Difference between revisions of "The Old Man and the Key/References"

Latest revision as of 10:01, April 2, 2024

Cultural references[edit]

• The title is a pun of The Old Man and the Sea; like "The Old Man and the Lisa" and "The Old Man and the "C" Student".
• When Abe and Zelda take off on one of their dates, three old men with long beards imitate ZZ Top as a short part of "Sharp Dressed Man" is played.
• The closing credits parody those of The Beverly Hillbillies. At the end, Lisa says in a Southern accent, "This has been a Gracie Films presentation," which parodies the line at the end of The Beverly Hillbillies, "This has been a Filmways presentation."
• This episode pokes fun at the XFL. According to Marge, the XFL MVP was sweeping up toenails at the beauty parlor. Apparently, she breaks the news to Homer that there's not going to be a new season. In truth, Tommy Maddox, the lone XFL MVP, was the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers at the time of this episode and would win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award for the 2002 season. Additionally, Homer believes the "X" in XFL stands for "eXtreme". In actuality, the X never stood for anything.
• The drag race parodies a scene from Grease.
• Grampa sings an altered version of "Old Time Love" by The Rivingtons to Zelda.
• The music in the beginning of the concert is the third movement of Frédéric Chopin's "Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35".
• On the way to Branson, Missouri, the Simpsons end up in the fictional town of Bronson, Missouri. In Bronson, all the inhabitants (male and female) look and sound like Charles Bronson.
• When Homer asks if "Grampa" is Grandpa Munster, Marge answers, "No, Simpson!" This prompts Homer to stomp the ground like Herman Munster.
• When Homer salutes his sunken ship in "Scrabbleship," he says, "Semper Fi," which is short for Semper Fidelis (Latin for "Always faithful). This is the motto of the United States Marine Corps.
• "Scrabbleship" is an illogical combination of the popular board games Scrabble and Battleship played by Bart and Homer, who apparently created it.
• When Grandpa Abe says he's waiting for Viagra to take effect, Popeye cartoon chorus is heard when he gets strong on spinach.
• Los Souvenir Jacquitos jacket's have the stencils of Jurassic Park, Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock Cafe (all three international chains of clubs) and Tasmanian Devil character of the Looney Tunes.
• The death race which old men compete against is a quote from The Chicken Run: Rebel Without A Cause.
• Bart and Grandpa Abe drive off to the tune of "Born to Be Wild".
• The show in the theater 'that's familiar' is a quote from the film A Chorus Line.

Trivia[edit]

• The bridge Grampa and Bart drive over into Branson is the Branson Bridge over Lake Taneycomo.

Goofs[edit]

• The leader of Los Souvenir Jacquitos' skin tone constantly changes.
• After the phone call from the retirement home, the colors of the X and XFL on Homer's shirt are reversed.
• The Latino senior's car has a black steering wheel but when Abe talks about his phobias, the steering wheel is white.

Continuity[edit]

• Gloria, from "A Hunka Hunka Burns in Love" earlier in the season, returns in this episode as Snake's girlfriend.
• Branson has theatre marquees for Andy Williams. Bart has been to Branson, Missouri before and saw Andy Williams perform ("Bart on the Road").
• Lurleen Lumpkin from "Colonel Homer" is on a theater marquee in Branson.