• New article from the Springfield Shopper: Season 36 News: A new episode title, “Convenience Airways”, has been announced!
  • New article from the Springfield Shopper: Season 36 News: A Preview for “Threehouse of Horror XXXV” has been released!
  • New article from the Springfield Shopper: Season 36 News: Even more Promotional Images for “Treehouse of Horror XXXV” have been released!
  • Wikisimpsons needs more Featured Article, Picture, Quote, Episode and Comprehensive article nominations!
  • Wikisimpsons has a Discord server! Click here for your invite! Join to talk about the wiki, Simpsons and Tapped Out news, or just to talk to other users.
  • Make an account! It's easy, free, and your work on the wiki can be attributed to you.
TwitterFacebookDiscord

Mountain of Madness

Wikisimpsons - The Simpsons Wiki
Season 8 Episode
164 "The Twisted World of Marge Simpson"
165
"Mountain of Madness"
"Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious" 166
"Mountain of Madness"
Mountain of Madness.png
Episode Information
Episode number: 165
Season number: S8 E12
Production code: 4F10
Original airdate: February 2, 1997
Couch gag: The couch is folded out into a bed with Grampa asleep on it. Grampa can only utter a cry of "Huh?" before The Simpsons fold him into the couch as sit down as normal.
Showrunners: Bill Oakley
Josh Weinstein
Written by: John Swartzwelder
Directed by: Mark Kirkland
DVD features


"Mountain of Madness" is the twelfth episode of season 8 of The Simpsons and the one-hundred and sixty-fifth episode overall. It originally aired on February 2, 1997. The episode was written by John Swartzwelder and directed by Mark Kirkland.

Synopsis

"After the plant fails miserably at a routine fire drill, Mr. Burns organizes a retreat to promote teamwork. Homer misunderstands and brings his family, having to leave them to roam the park looking for things to do. The employees are paired up and race for a cabin at the top of the mountain. Last one there is fired!"


Plot

Mr. Burns decides to hold a good old-fashioned fire drill in order to excite things up around the power plant. Upon hearing the bells ring, the employees panic and fail to clear the plant within 15 minutes. Outraged, Burns declares that everyone will be subjected to a teamwork competition at Mt. Useful. Homer ends up being partnered with Burns while Smithers has to journey on his own, fuming that he was not paired with his boss. The object of this competition is to reach a cabin at the top of the mountain; the last team to arrive will be fired.

Along the way, Burns talks Homer into cheating and they use a snowmobile to reach the cabin. Arriving several hours early, they settle down in the comfortable surroundings. Burns and Homer quickly become friends. However, while clinking their champagne glasses, they inadvertently cause an avalanche that buries the entire cabin. Despite Burns's attempt to operate a telegraph machine or Homer's attempt to dig through the snow, the pair remain trapped. The pair attempt further tunneling escapes, but each time they speak, they cause more avalanches that place even more snow between them and freedom. Meanwhile, Bart and Lisa meet Smithers and agree to help him proceed to the cabin, though they cause more stalling than helping.

Back in the cabin, Burns and Homer are besieged by cabin fever. They build snowmen to pass the time (though Burns insists they build real men out of snow) and clothe them at the expense of their own warmth. The other employees reach what appears to be their destination—however, it is actually a ranger station and they begin to realize that something bad has happened to their colleagues. In the cabin, Homer and Burns stare at each other's eyes, filling their minds with paranoia. They are both driven mad and attempt to kill each other. After a vicious struggle, Burns ignites the cabin's propane tank, launching the building out of the snow and propelling it toward the horrified onlookers. Once it comes to a halt, Mr. Burns reminds everyone of the contest, and all the workers hurry inside.

Lenny is the last person to enter the cabin, and is told he is fired. Burns then decides that no one will be fired after all. The episode ends with Mr. Burns and Homer alternately laughing and glaring at each other.

Production

"Mountain of Madness" was written by John Swartzwelder, although the script underwent many rewrites. The story was completely rewritten and as a result, the plot became odder and quirkier with the scenes of paranoia deriving from this. Before the script was turned in, the script was "very crazy" but a lot of the more insane material was cut. However, most of the rewrites were done during the script writing and did not require any major animation changes. The forest ranger was based on Al Gore who was asked to guest star but turned the role down.


The Saga of Carl - title screen.png Wikisimpsons has a collection of images related to "Mountain of Madness".
Season 8 Episodes
Treehouse of Horror VII You Only Move Twice The Homer They Fall Burns, Baby Burns Bart After Dark A Milhouse Divided Lisa's Date with Density Hurricane Neddy El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer The Springfield Files The Twisted World of Marge Simpson Mountain of Madness Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show Homer's Phobia Brother from Another Series My Sister, My Sitter Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment Grade School Confidential The Canine Mutiny The Old Man and the Lisa In Marge We Trust Homer's Enemy The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase The Secret War of Lisa Simpson