Husbands and Knives

Season 19, Episode 7, Aired
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Episode Summary

Marge starts up a new women-only gym in Springfield and Homer frets about losing her after she becomes a highly successful businesswoman. Meanwhile, Coolsville, a new comic book shop, opens up in Springfield and puts Comic Book Guy out of business.
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Fan Episode Reviews (26)

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  • I know that The Simpsons have jumped sharks before (usually its funny). This time, it was different.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By annoyer08, Nov 19, 2010 Report Abuse
    I know that The Simpsons have jumped sharks before (usually it was funny). This time, it was different. This was categorically the best episode of the Simpsons to date. With a plot of any real substance, with any of their trademark wit, this episode seemed to have been slapped together by some pop-culture obsessed, easily not distracted high schooler with an over active imagination. This is in no way to say that some of these qualities haven't presented before in the Simpsons but rather that their planning and execution were, in the context of the series, more akin to throwing a frightened pig off of the high dive during Olympic competition. I am afraid that like a staggering, frothing, wild-eyed dog, the Simpsons have given even the most optimistic skeptics among us the final evidence that this can go no further and that this series must be humanely dealt with behind the shed and given a decent burial.

    Long Live KOBE BRYANT!!!moreless

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    12 0

  • What was that?

    3.0
    "Bad"
    By futuramarama, Nov 10, 2009 Report Abuse
    Marge opens a women's workout center and becomes instantly popular. Homer worries that she is going to become too rich and famous and gets plastic surgery, trying to make her stay with him. Instead he becomes like a monster and she pushes him off a building for him to kill himself.

    Then it is revealed to have mostly all been a dream.

    If this episode stuck with what the plot was about, Coolsville AND Marge's plot, it would have been better, for sure.

    Instead we have Homer getting plastic surgery, dying, and the 2nd-3rd acts being some crazy dream.

    One for the crazy books, I thinkmoreless

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    0 0

  • Marge opens a gym and Comic Book Guy closes his store.

    7.5
    "Good"
    By jimbo_001, Jul 16, 2008 Report Abuse
    While the gym plot has been done before, most successfully in King of the Hill ("Gyme? What's a gyme? Oh, a gyme!"), this episode is still a fairly good one, though not a highlight for the 19th season so far. The new comic book shop running the Android's Dungeon out of business was a short plot that served a purpose and had its moments, but wasn't really that funny, and once Marge opened up a gym there the episode improved, with Homer stealing hotel items and meeting second husbands. While the ending was clearly a dream and was a bit too crazy towards the end it still holds its own as a Simpsons episode but it's not one of my all time favourites.moreless

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  • Good episode. Read my review for my full thoughts!

    9.2
    "Superb"
    By Gobaba7, Mar 24, 2008 Report Abuse
    Right then, here in the UK this episode was shown on easter sunday (yesterday) and was the first new episode thats been on recently. I heard Jack Black was in it and couldn't wait for this episode when I read the plot on the internet somewhere.

    Well, when I saw the episode I wasn't let down at all. It wasn't the greatest thing ever and wasn't my favourite ever simpsons episode either but I really did like it.

    Good story line a few funny jokes etc and was one of the better episodes out of the new episodes in my view.

    Thanks. . . .moreless

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  • One of my favorites from the whole season. But what happened to the "A" story is the only question in my mind.

    9.3
    "Superb"
    By BCeagles14, Feb 14, 2008 Report Abuse
    Bart, Lisa and Milhouse check out a new comic book store called Coolsville, where they are treated like royalty by the owner Milo (Jack Black). Coolsville attracts some real-life comic book creators, so Comic Book Guy wages war on Coolsville in an attempt to win back his customers. Meanwhile, Marge decides her middle-aged physique could use some help, and she launches a gym for "regular women." Marge's gym becomes wildly successful and as her fame grows, Homer fears she will dump him for a younger, more fit guy. Homer decides to take matters into his own hands to get into shape.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • Music From This Episode "Here It Goes Again" by OK Go. (Used while Marge tours the L.A. Body Works gym.) "Opportunities" by Pet Shop Boys (Heard during Marge's "success" montage.) Edit
    • This is the second episode that used a Tom Jones song over the end credits. The first being, "Marge Gets a Job". Edit
    • The cover for the "infamous Wolverine comic with pop-out claws" looks very much like the cover to Wolverine's first solo series, from 1982. Edit

  • Notes

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    • Moe's plastic surgeon from season 11's "Pygmoelian" returns in this episode to perform a stomach stapling surgery on Homer. He also appeared as Marge's plastic surgeon in season 14's "Large Marge". Edit
    • Blackboard Joke: The Pilgrims were not illegal aliens. Couch Gag: A pop-up book is opened to reveal the Simpsons sitting on their couch. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • (Homer explaining his surgery to Bart and Lisa) Homer: Kids, daddy underwent a special procedure so he can be more attractive to your mother. Bart: You had your hot dog plumped? Homer: No! I had my stomach stapled! Edit
    • (Comic Book Guy is destroying Coolsville.) Art Spiegelman: Oh, no! The store's in trouble! Alan Moore: League of Extraordinary Freelancers, activate! (Art Spiegelman puts on a Maus mask.) Art Spiegelman: Maus is in the house! Edit
    • (Comic Book Guy bursts into Coolsville.) Comic Book Guy: Attention, comic book aficionados! (Points at Milo) This man is not one of us. (Comic Book Guy points at Strawberry, crowd gasps.) He has a girlfriend! Strawberry: My name is Strawberry. My purse is a lunch box. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Superbowl Shuffle
      The cover of the Thung comic book shows a picture of the Thung holding up the Chicago Bears with the caption "Super-Thung Shuffle." This alludes to the 1985 video "Superbowl Shuffle," featuring the singing and dancing of the entire Chicago Bears football team, gloating their status as Superbowl champs. Edit
    • Bart: Who's stronger, the Thung or the Mulk? The Thung and the Mulk are parodies of Marvel Comics heroes "The Thing "and "The Incredible Hulk." Edit
    • Star Wars The cardboard cut-out that Milo uses to cover up Comic Book Guy is Jabba the Hutt, an infamous gangster from the Star Wars saga. Edit

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