The Simpsons/Some Enchanted Evening

Some Enchanted Evening
Season 1, Episode 13
Airdate	May 13, 1990
Production Number	7G01
Written by	Matt Groening, Sam Simon
Directed by	David Silverman, Kent Butterworth
← 1x12 Krusty Gets Busted	2x01 → Bart Gets an F
The Simpsons — Season One

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Some Enchanted Evening is the thirteenth episode of the first season of The Simpsons, and the thirteenth episode overall.

Infamously known as the first episode in production order and intended as the series debut and a fall 1989 rollout, issues with substandard animation with "Some Enchanted Evening" forced a near complete-reanimation of the episode in question, and series producers James L. Brooks and Matt Groening threatening to shelve the series if further issues arose from production of subsequent episodes. "Bart the Genius" did turn out somewhat better, and there were varying degrees of improvement with subsequent episodes, so the series' debut was pushed back to December 1989 ("Simpsons Roasting On an Open Fire") and "Some Enchanted Evening" was in acceptable enough shape to allow it to be aired as the Season 1 finale.

And with that, a legend in television animation and in television altogether was born.

The episode itself centered on Homer treating Marge to a night on the town after realizing that Marge feels like Homer is taking her for granted. The babysitter they hire for Bart, Lisa and Maggie is, unknown to them, a wanted felon and prison escapee who is out to rob the family blind and will kill them all if need be. Will Mrs. Botz succeed, or do Bart and Lisa have an ace up their sleeves and can stop her from her criminal plans?

Guest Stars:

Plot Overview

Homer,and Marge decides to go out for Dinner,leaving Bart,Lisa,and Maggie with a new Babysitter.The new Babysitter they would later learn is a notorious criminal.Bart,and Lisa would learn about the Womans identity,and contact the Police.But,Homer,and Marge would find the Woman tied up,and not knowing who the woman is unties her,and even pays her for her services,thus allowing the Woman to escape.The Police would arrive afterwards,and having learned of the mistake,Homer quickly covers his mistake.

Notes

Title Sequence

• Blackboard: "I will not yell fire in a crowded classroom."
• Couch Gag: The family simply sits on the couch ... nothing special.

Arc Advancement

Characters

Homer,Marge,Bart,Lisa,Maggie,etc.

Trivia

Allusions and References

• America's Most Wanted: Bart and Lisa watch the reality crime TV series "America's Most Armed and Dangerous," where a profile on a serial criminal is on a woman who fits the description of the babysitter, Mrs. Botz. The show's host is a John Walsh expy.
• The Night Of the Hunter: The 1953 Davis Grubb novel, which in turn spun a movie starring Robert Mitchum, includes many plot elements involving Mrs. Botz, Bart and Lisa, including a criminal trying to rob victims, the criminal having a long history of legal problems, children becoming involved and soon being stalked with murderous intent, and the criminal being subdued. (The only change is when Homer frees Mrs. Botz, unlike in the movie where the criminal is taken into custody after being subdued.)
• "Patricia": Homer mimics the tune as he prepares to walk in to the house and shower Marge with flowers and candy.
• The Smurfs and The Snorks: The Hanna-Barbera cartoons, about tiny creatures living a carefree existence and having names fitting their personality and/or role in the world they live in, inspired "The Happy Little Elves." Lisa compares Bart's irritation over the Happy Little Elves to Chilly, the "elf who cannot love," a reference to Grouchy Smurf, the Smurf who is (seemingly) always in a bad mood.
• South Pacific: The song "Some Enchanted Evening," from the 1949 musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein. The song's lyrics, a lament about not taking your loved one for granted and that you must show that you love her, draws heavily into the subplot of Homer realizing he has to shape up his thoughtless behavior toward Marge or risk losing her, and then atoning by taking her out to dinner.

Reviews

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