Difference between revisions of "I Won't Be Home for Christmas/References"

Revision as of 09:14, October 2, 2023

Cultural references

Cosmic Wars: Holiday Special is a parody of the Star Wars Holiday Special

Elf skeletons wearing "Prep" and "Landing" sweaters is a reference to Disney's special Prep & Landing

• The episode title is a reference to the song by Bing Crosby "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and to the song by Blink-182 "I Won't Be Home for Christmas".
• The couch gag is a reference to Frozen:
  • Lisa is Elsa, Marge is Anna, Bart is Kristoff, Maggie is Bulda, Homer is Olaf, Santa's Little Helper is Sven.
  • The ice castle that Lisa raises is a reference to Elsa's castle.
• Immediately after the opening sequence, a jazz version of "O Tannenbaum" plays over a scene of children ice-skating outdoors, a reference to the Peanuts special A Charlie Brown Christmas.
• Cosmic Wars: Holiday Special is a parody of the Star Wars Holiday Special.
  • R3 is a parody of R2-D2. Many other Star Wars characters and species are parodied, including: C-3PO, Darth Vader, Devorian, Tusken Raider, Jawa, Ithorian, Aqualish, Rodian and Ortolan.
  • When the parody of Vader cuts a turkey, pictures that look like Greedo and Darth Sidious can be seen on the wall.
  • The phrase "May the Sauce be with you" is a parody of the iconic Star Wars phrase "May the Force be with you".
• Comic Book Guy has Hulk and The Thing (from Marvel) bookstops on his bookshelf.
• Homer refers to Mr. Burns as Mr. Scrooge and Burns mentions his schedule says he'll be visited by 3 spirits; both references to A Christmas Carol.
• A Vin Scully Christmas was among the "Christmas Music Channels". A sports commentary by Vin Scully can be heard.
• Miracle on 34th Street is being played in Moe's Tavern television. In this scene, Gene Lockhart plays the role of Judge Henry X. Harper.
• Moe says to a mouse "Hey. It's the night before Christmas. Stop stirring." A reference to "Twas The Night Before Christmas". The poem was previously parodied in the comic story 'Twas the Eve Before Christmas.
• Patty tells Marge that if she drops Homer she won't have to watch the Super Bowl.
• Marge yells at Homer and demands him to leave the house on Christmas. Homer tells her that it is Sir Isaac Newton's birthday.
• A banner "LEGO Simpsons 90% Off" can be seen on a store.
• Marge covers Homer's face in a picture with a sticker of the Grinch.
• The police staff play Secret Santa. Clancy Wiggum is Lou's assigned Santa and gives him a corncob holder as a present.
• Groundskeeper Willie says he doesn't need toilet paper, as he has Starbucks napkins.
• Lisa tells Bart the history of jazz.
• Moe wants to watch Showtime Extreme on the Simpsons' television, although it was not available as it is a premium channel.
• Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill participate in The Beautiful Game, a drama film about a concentration camp. The name of the film is a reference to A Beautiful Mind but the film story is a reference to The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.
• Grounded is a parody of the 2013 computer-animated film Planes.
• Homer says Merry Christmas in Spanish, "Feliz Navidad".
• The Old Jewish man wants the Simpson family to turn the TV to CBS.
• Homer meets a person in a Nutcracker doll disguise.
• Bart thinks his parents are watching the Hollywood Christmas Parade on TV.
• Two elf skeletons can be seen between the two floors of the Simpsons' house. One of them wears a sweater with "Prep" written on it, while the other one has a "Landing" written instead. This is a reference to Prep & Landing, a Disney Christmas special about an elf.

Trivia

• The opening sequence is a subtle rework of the opening from the previous season's Christmas episode, "White Christmas Blues". Among the changes:
  • As the clouds part at the beginning, Barney as Santa in a sleigh pulled by reindeer lead by Santa's Little Helper (as Rudolph) is replaced by The Rich Texan in a convertible pulled by buffalo.
  • As Bart snowboards away from the school, two polar bears play catch with Groundskeeper Willie. In the previous version, Bart's landing revealed Grampa under the snow, with a sign "Still warmer than nursing home," seemingly having been buried by Willie, who is shoveling snow nearby. Additionally, the newer version deletes a number of Christmas trees and buildings in the background.
  • The sign in the background as Homer works is changed from "94 days till March 28, actual birth of Christ" to "31 days until Greek Orthodox Christmas."
  • Gerald already has the "defective" stamp on his head, but Maggie gives him a present rather than him being taken away.
  • Instead of "Good King Wenceslas," the band plays "Jingle Bells," and when Lisa pops back in the door, snow falls on her.
  • Moe now stands at the door to his bar happy, with an ice "Venus de Milo" instead of standing there grumpy and alone.
  • Patty and Selma were originally Dr. Seuss characters, but are now hockey players.
  • As Bart passes the Chinese restaurant with Jewish characters Krusty, Dolph and Krusty's agent visible through the window, Rabbi Krustofsky is no longer seated at the table. Per his death in the season premiere's "Clown in the Dumps", he is now seen hovering nearby as a ghost, along with the ghost of Joan Rivers.
  • While Lou, Dr. Hibbert and Carl appear celebrating Kwanzaa in season 25, Snake is seen holding up a sidewalk Santa in season 26.
  • As Marge drives herself and Maggie home in the sleigh, the Snow Monster is added to the sharp right turn.
  • They are then chased down by Mr. Burns and Mr. Smithers in a sleigh pulled by Burns' guard dogs. In the season 25 version, Crazy Cat Lady appears in a shopping cart pulled by her cats, which distracts Burns' dogs. The version in this episode also adds the Sea Captain in a boat on skis being pulled by belly-sliding penguins.
  • As the camera quickly pans across numerous characters over to the Simpson house for the family's return home, the previous version had Edna Krabappel as an angel with wings (and her coffee mug). This was removed for season 26.
• Martin, dressed as Elsa, was supposed to be in the couch gag but was removed. He was added, however, as Ice Princess Martin skin, to The Simpsons: Tapped Out, with the Ice Castle. In the game, he references the couch gag in the episode, asking to be Elsa in it, but Lisa says that she will be Elsa.

Continuity

• Gil introduces Homer to his "family", namely Crazy Cat Lady, Kirk Van Houten and the Hobo. Gil celebrated St. Patrick's day with his "family" in "Kill Gil, Volumes I & II".
• Louie's tow truck is seen. ("Midnight Towboy")
  • Louie's tow truck is subsequently flash frozen after it hits a fire hydrant. This happened to Ned's car in "Skinner's Sense of Snow".
• Several of the characters from the episode coming together at the end of the episode is reminiscent of "Burns, Baby Burns".

Goofs

• When Bart and Lisa come downstairs on Christmas, Lisa's slippers disappear after the first scene.