Marge and Homer Turn a Couple Play
Encyclopedia
“Marge and Homer Turn a Couple Play” is the 22nd episode and the season finale of the 17th season of The Simpsons
that was originally broadcast on May 21, 2006.
announces that the Springfield Isotopes are in first place in the NL West
thanks to their new acquisition of Buck “Home run King” Mitchell. “To the bandwagon!” shouts Homer, as they all head to Springfield Stadium. Buck’s pop star wife Tabitha Vixx, (a parody of Britney Spears
), sings the first few bars of the American national anthem
at the game, then strips down to lingerie
and launches into one of her own songs. After a minute of lascivious dancing, she concludes “...and the home of the brave.” Buck, humiliated, delivers a terrible performance at that night’s game, even accidentally lets go of the bat while swinging it which accidentally hits Sideshow Mel's fiance, causing the crowd to boo at him. He later sees Homer
and Marge
kissing on the Jumbo-Vision; later that night, Buck shows up at the Simpsons’ front door and asks for help with his marriage in exchange for season tickets.
Marge doubts their ability to counsel another couple. Her doubts lead to her and Homer flirting, which Buck sees and claims is an example of what he wants with his own wife. At the first session—taking place in the Simpsons’ living room—Buck confesses he assumed Tabitha would give up her recording career to focus on his minor league baseball career, to which she responds she won’t stay in a mismatched marriage. The session concludes with Homer asking Buck to sign dozens of baseballs (as a present for Bart), which pour virtually endlessly from the bag.
The next session takes place at Buck and Tabitha’s mansion and goes much more smoothly. As a result of his now-steady personal life, Buck's game returns to superior form. Tabitha continues her singing tour, and Homer comes to meet her in her dressing room to check up on things. There he gives her a neck rub; her loud moans and Homer's praise of the fried chicken he is eating are overheard through the door by Buck, who misinterprets them and barges in enraged and slugs Homer.
Now with his marriage again on the rocks, Buck goes into another slump. Homer wants to get them back together, but Marge refuses to help. He leaves, and a few minutes later Tabitha knocks on the door; she tells a shocked Marge that she plans to leave Buck for good. Marge objects, insisting they stay together.
Buck Mitchell is next seen at the plate in the bottom of the ninth. Homer has hijacked the Duff
blimp
and spells out a message to Buck, supposedly from Tabitha proclaiming her love. Buck, reinvigorated, hits the ball into the blimp itself, causing it to crash into the field; as Homer alone runs from the wreckage, Buck realizes Tabitha had no part in the message. He charges Homer, bat in hand, but Marge delivers a monologue over the Jumbo-Vision, dissuading him. Tabitha then comes on the Jumbo-Vision to tell Buck she wants to stay together.
The episode closes with another Isotope player, Tito, saying he does not care about the healed marriage because bandits just kidnapped his mother.
There is also an honorable mention to the city of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada during the credits for the cop drama "Hutch". Lethbridge was the filming location for the city of New York.
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
that was originally broadcast on May 21, 2006.
Plot
The show opens to the family watching a cop drama. As the credits roll, Kent BrockmanKent Brockman
Kent Brockman is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons. He is voiced by Harry Shearer and first appeared in the episode "Krusty Gets Busted"...
announces that the Springfield Isotopes are in first place in the NL West
National League West
The National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball's National League. It was created in 1969 when the previously undivided National League expanded its membership to twelve teams, positioning half of them in an Eastern division and the other...
thanks to their new acquisition of Buck “Home run King” Mitchell. “To the bandwagon!” shouts Homer, as they all head to Springfield Stadium. Buck’s pop star wife Tabitha Vixx, (a parody of Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
), sings the first few bars of the American national anthem
The Star-Spangled Banner
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships...
at the game, then strips down to lingerie
Lingerie
Lingerie are fashionable and possibly alluring undergarments.Lingerie usually incorporates one or more flexible, stretchy materials like Lycra, nylon , polyester, satin, lace, silk and sheer fabric which are not typically used in more functional, basic cotton undergarments.The term in the French...
and launches into one of her own songs. After a minute of lascivious dancing, she concludes “...and the home of the brave.” Buck, humiliated, delivers a terrible performance at that night’s game, even accidentally lets go of the bat while swinging it which accidentally hits Sideshow Mel's fiance, causing the crowd to boo at him. He later sees Homer
Homer Simpson
Homer Jay Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons and the patriarch of the eponymous family. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and first appeared on television, along with the rest of his family, in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
and Marge
Marge Simpson
Marjorie "Marge" Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and part of the eponymous family. She is voiced by actress Julie Kavner and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
kissing on the Jumbo-Vision; later that night, Buck shows up at the Simpsons’ front door and asks for help with his marriage in exchange for season tickets.
Marge doubts their ability to counsel another couple. Her doubts lead to her and Homer flirting, which Buck sees and claims is an example of what he wants with his own wife. At the first session—taking place in the Simpsons’ living room—Buck confesses he assumed Tabitha would give up her recording career to focus on his minor league baseball career, to which she responds she won’t stay in a mismatched marriage. The session concludes with Homer asking Buck to sign dozens of baseballs (as a present for Bart), which pour virtually endlessly from the bag.
The next session takes place at Buck and Tabitha’s mansion and goes much more smoothly. As a result of his now-steady personal life, Buck's game returns to superior form. Tabitha continues her singing tour, and Homer comes to meet her in her dressing room to check up on things. There he gives her a neck rub; her loud moans and Homer's praise of the fried chicken he is eating are overheard through the door by Buck, who misinterprets them and barges in enraged and slugs Homer.
Now with his marriage again on the rocks, Buck goes into another slump. Homer wants to get them back together, but Marge refuses to help. He leaves, and a few minutes later Tabitha knocks on the door; she tells a shocked Marge that she plans to leave Buck for good. Marge objects, insisting they stay together.
Buck Mitchell is next seen at the plate in the bottom of the ninth. Homer has hijacked the Duff
Duff Beer
Daleside is an independent brewery founded in 1988 in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England.-Products:Daleside produce a wide range of beers, including Morocco Ale, a traditional spiced beer based on an Elizabethan recipe; Old Legover, a low abv Old Ale ; Monkey Wrench, a stronger Old Ale; Ripon...
blimp
Non-rigid airship
A blimp, or non-rigid airship, is a floating airship without an internal supporting framework or keel. A non-rigid airship differs from a semi-rigid airship and a rigid airship in that it does not have any rigid structure, neither a complete framework nor a partial keel, to help the airbag...
and spells out a message to Buck, supposedly from Tabitha proclaiming her love. Buck, reinvigorated, hits the ball into the blimp itself, causing it to crash into the field; as Homer alone runs from the wreckage, Buck realizes Tabitha had no part in the message. He charges Homer, bat in hand, but Marge delivers a monologue over the Jumbo-Vision, dissuading him. Tabitha then comes on the Jumbo-Vision to tell Buck she wants to stay together.
The episode closes with another Isotope player, Tito, saying he does not care about the healed marriage because bandits just kidnapped his mother.
Cultural references
- Buck Mitchell yells "This is the worst blimp crash ever!!!", to which, Grampa replies "Too soon!" This is a reference to the disastrous incident in 1937, involving a ZeppelinZeppelinA Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century. It was based on designs he had outlined in 1874 and detailed in 1893. His plans were reviewed by committee in 1894 and patented in the United States on 14 March 1899...
: The Hindenburg, which burst into flames and then crashed to the ground, killing many people.
There is also an honorable mention to the city of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada during the credits for the cop drama "Hutch". Lethbridge was the filming location for the city of New York.
- The relationship between Tabitha Vixx and Buck Mitchell is slightly reminiscent of the marriage between sex symbol Marilyn MonroeMarilyn MonroeMarilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
and baseball player Joe DiMaggioJoe DiMaggioJoseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...
.