Don’t tell me you missed it. America’s longest-running sitcom and animated series, “The Simpsons,” aired it’s 400th episode on Sunday–a hilarious showdown between decency guru Ned Flanders and doofus newsman Kent Brockman over an alleged indecent on-air comment. It was funny, it was sharp, it was stupid, it was classic “Simpsons.”
What can I say about this awesome comedy? For more than two decades we’ve been treated to the buffoon-istic stylings of Homer and his crazy family. And for us religion, faith and spirituality geeks here at Idol Chatter, “The Simpsons” provided ample fodder for the stuff we revel in: From Apu’s defense of Hinduism to Rev. Lovejoy’s unique take on Christianity to Homer’s, well, Homer’s “relationship” with God, “The Simpsons” covered it all.
So here’s an impromptu tribute to our favorite animated family. Idol Chatter would like to present our favorite religious moments from “The Simpsons”:
From Dena Ross: In the episode “I D’OH-BOT” the Simpson cat Snowball II is run over by a car and dies. Lisa gets another cat, Snowball III, from an animal shelter, which then drowns while trying to grab fish from a fish tank. She then gets another cat, Coltrane, but he jumps out of the window and dies after listening to Lisa saxophone playing. After the animal shelter refuses to give Lisa another cat, she sits outside and pets a leaf saying that maybe she wasn’t meant to have a cat. Suddenly what looks to be an angel appears. However, it turns out to be the Crazy Cat Lady. She throws a cat at Lisa–which miraculously, escapes death. She names the cat Snowball II.
Catch a compliation of the Crazy Cat Lady here on Youtube.
From Holly Rossi: One of my very favorite religious Simpsons moments is in the “Homer the Heretic” episode. Check out the following dialogue:
Ned: Homer, God didn’t set your house on fire.
Rev. Lovejoy: No, but He was working in the hearts of your friends and neighbors when they came to your aid, be they [points to Ned] Christian, [Krusty] Jew, or [Apu] … miscellaneous.
Apu: Hindu! There 700 million of us.
Rev. Lovejoy: Aw, that’s super.
From Michael Kress: “Krusty’s Adult Bar Mitzvah”: After discovering he cannot get a star on Springfield’s Jewish Walk of Fame because he never had a bar mitzvah, Krusty joins thousands of Americans who are moved to celebrate this teenage coming-of-age ceremony as adults. Actually, he has two bar mitzvahs: One big splashy one that ends up as a reality show, the other is quieter and more intimate, intended to reconnect with his estranged father.
It guest starred Mr. T, with the unforgettable line, “I pity the shul that won’t let Krusty in now!”
From Lilit Marcus: There are so many. Here’s my short list:
Lisa: Let me see that.
Rev. Lovejoy: No.
From Ellen Leventry: I love the time when Homer thinks he’s talking to God, but it’s really a waffle Bart stuck on the ceiling, and Marge knocks it off into his hands–and he eats it. Homer coined the classic phrase, “Sacrilicious.” I use that phrase all the time!
As for me–I’m not totally well-versed in everything “Simpsons,” but I loved all of it–everything mentioned by the other bloggers. If this show is this good on television, imagine how hilarious Homer and the gang will be on the big screen when their movie comes out this summer.
posted May 22, 2007 at 11:05 pm
“What about a robot with a human brain?” — Bart, to Sunday school teacher, re: who goes to heaven
posted July 25, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Homer suffers a “broccoli related death” and is rejected from Heaven but is given a second chance to go back and do a good deed to get in. His ghost visits Marge and asks for suggestions of what to do. She lists a few every day household chores, to which Homer replies
“Geez Marge, I’m just trying to get in, not run for Jesus”