The Seemingly Never-Ending Story/References

References/Trivia

Season 17 Episode References

←

368

369
"The Seemingly Never-Ending Story"

370

Cultural references

The title is a take-off from the novel The Neverending Story, and the 1984 Wolfgang Petersen film of the same name.
Commander McBragg, a character from the 1960s cartoon Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales, calls the scavenger hunt duel. He had pink skin in the original version, but of course in the Simpson's world, was recolored yellow.
When we see the club Mr. Burns was a part of for the first time, you can see Rich Uncle Pennybags, mascot of the game Monopoly.
Moe and Edna's love theme song (which Moe played in the jukebox) is "Fly Me to the Moon" by Bart Howard, as sung by Frank Sinatra.
Numerous scenes feature music from Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 (when Lisa has to deal with the big horn sheep) and Aaron Copland's Hoe Down.
Snake's archaeologist outfit is a reference to the character Indiana Jones.

It is revealed that Snake's last name is Jailbird, he was once a fair-minded archaeologist (à la Indiana Jones), his son's name is Jeremy (who was shown in a previous episode "Days of Wine and D'oh'ses" helping Snake steal a bike).
The power plant's address is 100 Industrial Ave.
Jimbo Jones being the child in the Rich Texan's photo fits with his backstory, as he comes from a very well off background.
This episode was rated TV-14DL in the US, the ninth time for The Simpsons.
This is voted best episode in Season 17 by fans, and the best in years.
It's revealed that Moe is the true reason for Snake's criminal reputation.
The vehicle in the scavenger hunt during Bart's account of Lisa's account of Mr. Burns' flashback is none other than his Mobilomobile, first introduced a few episodes earlier when it broke down outside Springfield Elementary.
Seven stories were told in this episodes, Bart's story, Lisa's story, Mr. Burns's story, Moe's story, Edna's story, goat's story, and Homer's story.
Apparently, either Homer, Carl, Lenny or Barney is gay. Moe only threatens to out the one of them that is gay. Of course, given the situation and their reactions, it is possible that all, none, or some of them are homosexual.
Note that when Lenny mentions "other vices" he has except for his drinking habits, and says "I dress up like a baby", it is Carl who nods with approval.

This episode's multiple stories with little connection format is similar to the classic episode "22 Short Films About Springfield".
Frank Grimes' tomb is one of the items to be scavenged.
In a reference to "Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part Two)", during the gun pointing scene Maggie also points a gun.

The coat goof.

Throughout Lisa's account, Lisa is seen wearing a pink coat, however a short time after the goat's account the pick coat disappears and she is seen wearing her regular orange dress, she then appears to be wearing the pink coat again in the next scene.
- A plausible reason for this could be that she may have removed her coat during the goat's story and put it back on as she walked over to Mr. Burns.

← Season 16 Season 17 References Season 18 →
The Bonfire of the Manatees • The Girl Who Slept Too Little • Milhouse of Sand and Fog • Treehouse of Horror XVI • Marge's Son Poisoning • See Homer Run • The Last of the Red Hat Mamas • The Italian Bob • Simpsons Christmas Stories • Homer's Paternity Coot • We're on the Road to D'ohwhere • My Fair Laddy • The Seemingly Never-Ending Story • Bart Has Two Mommies • Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife • Million-Dollar Abie • Kiss Kiss Bang Bangalore • The Wettest Stories Ever Told • Girls Just Want to Have Sums • Regarding Margie • The Monkey Suit • Marge and Homer Turn a Couple Play