Hey hey hey!
You know, some days I get so caught up in writing on this site that I forget one of the coolest things about it. Not only am I blessed to have my words and opinions out here for other like-minded tappers to read, but I get to be part of a team that has my back and are people I seriously call friends. Alissa and Bunny are two people I consider myself so lucky to have in my life. We don’t really mention it, but other than being bloggers on this amazing site, we all actually talk to each other several times a week by phone, text and/or video and it’s not always conversations about TSTO and The Simpsons.
It was during one of these conversations, that Bunny and I geeked out over future content that might be coming to the game. The main item discussed was the Springfield Monorail. We both would love this to come to the game and we seriously hope EA wasn’t just teasing us by mentioning it in game dialogue.
The monorail is one of those things that has stuck around with me since I first watched the episode in 1993. I haven’t been on the Disneyland Monorail or any other one-railed train thingy since then without thinking of Lyle Lanley and the Springfield Monorail.
The monorail comes from Season 4, Episode 12: Marge vs. the Monorail. In my opinion, this is one of the Best. Episodes. Ever. Written by hilarious comedian Conan O’Brien, it centers around Springfield buying a Monorail with a recent windfall of money.
NERD FACT: Matt Groening considers this a classic episode and according to the DVD boxed set, this episode has his all-time favorite Simpsons line: “I call the big one bitey.”
Rather than ruin what is my ultimate, absolute, without a doubt favorite episode I really must insist you watch it if you can. Here’s a couple tidbits.
1. “Simpson, Homer Simpson, He’s the greatest guy in history! From the, town of Springfield, he’s about to hit a chestnut tree.” Arguably the best opening of any episode EVER.
2. If you ever wondered about Burns’ task to hide nuclear waste, you’re answer is right here. Let’s just say nuclear waste in your park area would be appropriate.
3. Apparently Burns keeps 3 million dollars in his right front pocket and is dangerous enough to be confined like Hannibal Lecter. I’m going to keep tapping him until he coughs some of that dough up lol.
4. Lyle Lanley is a complete gag of The Music Man (another classic) and was not sent by the devil, he’s on the level.
5. The track won’t bend my Hindu friend
6. “But main street’s still all cracked and broken… sorry Mom the mob has spoken… Monorail! Monorail! Monorail!”
7. I don’t care what Lanley says, Superman CANNOT outrun the Flash.
8. May the force be with you Spock.
9. The Monorail in Springfield was recycled from the 1964 World’s Fair. Disney may not have built THAT monorail, but he premiered 4 attractions there. Coincidence? I think not.
10. “A Solar eclipse, the cosmic ballet goes on.” Who’d want to switch seats with Leonard Nimoy? Jeesh, he saved Krusty just because the world needs laughter.
11. The origin of the classic Simpsons line, “Ah Donuts, is there anything they can’t do?”
12. Homer is the best mono-thingy guy there ever was.
13. The Popsicle Stick Skyscraper, 50-Foot Magnifying Glass and Escalator to Nowhere all come from the episode. A lot of folks don’t like these aspirational buildings but I had to have them primarily because of my love for this episode.
“And that concludes our intensive 3 week course.”
I think it’s pretty obvious that the Monorail would make me so happy inside if it was added to the game. We could build tracks throughout our town and then watch it zoom on by. Lyle Lanley could be introduced as a character even if he is unvoiced. Homer in the Monorail Conductor outfit as a skin. Bitey as a NPC. Sebastian Cobb and/or Leonard Nimoy as premium characters. The Monorail Station and/or Lyle Lanley’s trailer for buildings. The possibilities literally make me giddy with anticipation.
NERD NOTE FOR THE EPISODE: George Takei was considered for the guest role over Nimoy. How different would this episode have been? No worries though, Sulu beat SPock to the guest post spot in “One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish“(S2:E11) and has voiced two other characters.
Well, this was a discussion between Bunny and I, so stay tuned for her thoughts somewhere in the future. The original plan was for this to be a joint post but that lady has been so busy hopping around the country, I couldn’t let this info sit longer than a month. Seriously… this has been in drafts for a month! Some people’s bunnies, right? SO what are your thoughts? Got any other ideas for this idea? Do YOU love this episode as much as Bunny and me?
Can’t wait to see everyone’s thoughts. Y’all stay classy… Wookiee out!
All original art and content © Up All Night, LLC and TSTOAddicts.com
All Screen Shots of Game Graphics & Dialogue and Game Graphics from files ™ and © EA, Gracie Films and FOX