Difference between revisions of "He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs/References"

Revision as of 15:36, September 29, 2025

Cultural references

• The episode title is a pun on "We love to fly, and it shows", an advertising slogan used by Delta Air Lines in the 1980s.
• In the episode's chalkboard gag, Bart writes "I will not wait 20 years to make another movie", a reference to The Simpsons Movie. The film was released in 2007, marking the 20th anniversary of The Simpsons since the airing of "Good Night" from the Simpsons shorts.
  • Coincidentally, it was announced in September 2025 that The Simpsons Movie 2 is planned to be released on the 23rd of July 2027, four days shy of twenty years.
  • This episode is the first after the release of The Simpsons Movie and the opening sequence and couch gag include references to the film (see Trivia).
  • The song "Spider-Pig", from the movie, plays during the couch gag, although in a different version.
• At the Springfield Mall:
  • The store Restoration Software is a parody of Restoration Hardware.
  • Designer S'mores references the s'more, the popular cookie treat in the United States and Canada, traditionally cooked over a campfire.
• Mr. Burns' shopping list includes the Brooklyn Dodgers, a MLB team.
• The store Crazy E.T.'s Phone Home references the famous 1982 science fiction film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and E.T.'s iconic catchphrase "E.T. phone home".
  • The store sells iPhones for 20 cents.
• Homer's favourite pizza is Chicago deep dish.
• Mr. Burns owns a Gulfstream business jet.
• The Itchy & Scratchy Show episode "Come Flay with Me" is a pun on the 1963 British Jet Age romantic comedy film Come Fly with Me.
• Lionel Richie sings a modified version of his 1985 hit "Say You, Say Me".

Mr. Burns and Homer dress as Ferris and Cameron from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, a 1986 teen comedy film set in Chicago

• Frank Sinatra's single "My Kind of Town" is heard when Mr. Burns and Homer wander around Chicago. References to the city during this sequence include:
  • Mr. Burns wearing a Chicago Cubs cap and Homer a Chicago Bears jersey. At the time this episode originally aired, the jersey with the number 54 belonged to linebacker Brian Ullrich, who played for the Bears for 13 seasons.
  • Ditka's, a restaurant chain founded by American former professional football player, coach, and television commentator Mike Ditka.
  • The Wrigley Field. The sign "Home of the Chicago Cubs, the 1908 World Series champion" is a reference to the Curse of the Billy Goat. By the time this episode aired, the Cubs had last won the World Series in 1908, and the long drought of championships had become a running joke among baseball fans until the Cubs finally "broke" the curse in 2016.
  • The Guaranteed Rate Field, named "Wherever the White Sox Play", references the change of location from the former Comiskey Park.
  • First Bank of Oprah references the wealth of talk show host Oprah Winfrey, best known for The Oprah Winfrey Show, which was broadcasted from Chicago.
  • Mr. Burns and Homer walk into a salon called Ferris Bueller's Day of Beauty, a pun on the title of the 1986 teen comedy film Ferris Bueller's Day Off, set in Chicago. When they exit the salon, they are dressed as Ferris and his friend Cameron, respectively.
  • Mr. Burns and Homer catch a show at the real-life Second City Theater. Both Dan Castellaneta and guest star Stephen Colbert were members of Second City early in their careers.
    • Dan mentions Siberia and Starbucks during his performance.
    • A piano version of the "The Song of the Volga Boatmen" is heard briefly in the show.
• Bart compares Homer to Uncle Fester from The Addams Family.
• The song "I'm a Man" by Bo Diddley is heard when Homer uses the bowling shoes in his everyday life.
• Clair de lune by Claude Debussy is heard when Homer passes by the Handyman's Choice Copper Tubing headquarters and in the Krusty Burger.
• Homer lies by saying he flew to Tulsa, Oklahoma.
• Thinking that Homer had the job, Marge bought Campbell Soup cans and Pepsodent tooth paste.
• When trying to book a flight on the business jet, Homer pretends to be a Marine. He attempts to salute the pilot by saying "Semper fudge", mistakenly trying to say Semper fidelis, the official motto of the United States Marine Corps.
• Homer mentions the universities of Duke and Vanderbilt when he was trying to guess which one Colby Krause attended. Colby refers to his university as the "Harvard of the south".
• Lionel Richie does not want to let his American Music Award go. Richie has won 11 American Music Awards during his career.

Trivia

• "He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs" was the first episode to air after the release of The Simpsons Movie. As such, it has a unique opening sequence:
  • Bart skateboards through a broken and damaged Springfield, currently under repair.
  • Shards of the destroyed dome and characters from the movie are visible as Bart skateboards through the streets.
  • When Homer pulls into the driveway, the "Pig Crap" silo is strapped to the roof of his car.
  • The Simpson house is being rebuilt, and is only partially done.
  • Plopper the pig appears in the couch gag, and Homer calls him "My summer love", a reference to The Simpsons Movie having been released in summer.

Continuity

• When Homer tells Marge he once drove a car over a cliff, he's referencing the episode "Dumbbell Indemnity" when he tried to get rid of Moe's car.