Difference between revisions of "There's Something About Marrying"

Episode number:	345
Season number:	S16 E10
Production code:	GABF04
Original airdate:	February 20, 2005
Couch gag:	The family, dressed as bruised and beaten hockey players, skates around the living room holding the Stanley Cup.
Showrunner:	Al Jean
Written by:	J. Stewart Burns
Directed by:	Nancy Kruse

"There's Something About Marrying" is the tenth episode of season 16 of The Simpsons and the three-hundred and forty-fifth episode overall. It originally aired on February 20, 2005. The episode was written by J. Stewart Burns and directed by Nancy Kruse.

Synopsis[edit]

"Gay and lesbian couples come to Springfield to get married by Homer, and Patty Bouvier comes out of the closet."

Plot[edit]

Looking for someone new to prank, Bart and Milhouse find a naive-looking man named Howell Huser, who has been roaming the United States. Huser turns out to be a professional tourist who works for a TV station, rating towns for tourism. He says just how terrible Springfield is. Within a month, the Springfield tourism business is in a state of collapse. As a solution, Lisa suggests they legalize same-sex marriage.

Soon, hundreds of gay and lesbian couples come to Springfield. However, Reverend Lovejoy still holds the view that marriage is only between a man and a woman and refuses to join any same-sex couple. Marge tries to argue that certain parts of the bible conflict about same sex coupling, but Lovejoy starts ringing the church bell to drown her out. Homer overhears that ministers get paid $200 per couple and decides to become a minister himself by getting ordained online through a questionable website. Shortly afterwards, he marries every gay couple in town. When there are no more gay couples in town to marry, a money-hungry Homer puts up a sign saying "Will marry anyone to anything." Homer literally accepts the marriage of anything, even the Sea Captain who weds his mermaid figurehead, an inanimate object.

During this time, Patty tells Marge that she herself is a lesbian and is in love with a pro-golfer named Veronica. Marge is extremely uncomfortable, although she has been supportive of same-sex marriage. Marge recalls through flashback indications of Patty's homosexuality. On the day of the marriage, Marge discovers that Veronica is actually a man disguised as a woman to get on the women's tour. Marge is at first delighted that Patty will unknowingly marry a man. But during the ceremony, Patty's sincere happiness guilts Marge into revealing the truth. Veronica admits the truth and reveals his real name is Leslie Robin Swisher. He asks if Patty will still marry him, but she absolutely refuses, reaffirming that she likes girls. Patty and Selma go to leave a bag at the airport unattended, as a way to meet security personnel of both genders.

Production[edit]

Reception[edit]

"There's Something About Marrying" was nominated for a 2006 Writers Guild of America award in Animation, but it lost to "Mommie Beerest".^[1]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

↑ IMDb - "Writers Guild of America, USA 2006 Awards"

Wikisimpsons has a collection of images related to "There's Something About Marrying".

← Season 15 Season 16 Episodes Season 17 →
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

[1] IMDb - "Writers Guild of America, USA 2006 Awards"

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