CNET Networks Entertainment GameSpot | GameFAQs | SportsGamer | MP3.com | TV.com | Metacritic
Score: 8.1 Great 122 votes

Goo Goo Gai Pan

Episode Number: 347    Season Num: 16    First Aired: Sunday March 13, 2005    Prod Code: GABF06
Mr. Burns is taking his driving test and Selma is having hot flashes. Dr. Hibbert diagnoses that she is going through menopause. After seeing a video on the topic hosted by Robert Wagner, Selma is disappointed to learn that she'll never be able to have children. Patty suggests that she try adoption and Lisa suggests China. Only to qualify, Selma needs a husband who must go with her to China to collect their child. She fills out the form with the name: Homer Simpson. Selma flies the Simpson family to China. At Marge's request, Homer goes along with the charade. Under the supervision of Madam Wu, a Chinese functionary, the family, with Marge as the children's nanny takes a tour of the sites. For his occupation, Homer tells Madam Wu that he is a Chinese acrobat, and of course later his services in that capacity are called into action. Selma gets her child, a daughter named Ling Bouvier, only to have her taken away after Madam Wu sees Marge snuggling with Homer. At the airport, Lisa comes up with a plan to get Ling back. Homer poses as a Buddha statue to get inside the orphanage. Only Madam Wu stops them with a tank in Tien An Men Square. Selma appeals to Madam Wu, bureaucrat to bureaucrat and it works. Selma, her new daughter and the family are allowed to leave China via a junk.

Cast and Crew

Add Cast | Add Crew
Writer: Lawrence Talbot
Director: Lance Kramer
Star: Hank Azaria (Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Moe Szyslak, Chief Wiggum, Comic Book Guy, Lou, and others),  Yeardley Smith (Lisa Simpson),  Nancy Cartwright (Bart Simpson, Nelson Muntz, Ralph Wiggum, Todd Flanders, and others),  Dan Castellaneta (Homer Simpson, Grampa Simpson, Barney Gumble, Krusty the Clown, Groundskeeper Willie, and others),  Harry Shearer (Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner, Waylon Smithers, Kent Brockman, and others),  Julie Kavner (Marge Simpson, Patty Bouvier, and Selma Bouvier)
Recurring Role: Karl Wiedergott (Additional Voices),  Pamela Hayden (Milhouse Van Houten, Rod Flanders, Jimbo Jones, and others),  Tress MacNeille (Agnes Skinner, Brandine Del Roy, Dolph and others)
Guest Star: David Silverman (Himself),  Lucy Liu (Madam Wu),  Robert Wagner (Himself)

Notes

add »
The title of this episode is similar to an earlier Itchy and Scratchy episode titled, "Moo Goo Gai Pain." (edit)
Aside from the short scene where Cletus takes his baby back, Maggie does not appear in thie episode at all. For some unknown reason, she did not go to China with the rest of the family. (edit)
The Heimlich maneuver was first described by cardiologist Dr. Henry Heimlich in 1974, which would make Madam Wu at least thirty-one years old. It was first done after her father choked to death on a ping pong ball. (edit)
According to Burn's license, it expires in 1909. Subtract 21 years (the age in which a first license usually expires), and Burns was born in 1888. Making him 117 years old. (edit)
While many of China's leaders are displayed, the show specifically showcased Chairman Mao. Specifically chosen for Matt Groening (a huge fan of The Beatles) as a homage to the song "Revolution." (edit)

Quotes

add »
(At the Counsulate of China)
Clerk: And don't forget--your husband must go with you to China to pick up the baby.
Selma: All right, here I go…Writing the name…(Struggling to keep her composure as she writes Homer's name on the form)
Clerk: Excellent! You are Mrs. Homer Simpson. He is your soul mate and lover.
Selma: Yes…Homer Simpson is my whole world…I love him! (Sarcastically disgusted)
(Moments later at the nuclear plant cafeteria with Carl and Lenny, Homer shudders)

Homer: Oooh, I just felt a chill go through my very soul.
Lenny: Yeah, those Sloppy Joes will do that. (edit)
(The family is about to leave the hospital)
Homer: Come on kids, we should go. Goodbye, Selma. (Covers her with a blanket)
Selma: I'm not dead, idiot!
Homer: I know. That was for the other patients. (Selma punches him in the crotch) OW!!! Oooh, oooh, OWWW!!! My thingies! (edit)
(At a Krusty Fried Chicken cart)
Madam Wu: You shall be back in the land you love soon. Tomorrow we'll give you your baby.
Selma: Oh, my God! Really? My life begins at last!
Madam Wu: That is quite an insult to your other children.
Bart: We understand, ma'am. We're pretty lousy kids. (edit)
Marge: Selma, I didn't realize you wanted a child so badly.
Selma: I didn't want to get pregnant and lose my looks.
(Homer hides his laughter.) (edit)
Robert Wagner: (In the video) So let's all give menopause a round of men-applause. "Men-aplause?!?" I'm not saying that! (edit)

Trivia

add »
We don't see Ling again until next season's "Kiss Kiss Bang Bangalore." (edit)

Allusions

add »
Orson Welles
Robert Wagner balking about the script in the menopause video is an ode to an infamous recording of Orson Welles doing a voice-over for a frozen food commercial and reading the riot act to the engineers about the text. The audio can be heard here. (edit)
Ally McBeal
Selma's new baby's name is Ling, which is the same as the character Lucy Liu played on Ally McBeal and made her a celebrity. (edit)
White Dragon: Hello, Homer. Give me your peanuts and you can fly on my back!
The white, flying dragon with a wolf-like face bares a striking resemblance to Haku, the dragon from the film Spirited Away. (edit)
Tien An Men Square: On this spot, in 1989, nothing happened
A bloody student protest occurred in 1989 in Tiananmen Square, where several students were butchered by the Chinese army. Selma standing up to Ms. Wu in the tank is an homage to the famous photo of one of those students standing up to several tanks. (edit)
Actor: When I was 17, I walked into the jungle. And by 21, I walked out. And by God, I was rich!
The show that the Simpsons go see in China is the Arthur Miller classic "Death Of A Salesman". Also, Chinese opera is supposed to be more eccentric than the rest, which explains why only Homer could understand it. (edit)
Tell the world what you think of Goo Goo Gai Pan, write a review for this episode.
Write a Review

Community Reviews (9)

 
8.9
Great
Goo Goo Gai Pan
"A very special episode"
Very funny episode with many hilarious moments like Homer being a Buddah....
Continue » Posted Sep 16, 2007 12:16 pm PST
10.0
Perfect
Goo Goo Gai Pan
"Dream sequence"
Selma had a baby. Selma's felt?
Continue » Posted Aug 1, 2007 6:01 pm PST
10.0
Perfect
Goo Goo Gai Pan
"Exciting"
I think it was a funny episode.
Continue » Posted Feb 12, 2007 2:58 am PST
9.6
Superb
Goo Goo Gai Pan
"Another great installment"
Really well-written, with many side-splitting moments (especially Homer as Buddha).
Continue » Posted Sep 8, 2006 1:37 pm PST
9.1
Superb
Goo Goo Gai Pan
"Exactly why I watch this series"
What a hilarious episode.
Continue » Posted Jul 16, 2006 4:12 pm PST
Previous Next
advertisement

Episode Vital Stats

 
Episode: Goo Goo Gai Pan
Season Number: 16
Episode Reviews: 9
Episode
Score:
8.1 Great 122 votes
Rating Statistics:
superb: 28 (23%)
great: 27 (22.1%)
perfect: 23 (18.9%)
good: 22 (18%)
Other: 22 (18%)
Your Goo Goo Gai Pan Score
This content requires Macromedia Flash Player 7 or higher. Get Flash
Review This Episode Contribute

Top Contributors

 
Editor FlyingHellfish
Score: 10,349 points
Trusted CFlovesLF
Score: 6,429 points
DennisKytasaari
Score: 4,863 points
Trusted Angelwomyn
Score: 3,716 points
gakhandal
Score: 2,913 points
ozziefan
Score: 1,367 points
kaybee29
Score: 1,268 points
John_Q_Public
Score: 1,154 points
jimbo_001
Score: 1,011 points
Lion4Life
Score: 579 points