Thirty Minutes Over Tokyo
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"Thirty Minutes Over Tokyo"
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Episode Information
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Thirty Minutes Over Tokyo is the twenty-third episode of the tenth season. It originally aired on May 16, 1999.
Synopsis
After losing their last million yen, the Simpsons agree to participate in a dangerous Japanese TV game show in exchange for air fare back home.
Plot
Lisa learns that a new Java Server cyber-cafe is opening downtown and asks Homer to take her. She unsuccessfully tries to bribe him into taking her, when Bart walks in and says that he knows a website that shows monkeys "doin' it". Homer immediately agrees to go and eagerly jumps in the car. At the Java Server, Homer spends all of the money in the family's checking account, but still with $1,200 in their savings account. Snake walks into the cafe with a gun and cyber-robs Homer, leaving no money for their family vacation. To earn some money, Homer sneaks into Ned Flanders' house in the middle of the night to steal his possessions. Ned catches him, but informs him of a savings seminar, which Homer steals his tickets to. The family then attends the seminar to help with their problems, the seminar is presented by a man who while he does give useful tips on saving could stand to be a little less tight with his money (i.e. scrounging through trash for food). They find out that they can get cheap plane tickets to anywhere when there isn't anyone occupying the seats. The flight they get onto (screwing over the Flanders) is heading for Tokyo, Japan.
At the hotel, Homer discovers that the Japanese are years ahead of America, having a talking toilet in the bathroom that sprays fountains of muti-colored water and Bart discovers that the TV has a camera that shows footage from the toilet much to his, Marge and Lisa's horror.
They start buying various things that cost a fortune there. Lisa wants to do something Japanese but Homer and Bart blatantly refuse, and would rather ignore the wonders of another culture, running off when Lisa suggests something traditional. After visiting America Town, an American-themed restaurant, they are forced to go to the Sumo fights, where Homer is arrested for attacking the emperor (he thought he was a sumo wrestler). After being freed from prison (where Homer and Bart learn of Japanese culture and the secret to inner peace), the Simpson family is down to their last 1 million Yen, which they need to get home. Homer folds a flying crane origami to show Lisa "something Japanese", which is then blown away in the wind, Homer cries "D'oh!" in Japanese.
They try to earn money by gutting fish at the Osaka Seafood Concern. While working, they see on the work TV an advert for the Happy Smile Super Challenge Family Wish Show, which grants the winners anything they wish for.
They go on the game show to win plane tickets back to Springfield, but go through a series of painful and humiliating tasks including Homer being tied to Tokyo tower during a lightning storm. To get the tickets in the final round, the Simpsons have to grab them off a bridge that's suspended above a volcano. Meanwhile back in Springfield, Moe sees Homer on TV and he, Lenny, and Carl find out Barney was disguised as Homer to put beers on Homer's tab. Back in Japan, the Simpsons get the tickets, but fall in the lava, which turns out to be Orangeade loaded with Wasabi. When taking off for their return trip home, the Simpsons' plane is attacked by Godzilla, who happens to also be battling Rodan and Mothra, among others. Their plane wriggles free, and they return to Springfield without further incident.
