Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington
Encyclopedia
"Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington" is the fourteenth episode from The Simpsons'
14th season which aired on March 9, 2003.
flying dangerously close to their house. They soon realize that the air traffic must have been redirected. Homer
and Marge
complain to an airport official, who says that the planes were redirected away from wildlife preserves to protect the animals; whereas, actually, they were redirected by the request of Mayor Quimby
, so that he could entertain his lady friends in peace and quiet.
The family tries to adjust to the massive noise
, but are unable to cope and decide to move. After failing to sell the house to Apu
and Ralph Wiggum
, Homer and Marge complain to their congressman
, Horace Wilcox, who has been Springfield's
representative since 1933. Horace seems genuinely moved by their predicament and ready to help them. Unfortunately, he suffers a heart attack
and dies. Later, as they watch The Krusty the Clown Show, Bart
gets the idea to have Krusty run for Congress
. The family also thinks it would be a good idea. The next day, Bart visits Krusty (who at first mistakes him for a dying fan) and asks him to run for Congress. Krusty seems reluctant at first, but he soon likes to the idea, since he could change all the problems that the government has plagued him with, such as taxes and immigration (of his monkey). At the shady Republicans' meeting, he nominates himself as a candidate for Congress. The other members are supportive (except for Bob Dole
who nominates himself).
Krusty's campaign has a very bad start. He includes offensive jokes in his speeches and his opponent, John Armstrong, shows a sketch
from Krusty's show making fun of the UN
, in which he spoofs the French, Jamaicans, and San Francisco's gay community. Desperate to have Krusty win the election (and be on the winning team, for once), Lisa
helps Krusty turn his campaign around by having him connect with regular families and citizens. With this advice and some help from Fox News (including a TV debate with Krusty shown with a halo, while the Democratic candidate is shown with devil horns and a Soviet flag on the background, and finally upside down), Krusty's popularity soars and he wins the election, due in part to Bart and extreme voter fraud
.
So begins Krusty's term in Congress. After taking the oath, he tries to bring up the topic of the air traffic over Evergreen Terrace
. However, everyone refuses to listen to him and they tell him that as a freshman congressman, he doesn't get much of a say in anything there. He's told to clean up the graffiti on the walls of the House. The other congressmen then start discussing designing dollar coins made out of chocolate.
Later, the Simpsons find Krusty in a bar called The Drinkin' Memorial, drowning his sorrows in booze. He feels that he's failed them, but they convince him to stand up for his beliefs. Thus encouraged, he tries to get his Air Traffic Bill passed, but he is only speaking to an empty room, causing him to lose faith with the system. The Simpsons watch him and feel sorry for him and more for themselves, seeing how ignorant the government really is and considering they have to go back and live with all the airplane noise. When Homer says their plane leaves in 30 minutes (just to make things suspenseful), a janitor (who looks like, and is implied to be, Walter Mondale
) arrives and informs them how a bill REALLY becomes a law. Lisa tries to show off her knowledge, but he interrupts her, telling them that underhanded tactics are necessary.
With his help, they blackmail
a key congressman with a videotape, which has footage of him abusing the free mail policy
(by sending a "Get Well Soon" card to his aunt). Homer manages to get Congressman Beauregard drunk (and himself as well, in the process). Finally, during a session in Congress, the janitor and Lisa, with Homer's drunken diversion, place the Air Traffic Bill under a bill giving orphans American flags. When the bill comes up for discussion, the blackmailed congressman immediately consents, and Congressman Beauregard, in a drunken stupor, consents to the bill declaring "I don't wanna fight no Union!". The legislation is then passed, and Krusty, upon hearing his bill being passed into law for good, embellishes the successes of democracy.
At the Simpsons' place, the family is happy to get the peace and quiet that they heroically fought for. Homer says that the planes are now flying where they belong—over the homes of poor people.
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...
14th season which aired on March 9, 2003.
Plot
While watching a very late episode of The Three Stooges (where the violently bumbling trio are on the brink of senility), the Simpsons feel the ground shaking. They discover an airplaneFixed-wing aircraft
A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
flying dangerously close to their house. They soon realize that the air traffic must have been redirected. 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...
complain to an airport official, who says that the planes were redirected away from wildlife preserves to protect the animals; whereas, actually, they were redirected by the request of Mayor Quimby
Joe Quimby
Mayor Joseph "Joe" Quimby, nicknamed "Diamond Joe," is a recurring character from the animated television series The Simpsons. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta, and first appeared in the episode "Bart Gets an F". A member of the Democratic Party, Quimby is the mayor of Springfield, and is a...
, so that he could entertain his lady friends in peace and quiet.
The family tries to adjust to the massive noise
Aircraft noise
Aircraft noise is noise pollution produced by any aircraft or its components, during various phases of a flight: on the ground while parked such as auxiliary power units, while taxiing, on run-up from propeller and jet exhaust, during take off, underneath and lateral to departure and arrival paths,...
, but are unable to cope and decide to move. After failing to sell the house to Apu
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon is a character in the animated television series The Simpsons. He is voiced by Hank Azaria and first appeared in the episode "The Telltale Head". Apu is the proprietor of the Kwik-E-Mart, a popular convenience store in Springfield, and a friend of Homer Simpson. He is also...
and Ralph Wiggum
Ralph Wiggum
Ralph Wiggum is a recurring fictional character on the animated series The Simpsons, voiced by Nancy Cartwright. The son of Police Chief Wiggum and a classmate of Lisa Simpson, Ralph is best known as the show's resident oddball, and is noted for his non sequiturs and erratic behavior...
, Homer and Marge complain to their congressman
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, Horace Wilcox, who has been Springfield's
Springfield (The Simpsons)
Springfield is the fictional town in which the American animated sitcom The Simpsons is set. A mid-sized town in an undetermined state of the United States, Springfield acts as a complete universe in which characters can explore the issues faced by modern society. The geography of the town and its...
representative since 1933. Horace seems genuinely moved by their predicament and ready to help them. Unfortunately, he suffers a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
and dies. Later, as they watch The Krusty the Clown Show, Bart
Bart Simpson
Bartholomew JoJo "Bart" Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and part of the Simpson family. He is voiced by actress Nancy Cartwright and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
gets the idea to have Krusty run for Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. The family also thinks it would be a good idea. The next day, Bart visits Krusty (who at first mistakes him for a dying fan) and asks him to run for Congress. Krusty seems reluctant at first, but he soon likes to the idea, since he could change all the problems that the government has plagued him with, such as taxes and immigration (of his monkey). At the shady Republicans' meeting, he nominates himself as a candidate for Congress. The other members are supportive (except for Bob Dole
Bob Dole
Robert Joseph "Bob" Dole is an American attorney and politician. Dole represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996, was Gerald Ford's Vice Presidential running mate in the 1976 presidential election, and was Senate Majority Leader from 1985 to 1987 and in 1995 and 1996...
who nominates himself).
Krusty's campaign has a very bad start. He includes offensive jokes in his speeches and his opponent, John Armstrong, shows a sketch
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
from Krusty's show making fun of the UN
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, in which he spoofs the French, Jamaicans, and San Francisco's gay community. Desperate to have Krusty win the election (and be on the winning team, for once), Lisa
Lisa Simpson
Lisa Marie Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons. She is the middle child of the Simpson family. Voiced by Yeardley Smith, Lisa first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987. Cartoonist Matt Groening...
helps Krusty turn his campaign around by having him connect with regular families and citizens. With this advice and some help from Fox News (including a TV debate with Krusty shown with a halo, while the Democratic candidate is shown with devil horns and a Soviet flag on the background, and finally upside down), Krusty's popularity soars and he wins the election, due in part to Bart and extreme voter fraud
Electoral fraud
Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an election. Acts of fraud affect vote counts to bring about an election result, whether by increasing the vote share of the favored candidate, depressing the vote share of the rival candidates or both...
.
So begins Krusty's term in Congress. After taking the oath, he tries to bring up the topic of the air traffic over Evergreen Terrace
742 Evergreen Terrace
742 Evergreen Terrace is the fictional street address in Springfield of the Simpson family home in the animated television series, The Simpsons and in the feature film The Simpsons Movie. In the series the house is currently owned by Homer Simpson...
. However, everyone refuses to listen to him and they tell him that as a freshman congressman, he doesn't get much of a say in anything there. He's told to clean up the graffiti on the walls of the House. The other congressmen then start discussing designing dollar coins made out of chocolate.
Later, the Simpsons find Krusty in a bar called The Drinkin' Memorial, drowning his sorrows in booze. He feels that he's failed them, but they convince him to stand up for his beliefs. Thus encouraged, he tries to get his Air Traffic Bill passed, but he is only speaking to an empty room, causing him to lose faith with the system. The Simpsons watch him and feel sorry for him and more for themselves, seeing how ignorant the government really is and considering they have to go back and live with all the airplane noise. When Homer says their plane leaves in 30 minutes (just to make things suspenseful), a janitor (who looks like, and is implied to be, Walter Mondale
Walter Mondale
Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale is an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 42nd Vice President of the United States , under President Jimmy Carter, and as a United States Senator for Minnesota...
) arrives and informs them how a bill REALLY becomes a law. Lisa tries to show off her knowledge, but he interrupts her, telling them that underhanded tactics are necessary.
With his help, they blackmail
Blackmail
In common usage, blackmail is a crime involving threats to reveal substantially true or false information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a demand is met. It may be defined as coercion involving threats of physical harm, threat of criminal prosecution, or threats...
a key congressman with a videotape, which has footage of him abusing the free mail policy
Franking
Franking are any and all devices or markings such as postage stamps , printed or stamped impressions, codings, labels, manuscript writings , and/or any other authorized form of markings affixed or applied to mails to qualify them to be postally serviced.-Franking types and...
(by sending a "Get Well Soon" card to his aunt). Homer manages to get Congressman Beauregard drunk (and himself as well, in the process). Finally, during a session in Congress, the janitor and Lisa, with Homer's drunken diversion, place the Air Traffic Bill under a bill giving orphans American flags. When the bill comes up for discussion, the blackmailed congressman immediately consents, and Congressman Beauregard, in a drunken stupor, consents to the bill declaring "I don't wanna fight no Union!". The legislation is then passed, and Krusty, upon hearing his bill being passed into law for good, embellishes the successes of democracy.
At the Simpsons' place, the family is happy to get the peace and quiet that they heroically fought for. Homer says that the planes are now flying where they belong—over the homes of poor people.
Cultural references
- "Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington" is the second Simpsons episode that is a pun on the title of the film Mr. Smith Goes to WashingtonMr. Smith Goes to WashingtonMr. Smith Goes to Washington is a 1939 American drama film starring Jean Arthur and James Stewart about one man's effect on American politics. It was directed by Frank Capra and written by Sidney Buchman, based on Lewis R. Foster's unpublished story. Mr...
. Another episode was "Mr. Lisa Goes to WashingtonMr. Lisa Goes to Washington"Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington" is the second episode of The Simpsons third season. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on September 26, 1991. In the episode, Lisa enters in an essay contest to write an essay about America's greatness. When she successfully wins it, she and...
". - In the Three Stooges show on TV, Larry says that a slap from Moe did not hurt him because it landed on his paralyzed side. This refers to Larry FineLarry FineLouis Feinberg , known professionally as Larry Fine, was an American comedian and actor, who is best known as a member of the comedy act The Three Stooges.-Early life:...
's real-life stroke in 1970, which occurred during the last project that the Stooges ever did togetherKook's TourKook's Tour is the title of an American short comedy film produced in late 1969 and early 1970. It was the final film to star the Three Stooges and originally intended as part of a television series. However, on January 9, 1970, before filming was completed, Larry Fine suffered a severe stroke,...
. - When Marge asks for someone to perform CPR, Homer sings the song "Bad Moon RisingBad Moon Rising (song)"Bad Moon Rising" is a song written by John Fogerty and performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival. It was the lead single from their album Green River and was released in April 1969, four months before the album. The song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and #1 on the UK Singles...
." Marge replies, "That's CCR!" - Homer telling the TV and fridge to "Stay plugged in! I will find you!" is a reference to The Last of the MohicansThe Last of the Mohicans (1992 film)The Last of the Mohicans is a 1992 historical epic film set in 1757 during the French and Indian War and produced by Morgan Creek Pictures. It was directed by Michael Mann and based on James Fenimore Cooper's novel of the same name, although it owes more to George B. Seitz's 1936 film adaptation...
, in which Daniel Day-LewisDaniel Day-LewisDaniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis is an English actor with both British and Irish citizenship. His portrayals of Christy Brown in My Left Foot and Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood won Academy and BAFTA Awards for Best Actor, and Screen Actors Guild as well as Golden Globe Awards for the latter...
tells Madeleine StoweMadeleine StoweMadeleine Mora Stowe is an American actress. She rose to prominence appearing in films such as Stakeout, Revenge, Unlawful Entry, The Last of the Mohicans, Blink, China Moon, 12 Monkeys, and We Were Soldiers...
: "Stay alive! I will find you!" - When Mayor Quimby tells his shrill-voiced paramour "Now I regret building you that opera house," that is a reference to Citizen KaneCitizen KaneCitizen Kane is a 1941 American drama film, directed by and starring Orson Welles. Many critics consider it the greatest American film of all time, especially for its innovative cinematography, music and narrative structure. Citizen Kane was Welles' first feature film...
when Charles Foster Kane builds an opera house for his new young wife Susan Kane, a mediocre singer who was made famous at his insistence. - The bar "The Drinkin' Memorial" is a play on the "Lincoln MemorialLincoln MemorialThe Lincoln Memorial is an American memorial built to honor the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The architect was Henry Bacon, the sculptor of the main statue was Daniel Chester French, and the painter of the interior...
." - A promotional advertisement for Joe MillionaireJoe MillionaireJoe Millionaire is an American reality television show that was broadcast on Fox beginning in January 2003. It was broadcast in the UK that same year...
runs on the screen which Homer becomes aware of, he then proceeds to grab it and eat it. Homer then spits it out in disgust because it is a promo for a show on FoxFox Broadcasting CompanyFox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
. - Bob DoleBob DoleRobert Joseph "Bob" Dole is an American attorney and politician. Dole represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996, was Gerald Ford's Vice Presidential running mate in the 1976 presidential election, and was Senate Majority Leader from 1985 to 1987 and in 1995 and 1996...
returns to the Springfield Republicans meeting, having been part of the meeting in "Brawl in the FamilyBrawl in the Family"Brawl in the Family" is the seventh episode of The Simpsons thirteenth season. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on January 6, 2002. In the episode, the Simpsons family arrested for domestic disturbance, prompting social worker Gabriel to move in and make the family functional...
." - When the family is watching Fox News, the anchor remarks "You're watching Fox News, your voice for evil," referencing the criticisms directed towards Fox News that the network is biased towards the Republican PartyRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. The news-ticker crawl in the episode includes such items as "JFKJohn F. KennedyJohn Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
Posthumously Joins Republican Party" and "Albert EinsteinAlbert EinsteinAlbert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
+ Brad PittBrad PittWilliam Bradley "Brad" Pitt is an American actor and film producer. Pitt has received two Academy Award nominations and four Golden Globe Award nominations, winning one...
= Dick CheneyDick CheneyRichard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
". - Lisa's statement of "being on the winning team" was a reference towards Republican control of the PresidencyGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and both chambers of Congress108th United States CongressThe One Hundred Eighth United States Congress was the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives from January 3, 2003 to January 3, 2005, during the third and fourth years of George W. Bush's...
at the time the episode was produced in 2002. (And this remained the same when it aired in 2003.) While Lisa is not a Republican, she campaigned for Republican candidate Krusty the Clown. - At the end of the Krusty's campaign advertisement, his face is put on Buzz AldrinBuzz AldrinBuzz Aldrin is an American mechanical engineer, retired United States Air Force pilot and astronaut who was the Lunar Module pilot on Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing in history...
while planting the flag during the moon landingMoon landingA moon landing is the arrival of a spacecraft on the surface of the Moon. This includes both manned and unmanned missions. The first human-made object to reach the surface of the Moon was the Soviet Union's Luna 2 mission on 13 September 1959. The United States's Apollo 11 was the first manned...
, all the Marines who planted the flag on Iwo JimaRaising the Flag on Iwo JimaRaising the Flag on Iwo Jima is a historic photograph taken on February 23, 1945, by Joe Rosenthal. It depicts five United States Marines and a U.S. Navy corpsman raising the flag of the United States atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.The photograph was extremely...
, the tank manTank ManTank Man, or the Unknown Rebel, is the nickname of an anonymous man who stood in front of a column of Chinese Type 59 tanks the morning after the Chinese military forcibly removed protestors from in and around Beijing's Tiananmen Square on June 5, 1989. The man achieved widespread international...
during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989Tiananmen Square protests of 1989The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the June Fourth Incident in Chinese , were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China beginning on 15 April 1989...
and finally Jim LeavelleJim LeavelleJames R. Leavelle is the former Dallas, Texas homicide detective who was escorting Lee Harvey Oswald through the basement of Dallas Police headquarters when Oswald was shot by Jack Ruby....
who was handcuffed to Lee Harvey OswaldLee Harvey OswaldLee Harvey Oswald was, according to four government investigations,These were investigations by: the Federal Bureau of Investigation , the Warren Commission , the House Select Committee on Assassinations , and the Dallas Police Department. the sniper who assassinated John F...
when he was shot by Jack RubyJack RubyJacob Leon Rubenstein , who legally changed his name to Jack Leon Ruby in 1947, was convicted of the November 24, 1963 murder of Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin of President John F. Kennedy. Ruby, who was originally from Chicago, Illinois, was then a nightclub operator in Dallas, Texas...
. - Several months before this episode was first aired, Walter MondaleWalter MondaleWalter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale is an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 42nd Vice President of the United States , under President Jimmy Carter, and as a United States Senator for Minnesota...
lost a senate race to represent Minnesota. In this episode, he is shown as a janitor, poking fun at his losing streak of elections ever since he served as vice-president under Jimmy CarterJimmy CarterJames Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
. - The "gun nuts" firing guns in the crowd include Charlton HestonCharlton HestonCharlton Heston was an American actor of film, theatre and television. Heston is known for heroic roles in films such as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes...
and Meathook, John GoodmanJohn GoodmanJohn Stephen Goodman is an American film, television, and stage actor. He is best known for his role as Dan Conner on the television series Roseanne for which he won a Best Actor Golden Globe Award in 1993, and for appearances in the films of the Coen brothers, with prominent roles in Raising...
's character from "Take My Wife, SleazeTake My Wife, Sleaze"Take My Wife, Sleaze" is the eighth episode of the eleventh season of the American animated sitcom The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 28, 1999. In the episode, Homer wins a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and starts his own biker gang, naming it...
".
External links
- "Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington" at The Simpsons.com