Two Cars in Every Garage... vs. Treehouse of Horror V

[stip]

Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish

Bart and Lisa go fishing downstream of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, and Springfield Shopper reporter Dave Shutton pulls up just as Bart catches a three-eyed fish, much to both the kids' and Shutton's surprise. The fish, nicknamed Blinky by the media, makes headlines around the state, and incumbent governor Mary Bailey calls in a government inspection team to investigate nuclear waste coming from the plant that could have caused the fish to mutate. After the inspection, the plant's owner, Mr. Burns, is presented with a list of 342 violations, which would cost $56 million to rectify. Distraught, Burns talks to plant employee Homer, who half-heartedly suggests Burns run for governor against Bailey so that he could change the standards and prevent the plant from being shut down. Burns instantly pounces on the idea.

Burns's political advisers break the news to Burns that he is greatly despised by many people while Bailey is beloved by all. To compensate for this, they force Burns to try being friendly and even smile. Burns makes a television commercial discussing Blinky with an actor portraying Charles Darwin, who claims Blinky is an evolutionary step and not a mutated fish. Combined with a promise to lower taxes and a smear campaign against Bailey, Burns ties with her in the polls. On the night before the election, Burns's advisers suggest that Burns have dinner at the home of a middle-class family as an opportunity to put himself in the lead. Burns scans his employees for the most average man he can find, and Homer is chosen.

The impending dinner with Burns divides the Simpson household. Homer supports Burns, while Marge and Lisa oppose him. Before the dinner arrives, Burns's advisers prepare the family for the event, even giving them pre-written questions to ask in lieu of conversation. Lisa becomes disillusioned by it all, but Marge tells her not to worry. To everyone's surprise, Marge serves Blinky for dinner. Burns tries to act as if it does not bother him, but is not able to keep from spitting it out. The cameras flash as the bite flies through the air, and by the time the chunk hits the floor the press is gone and his gubernatorial campaign dissolves. Bailey wins the election and, despite Burns saying that Homer's dreams will be unfulfilled for as long as he is alive, the Simpson family happily get together again.

Treehouse of Horror V

Marge warns that the episode is frightening and children should not watch it. During the warning, she is told that it is so scary that Congress will not let them show it. Bart interrupts it with a radio transmission and shows the episode.

The Shinning

In a parody of The Shining, The Simpsons are employed as caretakers at Mr. Burns' mansion. Burns cuts the cable television wire and removes the beer, thinking this will ensure hard work from the family. While there, Groundskeeper Willie discovers that Bart has the power to read his thoughts and that if Homer goes insane, he should use this to call him. The lack of both his favorite things causes Homer to go insane and a ghostly Moe informs Homer he must kill his family in order to get a beer. Marge discovers that Homer has covered the walls with the repetitive phrasing "No TV and no beer make Homer go crazy", and confronts Homer with a baseball bat, but Homer, after seeing his reflection in a mirror, trips and falls unconscious. Marge locks him in the pantry until he has calmed down and makes some chili for dinner. Later on, Homer has calmed down and happily eats, but Moe reminds him of their deal through the pantry door. When he refuses to comply, Moe shows up with his gang of ghouls and carries Homer out much to his dismay. While Marge and the children are enjoying dinner, Homer begins pursuing the family with an axe and Bart uses his powers to call Willie, who runs to the family's rescue, dropping his portable television in the snow in the process. Homer kills him by striking him in the back with the axe. Homer pursues his family outside but just as he is about to kill them, Lisa discovers Willie's discarded television. Homer's insanity gradually decreases and the family freezes in the snow as they are watching with him. With the family unable to change the channel when the Tony Awards begin, Homer's insanity resurfaces.

Time and Punishment

In a parody of A Sound of Thunder, while attempting to fix a broken toaster, Homer accidentally turns it into a time machine. It transports him to prehistoric times where he realizes he must be careful because if he affects anything in the past, it could change the future. After swatting a mosquito, he returns to the present to find a dystopia where Ned Flanders is now a dictator of the world. Homer travels back in time again attempting to set things right; however, he accidentally kills a walking fish, and after returning to the present he finds Bart and Lisa are giants, narrowly avoiding being crushed by them. He then sneezes and infects the dinosaurs with a cold virus while defending himself from a Tyrannosaurus Rex, which proceeds to cause their extinction. He is initially pleased with the results in the present; amongst other perks, the family is now extremely wealthy and Patty and Selma have died, but is horrified upon discovering that donuts do not exist in this timeline and flees, only seconds before donuts begin raining from the sky. In another world, Willie attempts to help Homer, but is again struck in the back with an axe, this time by a James Earl Jones-voiced Maggie. When Homer returns to the prehistoric times again, he furiously smashes everything in sight with a baseball bat. After several more trips back and forth in time, Homer eventually arrives in a reality that appears normal; he finds humans eating with lizard-like tongues, but finally decides that it is "close enough".

Nightmare Cafeteria

In a parody of Soylent Green, Principal Skinner is concerned that the detention hall is becoming overcrowded and as a result of the latest budget cut, Lunchlady Doris has been reduced to serving "Grade F" meat in the cafeteria. Skinner discovers a common solution: eating misbehaving children. Jimbo Jones is the first student to be killed, who is served as "Sloppy Jimbo", followed by Üter, who is then served as "Üterbraten". Bart and Lisa finally discover what Principal Skinner and Lunchlady Doris are doing, but one by one, the kids are "sent to detention" where they are caged and butchered. The kids turn to Marge, who tells them that they must stand up for themselves. Eventually Bart, Lisa, and Milhouse are among the only students remaining and attempt to escape. Skinner and Doris corner them on a ledge above a giant blender. Willie attempts to help the students escape, but is once again struck in the back with an axe, this time by Skinner. Milhouse, Bart, and Lisa fall to their demise.

Bart wakes up from the nightmare to find his family beside his bed. Marge assures him he has nothing to be afraid of, but a green fog seeps in through the window and the Simpsons are turned inside out. They, along with Willie, perform a musical number over the end credits, but Bart is dragged away by Santa's Little Helper.

[stip]

This might be the best of the Treehouse of Horrors. It's up there, for sure.

[LoathedVermin72]

Yep, Treehouse, no contest.

[Simple Torture]

"Don't you mean 'the shining'?"
"Shhh...do ye want to get suuuued?"

[Norah]

I went with Blinky.

[tragabigzanda]

Blinky is a good episode I need to re-watch sometime soon. But yea, ToH V is killer.

[Jorge]

[tragabigzanda]

I was thinking along the lines of "No TV and no beer something something."