It’s time for another Throwback Thursday Tuesday with Totbox! This week, because it looks like we will be getting an update, we’re going to run this throwback post on Tuesday. This will prevent it from getting overlooked with those looking for event info 🙂 Enjoy!-Alissa
*sigh*…*grunt*…hi… I guess…
I don’t want to bum anyone out, so I’ll try to get through this quickly and not get personal. Depression (or Melancholia)… You probably experienced it at some point in your life and thanks to cartoon characters like Eeyore, Charlie Brown and …Droopy dog (is he depressed? He always says “I’m Happy”… Whatever), it might be a little easier to get people who never had depression to visually understand it. Now with Season 1, Episode 6, there is one more poster child for the condition.
“Moaning Lisa”
Lisa might look yellow on the outside, but she is really Blue.
Luckily for us there was also a B-story with Homer and Bart beating each-other up in a bloody boxing match (not for real but in a video game “Super Slugfest”). You might know the video game Punch-Out!! (Or Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!) presented by Nintendo, that was probably the influence to the game Homer and Bart are playing. Oddly the game (and it’s graphics) made me think of 1989’s “The Wizard” a movie about a young gamer (played by Fred Savage) who plays Super Mario 3 and probably other games (the weirdest thing is I never saw the film, but this episode made me think about it). Super Nintendo’s Super Mario World was released on August 1990 but lets travel back in time about 6 months prior to February 11th 1990. Episode 6 of The Simpsons.
FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING:
Janey Powell (Lisa’s school pal), also the noise land video arcade. A young version of Marge’s Mom (Jacqueline Bouvier) appears in a kind-of Flashback Dream.
There are also character’s and items that appeared for the first time that Could come into TSTO in the future maybe. OH THE POSSIBILITIES:
Some previously requested Characters: Bleeding Gums Murphy and the Jazz Hole (building) but since he was voiced by deceased guest star Ron Taylor, if he appeared in Tapped Out he isn’t likely to be voiced).
Possible Skins: Bath Robe Homer, Video Game Boxer Bart and Homer, Young (little) Marge and young version of her Mom. and finally Bath Robe Lisa (which should go into the Don’t Mention It section but I’m feeling kinda blah, so, here it is) :p
Possible NPCs: Super Slugfest Ref, also Super Slugfest Boxers.
Possible Events: A Jazz/Night Club event (maybe when we get Night time?) or maybe New Orleans Event (birthplace of Jazz) which would work well with a Mardi Gras Event or just a Music Event (all instruments) ….I WANT BLEEDING GUMS MURPHY EA! ANY of these ideas will work :p also maybe a Video Game come to life event (or Boxing characters for Tap Ball Part 2).
Characters and Things I didn’t mention because I personally have no interest in them joining the game Don’t Mention It: female gym teacher (Ms Barr), (I would rather have Mrs. Pommelhorse that had the job longer and believe she currently does). Noiseland employee. “Slugfest Champ” Howie and his mom or any of the other kids in this episode that I haven’t mentioned in previous posts. I also don’t want any tavern patrons that I haven’t mentioned before and finally other people in the Jazz Club outside of Bleeding Gums Murphy.
some Highlights:
Depression can be circumstantial (like the cause of recent events), it could be seasonal (common in Winter) and to some people depression is just a/the way of life. “Life!… don’t talk to me about Life.” One of Marvin’s quotes from Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy. LOL, it’s amazing how a depressed robot can make me so happy. But I depress… I mean, I Digress. (I could probably do a full post on depression but why bother? Nobody really cares) :p
Some other things to think about:
Maybe this episode was inspiration to the 1993 song “Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M.. This is the first episode we see Lisa play the saxophone on the show (Outside of the opening credits – where she uses a blue saxophone). Homer and Bart’s gaming device uses Joy-Sticks (remember those?). Some of the background arcade games include “PAC Rat 2”, “Robert Goulet Destroyer”, “Escape from Grandma’s House”, “Eat My Shorts”, and (my favorite) “Time Waster”. Of course there are some deeper questions asked in this episode to think about but deep down do you think we can truly answer “has anyone seen a Jacques Strap?” :p
Do you remember this episode? What was your favorite moment? Any of the Possibilities that you Really do/don’t like? Any tips on how to beat the hum-drums? Do you want to dig out your vintage video games? Do you like Jazz music? Can you imagine a world with everyone being happy? Sound off in the comments and have a Happy journey back to your current time space/time 🙂 Please insert coins now!!! Or the Post will end. Please insert coins now!!! 3… 2… 1… POST OVER!
A world where everyone is happy would be great – even though I would have to find another job!
Nice mention of SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder. Not something we see that much of in the sunny Southern Hemisphere – definitely more common for you people up in the dark, wintery, North
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Nice one Totbox 👍👍👍
I remember this episode most clearly. I remember Lisa playing on the bridges and that may have been one of the reasons I wanted to play saxophone in school. Actually I think Lisa was a huge influence in that 🙂
Gosh, for some reason I thought this episode came a bit later than episode number six. I saw it several times growing up, and definitely one of my favorite episodes. I used to sing “the second grade blues” when I was literally in second grade.
Tips to beat the hum-drums? Hmmmm. DQ has funnel cakes, now, that made me pretty happy for a little while. Listening to relentlessly upbeat, sped-up, silly music also tends to make me happy, but it sometimes makes the people around me miserable. Also, Zoloft. Other things. Can’t share all of them here.
As I already said, Bleeding Gums Murphy needs to be added to the game. He’s a legend, he’s an icon, he’s dr Hibbert’s secret brother (I think). And the jazz club would finally be added. And maybe we could change the ingame music with it (a man can dream, can’t he?).
And maybe pajamas and bathrobes could be added someday if we get the option to enter and decorate the house like in one of the smurfs games (don’t play it, except that, it’s as boring as a pet rock).
I like your idea with an in game music change (makes me think about the radio(s) in Animal Crossing, well even the town theme song, when you talk to people), again, I never thought of the game music as a changing variable, I like it 🙂
You are correct in your assumption that Dr. Hibbert and Bleeding Gums are long lost brothers. They alluded to this in his death episode.
I love these throwbacks! Keep up the good work, Tot!
I am still holding on to my donuts looking to the day when Bleeding Gums Murphy and the Jazz Hole become reality.
The show references Theolonious Monk, Jackie McLean and Lisa’s favorite album is Miles Davis’ ‘Birth of the Cool’ and nothing about Bleeding Gums Murphy? Make it happen EA!
This is one of my favorite episodes. I would for Bleeding Gums if I had to, to get him into the game!
UPDATE LIVE ON IOS!!