Grift of the Magi
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"Grift of the Magi" is the ninth episode of the eleventh season of The Simpsons. It aired on December 19, 1999. The title is a pun of the story "The Gift of the Magi".
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[edit] Synopsis
On an ordinary day, Bart and Milhouse dress up as ladies and jump on the bed, but when they do this, Bart breaks his coccyx. Dr. Hibbert informs Homer and Marge that Bart will have to use a wheelchair for the time being. When Bart goes to school the next day, the school does not have ramps for the disabled, which changes when Fat Tony and his construction company, "Valdazzo Brothers Olive Oil", decides to build the ramps. They build too many ramps around the school, which later crumble because they are made of paint, breadsticks, and shellac. Fat Tony informs Principal Skinner that he will have to pay $200,000 for damage. In response, Principal Skinner chooses to close Springfield Elementary due to lack of funds. All pleas for help (like Mr. Burns) prove futile until Jim Hope, the president of a company named Kid First Industries, buys the school and privatizes it.
At the school, an all-new staff teaches students classes about toys and marketing, which makes Lisa suspicious when her class is asked to name a new toy that they will sell for Christmas. Bart visits Lisa writing lines on the blackboard. When Bart leaves and turns off the classroom lights, Lisa finds light shining through the blackboard. Lisa later discovers that they are a toy company that uses children for research to make a toy, through the use of hidden cameras, tape recording and clear, two-way blackboards. She brings in her parents and Chief Wiggum to investigate, but they don't believe her because the room used for spying on the children was taken out and replaced. Later on, the new toy is named Funzo (a name which Lisa ironically suggested in class) with traits that the students had suggested during a brainstorming session. Lisa takes Bart to the KFI headquarters, until Gary Coleman (as a security guard with varying mental health) stops them. They visit Jim Hope's office and he gives them a free Funzo. Bart and Lisa like it at home, until they discover that Funzo is a toy-killer. They spread the word around Springfield, urging the citizens to boycott Funzo, until Homer, on Christmas Eve, burns all the Funzos in Springfield after stealing them. However, Gary Coleman comes again to stop them, until they get into a discussion of Christmas. Afterwards, they invite Gary Coleman to a Christmas dinner at the Simpson house.
[edit] Culture references
- The toy, Funzo, is a parody of the popular Furby dolls.
- Gary Coleman once worked as a security guard in real life. Coleman spoofed Arnold's (Coleman's character in Diff'rent Strokes) catchphrase, "Whatcha talkin' about, Willis?", three times.
- It is mentioned at the end of this episode that Moe, in his annual suicide attempt, was shown what the world would be like without him. This is a reference to the 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life.
- Toys programmed to destroy other toys is a reference to the 1998 film Small Soldiers.
- At the end, the narrator says Mr Burns was visited by three ghosts in the night which showed him the error of his ways, a homage to A Christmas Carol.
[edit] Quotes
- Homer: Oh, what's going on? And I want a non-gay explanation!
Milhouse: Uh, we're drunk. Really drunk.
Homer: [sighs with relief] Oh, thank God. - Principal Skinner: This is a proud day. Now when people ask if we are in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1975, I can say...We are closer than ever before!!!
- Fat Tony: I don't get mad..I get stabby!
- Principal Skinner: The good news is, we no longer fear vicious mob reprisals. But due to lack of funds, Springfield Elementary is closed forever...
Students: Yay!
Principal Skinner: You may be cheering now, but someday, you'll...
Students: Yay!
Principal Skinner: I'm just going to stop trying.
Students: Yay! - Funzo's lines: "I see you! Give me a hug!", "I have a flower for 'ou!", and "I'm very mad at 'ou!"
- Ralph Wiggum: (talking to a dummy of Mr. Burns) Hello, I'm Dr. Stupid. I'm going to take out your liver bones. (he cuts off the dummy's head with a saw) Oops, you're dead!
Mr. Burns: I never liked that Dr. Stupid. - Funzo ad: Funzo! Funzo! Funzo! If you don't have Funzo, you're nothing!
- Gary Coleman: I ordered a galaxy of prawns! And three prawns are hardly a galaxy! Let me speak to Mr. Kwan!
Bart: I wanna see how this turns out.
Lisa: The phone's not even plugged in.
Gary: You got that? Wait, I have another call. Yes, Mr. President. I can be in Washington right away! - Homer: (while stuffing his pants with pastries) Forget it. He releases the hounds on every charity that comes to his door. Feed the Children, Save the Whales. Even Release the Hounds.
- Skinner: Now, Mr. Burns, the holidays are coming up and these children need a school.
Burns: Charity, eh? I'd be more than happy to accept.
(presses a button on the side of his chair. Skinner and the kids fall through a trap door on the stage. Seconds later, they fall through another trap door in the ceiling and land at Burns' feet)
Burns: Damn, it's doing that thing again! - Bart: (After Gary beats up a Terminator-like Funzo) Well, that's something you don't see every Christmas!
- Bart: (Saying what he wants for christmas) ....the Funzo european voltage converter.
Funzo: Why not get three? - Jim Hope: If you could have the perfect toy, what would it be?
Sherri: It should be soft and cuddly.
Bart: With lots of firepower!
Milhouse: Its eyes should be telescopes! No, periscopes! No, microscopes! Could you get back to me?
Nelson: It should be full of surprises!
Milhouse: It should never stop dancing!
Martin: It should come with accessories! - Bart: (after his Funzo attacks a Malibu Stacy and a Krusty doll) Hey! Why is it destroying other toys?
Lisa: They must have programmed it to eliminate the competition!
Bart: You mean like Microsoft?
Lisa: Exactly!
[edit] External links
- "Grift of the Magi" episode capsule at The Simpsons Archive
- "Grift of the Magi" at the Internet Movie Database
