The Boys of Bummer/References
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Cultural references
- This episode's title is a play on the book The Boys of Summer, which dealt with the legendary Brooklyn Dodger baseball team of the 1950s and was also a nickname for the team. There is also a song called "The Boys of Summer" by Don Henley (later covered by The Ataris).
- It is revealed that Springfield has held the record of being the "Meanest City in America", which is apparently backed up for the town's treatment of Bart's losing their game against Shelbyville.
- The episode's plot borrows from the movie The Best of Times, in which an old football game is replayed.
- The episode is extremely similar to an episode of the Stephen King miniseries Kingdom Hospital, entitled 'Butterfingers'. In the 'Butterfingers' episode, Earl Candleton is playing in the final game of the World Series, and although he has had a stellar career that season up until that moment, just like Bart, he drops an easy pop fly that means the difference between his team, the Robins, winning or losing the game (they lose.) He is abused and scorned by fans just like Bart, although his torment extends over years; he is given the scornful nickname 'Error' Candleton and 'Butterfingers,' and people throw baseballs at him wherever he goes. Like Bart, he is given a chance to replay the critical moment of the game (although in his case, it is due to the intervention of supernatural forces; also unlike Bart, the second time around, he catches the ball on the first try.)
- The theme music from the Green Hornet TV series is played during the mattress-switching scene. It is a trumpet version of "Flight of the Bumblebee" by Rimsky-Korsakov performed by jazz trumpeter Al Hirt.
- Homer snatching the ball away from Bart (while wearing headphones) is a reference to Steve Bartman.
- Jimbo, Dolph and Kearney's song "Bart Stinks" to the tune of "Love Stinks" by The J. Geils Band.
- The instrumental theme played while Bart watches the fly ball in the air is the main theme from the film Rudy.
- Bart having the ball spin him in a circle while his clothes fly off is a reference to Charlie Brown in Peanuts.
- Although voiced by Harry Shearer, the voice and appearance of the play-by-play commentator of Bart's baseball games resembles Vin Scully, voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Bart can be seen wearing his baseball glove on his right hand in this episode, once again showing that he is left-handed, like Simpsons creator Matt Groening.
Trivia
- "Green Hornet Theme" by Al Hirt (Played in the scene where Homer trades mattresses with Reverend Lovejoy.)
- The signs in front of the baseball field read: "Springfield Little League Park" and "Warning: Your child is not as good as you think he is."
- The announcer for the softball games was Vincent Edward "Vin" Scully. He's the same announcer for Los Angeles Dodgers.
- The two radio stations shown in this episode were: KBBL 970 AM and QUE BBL 640.
- It took 78 tries for Bart to catch the game winning ball.
- According to this episode Bart's favorite song is "Love Stinks" by The J. Geils Band.
- According to this episode when Bart was born, he came out blue and backwards.
- We learn that there is a junior baseball team in Springfield, the Springfield Isotots.
