Forgive and Regret/References
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Cultural references[edit]
- The episode title is a play on words based on the saying forgive and forget.
- The opening sequence references how the The Simpsons surpassed the American radio and television Western drama series Gunsmoke to become the longest-running scripted American primetime television series by number of episodes.
- The opening itself, with Gunsmoke's main character, Matt Dillon, having a duel with Maggie, is a parody of an unused alternative opening from Gunsmoke.[1]
- At Moe's, Homer eats fifty pickled eggs, referencing a scene from the 1967 American prison drama film Cool Hand Luke. In the film, Lucas "Luke" Jackson (Paul Newman) wins a bet by eating fifty hard-boiled eggs in one hour, earning the admiration of his fellow inmates.
- After Homer sells the Pink Sedan and spares Marge's Orange Station Wagon, she tells him that she will be taking the bus. Homer replies "That's right. Like rock stars and Rosa Parks". Homer is specifically referring to the Montgomery bus boycott, which was sparked when American civil rights activist Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in 1955, leading to a historic protest against racial segregation in public transportation.
- The commercial featuring sad animals that the Simpsons watch is similar in visuals, song, and tone to those run by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
- On the Springfield Demolition Derby commercial:
- The "Captain Hook" tow truck is a reference to the antagonist in Peter Pan.
- The "For Whom the Bell Tows" tow truck is a pun on For Whom the Bell Tolls, a novel by Ernest Hemingway.
- "Meth" MacFarland's name is a parody of Seth MacFarlane.
- The T-shirt he is wearing that says "Body by Meth" is a pun on "Body by Jake", the personal-fitness brand by American fitness trainer and entrepreneur Jake Steinfeld.
- American singer, songwriter, and pianist Billy Joel is portrayed as a drunk pianist.
- "Happy Forest" by German composer Heinz Kiessling is heard when Homer activates the soundproof glass.
- Cletus mentions the 2006 animated film Cars.
- In a reference to Jurassic Park, Truckasaurus II mentions American director Steven Spielberg.
- During the "In Memoriam" film, the cars lost include:
- "Volkswagen Thug", a pun on Volkswagen Beetle.
- "The Bash Mobile", a pun on the Batmobile.
- "Truckasaurus II", a parody of Robosaurus.
- "Napoleon Blown-apart", a pun on Napoleon Bonaparte.
The "Car-Rak Obama Affordable Healthcare Mobile" is a reference to Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, a landmark federal statute signed by the president in 2010. The Barack Obama "Hope" poster can also be seen on the car.
- The "Car-Rak Obama Affordable Healthcare Mobile" is a reference to the Affordable Care Act, a landmark U.S. federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010. The Barack Obama "Hope" poster can also be seen on the back door of the car.
- A Red Baron-themed car can be seen in the derby.
- "Adagio for Strings" by American composer Samuel Barber is heard when "No Helmet" and "Car-Rak Obama Affordable Healthcare Mobile" collide while airborne.
- The sweets in the vending machine include:
- Kat Kit, a parody of Kit Kat.
- N&N's, a parody of M&M's.
- Ah, Fudge!, a parody of Oh Henry!.
- Snackers, a parody of Snickers.
- Rhesus Pieces, a parody of Reese's Pieces.
- Murky Way, a parody of Milky Way.
- Oh Harry, another parody of Oh Henry!
- Musketeer, a parody of 3 Musketeers.
- Good n' Lousie, a parody of Good & Plenty.
- Grampa watches the American military police procedural television series NCIS on TV.
- The "NCIS Theme" from the NCIS: The Official TV Soundtrack is heard.
- Absolut Krusty is a parody of Absolut Vodka.
- "Hit the Road Jack" by Ray Charles plays at Moe's jukebox.
- Moe tells Homer that the singer is actually "Charles Ray", who is "white and has perfect vision", alluding to the fact that Ray Charles was blind from the age of seven.
- Homer calls the Nobel Peace Prize a "bullcrap prize" because they gave it to Henry Kissinger. Kissinger received the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in negotiating the Paris Peace Accords, which ended American involvement in the Vietnam War. However, the award sparked controversy, as the war resumed just months after he was declared a winner.
- Some of the escape rooms at The Escape Zone include:
- "Mummy's Tomb", a reference to the 1942 American horror film The Mummy's Tomb.
- "Intergalactic Zoo", a reference to the episode of the same name of the reality television game show Face Off.
- "Leaving Dodger Stadium", a reference to Dodger Stadium, the largest baseball stadium in the world by seat capacity.
- "Zombie Titanic", a reference to Titanic.
- Before Abe and Homer are sent into the "Medieval Room", the Squeaky-Voiced Teen places an iron mask on Homer's head, making him resemble Philippe Bourbon (Leonardo DiCaprio) in the 1998 American action drama film The Man in the Iron Mask.
- During the flashback sequence at the basement where Abe was making World War II airplane models:
- An "Aircraft recognition" poster of the German Luftwaffe is on the wall.
- The Keep 'Em Flying! poster references the motto of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF).
- Abe is working on a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk model, while other iconic American allied plane models seen include Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, North American P-51 Mustang, Vought F4U Corsair, Lockheed P-38 Lightning, and Boeing B-29 Superfortress.
- The song "Recipes" is a parody of "The Way We Were" by Barbra Streisand.
- "Hate in a Bottle" is a parody of "Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce.
- Abe mentions Pearl Harbor in his letter.
Trivia[edit]
- As of this episode, The Simpsons has surpassed Gunsmoke as the longest-running scripted American primetime television series (by episode count).
- The record-breaking episode is the 636th, which is the same code as the old Springfield area code.[2] ("A Tale of Two Springfields")
Continuity[edit]
- A new version of Truckasaurus appeared at the Springfield Demolition Derby, Truckasaurus II. ("Bart the Daredevil")
- Napoleon Blown-apart is a reference to the phrase said by Sideshow Bob before his plan to blow Krusty apart was going to be executed. ("Day of the Jackanapes")
- Grampa uses the Love Tester. When (non-canonically) Grampa lost himself in Heaven, he found his way to the Love Tester machine where he helped Moe get a date. ("The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase")
References[edit]
