out news, or just to talk to other users.
  • Make an account! It's easy, free, and your work on the wiki can be attributed to you.
TwitterFacebookDiscord

Difference between revisions of "Saddlesore Galactica"

Wikisimpsons - The Simpsons Wiki
m (top: replaced: |showrunner=Mike Scully → |showrunner1= Mike Scully)
 
(64 intermediate revisions by 29 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{episode
+
{{Tab}}
|image=Babf09.png
+
{{EpisodePrevNext|The Mansion Family|Alone Again, Natura-Diddily}}
|productionCode=BABF09
+
{{quote|Wait a minute... Hang onto your monocles, 'cause Furious D is closing like a horse possessed!|{{Ch|Trevor Denman}}}}
|originalAirdate=February 6, 2000
+
{{Episode
|blackboardText="Substitute teachers are not scabs."
+
|image=Saddlesore Galactica.png
|couchGag= The Simpsons are black belts in karate. They use their hands to chop up the couch while Homer does an elaborate flip and switches on the TV with his remote.
+
|number=239
|specialGuestVoices=Jim Cummings, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Trevor Denman
+
|season=11
|Written By=[[Tim Long]]
+
|snumber=13
|Directed By=[[Lance Kramer]]
+
|prodcode=BABF09
 +
|airdate=February 6, [[2000]]
 +
|blackboard="Substitute teachers are not scabs"
 +
|couchgag=The Simpsons are black belts in karate. They use their hands to chop up the couch while Homer does an elaborate flip and switches on the TV with his remote.
 +
|guests=[[Bachman-Turner Overdrive]] as {{Chs|Bachman–Turner Overdrive|themselves}}<br>[[Trevor Denman]] as {{Ch|Trevor Denman|himself}}
 +
|showrunner1= Mike Scully
 +
|writer=[[Tim Long]]
 +
|director=[[Lance Kramer]]
 +
|DVD features=yes
 
}}
 
}}
"'''Saddlesore Galactica'''" is the thirteenth episode of the eleventh season.
+
 
 +
"'''Saddlesore Galactica'''" is the thirteenth episode of [[season 11]] of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and the two-hundred and thirty-ninth episode overall. It originally aired on February 6, [[2000]]. The episode was written by [[Tim Long]] and directed by [[Lance Kramer]]. It guest stars [[Bachman-Turner Overdrive]] as {{Chs|Bachman–Turner Overdrive|themselves}} and [[Trevor Denman]] as {{Ch|Trevor Denman|himself}}.
 +
 
 +
== Synopsis ==
 +
{{Desc|[[Homer]] and [[Bart]] adopt an abandoned racehorse, named Duncan, and soon discover the ups and downs of horse racing.}}
  
 
== Plot ==
 
== Plot ==
 +
The [[Springfield Elementary School Band]] is practicing for a band competition, with [[Mr. Largo]] taking them through "[[The Stars and Stripes Forever]]". After they finish, the students discuss playing more complex songs as "The Stars and Stripes Forever" is too beginner for them. Eventually, Mr. Largo agrees to let the band do a different song. The [[Simpson family]] then go to the [[State Fair]], where [[Homer]] talks his way past the gate by claiming to be a Vietnam veteran. At the State Fair, [[Marge]] goes shopping for all the products they have for sale whilst the rest of the family go to see {{Chs|Bachman–Turner Overdrive}}, who are performing at the fair. Homer annoys the band by demanding they play specific songs. After Bachman–Turner Overdrive, the band competition starts, with the Springfield Elementary band playing "{{W2|Living in America|James Brown song}}". After their performance, the [[Ogdenville]] band plays, using glow sticks as a visual aid, which wins over the audience. Lisa is furious at this as visual aids are banned, but Ogdenville win anyway.
 +
 +
After the band competition, Lisa complains about the result, getting angry at an Ogdenville student. [[State Comptroller Atkins]] then says that her sportsmanship was bad so doesn't give her the Good Sportsmanship Award. The family then sees [[Duncan]] the Incredible Diving Horse. After Duncan is forced to dive into a small pool, the act is shut down by [[Chief Wiggum]] as it's animal abuse. The Simpsons then decide to adopt Duncan rather than have Duncan sent off to become dog food. Knowing that the family would struggle financially with Duncan, Homer and Bart try to get Duncan to earn his keep, first trying him out at football, until Homer realizes horses can't take part in the NFL. Bart then suggests that Duncan become a racehorse because he's fast. Meanwhile, Lisa is writing letters to President [[Bill Clinton]] about the band competition.
 +
 +
At the [[Springfield Downs]], Duncan takes part in his first race but is too scared to leave the starting gate. Bart gives him a pep talk and Duncan finally starts running, only for the race to have already finished. Homer and Bart then give Duncan a makeover as Lisa tries calling President Clinton. Homer and Bart then reveal Duncan's new look and name, Furious D. Bart and Furious D start to win races as Duncan is now more confident, with Duncan being mean and intimidating to the other horses. Eventually, the other jockeys get annoyed at Furious D winning so much and kidnap Homer, taking him to their secret underground home. They sing "[[We Are the Jockeys]]" where they tell Homer that Duncan must lose or they'll eat Homer's brain.
 +
 +
Homer initially decides that Duncan must lose and tries to talk Bart into making it happen. However, Bart doesn't want to have Duncan lose and decides to try and win anyway. During the final race, the jockeys attack Bart and Duncan fights back, knocking them off and taking the victory. The jockeys then attack Homer so he and Bart ride off on Duncan as they lead the jockeys into a trap and capture them all, leaving them in a bin bag. Homer then helps Duncan find a mate to retire with as Bill Clinton comes to the door to talk to Lisa about the band competition. He tells Lisa that if things don't go her way, she should keep complaining until her dreams come true. As Marge points out that that's a lousy lesson to teach, Bill Clinton points out that he's a lousy president.
 +
 +
== Production ==
 +
[[Ron Hauge]] pitched the title for the episode.<ref name="Long">{{Com|Long, Tim|Saddlesore Galactica|Eleventh|(2008).}}</ref> [[Matt Groening]] was out of town for the table read and had never seen the episode before the commentary.<ref name="Groening">{{Com|Groening, Matt|Saddlesore Galactica|Eleventh|(2008).}}</ref> [[Bachman-Turner Overdrive]] guest starred in the episode. However, the two of them had split up at the time and didn't come in together. During the band competition, the song "{{W2|Living in America|James Brown song}}" was chosen as they wanted a patriotic song that was "hipper" than "[[The Stars and Stripes Forever]]". [[Donick Cary]] came up with the idea to have a secret underground world of the jockeys.<ref name="Long"/>
 +
 +
The idea of Duncan the diving horse came around because there was a real diving horse at the {{W|Steel Pier}} in {{W|Atlantic City, New Jersey}}.<ref name="Meyer">{{Com|Meyer, George|Saddlesore Galactica|Eleventh|(2008).}}</ref> The animators had a postcard of the horse whilst they were doing the show. [[Lance Kramer]] also had to draw out a whole pack on how the horses ankles worked so the other animators would know how to animate Duncan properly. This was because they wanted Duncan to have somewhat of a personality shown in his animation.<ref name="Kramer">{{Com|Kramer, Lance|Saddlesore Galactica|Eleventh|(2008).}}</ref>
 +
 +
The episode has a montage of Duncan winning races set to the song "{{W2|The Distance|song}}" by {{W2|Cake|band}}. At first, they couldn't get clearance for the actual song so used a soundalike in its original airing. Eventually, the song got cleared so it was replaced in later airings with the original.<ref name="Scully">{{Com|Scully, Mike|Saddlesore Galactica|Eleventh|(2008).}}</ref>
 +
 +
<gallery>
 +
File:BABF09 Script.jpg|The script cover for the episode.
 +
</gallery>
  
Mr. Largo is helping the Springfield Elementary School band prepare for their big performance at the state fair. After a suggestion by Lisa that they are doing the same old song, they perform a different song which is James Brown's "Living in America". They perform the song, but lose to Ogdenville Elementary School, who perform "Stars and Stripes Forever" using red, white and blue glowsticks to form a flag, which was against the rules as the competition forbids use of visual aids. Meanwhile, Homer enjoys Bachman-Turner Overdrive. After the competition, Lisa accuses Ogdenville of cheating, later writing a complaint to President Clinton. At the fair, Homer and Bart see a horse named Duncan being forcefully made to dive from a diving board. Chief Wiggum claims that this is a case of extreme animal cruelty and asks whether Duncan's owner has a permit for said crime. After the man flees, Wiggum announces that someone can either adopt Duncan or let him go to the dog food factory. Bart asks Homer to take Duncan home, Marge ponders about the idea and the Comic Book Guy points out that (in the episode "Lisa's Pony") the family already had a horse, which forced Homer to work extremely long night shifts at Apu's store. Regardless of what he says, the Simpsons take Duncan home and, just as they did in the past, struggle to pay for his needs. It costs them $500 a week to keep him, but Homer and Bart think of a way for Duncan can make money to help offset the costs of keeping him.
+
== Reception ==
 +
According to writer [[Tim Long]], fan reaction to the episode has been very mixed, with much controversy from many fans. People found the land of the jockeys to be farfetched.<ref name="Long"/>
  
Duncan makes an excellent placekicker, but NFL league rules forbid horses from competing. After Homer denounces the rules, Bart discovers that Duncan is a fast runner and suggests that he should be train to be a racehorse. Homer enters Duncan at Springfield Downs, with Bart (in pajamas) as the jockey. They lose as Duncan refuses to leave the stall until the last minute. Homer and Bart find a new strategy for Duncan to win, by making him into a Dennis Rodman look-alike, renaming him "Furious D", complete with a leather jacket, a new multi-coloured mane and Lisa's bracelet as a nose ring. He intimidates the other horses by headbutting several of them, and he and Bart win the race. They go on to win a series of races until Homer discovers the secret lair of the losing jockeys. They reveal themselves to be magical elf-like creatures who's depression after losing so many races threatens their normally happy lifestile. They want him to forfeit the upcoming championship race, threatening to eat his brain if he does not comply. Homer initially considers the idea, though he later cannot bear to tell his son to lose the race, so they decide to win the race anyway and, ultimately, do so. The furious jockeys chase after Bart and Homer and threaten to kill them, but Homer was prepared for such an event; he calls out to Marge and Lisa who foil the jockeys by spraying them with water. As Bart and Homer prepare for Duncan's retirement from racing to live life as a stud (much to Duncan's excitement), President Clinton comes to see Lisa at home and presents her with a plaque, saying that Ogdenville were wrong to use glowsticks and that Springfield Elementary's band are the true champions. He also gives Lisa a moral lesson "If things don't go your way, just keep complaining until your dreams come true." Marge complains that this is a lousy lesson, to which the President replies "hey, I'm a pretty lousy President".
+
As of February 2020, the episode has a 6.5 rating on {{W|IMDb}}<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0701203/ IMDb - "Saddlesore Galactica]"</ref> and a 6.9 rating on {{W|TV.com}}.<ref>[http://www.tv.com/shows/the-simpsons/saddlesore-galactica-1524/ TV.com - "Saddlesore Galactica"]</ref>
  
== Criticism ==
+
== References ==
Some Simpsons fans have an extremely low opinion of "Saddlesore Galactica". The episode contains numerous meta-humor and self-referential jokes centered on how outlandish the show's plots and characters have become, how the newer stories borrow heavily from the older stories, and how the Simpsons fans (particularly those on alt.tv.simpsons) complain of these flaws. Examples of this include the blatant recycling of themes and ideas from earlier episodes (which is pointed out repeatedly by Comic Book Guy, who incidentally is also wearing a "worst episode ever" t-shirt), the plot twists (such as the jockeys being magical elf creatures), and the over-the-top caricaturing of the main characters (such as Lisa being overly activistic after losing the band competition). This has led some to believe that the episode was made outlandish and derivative on purpose, which many fans considered to be an insult towards them (particularly true when the Comic Book Guy pointed out that the Simpsons adpoting a horse for a pet was done before, and Homer asking the crowd of people at the fair if anyone cared what The Comic Book Guy thought, to which the crowd yells, "No!").
+
{{Reflist}}
  
{{stub}}
+
{{Images|ep=yes}}
 +
{{season 11}}
 +
[[sv:Saddlesore Galactica]]
  
{{Season 11}}
+
[[Category:2000]]
[[Category:Episodes]]
+
[[Category:Homer episodes]]
[[Category:Season 11]]
+
[[Category:Bart episodes]]
 +
[[Category:Episodes without Maggie]]
 +
[[Category:Sport-themed episodes]]
 +
[[Category:Episodes written by Tim Long]]
 +
[[Category:Episodes directed by Lance Kramer]]

Latest revision as of 14:21, March 28, 2024

Season 11 Episode
238 "The Mansion Family"
239
"Saddlesore Galactica"
"Alone Again, Natura-Diddily" 240
"Wait a minute... Hang onto your monocles, 'cause Furious D is closing like a horse possessed!"
Trevor Denman
"Saddlesore Galactica"
Saddlesore Galactica.png
Episode Information
Episode number: 239
Season number: S11 E13
Production code: BABF09
Original airdate: February 6, 2000
Chalkboard gag: "Substitute teachers are not scabs"
Couch gag: The Simpsons are black belts in karate. They use their hands to chop up the couch while Homer does an elaborate flip and switches on the TV with his remote.
Guest star(s): Bachman-Turner Overdrive as themselves
Trevor Denman as himself
Showrunner: Mike Scully
Written by: Tim Long
Directed by: Lance Kramer
DVD features


"Saddlesore Galactica" is the thirteenth episode of season 11 of The Simpsons and the two-hundred and thirty-ninth episode overall. It originally aired on February 6, 2000. The episode was written by Tim Long and directed by Lance Kramer. It guest stars Bachman-Turner Overdrive as themselves and Trevor Denman as himself.

Synopsis[edit]

"Homer and Bart adopt an abandoned racehorse, named Duncan, and soon discover the ups and downs of horse racing."


Plot[edit]

The Springfield Elementary School Band is practicing for a band competition, with Mr. Largo taking them through "The Stars and Stripes Forever". After they finish, the students discuss playing more complex songs as "The Stars and Stripes Forever" is too beginner for them. Eventually, Mr. Largo agrees to let the band do a different song. The Simpson family then go to the State Fair, where Homer talks his way past the gate by claiming to be a Vietnam veteran. At the State Fair, Marge goes shopping for all the products they have for sale whilst the rest of the family go to see Bachman–Turner Overdrive, who are performing at the fair. Homer annoys the band by demanding they play specific songs. After Bachman–Turner Overdrive, the band competition starts, with the Springfield Elementary band playing "Living in America". After their performance, the Ogdenville band plays, using glow sticks as a visual aid, which wins over the audience. Lisa is furious at this as visual aids are banned, but Ogdenville win anyway.

After the band competition, Lisa complains about the result, getting angry at an Ogdenville student. State Comptroller Atkins then says that her sportsmanship was bad so doesn't give her the Good Sportsmanship Award. The family then sees Duncan the Incredible Diving Horse. After Duncan is forced to dive into a small pool, the act is shut down by Chief Wiggum as it's animal abuse. The Simpsons then decide to adopt Duncan rather than have Duncan sent off to become dog food. Knowing that the family would struggle financially with Duncan, Homer and Bart try to get Duncan to earn his keep, first trying him out at football, until Homer realizes horses can't take part in the NFL. Bart then suggests that Duncan become a racehorse because he's fast. Meanwhile, Lisa is writing letters to President Bill Clinton about the band competition.

At the Springfield Downs, Duncan takes part in his first race but is too scared to leave the starting gate. Bart gives him a pep talk and Duncan finally starts running, only for the race to have already finished. Homer and Bart then give Duncan a makeover as Lisa tries calling President Clinton. Homer and Bart then reveal Duncan's new look and name, Furious D. Bart and Furious D start to win races as Duncan is now more confident, with Duncan being mean and intimidating to the other horses. Eventually, the other jockeys get annoyed at Furious D winning so much and kidnap Homer, taking him to their secret underground home. They sing "We Are the Jockeys" where they tell Homer that Duncan must lose or they'll eat Homer's brain.

Homer initially decides that Duncan must lose and tries to talk Bart into making it happen. However, Bart doesn't want to have Duncan lose and decides to try and win anyway. During the final race, the jockeys attack Bart and Duncan fights back, knocking them off and taking the victory. The jockeys then attack Homer so he and Bart ride off on Duncan as they lead the jockeys into a trap and capture them all, leaving them in a bin bag. Homer then helps Duncan find a mate to retire with as Bill Clinton comes to the door to talk to Lisa about the band competition. He tells Lisa that if things don't go her way, she should keep complaining until her dreams come true. As Marge points out that that's a lousy lesson to teach, Bill Clinton points out that he's a lousy president.

Production[edit]

Ron Hauge pitched the title for the episode.[1] Matt Groening was out of town for the table read and had never seen the episode before the commentary.[2] Bachman-Turner Overdrive guest starred in the episode. However, the two of them had split up at the time and didn't come in together. During the band competition, the song "Living in America" was chosen as they wanted a patriotic song that was "hipper" than "The Stars and Stripes Forever". Donick Cary came up with the idea to have a secret underground world of the jockeys.[1]

The idea of Duncan the diving horse came around because there was a real diving horse at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[3] The animators had a postcard of the horse whilst they were doing the show. Lance Kramer also had to draw out a whole pack on how the horses ankles worked so the other animators would know how to animate Duncan properly. This was because they wanted Duncan to have somewhat of a personality shown in his animation.[4]

The episode has a montage of Duncan winning races set to the song "The Distance" by Cake. At first, they couldn't get clearance for the actual song so used a soundalike in its original airing. Eventually, the song got cleared so it was replaced in later airings with the original.[5]

Reception[edit]

According to writer Tim Long, fan reaction to the episode has been very mixed, with much controversy from many fans. People found the land of the jockeys to be farfetched.[1]

As of February 2020, the episode has a 6.5 rating on IMDb[6] and a 6.9 rating on TV.com.[7]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Long, Tim (2008). Commentary for "Saddlesore Galactica", in The Simpsons: The Complete Eleventh Season.
  2. Groening, Matt (2008). Commentary for "Saddlesore Galactica", in The Simpsons: The Complete Eleventh Season.
  3. Meyer, George (2008). Commentary for "Saddlesore Galactica", in The Simpsons: The Complete Eleventh Season.
  4. Kramer, Lance (2008). Commentary for "Saddlesore Galactica", in The Simpsons: The Complete Eleventh Season.
  5. Scully, Mike (2008). Commentary for "Saddlesore Galactica", in The Simpsons: The Complete Eleventh Season.
  6. IMDb - "Saddlesore Galactica"
  7. TV.com - "Saddlesore Galactica"


The Saga of Carl - title screen.png Wikisimpsons has a collection of images related to "Saddlesore Galactica".
Season 11 Episodes
Beyond Blunderdome Brother's Little Helper Guess Who's Coming to Criticize Dinner? Treehouse of Horror X E-I-E-I-(Annoyed Grunt) Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder Eight Misbehavin' Take My Wife, Sleaze Grift of the Magi Little Big Mom Faith Off The Mansion Family Saddlesore Galactica Alone Again, Natura-Diddily Missionary: Impossible Pygmoelian Bart to the Future Days of Wine and D'oh'ses Kill the Alligator and Run Last Tap Dance in Springfield It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Marge Behind the Laughter