When Flanders Failed/References

General

References/Trivia

Appearances

Gags

Credits

Quotes

	Season 3 Episode References
← 037 "Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington"	038 "When Flanders Failed"	"Bart the Murderer" 039 →

Cultural references

Maude Flanders' outfit copying Mary Bailey's are among the many references at the episode's end to It's a Wonderful Life

• The title of this episode is a reference to the poem In Flanders Fields.
• The person dressed up as George Washington in the karate ad says "I cannot tell a lie. This is a great deal.". This is a reference to a myth about Washington wherein he says "I cannot tell a lie ... I did cut it with my hatchet".
• The final scene is a nod to the final scene in It's a Wonderful Life.
• Rather than go to Ned's barbecue, Homer watches the Canadian Football League draft on television.
  • The Saskatchewan Roughriders are also briefly mentioned.
• Homer asks Ned if The Leftorium is located in "the merry old land of Oz", a reference to The Wizard of Oz.
• Mr. Burns exclaiming, "My kingdom for a left-handed can opener!" is a reference to "My kingdom for a horse!" from Act 5, Scene 4 of William Shakespeare's history play Richard III.

Trivia

• This is the first episode to have Ned Flanders's name somewhere in the title and the first episode to primarily focus on Ned Flanders.
• Although Ned states in this episode that he is left-handed, he was putting right-handed in the episode "Dead Putting Society".
• This is the last time the prototype theme music from the Season 2 opening titles is played. This is also the last time that Bart's chalkboard gag has its original high color saturation.
• Ned's "Hail to the Chef" apron is later used in the Lego set 71006 The Simpsons House.
• People at the Leftorium include:
  • Emily Winthrop
  • Professor Lombardo
  • Cowboy Bob
  • Richie Sakai
  • Power Plant wife
  • One of Burns' escorts from "Homer's Night Out"
• Ned sells left-handed nunchakus.
• Chief Wiggum plays accordion during the song at the end of the episode.
  • At least he holds one in hands during the song.

Goofs

• Near the end of the episode, Homer congratulates Flanders for being the richest left-handed man in Springfield. This would not be true considering Mr. Burns is also left-handed.
  • However, Homer could have meant that Flanders is the richest in terms of friends and happiness.
    • Or he may have forgotten Mr. Burns was left-handed.
• During Marge and Homer's argument at the beginning, when Homer says that Ned Flanders is a jerk, his mouth doesn't match what he's saying.
• When Barney is drinking beer at Moe's Tavern, his chest is, for one frame, the same color as his shirt.
• When Mr. Burns is notified about the Leftorium, the can and can opener have disappeared from Smither's hands.
• When Homer discovers that the Leftorium is going out of business, there is a sign that says "Coming Soon: Gum for Less". Later on, though, Ned says the new store is becoming "Libertarian Party Headquarters".
• When Rod and Todd Flanders are roasting marshmallows in the car, Todd's marshmallow was the only one above the lighter, even though both of them have turned black.
• At the beginning, when there is a overhead shot of the Simpsons' lawn, the broken lawn mower has disappeared.
• At the end, you can briefly see Dr. Marvin Monroe. The cigar he is holding instantly changes from white to brown.
• In the beginning of the episode, a piece of grass disappears as it is being cut.
• When Homer buys Ned's living room for $75, Bart is wearing a pink "Ned loves Maude" T-shirt but by the end of the scene where Bart says "Hands off my china hutch", his shirt is the standard orange shirt.
• When the family is having dinner, the glasses on the table keep disappearing/reappearing between shots.
• When Homer goes to the barbecue, he grabs a plate of burgers. There isn't a burger at the top of the pile. However, when Flanders talks to him there is a burger on the top.
• When Mr. Burns brings the pile of tin openers to the cash register, Dr. Monroe's beard is brown.
• In the scene where Bart is lying on Ned's sofa in the Simpsons' backyard, he is wearing a pink T-shirt reading "MAUDE LOVES NED". In the scene following the establishing shot, "NED" reads "NEL".
• Furthermore, after this, Bart's T-shirt changes back to its normal light red.
• At Moe's, Lou has yellow skin.
• In the Leftorium several characters are the wrong colours:
  • Dr. Hibbert has pale skin.
  • Carl Carlson is yellow with brown hair.
  • Karl has Kent Brockman's colours.
  • Lionel Hutz has blond hair.

← Season 2 Season 3 References Season 4 →

Stark Raving Dad • Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington • When Flanders Failed • Bart the Murderer • Homer Defined • Like Father, Like Clown • Treehouse of Horror II • Lisa's Pony • Saturdays of Thunder • Flaming Moe's • Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk • I Married Marge • Radio Bart • Lisa the Greek • Homer Alone • Bart the Lover • Homer at the Bat • Separate Vocations • Dog of Death • Colonel Homer • Black Widower • The Otto Show • Bart's Friend Falls in Love • Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes?