The Simpsons: Luca$, review
Lisa is dating Justin Blobber and Bart’s taking in Snake’s discarded skin in The Simpsons Luca$ episode.
In The Simpsons “Luca$” episode, Marge bugs out after she has a vision of a possible future ton-in-law. Yes, little Lisa Simpson has found a new boy toy she could totally change and fix, this worked so well when she dated Nelson. But she probably only really likes Luca$ because most daughters look for someone like their fathers. Ick, right? But no, this one’s alright, he’s a competitive eater, so at least he has ambition. A fat kid with a dream. Not even Millhouse can compete with that. Competitive eaters are called Gurgitators. Trust me. I got this from a reliable sauce.
Homer may not be the perfect father, even a trip to the Springfield playground is wrought with horrible consequences, but he does love his daughters. Yeah, he’s got a sweet spot for Bart too, but that sweet spot is located between the Adam’s apple and the epiglottis. Homer’s greatest growth spurts, and yes he still has them even after he had to have job-related liposuction, center around Lisa and Maggie. Not only does he grow because of them, but he credits them for his growth and trusts in the edumacation he gets from them. The idea that Lisa winding up with a Homer as being bad has got to hurt and I think Homer handles it with great self-control.
Marge bounces back and forth between a cautious pride and a runaway shame in her family situation. Maybe she’s reading too much Dissatisfied Wives Magazine, but she thinks Homer has lowered Lisa’s standards. She doesn’t always realize he’s the catch that he is. There’s no end to her fault finding.
Snake bonding with Bart is heartwarming and was probably inevitable. Bart was once the head of the mob in Springfield. It’s true, I saw it on TV. I think TV’s Dougie Howser played him. Snake is also a good father, I remember just a few seasons ago, Skake pushing his son to a safe get-away on his first stolen bike. I still get choked up. Of course Snake is going to see Bart as a cool little dude. The budding outlaw with the Lil Bastard mischief kit probably reminds him of his own youth. And the youths he stole from in grade school. As Springfield’s only criminal, he’s got to watch for young talent. After all, you can’t spell crime without me. It’s right there at the end.
Snake’s real name is Albert Knickerbocker Aloysius, aka, also known as. The Simpsons never miss an opportunity to slip jokes into the subconscious. They don’t dumb down for the audience except when they are doing it intentionally. Cletus, I’m looking at you, but actually the Cletus line about dating daughters and inventing air conditioning was equally disturbing and funny. It was an obvious joke that just had to be said because it should have been left unsaid. It’s not even bad taste, really, it’s self-assured awkward social commentary.
The Simpsons have a lot of humor that goes that extra mile between laughter and moaning. More than any episode of Real Time With Bill Maher. The Simpsons were always at the forefront of riding the edge of acceptability, and as the competition has grown, mainly from the influence of John Waters wannabes, the series has kept their edge without ever falling into a crass crevasse.
Carl and Lenny were sadly childish in the playground scene before tottering off to Another Bar and hilariously girlish when Homer was making the phone call to make the date. Principal Skinner, beaten by a skateboard, stupid car can’t go uphill, well, he deserved what he got for eating jam right out of the jar. The Springfield Police continue to make Keystone Kops look good and real cops look bad as they out-inept them at almost every turn, skewering the stereotypes that they feed up themselves like so many Park Avenue Bars. They even ruin suicide-by-cop by complaining about the paper work.
A good episode, not a classic, no great quotable standalone quotes, except by Selma and Patty. No particular lines that made me miss the next two, but still it is consistently funny with no real lags between gags.
“Luca$” was written by Carolyn Omine. The Simpsons stars Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson, Groundskeeper Willie and Principal Skinner, Julie Kavner as Marge Simpson, Selma and Patty Bouvier, Nancy Cartwright as Bart Simpson and Nelson, Yeardley Smith as Lisa Simpson, Pamela Hayden as Millhouse, who although he doesn’t talk this episode, does get thrown during the Great Debate. Hank Azaria as the guy behind Marge at the ATM machine. Zack Galifianakis plays Luca$.
But It All Went By So Fast: The drinking game at Moe’s is taken from the book Drinking Games for Advanced Alcoholics, the “about the author” page shows his mug shot. The Krusty the Klown standee says “Hey Hey! The Bathroom Is Closed For Cleaning. Luca$’s weaknesses are: Touchy gag reflex, soft molars, slow starter, quick quitter. Millhouse’s Apps include Nosbook, Find My Retainer, Nerds with No Friends, Insta Grandma, Call a Daddy, Bunny Google. Millhouse’s Revenge list is Petting Zoo Donkey, Slippery Tile at Mall and Snake.
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Culture Editor Tony Sokol is a writer, playwright and musician. He contributed to Altvariety, Chiseler, Smashpipe, and other magazines. He is the TV Editor at Entertainment…