Episode Details:
- Episode Title and Number: "The Call of the Simpsons," Season 1, Episode 7
- Original Air Date: February 18, 1990
- Guest Star: Albert Brooks as Cowboy Bob (his first appearance in The Simpsons!)
Episode Summary:
Homer, envious of Ned Flanders' new RV, buys a dilapidated one and takes the family on a disastrous camping trip. The RV is destroyed, they get lost in the woods, Homer is mistaken for Bigfoot, and Maggie is adopted by a family of bears.
Highlights & Observations:
- Couch Gag: The family all piles onto the couch, and nothing extraordinary happens. (A rare instance of a simple couch gag in the early seasons!)
- Chalkboard Gag: "I will not draw naked ladies in class." (Classic Bart!)
- Trivia:
- Bob's RV Roundup motto _____
- The Ultimate Behemoth RV has __ deep fryers
- A _______ was interrupted for the Bigfoot news bulletin!
- Jokes & Gags:
- Homer to Bart: "Don't try to keep up with the Flanderizes." (Early shade thrown at Ned!)
- Homer's envy of Ned's income: "How can you afford something like this, Ned? I get your mail once in a while..." (Nosy Homer!)
- The RV lot scene satirizes how easily some salespeople take advantage of customers.
- The exploding RV: The first of many times the Simpsons lose everything, only to be back to normal the next week!
- Homer's dramatic lament: "Of all the fates on heaven and earth, why does this one befall me?"
- Even after capture, they still think Homer is Bigfoot because he's "stupid and smelly."
- Hidden Gems:
- The episode title is a reference to the novella The Call of the Wild by Jack London.
Final Thoughts:
- "The Call of the Simpsons" is a classic example of early Simpsons humor, with its over-the-top situations and satirical jabs at consumerism and media sensationalism.
- The episode showcases the family dynamic in a unique way, with each member having their own "wild" experience.
Listener Question/Comment:
- What's your favorite disastrous Simpsons family vacation?
Subscribe & Share:
Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and share it with your fellow Simpsons fans!
Follow me on X!
https://x.com/MmmDonuts742
