The Dad Who Knew Too Little

Season 14, Episode 8, Aired
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Episode Summary

Homer fails to get the birthday present that Lisa wanted. The gift he gets her instead makes it obvious that he knows nothing about his daughter and that makes her disappointed in him. To win Lisa back, Homer hires a private detective to find out everything about her. The private detective comes through with information that restores Homer's relationship with Lisa. Homer refuses to pay the detective's $1000 expenses; to get even the detective arranges it so that Lisa is framed for a crime she didn't commit. When the police arrive outside the Simpson home, Homer takes Lisa on the run. While they are holed up in a cabin, Homer confesses what he did to learn more about Lisa. The police trace them there and Homer and Lisa's subsequent escape leads them to a circus, where they find evidence that will exonerate Lisa of the crime. Only first together they must deal with the crooked detective.moreless
8.3
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Cast & Crew

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  • Julie Kavner

    Marge Simpson, Patty Bouvier, and Selma Bouvier

  •

    Harry Shearer

    Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner, Waylon Smithers, Kent Brockman, and others

  •

    Dan Castellaneta

    Homer Simpson, Grampa Simpson, Barney Gumble, Krusty the Clown, Groundskeeper Willie, and others

Fan Episode Reviews (8)

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  • Homer hires a P.I. to learn more about Lisa.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By Hornets3, Aug 30, 2009 Report Abuse
    With Lisa's birthday coming up, she asks for a turbo diary. Homer and Bart go shopping but when they discover it is sold out, he buys a personalized movie featuring Lisa. Watching the movie, she realizes her dad knows nothing about her. In order to closen their relationship, he hires a private detective named Dexter Colt to find out information about her. Dexter compiles a file which Homer uses, and sure enough makes Lisa love him again after he takes her to an Animal Rights Protest. Homer refuses to pay the $1000 dollar bill required for Dexter's services, but he gets his revenge by vandalizing the Animal Research Lab and making Lisa the #1 suspect. Homer and Lisa flee from the cops, and Homer tells her why she was framed. Dexter catches up with Homer and tries to kill him. Lisa finds them and uses a laser to blind him. This is one of my favorite episodes of the season. It is absolutely hilarious! Its a must see!moreless

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  • Pretty good episode.....

    9.8
    "Superb"
    By Iverson82094, Sep 15, 2007 Report Abuse
    With Lisa's birthday coming up, she asks for a turbo diary. Homer and Bart go shopping but when they discover it is sold out, he buys a personalized movie featuring Lisa. Watching the movie, she realizes her dad knows nothing about her. In order to closen their relationship, he hires a private detective named Dexter Colt to find out information about her. Dexter compiles a file which Homer uses, and sure enough makes Lisa love him again after he takes her to an Animal Rights Protest. Homer refuses to pay the $1000 dollar bill required for Dexter's services, but he gets his revenge by vandalizing the Animal Research Lab and making Lisa the #1 suspect. Homer and Lisa flee from the cops, and Homer tells her why she was framed. Dexter catches up with Homer and tries to kill him. Lisa finds them and uses a laser to blind him.moreless

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  • This is a great Homer and Lisa episode.

    9.9
    "Superb"
    By PerfectDark0Fan, Feb 04, 2007 Report Abuse
    This episode The Farther Who Knew Too Little is anouther fine example of how great the Simpsons still are and how great of a writer Matt Selman is.

    This episode is about Homer finding out very little he knows about Lisa. Lisa is upset by Homer knowing baily anything about her. Homer goes to a detective and this is where many funny scenes come into the show. The detetive frames everyone to get Homer info on Lisa which Nelsons love for a disney character, a frame on Willie, papers getting put in the wrong order, and Ralph keeps saying Lisa is a girl at my school. There where many really funny scenes where Homer goes into discise with fake hair, glasses, and angry eyebrows. Overall this is a really great Simpsons episode.moreless

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  • The dad who knows too little sums it up i thnk hehe

    10
    "Perfect"
    By danniangelcake, Mar 10, 2006 Report Abuse
    My fav part is when Bart trys to distract Marg from thinking about homer and lisa who have gone on the run by throwing his bowl of spaghetti at the fan and its splats every where its well funny!!!!!(feel free to correct me if im wrong about it being spaghetti!) oh and when homer draws eye brows on and says you charge how much!!Danni.

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  • One of my favourites.

    9.9
    "Superb"
    By jimbo_001, Jan 26, 2006 Report Abuse
    This episode was hilarious, especially the video that homer makes of lisa as a cowgirl saying that her favourite food was mcnuggets (even though she's a vegetarian) and that her best friend was maggie. the Private Detective was terrific especially his scene with Ralph and the scene in the house of mirrors ("i had a feeling the moment you stepped into my office that i'd kill you in a house of mirrors") and homer's idea of irony - "how ironic, now he's blind after a lifetime of enjoying being able to see". the black paint was terrific especially when homer actally draws a frown when saying "you're charging how much for a room?" the phone conversation with marge was terrific aswell.
    Not one dull moment in the whole episode.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • According to this episode, Officer Lou's ex-wife's name is Amy. Edit
    • When Bart and Homer are looking at the video kiosk in the mall, behind them is a kiosk labeled "Another Damn Candle Stand." Edit
    • The title parodies that of the Alfred Hitchcock movie ''The Man Who Knew Too Much''. This was not the first such parody on ''The Simpsons'': one of season 5's episodes is entitled "The Boy Who Knew Too Much". Edit

  • Notes

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    • This episode won the 2004 WGA Award (TV) for Animation. Edit
    • For the first time ever, we see what Lisa's hairline looks like in this episode when she colors it black. (Not counting 'Lisa The Beauty Queen' because she gets different hairstyles.) Edit
    • Fox announced that it had renewed the show until 2005 and its 16th season. This will make the series the longest running comedy series in US TV history save for "Saturday Night Live",and it will have beaten the previous record holder for longest-running prime-time animated series (The Flintstones) by a full 10 years. Edit

  • Quotes

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    • Homer: How ironic, now he's blind after a life of enjoying being able to see. Edit
    • Homer: Stupid Flanders, you're a genius! Edit
    • Homer: Oh, Lisa's still mad at me. Bart: I'm still mad at you for chopping up my skateboard with an axe! Homer: I told you! It was for the insurance money! Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • P.T.E.T.A.: This refers to the real organization PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment to Animals). Edit
    • The scene with Homer and Dexter Colt in the Hall of Mirrors is inspired by a similar scene from the 1947 film, "The Lady from Shanghai" starring Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth. Edit
    • Homer: Who's your favorite Travelling Wilbury? Is it Jeff Lynne? The Traveling Wilburys comprised of George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbinson, Tom Petty, and Jeff Lynne, who was a member of the group ELO, but clearly the least famous of the 5. That is the joke, ja? Edit

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