Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish

"Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish" is the fourth episode of The Simpsons' second season. The episode aired on November 1, 1990.

Synopsis

Bart and Lisa go fishing downstream of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant and Springfield Shopper reporter Dave Shutton pulls up just as Bart catches a three-eyed fish, Blinky. From the resulting publicity the governor, Mary Bailey, calls for an investigation of the power plant and its owner, Montgomery Burns. After an inspection, Mr. Burns is presented with a list of over 342 violations, which would cost $56 million to rectify. Distraught, Mr. Burns talks to underperforming employee Homer Simpson who half-heartedly suggests Mr. Burns run for Governor. Mr. Burns pounces on the idea. Homer's support for Burns divides the Simpson house because Marge and Lisa support Bailey. It is unsure whether Bart himself supports either Bailey or Burns, but he is not either a Democrat or Republican.

Burns's political advisors break the news to Burns that he is not well liked and force Burns to try being friendly and even smile. Burns also does a TV commercial, discussing Blinky with an actor portraying Charles Darwin, who claims Blinky is an evolutionary step. Combined with a smear campaign against Mary Bailey this eventually leads to Burns tying Bailey in the polls. On the night before the election, Smithers and his other advisors suggest that Burns have dinner at the Simpsons' house as an opportunity to put Burns "over the top". To everyone's surprise, Marge serves Blinky, the three-eyed fish that Bart caught, for dinner. Mr. Burns tries to act as if it doesn't bother him, but is not able to keep from spitting it out. The cameras flash as the bite flies through the air, but the press is gone and his gubernatorial campaign is over by the time the chunk hits the floor. But nevertheless, it brought the Simpson faimly back together again.

Trivia

When Bart puts the article about the three-eyed fish in his scrap-book, one can see next to it an article about the decapitation of Jebediah Springfield, referring to the season 1 episode "The Telltale Head".
98% of Springfield voters see Mr. Burns as despicable or worse.

The motto of the state Springfield is in is "Not Just Another State" as seen on Mr Burns' political announcement on the flag.

Bart's T-shirt reads: My dad told me to vote for Burns, while Lisa's reads: I wish I were old enough to vote for Bailey.

In reference to Citizen Kane, Bart asks Homer, "Is your boss governor yet?" Kane's son asks the similar question, "Is Pop governor yet?"

At the retirement home, after Burns' election commercial, the Duff Beer commercial from Homer's Odyssey can be heard.

In the syndicated series, this episode is rated TV-14 DL for language and dialogue

Cultural references

The title is a reference to former President Herbert Hoover's campaign slogan during the depression era, "A Car in Every Garage and a Chicken in Every Pot."
The line "You can't do this to me! I'm Charles! Montgomery! Burns!" parodies a quotation from Citizen Kane, which is "You can't do this to me! I'm Charles! Foster! Kane!" This also reveals Mr. Burns' full name to be Charles Montgomery Burns.
In another Kane reference, during a Burns rally, Burns is seen speaking in front of a giant poster of himself, mimicking the famous campaign rally scene in Kane.
"Mary Bailey" is the name of George Bailey's (Jimmy Stewart) wife in It's a Wonderful Life, played by Donna Reed.