Sideshow Bob Roberts vs Secrets of a Succesful Marriage

[stip]

Sideshow Bob Roberts

In Springfield Prison, Sideshow Bob calls local right-wing talk show host Birch Barlow and complains about being unfairly imprisoned. Barlow and Springfield's residents pressure Mayor Quimby into releasing Bob. Bob is soon unveiled as the Republican candidate for the Springfield mayoral election. Determined to keep Bob from becoming mayor, Bart and Lisa decide to campaign for Quimby. Unfortunately, due to Bob's charisma and Quimby's drowsy, overmedicated appearance at a televised debate, Bob wins the election by a massive margin. Among those voting for Bob are Krusty, who, though Bob framed him for armed robbery, "is aching for that upper-class tax break" he has promised, and Homer, who disagrees with Bob's "Bart-killing policy" but does approve of his "Selma-killing policy."

The Simpsons awake to find that their house is in the way of Bob's new "Matlock Expressway" and that it will soon be demolished, which will leave the Simpsons homeless. Bob also forces Principal Skinner to demote Bart to kindergarten at Springfield Elementary School. Bart and Lisa begin to suspect that Bob somehow rigged the election. Lisa goes through the voting records but is unable to find any proof that the election was rigged. Lisa receives a message from a whistleblower to meet at night in an underground parking garage, who turns out to be Waylon Smithers, after Homer unintentionally exposes him from the cover of darkness due to his car lights. Bob's policies disagree with Smithers' "choice of lifestyle," so he tells Bart and Lisa to find a voter named Edgar Neubauer, who will lead them to evidence of electoral fraud.

Eventually, Bart discovers the name Edgar Neubauer on a tombstone at the cemetery. After he explains this to Lisa, she discovers that many of those listed as voting for Bob are in fact long dead, including her former cat, Snowball I. At the trial that follows after Bart and Lisa reveal their story to the public, they trick Bob into confessing his crime by accusing him of being Barlow's political puppet, resulting in Bob blurting out that he was indeed the mastermind. He then reveals that he did this because of what he perceives as the town's stupidity at voting for Quimby, the Democrat, whereas Bob claims they really desire and need "a cold-hearted Republican to cut [their] taxes, brutalize criminals, and rule [them] like a king." The court then strips Bob of his position and sends him back to prison. The Simpsons get their house back, Quimby regains his job as mayor, Bart returns to the fourth grade, and the "Matlock Expressway" is put on hold. Bob vows revenge from his minimum security prison, though he quickly finds a new goal to be accomplished: helping the Yale alumni inmates beat the Princeton alumni at rowing.

Secrets of a Successful Marriage

After Homer realizes that he is "slow", Marge recommends that he take an adult education course at the annex center. Down at the center, however, Homer changes his mind and decides to become a teacher. He talks to the administrator and accepts an opening to teach a class on having a successful marriage. Despite being confident that he can pull it off, he is frightened on his first day and is unable to help his pupils with their relationship problems. The class collectively gets up to leave, but when Homer mentions his conversation with Marge in bed, the class decides to stay, eager to hear gossip. Marge soon discovers that everyone in town knows her personal secrets, reacting by confronting Homer about it and he promises to stop. He instead continues telling her secrets anyway. Homer then takes the night off teaching class by having his class observe the family over dinner.

Marge finally loses her temper and sends Homer and the class out of the house. When Homer tries to get back in, Marge stops him, saying she can no longer trust him, and refuses to let him back in. Homeless, Homer stays in Bart's tree house. Marge tries to reassure Bart and Lisa that she and Homer love the children, despite their current situation, but Lisa and Bart are worried their parents will get divorced. Marge tries to get advice from Reverend Lovejoy, who tells her to get a divorce.

While Homer longs for his wife, Moe comes by the Simpsons' house to declare his interest in Marge, who turns him down. When Homer comes into the house with flowers he picked for Marge, Moe sees him and jumps out the window. Standing before her in rags, Homer professes his total and utter dependency on Marge, and she tells him that that is not a good thing, but Homer then makes his winning argument: he loves her, he needs her to love him, and can not afford to ever lose her trust again or he will end up dead. Marge is won over and allows Homer to return to the house. The family is glad that he has returned, although Moe is less than thrilled.

[LoathedVermin72]

This one is a tie for all intensive purposes, but I voted for Secrets.

[E.H. Ruddock]

This one is a tie for all intensive purposes, but I voted for Secrets.

intensive

[Chris_H_2]

For the record, that is NOT a Midwestern thing.

[E.H. Ruddock]

For the record, that is NOT a Midwestern thing.

lol.

[tragabigzanda]

This is a weak Sideshow Bob ep. Secrets is an east vote.

[LoathedVermin72]

I wouldn't say it's weak at all. All the Birch Barlow stuff alone should elevate it above that status.

[LoathedVermin72]

This one is a tie for all intensive purposes, but I voted for Secrets.

intensive

I just did that to piss off chud but now it's ruined

[E.H. Ruddock]

This one is a tie for all intensive purposes, but I voted for Secrets.

intensive

I just did that to piss off chud but now it's ruined

how can we make it up to you?

[LoathedVermin72]

This one is a tie for all intensive purposes, but I voted for Secrets.

intensive

I just did that to piss off chud but now it's ruined

how can we make it up to you?

When the time comes, I will call upon you to vote.

[tragabigzanda]

I wouldn't say it's weak at all. All the Birch Barlow stuff alone should elevate it above that status.

Maybe I should watch this one again too.

[LoathedVermin72]

Another liberal spendocrat

[Simple Torture]

I have no strong feelings either way about this episode. I'm going to vote for Secrets because I like the running gag that Moe is in love with Marge.

[stip]

what are some of the better jokes from secrets. my vote was for bob

[Mecca]

maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatlooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooock

[Norah]