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Difference between revisions of "The Trouble with Trillions"

Wikisimpsons - The Simpsons Wiki
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{{Episode
|image=cw.jpg
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|image=Trouble with Trillions Escape.png
|productionCode=5F14
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|number=198
|originalAirdate=April 5, 1998
+
|season=9
|blackboardText="I will not demand what i'm worth"
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|snumber=20
|couchGag= The family cannot sit in the living room, because it has been turned into a sauna and three men are using it.
+
|prodcode=5F14
|specialGuestVoices=[[Paul Winfield]] as [[Lucius Sweet]]
+
|airdate=April 5, [[1998]]
|Written By=[[Ian Maxtone-Graham]]
+
|blackboard="I will not demand what I'm worth"
|Directed By=[[Swinton O. Scott III]]
+
|couchgag= The family cannot sit in the living room, because it has been turned into a sauna and three men are using it.
|Episode Number=198
+
|guests=[[Paul Winfield]] as [[Lucius Sweet]]
 +
|showrunner=[[Mike Scully]]
 +
|writer=[[Ian Maxtone-Graham]]
 +
|director=[[Swinton O. Scott III]]
 +
|DVD features=yes
 
}}
 
}}
  
"'''The Trouble with Trillions'''" is the twentieth episode of [[Season 9]]. It originally aired on April 5, 1998. The episode was written by [[Ian Maxtone-Graham]] and directed by [[Swinton O. Scott III]].
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"'''The Trouble with Trillions'''" is the twentieth episode of [[season 9]] of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and the one-hundred and ninety-eighth episode overall. It originally aired on April 5, [[1998]]. The episode was written by [[Ian Maxtone-Graham]] and directed by [[Swinton O. Scott III]]. It guest stars [[Paul Winfield]] as [[Lucius Sweet]].
 +
 
 +
== Synopsis ==
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{{Desc|When [[Homer]]'s unfastidious tax return accidentally falls into the severe audit bin at the IRS, he is promptly nabbed by the government. Forced to go undercover for them, Homer finds himself on a mission to retrieve a trillion dollar bill stolen by [[Mr. Burns]].}}
  
When [[Homer]]'s unfastidious tax return accidentally falls into the severe audit bin at the IRS, he is promptly nabbed by the government. Forced to go undercover for them, Homer finds himself on a mission to retrieve a trillion dollar bill stolen by [[Mr. Burns]]. Guest voice [[Paul Winfield]] as [[Lucious Sweet]].
 
 
== Plot ==
 
== Plot ==
On January 1st, right after New Year's Eve, [[Ned Flanders|Ned]] completes his yearly taxes. Later that year on April 15th everyone else in town is in a rush to get their taxes in before midnight, in fact just before midnight [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] realizes he did not do his own taxes not realising that he has to do them every year. He rushes and provides false information before driving to the post office. At the IRS, however Homers overstuffed envolope gets jolted from a container for 'Tax refunds' into one labeled 'severe audit'. The IRS discovers Homer's fraud and arrests him. Held by the government, Homer says he will do anything to stay out of prison. Agent Johnson of the FBI decides that Homer can be useful. With a hidden microphone under his shirt, Homer uncovers that his co-worker Charlie leads a group planning to assault all government officials.
+
[[File:New Years in Springfield.png|left|200px|thumb|The town counts down to the new year.]]
 
+
On January 1, right after New Year's Eve, [[Ned Flanders|Ned]] completes his yearly taxes. Later that year on April 15 everyone else in town is in a rush to get their taxes in before midnight, in fact just before midnight [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] realizes he did not do his own taxes not realising that he has to do them every year. He rushes and provides false information before driving to the post office. At the IRS, however Homers overstuffed envolope gets jolted from a container for 'Tax refunds' into one labeled 'severe audit'. The IRS discovers Homer's fraud and arrests him. Held by the government, Homer says he will do anything to stay out of prison. Agent Johnson of the FBI decides that Homer can be useful. With a hidden microphone under his shirt, Homer uncovers that his co-worker Charlie leads a group planning to assault all government officials.
With his superiors impressed, Johnson sends Homer on a secret mission. They reveal that in 1945, President Harry Truman printed a one trillion-dollar bill to help reconstruct post-war Europe. He handed the vital cargo over to [[Montgomery Burns]] to transport to the Europeans. However, the money never arrived, this is made out to be why Europeans are snotty to Americans. and the FBI suspects Burns still has the money with him. As satellite photography can only confirm that the trillion-dollar bill is not on the roof, Homer is sent in to investigate. Arriving at Burns's estate, Homer searches for the money before Burns, who believes Homer is a reporter from Collier's magazine, reveals that he kept the bill on his person. Johnson and Agent Miller burst in and arrests Burns for grand-grand-grand-grand-larceny. Burns shouts how the US government oppresses the average American and tells Homer to write, "Don't let the government push you around!" in his article. Moved by Burns's speech, Homer knocks out the FBI agents and frees Burns.
 
 
 
The two men hurry to obtain [[Waylon Smithers|Smithers]] for help, who suggests they leave the country. Burns takes Smithers and Homer in his old plane, setting off to find an island and start a new country. Over the Caribbean, Burns finds a fine island, although it already has a name and is in fact a country, Cuba. Going before [[Fidel Castro]] (after learning, much to the surprise of both Burns and Homer, that Batista is no longer leader of Cuba), Burns fails to buy the island when Fidel asks to see the trillion dollar bill, and is handed the bill. When Burns asks for it back, Castro immediately responds: "Give what back?". Then, the episode immediately cuts to a scene where Burns, Smithers, and Homer are on a make-shift raft. Burns announces he will merely bribe the jury when Smithers, Homer, and himself are put on trial, prompting Homer to exclaim "God bless America!" and salute.<ref name="book">{{cite book|last=Gimple |first=Scott|title=The Simpsons Forever!: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family ...Continued |year=1999 |publisher=Harper Collins Publishers|id=ISBN 0-06-098763-4|pages=p. 36}}</ref><ref name="officialsite">[http://www.thesimpsons.com/episode_guide/0920.htm "The Trouble with Trillions"] ''The Simpsons.com''. Retrieved on November 3, 2007</ref>
 
 
 
== Production ==
 
The episode was written by [[Ian Maxtone-Graham]], though the original draft of the plot was much different. Originally, Homer was to learn that he was a Native American, and would try to exploit it to not have to pay taxes. The idea had been going well for a few days, however, the staff had not actually known whether or not Native Americans had to right to not pay taxes, and when they found out that they could not, they had to drop the whole plot.<ref name="scully">{{cite video | people=Scully, Mike|year=2006|title=The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "The Trouble with Trillions"| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> As they were re-working a new plot that had to do with taxes, executive producer [[Mike Scully]]'s brother, [[Brian Scully]], pitched an idea with a trillion dollar bill to be in the plot, which they agreed to, as they were out of ideas at that point.<ref name="graham">{{cite video | people=Maxtone-Graham, Ian|year=2006|title=The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "The Trouble with Trillions"| medium=DVD||publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref>
 
  
== Reception ==
+
With his superiors impressed, Johnson sends Homer on a secret mission. They reveal that in 1945, President [[Harry S. Truman]] printed a one trillion-dollar bill to help reconstruct post-war Europe. He handed the vital cargo over to [[Charles Montgomery Burns]] to transport to the Europeans. However, the money never arrived, this is made out to be why Europeans are snotty to&nbsp;Americans.&nbsp;and the FBI suspects Burns still has the money with him. As satellite photography can only confirm that the trillion-dollar bill is not on the roof, Homer is sent in to investigate. Arriving at Burns's estate, Homer searches for the money before Burns, who believes Homer is a reporter from Collier's magazine, reveals that he kept the&nbsp;bill on his person. Johnson and Agent Miller burst in and arrests Burns for grand-grand-grand-grand-larceny. Burns shouts how the US government oppresses the average American and tells Homer to write, "Don't let the government push you around!" in his article. Moved by Burns's speech, Homer knocks out the FBI agents and frees Burns.
The authors of the book ''I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide'', Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, did not enjoy the episode, calling it, "Rather dull and unfunny," and, "A mediocre episode at best that makes Burns out to be altruistic (which he's not) and very stupid in letting Castro have his money (which he so wouldn't)."<ref name="bbc"/>
 
  
Ian Jones and Steve Williams criticized all of [[The Simpsons (season 9)|season 9]] for lacking an episode that centered around Burns, as they consider Burns to be the crux of many good episodes, though they noted that "The Trouble with Trillions" came the closest, with Burns having a supporting role.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.offthetelly.co.uk/comedy/simpsons/decade.htm|title="NOW LET US NEVER SPEAK OF IT AGAIN"|accessdate=2007-11-04|author=Ian Jones, Steve Williams|publisher=Off The Telly}}</ref>
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The two men hurry to obtain [[Waylon Smithers, Jr.|Smithers]] for help, who suggests they leave the country. Burns takes Smithers and Homer in his old plane, setting off to find an island and start a new country. Over the Caribbean, Burns finds a fine island, although it already has a name and is in fact a country, Cuba. Going before [[Fidel Castro]] (after learning, much to the surprise of both Burns and Homer, that Batista is no longer leader of Cuba), Burns fails to buy the island when Fidel asks to see the trillion dollar bill, and is handed the bill. When Burns asks for it back, Castro immediately responds: "Give what back?". Then, the episode immediately cuts to a scene where Burns, Smithers, and Homer are on a make-shift raft. Burns announces he will merely bribe the jury when Smithers, Homer, and himself are put on trial, prompting Homer to exclaim "God bless America!" and salute.
  
== References ==
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{{Images|ep=yes}}
<references/>
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{{season 9}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Trouble with Trillions, The}}
  
{{Season 9}}
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[[Category:1998]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Trouble With Trillions, The}}
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[[Category:Homer episodes]]
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[[Category:Mr. Burns episodes]]
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[[Category:Smithers episodes]]
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[[Category:Crime-themed episodes]]
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[[Category:Politics-themed episodes]]
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[[Category:Travel episodes]]
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[[Category:Episodes written by Ian Maxtone-Graham]]
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[[Category:Episodes directed by Swinton O. Scott III]]
  
[[es:The Trouble With Trillions]]
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[[sv:The Trouble with Trillions]]
[[pt:Um negócio de trilhões]]
 
[[Category:Episodes]]
 
[[Category:Season 9]]
 

Revision as of 09:10, June 7, 2020

Season 9 Episode
197 "Simpson Tide"
198
"The Trouble with Trillions"
"Girly Edition" 199
"The Trouble with Trillions"
Trouble with Trillions Escape.png
Episode Information
Episode number: 198
Season number: S9 E20
Production code: 5F14
Original airdate: April 5, 1998
Chalkboard gag: "I will not demand what I'm worth"
Couch gag: The family cannot sit in the living room, because it has been turned into a sauna and three men are using it.
Guest star(s): Paul Winfield as Lucius Sweet
Showrunner(s): Mike Scully
Written by: Ian Maxtone-Graham
Directed by: Swinton O. Scott III
DVD features


"The Trouble with Trillions" is the twentieth episode of season 9 of The Simpsons and the one-hundred and ninety-eighth episode overall. It originally aired on April 5, 1998. The episode was written by Ian Maxtone-Graham and directed by Swinton O. Scott III. It guest stars Paul Winfield as Lucius Sweet.

Synopsis

"When Homer's unfastidious tax return accidentally falls into the severe audit bin at the IRS, he is promptly nabbed by the government. Forced to go undercover for them, Homer finds himself on a mission to retrieve a trillion dollar bill stolen by Mr. Burns."


Plot

The town counts down to the new year.

On January 1, right after New Year's Eve, Ned completes his yearly taxes. Later that year on April 15 everyone else in town is in a rush to get their taxes in before midnight, in fact just before midnight Homer realizes he did not do his own taxes not realising that he has to do them every year. He rushes and provides false information before driving to the post office. At the IRS, however Homers overstuffed envolope gets jolted from a container for 'Tax refunds' into one labeled 'severe audit'. The IRS discovers Homer's fraud and arrests him. Held by the government, Homer says he will do anything to stay out of prison. Agent Johnson of the FBI decides that Homer can be useful. With a hidden microphone under his shirt, Homer uncovers that his co-worker Charlie leads a group planning to assault all government officials.

With his superiors impressed, Johnson sends Homer on a secret mission. They reveal that in 1945, President Harry S. Truman printed a one trillion-dollar bill to help reconstruct post-war Europe. He handed the vital cargo over to Charles Montgomery Burns to transport to the Europeans. However, the money never arrived, this is made out to be why Europeans are snotty to Americans. and the FBI suspects Burns still has the money with him. As satellite photography can only confirm that the trillion-dollar bill is not on the roof, Homer is sent in to investigate. Arriving at Burns's estate, Homer searches for the money before Burns, who believes Homer is a reporter from Collier's magazine, reveals that he kept the bill on his person. Johnson and Agent Miller burst in and arrests Burns for grand-grand-grand-grand-larceny. Burns shouts how the US government oppresses the average American and tells Homer to write, "Don't let the government push you around!" in his article. Moved by Burns's speech, Homer knocks out the FBI agents and frees Burns.

The two men hurry to obtain Smithers for help, who suggests they leave the country. Burns takes Smithers and Homer in his old plane, setting off to find an island and start a new country. Over the Caribbean, Burns finds a fine island, although it already has a name and is in fact a country, Cuba. Going before Fidel Castro (after learning, much to the surprise of both Burns and Homer, that Batista is no longer leader of Cuba), Burns fails to buy the island when Fidel asks to see the trillion dollar bill, and is handed the bill. When Burns asks for it back, Castro immediately responds: "Give what back?". Then, the episode immediately cuts to a scene where Burns, Smithers, and Homer are on a make-shift raft. Burns announces he will merely bribe the jury when Smithers, Homer, and himself are put on trial, prompting Homer to exclaim "God bless America!" and salute.


The Saga of Carl - title screen.png Wikisimpsons has a collection of images related to "The Trouble with Trillions".
Season 9 Episodes
The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson The Principal and the Pauper Lisa's Sax Treehouse of Horror VIII The Cartridge Family Bart Star The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons Lisa the Skeptic Realty Bites Miracle on Evergreen Terrace All Singing, All Dancing Bart Carny The Joy of Sect Das Bus The Last Temptation of Krust Dumbbell Indemnity Lisa the Simpson This Little Wiggy Simpson Tide The Trouble with Trillions Girly Edition Trash of the Titans King of the Hill Lost Our Lisa Natural Born Kissers