Morning Musically-Minded, Medically-Minded, Masticators!
(Today’s post is sponsored by the letter “M”)
Over the past 600+ episodes, The Simpsons has taken us on an amazing journey involving music, science, and food to name a few concepts.
And what better way to start your week, than by discussing some of these concepts Monday morning?
So let’s get started this week by talking about a TV show that was widely popular in the late ’80’s and early 90’s.
In the one hundredth and eighth episode of The Simpsons, Sideshow Bob (Season 06, Episode 05), Birch Barlow is out pushing his next Republican agenda to oust Mayor Quimby from office, and have a republican mayor instead.
Mayor Quimby tries to lock up the seniors vote by naming the new expressway the Matlock Expressway.
Things take a turn for the worse for Mayor Quimby when public pressure pushed him to release Sideshow Bob from prison, and then Sideshow Bob becomes the republican candidate to run against him.
Sideshow Bob wins the election and proceeds to build the Matlock Expressway over the Simpsons home.
Sideshow Bob: “So sorry, Mr. Simpson. Your house is blocking construction for our new Matlock Expressway. However, I an a fair man. You will have 72 hours to vacate. At that time, we will blow up your house and any remaining Simpsons.”
Marge: “Homer, we have to stop these guys!”
Homer: “I know what you’re up to, Mayor Terwiggiger. And no one in my family is gonna stand for it!”
(there’s a car honking sound)
Grampa in a car at the edge of the Expressway: “Move your darn house, son!”
With a little help from Smithers, Bart and Lisa uncover Sideshow Bob rigged the election by having dead people and dead pets vote for him.
But have you ever wondered whowhat Matlock is?
Matlock
Matlock was an American mystery legal drama television series created by Dean Hargrove, starring Andy Griffith in the title role of criminal defense attorney Ben Matlock. It broadcast from March 3, 1986 to May 8, 1992 on NBC and November 5, 1992 to May 7, 1995 on ABC; running for 9 seasons with 193 episodes and a pilot movie.
In addition to Andy Griffith, the show starred Linda Purl, Alice Hirson, Kene Holliday, Kari Lizer, Nancy Stafford, Julie Sommars, Clarence Gilyard Jr., Brynn Thayer, Daniel Roebuck, and Carol Huston.
Andy Griffith (June 1, 1926 – July 3, 2012)
The first five seasons, it averaged over 15 million viewers per episode, ranking 12th to 20th in the ratings. It’s sixth season, it averaged 12.4 million viewers and ranked 39th. As a result, the show was dropped by NBC. However, it was picked up by ABC. It’s seventh season, it averaged 13.2 million viewers and ranked 29th. It’s eighth season, it averaged 12.1 million viewers and ranked 35th. It’s ninth and final season, it averaged a personal low 10.0 million viewers per episode and ranked a personal low 61st in the ratings.
Now that we’ve learned more about Matlock, be sure to come back next week when we continue our Monday morning musings with the next episode of The Simpsons.
Did you remember this episode? Have you ever seen Matlock? What’s your favourite Simpsons TV reference? What about your favourite Simpsons Sideshow Bobepisode? Sound off in the comments below. You know we love hearing from you.
It’s also a nice little Derbyshire town here in the UK 😊
^^ not far from Bakewell, where the tarts originated – yum 😊
Birch Barlow: Mayor Quimby, you are well known for your lenient stance on crime, but suppose for a second that your house was ransacked by thugs, your family was tied up in the basement with socks in their mouths, you try to open the door but there’s too much blood on the knob….
Mayor Quimby: What is your, ah, question?
Birch Barlow: My question is about the budget, sir.
So many good quotes on this one. I love the one how they complain about not voting for Mayor Quimby because he released a prisoner like Sideshow Bob, so instead vote for Sideshow Bob.