Rosebud (21 Oct. 1993)

Mr. Burns goes on a desperate quest to recover his cherished childhood toy Bobo, a bear which is now in Maggie's possession.

Director:

Wesley Archer

Writers:

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

Stars:

Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Dan Castellaneta	...	Homer Simpson / George Burns / Bill Clinton / Grampa Simpson / Barney the Dinosaur / Barney Gumble / Dave Shutton / Future Man (voice)
Julie Kavner	...	Marge Simpson / Patty Bouvier (voice)
Nancy Cartwright	...	Bart Simpson / Nelson Muntz / Screaming Woman (voice)
Yeardley Smith	...	Lisa Simpson (voice)
Hank Azaria	...	Security Guard / Aeroplane Mechanic / Ice Gatherer #1 / Apu Apu Nahasapeemapetilon / Professor Frink / Man Looking at Homer #2 / Whipping Man / Carl / Soul Mass Transit System Host / Bumblebee Man / Moe Szyslak (voice)
Harry Shearer	...	Smithers / Mr. Burns / Clifford Burns / Ned Flanders / George H. W. Bush / Audience Member #1 / Adolf Hitler / Ice Gatherer #2 / Kent Brockman / Recording Studio Technician / Man Looking at Homer #1 / Lenny / Otto / Jasper / Dr. Hibbert / Principal Skinner (voice)
Joey Ramone	...	Himself (voice)
Johnny Ramone	...	Himself (voice)
Marky Ramone	...	Himself (voice)
Christopher Ward	...	Himself (voice) (as CJ Ramone)
Pamela Hayden	...	Mumsie Burns (voice)

Storyline

Burns' birthday is approaching and he longs for Bobo,the teddy bear he had as a child. Bobo has had an illustrious history,including flying the Atlantic with Lindbergh and being buried in Arctic ice,some of which is sold as ice cubes to the Simpsons so that Bobo is now Maggie's toy. Burns attempts theft,bribery and robbery to get his Bobo back but the family stand firm against him until finally Maggie,feeling sorry for him,offers him Bobo.

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Plot Keywords:

teddy bear | 2d animation | reference to mark twain | whistler's mother | roast ceremony

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Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Family

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 October 1993 (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

In honor of his birthday, Smithers 'arranges' for the people of Australia to spell out Mr. Burns's name with candles across the large country, so that it can be seen via satellite. This is a reference to an effort the people of Australia made during the first spaceflight of John Glenn. People across the country left their outdoor lights on, to give the astronaut a nice light-show as he flew over. Glenn even remarked on how pretty it was. Incidentally, when John Glenn returned to space a second time, in recent years, a similar effort was encouraged across Australia, so as to recreate the experience for the elderly astronaut.

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Goofs

Several ex-presidents attend Mr. Burns' birthday party. The bouncer allows Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon to enter, but refuses to admit George Bush Sr. because he was a one-termer. However, Nixon also served only one term, but he was admitted anyway. Nixon was elected to two terms, although he resigned during his second term, the only President to do so.

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Quotes

Smithers: Here are several fine young men who I'm sure are going to go far. Ladies and gentlemen, the Ramones.
Mr. Burns: Ah, these minstrels will soothe my jangled nerves.
Joey Ramone: I'd just like to say this gig sucks!
Johnny Ramone: Hey, up yours, Springfield!
Joey Ramone: One, two, three, four!
[the Ramones start playing a tune and singing "Happy Birthday"]
Joey Ramone: Happy birthday to you!
Johnny Ramone, Christopher Ward: Happy birthday!
Joey Ramone: Happy birthday to you!
Johnny Ramone, Christopher Ward: Happy birthday!
[...]

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Connections

References Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Best of Both Worlds: Part 1 (1990)

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Soundtracks

"La Marseillaise"
(uncredited)
Composed by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle

User Reviews

"Rosebud" is the result of some awesome writing... it depicts how everyone has a love in life... even something as small as a stuffed animal.

This episode is about Burns' search for his missing teddy bear, Bobo. Burns has numerous dreams about his teddy bear and Smithers suspects that he's missing something. Once he figures it out, a search is conducted for the bear. The bear had gone through many situations and landed in Maggie's hands after all those years. Smithers tries to dress up as a bear to make Burns happy but it proves useless as the old man is too attached to his original little teddy. Even the most cold and ruthless person has a weakness... and Burns' seems to be his attachment to his teddy bear. Burns tries to force Maggie to obtain the bear in numerous situations... one in which Burns and Smithers try to steal the bear... but after all fails, Maggie decides to hand the bear to him out of her own will. Burns is satisfied and Smithers tucks him in bed with his little Bobo. In a small futuristic angle, Burns and Smithers are shown in their future selves as robotic and cyborg mutations... and Burns still has the teddy, his little dream toy. Awesome writing that portrays a man's love for something so minor yet amazing... how something of such small caliber can create such emotion in a person. Very awesome writing.