Bart to the Future Written by Dan Greaney Directed by Michael Mercantel ============================================================================== Production code: BABF13 Original Airdate on FOX: 19-Mar-2000 Capsule revision A (17-Dec-2000) ============================================================================== > "TV Guide" Synopsis {bg} ============================================================================== [TV Guide] Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States ... Lisa Simpson! That's the story in this fanciful glimpse 30 years into the future. The episode begins when Bart encounters a Native American mystic (and casino manager) who shows Bart his future -- as a ne'er-do-well musician rooming with Ralph Wiggum. Upon hearing of Lisa's election to the Oval Office, Bart heads for the White House, where he mooches, criticizes Lisa for no longer being cool and promotes his band during her address to the Nation. Wrestling with a fiscal crises, President Simpsons sends Bart to Camp David, ostensibly to help. Meanwhile, Homer searches the White House for Lincoln's hidden gold. ============================================================================== > Title sequence ============================================================================== Blackboard: "NON-FLAMMABLE" IS NOT / A CHALLENGE "NON-FLAMMABLE at cutoff Couch: The couch is part of a discotheque. There's a mirrored ball hanging from the ceiling, and some trendy people sitting on the couch, which has a velvet rope in front of it. The family runs up to the bouncer. He lets in Marge, Maggie, Bart, and Lisa, but turns away Homer. ============================================================================== > Did You Notice... ============================================================================== ... a scene showing Maggie Sr. walking on the moon was cut, yet appeared in the promotions for this show? [See "Comments" section for more -- Ed.] Don Del Grande: ... this episode first aired five years to the day after "Lisa's Wedding" first aired? ... the casino's theater has a roulette wheel and slot machines in it? (Most theaters are just theaters -- gaming devices would be distracting, especially if somebody hits a jackpot) ... future Ralph has hair, yet quite a few other people don't? ... every member of the Marine band (the band that plays "Hail to the Chief") is the same rank? (Which rank is hard to tell, as the stripes appear to be "2 up, 1 down") ... in the future, Tuesday is Ladies' Night at Moe's? ... Moe's TV still has dials (and isn't shaped for HDTV)? ... Lisa's speech was to "100 million people"? (What happened to the other 170+ million?) ["Soylent Green," says the Space Coyote -- Ed.] ... the poll only adds up to 97%? ... the Chinese representative at the meeting sounded like Kahn from "King of the Hill"? [See "Comments" section for more -- Ed.] Nicholas Di Canada: ... future Bart has the exact same body of present Homer? Darrel C. Jones: ... Bart writes "non-flammable" instead of the more common "inflammable"? ... Helen Thomas is STILL in the presidential press-core? ... the presidential logo on Marge's laundry basket? ... Moe no longer wears the eyepatch he had in [2F15] fifteen years before? Joe Klemm: ... the Simpsons house in 2030 includes the new wing that was built in "Lisa's Wedding?" Andrew Levine: ... given Lisa's comment about being the first straight female president, Chastity Bono may have been running for a second term? ... the Jetsons-like "rings" around the Washington Monument? (Note: It *is* currently being renovated ... [Just finishing up, according to a.t.s. Washington correspondents -- Ed.]) ... Lisa became president younger than anyone else to date? ... the Artist Formerly Known as Jimmy Buffett is now popularly known by his old name? (see "Lisa's Wedding") ... you'd expect the German ambassador to be Uter, but it isn't him? (Maybe he was lost for good ...) Troy Mathews: ... Donald Trump was the President of the United States before Lisa took the office? Jerry P.: ... the Great Gabbo is paid with a trip to the pasta bar, as future Bart is paid with popcorn shrimp? Benjamin Robinson: ... the tapestry hanging on the casino manager's walls depicted a buffalo nickel, card suits, and the windows from a slot machine? ... in the future, Homer has less than one hair strand remaining? ... Marge seems to have put on a little weight? ... the oil-pumping rig by Bart's place? ... Lisa's apparently still single? (Lisa-lovers take note!) ... Lisa has a picture of her family on the credenza behind her? ... she also has a picture of a horse on the wall? ... Otto is on Bart's coolness committee? Mike Smith: ... [future] Milhouse looks like Kirk? ============================================================================== > Voice Credits ============================================================================== - Starring - Dan Castellaneta (Homer, Crandall, "Rip-off!", Barney, Groundskeeper Willie, Krusty) - Julie Kavner (Marge) - Nancy Cartwright (Bart, Ralph, Nelson, Kearney) - Yeardley Smith (Lisa) - Hank Azaria (Ranger, Guard, Backstage Guard, Manager, Holo-gram man, Carl, Moe, Chinese Man, Englishman) - Harry Shearer (Ned, Brockman, Director, Lenny, German, Frenchman) - Also Starring - Pamela Hayden (Milhouse) - Tress MacNeille (Helen Thomas, Aide) - Karl Wiedergott (Carter) ============================================================================== > Movie (and other) references ============================================================================== + "Back to the Future" (movie) - episode title a spoof - future Bart is working for his childhood adversary - like Biff, Nelson's outfit is a jogging suit accented with gold chains - "The Birds" (movie) {jg2} - the bugs (cf. birds) wreaking havoc at the park + Caesar's Palace (casino) - inspired whoever named the Indian casino + Cleveland Indians (a baseball team) mascot {dj} - the Indian on the casino sign looks similar + Carrot Top (controversial comedian) {dj} - "Carrot Scalp" + "Pinocchio" (fairy tale) - for a moment, Arthur Crandall believes his puppet Gabbo has transformed into a real little boy - Pokémon: the First Movie {gb} - Nelson's hologram letter similar to one in movie - "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" (TV show) {jg2} - the phrase "Smell you later" was used in this show's theme song + "To Kill a Mockingbird" (novel) - Bart's "band" is named the Tequila Mockingbirds + "Margaritaville" (song) - Bart steals Jimmy Buffet hit from 1977 + "Blues Brothers" (movie) {sb} - a laser grid protects Bart's band from an audience throwing bottles. There's a similar scene in the movie, only with chicken wire instead of lasers + "Road House" (movie) {gw} - another similar scene with Jeff Healy + "Star Trek" (TV show) {jg2} - Groundskeeper Willie acts like Scotty + Bill Clinton and Roger Clinton - the President has a bad musician for a brother {jc} - a President has an embarrassing sibling {jk} - +Jimmy Carter and Billy Carter {jk} - another embarrassing Presidential relative + "Bewitched" (TV show) {jg2} - Future Bart is a huge fan of this show - Hillary Clinton (politician) {jg2} - during the 1992 campaign, she was criticized for stating that she and Bill would be "co-presidents" + "Rollerball" - apparently becomes a legitimate sport by 2030 ["It could happen; the movie was set in 2018," claims {bjr}] - "Absolute Power" (book and movie) {jg2} - "Each president get three murders!" + Groucho Marx (comedian) - future-Krusty looks like Marx in his later years + "The Shining" - Bart talks with Billy Carter's ghost at a bar(cf. the scene with Jack Nicholson's character at the Overlook) + "Dances with Wolves" (movie) - casino man's brother named, "Dances with Focus Groups" - "King of the Hill" (TV show) {jg2} - the Chinese dignitary sounds like Khan - Jiang Zemin (Chinese leader) {al} - the Chinese ambassador looked a lot like an aged version of him ============================================================================== > Previous episode references ============================================================================== - [7G09] OFF goes camping {jg2} - [8F03] The Indian on the Caesar's Pow-Wow sign looks like the Indian from the chocolate film {ms} - [8F13] Negro Leagues referred to {al} - [9F19] Ventriloquist Arthur Crandall and his sidekick Gabbo appear - [9F19] Gabbo "to get real boy operation" {dj} - [1F08] Marge's gambling problem - [2F05] Lisa shown as President in a fantasy future - [2F15] Episode about future vision - [2F15] Krusty in wheelchair {bjr} - [2F15] the Simpson house has a room added to its outside {ddg} - [3F04] "The Shining" parodied {bmn} - [4F01] Nelson says, "Smell ya later" {dj} - [4F01] Milhouse's unrequited crush {bjr} - [5F07], [5F16] Lisa choking Bart {ms} - [BABF09] Marge's gambling problem is mentioned {jg2} ============================================================================== > Freeze frame fun ============================================================================== - Casino sign {bjr} C A E [cowboy] S A R ' S POW- WOW +-------------+ |NOW APPEARING| |CARROT SCALP | +-------------+ - Gabbo's van {bjr} ARTHUR [picture of] CRANDALL [ Crandall ] & GABBO [and Gabbo ] WAS SEEN ON T.V. [The "W" was hand-painted, as if the van's original graphic was crudely modified.] - "Soylent Green" box {bjr} SOYLENT GREEN NOW WITH MORE GIRLS - Sign at Nelson's Crab Shack {bjr} CAPTAIN BART and the TEQUILA MOCKINGBIRDS - Pictures of presidents in the White House {al} Harry S Truman (in the drawing room) William H. Taft (outside the dining room -- appropriate, as he was our Bulkiest President) Donald Trump (in the drawing room, when Bart enters) William J. Clinton (elsewhere) Ted Kennedy (meeting room, in some scenes) {ib} Woodrow Wilson (meeting room, in some scenes) {bjr} - Results of Lisa's refund adjustment {bjr} NO 85% YES 12% - Sign at Camp David {bjr} BEER GUY- TURN HERE - Sign on the Clinton pornography collection {bjr} GIRLIES WHAT AIN'T GOT NO CLOTHES ============================================================================== > Animation, continuity, and other goofs ============================================================================== = The ranger's class ring shifts from his left to his right hand. (On the other hand, kudos to the animators for remembering to draw the ring before it became necessary for the joke.) {bjr} = The arrows in the cowboy on the sign appear instantly. (They were probably supposed to come from behind the lettering.) {jp} * Gabbo's box magically latches when Bart gets in it. {jp} * Bart had the SAME voice as an adult as he does as a child; yet in "Lisa's Wedding," Cartwright gave him an older voice. {rw} - The mouth hole in the can of Future Duff is on the wrong side relative to future Bart's mouth. {jp} * How does Ralph make money? {jp} * Unless something weird happens in the next thirty years, 2030 isn't going to be an election year. In the United States; elections are held in the years divisible by four. * This episode presumably takes place in the year 2030, but U.S. presidents aren't sworn in on even-numbered years. [Remember, inauguration takes place in January of the year *after* the election, which will always be an odd-numbered year -- Ed.] {jg2} - The Washington Monument is not that close to the White House. {ds} - The Frisbee has more than eight holes in it, yet only eight shots were fired at it. {ddg} * Why was it that Bart was so easily able to get into the White House and onto TV? I think when he interrupted Lisa on her explanation of the tax hike, the secret service would have at least gotten him out of the way. {jb} = The picture above Lisa changes between Ted Kennedy and Woodrow Wilson. {ib} ============================================================================== > Reviews ============================================================================== Wilson Banswell: Buh! I guess all flash-forward episodes aren't the same. Good points were Ralph and Maggie and Homer. Bad Points: Why did Bart talk like he was 10? Also, why would Flanders ever give Bart money? I did like Rod & Todd. Wish I had seen more of Springfield. (C) Nate Birch: Like in "Lisa's Wedding" this episode shows us the Simpson's future in a fun and interesting way. Seeing what all the characters would turn out like was kind of interesting, and the show was relatively funny without being too wacky or unbelievable. There were some problems, as it seems the writers basically decided to forget most of the events from Lisa's wedding, and I found the whole "Mystical Indian Casino" thing kind of stupid, I mean it's sad when an episode of Simpsons actually rips off the Family Guy. Despite these problems it was a fairly solid episode and about on par for season 11. (B+) Don Del Grande: episodes set in the future have so many possibilities, but this episode went nowhere. Bart's a slob -- Lisa is President -- Bart messes things up for Lisa -- Homer does something stupid -- Lisa sends Bart off somewhere -- Bart comes back to save Lisa's butt -- end of story. Why not something different, like having Maggie's daughter speak? (B-) Nicholas Di Canada: this episode needs not to be compared to "Lisa's Wedding," which is a hard episode to reprise. This is difficult not only because of the basic idea, but also because of some similar situations in both episodes. "Bart to the Future" itself is entertaining, particularly the President Lisa thing, which I didn't think it could work. I laughed frequently with this episode, and that doesn't happen too much lately. If you expect another "Lisa's Wedding" the grade would not be higher than a D. If you try to overlook it (which is what I tried to do) then the grade goes up to a (B) Mike Erickson: This is probably the best episode since DAS BUS ... maybe even THE SECRET WAR OF LISA SIMPSON (almost 3 years ago) Wonderful characterization of Bart in the future (he looked a lot better than in LISA'S WEDDING) This is a solid A episode ... good job! (A) Carl Johnson: "Bart to the Future" gets worse the more you think about it. It's always nice to see a story where things make sense, that which could be acted out by real people without much trouble, but, even here, plenty of story elements make no sense. There are several good jokes, but unfortunately not much pertaining what America is like in 2035. A welcome sojourn into reality, but that aside, BABF13 is mediocre in every way. (C+) Darrel C. Jones: Not a classic, by any means, but still a worthy successor to "Lisa's Wedding". The method of the vision (Bart meeting an American Indian) was much more innovative than [2F15]'s was. It's also nice to see Lisa does, in fact, have a future. The opening scene with the mosquitoes was (IMO) funny, but many will not care for its slapstick nature. Most of this was LOL hilarious. I give it an 8/10 (A-) Andrew Levine: Okay, let's see if I can get through this without drawing a single comparison to "Lisa's Wedding," as I know EVERYONE else will do. With that out of the way, there's more human drama at play here than in most recent episodes, even if it is simplified and mostly dumbed down by a pretty one-dimensional characterization of Bart. Lisa was much better -- she behaved much like I'd expect her to do if she was President. I think we're past the point where we need a frame story, though; I'd rather have just had a title card and jumped right into things. The humor was mostly thin and predictable (although I liked the numerous FFF), but the plot was more or less coherent. Overall a little above average. (B) Troy Mathews: I thoroughly enjoyed this episode tonight. The sibling rivalry between Bart and Lisa even continues into the future as well. And to add to that, it is nice to see them work together as they always do at the end. I wish I could have seen the grown up Maggie. But overall, I give it a grade of (A-) Lance Mulhern: I'm reminded of Bart Simpson's line in 3F02; "I know that's funny, but I'm just not laughing." From the parade sneaking off, to the "Lincoln's Gold" gag, and all the way back to "You put an ad in MY vision?", I thought that the lines were funny. But they just didn't cause me to laugh. I think the writers put effort into it, but it just didn't work. Was it just me? Didn't make me LOL, but it did make me smile a couple of times. (D+) Abhi Ray: Terrible. This episode was so devoid of any originality and creativity, it's amazing. Lisa as president was not funny, nor was it in the least bit creative. All that happens is Lisa worrying about the budget. Does anyone care? No. There's absolutely no insight or thought into the society or culture of the future. There's no delight or pity or any feeling into what the characters turn into. I don't know why this episode was made, other than telling a ho-hum, absolutely worthless story of Bart mooching off Lisa and then helping her. (D-) Eli Rosenbaum: That was not an episode of The Simpsons. That was an episode of Futurama. The humor was utterly not subtle, the pacing was off, and the future references, from Soylent Green (what was up with THAT??) to the rings around the Washington Monument (please) were too much like Futurama's lame gizmos than classic Simpsons satire. Now, I have no problem with OFF tackling a concept twice (it's worked with alcohol satire, Sideshow Bob, etc.), but why go over the same ground again having nothing to say? Give me "Lisa's Wedding" any day. (C-) Jason Rosenbaum: For the past 4 years, I have coveted Homerpalooza as the worst episode ever. Tonight, that episode has been dethroned by "Bart To The Future," the most astoundingly pitiful episode of the Simpsons in its illustrious 11 year history. Why you ask? Not only was a complete copy of the great "Lisa's Wedding," it contained almost no laughs, a profoundly inept plot (Bart mooches off President Lisa. Who cares?!?!?) and a vomit-inducing ending. This is an abomination to what otherwise is a good season. (F) Jessy Scholl: When you compare this episode with "Lisa's Wedding," this episode was a little better for me. Despite a so-so first act, the episode really picked up when Lisa became president. Bart's behavior during Lisa's speech was very funny. I liked the way Bart uncovered her lie so very much. Another highlight was the search for Lincoln's Gold, and how Bart got the foreign leaders to think that America paid its bills. (B+) Todd Willis: This an abundance of future related jokes that usually were right on target, but again it was another episode that succumbed to having too thin of a story line. The first act was probably the best because of its future related jokes (I like the Soylent Green reference), and its portrayal of the Indian casino (Gabbo is still around). The second act was a nice, but not as good, follow up to the first act. Act three totally bombed. I'll give the Simpsons the benefit of the doubt and give them credit for some good jokes over the weak story line. (B) Robert Wisham: I liked seeing Gabbo again, but didn't care for the framing sequence very much. Bart's voice was annoying, and I couldn't believe the Maggie astronaut scene wasn't there. Lisa as President had a lot of potential we didn't see. Oh well. (C+) Yours Truly: Since this episode focuses on Bart, it's a good thing that future-Bart is interesting as an aimless musician who, in spite of his frankly immature ways, is also likeable, just as the present-day Bart is. Unfortunately, Bart is almost the *only* interesting character in the future, with most of the others being either bland, or just older-looking versions of their present-day selves. At least the animators did a good job of making future-everyone *visually* interesting. "Bart to the Future" also no scene that packs the emotional wallop of Lisa's near-wedding in "Lisa's Wedding (2F15)." That episode was one of my favorites, and I don't predict that another one will be knocking it off its perch anytime soon. (B-) AVERAGE GRADE: C+ (2.44) Std Dev.: 1.0730 (27 reviews computed) ============================================================================== > Comments and other observations ============================================================================== >> Musical References Joe Green: During Lisa's address, Bart sings a song to the tune of Rupert Holmes' "Escape (The Piņa Colada Song)". >> Meta-reference corner Benjamin Robinson: Bart wonders why his vision had a sub-plot, and his spirit guide suggests it was because the main plot was too thin. >> Car Watch 2030 Benjamin Robinson: There's a yellow VW Old Beetle in the casino parking lot. It can be seen as Mr. Crandall carries Bart from his truck. >> Now with more girls! Joe Klemm: For those who missed it in earlier capsule submissions here's the lowdown on Soylent Green: Soylent Green is a 1973 film starring NRA head Charleston Heston. The film is set in the 21st Century, where an overpopulated Earth is eating a substance called Soylent Green. By the end of the film, it is discovered that Soylent Green is actually made from people. End of story. >> Futurepolitik Benjamin Robinson: Lisa blames her predecessor, President Trump, for the budget crisis. Doubtlessly, she is referring to Donald Trump, a self-made real estate mogul and first-rate egomaniac. He publicly flirted with the idea of running under the Reform Party ticket this year, although most observers felt this was just a publicity stunt to promote his casino ventures. Or, perhaps just to promote *him*. Trump isn't known for being a tightwad, so it's easy to imagine him spending the country into a serious debt. Billy Carter was Jimmy's ne'er-do-well brother and national punchline. He's best known for "Billy Beer," a brew marketed under his name, and for getting in some sort of scandal with the Libyans. Bill Franklin adds: Once it was revealed that he was recovering alcoholic, it wasn't that funny any more. Collectors were also hit hard. They bought a lot, thinking it would be valuable one day, but alas, they bought too much. Now at Beer conventions, it is given away as door prizes. Benjamin Robinson: Chastity Bono is Sonny and Cher Bono's daughter. Sonny, of course, was a member of Congress in his post-showbiz days, so this might be a political dynasty in the making, like the Kennedys. I believe Ms. Bono is currently an activist for gay rights. >> The Making of the President: 2030 Speaking of future politics, here's what Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo has to say about the prospects of a Lisa Simpson presidency: It is now some time after the fact, but I was thinking about "Bart to the Future" the other day and something came to mind. For a show that used to pride itself on satire and cynicism, do you think the writers were a bit naive to think that Lisa could ever get elected President, even thirty years from now? Lets look at some facts about Lisa that would make her electoral poison: - She has very liberal political views. - She is not afraid to speak her mind. - She is not religious. (Polls show that the vast majority of Americans would not vote for an atheist) [Tom Hawley notes, "If she slammed Homer for not going to church in Homer the Heretic she must have some religious stance."] - She is from a working class background. - She is not a member of a privileged, high standing family or of any secret societies. - She is female. - She is pro gun control. - She is a strong environmentalist. Even allowing for some degree of social change in the next couple of decades, there are just too many strikes against her that would prevent John Q. Average Voter (or the corporate interests that really elect the President, according to the cynic in me :-) ) from voting for her. I would think a better idea for the episode would have been to have it take place during Lisa's campaign, in which her strong convictions and character (along with Bart's antics) cost her the election. As far as I'm concerned, it beats Homer digging up the White House looking for treasure. But then again, I guess that's why I'm not a writer. Lee Ratner: I don't think class would be that important. Our best president, Abraham Lincoln, was born into a family very low on the social scale. Bill Clinton while only on okay President comes from the working class as well. Arup Baral answers: However in recent politics, a president with a truly working class background is practically non existent. The one exception is Jimmy Carter. >> In this red corner: Pakistan. In the blue corner: India. While we're on the subject of the politics of the future, Benjamin Robinson writes: When India regained its independence in 1947, it was hoped the nation's Muslim and Hindu factions would be unite and run the country together. ["Hoped by Gandhi and three or four other people, maybe," says Seth Miller.] No such luck -- the two factions immediately fought one another. The outcome was the partitioning of India into three. Not quite, according to Seth Miller: That's not true, it was partitioned into two countries, India and Pakistan; Pakistan was not contiguous. Bangladesh (the portion of Pakistan that was known as EAST Pakistan) sought and gained independence from the wealthier and dominant West years later (I think the seventies but I am too drunk to look it up.) Benjamin Robinson continues: Even with both sides separated, the hostilities continued. Events recently took a disturbing turn when both countries developed a nuclear strike capability, raising the specter of at least a regional nuclear war. >> Now that "Eat My Shorts" is passe Jerry P. figures Bart is destined to move on to new sayings: Future Bart seems to have new catch phrases - "Relax, you'll live longer." Said to Lisa and the ambassadors. - "mooch" He hasn't said this before. - "What happened to you? You used to be cool." Said to Homer, Lisa and China. - "Keeping it real" - "-ski" Bart says "loanski" and "tuneskis". - "dude" He seems to say this more than usual. >> Kahn Souphanousinphone on "The Simpsons?" Alec Soroudi asks: Hi, I just saw the 'Bart to the Future' episode again and again I thought that the Chinese ambassador sounded a lot like Kahn from King of the Hill. Anyone else think so? I don't think it was, Toby Huss was not listed in the credits. Simpsons doesn't usually leave a person uncredited. It was probably one of the other regulars, but it just sounded a LOT like Khan. It's just that the voice was the same but so were the subtle inflections and mannerisms. "You pay now!, You pay later!" just the way Khan would say it. :) Except that he was Chinese and Khan is Laotian La-O-tian! :) Ryan Mead adds: One of the realtors from "Realty Bites" sounded like Mihn, FWIW. >> Legalize *what*? Toward the end of Bart's vision, the Bart of the future asked President Lisa to legalize ... it. What "it" is, Bart never says, although Lisa seems to catch on pretty quickly. Out there in TV land, the viewers came up with some pretty creative solutions. Troy Matthews, speaking for many, suggested: I think most people that watched tonight's episode were assuming that Bart wanted to "legalize" marijuana. I guess he would have that classic image have that person that maybe smokes pot. Although I would have to say this type analyst is crude to draw a conclusion from. Mike Perry: IMHO this episode contains be-all-end-all proof that Bart is gay. The "legalize it" line was good enough for me. As I mentioned in my other post, it could refer to anything, but Bart has quite a history behind him with that sort of thing. Plus, Flanders thanked him for not coming out about his boys (who were OBVIOUSLY gay). It seems to me that being gay would give him reason not to try to embarrass the Flanders. I'm sure everyone's noticed Bart's flamboyant tendencies in the past, so the first thing that sprang to mind was gay marriage. But Ralph Wiggum? Nah ... Of course, he could be talking about anything, drugs, prostitution, etc. But given his history ... ("These knots are just impossible ... Well they are..", "Where'd you get that shirt?" "Came out of the closet", "Looks like he's gotten into the pep closet again" "I'd say he's coming out of the pep closet. heh heh. Ohh" :) David Levy: Personally, I took it as a reference to prostitution. He may have been referring to marijuana, but I don't think so. "Scan": Bart in "Lisa's Wedding" was into strippers so maybe he has become such a loser that he can only get prostitutes to have sex with him and wanted that legalized. I think when he go "it" legalized, the justices and congressmen were so grateful that he was a shoo-in for the Supreme Court. [Mr. Scan also notes that "Legalize It" is a pro-marijuana song by Peter Tosh. "Ratboy" Dave points out that it is the slogan of NORML, an organization that supports legalizing marijuana -- Ed.] Matt O.: it has to do with the the criminalization of putting squirrels down one's pants ... Reagen Sulewski: Only if you're gambling on it. Keith Connor: He wanted to make it legal for ducks NOT to wear long pants in public ... "S. R.": They did this just to get people wondering ... In other words, it doesn't refer to anything, but they knew that viewers would have to come up with something ... So now the Simpsons people are reading these posts and laughing at us because of all the ridiculous ideas we're coming up with, when it actually means nothing. Andrew Krupowicz: Perhaps this time it was the obvious answer, not obviously stated, so it could drive you insane. Bit by bit. Breaking down daily, until you're beyond hope, eh? >> This is ground control to Space Maggie ... come in, Space Maggie ... As we've seen, Fox's promotions of "The Simpsons" don't always reflect what actually airs Sunday night. That definitely holds true for "Bart to the Future." Benjamin Robinson: The ads for this episode included a brief shot of Maggie, as an adult, wearing a spacesuit. The suit had a breathing device that resembled a pacifier, which Maggie sucked on in the usual way. Her hair was less wild than we saw in "Lisa's Wedding." Hope you got a good look, because this shot wasn't included in the actual episode. Maybe it's just as well -- I wasn't too thrilled with the idea of a space Maggie, anyway. T. P. Liang shows us the irony in this situation: On the cutting room floor: In the commercials for Bart to the future, a scene featuring Maggie Sr. on the moon was cut.(you could see the scene during the "on next" screen!) Troy Matthews quotes our very own Simpsons Archive on this matter: Each episode is produced with extra and alternate animation, to allow the directors the freedom to decide just what will and won't work, up until a few days before a show goes to air. Fox has access to the footage before the final cuts are made, and so it's not unusual for extra material to materialize during the promotions. Also, the Fox network has taken to mixing clips from previous episodes with clips from upcoming episodes, supposedly to make episodes more enticing or exciting. The best example of this is the commercial for "The Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie Show" in which Homer's character Poochie is on TV and Lisa says "The network has sunk to a new low," the footage coming from 9F22 "Cape Feare." D. W. III suspects the truth is not so pat, however: Conspiracy Hypothesis: That particular part of the promo may have been nothing more than an insidious plot by the writers to keep the unsuspecting viewers from tuning out during the episode. Worked for me ... (D'oh!) >> Why we're not counting most continuity errors Jeremy Friesen explains: The episode was a "vision of the future", not the actual "future". Continuologists need not concern themselves with this episode. Or if they do, they might as well also pick apart the continuity of the Halloween episodes. >> Miscellaneous, Etc. The Andrew Levine alterna-title for this episode is: "21st Century Wasteoid Man" Jake Lennington suggests: "All the President's Moochin' Men" Benjamin Robinson contributes these two items: DeVry Institute is a commercial trade school specializing in technical subjects such as drafting. "Hustler" is Larry Flynt's notorious porno magazine. Notice that it's right next door to the White House. I'll bet Clinton lobbied to have it built there. ============================================================================== > Quotes and Scene Summary {bjr} ============================================================================== % The Simpsons enjoy a trip to the campgrounds. It is beautiful % weather for an outing -- the sky is blue, the leaves are green, and % the windshield is white and brown with the remains of unfortunate % mosquitoes. A park ranger flags them down. Folks, you're going to want to turn around. The bugs are firmly in charge. -- Park ranger, "Bart to the Future" % Homer grudgingly turns around the car. A swarm of bugs engulfs the % rangers hand and, when it disperses, the ranger's class ring is % missing. After he complains, the swarm returns to deposit the ring % -- and then takes the flesh of his hand. % % Bart spots an Indian gaming casino, and Homer quickly pulls into its % parking lot. Marge doesn't think this little detour is a good idea. Homer: Let's go, Marge. Come on, come on, come on! Marge: Homer, you know I have a gambling problem. Homer: Well, what better place to celebrate your recovery than amidst the frenzied excitement of the casino floor. Marge: Hrrmph. -- "Bart to the Future" % Homer and Bart run off to join the casino floor's frenzied % excitement. A bouncer stops Bart at the door. Bouncer: No minors. Bart: Yeah, but I really want -- Homer: Sorry, son. Although they seem strange to us, we must respect the ways of the Indian. -- "Bart to the Future" % Ever respectful, Homer walks into the main greeting hall, repeating % "Hi-how-are-you" in the rhythm of a stereotypical war chant. % % Meanwhile, Bart is as determined as ever to get into the casino. % Looking around, he notices Arthur Crandall talking to one of the % casino's security people at the back door. Crandall, unseen since % "The Gabbo Show" folded, has fallen on hard times. He tries to % negotiate a free night's stay from the casino, but is forced to % settle for a free trip to the pasta bar. Bart sneaks onto % Crandall's truck and climbs into Gabbo's carrying case. Other than % the fact the case now weighs much more, Crandall notices nothing % amiss as he takes the it backstage. % % Onstage, Crandall opens the case before his audience. To everyone's % surprise -- especially Crandall's -- Bart hops out of the case. % Casino security men quickly capture him and take him to the % manager's office. Manager: [on phone] Your linen service has broken many promises to us. Laundry bill soar like eagle. [hangs up] Jerk. [walks over to Bart] So, you like to sneak into casinos? Bart: I wasn't going to gamble. I just wanted a Bloody Mary. Manager: Listen to me. Unless you change your deceitful ways. I foresee a life bitterness and failure for you, Bart Simpson. Bart: How'd you know my name? Manager: [holds up a legal document] Your father just took out a second mortgage downstairs. You're listed as collateral. Bart: Oh. I thought that maybe you were some kind of Indian mystic who could tell the future? Manager: Who says I'm not? -- Insert "Twilight Zone" theme here, "Bart to the Future" % A fire flares up from a hearth in the office's center, startling % Bart. Manager: If you want to see the future, throw a treasured personal item onto the fire. [Bart tosses a small object, which explodes with a bang] Not a firecracker! Bart: Hey, I bought it from a guy on your reservation. Manager: That's Crazy Talk. Bart: No, it's true. Manager: No, I know, that's my brother, Crazy Talk. We're all a little worried about him. -- Even Dances with Sock Puppets is concerned, "Bart to the Future" % The manager invites Bart to look deep into the flames, to see what % lies in store thirty years from now. Bart, and the audience, sees a % vision of the boy as he will be in 2030. Future-Bart's hair has % grown a bit scraggly, and he has tied some of it into a pony tail. % A Hawaiian shirt, shorts, and sandals complete the "dressed down" % look. He has inherited his father's physique, pot belly and all, % something that was no doubt aided by many cans of Future Duff. He % takes a sip from one such can, and burps loudly. % % Bart picks up a guitar and begins to tune it. Bart: [strumming the guitar] Check, check. Hello, Capital City. [one of the strings breaks] Way to make a guitar, Sears. Ralph: [walks in, dripping wet and without clothes] Hey, Bart, any clean towels? Bart: Nah. Use this. [tosses Ralph a newspaper] Ralph: I'm sick of having to dry myself with a newspaper. You could at least do some laundry. I pay the rent. [ties the paper around his waist, like a towel] Bart: Dude, you know I'm good for it. I'll have plenty of money when my lawsuit pays off. Ralph: You mean the spider bite at Disneyland? Bart: Or the incident with the over-salted fries. -- "Bart to the Future" % There's a knock at the door -- it's a Holo-gram for Bart, from % Nelson. He grants Bart's band permission to play at his club, % albeit for a salary of popcorn shrimp. He signs off with the % future's customary way of saying good-bye: "Smell you later." % % Bart's band has a gig, but his amp's in hock. He figures he can % borrow some money from his folks, so it's time for a trip to % Springfield, via non-hover-bus. % % Back at Bart's boyhood home, Homer and Marge try Virtual Fudge, but % find it lacking in comparison to Cyber-Fudge. Bart and Ralph % arrive. Bart: Yo, it's me! Homer: [takes the Virtual Fudge wire out of his mouth, which shocks him] Oh, what a bleak and horrible future we live in! Bart: Don't you mean, "present?" Homer: Right, right, present. Anyway, can I get you some Soylent Green. [holds up a box of it] Ralph: Isn't that made of people? Homer: Uh, oh, here we go ... Bart: Hey, Dad, my band finally got a break. I just need a little moolah to get my amp out of hock. How about a little loan-ski? Homer: Oh, I'm tired of giving you money. Why can't you be more like Lisa? Bart: I am so sick of hearing about Lisa. Just because she's doing a little better than me -- Marge: She's President of the United States! Bart: President-*elect*. -- Oh, is that all? "Bart to the Future" % Bart says that he, too, could be President if he wasn't so "real." % That doesn't impress Homer enough to pry any cash from him, so he % leaves. Bart: What happened to you, man? You used to be cool. Homer: I'm still cool! Bart: Nah, you've changed, man. Homer: Well, I do have this robotic prostate, but you can't see it. [glances downward] Oh, you can. -- He's a real machine, "Bart to the Future" % Bart tries his luck with the neighbors. Bart: [rings bell] Flanders is a soft touch. He'll give us the money for sure. [Ned answers the door. He's wearing dark glasses and carrying a cane] Ned: Jesus? Is that you? Ralph: Mr. Flanders, you're blinded-ded! Ned: Oh, yeah. I never should have had that trendy laser surgery. It was great at first but, you know, at the ten- year mark your eyes fall out. Bart: Listen, dude -- Ned: Oh-ho, hi, Bart. How much this time? [reaches for his wallet] Bart: Dude, you got me all wrong. Ned: Yeah. Just answer me this: Are you holding your mooching sack? Bart: [holds up a small bag with a dollar sign on it] My little one. Ned: Bart, you're never going to grow up if I keep bailing you out. Bart: Then, please, help me help myself. Ned: Oh, all right, but only because you haven't outed Rod and Todd. [camera pulls back to reveal the boys, grown up and wearing hot pants. They polish an antique desk] -- "Bart to the Future" % Bart and Ralph get to play their gig at Nelson's Crab Shack, but it % doesn't well. Jimmy Buffet charges royalties, so Bart plays one of % his "originals," which is just a thinly-disguised version of % "Margaritaville." Only a grid of lasers keeps the boys from being % pelted with beer bottles, and even that is starting to buckle from % the strain. % % The non-hover bus drops Ralph and Bart at the house they've been % renting. They find an eviction notice on the door. Bart: Oh, no, I've got half a beer in there -- and "Bewitched" is on. Ralph: Now we've got no home, no money, and our band's going nowhere, and it's all your fault. Smell you later, Bart. Smell you later forever! [walks off] Bart: Oh, he's right. I'm a loser. There's only one way out of this mess. [slumps down on the porch, and points what looks like a laser pistol at his head. He pulls the trigger, but instead of a laser, he beams the six o'clock news directly into his head] Brockman: From around the globe to your frontal lobe, this is BrainVision News! Tonight's winning Lotto number: 4-4-6. Bart: Damn, I was so close -- I had 3-2-7. Brockman: In other news, President-elect Lisa Simpson moves into the White House tomorrow. The seventeen- bedroom home features free long distance, laundry service, and free food kitchen. Bart: So I'm the President's no-good brother. Moochie, moochie! -- A plan for the future, "Bart to the Future" % [End of Act One. Time: 8:06] % % Back in the present, Bart is perturbed by his bleak horrible future. % The casino manager tells him there's more to the story. Thirty % years in the future, Bart finds his way past the liquor stores and % adult bookstores to the White House. Inside, President Simpson % gives her first press conference. Yes, I am proud to be America's first straight female President. -- President Lisa Simpson, "Bart to the Future" % After a final question from Helen Thomas ("Wasn't I wearing a % hat?"), Lisa wraps up the conference and holds a meeting in the Oval % Office. Lisa: As you know, we've inherited quite a budget crunch from President Trump. How bad is it Secretary Van Houten? Milhouse: [shows to a chart] We're broke. Lisa: The country is broke? How can that be? Milhouse: Well, remember when the last administration decided to invest in our nation's children? Big mistake. Aide: The balanced breakfast program just created a generation of ultra-strong super-criminals. Milhouse: And midnight basketball taught them to function without sleep. Lisa: What about my pledge to build the world's largest bookmobile? Isn't there any money left for that? Aide: No, and we've borrowed from every country in the world. [without warning, Bart bursts into the room] Bart: Hey, Lisa, call off your -- [two Secret Service agents jump him] Ow! Watch the ponytail. Lisa: Let him up, please. [the agents do so] What are you doing here? Bart: I knew you'd need some help keeping it real, so I figured I could be, like, your co-President. Lisa: Co-President? Are you crazy? Bart: Mom! Lisa won't share! Marge: Be nice to your brother, Lisa. -- "Bart to the Future" % That night, the family sits down to dinner. Or at least Homer, % Marge, and Bart do. Lisa comes by later, trailed by a marching band % playing "Hail to the Chief." As she ponders ways of cutting the % budget, the musicians beat a hasty retreat. Lisa: Hey, where's Maggie? Marge: [pulls baby Maggie from underneath the table] Here she is! And look how big she's gotten. [Maggie sucks on her pacifier] Aw, just like her mommy, Maggie, Sr. So ... what did everyone do today? Lisa: Appointed a Supreme Court justice. Marge: Oh. Bart: "Bewitched" marathon. Marge: Hmm. Homer: Searched for Lincoln's gold. Lisa: Dad, that's just a myth. Lincoln didn't hide any gold in the White House. Homer: Then what is his ghost protecting? -- The dignity of the office? "Bart to the Future" % Just then, the presidential helicopter touches down on the lawn. % Bart has sent it to pick up Ralph. Lisa objects, and Bart tries the % "you used to be cool" line on her. It doesn't work, since Lisa % denies ever being cool. % % Bart continues to be a thorn in the President's side. When she is % honoring the players of the Negro Leagues of Rollerball, Bart's % wayward Frisbee hits her. Secret Service agents dispatch it with % extreme prejudice. % % Lisa asks Bart if he applied for a messenger job, but he didn't like % their policy of not paying him until he has worked for two weeks. % Then, he gets an inspiration, saying, "Hey, maybe I can sue 'em!" % Lisa rolls her eyes in exasperation. % % Undaunted by Lisa's skepticism at dinnertime, Homer starts his % search for Lincoln's gold. He carries a pickaxe through the White % House hallways as he carefully counts off his paces. Marge follows % him. Homer: ... fourscore four, fourscore five, fourscore six, fourscore and seven paces. [swings the pickaxe into the floor] Marge: Wait! How do you know this is where Lincoln buried the gold. You just started counting from an arbitrary place. Homer: I just started what from a what? Marge: Your plan makes no sense. Homer: Gold bars discovered by Marge, zero. Gold bars discovered by Homer, well, let's just see. [swings axe again, and some of the floor gives way. Through the hole, we can see Lisa in her office, startled by the ceiling caving in near her] Whoops! Sorry, honey. Marge: Gold bars discovered by Homer? Homer: Shut up. -- "Bart to the Future" % Lisa and Milhouse discuss ways to pull America out of the debt hole. Lisa: If I'm going to bail the country out, I'll have to raise taxes, but in my speech I'd like to avoid calling it a, "painful emergency tax." Milhouse: What about, "colossal salary grab." Lisa: See, that has the same problem. We need to soften the blow. Milhouse: Well, if you just want to out-and-out lie ... [Lisa doesn't object] Okay, we could call it a, "temporary refund adjustment." Lisa: I love it. Milhouse: Really? What else do you love, Lisa? Lisa: Fiscal solvency. Milhouse: [disappointed] Oh. Yeah, me too. -- "Bart to the Future" % Lisa gets ready to sell her colossal salary grab, er, temporary % refund adjustment to the public. Director: Thirty seconds, Madame President. Bart: Hey, Lis, I need a favor. Lisa: Not now, Bart, I'm about to speak to a hundred million people. This speech could make or break my presidency. Bart: I hear you. [puts a small boom box on Lisa's desk] All I want you to do is play my demo tape in the background while you're yakking about whatever. Now, this "play" button is a little screwed up, so you gotta hold it down. Lisa: Are you insane? Bart: But you told me I should do something with my life. Director: Five seconds. [Lisa pushes aside Bart's cassette player, and it falls with a crash] Bart: Mom! [Lisa's on. She clears her throat] Lisa: My fellow Americans and voting illegal aliens, I will not mince words. Your country needs you. [cut to Moe's Tavern, where the patrons watch Lisa on TV] [on TV] That's why today I'm proposing a temporary refund adjustment. Moe: Refund adjustment? Hey, sounds good to me. Lenny: Sure beats a tax. Carl: We love you, President Simpson. [cut back to the Oval Office] Lisa: The months ahead will be long and arduous. But it's only through arduousity that you -- Bart: [walks into camera view, playing guitar and singing to the tune of "Escape (The Piņa Colada Song)"] If you like refund adjustments, And the music I play, Send a check to my friend Ralph, And he'll mail you a tape. Lisa: [laughs weakly] This is my brother Bart, who doesn't seem to realize this isn't the best time for his music. [aside] He's one of the people I want to help with my programs. Bart: Hey, Lis, my music's going to make it a lot easier for you get America to swallow your big tax hike. Lisa: [gasps] [cut to Moe's Tavern] Moe: Tax hike? Hold the phone, Mabel. Carl: You know, I never trusted her. Lenny: Don't blame me, I voted for Chastity Bono. [cut back to the Oval Office] Bart: [Singing to "Day-O (The Banana Boat)"] Daylight come and you want-a my tape. Ralph: Ta-a-ape! He say ta-a-ape-o! Bart: Post Office Box Three Oh Four Five Two. Lisa: Good night, America. Director: And we're out. -- Read my lips ... "Bart to the Future" % With the cameras off, Lisa throttles her brother. Bart calls for % the Secret Service, but this backfires when the agents come and help % Lisa choke him. % % [End of Act Two. Time: 14:20] % % Public opinion makes any sort of tax increase (or refund adjustment) % politically infeasible. Lisa and her cabinet try to plot their next % move. To settle the debt, the Americans would have to give up a lot % of public assets, including ones that they don't technically own. % Lisa wants to avoid that, preferring to call a meeting with the % United States' creditor nations, and remind them of the US's past % generosity with them. There's just one possible downside. Lisa: Oh, but Bart could screw everything up. Kearney: [as a Secret Service agent] You want him ... eliminated? Lisa: No, just keep him out of my hair. Kearney: Out of your hair with extreme severity? Lisa: No! Kearney: Come on, every President gets three secret murders. If you don't use them by the end of the term [makes smacking noise] they're gone. -- "Bart to the Future" % Just then, Bart interrupts the meeting, demanding to know who ran % over his moped. Lisa protests that she has no time for Bart's % antics, for she is, after all, the President. "President of what," % Bart asks, "United States of Dorksylvania?" Then he tries to high- % five Alan Greenspan. Lisa has wave off Kearney, who approaches Bart % with a syringe. Lisa: You know something, Bart, you're right. My lack of coolness is really holding America back. Bart: Thank you. Down low! [extends his hand, but retracts it when Lisa tries to slap it] Too slow! Lisa: [laughs weakly] You're too much, Bart. That's why I'm appointing you, "Secretary of Keeping It Real." Bart: Wow? You're really asking for my help? Lisa: Absolutely. I want you and your pals to go away to Camp David, and write up a report on coolness. [escorts Bart to the door] Bart: Well, if my country needs me ... can we skinny dip? Lisa: At Camp David? Sure. They couldn't keep pants on Kissinger. -- That's why Nixon spent so little time there, "Bart to the Future" % Bart's "coolness committee" convenes at Camp David. Krusty suggests % starting the report off with a joke, and tells one about the nuclear % conflict between India and Pakistan. It bombs, if you'll pardon the % pun. Bart tells the group that if they buckle down now, they can go % through President Clinton's porno stash when they're done. The gang % decides not to wait, and Bart goes by himself to the bar to work on % the report. Bart: Oh, Lisa's counting on me for this coolness report. Carter: Coolness report? Huh. You've been had, boy. Bart: Billy Carter's ghost? Carter: Damn straight. And I'm here to tell you, you've been sent on a wild goose chase. Bart: You mean Lisa wanted to get rid of me? Carter: Well, that's a big ten-four. When my brother Jimmy was making peace in the Middle East, he sent me to belly-flop academy. Bart: I guess I am an embarrassment. Carter: You sure are. And hey, there's an embarrassment of riches at the Caesar's Pow Wow Indian Casino. You can bet on it! [winks and fans a deck of cards] [cut to the present] Bart: You put an ad in my vision? Manager: Yeah, Crazy Talk came up with that. He got idea from Dances With Focus Groups. -- "Bart to the Future" % Back to the future, where Homer has dug up a good part of the White % House lawn. Finally, he hits paydirt. Homer: [hauls a chest from one of the holes] Marge, I did it! I found Lincoln's gold! [opens the chest, but finds only a piece of paper] Huh? Marge: [picks up the paper and reads it] Dear Countryman. You've come in search of my gold, and I will not disappoint you. Homer: Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! Marge: My gold is in the heart of every freedom-loving American. Homer: Aw, crap! Marge: It's in our mighty rivers, our majestic -- well, isn't that clever? It's a metaphor. Homer: [pounds the earth with his shovel] That lying, rail- splitting, theater-going freak! -- "Honest Abe," my ass, "Bart to the Future" % The mood in Lisa's meeting room isn't much less hostile. The % creditor nations go from wanting to be repaid to calling for Lisa's % head. Just when things couldn't get worse, Bart walks in. Bart: You guys should relax; you'll live longer. Lisa: Bart, you're supposed to be at Camp David. Bart: [aside to Lisa] You're meeting with debt collectors and you don't want my help? Do you know how crazy that is? [to the creditors] Guys, the thing is, we totally have the money, and we tried to wire it to you, but you know how banks screw up. Frenchman: I do not understand. Bart: We tried to call you all day Saturday. German: We were there Saturday. Bart: Dude, I know. I left a message with some guy named Hans. German: Hans? Bart: He might have been a temp. Very surly. German: We have had a lot of turnover. Chinese Man: You pay now! Now! [pounds fist on table] Bart: What happened to you, China? You used to be cool. Chinese Man: Hey, China is still cool. You pay later. Later! [pounds fist on table] Bart: Solid. The rest of you go on home, and look in your mailboxes, cause I totally remember sending checks out. [murmuring, the creditor nations' representatives leave] -- Bart Simpson, master negotiator, "Bart to the Future" % Lisa is grateful for Bart's help. Lisa: Thanks, Bart. You bought us some time. What can I do to thank you? Bart: Legalize it. Lisa: Legalize what? Bart: [smiles] Lisa: [realizes] Ohhh, oh. Consider it done. -- And that's how it was legalized, "Bart to the Future" % Figuring the occasion calls for some music, Bart tries to play a % cassette on his boom box. The machine malfunctions and catches % fire. % % Segue to the flames in the manager's office, where the manager says % the vision gets hazy after that. Bart wonders why his vision % includes the story of Homer searching for Lincoln's gold, and the % manager figures the spirits thought the main vision needed some % bolstering. The main point, however, is that Bart can improve his % fate if he pledges to change his ways. Bart promises to do so, and % the manager gives him an (expired) coupon, then disappears in a gust % of wind. % % Lisa walks into the office. Lisa: There you are! Come on, we have to go. Dad pushed a waitress and Mom lost twenty thousand dollars. [cut to a shot of Lisa and Bart walking in the parking lot] Bart: You're not going to believe it, Lis. This cool Indian guy showed me our future. Lisa: Really? Anything good? Bart: I'll say! I've got my own band, and a moped. Lisa: What about me? Bart: Eh, some government job. -- She has to live in public housing, too, "Bart to the Future" % [End of Act Three. Time (including flute music): 20:06] % % The opening bars of the closing theme are played on a flute, after % that, they are the normal closing credits. The Gracie logo sound is % Bart saying, "Moochie, moochie!" ============================================================================== > Contributors ============================================================================== {al} Andrew Levine {bjr} Benjamin Robinson {bmn} Bill McNeal {ddg} Don Del Grande {dj} Darrel Jones {ds} Dave Sibley {gb} Gareth Barsby {gw} G Waunch {ib} Ian Boothby {jb} John Barton {jc} Jeff Cross {jg2} Joe Green {jk} Joe Klemm {jp} Jerry P. {ms} Mike Smith {rw} Robert Wisham {sb} Sam Bell ============================================================================== > Legal Mumbo Jumbo ============================================================================== This episode capsule is Copyright 2000 Benjamin Robinson. It is not to be redistributed in a public forum without consent from its author or current maintainer (capsules@snpp.com). All quoted material and episode summaries remain property of The Simpsons, Copyright of Twentieth Century Fox. All other contributions remain the properties of their respective authors. The Quote and Scene Summary itself is Copyright 2000 Benjamin Robinson. This capsule has been brought to you by Nelson's Crab Shack. This work is dedicated to Raymond Chen, James A. Cherry, Ricardo Lafaurie, Frederic Briere, and all of those who made episode capsules what they are today.