Where Did THAT Come From – Bleeding Gums Murphy and The Jazz Hole

Safi here, giving Wookiee a hand with these WDTCF. With WDTCF being a staple of TSTO Addicts, I’ll try to keep as true to the format as possible (by which I mean I’ll copy and paste one of Wookiee’s posts and just change the necessary info). Hope I make the Wookster proud. Enjoy:

In our silly lil game, we sometimes see things pop in that we have no clue as to their Origin. They seem familiar, but we just can’t pinpoint from where. So that is why we decided to make a fun lil reminder out of it. To let you know just Where Did THAT Come From?

It’s time for one of my favorite parts of being a reader here at this amazing site. That’s right… new stuff for us to talk about just WHERE it all comes from in the Best. Show. Ever. I’m always a fan of new things even though a lot of the coolest things cost precious sprinklies. The 2017 Homerpalooza Event started with a bang (literally with a free cannon) and then went full Rock, Pop, and Hip Hop. But when you think of music and the Simpsons, most people don’t go to Rock, Pop or Hip Hop first, but as the original Bracket Battle showed, we tend to go to Jazz. And when you think of Jazz, you have to think of the Jazzman, none other than the late great Bleeding Gums Murphy. It’s my privilege to get to writing about the origins for The Simpsons version of BGM on behalf of Wookiee. It’s always a pleasure to re-watch episodes of the Best. Show. Ever. For this round of origins, we’ll be taking a look at Bleeding Gums Murphy and the Jazz Hole:

       

You have to go way back to season 1 of our favourite family to catch Bleeding Gums Murphy’s first appearance.

“Moaning Lisa” (S01, E06)

Our very first introduction to both Bleeding Gums Murphy and the Jazz Hole comes when Lisa develops the blues, which is noticeable to the people around her. She has a note sent home from Springfield Elementary, but Marge and Homer are unable to cheer her up. That night, she hears jazz music in the distance, and sneaks out to follow it, to discover that it is being played by Bleeding Gums Murphy. He teaches her how to express her sadness on the saxophone, and she is happier again. This episode was covered in more details in a Totbox Throwback here.

“The Crepes of Wrath” (S01, E11)

When Bart flushes a cherry bomb down the toilet, Principal Skinner suggests that he should partake in a foreign exchange scheme. Bart is transferred to France, where we see Bleeding Gums Murphy on the same flight as Bart.

“Bart Gets an ‘F’” (S02, E01)

Bart is told by Mrs. Krabappel that his grades are slipping, and if he fails to complete another test, Bart may probably have to repeat third grade. He prays to God that something will happen to make him miss school the next day so he can have more time to study. That night it snows and schools are closed the next morning.

“Dancin’ Homer” (S02, E05)

It’s the “Nuclear Plant Employee, Spouses and No More than Three Children Night” at the Springfield Isotopes baseball game at Springfield Stadium. And what game of baseball would be complete without a pre-game national anthem. Only this game features a 26 minute rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner sung by Bleeding Gums Murphy.

“Bart the Daredevil” (S02, E08)

After attending Lisa’s recital, Homer is speeding to get the family across town to see Truck-o-Saurus, in town for one night only. En route, they pass none other than the Jazz man taking a taxi.

“Bart’s Dog Gets an ‘F’” (S02, E16)

Lisa has the mumps and has to spend a few days home from school. Marge teaches her sewing and she starts working on the family heirloom quilt. Her contribution, a patch depicting Springfield music icons – Dewey Largo and Bleeding Gums Murphy.

“Old Money” (S02, E17)

Grandpa Simpson falls in love with Beatrice Simmons, a fellow resident of the Springfield Retirement Castle. During the course of their brief romance, Bea passes away and leaves Grandpa her entire savings, $106,000. Grandpa formulates to give the money to charity but he can’t choose which one is worthiest. He plans to have people come talk to him, and then he will choose who is in most need of it. Bleeding Gums Murphy is shown outside the Retirement Castle amongst the people there to pitch their ideas.

“When Flanders Failed” (S03, E03)

When Ned Flanders announces at a barbecue that he is starting his own general store catering to the left-handed, Homer wishes that his goody-goody neighbor will suffer financial ruin. When Homer sees Ned closing the Leftorium with an “out of business” sign, it is exactly like his imagined wish, but it brings Homer grief, not satisfaction at seeing Flanders poor. Stricken with guilt, Homer decides to take it upon himself to save Flanders. He tells him to open the Leftorium the next day then makes several phone calls, informing all the left-handed people in Springfield about the store as well as calling in favors. Can you spot Bleeding Gums Murphy in the store above?

“Lisa’s Pony” (S03, E08)

This episode kicks off with Springfield Elementary’s school talent show, and our judges include none other than Bleeding Gums Murphy. Lisa didn’t do so well without a saxophone reed.

“Radio Bart” (S03, E13)

For Bart’s tenth birthday, one of his presents is a radio microphone, which he promptly uses to play practical jokes on everyone. Matters spin out of control, however, when Bart pranks Groundskeeper Willie by making him think a little boy named Timmy O’Toole has fallen down a local well, and the entire town becomes involved in the trick. Krusty the Clown and Sting, along with a whole slew of celebrities join in to sing a song called “We’re Sending Our Love Down the Well” for Timmy.

“Lisa the Beauty Queen (S04, E04)

After Amber Dempsey is struck by lightning, the title of Little Miss Springfield is thrust upon runner-up Lisa. Lisa unwillingly becomes a symbol for Laramie Cigarettes. As Lisa, atop her Larmie float, makes her way through the streets of Springfield, Bleeding Gums Murphy is seen in the background.

“Homer’s Barbershop Quartet” (S05, E01)

During the Springfield Swap Meet, Bart and Lisa notice an album cover showing Homer and The Be Sharps. Howver, off to the side, we can see an album by Bleeding Gums Murphy.

“Round Springfield” (S06, E22)

While visiting Bart in the hospital, Lisa meets her hero, jazzman Bleeding Gums Murphy in a bed in another ward. Later, he lends Lisa his saxophone for her school recital. It starts off terribly, but Lisa gets up and performs a solo routine, becoming the star of the show. However, when she returns to the hospital, she is saddened to learn that Murphy has passed away. Lisa is the only person attending Murphy’s funeral, and vows to make sure that everyone in Springfield knows the name Bleeding Gums Murphy.

When the local jazz station plays one of Murphy’s songs, Lisa is disappointed because the station’s tiny range still prevents anyone from hearing it. Lightning then strikes the antenna, giving it extra power and projecting it into every radio in Springfield. Lisa is finally satisfied. After proclaiming “that was for you Bleeding Gums,” she turns to leave, but not before Bleeding Gums appears from the heavens to tell Lisa that she had made “an old jazz man happy”. After saying a final goodbye, Lisa and Bleeding Gums jam to “Jazzman” one last time.

“Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious” (S08, E13)

While watching the television show “Before They Were Famous”, the shows set features Bleeding Gums in the background.

“Lisa’s Sax” (S09, E03)

When Lisa purchases a new saxophone, clips of her and her sax appear as a montage, including her first duet with Bleeding Gums.

“Lisa the Simpson” (S09, E17)

Thanks to the unfounded predictions of Grampa Simpson, Lisa is convinced that she’s genetically predisposed to lose her intelligence. While on a quest to hold on to herself, she pays a visit to the Jazz Hole and we get a better look at the exterior of the building.

“Alone Again, Natura-Diddily” (S11, E14)

When Maude Flanders dies in a freak accident, we see the tombstone of Bleeding Gums Murphy (along with other dearly departed cast members like Grimey and Dr. Monroe) at the cemetery.

“Treehouse of Horror XII” (S13, E01)

In a Harry Potter parody about student wizards Bart and Lisa and an evil plot of the Dark Lord Montymort and his snake Slithers, Bleeding Gums Murphy is among the faces peering out of the wailing wall.

“Take My Life, Please” (S20, E10)

When a man named Vance Connor is inducted into the Springfield Wall of Fame, other inductees including Bleeding Gums Murphy can be seen in the background.

“Thursdays with Abie” (S21, E09)

As Lisa babysits the class stuff lamb, she is seen walking by the Jazz Hole.

“To Surveil with Love” (S21, E20)

The building is again seen on the live feeds when Springfield has surveillance cameras installed throughout the town.

“Treehouse of Horror XXII” (S23, E03)

Another tombstone of Bleeding Gums Murphy is seen in the opening sequence of THOH XXII.

“Whiskey Business” (S24, E19)

While at a jazz club where the greats are playing, Lisa sees a hologram of her idol, Bleeding Gums Murphy. Lisa writes an angry letter arguing for a boycott of the record label. The record label attempts to use a hologram of Sonny Rollins to convince her otherwise, but it doesn’t work.

“Every Man’s Dream” (S27, E01)

In Wookiee’s least favourite episode, the Jazzman makes an appearance in the couch gag, as various albums of the Simpsons are shown.

“Looking for Mr. Goodbart” (S28, E20)

While playing a version of Pokemon Go, Homer is going through the cemetery. We again see BGM’s tombstone, which now reads: “Catch me at the Jazz Hole in the sky”.

 

So there you go… Bleeding Gums Murphy and The Jazz Hole. Did you remember these episodes? Splurge your donuts on our most desired character? Got a random appearance you love that I didn’t bother mentioning? Happy Springfield got the Jazzman? Sound off in the comments and happy classy tapping friends.

TTFN… Safi, in for Wookiee, out!