“Tennis the Menace”
This episode, as usual, is much funnier than I can convey. There were a number of “stealth jokes” – that is, jokes that are funny because they are so deliberately unfunny. I enjoyed it thoroughly. My only complaint is with NBC, who placed the NBA All-Star game opposite The Simpsons. Nobody should be asked to choose between watching Allen Iverson destroy a bunch of giants and the animated comedy styling of The Simpsons.
The introduction features Bart writing, “I will not publish the principal's credit report.” In the couch scene, the family ice skates to the couch, and then Homer falls through.
The episode begins with Bart filling Santa's Little Helper's water bowl. As Bart turns each knob, Homer, who is in the shower, is alternately frozen and scalded. With some deft manipulation, Bart is able to coax a crude rendition of “Mary Had A Little Lamb” from Homer. Marge makes him stop so that the family can leave for a talent show at the nursing home.
At the talent show, an older comedian jokes, “Ever notice that after dialysis, you always get the munchies?” Jasper, chuckling appreciatively, notes, “He's saying the stuff we've all forgot.” The comedian continues, “And you know what I can't open? Cabinets. You know what else scares me? Everything.”
Last, Grandpa Simpson does “What's New Pussycat?” Because his is onstage, the emcee declares Abe the winner of a gift certificate. Grandpa Simpson thinks he has won “a free auto.” The emcee tells him to keep reading. Homer immediately brings Grandpa to the funeral home for the free autopsy. The salesman there inquires, “What other funerary services may we provide for the predeceased?” Homer replies, “Oh, the whole deal. Coffin, tombstone, anti-stink spray.” The salesman responds, “Sir, we prefer the term casket to coffin and monument to tombstone. We have all the leading brands of anti-stink spray.” The types of sprays have delightful names like Country Mourn and Mr. Rotwell's.
The salesman offers the family a choice. When Grandpa Simpson dies, they can toss him to the wolves or spend $17,000. Homer chooses the wolves. Homer stretches out his arm and explains, “I love you this much, but that's just under $900. I wish I could go 17,000.” After the salesperson mentions that the proposed mausoleum package would use the same amount of concrete as a tennis court, Homer decides to build one of those. Grandpa is outraged. Homer tries to calm him, saying, “And if it were up to me, you wouldn't die at all, but try telling that to Killie McGee up there.”
Then, Homer sees Bart and Lisa practicing. They explain what they are doing. Homer moans, “That's tennis? Then what's the one where chicks wail on each other?” Bart suggests, “Foxy boxing?” Homer answers, “Yes, that's what I wanted.”
The rest of the family is immediately happy with the addition. Marge gushes, “You know, a tennis court can really make your house look classy. I hear Mel Brooks has one, I mean, Sir Mel Brooks.”
Karl and Lenny are the first to come over and play the Simpsons. They are awed. Lenny says, ”Yeah, we never knew one with their own tennis rink.” Then, Karl asks if they need to pay for the sandwiches. Stephanie the Weather Girl and Kent Brockman also stop by to play tennis. Homer asks how Kent keeps coming up with clever remarks. A scene flashes that shows a team in a van parked in front of the Simpsons' house with a director reading lines to Kent Brockman that a writer has just produced. The director reads, “I guess you could say it's my racquet.” Unfortunately, Kent Brockman's ear pierce is malfunctioning and he quips, “I guess you could I'm Iraqi.” Homer demands that he leave.
