I Married Marge/References

References/Trivia

Season 3 Episode References

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046

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"I Married Marge"

048

Cultural references

The title of the episode is a reference to the sitcom I Married Joan.
The Barnacle Bill's Home Pregnancy Test Homer buys is a reference to the sailor William Bernard (aka Barnacle Bill).
Homer's description of the 1980s include:
- The candidacy of John B. Anderson, who ran an independent presidential campaign, and received 6.6% of the popular vote.
- The rise of famous English progressive rock band Supertramp. The band's single "The Logical Song" is heard during Homer's flashbacks working in the minigolf.

In 1980 Marge and Homer went to see The Empire Strikes Back. Other references to Star Wars are mentioned as well

Marge and Homer went to see The Empire Strikes Back, episode V from the Star Wars film series, released in May 1980.
- "The Imperial March" is heard when they leave the Aztec Theater.
- Also, Homer spoils the ending of the film to the audience in the queue line by describing how Darth Vader ended up being Luke Skywalker's father. This is often considered one of the greatest plot twists in cinema.
- Homer compares Marge's beauty to that of Princess Leia and her smartness to that of Master Yoda.
When Marge asks Homer if he thinks about their future, he makes a reference to Planet of the Apes.
Marge and Homer sing along to "You Light Up My Life" by Kvitka Cisyk playing on the radio.
Young Homer and Barney are watching Charlie's Angels on TV.
Bart wants to name the possible incoming baby as "Kool Moe Dee Simpson", such as the American rapper Kool Moe Dee, while Lisa wants to call it Ariel, just like The Little Mermaid.
The "Bridal Chorus" is heard when Homer and Marge went to Shotgun Pete's to get married. It is also heard on the keyboard.
Marge compares Homer to American actor and director Ted Bessell.
Smithers, Lou Collier and another applicant belonged to the Alpha Tau fraternity, with one of them from the Alabama chapter of the fraternity.
While Homer is trying to get a job, the song "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton is playing.

Homer is wearing a T-shirt saying "I shot J.R.", a reference to the murder attempt against arch-villain J.R. Ewing from Dallas

Homer is wearing a T-shirt saying "I shot J.R.". This is a reference to the fictional mystery surrounding a murder attempt against arch-villain J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) from the 1978 TV series Dallas and that got its own advertising catchphrase, "Who shot J.R.?".
Mr. Burns is playing Ms. Pac-Man, the 1982 sequel to Pac-Man.

On the day of this episode's premiere, the Soviet Union officially dissolved.
The Justice of the Peace is the first character outside of Homer to call Marge by her full first name Marjorie during the flashback to Homer and Marge exchanging their wedding vows.
Marge's hair is not as tall in this episode as it normally is shown. Presumably, her hair is shorter so there is less to wear in her famous updo.
Jacqueline appears to be a smoker in this episode, she has not smoked in any other episode, and has presumably quit.
Mr. Burns is seen playing on a Ms. Pac Man arcade cabinet in his office.

When Homer is writing his goodbye letter, he scrawls over Patty's name in the letterhead and writes his own name underneath. The next time the letter is seen, Patty's name is only crossed out and Homer's name is off to the right, positioned diagonally.
At the end of the episode, when Homer tells the kids what a blessing they are, Maggie's bow is missing in one shot.
In this episode Bart was a two-year-old when the Simpson family moved into 742 Evergreen Terrace, but he lived at the same house as a baby in the babysitter's traumatic flashback in "The War of the Simpsons".
Bart asked Homer how long did Grampa Simpson live with them before they shipped him to the old folks home, but Lisa (who was not yet born) told Bart to remember the fight Grampa put up when we put him in the home. (Bart the General)

← Season 2 Season 3 References Season 4 →
Stark Raving Dad • Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington • When Flanders Failed • Bart the Murderer • Homer Defined • Like Father, Like Clown • Treehouse of Horror II • Lisa's Pony • Saturdays of Thunder • Flaming Moe's • Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk • I Married Marge • Radio Bart • Lisa the Greek • Homer Alone • Bart the Lover • Homer at the Bat • Separate Vocations • Dog of Death • Colonel Homer • Black Widower • The Otto Show • Bart's Friend Falls in Love • Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes?