Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish
"Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish"
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Episode Information
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This episode was the fourth episode aired in Season 2.
Contents
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
- Bart's scrapbook contains a clipping headlined "Vandal Decapitates Town Statue... Who is El Barto?", referencing his own exploits in 'The Telltale Head'.
- Homer arrives at work at 3pm (fashionably late?)
- Burns drinks from 5:05pm until 8:30pm, but passes Homer at 9:30, meaning he stumbled drunkenly around the plant for a solid hour.
- Springfield's state flag, as seen in this episode, has three horizontal bars: green, white, and red, with a blue star, with the motto "Not Just Another State" in the red part.
- At the retirement home, after Burns' election commercial, the Duff Beer commercial from Homer's Odyssey can be heard.
- 98% of Springfield voters see Mr. Burns as despicable or worse.
Cultural References
- There are numerous visual and dialog references to "Citizen Kane", including Burns making a speech in front of a huge poster of himself, and overturning furniture. Also, Burns' line, "The line "You can't do this to me! I'm Charles! Montgomery! Burns!" This also reveals for the first time Mr. Burns' full name.
- Burns mentions "slings and arrows", which is a phrase used in "Hamlet".
- 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."
- "Mary Bailey" is the name of George Bailey's (played by Jimmy Stewart) wife in "It's a Wonderful Life", played by Donna Reed.
Quotes
- Advisor: Their job is to turn this Mr. Burns... (shows standard portrait of Monty Burns) ...into this one. (shows `artist's conception')
- Burns: Why are my teeth showing like that?
- Advisor: Because you're smiling!
- Burns: Ah, excellent! Yeah, this is exactly the kind of trickery I'm paying you for.
