Bye Bye Nerdie Written by John Frink & Don Payne Directed by Lauren Macmullan ============================================================================== Production code: CABF11 Original Airdate on FOX: 11-Mar-01 Capsule revision B (1-Jan-04) ============================================================================== > "TV Guide" Synopsis ============================================================================== None submitted [If you use these summaries to determine if you found the right capsule, here's a TV Guide-like synopsis: Lisa tries to figure out why the new girl in her class bullies all the smart students -- especially her. Meanwhile, Homer goes on a crusade to make Springfield infant-safe. -- Ed.] ============================================================================== > Title sequence ============================================================================== Blackboard: I WILL NOT SCARE THE VICE PRESIDENT I WILL NOT SCARE THE VI at cutoff Couch: The family rides into the living room in bumper cars. Marge (with Maggie), Bart, and Lisa all converge on Homer, bumping him into the back wall. [Recycled from BABF10] ============================================================================== > Did You Notice... ============================================================================== ... Lisa's Malibu Stacey doll has a Pepperdine notebook? Matthew Anscher: ... the show's lack of any time-space continuum has put Homer and Barney in high school in 1976 (the year the song "Kung Fu Fighting" came out)? ... Francine looks a little bit like Krusty the Clown's daughter Sophie? ... this is the first time Martin Prince has had a major line in a long time? ... Apu and Manjula didn't take offense at the novelty gloves slipped on Shiva's hands? ... this is the second time this season that one of Homer's "solutions" has caused mass unemployment? ... Lisa's theory didn't explain why bullies preyed on non-nerds, such as Bart? Don Del Grande: ... when Nelson had a talk with Lisa, he had his arm around her? ... Dr. Hibbert's wife had a recent baby? ... two urban legends were mentioned: "Pi is exactly 3" and "cats suffocate babies"? Eva Ghitelman: ... Francine's parents are nerds? Joe Green: ... the bus's gearshift knob looks like an 8-ball? Darrel Jones: ... Ralph's idea of a "new kid" really is a kid (baby goat)? ... Smithers wore braces in high school? Joe Klemm: ... the hippie flowers when the scene shifts from the present to the 1970's? ... the school gymnasium is now named after Dr. Marvin Monroe? Haynes Lee: ... Otto has a green novelty foot on the school bus accelerator? ... Nelson's octopus mangling Willy, Skinner and Krabappel? ... shadow outlining Maggie's back? ... Wendell finally puked after a long absence? ... yuppie thrown out of car has a cell phone? Alie Molino: ... Marge gets a sock stuck in her hair while trying to get Bart and Lisa ready for school? ... the kid with the headgear on the bus has a "Frankie Say: Relax" T- shirt? ... the baby safety saleswoman has an unnaturally large head? (And, according to Homer, an unnaturally large "caboose" as well.) ... despite being branded a loser in high school himself, Homer bullied Smithers? ... the end of Wendell's vomit, around his mouth, is gray? ... Willie's videotaping fetish may be encouraged (or assuaged) by the cameras at Springfield Elementary? Mike Reed: ... this is the second John Frink/Don Payne-written episode to feature an NRBQ song? ... this is the first time since season 8 we've seen an Itchy & Scratchy short at least twice in one season? ... Homer knows offhand the Poison Deliver phone number? ... not only did Francine not beat up Lisa at the pool, but she waved to her? ... Skinner and Krabapple make no attempt to stop Nelson from beating up on Tatum? ["Why bother?" asks Nathan DeHoff, "It's not like Tatum was getting hurt."] Benjamin Robinson: ... Marge's fists shake a little when she declares that she won her "race" with Otto? ... as the baby-proofer smacks the bottle on the floor, she once hits her own hand? ... someone remembered to animate Milhouse putting his pills away, rather than just having them disappear? Nice attention to detail! ... one of the scientists in the audience at the Big Science Thing says that Lisa is still in the "larval stage"? ... someone repeats "let's not listen to her" even after Lisa successfully demonstrates her theory? ... Lisa doesn't laugh as Francine beats up the scientists? (Well, neither does Maggie, but that's expected.) ============================================================================== > Voice Credits ============================================================================== - Starring - Dan Castellaneta (Itchy, Homer, Willie, Scientist 2, "Let's not listen") - Julie Kavner (Marge) - Nancy Cartwright (Bart, Nelson, Ralph, Kearney, Data) - Yeardley Smith (Lisa) - Hank Azaria (PDS Man, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Tatum, Businessman, Frink, Scientist 1, Francine's Dad) - Harry Shearer (Announcer, Scratchy, Otto, Principal Skinner, Kent, Hibbert, Owner, Dr. Koop) - Special Guest Voice - Kathy Griffin (Francine) - Jan Hooks (Manjula Nahasapeemapetilon) - Marcia Wallace (Edna Krabappel) - Also Starring - Pamela Hayden (Girl {jlm}, Janey, Milhouse, Jimbo) - Tress MacNeille (Boy {jlm}, Mom, Boy with braces {jlm}, Francine's Mom {jlm}, Baby-proofer, Dolph, "Men") - Russi Taylor (Sherri, Terri, Martin, Wendell) - Karl Wiedergott ("I'm afraid") ============================================================================== > Movie (and other) references ============================================================================== + "Bye Bye, Birdie" (movie) - title a spoof + Dick Cheney (United States Vice-President) - Bart's blackboard gag alludes to his heart problems [See "Comments" section for more -- Ed.] + "Lucky Charms" (breakfast cereal) - "Stabby Os" a knockoff - "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" (movie) {bjr} - Marge and Otto bust through a chain link fence and take a wild ride through a dry canal system - "Grease" (movie) {jc} - car chase in a flood-control channel ~ "Bullitt" (movie) {hl} - Marge and Otto's chase resembles car chase scene though San Francisco ~ "Repo Man" (movie) - Marge chasing the bus through what looks like the Los Angeles storm drains is similar to a scene in this movie {jg2} - [And we could probably name many other movies with dry aqueduct chase scenes -- Ed.] - Emilio Estevez' character, involved in this scene, is also named "Otto" {kp} + "Speed 2" (movie) {bjr} + "Speed" (movie) {ddg} - Milhouse says the "race" with Otto is like "Speed 2 but with a bus" [Which, of course, was the plot of "Speed" -- Ed.] ~ Linda Barry (cartoonist) {dh} - Francine was drawn in Linda Barry style (Groening once named her one of his heroes) - "A Cry in the Dark" (movie) {jk} - dingo alarm + Oxygen (women's TV network) {jk} + Lifetime (ditto) {jj} - Estrogen + "The View" (TV series) {jg2} - "Afternoon Yak" is an obvious parody + poindexter (slang) {bjr} - slang word for "nerd" forms half the name of Lisa's bully pheromone + dextrose (chemical) {bjr} - chemical name for a variety of sugar forms the other half ~ "Independence Day" {jc} - flying saucer attacks against the White House ============================================================================== > Previous episode references ============================================================================== - [7G03] Homer goes on a crusade to improve public safety {jg2} - [7F09] This is the second time Maggie has shot a picture of Homer {mr} - [7F24] Baby with a nail gun {bjr} - [8F14] Marge didn't just drive Bart and Lisa to school {mr} - [8F15] Otto has a green foot brake [accelerator, actually -- Ed.], just like Snake {mr} - [8F24] fat nerds sent to sweat shop at Kamp Krusty {hl} - [9F02], [9F20], [4F11] Bart dresses in drag {jg2} - [1F02] Homer explains how that as a jock it's his duty to make life miserable for nerds {hl} - [1F17], [5F20] A new girl in school antagonizes Lisa {jg2} - [2F01] The "dead/dead tired" joke {jg2} - [2F01], [4F14] Marge and Homer are (falsely) informed that one of the kids is dead {jg2} - [2F06] Willie tapes unsuspecting people {bjr} - [2F20] Marvin Monroe Memorial something {ddg} - [3F14] "Relax" referenced {dj} - [4F17] A Simpson runs down the middle of a street yelling at people to change their behavior {jg2} - [5F09] The mysterious window above the Simpsons' front door appears for a second time {mr} - [AABF22] The Focusyn scientist comes to see the "Big Science Thing" presentations {am} - [AABF22] Prescriptions shown off at the Springfield Elementary jungle gym {am} - [BABF07] The kids in the commercial are the same {mr} - [BABF18] Nelson asks, "Why you throwing tomatoes at yourself?" (cf. "Stop punching yourself, take one ...") {jj} - [CABF09] The kid in Sherri/Terri's fantasy bubble looks like the classmate, "Tommy," that Sherri/Terri had a crush on {am} - [CABF12] Lisa figures out something that is vital to the plot by scanning videotapes of the incident {am} ============================================================================== > Freeze frame fun ============================================================================== - Boy's T-shirt {bjr} FRANKIE SAYS: RELAX - Milhouse's pill bottle {bjr} NO: 76384 VANHOUTEN, MILHOUSE TAKE ONE TABLET AS NEEDED R E P R E S S I T O L - Script on Homer's car door {bjr} WEE CARE - Sign on video room door {am} +-------------+ | | | KEEP OOT | | | +-------------+ - Labels on tapes {bjr} THURSDAY LUNCHTIME WEDNESDAY LUNCHTIME TUESDAY LUNCHTIME MONDAY LUNCHTIME - On side of one box {bjr} DO NOT REMOVE - On tape of swimming class {bjr} TUESDAY -- PHYS. ED. - Poolside sign {bjr} NO RUNNING IN THE POOL AREA - Label on Lisa's beaker {bjr} NERD SWEAT - Card factory sign {bjr} BABY GET WELL CARDS, INC. - Science gathering banner {bjr} 12th ANNUAL BIG SCIENCE THING ============================================================================== > Animation, continuity, and other goofs ============================================================================== = Bart and Lisa's clothes are on the correct child after they are rushed to the kitchen. {jk} = The "World Industries Flameboy" underside of the bus disappeared in the scene after it appeared. {ddg} = Maggie loses her pacifier when she picks up the nail gun. {bjr} * Nail guns don't fire unless they're pressed up against something. [This was a] big reality error in Lethal Weapon as well. [See "Comments" section for more -- Ed.] {jj} * Nails don't fly straight out of a nail gun like that. {dn} = The nails on Homer's hand disappears in the third person shot of Maggie with the nail gun. {jk} = Homer didn't bleed after the nail gun incident. {ddg} c When homer cemented the phone, the CC said "babyproofed." You can tell the animation said something different and it was changed later. {jj} * The phone number for the Poison Delivery Service only has six digits. {bjr} = As she's talking to the bullies, Lisa's arm sometimes has four red bands, and at other times only three. {bjr} = The "paper towels" in the restroom were really a roller. {ddg} = When Lisa's examining the tape, there's one shot (with the TV at an angle, I think) where Francine clearly doesn't have the nose clip on. {mg} * Dr. Hibbert and the get well card industry shouldn't have been wiped out, as Homer did nothing to keep babies from getting sick? {ddg} c Lisa points out the inventor of the walkie-talkie at the science thing, but the closed captioning has her saying, "the inventor of the no-spill mug." c At the end of the program, when the bully lunges at the camera, she screams -- no words. The closed captioning, however, shows "I hate you." {rsw} ============================================================================== > Reviews ============================================================================== Steve Alpert: I think that the staff still needs to find good endings, but at least the beginning was good. I was laughing several times throughout, and although this episode wasn't as strong as last week, it certainly was by no means a poor episode. The bully needed a girl voice though. Has Maggie Roswell been put on steroids? [Maybe, maybe not. The voice was done by Kathy Griffin, though -- Ed.] Would've been a B+, but because of the bad voice, it gets a (B-) Don Del Grande: The only king that kept this episode from going nowhere was that the long ending sent it into a downward spiral. At least the subplot had the occasional good gag, but it got buried much too early. (B-) Joe Green: In spite of a few farfetched plot elements, this episode was very consistent and funny. "The Simpsons" has, IMHO, made a gradual creative comeback over the course of Season 12, and this show was another good sign. (A-) Darrel Jones: An excellent wacky episode, IMO. Some won't care for the wackiness, or Homer getting pierced by the nail gun, but I loved Francine. Homer's "Hurt your children!" rampage was hilarious, too. Earns an A- (8/10) for effort. (A-) Chad Lehman: Very surprised. Just a little expository dialogue. Very, very cool! Best of Season 12. It doesn't have the emotional depth of say, 8F06. But it was very cool. Possibly my first "A" grades since season 9. (A) Alie Molino: Wow! Two, two, two plots in one! ... which hasn't happened for a couple of episodes. Homer's Baby Safety campaign and Lisa's Anti-Aggression study got pretty equal airtime. However, Homer's baby safety campaign was not wrapped up quite neatly. This episode had a lot to say, and is disguised as a moral message episode, but doesn't quite end up as one. What are we to learn from this week's episode? Spray ourselves with salad dressing? Wrap ourselves in bubble wrap? (However, what you do on your own time is none of my business). Lots of twists and turns, a nice smattering of laughs, but not one of my favorites this season ... (B-) Michael Nusair: Ahhhh, another episode that was good -- but not great. There were quite a few funny parts, and the plot was good. The nail-gun scene probably went on a bit too long, though. Also, it was strange to see one of Homer's schemes actually be successful. But I guess he needs an income of some sort, now that he obviously doesn't work at SNPP anymore. Anyway, this episode certainly wasn't a classic, but it was entertaining, funny, and had a pretty good plot. You can't ask for too much more than that these days. (B) Mike Reed: I don't know what to think, frankly. It had a few good laughs, but, aside from the I&S short at the beginning, nothing really stands out in my mind. It was nice to see Database and Drederick Tatum again, but overall, I'd rate this episode a little forgettable. (B-) Kelly Stewart: I thought this started as an incredibly funny episode with some great lines. I liked the opening sequence with Itchy and Scratchy cereal, "your baby is dead!" (tasteless and classic), and one of Ralph's all time great lines ("We're a totem pole hu-ya hu-ya") ... LOL. But what the hell happened after the midpoint of this show? it's like a new set of writers came in and botched it. Homer as a safety freak? Nerd sweat? The second half of this episode was so bad I wanted to cringe. (B-) Todd Willis: Damn, this was a pretty good episode despite the fact that a similar plot had already been done twice. The first two acts were gold and reminded me of me of some of the older episodes. The third act brought the show down with the whole "Nerd Sweat" thing, but the writers still did a decent job of keeping the third act funny. (B+) Fox Wolf: I really don't know what to think about this episode. The first act was all around great, the second act was also very good, but it's the "nerd sweat" thing that just killed the episode. It was so good and had so much potential, but then that entire thing ... well, the two great acts do very much overpower the third, but I still can't get that bad third act aftertaste out of my mouth. (B+) Yours Truly: It's a Lisa-centric episode, yet Lisa's subplot is strangely uncompelling. The premise -- Lisa must deal with the new school bully -- isn't bad, but Francine the bully is too generic. She just shows up, beats on Lisa, and moves along, often without saying a word. It robs some energy from the plot because both sides of a "good girl vs. evil girl" conflict have to be interesting. We also have the usual problem an ending which leaves too many things unexplored. On the other hand, I did like a subplot revolving around Homer's baby-proofing crusade. (The scene where a professional tries to open a supposedly easy-open bottle is hilarious.) I give it a C+, albeit a fairly strong one. (C+) AVERAGE GRADE: B (2.99) Std Dev.: 0.5410 (14 reviews computed) ============================================================================== > Comments and other observations ============================================================================== >> Those Eternal Threads - Where is Springfield? Gerard Motola: Tonight's Simpsons featured the LA "river" [the aqueducts Marge and Otto raced through] ... Handsome Pete: That's what I thought for a long time. Mountains, desert, ocean, all kinds of weird characters plus KrustyLu studios. But this is contradicted by that episode when "Hollywood" came to Springfield to make the Radioactive Man movie. Hmmph. Paul Tomko disagrees: All large cities have these drainage canals, though some are in underground tunnels. >> Musical References Alie Molino: While Marge is trying to get the kids ready for school, "Sword Dance" plays? Joe Green: "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas -- Homer sings this while beating up Smithers. "Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats -- Homer sings this after hearing himself mentioned on TV. Craig "King" Pineapple: "Always Safety First" by NRBQ plays during Homer's baby-proofing montage. >> Meta-Reference Corner Joe Klemm: Francine's attack towards the screen at the end may be targeted toward us Simpsons fans who post their comments on the Internet. >> Folklore Alert Haynes Lee presents: Cats suck the breath from babies, sometimes killing them. Proven false. Alabama redefined the value of pi to 3 to bring it in line with Biblical precepts. Alabama's state legislature redefined the value of pi from 3.14159 to 3. Proven false. T. Indiana House Bill #246 of 1897 is a piece of gibberish that could be interpreted to mean pi = 3.2, 4, or 160/49. Killed in state Senate. This is true. Some state (e.g., KS, OK, etc.) once considered a bill setting pi = 3 (or some other arbitrary, non-transcendental number). False, although with some elements of truth. >> But if he goes, who will run the country? Benjamin Robinson writes: Recently elected Vice President Dick Cheney has been in the news a lot lately, but not in a good way. The new veep has a history of heart problems dating back to when he was in his thirties, and shortly before this episode aired in the U. S., Cheney was briefly hospitalized for chest pains. (He quickly treated and released.) Thanks to tonight's blackboard gag, we know why! >> She might fit in if she had one of those spiffy shirts Alie Molino has this to say about the "Frankie Say: Relax" shirt: This is a reference to shirts put out by the band "Frankie Goes to Hollywood" during the 1980s. They're best known for the song "Relax." Some of the T-shirts they sold did indeed say "Frankie Say: Relax," and most of the people who wore them wore them ridiculously oversized. Nelson Fu adds: The kid on the bus from last Sunday's episode was wearing a T-shirt that said "Frankie says RELAX." Everyone knows that real Frankie Goes to Hollywood shirts always said "Frankie say RELAX" to denote that the band was considered one big group as opposed to a single person. Are we to supposed to believe that (phhhbtt) kids of Springfield Elementary are so poor that they have to buy counterfeit 80's retro wear? I hope somebody got fired over this. >> Name that victim Jerry Steinhofer asks: When Homer was recalling when he was a bully ... didn't the nerd he was abusing look like Smithers? Nathan DeHoff: Wasn't Smithers' age pretty well established in "The Old Man and the Lisa," when he stated that he was born [some number that I forgot] years after the stock market crash in 1929? I believe that his age came out to be around 44 or something, while Homer is at least five years younger than that. I guess they COULD have been in school together, but I wouldn't exactly buy a seventh-grade Homer beating up on a twelfth-grade Smithers (and they looked like they were closer in age to each other in that scene anyway). "Surly" points out: Let's not forget that that episode was a few years ago, adding that many years then could have made Smithers the same age as Homer. They don't age in the show, despite the number of birthdays they have. Nathan DeHoff replies: Yeah, trying to figure out how old a character is based on years is a tricky task, since the characters don't age. Still, Smithers is almost definitely older than Homer. He's "in his early forties," according to Troy McClure in the 138th Episode Spectacular, while Homer is between 36 and 39, depending on which episode you go by. Characters might not age, but they don't get younger, either. Haynes Lee advances a different theory: I think that's Artie Ziff that Homer was beating up as he has black hair. "Dragon": It was not Artie Ziff. Artie Ziff has a very small face and a big afro. It was Smithers. Paul Tomko: That was Smithers? It looked like a generic nerd to me. [...] It couldn't have been Smithers. Smithers was already old enough to be an announcer at the gymnastics meet where Homer's Dad makes him screw up. Alie Molino: I thought that Smithers was supposed to be an announcer from the high school. If they have their own radio stations, high schools usually use students as the on-air talent. Nathan DeHoff: Maybe it was Waylon Smithers' brother, and Artie Ziff's cousin. (That would also make Smithers Artie's cousin, but who says he's not?) Taking another angle on the question, "Petros" writes: The thing is, what that a "real" memory or one of Homer's famous wishful thinking memory revisions? I always figured he was the victim of bullies in HS, not the bully. Benyamin Powers: There are different levels of nerds ... of course in a high school the gays are the lowest level ... even lower than Homer. (The views of every high school class system do not reflect those of this typer.) >> Aw ... baby with a nail gun Dag Nabbit writes: Most compressor driven nail guns (pneumatic) are easily and quite often "rigged" to fire without the tip needing to be depressed (as a veteran of many nail gun fights). But you [John Jensen] are 100% [right] about the Paslode gas-powered nailer in Lethal Weapon. Since the safety device (i.e. tip) actually engages the motor (run by battery), rigging this to fire automatically is impossible without the battery or motor dying very quickly. And of course, lacking a barrel or any kind of stabilizing device on the nail, they don't fly strait ... unless wizardry is involved. >> Buddhism: The safety-conscious faith Red Halcyon asks: When Homer suggests to Apu and Manjula that they switch to the round, non-pointy religion of Buddhism, they both react adversely. What's the conflict between these two religions? Chad Lehman answers: It's like suggesting a Christian convert to Judaism, or Hare Krishna, or something. Kristian Ronge elaborates: A major conflict is that Buddhism does not have the cast system, whereas Hinduism has. The basic practical consequence of this is that in Buddhism, salvation (well, not really, but the state of Nirvana) is reachable by people from all walks of life. In Hinduism only people born into the highest cast (Brahmans(?), I forget) can do so. Poor Hindus (of lower cast) therefore tend to convert to Buddhism (the second biggest "local" religion in S.E. Asia), in ever increasing rates. ["Actually, Islam is the second biggest religion in SE Asia now, looking at Indonesia," says Brian Beck -- Ed.] Tilman Menshevik writes: Actually, within the context of the Indian subcontinent, it should be noted that historically the revival of the old religions in what is now called Hinduism enabled them to recoup their previous losses to Buddhism and reduce the latter to comparative insignificance except at the fringes (Sri Lanka, Tibet etc.). In the republic of India, only about 1 percent of the population (according to the encyclopedia I used) are Buddhists, who are thus outnumbered not only by Muslims (18 percent, and predominant in Pakistan and Bangla Desh), but also by Sikhs and Christians. So in its own native area, Hinduism actually was more successful with the lower ranks of society than Buddhism. Also, it should be noted that just as Buddhism managed to integrate elements (and gods) from older religions into itself, so Hinduism managed to "accommodate" Buddhism into its system -- for a worshipper of Vishnu, the Buddha is simply one of the ten avatars of that Vishnu. >> Fun with math Benjamin Robinson: The square root of 1,000,000 is 1,000. Whew -- that solves that mystery! Tom Restivo: Not quite ... there are TWO square roots to 1,000,000: +1000 and -1000. >> Car Watch the safe way Joe Green observes: The car that almost runs over Ralph is a Volvo, most likely made in the late '80s or early '90s. >> Attending science presentations can be hazardous to your health. Benjamin Robinson: One of the scientist big-wigs at Springfield's Big Science thing was Dr. C. Everett Koop, the former Surgeon General of the United States. (The Surgeon General directs government policy on health issues.) Koop was the man with the full beard and no moustache -- a comedian once joked he looked like the captain of an Amish battleship. He's more famous for being the Surgeon General who publicly declared smoking to be a major health hazard, and it was he who put those ubiquitous warnings on cigarette packages. >> Why CABF11 was great Didn't like this episode? Chad Lehman explains why you are wrong: Classic Simpsons always took exaggerated ideas, and ran with them. Family shock centers, beer commercials aimed at kids, or whatever. Everything in their exaggerated world was normal to the Simpsons. That made the jokes "tongue- in-cheek", and satirical. We had to understand why the situation was funny, from the context . There was a cigarette ad aimed at kids by Radioactive Man. Nowhere is there a narrator character, pointing out how reckless and downright wrong it was. It was a part of The Simpsons' exaggerated world. In their world, it was normal. Classic Simpsons plots are defined by either a sarcastic (satiric) or serious theme. 8F06, 9F09 and 3F02 had serious themes, though they were still funny because of the smaller sarcastic (satiric) themes within. 9F01, 9F15 and 7F22 were very good examples of sarcastic resolutions to the main theme. These two flavors of episodes both fit under the "show us, don't tell us" or "exaggerated America" concept. CABF11 fit nicely into the sarcastic theme resolution. Lisa could easily have discovered a realistic reason for Francine's behavior, and the episode would still have been funny. "Nerd sweat" wasn't just another silly thing, common in recent Simpsons episodes. It was an extremely ridiculous solution to the question posed by the plot. Why can't you reason with bullies? Lisa, as the force behind "nerd sweat", was the perfectly ironic choice. She's the level-headed one. A season 10 or 11 episode would have her outraged at such a simplistic idea. But by using Lisa as the normally "trustable" character, peddling the idea of "nerd sweat", the commentary is sarcastic. The greatest scientists in the world agreed. Lisa had solved the problem! The solution was ridiculous. Lisa is someone we can trust. These are two clues that someone's pulling our leg. Lisa's character is the poker-face behind which the joke was hidden. The fact that some people won't get that it's a joke makes the joke funnier. The poker-face is sure to fool many people. The sarcasm goes over their heads. Another very sarcastic plot resolution came in 7F23. Everything works out for Ned Flanders, in a too-perfect way. They come together at the end in a parody of "It's a Wonderful Life" that mocks the simplistic idea, more than pays homage to the movie. Yet, the episode showed heart. The writers could have written a serious solution to 9F01's plot, where introspection makes Homer choose church over free-time. 8F06 could have ended sarcastically, with Homer getting third and fourth jobs to support large animals for each of the other family members. But the themes would have remained the same. Comic Book Guy saying "Oh, that's a REAL useful invention" in sarcasm means the same as "That's not a very useful invention" in seriousness. Yeah, I can see why "nerd sweat" appeared like one of the many other just plain "silly" elements from recent episodes. "Nerd sweat" was silly, but it meant something. It was a simplistic answer to the theme, which made it satirical. Fireworks used to clean up a house is just plain silly, IMO. If anything, it was light social satire about Homer's devotion to laziness. Anything to avoid real work. Meh. CABF11 could have also been written with a serious theme, exploring Lisa's emotional stability in the wake of a bully. We could have seen her gather strength from within, and from others, to learn to accept the bully. But, this wouldn't have been the same episode theme. That theme would be "as a girl, how do you stand up to a bully?" That's a different episode, all together. This idea would follow the "serious" theme model, but it is really no greater than the sarcastic model. After all, we could very well see an episode that does just that in the future -- one that explores Lisa's inner strength. This is why we should ignore episode continuity at all times. The threat of a "salad-dressing" antidote shouldn't prevent us from seeing this future ep. Great episode. More, please. >> Coming Attractions Mike Reed faithfully transcribes: Voice-Over: Homer goes on a baby safety crusade! Homer: I'll draw bunny faces to scare Maggie away. Marge: She's not afraid of bunnies. Homer: She will be! Voice-Over: Will he be safe or sorry? Homer: Daddy's going to protect you from all the scary, sharp things. (hands her the nail gun) Hold this. (she staples his hand to the desk and his ears to the wall, laughing) >> Miscellaneous, Etc. The Haynes Lee alterna-title for this show (hey, it's been a while since we had one of these) is: Nerd on a Wire Joe Green suggests: Smells Like Preteen Spirit According to Fox (by way of Bill LaRue), this episode scored a Nielsen rating of 8.7 (14 share). This works out to 16.1 million viewers. Among adults aged 18 to 49, the rating was 7.7 (19 share). The network goes on to boast, "In its 12th season, THE SIMPSONS is posting solid gains compared to its performance the same weeks last year, increasing +7% among Adults 18-49 (7.7/18 vs. 7.2/17), +7% in Adults 18-34 (9.4/24 vs. 8.8/23), and +8% in Total Viewers (15.6 vs. 14.5 Mil)." The show was also the second- or third-highest ranked program for the week, depending on which demographic group you look at. John Jensen: Francine didn't say much the whole episode -- Oh yeah -- tastes like yours -- let me out of here! -- you're dead, nerd! -- knock this Dr. Dork. [{jlm} says it's really, "suck fist" -- Ed.] and that's it. Haynes Lee: The way Scratchy was opened with the H-cut is like those old six- pack small cereal boxes. The box is literally used as the cereal bowl. Can make a real mess. Mike Reed: I think this is the closest they've come to actually showing puke on the Simpsons. ============================================================================== > Quotes and Scene Summary {bjr} ============================================================================== % And now, a word from our sponsors. [a figure in a bathrobe turn stands at a sink, back toward the camera] Announcer: Look who's making breakfast! [the "housewife" turns around and giggle -- it's Itchy and Scratchy, with the cat standing on the mouse's shoulders] Boy + Girl: Itchy and Scratchy! Scratchy: That's right, kids. Itchy: Never start the day on an empty stomach. [uses a funnel to pour an entire box of Stabby-Os cereal down Scratchy's throat] Scratchy: [lies down on the kitchen table] It's delicious. Want to try? Boy + Girl: Yay! [Itchy slices Scratchy's chest open with a large knife, swinging the two halves of his rib cage apart as if they were barn doors. A good breakfast includes a generous serving of milk, so Itchy pours some on top of the cereal] Scratchy: Oooh! So cold ... [the kids dig in] Boy: Wow! Pink daggers! [a large marshmallow bit in the shape of a dagger floats above the kids, like in the "Lucky Charm" commercials. The same thing happens with the other things the kids name] Girl: Green hatchets! Boy: Yellow icepicks! Scratchy: [holding up some breakfast side dishes] And Stabby- Os are part of this nutritious breakfast ... [he trails off as the blood and color drains from his head, and drops the dishes] Girl: Hey, if you guys made breakfast, where's Mom? Mom: [from under a tureen] Here I am. [Itchy lifts the tureen, revealing Mom's immaculately coifed head on a platter] But thanks to Stabby-Os, most of me is still in bed. [cut to the Simpsons' living room. Homer, Bart, and Lisa lounge in front of the TV in their pajamas] Lisa: That ad campaign may have crossed a line. Homer: Eh, what can you do? Sex sells. [the kids look at Homer dubiously] -- So does a bit of the old ultraviolence, "Bye Bye Nerdie" % Marge walks in. She seems surprised to find her family there. Marge: Ah! Homer? You're still here? You should have left for work an hour ago. Homer: They said if I come in late again, I'm fired. I can't take that chance. -- "Bye Bye Nerdie" % Bart and Lisa are also running late. They're still in the pajamas, % and the school bus is only two blocks away. Marge takes matters % into her own hands. She grabs both kids, hauls them up to the % bathroom, and brushes both sets of teeth at once. Then she takes % them back down the stairs, before Bart has a chance to spit, even. % Her hands a blur, Marge dresses both kids on the way downstairs. % When they get to the bottom, Bart is wearing a classic red % minidress, while Lisa looks rugged in her orange shirt and blue % shorts. % % By the time they get to the kitchen, each Simpson child is wearing % their usual attire. Marge literally stuffs some food in their % mouths for breakfast. Bart chokes briefly on a grape, so Marge % applies the Heimlich maneuver. The grape flies across the kitchen % and Homer jumps up and catches it in his mouth. % % Marge, Bart, and Lisa reach the curb in record time (Marge looking a % little worse for the wear). Alas, all their rushing around was for % naught; the bus has just left. Marge refuses to be defeated. She % takes both kids in the station wagon and drives after the bus. When % she tries to flag the bus down, Otto misinterprets Marge's waving as % a challenge to race. Challenge accepted -- Otto floors it, and the % bus lurches ahead. It breaks through a chain-link fence and into % Springfield's aqueduct system. Marge follows, and the two vehicles % race through the dry canal system, running up and down the sloping % canal walls. She's deadly serious, but the kids on the bus are % having a grand old time. Whoa! It's like "Speed 2" only with a bus instead of a boat! -- Milhouse Van Houten, "Bye Bye Nerdie" % Otto's bus flies out of the canal, and back onto the road. Marge is % close behind, and soon overtakes Otto. Her car screeches to a halt % just in front of the school bus, forcing Otto to stop. Marge is % jubilant, despite the fact that she and Otto are now both parked % right in front of the school. Bart and Lisa get onto the bus, which % rolls forward a few feet to the "official" school bus stop. % % Before the children have the chance to get off the bus, Otto % remembers that he forgot to pick up a new student. He closes the % doors, hangs a U-turn in front of the school, and the kids' wild % ride continues. % % The children wonder what the newcomer will be like. Terri % fantasizes about a handsome young boy on a horse. Nelson imagines a % child-octopus hybrid terrorizing the other students. Ralph, % thinking of the wrong kind of kid, imagines a goat. % % They're all wrong. The new girl is nothing like they imagined. % She's a red-head, not fat but sturdily built, like a house or a % junior linebacker. She's wearing a slightly dumpy blue dress over a % white shirt. The children on the bus talk amongst themselves as she % finds her seat. Sherri: Red hair? Terri: What's she trying to pull? Janey: Those shoes look Canadian. Boy with braces: She'll never fit in. Lisa: Aw, it's tough being the new kid. Someone should go talk to her. Bart: Yeah, somebody should. [looks out the window] One hour dry cleaner? Man, that's fast. -- "Bye Bye Nerdie" % Homer and Marge enjoy, sort of, some coffee and a quiet morning % together. The doorbell rings, and they both hurry to answer it. Baby-proofer: Your baby is dead! [horrified, Homer and Marge scream] That's what you'd hear if your baby fell victim to the thousands of deathtraps lurking in the average American home. [hands Marge a business card] Marge: Springfield Baby-proofing? Homer: [panting] You, you really scared us. Baby-proofer: Sorry about that. But the truth is ... your baby, Maggie Simpson, is dead! [Homer and Marge scream once more] Dead tired of baby-proofers who don't provide a free estimate. Let's start in the kitchen. [walks in] [cut to the kitchen. For her demo, the baby-proofer ties on an oversized baby bonnet] Now, pretend I'm a baby. [baby voice] Me want to explore. [gets down on all fours and crawls around like an infant] Homer: [to Marge] That's a pretty big caboose for a baby. Marge: Homer, don't be ... wow, that is huge. Baby-proofer: [finds a plastic bottle under the kitchen sink] Pwetty colors. Me want to dwink. [tries to open the bottle, but the lid remains stubbornly closed. She bangs it on the floor, but the bottle stays closed. Then she takes the bottle to the sink, stands up, and runs the lid under the water for a few seconds to loosen it up. She whacks the lid against the lip of the sink until it finally comes loose] Marge: [gasps] She got it open! Baby-proofer: You see how quickly your baby could have been drinking this [reads label] Similac Baby Formula? Homer: [anguished] No! [takes the bottle and stomps on it] This is such an eye-opener. I always pictured the kids dying in the living room. -- "Bye Bye Nerdie" % Later, the baby-proofer tallies up the cost of the safety equipment % the Simpsons would need to protect Maggie from household hazards. % Homer considers the estimate momentarily, and then throws the baby- % proofer out of the house. "We don't need your high-priced safety % junk!" he thunders. Just then, Maggie falls out of one of the % second-floor windows. They baby-proofer deftly catches her, and % hands her to Homer. He politely thanks the baby-proofer. % % At the school, the new girl sits alone on the teeter-totter. Some % students watch her from the jungle gym. Bart: Look at the new kids hogging the teeter-totter -- like she owns the place! Milhouse: Yeah, she thinks she's Babe: Pig in the City. Lisa: Give her a break. Remember your first day at school? Milhouse: Not as long as I keep taking these. [holds up a bottle of pills labeled, "Repressitol"] Lisa: Well, someone's got to make her feel welcome. [climbs down from the gym and walks over to the new girl] Hi. My name's Lisa. What's yours? [the new kid punches Lisa, knocking her out] -- No gratitude for the welcome wagon, "Bye Bye Nerdie" % [End of Act One. Time: 6:08] % % At home, Lisa nurses a real shiner. Homer tries consoling her by % confessing his own "bully problem." Only problem is, it was Homer % who was the bully, whaling on people to the tune of "Kung Fu % Fighting." Marge: Why don't you try reaching out to this new girl? See if you two have a common interest. Lisa: Hmmm. Well, lots of people like jazz fusion. [picks up a sax and plays a riff] Marge: Okay, that's in the "maybe" file. What if you two bond over your Malibu Stacey dolls. [holds one up] Lisa: [takes it from Marge] They're not dolls, they're aspiration figures. But it might work. -- "Bye Bye Nerdie" % Homer starts baby-proofing the house. Homer: That baby-proofing crook wanted to sell us safety covers for the electrical outlets. But I'll just draw bunny faces on them to scare Maggie away. [does so] Marge: She's not afraid of bunnies. Homer: She will be. -- Be afraid, be very afraid, "Bye Bye Nerdie" % At school, Lisa approaches the new girl. Lisa: Uh, Francine? I think we got off to a bad start. [notices Francine is holding a doll] Hey! You like Malibu Stacey, too! Francine: Oh, yeah. Lisa: And you like the same one I like, with the grad student glamour pack. Just like the one in my-- [sees that her locker door has been forced open] locker. That's mine, isn't it? Francine: [bites the head off the doll, and spits it at Lisa] Tastes like yours. [picks up Lisa, throws her in her locker, closes the door, and walks away] Lisa: [from inside locker] How about jazz? Do you like jazz? Milhouse: [from locker next to Lisa's] I like jazz. Lisa: Milhouse? She got you, too? Milhouse: Yeah, but it's not so bad. I'm standing on Ralph. Ralph: [from the bottom of the locker] We're a totem pole. [mock-Indian chant] Hi-ya, hi-ya! Hoy-ya, hoy-ya! -- "Bye Bye Nerdie" % Homer uses a nail gun to attach cushions to all the furniture. He % tells Maggie that he's protecting her from all the "sharp scary % things," and then unwisely hands the nail gun to her. Almost % immediately, Maggie shoots nails at her dad, laughing. He tries to % get the gun back, but Maggie is having too much fun with her new % toy, and nails Homer to the wall. Fortunately, Marge comes in and % takes the gun from Maggie, then pries her husband loose with a claw % hammer. Homer: Now do you realize how unsafe the American home is? Baby accidents occur every three minutes. Marge: I'm the one who told you that. Homer: Yeah, but this is me talking. Look, I already encased the telephone in concrete. [points to the phone, which is encased in a two-foot thick concrete cube] Marge: How are you supposed to dial? Homer: Reach into these holes. I use a carrot. [holds one up] Marge: Isn't that a little excessive? I mean, how are the buttons dangerous? Homer: Baby could order poison. Marge: Oh, that's ridiculous. [Homer dials a number, then gives the receiver to Marge] PDS Man: Poison Delivery Service. A gift basket of poison is on its way. Marge: Oh, I'm horrible mother. Homer: Of course you are. Marge, I've finally discovered the reason God made me. To protect his tiniest, most breakable creatures. And I've got to share that gift with the world. [another volley of nails strikes Homer] [to Marge] Get her out of here? -- But who protects the protector? "Bye Bye Nerdie" % The schools established bully clique -- Nelson, Jimbo, Dolph, and % Kearney -- have suspended Martin under the bleachers. They throw % tomatoes at him, tauntingly asking, "Why are you throwing tomatoes % at yourself?" Lisa comes by. Lisa: Knock-knock. Nelson: What do you want. [crushes the tomato he's holding] Lisa: Would you bullies be interested in some bodyguard work? Nelson: This is so funny. We were just talking about moving into protection. Dolph: We're offering a recess and lunch package that's very affordable. Lisa: Well, I'm going to need full coverage. My bully is highly aggressive. Check out these Indian burns. [holds out her arm, which has some red stripes on it. The bullies are impressed] Jimbo: Triple twist! Nice work! Kearney: You sure this was done by hand? Lisa: Yeah, she's a real purist. Nelson: She? [the bullies back away] Sorry, we don't do girls. They bite and kick and scratch. Dolph: And sometimes we fall in love. [the bullies sigh] -- "Bye Bye Nerdie" % Lisa admits that there's much she doesn't know about bullying. % Nelson walks off with her to explain the nuances of the art, % ordering the rest of the guys to finish up with Martin. Lisa: I just don't understand Francine's motivation. [cut to a shot of Francine tripping Milhouse and Data, but leaving Bart untouched] Why does she only go after the smart ones? Nelson: That's like asking the square root of a million. No one will ever know. Lisa: Someone will -- I'm going to crack the bully code. -- "Bye Bye Nerdie" % Homer has named his baby-proofing business "Wee Care" and sings a % little tune to himself as he drives to his clients. For the % Nahasapeemapetilans, he places some foam "We're #1" hands on a % statue of Shiva. The couple appreciates the new safety padding, if % not Homer's suggestion that they switch to "a nice, round Buddha." % % Moving on, Homer makes the Hibberts' pool safer by replacing the % water with blue gelatin. Hibbert is upset at first, but not when % Homer scoops him a nice parfait glass of gelatin. Later, he makes % the street safe for Ralph to run in by installing a set pop-up % blades in the street. When a car approaches, the blades blow out % the tires, stopping the car (but not the driver, who flies through % the windshield) in its tracks. He's injured, but hey, Homer's job % is to protect children, not adults. Lastly, Homer bubble-wraps an % entire park playground (including the children). The children play % safely on the padded equipment, and Homer doesn't get nailed to % anything. % % Lisa interrupts Willie while he's mopping up the floor, and asks to % see some of his security tapes. At first, Willie tries to deny the % existence of the tapes, but he comes clean when Lisa points out the % fully exposed cameras mounted on the ceiling. % % Willie leads Lisa to the video room, which is almost as well-stocked % with surveillance equipment as SNPP's. Lisa: Why does the school need to watch us all the time? Willie: School? -- Rowdy Roddy Peeper is at it again, "Bye Bye Nerdie" % Lisa takes one of the tapes to a video player. One of the % monitoring screens shows that the boys' bathroom needs more paper % towels. Willie grabs a roll and leaves Lisa to her task. % % Lisa reviews that tapes of Wednesday's lunch period. On the tape, % she hides under a cafeteria table, but Francine finds her and % administers a beating. On another tape of gym class, Lisa and some % other girls wait near the pool. Francine walks by, ignoring Lisa. % Why the difference in Francine's reaction? Looking closer, Lisa % sees that by the pool, the children are all wearing nose clips. % % The door behind Lisa opens. It's Francine. Lisa, keeping her eyes % on the monitor, assumes that it's Willie and announces that she's % found out what sets off her tormentor. Whatever it is must be % working right now -- Francine attacks. The camera pans to one of % the video monitors, which shows Willie giving a thumbs-up after % replacing the towels. % % [End of Act Two. Time: 13:34] % % Three of the school's nerds are in the gym, exercising on stair-step % machines. Lisa watches them closely. Lisa: Come on, people! Move it! I want to see some sweat! Martin: I'm not mastering another stair until you explain the purpose of this monstrous experiment. Lisa: I believe the key to bully-nerd antagonism lies in your drippings. Martin: Then I shall drip like a pot roast! Lisa: Excellent. [takes a squeegee and a beaker] Now, don't mind the squeegee. [squeegees some sweat of their backs, into the beaker] Data: Ah the scraping seems so wrong, but it feels so right. -- "Bye Bye Nerdie" % Professional boxer Drederick Tatum urges the students in Mrs. K's % classroom to stay in school. Skinner thinks it's a "knockout % oration" in spite of Tatum's lack of enthusiasm. Lisa walks into % the classroom. Lisa: Mr. Tatum, do you mind if I swab you with this damp rag? Tatum: No, not at all. Swab away. [Lisa pours some blue liquid from a beaker onto the rag] Whoa, whoa -- nobody mentioned a beaker. Lisa: Please? It's for science. Tatum: Oh, for science. In that case, proceed. Skinner: Lisa, this is outrageous. Explain yourself! Lisa: Shh! It's working -- look! [Nelson is compelled to get out of his chair and walks, fists extended, toward the champ] Krabappel: Nelson, what are you doing? Nelson: I don't know. I can't help myself. [punches Tatum] Tatum: Young man, I insist that you desist. Nelson: Sorry. [continues punching] I'm so sorry. [near tears, he runs behind Tatum and gives him a wedgie] Please don't hurt me. Tatum: [rolling up his sleeve] You leave me little recourse. -- Science is a harsh mistress, "Bye Bye Nerdie" % Homer and Marge watch "Afternoon Yak" for about three seconds, and % then turn to the local news. Kent: The safe-baby craze: It's sweeping Springfield thanks to one crusading parent. Homer: That's me! [gets off the couch, dancing and singing] Safety dance, safety dance, everybody look at your pants! Kent: But while Homer Simpson has made our babies safe, he's made infant-related businesses cry -- all the way *away* from the bank. [cut to Kent interviewing a businessman] How are your baby crutch sales? Businessman: Uh, terrible, Kent. And cartoon character Band- Aids, forget about it. [cut to Hibbert, holding up a happy baby] Hibbert: Look at this baby. Not a scratch on him, and I've got boat payments. [cut to a factory owner, standing in front of the factory that prints baby get-well cards] Owner: The dream is over. Shut 'er down, boys! [a steam whistle blows, and the factory stops. Dozens of newly-unemployed workers trudge out of the plant] Homer: Dear God, what have I done? [runs out into the street] Babies of Springfield, we need your help! Please -- skin your knees! Put dice up your nose! Let cats sleep on your face! -- Homer's safety crusade comes to and end, "Bye Bye Nerdie" % The Simpsons attend a convention of scientists. Lisa is to present % her findings about bullies. She and Marge are a little intimidated % by the crowd, which includes the inventor of the walkie-talkie (and % someone who isn't his wife). % % Frink calls the crowd to order. Frink: Scientists -- scientists, please. Looking for some order. Some order, please, with the eyes forward and the hands neatly folded and the paying attention ... [shouts] Pi is exactly 3! [the audience gasps and falls silent] Very sorry it had to come to that, but now that I have your attention, we have some exciting new research from young Lisa Simpson. Let's bring her out and pay attention. [the audience applauds as Lisa walks onstage. The crowd sees that she's a little girl, and doubts that she has anything useful to say] Lisa: [clears throat] My study is called, "Airborne Pheromones and Aggression in Bullies." [the crowd gasps. Someone says, "I'm afraid"] For as long as there has been smart people, there have been bullies to prey on them. From Galileo [shows a slide of the astronomer getting beaten up] to Sir Isaac Newton, [another slide] and even in the animal kingdom. [shows a slide of a large dog victimizing a smaller one] But why do the brawny prey on the brainy. Is it jealousy? [the crowd seems to think so] No! The reason is chemical. [the crowd murmurs] Scientist 1: Wait, that's impossible. Chemicals are our friends. Dr. Koop: She's a witch! -- But is she hazardous to your health? "Bye Bye Nerdie" % Lisa asks for a chance to demonstrate. She reveals her test % subject, Francine, locked in a cage. (Lisa thanks Francine's % parents for the caging help.) I have isolated the chemical which is emitted by every geek, dork, and four-eyes. I call it "poindextrose." -- Lisa Simpson, "Bye Bye Nerdie" % Lisa applies some poindextrose to her wrists, and lets Francine get % a whiff. The bully goes into a tizzy. Lisa asks Frink to open the % cage, which he does, using a long pole to finagle open the latch. % Francine runs right at Lisa, who spritzes herself with something % from an atomizer. Francine stops just in front of Lisa, and looks % around, puzzled. Scientist 2: My God, she's stopped in her tracks. Scientist 1: The little girl's invented some sort of bully repellant. [the crowd murmurs, astonished] Lisa: Actually, it's just ordinary salad dressing. [crowd gasps] Marge: So that's where that went. Lisa: The pungent vinegar and tangy Roquefort block the smell receptors, rendering the bully harmless. [the crowd applauds] Frink: Congratulations, Lisa. You are truly the standout at this year's science thing. [hands Lisa an envelope] Lisa: [looking at the envelope's contents] A gift certificate from J. C. Penney's? Frink: Yes, you'll love their slacks, nn-hey. Marge: Oh, honey, we're so proud of you. [kisses Lisa] Homer: So all her bullying was just to get some attention. Lisa: No, Dad, didn't you listen to anything I said? Homer: Just to get some attention. -- "Bye Bye Nerdie" % Frink calls for help. Francine has begun bullying the scientists. % Despite having advantages in both size and numbers, the scientists % are easy pickings for her. Francine's parents assure Lisa that % their girl will eventually tire herself out. They and the Simpsons % (except Lisa) laugh. Francine knocks a few heads together, then % starts sniffing around. Her gaze locks on the camera. She tenses, % then pounces. She's coming right at us! Aieee! Run for your % lives, everyone! % % [End of Act Three. Time: 20:12] % % "Safety First," the song playing in the background during Homer's % baby-proofing of the town, is reprised over the closing credits % (until it's time to promote next week's show). No Gracie Sound, not % even the "Shh," this week. ============================================================================== > Contributors ============================================================================== {am} Alie Molino {bjr} Benjamin Robinson {ddg} Don Del Grande {dh} Dean Humphries {dj} Darrel Jones {dn} Dag Nabbit {hl} Haynes Lee {jc} Jeff Cross {jg2} Joe Green {jj} John Jensen {jk} Joe Klemm {jlm} Jesse L. McCann {kp} Kent Phillips {mg} Matt Garvey {mr} Matt Rose {rsw} Raymond S. Wise ============================================================================== > Legal Mumbo Jumbo ============================================================================== This episode capsule is Copyright 2004 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 2003 Benjamin Robinson. This capsule has been brought to you by Poison Delivery Service. 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.