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The Simpsons: The Ziff Who Came to Dinner

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Homer tries to take the kids (Bart, Lisa Rod & Todd) to a movie; meanwhile Ned has taken the seniors for ice cream to celebrate Jasper's birthday. With all the kid friendly movies sold out, Homer (on Lenny's recommendation � he's in the movie) takes the kids to see "The Re-Deadening" a horror film that really scares the children. So much so that Bart and Lisa begin hearing noises from the attic. They try to investigate, but their fears scare them out of the attic. They get Homer to lead an investigation into the attic and they find that Artie Ziff has been living there. Ziff tells them why he is living in their attic, his Internet business failed and he's lost everything. He wants to stay there and promises to be on his best behavior until he gets back on his feet. Artie stays, but Marge sees a news report that the SEC is looking for Artie Ziff. Meanwhile, Artie is playing poker with Homer and his friends. Artie puts up 98% of his remaining stock to make a bet and Homer wins the pot, just as the SEC sweeps in to arrest Ziff. Homer (as majority stockholder) is taken into custody. Homer is put on trial and sentenced to ten years in prison. Marge tells Artie that the only reason no one likes him is because he only thinks of himself, which he soon begins to realize and after a night of passion with the only Bouvier sister (Selma) he can have he Ziff turns over his corporate books and Homer is exonerated. Add a recap »

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Writers:: Deb Lacusta Dan Castellaneta

Director:: Nancy Kruse

Stars:: Julie Kavner (Marge Simpson, Patty Bouvier, and Selma Bouvier); 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)

Recurring Role:: Tress MacNeille (Agnes Skinner, Brandine Del Roy, Dolph and others); Jon Lovitz (Artie Ziff, Jay Sherman, Llewelyn Sinclair, Aristotle Amadopoulis, Prof. Lombardo); Karl Wiedergott (Additional Voices); Pamela Hayden (Milhouse Van Houten, Rod Flanders, Jimbo Jones, and others)

During the card game, Barney's hair is messy. But when the police drag Homer away, it's neatly combed. edit »
Krusty is a member of the Congressional Committee investigating securities fraud. Ironic, since he was nailed for tax fraud in "Bart the Fink." Krusty was elected to Congress in last season's "Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington." edit »
The poster for 'The Wild Dingleberries Movie' has the main characters standing around a dead zebra that is lying in a pool of blood. Springfield Church Movie Guide is named 'What Would Jesus View.' edit »
On the Googoplex theater's movie sign, in 2 there is The Fashion of the Christ but in the other two at the right of the picture there is A Kiss Before B and it is cut off. edit »

This the third appearance of Jay Sherman. The first being in "A Star is Burns" and the second being in "Hurricane Neddy". edit »
The couch gag offers more evidence that the family lives in midwestern America; however check out the Cultural References section for more on the origin of this couch gag. edit »
Blackboard Joke: I will not speculate on how hot teacher used to be.
Couch Gag: The family sits on the couch as normal and then the camera turns and tracks upwards through the ceiling, into the atmosphere and out into space with a view of the Earth, which is shown in its place in the solar system. The solar system becomes part of the galaxy, which in turns becomes part of the universe. The galaxies in the universe become parts of an atom, which in turn are part of a DNA molecule, which in turn makes a part of Homer's head. Homer then says, "Wow!" edit »

Marge: (to Homer) You took young children to see The Re-Deadening? This is a rare lapse of judgment for you! edit »
Marge: You only care about yourself.
Artie: Don't be ridiculous. I care about more than just moi.
(He daydreams)
Artie look-alike can-can dancers: Artie! Artie! Artie! Artie!
(The dancers clap and laugh and the daydream ends)
Artie: Oh, dear God... edit »
Guard: Sorry you were wrongfully imprisoned, Simpson.
Homer: Can I apply my time toward a future crime?
Guard: You can either steal a car or kick me in the crotch.
(Homer kicks him in the crotch)
Guard: Uhhh, no one ever picks the car. edit »
Lawyer: You, sir, are a moron.
Homer: A Mormon? But I'm from Earth! edit »
Homer: Don't tell my kids I'm going to jail! Tell them I joined the Blue Man Group! I'm the fat one! edit »

Artie: (to bar patrons) Hello�losers.

The patrons of the bar are all past characters on the show that were voiced by Jon Lovitz: Llewellyn Sinclair "A Streetcar Named Marge", Professor Lombardo "Brush With Greatness", Mr. Seckofsky "The Way We Was", and Jay Sherman "Hurricane Neddy" and "A Star is Burns". edit »
Lisa's (as she believes) last words into the camcorder is a reference to the film "The Blair Witch Project", right down to the tears and snot running down her face. edit »
When the repo men are taking Artie's stuff, one of them is loading Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night painting into a truck. edit »
Homer: My Big Fat Greek Salad?
Googolplex Employee: Not a movie.

The movie Homer is thinking of is probably My Big Fat Greek Wedding. edit »
The song playing during "The Re-Deadening" is similer to the song played at the begining and end of the 1968 film "Rosemary's Baby." edit »

8.5
00
Iverson82094
member since: Aug 23, 2007
The Ziff Who Came to Dinner
The Bottom Line: "Above average"
Artie Ziff strike back... Only this time as an attic bum.... ...Continue »
12/01/07 05:43pm | report abuse
7.7
00
JohnnySeidz
member since: Jul 6, 2006
The Ziff Who Came to Dinner
The Bottom Line: "Fine example"
Artie Ziff! Pretty good episode here. ...Continue »
07/10/06 10:58pm | report abuse
9.9
00
simpsonian100
member since: Jan 7, 2006
The Ziff Who Came to Dinner
The Bottom Line: "Well written"
The fine return of Artie Ziff. He went from billionaire to attic bum. How creative! ...Continue »
07/07/06 02:45pm | report abuse
8.9
00
jimbo_001
member since: Jul 12, 2005
The Ziff Who Came to Dinner
The Bottom Line: "Well written"
Homer goes to prison again ...Continue »
01/29/06 05:01pm | report abuse
8.2
00
ozziefan
member since: Sep 26, 2005
The Ziff Who Came to Dinner
The Bottom Line: "Average"
The second return of Artie Ziff ...Continue »
01/04/06 04:15pm | report abuse