Co-Dependent's Day/References
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Contents
Cultural references
- The episode title is a pun on the Independence Day holiday and the phenomenon of codependency. Throughout the episode, Marge shows many codependent characteristics.
- Because of the episode's focus on the Cosmic Wars movies, the title could also be considered a reference to the 1996 sci-fi film Independence Day.
- Cosmic Wars is an obvious parody of Star Wars. During the sequence outside the Aztec Theater:
- Cosmic Wars: The Gathering Shadow is a parody of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.
- Posters for this film at the entrance of the theater feature characters resembling Master Yoda and Emperor Palpatine.
- People in the queue include:
- A boy wearing a flight helmet and holding a lightsaber.
- A boy in a Jar Jar Binks-like costume.
- A boy in a Jawa-like costume.
- A person wearing an animal-version costume of C-3PO.
- Ralph is dressed in an Ewok costume.
- A person is wearing a Death Star costume, and their dog is wearing a Darth Vader mask.
- A man in a golden Boba Fett costume.
- A woman has Princess Leia's hairstyle.
- Otto is dressed as a Jedi.
- Cletus thought an UPS worker was an alien.
- American actors Ellen Burstyn and Jim Broadbent star in The Momentum of Things.
- Cosmic Wars: The Gathering Shadow is a parody of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.
Cosmic Wars is an obvious parody of Star Wars, and the episode is packed with references to the saga. The opening crawl parodies that of Star Wars, with the trade policies–themed crawl being a direct reference to the beginning of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.
- During the sequence inside the Aztec Theater:
- The opening of Cosmic Wars: The Gathering Shadow features the Fox logo, and the iconic Fox fanfare can be heard. Fox is introduced as "A division of Orange Julius", with Orange Julius being an American chain of beverage stores.
- People raise lightsabers when the film starts.
- The beginning of the film includes a parody of the famous Star Wars opening crawl, accompanied by a music piece very similar to "Star Wars (Main Title)".
- The first sentence of the crawl, "It is a time of uncertainty", is similar to the opening lines of Star Wars Episodes IV and V. The trade policies–themed crawl is a direct reference to the opening crawl of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, which introduces the Trade Federation's blockade of the planet Naboo.
- Lisa imitates a Wookiee.
- An AT-AT-like vehicle interrupts the session. It is later seen reading the Evening Standard, a long-established regional newspaper published weekly and distributed free of charge in London, England.
- While watching The Momentum of Things, Otto criticizes former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Margaret Thatcher.
- Jason is a parody of a young Obi-Wan Kenobi, while Jim-Jam Bonks is a parody of Jar Jar Binks.
- The fact that Lisa calls Jim-Jam a "tired stereotype" is a reference to the allegations of racial caricature surrounding the character Jar Jar Binks, which have been criticized by academics as relying on stereotypes of Afro-Caribbean people.
- A similar character to Master Yoda is seen.
- Cosmic Wars' creator Randall Curtis is a parody of Star Wars creator George Lucas.
- Bart's and Lisa's telling Randall Curtis that the Cosmic Wars movies have "lost their way" is a reference to many Star Wars fans' real-life criticisms of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, particularly Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.
- In his response letter, Randall Curtis writes the phrase "May the Power be on your side", a parody of "May the Force be with you", the iconic expression from the Star Wars universe.
- The family visits the Wine Country, a region in California. Some hot air balloons flying over the vineyards can be seen, which is a common scenario in Napa Valley.
- Cosmic Wars Ranch was formerly the city of Fresno, California.
- During the tour, the animator says he is designing the "hip-hop loaf of garlic bread" for an Olive Garden commercial.
- Homer mentions Tuscany, the region in Italy.
- Marge is eating a Jolly Rancher candy.
- Marge compares Homer to Jerry Seinfeld.
Randall Curtis is based on George Lucas. His office at Cosmic Wars Ranch includes references primarily to the first film in the Star Wars franchise, including pictures of stormtroopers searching for R2-D2 on Tatooine and starfighters battling over the Death Star during the Battle of Yavin.
- References to Star Wars seen at Randall Curtis' office:
- A miniature Death Star.
- Boba Fett's helmet.
- A picture of Princess Leia.
- The purple Yoda parody.
- A picture of a stormtrooper riding a dewback, a scene from Star Wars when the troopers were looking for R2-D2 on Tatooine.
- A picture of an X-wing fighter being chased by a TIE fighter and flying over the Death Star, which is a reference to the Battle of Yavin scene during the ending of Star Wars.
- Miniature figures of an AT-AT walker and a stormtrooper.
- A picture of R2-D2 and the Millennium Falcon.
- A picture of C-3PO.
- A Star Destroyer and a Darth Vader figure are seen on the shelves.
- The hat of Indiana Jones is also on one of the shelves. The American media franchise Indiana Jones was also created by George Lucas.
- A picture of an Ewok.
- According to Curtis, Jim Jam Cereal is "just Alpha-Bits with extra J's".
- The creature that Curtis rides when he leaves his office is based on a Tauntaun, widely associated with The Empire Strikes Back.
- Moe finds a Château Latour wine, Grand Vin De Chateau Latour.
- The lost William Shakespeare play Moe owns is The Two Noble Kinsmen.
- During the montage of Homer and Marge on their drinking binge:
- The song playing is "Let's Misbehave", which was written by Cole Porter in 1927.
- Homer and Marge are seen coming out of a theater where several alcoholism-related films were being shown:
- The Lost Weekend, a 1945 American drama film noir about an alcoholic writer.
- Days of Wine and Roses, a 1962 American romantic drama film that depicts the downward spiral of two average Americans who succumb to alcoholism and their repeated attempts to deal with their problems.
- Barfly, a 1987 American black comedy film and a semi-autobiography of poet and author Charles Bukowski during the time he spent drinking heavily in Los Angeles.
- The Lizzie McGuire Movie, the 2003 American teen comedy, stands out as an outlier compared to the other three films.
- The polka rock band Brave Combo are playing at the Oktoberfest.
- Duffman's phrase "This Reich will last a thousand beers" is a reference to the "Thousand-Year Reich", a slogan associated with Adolf Hitler and used during the Nuremberg rallies.
- When Homer retaliates against the rehab clinic putting him on hold by treating them to his own version of on-hold music, the songs he sings are "Wichita Lineman" and "MacArthur Park", both of which were written by Jimmy Webb.
- A gambler alludes to Caribbean stud poker.
- Captain McCallister mentions American actress and producer Reese Witherspoon.
- Homer promises to give up rum-based cocktails, except mojitos and rum and Cokes.
- Marge mentions Zima, a lightly carbonated alcoholic beverage that has since been discontinued.
Trivia
- The opening crawl of Cosmic Wars: The Gathering Shadow is:
- It is a time of uncertainty. The empire's ambiguous tariff statutes mandate close reexamination of galactic export quotas. Interim Princess Agoomba has co-chaired a subcommittee to draft amendments to existing trade policies.
- Meanwhile, regulatory agencies are being heavily lobbied by a consortium of mercantile interest groups and their suppliers to streamline loading restrictions for class-C cargo vessels. The shipping unions have remained conspicuously silent.
Continuity
- Aztec Theater has a poster for Teenage Sex Wager vs. Boner Academy, which references previously mentioned movies, Teenage Sex Wager in "The Ziff Who Came to Dinner" and Boner Academy in "I'm Spelling as Fast as I Can".
Goofs
- When Bart and Lisa are taking the tour of Randall Curtis' ranch, they are sitting at the front of the bus. Seconds later, they are at the back of the bus escaping.
- When Homer, Bart, and Lisa leave the movie theater, if you look closely, a person wearing a black cape is at the front of the line. In other shots, it is a person with a blue cape.
- When Bart and Lisa are taking the tour, they are sitting at the front of the bus. Seconds later, they are at the back of the bus escaping.
- When Bart is making a hole, Lisa does not have a pad and pencil, but after Marge and Homer take Lisa, she is holding them.
