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Difference between revisions of "Goo Goo Gai Pan"

Wikisimpsons - The Simpsons Wiki
 
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{{episode
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|image=Goo_Goo_Gai_Pan.jpg
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{{EpisodePrevNext|On a Clear Day I Can't See My Sister|Mobile Homer}}
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|Episode Number=347
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{{Quote|Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on Wu!|[[Madam Wu]]}}
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|productionCode=GABF06
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{{Episode
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|originalAirdate=March 13, 2005
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|image=Goo Goo Gai Pan promo.png
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|blackboardText=
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|number=347
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|couchGag=The family is surprised by the townspeople and Homer collapses of a heart attack
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|season=16
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|specialGuestVoices=[[Robert Wagner]], and [[Lucy Liu]] as [[Madam Wu]]
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|snumber=12
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|Written By=[[Lawrence Talbot]] (pseudonym for [[Dana Gould]])
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|prodcode=GABF06
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|Directed By=[[Lance Kramer]]
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|airdate=March 13, [[2005]]
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|couchgag=The family is surprised by the townspeople and Homer collapses of a heart attack
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|guests=[[Robert Wagner]] as {{Ch|Robert Wagner|himself}}<br>[[Lucy Liu]] as [[Madam Wu]]
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|showrunner1= Al Jean
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|writer=[[Dana Gould]]
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|director=[[Lance Kramer]]
 
}}
 
}}
  
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"'''Goo Goo Gai Pan'''" is an episode from the sixteenth season of ''[[The Simpsons]]''.
+
"'''Goo Goo Gai Pan'''" is the twelfth episode of [[season 16]] of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and the three-hundred and forty-seventh episode overall. It originally aired on March 13, [[2005]]. The episode was written by [[Lawrence Talbot]] and directed by [[Lance Kramer]]. It guest stars [[Robert Wagner]] as {{Ch|Robert Wagner|himself}} and [[Lucy Liu]] as [[Madam Wu]].
  
 
== Synopsis ==
 
== Synopsis ==
−
[[Patty and Selma Bouvier|Selma]] gives [[Montgomery Burns|Mr. Burns]] his driving test to replace his old license, which expired in 1909. During the test, she experiences a hot flush and is later taken to the hospital. She learns that she is experiencing menopause (which is explained in a video with Robert Wagner). She is saddened that now she can't have children. Lisa suggests that she adopt a child. However, after her first choice, one of Cletus' children, is taken back, Selma decides to adopt a child from China. Although her forms are in order, Selma learns that she has to be married to legally get a child. She puts down the second name she thinks of, after asking the agency if they knew who [[MacGyver]] was, and being told yes: [[Homer Simpson]].
+
{{Desc|[[Selma]] has a severe hot flash while giving [[Mr. Burns]] his driving test. [[Dr. Hibbert]] explains (with help from a video starring {{Ch|Robert Wagner}}) that Selma is experiencing the onset of menopause. Selma, decides she wants a baby rather than grow old alone. Adoption is suggested, but the [[Springfield Orphanage|Springfield orphanage]] is empty. [[Lisa]] suggests adopting a baby girl from [[China]]. One problem: the Chinese government only allows married couples to adopt. No problem; Selma writes down a name for her husband - Homer's - and "The Simpsons are going to China!" (with [[Marge]] acting as [[Bart]] and Lisa's nanny) so Selma and Homer can pick up the baby together.}}
  
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While on the plane to China, Selma informs Homer that he must pretend to be her husband. Shocked, he later decides to do it for Marge. When they arrive, Selma claims that Bart and Lisa are their own children and Marge is their nanny. The Chinese adoption agent, Madam Wu (voiced by [[Lucy Liu]]), tells them that they will get a baby in a few days. Reasoning that he has no chance of being outed, Homer claims he is an acrobat when asked and is later called to perform a stunt when the main performer in a show suffers a "bullet-related death" from questioning the Communist Party; Homer is told to perform to forestall a riot brought on by the audience's realisation that the CCP is not infallible. Homer himself gets severely hurt performing and is treated in a hospital. There, Selma gets her daughter, whom she names [[Ling Bouvier|Ling]] and who is fond of grabbing Homer's eyes. When everyone leaves, Homer and Marge snuggle and are caught by Wu, who takes back Selma's baby.
+
== Plot ==
 +
[[File:Goo Goo Gai Pan Homer Buddha.png|thumb|left|Homer as a Buddha statue]]
 +
[[Selma]] gives [[Mr. Burns]] a driving test to renew his license. During the test, Selma starts to experience hot flashes and ends up going to hospital due to these. In the hospital, [[Dr. Hibbert]] tells Selma that she's going through menopause and shows her a video, starring {{Ch|Robert Wagner}}, about it. Selma then realizes that she's lost her chance to have a baby and wants one. She goes to the [[Springfield Orphanage]] to adopt, only for the birth father, [[Cletus]], to come along and take his baby back because he misheard what [[Brandine]] wanted. Disheartened by this, Selma is told by [[Lisa]] that she could adopt a baby from [[China]] as they have a lot of babies up for adoption there.
  
−
The Simpsons decide to bring back Ling. At the nursery, they dress and spray paint Homer as a golden [[Buddha]] statue. The Chinese guards bring him in, although Homer can hardly keep in the pain they are causing trying to move him by inserting a hook into his nostril. He is able to find Ling and get her out. In Tiananmen Square, they are confronted by Madam Wu in a tank and Selma is able to convince her that she should keep Ling, although she needs to sign a form just to talk to her, from bureaucrat to bureaucrat. Wu says that she herself had to be raised by her mother, as her father choked to death the day before the Heimlich maneuver was invented. The Simpsons, Selma, and Ling then depart China via junk.
+
Selma then goes to the [[Consulate of China]] where she speaks to [[Mr. Zhao]]. Zhao tells Selma that her adoption request is all fine except she hasn't filled in a husband on the form, which she is required to have to adopt. After asking if he knew who [[Angus MacGyver]] was, Selma filled in [[Homer]]'s name, causing a chill to go through Homer. The Simpsons then decide to go to China with Selma to adopt a baby. On the plane, Selma tells Homer that she wants him to pretend to be her husband after Homer takes some medicine and starts to hallucinate, seeing three dragons. The [[White Dragon]] offers to take Homer to China on his back in return for peanuts, but Homer only offered him one.
  
−
== Trivia ==
+
In China, the family goes to meet [[Madam Wu]] to adopt a baby. After handing over the money, Wu tells Homer and Selma that she has to make sure they're a happy married couple and they have to wait a few days before they get the baby. Wu then goes around with the family as they explore the sights in China, including a Shaolin temple, [[Mao Zedong]]'s tomb, the [[Great Wall of China]] and a Chinese version of ''[[Death of a Salesman]]''. Madam Wu then asks Homer what his job is, and he tells her that he's a Chinese acrobat. At a [[Krusty Fried Chicken]], Madam Wu manages to offend both Lisa and [[Marge]] before they all go to the [[Chinese Acrobatic Theater]] to see a show. When the lead acrobat is unable to take part in the final stunt of the show, due to being dead, Madam Wu sends Homer to take part, as he had claimed to be an acrobat. Homer gets injured in the stunt and was taken to hospital.
−
* The sack of 10,000 dollars must have been all one dollar bills, as there is no other way that it could have so many bills. Also, the ridiculously huge sack of money appears right next to Wu at first. However, it is gone the next time she is shown. But the way this was shown indicates that this was intentional.
 
−
* Selma's signature is almost as bad as you'd imagine Homer's would be.
 
−
* Although Selma wants to take care of a child in this episode, she had earlier decided not to bother with kids after trouble with Bart and Lisa in [[Selma's Choice]].
 
−
*[[Robert Wagner]] is the second celebrity this season to host a [[Troy McClure]]-esque video. The first was [[Gary Busey]] in the previous episode.
 
−
*[[Maggie Simpson]] inexplicably does not appear in this episode while the rest of the family is halfway around the world. However, it is possible that they left [[Abe Simpson]] in charge of her while they're gone, as he also does not appear in this episode either.
 
  
−
== Cultural References ==
+
In the hospital, Selma shows off baby [[Ling Bouvier|Ling]], and thanks Homer for helping her to get her. She then leaves Homer and Marge in the hospital for some snuggling. However, Madam Wu sees this as she was spying on the family at the time and takes Ling away from Selma again because she needs to be married to have her. Upset at this, the family comes up with a plan to get Ling back and Homer goes undercover as a [[Buddha]] statue into the [[Beijing Orphanage]]. He gets Ling back and escapes and meets back up with the family in [[Tiananmen Square]]. However, Madam Wu catches up with them in a tank and demands they hand Ling back. Selma has a heart to heart conversation with Madam Wu, who then decides to let Selma keep Ling as she (Wu) was also brought up by a single mother after her father died.
−
*When Selma says the car is too hot, Burns says it is actually cooler than Guy Lombardo, a famous Canadian band leader.
 
−
*Mr. Burns says his car once outraced the Flying Finn, Paavo Nurmi, an athlete who won 9 Gold Medals at the 1920, 1924 and 1928 Summer Olympics. Both this and the afore mentioned references are among the many Burns age jokes that have been used throughout the series.
 
−
* The dragons Homer imagines are white, gold, and red, but at the end the white one is green. That first dragon also resembles the one who appears in Spirited Away.
 
  
−
== China References ==
+
Madam Wu then goes with the family to the dock to say goodbye to them as they head off back home. However, Bart has been replaced by a [[Chinese spy]], which Homer claims is close enough. The three dragons then appear again and the [[Red Dragon]] starts to sing. During the end credits, [[David Silverman]] teaches the viewer how to draw Bart.
−
*The title of this episode is a pun on ''moo goo gai pan'', the name of a popular pseudo-Chinese American recipe, based on the Cantonese dish ''mah gu gai pin'', which is composed of fresh button mushrooms and other vegetables with sliced chicken.
 
−
*China (except for Hong Kong and Macao) uses the Simplified Chinese characters, but many signs in this episode are clearly using Traditional Chinese. However, there are still signs that use Traditional Characters in China.
 
−
*The correct spelling of the place would be "Tian An Men", not "Tien An Men"(as this is the Wade system).
 
−
*When Selma stands in front of the tank piloted by Wu, the shot is highly reminiscent of the famous image of the Unknown Rebel blocking the line of tanks during the Tiananmen Square protests.
 
−
*While flying to China, the plane passes over a monument to "Warrior and spicy chicken pioneer" General Zuo Zongtang.
 
−
[[File:Goo-goo-gai-pan-US.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Flag of the Communist Party of China (first US broadcast of Goo Goo Gai Pan.)]]
 
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* The original broadcast portrayed the body of Mao Zedong covered by the flag of the Communist Party of China with the hammer and sickle (as is the case in the actual mausoleum). However, in later broadcasts the flag was substituted for the Flag of the People's Republic of China
 
−
* In the Chinese consulate there is a map behind the consulate official showing Taiwan as a separate country, extremely unlikely given the PRC's position regarding Taiwan.
 
−
*There is a plaque reading, "On this spot in 1989, nothing happened", in Tiananmen Square, a reference to the Chinese Government's denial of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. It is also a reference to the year The Simpsons first aired.
 
−
* In addition to being a sardonic reference to the massacre, the sign in the square ("On this site in 1989, nothing happened") is a parody of real signs. Available from catalogues, they are mock-historical plaques that say: "On this site in 1897, nothing happened."
 
−
* What's written on the adoption paper is gibberish, not Chinese, though this may be a play on the fact that computers which do not have Chinese text support installed may transcribe gibberish and random symbols in its place (mojibake).
 
  
−
== Goofs ==
+
== Production ==
−
*The aircraft the Simpsons and Selma take to China is not capable of a China to America trip.
+
The episode's writer, [[Dana Gould]], was adopting a child from China at the time the episode was being aired so he went under a pseudonym of Lawrence Talbot in case the episode was seen by the orphanage workers in China and they got offended by the episode. Dana Gould's daughter Lulu was the design of baby Ling. Gould chose the name {{W|Larry Talbot|Lawrence Talbot}} because that's the alter-ego of the Wolf Man.<ref name="DanaGould">{{Com|Gould, Dana|Goo Goo Gai Pan|Sixteenth|(2013).}}</ref> [[Tim Long]] directed [[Robert Wagner]]'s scenes in the episode.<ref>{{Com|Jean, Al|Goo Goo Gai Pan|Sixteenth|(2013).}}</ref> Homer pretending to be Selma's husband is a reference to something Dana Gould saw when adopting a baby, where a lesbian had a fake husband so she could adopt. Gould also mentioned that this was his favorite episode because it's so close to home for him.<ref name="DanaGould"/>
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*Homer drives a car in China, but in China, non-residents are not allowed to drive.
 
−
* When Homer falls from the chairs he is falling face-down. When he lands on the chairs, he is on his back.
 
  
−
== Quotes ==
+
During the credits of the episode, [[David Silverman]] teaches the viewers how to draw Bart. However, the way he taught you was not actually how he draws Bart in reality. [[Erick Tran]] directed the live action Silverman segment.<ref>{{Com|Silverman, David|Goo Goo Gai Pan|Sixteenth|(2013).}}</ref>
−
*'''Madam Wu:''' These are the world-famous Shaolin temple monks. They practice spiritual harmony through barefisted murder.
 
  
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*'''Homer:''' I hope you washed your hands first! (after a monk pulls out Homers heart then puts it back in)
+
<gallery>
 +
File:GABF06 Script.jpg|Production Script for the Episode
 +
</gallery>
  
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*'''Wagner:''' Let's give menopause a round of "men-applause". "Men-applause"? I'm not saying that! [The End]
+
== Reception ==
 +
Several of the jokes in the episode were taken poorly by China, with the episode being banned. These include jokes about the {{W|Tiananmen Square protests of 1989}}, [[Mao Zedong]] (who Homer calls "a little angel who killed 50 million people") and Homer portraying a [[Buddha]] statue.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-35398932 BBC News - "China's on-off relationship with The Simpsons"]</ref>
  
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*'''Chinese sign:''' "Tian an men Square. On this site in 1989, nothing happened."
+
Robert Canning of {{W|IGN}} said that a majority of the jokes in the episode fall flat. He also felt that the actual storyline would take about 10 minutes if not for all the China filler. However, he did enjoy Robert Wagner's segment and the dragons. He gave the episode a 6.5 rating overall.<ref>[http://uk.ign.com/articles/2008/09/22/the-simpsons-flashback-goo-goo-gai-pan-review IGN - "The Simpsons Flashback: "Goo Goo Gai Pan" Review"]</ref>
  
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*'''Fake Bart:''' Feast on my shorts, stupid father man!
+
"Goo Goo Gai Pan" was nominated for a [[2005]] {{W|Environmental Media Award}} Turner Award, but it lost to "Prescription for Trouble" from ''{{W2|George Lopez|TV series}}''.<ref name="EMA2005">[https://web.archive.org/web/20071014120640/http://ema-online.org/awards_15th_annual.php Environmental Media Association - "15th Annual Environmental Media Awards"] (archived on {{W|Wayback Machine}})</ref>
  
−
*'''Fake Bart:''' Don't have a cattle, dude!
+
As of May 2022, the episode has a 7.0 rating on {{W|IMDb}}.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0701100/ IMDb - "Goo Goo Gai Pan"]</ref>
  
−
*'''Chinese Adoption Agent:''' The Chinese Government only allows wholesome married couples to adopt. No hen without cock. I apologize if that is a double entendre in your language. It is not in ours.<br />''Note that the word for "hen" in Chinese can also mean "prostitute".''
+
== In other languages ==
−
 
+
{{LanguageBox
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*'''Selma:''' [''To Ling while leaving for Springfield''] We'll come back one day, when you're a spoiled American teenager.
+
|de=yes
−
 
+
|deName=Der lächelnde Buddha
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*'''Homer''' [''looking in awe at the monument to General Chao, of chicken fame'']: Wow. It makes the Lincoln memorial look like crap.
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|deTrans=The smiling Buddha
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|es=yes
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*'''Chinese Dragons''' [''dancing with each other in the sky while singing in a high Chinese style'']: American jerks are going home... now we sleep for a thousand years... when we wake the world will end...
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|esName=Gu Gu Gai Pan
−
 
+
|esTrans=Goo Goo Gai Pan
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*'''Madame Wu:''' Lisa, soon you will have a Chinese sister who will surpass you academically.<br />'''Lisa: '''I don't know. I'm considered pretty smart.<br />'''Madame Wu:''' Well, Tibet was considered pretty independent. How'd that work out?<br />'''Lisa:''' How dare you make light of that brutal... ''(Marge shuts her up)''
+
|la=yes
−
 
+
|laName=Aventura en China
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*'''Bart:''' What's menopause?<br />'''Homer:''' Well son, it's when the stork that brings babies gets shot by some drunken hunters.
+
|laTrans=Adventure in China
−
 
+
|fr=yes
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*'''Wu:''' Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on Wu!
+
|frName=Bébé Nem
−
 
+
|frTrans=Baby Nem
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*'''Homer:''' Wow, the Fortune cookies really are more accurate here. ''(Looks at fortune that says "We will take Selma's baby")''
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|qu=yes
−
 
+
|quName=Un numéro un pour emporter
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*'''Burns:''' You know this baby once outraced the Flying Finn... Paavo Nurmi?
+
|quTrans=A number one takeaway
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+
|it=yes
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*'''Chinese Adoption Agent:''' Okay. You are Mrs. Homer Simpson. He is your soulmate and lover.<br />'''Selma:''' Yes, Homer Simpson is my entire world. ''(pause)'' I love him.<br />''(cut to the plant, where Homer is having lunch with Lenny and Carl)''<br />'''Homer:''' (shivers) I just felt a chill go through my very soul.<br />'''Lenny:''' Yup, the Sloppy Joes here will do that.
+
|itName=Adozione made in Cina (bimba in adozione, marito in prestito)
−
 
+
|itTrans=Adoption made in China (baby girl for adoption, husband on loan)
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*'''Homer:''' Oh, you're curing me with acupuncture.<br />'''Doctor:''' Oh, no. A porcupine got in while you were asleep. ''(to porcupine)'' Shoo! Shoo! Come back in year of porcupine, which means never!
+
}}
−
 
 
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*'''Master of Ceremony:''' I regret to inform you that our final stunt will not be performed, our star acrobat had an onset of outspoken-ness and suffered a bullet-related death.<br />'''Audience Member 1:''' This is most disillusioning!<br />'''Audience Member 2:''' It seems our leaders are not all knowing!<br />'''Audience Member 3:''' Now I will question everything! Why doesn't Pearl Jam ever come here?<br />'''Wu:''' Homer, only you can prevent this riot and save our beloved communist dictatorship.<br />'''Homer (shocked):''' You guys are commies? Then why am I seeing rudimentary free markets?<br />'''Wu:''' Just shut up and do the act!
 
−
 
 
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*''(when the Simpsons and Selma are on the plane and Homer looks out the window)''<br />'''Chinese Dragon:''' Hello Homer, give me your peanuts and you can fly on my back.<br />'''Homer:''' I'll give you...one!<br />'''Chinese Dragon:''' Ooh, you are a very greedy man. The other dragons shall hear of this.''(flies away)''<br />'''Homer:''' Hey, dragon! You fly like a girl!
 
−
 
 
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*'''Wu:''' ''(to Selma)'' You may keep your baby. ''(points to Homer)'' But, you! Put the panda down!<br />'''Homer:''' ''(forcing the baby panda into his bag)'' Aww, but he loves me! ''(panda bites Homer's hand)'' Ow! Why you little-''(strangles panda, then a larger panda, presumably the panda's mother, strangles Homer)''
 
−
 
 
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*'''Homer:''' And this is Marge, our surprisingly hot nanny...<br />'''Marge:''' ''(giggles)'' Why thank you, Mr. Simpson.<br />'''Homer:''' You're welcome Miss... ''(looks at Madame Wu)'' October. But don't look at her passport. It's different!
 
−
 
 
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*'''Homer:''' ''(speaking to Mao Zedong's body as though it was a cute baby)'' Awww... he looks just like a little baby that killed 60 million people. Who's a little dictator? Yes, you are! Yes, you are!
 
  
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*'''Selma:''' May I speak to you, bureaucrat to bureaucrat?<br />'''Madame Wu:''' Yes, but first you must sign this form. Initial here. And here. And now we must find a notary.<br />'''Chinese Soldier:''' Hehehe. This is Wang Po's time to shine.
+
== References ==
 +
{{Reflist}}
  
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*'''Lisa (after spray painting Homer):''' You look just like a Buddha statue. Now, all you need is an expression of utter serenity.<br />''(Homer makes a face similar to when he is about to strangle Bart)''<br />'''Marge:''' Just think about the time you found that junior mint in your belly button.<br />''(Homer makes a more appropriate expression. Lisa rings the Adoption Agency's doorbell and they run off. Two Chinese Soldiers exit and look at Homer)''<br />'''Soldier 1:''' A Buddha statue?! We cannot leave it outside! It is bad feng shui!<br />'''Soldier 2:''' Feng shui? I thought that was just an excuse to sell crappy end tables to the West.<br />'''Soldier 1:''' Just stick this hook in his nostril and pull.<br />''(Homer has a very nervous look as they insert the hook. As they drag him, he begins to scream and when the soldiers look at him, he is normal. He is able to calmly hold his pain as they continue to drag him)''<br />'''Soldier 1:''' I've never moved a Buddha this heavy!<br />'''Soldier 2:''' Let's cut him in chunks and worship the chunks.
+
{{Images|ep=yes}}
 +
{{season 16}}
  
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{{Season 16}}
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[[Category:2005]]
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[[Category:Homer episodes]]
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[[Category:Travel episodes]]
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[[Category:Environmental Media Award nominated episodes]]
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[[Category:Episodes written by Dana Gould]]
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[[Category:Episodes directed by Lance Kramer]]
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[[Category:Patty and Selma episodes]]
  
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[[es:Goo Goo Gai Pan]]
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[[sv:Goo Goo Gai Pan]]
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[[pt:Goo Goo Gai Pan]]
 
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[[Category:Episodes]]
 
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[[Category:Season 16]]
 

Latest revision as of 21:44, September 4, 2024

Season 16 Episode
← 346 "On a Clear Day I Can't See My Sister"
347
"Goo Goo Gai Pan"
"Mobile Homer" 348 →
"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on Wu!"
―Madam Wu
"Goo Goo Gai Pan"
Goo Goo Gai Pan promo.png
Episode Information
Episode number: 347
Season number: S16 E12
Production code: GABF06
Original airdate: March 13, 2005
Couch gag: The family is surprised by the townspeople and Homer collapses of a heart attack
Guest star(s): Robert Wagner as himself
Lucy Liu as Madam Wu
Showrunner: Al Jean
Written by: Dana Gould
Directed by: Lance Kramer


"Goo Goo Gai Pan" is the twelfth episode of season 16 of The Simpsons and the three-hundred and forty-seventh episode overall. It originally aired on March 13, 2005. The episode was written by Lawrence Talbot and directed by Lance Kramer. It guest stars Robert Wagner as himself and Lucy Liu as Madam Wu.

Synopsis[edit]

"Selma has a severe hot flash while giving Mr. Burns his driving test. Dr. Hibbert explains (with help from a video starring Robert Wagner) that Selma is experiencing the onset of menopause. Selma, decides she wants a baby rather than grow old alone. Adoption is suggested, but the Springfield orphanage is empty. Lisa suggests adopting a baby girl from China. One problem: the Chinese government only allows married couples to adopt. No problem; Selma writes down a name for her husband - Homer's - and "The Simpsons are going to China!" (with Marge acting as Bart and Lisa's nanny) so Selma and Homer can pick up the baby together."


Plot[edit]

Homer as a Buddha statue

Selma gives Mr. Burns a driving test to renew his license. During the test, Selma starts to experience hot flashes and ends up going to hospital due to these. In the hospital, Dr. Hibbert tells Selma that she's going through menopause and shows her a video, starring Robert Wagner, about it. Selma then realizes that she's lost her chance to have a baby and wants one. She goes to the Springfield Orphanage to adopt, only for the birth father, Cletus, to come along and take his baby back because he misheard what Brandine wanted. Disheartened by this, Selma is told by Lisa that she could adopt a baby from China as they have a lot of babies up for adoption there.

Selma then goes to the Consulate of China where she speaks to Mr. Zhao. Zhao tells Selma that her adoption request is all fine except she hasn't filled in a husband on the form, which she is required to have to adopt. After asking if he knew who Angus MacGyver was, Selma filled in Homer's name, causing a chill to go through Homer. The Simpsons then decide to go to China with Selma to adopt a baby. On the plane, Selma tells Homer that she wants him to pretend to be her husband after Homer takes some medicine and starts to hallucinate, seeing three dragons. The White Dragon offers to take Homer to China on his back in return for peanuts, but Homer only offered him one.

In China, the family goes to meet Madam Wu to adopt a baby. After handing over the money, Wu tells Homer and Selma that she has to make sure they're a happy married couple and they have to wait a few days before they get the baby. Wu then goes around with the family as they explore the sights in China, including a Shaolin temple, Mao Zedong's tomb, the Great Wall of China and a Chinese version of Death of a Salesman. Madam Wu then asks Homer what his job is, and he tells her that he's a Chinese acrobat. At a Krusty Fried Chicken, Madam Wu manages to offend both Lisa and Marge before they all go to the Chinese Acrobatic Theater to see a show. When the lead acrobat is unable to take part in the final stunt of the show, due to being dead, Madam Wu sends Homer to take part, as he had claimed to be an acrobat. Homer gets injured in the stunt and was taken to hospital.

In the hospital, Selma shows off baby Ling, and thanks Homer for helping her to get her. She then leaves Homer and Marge in the hospital for some snuggling. However, Madam Wu sees this as she was spying on the family at the time and takes Ling away from Selma again because she needs to be married to have her. Upset at this, the family comes up with a plan to get Ling back and Homer goes undercover as a Buddha statue into the Beijing Orphanage. He gets Ling back and escapes and meets back up with the family in Tiananmen Square. However, Madam Wu catches up with them in a tank and demands they hand Ling back. Selma has a heart to heart conversation with Madam Wu, who then decides to let Selma keep Ling as she (Wu) was also brought up by a single mother after her father died.

Madam Wu then goes with the family to the dock to say goodbye to them as they head off back home. However, Bart has been replaced by a Chinese spy, which Homer claims is close enough. The three dragons then appear again and the Red Dragon starts to sing. During the end credits, David Silverman teaches the viewer how to draw Bart.

Production[edit]

The episode's writer, Dana Gould, was adopting a child from China at the time the episode was being aired so he went under a pseudonym of Lawrence Talbot in case the episode was seen by the orphanage workers in China and they got offended by the episode. Dana Gould's daughter Lulu was the design of baby Ling. Gould chose the name Lawrence Talbot because that's the alter-ego of the Wolf Man.[1] Tim Long directed Robert Wagner's scenes in the episode.[2] Homer pretending to be Selma's husband is a reference to something Dana Gould saw when adopting a baby, where a lesbian had a fake husband so she could adopt. Gould also mentioned that this was his favorite episode because it's so close to home for him.[1]

During the credits of the episode, David Silverman teaches the viewers how to draw Bart. However, the way he taught you was not actually how he draws Bart in reality. Erick Tran directed the live action Silverman segment.[3]

  • Production Script for the Episode

Reception[edit]

Several of the jokes in the episode were taken poorly by China, with the episode being banned. These include jokes about the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, Mao Zedong (who Homer calls "a little angel who killed 50 million people") and Homer portraying a Buddha statue.[4]

Robert Canning of IGN said that a majority of the jokes in the episode fall flat. He also felt that the actual storyline would take about 10 minutes if not for all the China filler. However, he did enjoy Robert Wagner's segment and the dragons. He gave the episode a 6.5 rating overall.[5]

"Goo Goo Gai Pan" was nominated for a 2005 Environmental Media Award Turner Award, but it lost to "Prescription for Trouble" from George Lopez.[6]

As of May 2022, the episode has a 7.0 rating on IMDb.[7]

In other languages[edit]

Language Name Translation
Germany.png Deutsch "Der lächelnde Buddha" The smiling Buddha
Spain flag.png Español "Gu Gu Gai Pan" Goo Goo Gai Pan
Hispanic America.gif Español "Aventura en China" Adventure in China
France.png Français "Bébé Nem" Baby Nem
Flag of Quebec.svg.png Français "Un numéro un pour emporter" A number one takeaway
Italy Flag.png Italiano "Adozione made in Cina (bimba in adozione, marito in prestito)" Adoption made in China (baby girl for adoption, husband on loan)

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Gould, Dana (2013). Commentary for "Goo Goo Gai Pan", in The Simpsons: The Complete Sixteenth Season.
  2. ↑ Jean, Al (2013). Commentary for "Goo Goo Gai Pan", in The Simpsons: The Complete Sixteenth Season.
  3. ↑ Silverman, David (2013). Commentary for "Goo Goo Gai Pan", in The Simpsons: The Complete Sixteenth Season.
  4. ↑ BBC News - "China's on-off relationship with The Simpsons"
  5. ↑ IGN - "The Simpsons Flashback: "Goo Goo Gai Pan" Review"
  6. ↑ Environmental Media Association - "15th Annual Environmental Media Awards" (archived on Wayback Machine)
  7. ↑ IMDb - "Goo Goo Gai Pan"


The Saga of Carl - title screen.png Wikisimpsons has a collection of images related to "Goo Goo Gai Pan".
Season 16 Episodes
Treehouse of Horror XV • All's Fair in Oven War • Sleeping with the Enemy • She Used to Be My Girl • Fat Man and Little Boy • Midnight Rx • Mommie Beerest • Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass • Pranksta Rap • There's Something About Marrying • On a Clear Day I Can't See My Sister • Goo Goo Gai Pan • Mobile Homer • The Seven-Beer Snitch • Future-Drama • Don't Fear the Roofer • The Heartbroke Kid • A Star Is Torn • Thank God It's Doomsday • Home Away from Homer • The Father, the Son and the Holy Guest Star
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