Totbox’s Throwback Thursday: S2 E15 Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?

Hello, you Bast… (Whoops, I mean) legitimate children. Brothers from another mother, and Sisters from a different mister. Aren’t we all related somehow? (Though secretly wish we weren’t)

Long Lost Relative stories are relatively interesting. 🙂  and this one is not that much different. Let’s pull the curtain back, and let me REUNITE you with this episode:

“Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?”

Homer finds his long lost half-brother and that’s just the half of it.

‘O Brother Where Art Thou?’ is originally from a film within a movie  “Sullivan’s Travels” (1941) (which if you know about it, there may be some foreshadowing about Herb’s financial future). The Simpson’s were the first to use it as an episode title and other tv series have used it after. The title/quote was also used as a feature film title (2000). This episode aired February 21st 1991, (at long last) the 28th episode of The Simpsons.
FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING:

Herb Powell, Powell Motors and Powell mansion. The Homer (car). Also first time Mona Simpson appeared (as a flashback and was not the voice we are used to, but it was Grandpa’s memory so perhaps that is what messed up her voice). :p
There are also items that appeared for the first time that Could come into TSTO in the future maybe. OH THE POSSIBILITIES:
Possible Skins: Wedding Day Abe and Mona, Baby Homer (if not just an NPC). Malt Shop Itchy (if we ever get Itchy and Scratchy as characters), and there are other outfits that I feel are a pass (that I won’t bother mentioning). Maybe include Lisa in swimsuit and still hold off on Bart (still want the MilPool cast Bart). Also maybe a Hospital gowned Grandpa. Kumatsu Motors facade for Powell Motors?

Possible Decorations: exploding Gasoline truck (from McBain movie), 35 speed limit sign, pot holes, Powell hot-air balloon, Dunk the Clown -carnival stand (maybe come with Herb’s Birth-Mom). Also (shown in the next collage) a penguin enclosure.

Possible Events: Long Lost Family member event, they can do this with just Simpson family members but I’d also like to see Larry Burns, Sarah Wiggum (even though she isn’t missing from the show). Hibbert family event (including missing family member Bleeding Gums Murphey), Carney Event, fun by the pool mini-event, and (because of the Abe and Mona wedding day skin idea) a wedding event.

Characters and Things I didn’t mention because I personally have no interest in them joining the game Don’t Mention It: Senator Mendoza, and other McBain characters (including Heroine I’d like to call “McJane”). Herb’s Birth-Mom (unless comes with the Dunk the Clown tank as mentioned earlier). Hibbert’s Shelbyville Brother (and the Shelbyville orphanage). Powell Motor’s employees and spectators (even the Pope). Detroit people (Police officer, restroom guy). Aztec Theater employee and theater goers. Unknown Shelbyville folks and gas station, grocery store, Guido’s Pasta Villa. Wedding attendees, carnival goers, nurse and “Now Leaving Michigan” sign.

some Highlights:

I auto-motivate you with a few more highlights:

Some other things to think about:

Once again McBain throws someone out a window. I understand it’s a movie but was he built into the table that he burst out of? -lol. Grandpa complains the movie cost him $2.50.

Herb is a year older than Homer yet obviously looks younger, is it Herb’s birthmother’s good DNA or Herbs upbringing which we know nothing about (maybe it was less stressful)? Who is Herb’s adoption parents (the Powells)? Also strange note: Herb had a little 5 O’clock-shadow as a baby. 🙂

I’m not sure how The Homer car bankrupted Powell Motors, unless they blindingly went into mass production. If that was the case the Simpsonverse should have a number of them on the roads (unless they were scrapped for parts).

Homer wanted a cup holder to fit the large Kwick-E-Mart’s “Super Slacker” cup (which he is seen with a couple times in the episode). I’m guessing it’s something the Kwick-E-Mart discontinued. Also where did Homer obtain a Detroit phone book (while in Springfield)?

Since this episode provides a Homer and Dr. Hibbert relative/doppleganger there was another familiar face. The safety inspector that Burn’s tried to bribe in S2 E4 must have a twin in Detroit that works for Powell Motors as an engineer (unless he got fired, moved out there and dyed his hair… But not likely). Also a Shelbyville man had the same voice as (wise guy) Raphael (but that’s not as strange).

My Pointless Opinion:

Even rewatching this episode it was hard wiping the smile from my face. Homer designing/creating The Homer car is best of all. I could have included more pictures in Highlights such as Homer in the wind-tunnel and his sketch and him saying “SORT OF!!” After his brother’s pep talk. I also liked the McBain film (end credit) theme song, and the sibling bickering between Bart and Lisa. At the bottom-right of the first Highlight collage I included a quote from Dr. Hibbert who says “You’ll bury us all Grandpa Simpson” – with Abe cryogenically frozen in the future he might end up doing just that (well if Gravedigger Billy doesn’t stick around). Dr. Hibbert’s trademark laugh was sort of there but still in a caterpillar phase. There are still quotes/lines and images that keep popping up in my mind (from this episode) but I didn’t want to over-do the picture collages, to leave somethings as surprises when you rewatch it. So in closing, the episode was good, Homer’s stupidity really pays off well and there is more enjoyment from this episode than what I provided in the collages.

*the following pointless opinions do not reflect those of the admin of the site nor any brother or sister that I may or not have.

Do you remember this episode? What was your favorite moment? Any of the Possibilities that you Really do/don’t like? Did you find something odd about the mirrored car window (this first picture of the post)?  Do you have a brother or sister (do you stay in contact or are you distant)? What kind of car would you design? Can you skip a stone across a pond? Can you imagine a world without Siblings? Sound off in the comments and have a legitimate journey back to your current space/time 🙂 and don’t ask “if we are there yet” or I’ll turn this post around.