Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife
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"Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife"
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Episode Information
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"Homer Simpson, This is Your Wife" is an episode of The Simpsons. It is the fifteenth episode of the show's seventeenth season. It is the first ever episode written entirely by a guest star, Ricky Gervais.
Contents
Synopsis
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Trivia
- According to various articles, Gervais is more than welcome to write or guest star in another episode.
- In a December 2004 BBC article, Gervais called writing The Simpsons episode "the most intimidating project of my career", describing The Simpsons as "the greatest TV show of all time."
- This episode featured a live-action opening sequence. The live-action couch gag was not shown on some channels in Canada with the original airing for unspecified reasons. This was taken directly from a Sky One promotion, with the only alteration (in right-driving countries) being a mirrored flip of the scene where Marge and Maggie are driving the car, to show Marge driving on the left side, unlike in the UK. The original can be seen here. It was filmed in Orpington, Kent, near London. A previous live action sequence took place in the Homer3 segment of Treehouse of Horror VI.
- A theatrical version of The Phantom of the Opera is playing on Lenny's plasma TV during his party.
- With Dan Castellaneta, this is the second time a member of the main cast of The Simpsons has guest-starred as themselves (the first was Harry Shearer as part of Spinal Tap in "The Otto Show"). In this episode he was simply billed as a "star of The Tracey Ullman Show" while in season Thirteen's "I Am Furious Yellow" he appeared to voice the character of Angry Dad (although he was not referred to by name in that episode).
- The similarities between Trading Spouses and Wife Swap (ABC) are satirically addressed. Interestingly, Wife Swap had received a similar skewering by its network fellow Hope and Faith a season earlier.
- This episode was preceded by Ricky commentating about the episode on Sky One, and how Channel 4 would not get it for another three years. Sky One issued an apology upon the return from commercial break during the episode acknowledging that this claim was inaccurate. Channel 4 shows new episodes four years after Sky One.
- Possibly due to the episode's storyline, Sky's high-definition service SkyHD was promoted twice during the first UK transmission, before the episode started and before the 'apology' mentioned above. The first advert in the commercial break was also for a high-definition television. Private Eye magazine in particular criticised this as an example of product placement on the part of Sky, and speculated as to how much Gervais was paid for writing it into the storyline.
- This episode was promoted heavily in the UK, even making the cover of the Radio Times. It holds the record for the highest rated Simpsons episode ever shown on Sky One, getting 2.301 million viewers, beating the previous record of 1.65 million set by "Skinner's Sense of Snow" in 2001.
- Despite being written by a British person, the episode is filled with references that UK audiences will not automatically be familiar with, such as Ryan Seacrest, Notre Dame football, etc.
- Network Ten had not obtained the rights to air the live action opening, therefore the animated opening was used when the episode premiered in July.
Cultural references
- The title is a reference to the show This Is Your Life.
- Charles appears to be based on Gervais' character David Brent from the British version of The Office. He says that he is the manager of an office, and like Brent, appears to be a very inept one. Charles also tells an offensive joke to Marge and plays guitar.
- Homer collects all 40 years of The Family Circus, and then throws it in the fire.
- The shot of Charles standing in front of the fire while singing about Princess Di echoes the famous and controversial photo of her standing in a school garden with the sun behind her, revealing the outline of her legs through her skirt.
Quotes
- (after Homer moons the camera)
Producer: Uhhh! We'd better pixellate those!
Cameraman: There aren't enough pixels in the world!
Producer: Yeah umm, just cover it with Ryan Seacrest's head. - Homer: If I have enough strength, I'll take you up to the TV and show you how thin it is.
- Carl: Ain't no party like a Lenny party, 'cause a Lenny party don't stop! (looks at his watch) Oh man, I've got work tomorrow. See ya.
- Lisa: I've seen this same show on a different network.
Fox Executive: (stares at her nervously) Here, have a FOX sweatshirt.
Lisa (puts it on and looks on the back): This is an ABC sweatshirt.
Executive: And it zips up all the way! (zips up the sweatshirt, muffling Lisa's shouts) - Lisa: I don't understand, Dad. Our family has so many flaws, why must we share them with the world?
Homer: Because we'll be on TV! And earn enough money to buy a TV! TV!
Lisa: But, Dad!
Homer: Yes, Teeveesa?
Lisa: Ergh, forget it. - Verity: Charles hasn't satisfied me in years.
Homer: "That's how I feel about Notre Dame football. - Patty: What brought us together is how much we hate you!
Homer: Okay then. I'll just vote "no" on Prop 38 so you can't adopt! (Patty twists Homer's arm) Ooooowwww! Kidding! I don't vote! The voting place is up the hill and I never make it! (Patty twists Homer's arm harder) - Sideshow Mel: I've never seen a picture so highly-defined!
- Brandine: Can you believe it, Cletus? Another party and we can't go.
Cletus: Yeah, just 'cause we's afraid to use an uppity-box. - Tour Guide: Look, there's Dan Castellaneta from The Tracey Ullman Show.
Homer: (leaning out of the tour guide tram) Hey funny man! Say something funny!
Dan Castellaneta: Please don't lean out of the tram sir, you might get hurt.
Homer: (childish imitating Castelleneta) Oh! Don't lean out of the tram! (he then gets hit by a gold statue of Mischa Barton) - Homer: Marge, thank God you're home! She made me spend time with the kids! And not just TV time. Talking time!
- Charles: You're leaving me for him?
Homer: So it would appear. However, Cousin It there was born a woman. - lyrics to "Picture in Picture" sung by Homer:
You make me laugh, you make me cry
Without you I'd just want to die
For the rest of my life you'll be a fixture
Now let me enjoy your picture in picture. - lyrics to "Lady Blue" sung by Charles:
Lady when you came to me, I was feeling blue
Blue just like your hair, you see
Blue just like the moon
But only when the moon is blue
And not when it is cream
And now that you are here with me
I am in a dream
(In normal voice)Oh, yeah, Marge, your dreams can come true.
Lady, when you go away
I feel like I could die
Not like dye like your hair is dye
But die like Lady Di
And not like Di like her name is Di
But die like when she died
But lady just like Lady Di
Be my princess tonight
But don't die
Don't die.
Broadcasting Information
USA/Canada
- 1st Airdate: Sunday, March 26, 2006 (Live Action)
- 2nd Airdate: Sunday, May 21, 2006 (Different Chalkboard and Couch Gag)
UK
- 1st Airdate: Sunday, April 23, 2006
- 2nd Airdate: Friday, April 28, 2006 (Encore Screening)
- 3rd Airdate: Saturday, July 8, 2006
- 4th Airdate: Monday, August 14, 2006
Australia
External links
- Gervais writing Simpsons episode, a December 2004 BBC article
- Storyboard images from the writer's official website
