The Simpsons

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Question: How can Flanders afford stuff like a huge boat and a motorhome if he doesn't make a lot of money?

Answer: From time to time he has explained his above average income has come from a variety of reasons. First of all he has mentioned from time to time of other business ventures he has been involved. At one time he was doing advertisements when he shaved his moustache and another he was trading in religious website store. Secondly the Leftorium that he runs has had his highs and lows which would explain why he can sometimes afford more expensive items. Thirdly he seems to be quite clever when it comes to saving and business. For example he showed Homer about the Mega Savers course that showed about how to buy more expensive items at lower prices.

Lummie

And he was once a successful pharmacist. He says so when he burns his tie announcing the Leftorium.

Answer: Essentially Bart was the main figure behind Sideshow Bob being arrested and convicated. While Lisa helped Bart gather some of the clues, it only lead them to the theory that someone else was behind the robbery. It wasn't until Bart noticed the size of Bob's feet compared to Krusty's feet that he discovered it was Bob who framed Krusty.

Lummie

Answer: Because on the recording Vincent Price says his Grandson Jody will get them the missing feet.

pross79

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Question: Did anything happen to either of Marge's parents? We almost never see or hear from them, especially her father.

Answer: Marge's mother, Jacqueline Bouvier, has appeared in several episodes, notably "Lady Bouvier's Lover" where she dated both Abe Simpson and Mr Burns. Her father appeared in the episode "Fear of Flying" where Marge revealed that her Fear of Flying was due to the shame of her father being a flight attendant. It was mentioned in "Bart the Lover" that after leaving the Navy, his swearing almost cost him his job as a baby photographer. Both Marge's parents appear in the flashback episode "The Way We Was" when both Homer and Artie Ziff arrive to take Marge to the prom.

Sierra1

Season 1 generally

Question: How do I access commentaries on the Season 1 DVDs? I've been trying for months and can't seem to find them, but the DVD wrapper promises "commentary on every episode."

Answer: There are two ways to do this. On the main menus, you can find them in the Language Selection section of every episode. Or, upon playing the episode, press your audio button on your remote a few times and you should start hearing the commentary.

moviemogul

Answer: More than likely because they had blue and brown eyes, respectively, in real life.

Cubs Fan

Answer: Jaleel White played very nerdy, squeeky voiced Steve Urkle on a TV show Family Matters. He was a constant pain to neighbor Carl Winslow, a cop, and had a crush on Carl's daughter Laura. Because Steve Urkle was so clumsy, he always asked, "Did I do thaaat?"

Super Grover

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Question: What religion are the Simpsons? I know they're Christians, but what branch (e.g. Catholic? Protestant?).

Answer: Since Reverend Lovejoy is both married and referred to as 'Reverend', they must be Protestants. They never name the exact protestant denomination.

J I Cohen

The Western Branch of American Reform Presbylutheranism First Church of Springfield.

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Question: The Flanders live on one side of the Simpsons, who lives on the other side? Note: Not Gerald Ford, he lives across the street from them.

Twotall

Chosen answer: A divorcee (Ruth Powers) who has a daughter that Bart fancies. An old couple used to live there, but moved and I remember an episode where Homer was sitting in a paddle pool eating a hot dog, grossing out potential clients.

SexyIrishLeprechaun

Bart vs. Australia - S6-E16

Question: In the scene where Bart was about to get kicked by the Australian Prime Minister Bart jumps forward. After that he says "...and this is for the United States of America." He shows his butt with the words "Don't tread on me" and hums the American national anthem. Does this imply that America can get away with anything or was there a different message being implied?

Answer: During the American Revolution one of the early flags used, known as the Gadsden Flag, was a coiled rattle snake on a field of yellow, with the words, "Don't Tread on Me", written below. This a good site for a more in depth story into the origins. http://www.gadsden.info/history.html.

pross79

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Question: There is a "scratch" in the upper right corner in a few of the outdoor motion shots throughout the show, a falling black line, maybe going a twelfth of the way through the picture. I have seen this on more then one TV so its not a problem with reception, broadcast, or anything like that. I'm guessing this is something to do with the animation process or something. Does anybody know what this is?

MAC

Chosen answer: I can tell you that the Simpsons, even after 15 years, is still hand drawn and it takes 6 months to make each episode. So its highly unlikely something slipped by them. Its probably the way you are watching it.

Chosen answer: He doesn't spend $5200 on beer. Marge just assumes he has because she thinks he sold his stock at the high of $52; whereas he really sold the whole lot for $25.

jle

Sunday, Cruddy Sunday - S10-E12

Question: When Homer, Moe and Walter are talking about which football teams they like Moe says the Atlanta Falcons, Homer says the Denver Broncos and Walter says that president Clinton will be watching with his wife Hilary, but every time one of them says a name they hold a beer mug in front of their mouth, why?

troy fox

Chosen answer: It's a gag based on the fact that this episode was presumably recorded well in advance of the actual match. Not sure whether the teams are accurate, but it's just so they could dub in the appropriate team and president's name (for a joke/reality/both)because they cant afford to change it . The fact that the president's wife's name is dubbed as well is either because if the president changed so would his wife, or else a dig at Clinton's then-current infidelity issues.

Jon Sandys

In Marge We Trust - S8-E22

Question: What does Reverend Lovejoy mean when he says that he stopped caring, but nobody noticed because "it was the '80s"?

Answer: The 80s was known as the, "Me Generation," meaning people were so greedy, ambitious, and self-involved with only themselves, money, and material possession, that they were oblivious to or unconcerned about anyone else. A popular mantra of the time was "greed is good." Lovejoy is saying that no-one noticed how he felt because they were indifferent and uncaring.

raywest

Chosen answer: Insurance and to get revenge on Bart.

Captain Defenestrator

But how does killing an aunt that Bart doesn't really like get revenge on him?

Even if Bart "doesn't really like" Selma, he doesn't seem to hate her so much that he would be totally careless about her death. If nothing else, he probably realises that his mother would be upset.

He doesn't DISlike Aunt Selma. In any event, he probably doesn't want her to die.

Captain Defenestrator

Answer: Unitarianism is an alternate form of Christianity, so it may just be Lovejoy's way of saying their belief system is "empty."

Phaneron

Answer: Yes, he is.

Bishop73

You Only Move Twice - S8-E2

Question: After Smithers rejects the job offer from Globex, the associates speak to the "next most senior" employee at the plant - Homer. If I remember correctly, isn't Carl a supervisor over Homer?

Answer: "Next most senior" means Homer has worked at the plant longer than Carl, despite Carl's position as supervisor. Carl was simply promoted over employees that had been there longer (which isn't uncommon in the workplace).

Bishop73

It often happens because a more senior employee is not ideal, but they do just enough acceptable work that management will keep them around. Management doesn't want the hassle of the hiring process, and they might want to avoid unemployment pay or a possible lawsuit.

Answer: Bart's implying it really was the actor, who hadn't been in movies for years and had apparently turned to a life of crime.

Brian Katcher

Chosen answer: It's called a blackjack: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baton_ (law_enforcement) #Blackjacks_and_saps.

Brian Katcher

The Simpsons mistake picture Video

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Continuity mistake: This is a mistake for the introduction from seasons 2-20 (1991-2009). When Homer screams, he turns round. You see this in a wide shot. There are no boxes to the right of the door in the garage. However, two just appear out of thin air when he runs through the garage. (00:01:50)

More mistakes in The Simpsons

Homer's brain: It's simple, just use reverse psychology.
Homer: Reverse psychology? That sounds too complicated.
Homer's brain: Alright, don't use reverse psychology.
Homer: Alright, I will!

More quotes from The Simpsons

Trivia: The only voice artists who regularly perform as only one character are Yeardley Smith as Lisa and Marcia Wallace as Edna Krabappel. Yeardley has also voiced different versions of Lisa (Lisa Jr. and Lisabella) in at least two other episodes.

He's My Brother

More trivia for The Simpsons