How Munched Is That Birdie in the Window? (28 Nov. 2010)

Bart adopts a carrier pigeon, but Santa's Little Helper eats it.

Director:

Michael Polcino

Writers:

Matt Groening (creator), James L. Brooks (developer),

Stars:

Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Dan Castellaneta	...	Homer Simpson / Grampa / Itchy (voice)
Julie Kavner	...	Marge Simpson (voice)
Nancy Cartwright	...	Bart Simpson / Todd Flanders / Nelson Muntz / Database (voice)
Yeardley Smith	...	Lisa Simpson (voice)
Hank Azaria	...	Superintendent Chalmers / Carl / Moe Szyslak (voice)
Harry Shearer	...	Ned Flanders / Principal Seymour Skinner / Mr. Burns / Lenny / Scratchy (voice)
Danica Patrick	...	Herself (voice)
Marcia Wallace	...	Edna Krabappel (voice)
Rachel Weisz	...	Dr. Thurmond (voice)
Gregg Berger	...	(voice)
Pamela Hayden	...	Milhouse Van Houten / Rod Flanders (voice)
Tress MacNeille	...	Mrs. Muntz (voice)
Russi Taylor	...	Martin Prince (voice)

Storyline

When a pigeon flies through the Simpsons' home and suffers a broken wing, Bart makes it his duty to care for the bird - whom he names Ray - and nurse it back to health. When Ray is ready to fly, Homer decides to enter him in a bird race when Danica Patrick appears to him in a dream. Things don't go according to plan, however, when Santa's Little Helper swallows Ray. Worried that Bart needs some help getting over the loss, Marge and Homer take him to a therapy session with Dr. Thurston, who advises that the only cure for Bart's blues is to give away the family dog. But when the Simpsons visit the pup's new home, a shock causes them to rethink their decision

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Plot Keywords:

pigeon | 2d animation | carrier pigeon | ostrich | ostrich farm | 

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Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Family

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 November 2010 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gracie Films, 20th Century Fox Television

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Itchy & Scratchy in Dogday Hellody of 1933" is a spoof of The Broadway Melody. The Itchy & Scratchy version features Edward G. Robinson from Little Caesar (anachronistically firing an M16, which wasn't developed until the 1960s); Will Rogers (with lasso, paraphrasing his famous saying, "I never met a man I didn't like"); 'W.C. Fields' ("A little hair of the dog that bit me", referring to the practice of drinking alcohol as a treatment for hangover); Harpo Marx; and Bing Crosby.

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Goofs

In the WWII movie trailer, the Stars and Stripes changes from 48 stars (correct) to 50 stars (post 1959 pattern).

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Quotes

Homer Simpson: Listen to the man, Marge. He pays Bart's salary.
Marge Simpson: No, he doesn't.
Homer Simpson: Why don't you ever support my gibberish? I'd do it if you were stupid.

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Connections

References Mad Max (1979)

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Soundtracks

"Birdland"
(uncredited)
Composed by Joseph Zawinul

User Reviews

Best this season

I haven't been watching the simpsons for that long, but like any self respecting simpsons fan, I say the old episodes (season 1-10) are the best. But the simpsons seems to have started going up after the movie. Nothing will ever top the old ones, but this is the best episode since season 11's alone again naturadiddly. Although this episode won't top season 4s last exit to Springfield or season 5s cape fear, in a list from 1-50, thiswould be number 31. All the others are from seasons 1-11. So although other people may not love this episode, it had a lot great parts, like the ostrich scene. Goodnight. This review has been beastlybombst.