Life on the Fast Lane (18 Mar. 1990)

Marge contemplates an affair with a handsome bowling instructor.

Director:

David Silverman

Writers:

Matt Groening (created by), James L. Brooks (developed by),

Stars:

Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Dan Castellaneta	...	Homer Simpson / Singing Waiters / Bowling Receptionist / Man #2 (voice)
Julie Kavner	...	Marge Simpson / Patty Bouvier / Selma Bouvier (voice)
Nancy Cartwright	...	Bart Simpson (voice)
Yeardley Smith	...	Lisa Simpson (voice)
Harry Shearer	...	Lenny Leonard / Mall Security Guard / Man #1 / Singing Waiters (voice)
Albert Brooks	...	Jacques (voice) (as A. Brooks)
Maggie Roswell	...	Helen Lovejoy / Singing Waiters (voice)

Storyline

Marge contemplates an affair with a handsome bowling instructor.

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Plot Keywords:

2d animation

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Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Family

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 March 1990 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

20th Century Fox Television, Gracie Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The third episode to be produced and animated by Studio Telecom.

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Goofs

When Homer is at lunch with Lenny, his sandwich first looks to have lettuce inside. In the next few frames, it looks like peanut butter and jelly. Then, it looks like a meaty sandwich.

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Quotes

Jacques: Let it out, Marge. Laugh loud. Laugh out loud. You'll lose weight.

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Connections

Edited into The Simpsons: Another Simpsons Clip Show (1994)

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Soundtracks

"Brahms's Lullaby"
(uncredited)
Music by Johannes Brahms
Lyrics by Georg Scherer
Performed by Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, and Yeardley Smith

User Reviews

A Near Strike

Life In The Fast Lane

This episode is one of the best episodes in season 1. It's wackier than many of the other episodes with many bizarre places (such as the shops in the mall and The Singing Sirloin.) But the episode does have a strong emotional centre and is probably one of the best episodes about a problem in Homer and Marge's marriage with both of them hurting in their own ways. The silence in the bedroom being particularly heart-rendering.

Al Brooks gives perhaps his best performance on the show as Jacques the bowling instructor giving the character a level of charm, but also making it hilarious. Julie Kavner also gives one of her funniest performances and Dan, whilst not giving Homer the same zaniness that Homer would have later gives Homer an emotional quality that has probably not been seen before or since.

As I've stated this is one of the better season 1 episodes and probably one of the better Marge/Homer episodes.