Episode Details:

• Episode Title and Number: "The Call of the Simpsons," Season 1, Episode 7
• Original Air Date: February 18, 1990
• Guest Star: Albert Brooks as Cowboy Bob (his first appearance in The Simpsons!)
  • https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000983/

Episode Summary:

Homer, envious of Ned Flanders' new RV, buys a dilapidated one and takes the family on a disastrous camping trip. The RV is destroyed, they get lost in the woods, Homer is mistaken for Bigfoot, and Maggie is adopted by a family of bears.

Highlights & Observations:

• Couch Gag: The family all piles onto the couch, and nothing extraordinary happens. (A rare instance of a simple couch gag in the early seasons!)
• Chalkboard Gag: "I will not draw naked ladies in class." (Classic Bart!)
• Trivia:
  • Bob's RV Roundup motto _____
  • The Ultimate Behemoth RV has __ deep fryers
  • A _______ was interrupted for the Bigfoot news bulletin!
• Jokes & Gags:
  • Homer to Bart: "Don't try to keep up with the Flanderizes." (Early shade thrown at Ned!)
  • Homer's envy of Ned's income: "How can you afford something like this, Ned? I get your mail once in a while..." (Nosy Homer!)
  • The RV lot scene satirizes how easily some salespeople take advantage of customers.
  • The exploding RV: The first of many times the Simpsons lose everything, only to be back to normal the next week!
  • Homer's dramatic lament: "Of all the fates on heaven and earth, why does this one befall me?"
  • Even after capture, they still think Homer is Bigfoot because he's "stupid and smelly."
• Hidden Gems:
  • The episode title is a reference to the novella The Call of the Wild by Jack London.

Final Thoughts:

• "The Call of the Simpsons" is a classic example of early Simpsons humor, with its over-the-top situations and satirical jabs at consumerism and media sensationalism.
• The episode showcases the family dynamic in a unique way, with each member having their own "wild" experience.

Listener Question/Comment:

• What's your favorite disastrous Simpsons family vacation?

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