Marge vs. the Monorail - Revision history

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‎Reception

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 == Synopsis ==
-{{Desc|After collecting a $3 million fine from [[Mr. Burns]] for illegal disposal of nuclear waste, [[Springfield]] is convinced by a smooth-talking stranger named [[Lyle Lanley]] to spend the money on a needless [[Springfield Monorail|monorail]], with [[Homer]] serving as the conductor.}}
+{{Synopsis|After collecting a $3 million fine from [[Mr. Burns]] for illegal disposal of nuclear waste, [[Springfield]] is convinced by a smooth-talking stranger named [[Lyle Lanley]] to spend the money on a needless [[Springfield Monorail|monorail]], with [[Homer]] serving as the conductor.}}
 == Plot ==

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 In its original US airing, "Marge vs. the Monorail" was watched by 23 million households,<ref>{{Cite news|title=ABC gets a Thursday night boost |department=Life |work=[[USA Today]] |author=Brian Donlon |page=03.D |date=January 20, 1993}}</ref> which gave it a Nielsen rating of 13.7.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nielsen Ratings /Jan. 11–17|date=January 20, 1993|page=C5|work={{W|Long Beach Press-Telegram}}}}</ref>
-"Marge vs. the Monorail" is frequently included in lists of best episodes of the show. A [[1998]] article by ''[[TV Guide]]'' titled "A Dozen Doozies" included the episode as the seventh entry on the list.<ref>[https://www.simpsonsarchive.com/other/articles/dozendoozies.html The Simpsons Archive - "A Dozen Doozies"]</ref> A [[2003]] list by ''{{W|Entertainment Weekly}}'' titled "The Family Dynamic" named "Marge vs. the Monorail" the fourth best episode of the show.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141018160211/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,417748~3~0~25bestand1,00.html Entertainment Weekly - "The Family Dynamic"] (archived on {{W|Wayback Machine}})</ref> A [[2006]] article by ''{{W|IGN}}'' named the episode the best episode of season 4.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070302212129/http://tv.ign.com/articles/731/731095p1.html IGN - "The Simpsons: 17 Seasons, 17 Episodes"] (archived on {{W|Wayback Machine}})</ref> A [[2007]] article by ''{{W|Vanity Fair}}'' named the episode the third funniest episode of the show.<ref>[https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/08/top10simpsons200708 Vanity Fair - "Springfield’s Best"]</ref> A [[2010]] article by ''{{W|The Times}}'' named the episode the ninth best episode of the show.<ref>[https://www.thetimes.com/travel/advice/the-10-best-simpsons-episodes-ever-bwhpbrv8sbn The Times - "The 10 best Simpsons episodes ever"]</ref> A [[2019]] article by ''{{W|Entertainment.ie}}'' named "Marge vs. the Monorail" among the top ten best episodes of the show.<ref>[https://entertainment.ie/tv/tv-news/10-greatest-the-simpsons-episodes-of-all-time-418495/ Entertainment.ie - "The 10 greatest 'The Simpsons' episodes of all time"]</ref> A 2019 article by ''{{W|The Guardian}}'' named it as one of the best five episodes of the show.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/nov/28/the-simpsons-the-five-greatest-episodes-in-the-iconic-shows-history The Guardian - "The Simpsons: the five greatest episodes in the iconic show's history"]</ref> A 2019 list by ''[[Time]]'' had "experts" pick it as one of the top ten best episodes of all time.<ref>[https://time.com/5743465/best-simpsons-episodes/ Time - "We Asked Experts for 10 of Their Most Memorable Simpsons Episodes of All Time"]</ref> A 2019 list by ''{{W2|Consequence|publication}}'' named it the second best episode of the show.<ref>[https://consequence.net/2019/12/the-simpsons-top-30-episodes/ Consequence - "The Simpsons’ Top 30 Episodes"]</ref>
+"Marge vs. the Monorail" is frequently included in lists of best episodes of the show. A [[1998]] article by ''[[TV Guide]]'' titled "A Dozen Doozies" included the episode as the seventh entry on the list.<ref>[https://www.simpsonsarchive.com/other/articles/dozendoozies.html The Simpsons Archive - "A Dozen Doozies"]</ref> A [[2003]] list by ''{{W|Entertainment Weekly}}'' titled "The Family Dynamic" named "Marge vs. the Monorail" the fourth best episode of the show.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141018160211/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,417748~3~0~25bestand1,00.html Entertainment Weekly - "The Family Dynamic"] (archived on {{W|Wayback Machine}})</ref> A [[2006]] article by ''{{W|IGN}}'' named the episode the best episode of season 4.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070302212129/http://tv.ign.com/articles/731/731095p1.html IGN - "The Simpsons: 17 Seasons, 17 Episodes"] (archived on {{W|Wayback Machine}})</ref> A [[2007]] article by ''{{W|Vanity Fair}}'' named the episode the third funniest episode of the show.<ref>[https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/08/top10simpsons200708 Vanity Fair - "Springfield's Best"]</ref> A [[2010]] article by ''{{W|The Times}}'' named the episode the ninth best episode of the show.<ref>[https://www.thetimes.com/travel/advice/the-10-best-simpsons-episodes-ever-bwhpbrv8sbn The Times - "The 10 best Simpsons episodes ever"]</ref> A [[2019]] article by ''{{W|Entertainment.ie}}'' named "Marge vs. the Monorail" among the top ten best episodes of the show.<ref>[https://entertainment.ie/tv/tv-news/10-greatest-the-simpsons-episodes-of-all-time-418495/ Entertainment.ie - "The 10 greatest 'The Simpsons' episodes of all time"]</ref> A 2019 article by ''{{W|The Guardian}}'' named it as one of the best five episodes of the show.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/nov/28/the-simpsons-the-five-greatest-episodes-in-the-iconic-shows-history The Guardian - "The Simpsons: the five greatest episodes in the iconic show's history"]</ref> A 2019 list by ''[[Time]]'' had "experts" pick it as one of the top ten best episodes of all time.<ref>[https://time.com/5743465/best-simpsons-episodes/ Time - "We Asked Experts for 10 of Their Most Memorable Simpsons Episodes of All Time"]</ref> A 2019 list by ''{{W2|Consequence|publication}}'' named it the second best episode of the show.<ref>[https://consequence.net/2019/12/the-simpsons-top-30-episodes/ Consequence - "The Simpsons' Top 30 Episodes"]</ref>
-A [[2020]] "flashback review" of the episode by Robert Canning of ''{{W|IGN}}'' said that "Marge vs. the Monorail" "is by far one of the most loved episodes of ''The Simpsons'' and can safely be called a classic by any fan." Canning also said, "there's nothing in this half-hour that doesn't work, and no matter how many times I watch this episode, it never, ever gets old."<ref>[https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/06/10/the-simpsons-flashback-marge-vs-the-monorail-review IGN - "The Simpsons Flashback: 'Marge vs. the Monorail' Review"]</ref> A [[2007]] article by Emily St. James of ''{{W|Slant Magazine}}'' called the episode "maybe the show’s funniest."<ref>[https://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/5-for-the-day-the-simpsons/ Slant Magazine - "5 for the Day: The Simpsons"]</ref>
+A [[2020]] "flashback review" of the episode by Robert Canning of ''{{W|IGN}}'' said that "Marge vs. the Monorail" "is by far one of the most loved episodes of ''The Simpsons'' and can safely be called a classic by any fan." Canning also said, "there's nothing in this half-hour that doesn't work, and no matter how many times I watch this episode, it never, ever gets old."<ref>[https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/06/10/the-simpsons-flashback-marge-vs-the-monorail-review IGN - "The Simpsons Flashback: 'Marge vs. the Monorail' Review"]</ref> A [[2007]] article by Emily St. James of ''{{W|Slant Magazine}}'' called the episode "maybe the show's funniest."<ref>[https://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/5-for-the-day-the-simpsons/ Slant Magazine - "5 for the Day: The Simpsons"]</ref>
 Leonard Nimoy's role in the episode also received praise. A [[2010]] article by ''IGN'' of the Top 25 ''Simpsons'' Guest Appearances ranked the actor at #11 for his roles in "Marge vs. the Monorail" and "[[The Springfield Files]]".<ref>[https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/01/04/top-25-simpsons-guest-appearances IGN - "Top 25 Simpsons Guest Appearances"]</ref> Nathan Ditum of ''{{W|Total Film}}'' named Nimoy the 13th best guest star of the show.<ref>[https://www.gamesradar.com/the-20-best-simpsons-movie-star-guest-spots/ Total Film - "The 20 Best Simpsons Movie-Star Guest Spots"]</ref>

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-{{Quote|Donuts. Is there anything they ''can't'' do?|[[Homer Simpson]]}}
+{{Quote|Well, sir, there's nothing on earth like a genuine, bona-fide, electrified, six-car monorail.|[[Lyle Lanley]]}}
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 Not all reception to the episode has been positive. The Monorail Society claimed that the episode "employs an association fallacy to attack and discredit monorail technology."<ref>[https://www.monorails.org/tMspages/msvsmr.html The Monorail Society - "Marge vs. the Monorail"]</ref> Responding to this, ''Simpsons'' creator [[Matt Groening]] said, "I don't know what to say, I'm sorry," and that "Monorails are great."<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-56024683 BBC News - "The Simpsons creator Matt Groening on equality, memes and monorails"]</ref>
-As of July [[2025]], "Marge vs. the Monorail" has a 9.1 rating on {{W|IMDb}}.<ref>[www.imdb.com/title/tt0701173/ IMDb - "Marge vs. the Monorail"]</ref>
+As of July [[2025]], "Marge vs. the Monorail" has a 9.1 rating on {{W|IMDb}}.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0701173/ IMDb - "Marge vs. the Monorail"]</ref>
 == In other languages ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:25, July 29, 2025
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	Not all reception to the episode has been positive. The Monorail Society claimed that the episode "employs an association fallacy to attack and discredit monorail technology."<ref>[https://www.monorails.org/tMspages/msvsmr.html The Monorail Society - "Marge vs. the Monorail"]</ref> Responding to this, ''Simpsons'' creator [[Matt Groening]] said, "I don't know what to say, I'm sorry," and that "Monorails are great."<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-56024683 BBC News - "The Simpsons creator Matt Groening on equality, memes and monorails"]</ref>		Not all reception to the episode has been positive. The Monorail Society claimed that the episode "employs an association fallacy to attack and discredit monorail technology."<ref>[https://www.monorails.org/tMspages/msvsmr.html The Monorail Society - "Marge vs. the Monorail"]</ref> Responding to this, ''Simpsons'' creator [[Matt Groening]] said, "I don't know what to say, I'm sorry," and that "Monorails are great."<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-56024683 BBC News - "The Simpsons creator Matt Groening on equality, memes and monorails"]</ref>
		+
		+	As of July [[2025]], "Marge vs. the Monorail" has a 9.1 rating on {{W\|IMDb}}.<ref>[www.imdb.com/title/tt0701173/ IMDb - "Marge vs. the Monorail"]</ref>

	== In other languages ==		== In other languages ==

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 == Reception ==
-In 2003, [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,417748,00.html Entertainment Weekly] named this the fourth best episode in the show's history.
+In its original US airing, "Marge vs. the Monorail" was watched by 23 million households,<ref>{{Cite news|title=ABC gets a Thursday night boost |department=Life |work=[[USA Today]] |author=Brian Donlon |page=03.D |date=January 20, 1993}}</ref> which gave it a Nielsen rating of 13.7.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nielsen Ratings /Jan. 11–17|date=January 20, 1993|page=C5|work={{W|Long Beach Press-Telegram}}}}</ref>
 == In other languages ==

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 == Production ==
-[[Conan O'Brien]] pitched the idea for "Marge vs. the Monorail" to showrunners [[Al Jean]] and [[Mike Reiss]]. However, they thought that [[James L. Brooks]] would find the idea too crazy, so they asked him to pitch some other ideas first. However, when "Marge vs. the Monorail" was pitched to Brooks, he loved it.<ref name="Jean">{{Com|Jean, Al|Marge vs. the Monorail|Fourth|(2004).|link=Al Jean}}</ref> Brooks liked the other two ideas that O'Brien pitched, but he "laughed really hard" at Marge vs. the Monorail", which surprised O'Brien because he didn't think Brooks would like it. O'Brien came up with the idea when he saw a sign for a monorail when leaving work, and he thought "what's more wasteful than a monorail?" So, he thought it would be funny if Springfield had a monorail.<ref name="O'Brien">{{Com|O'Brien, Conan|Marge vs. the Monorail|Fourth|(2004).|link=Conan O'Brien}}</ref>
+[[Conan O'Brien]] pitched the idea for "Marge vs. the Monorail" to showrunners [[Al Jean]] and [[Mike Reiss]]. However, they thought that [[James L. Brooks]] would find the idea too crazy, so they asked him to pitch some other ideas first. When "Marge vs. the Monorail" was pitched to Brooks, he loved it.<ref name="Jean">{{Com|Jean, Al|Marge vs. the Monorail|Fourth|(2004).|link=Al Jean}}</ref> Brooks liked the other two ideas that O'Brien pitched, but he "laughed really hard" at "Marge vs. the Monorail", which surprised O'Brien because he didn't think Brooks would like it. O'Brien came up with the idea when he saw a sign for a monorail while leaving work, and he thought "what's more wasteful than a monorail?" So, he thought it would be funny if Springfield had a monorail.<ref name="O'Brien">{{Com|O'Brien, Conan|Marge vs. the Monorail|Fourth|(2004).|link=Conan O'Brien}}</ref>
-Leonard Nimoy's role was originally written for [[George Takei]]. However, he told them that he wouldn't do it because he was on the San Francisco Board of Transportation and he didn't want to make fun of monorails. However they managed to get Nimoy for the role instead.<ref name="O'Brien"/> Before Nimoy signed on for the episode, rewrites of the scripts were made in an attempt to get Takei to agree to the role.<ref name="Reiss">{{Com|Reiss, Mike|Marge vs. the Monorail|Fourth|(2004).|link=Mike Reiss}}</ref>
+Leonard Nimoy's role was originally written for [[George Takei]]. However, Takei told them that he wouldn't do it because he was on the San Francisco Board of Transportation and he didn't want to make fun of monorails. They managed to get Nimoy for the role instead.<ref name="O'Brien"/> Before Nimoy signed on for the episode, rewrites of the script were made in an attempt to get Takei to agree to the role.<ref name="Reiss">{{Com|Reiss, Mike|Marge vs. the Monorail|Fourth|(2004).|link=Mike Reiss}}</ref>
-The episode originally came in very short, so they "did every trick in the book" to get the episode to a full length.<ref name="Reiss"/> At the end of the episode, when Leonard Nimoy disappears in a ''Star Trek'' style teleportation, O'Brien says that he remembers one of the producers saying that it would never get through because impossible things can't happen in the show.<ref name="O'Brien"/>
+The episode originally came in very short, so they "did every trick in the book" to get the episode to full length.<ref name="Reiss"/> At the end of the episode, when Leonard Nimoy disappears in a ''Star Trek''-style teleportation, O'Brien said he remembered one of the producers saying that it would never get through because impossible things can't happen in the show.<ref name="O'Brien"/>
 == Reception ==

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 Leonard Nimoy takes credit for saving the day while Marge says the Monorail is the only folly Springfield ever embarks on—except for the [[Popsicle Stick Skyscraper]], the [[50ft Magnifying Glass]], and the [[Escalator to Nowhere]].
 == Reception ==
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 |jpTrans=The Monorail's Sweet Trap
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 == Plot ==
-After being caught dumping nuclear waste in the city park, [[Mr. Burns]] is fined three million dollars. A town meeting is immediately held so the citizens can decide how to spend the money, and [[Marge]] suggests using it to fix up Main Street, which is in extremely poor condition. The town shows enthusiasm for this idea and is about to vote for it when suddenly a smooth-talking stranger named [[Lyle Lanley]] suggests the town buy a new monorail, making his pitch in [[The Monorail Song|a song]], which convinces the town to buy the monorail.
+As [[Homer]] leaves work for the day, [[Lenny]] and [[Carl]] finish sealing off a barrel of toxic waste. As they discuss what happens to the waste barrels, [[Mr. Burns]] and [[Smithers]] take the waste to the [[Springfield Park]] to illegally dispose of it. However, they are caught by [[Agent Malone]] with the [[Environmental Protection Agency]]. At the trial, Burns is sentenced to pay a fine of $3 million. A town meeting is then called to discuss what to do with the money. [[Marge]] suggests using it to fix up [[Main Street]], which has become cracked and broken from drivers using tire chains and carrying too much weight. While the townspeople get behind this idea, [[Lyle Lanley]] interrupts the meeting to suggest they instead use the money to build the [[Springfield Monorail]], which he convinces them to do through [[The Monorail Song|song]].
-Marge is unhappy with the town's purchase, believing they should have fixed Main Street and that the monorail is unsafe. While watching TV, [[Homer]] sees an advertisement suggesting he become a monorail conductor. Claiming it to be a lifelong dream, Homer signs up for the monorail conductor training course. After a decidedly unintensive three weeks of training, Homer is named the monorail conductor.
+Marge is against the Monorail because she thinks the money would be better spent on fixing Main Street. However, the rest of the townspeople are excited about it. To drum up even more support, Lanley goes to [[Springfield Elementary]] to talk about the Monorail, where he manages to win even [[Lisa]] over by complimenting her and sidestepping her question. That evening, a televised commercial airs to advertise the position of Monorail conductor. Homer decides to try out for the job, saying that it's his lifelong dream, to Marge's annoyance.
-Still feeling uneasy about the monorail, Marge decides to visit Lyle Lanley and discovers a notebook revealing Lanley's true intentions: to have the monorail break down while he gets away with the town's money. Lanley catches her, and Marge quickly says she is just browsing around. Believing her story, Lanley allows her to leave, not knowing she has read the notebook and is aware of his plans.
+While Homer attends the [[Lanley Institute of Monorail Conducting]], construction on the Monorail begins, overseen by [[Barney]]. At the end of the course, Lanley randomly selects Homer to become the Monorail conductor. Homer shows the family around the train, and Marge becomes increasingly worried about how safe the Monorail is. She goes to see Lyle Lanley and finds his notebook, which has a drawing of the Monorail on fire as he flees with the money. Marge drives to [[North Haverbrook]] to find out what happened to the Monorail there. In town, Marge meets [[Sebastian Cobb]], the man who worked as the engineer for the [[North Haverbrook Monorail]]. Cobb tells Marge that Lanley cut corners everywhere with the Monorail, which caused it to crash and be destroyed.
-Marge immediately drives to [[North Haverbrook]], which Lanley mentioned was a previous purchaser of one of his monorails. She finds the town to be run-down and nearly deserted. Marge asks around about the monorail, but no one is willing to talk about it. A woman working at a drive-in diner says there is no monorail in North Haverbrook and never was but then closes the doors, revealing the diner is called "MONORAIL CAFE". Finally, Marge meets [[Sebastian Cobb]], who explains Lanley cut costs everywhere while building North Haverbrook's monorail, and the entire thing is a scam. Cobb shows her the remnants of the town's monorail, which is now broken and in disrepair.
+Back in [[Springfield]], the [[Springfield Monorail]] is prepared for its maiden voyage, with many celebrities, including {{Ch|Leonard Nimoy}}, arriving to ride it. Before it sets off, Lanley leaves with the money to escape to [[Tahiti]]. Marge and Sebastian Cobb then arrive minutes too late as the Monorail sets off. As it runs, the brakes fail and the Monorail picks up speed. [[Chief Wiggum]] and Mayor Quimby argue over who should take control of the situation while Marge and Cobb try to find a solution. Meanwhile, Lanley's flight has a layover in North Haverbrook, where he is confronted by an angry mob. Cobb tells Homer he needs to find an anchor to stop the Monorail. Homer steals a rope from a cowboy and ties it around the M from the "Monorail" text on the side of the train. The makeshift anchor catches in a {{ap|Donuts|shop}} shop, bringing the train to a stop.
-At the maiden voyage of the monorail, the entire town turns out, including celebrities such as [[Lurleen Lumpkin]] and {{Ch|Leonard Nimoy}}. Lanley grabs his money and jumps in a taxi, taking him to the airport. The monorail takes off just before Marge and Cobb arrive in Springfield. At first, the monorail runs smoothly, but the controls malfunction, causing the monorail to speed up and travel at dangerous speeds. Nobody can figure out how to stop the monorail (since it is solar-powered), and although a solar eclipse briefly halts it, the eclipse ends, and the monorail takes off again. Meanwhile, Lanley's flight makes a brief unscheduled stop in North Haverbrook, where Lanley is immediately attacked by a group of locals who have been tipped off about his arrival, perhaps by Marge. Back in Springfield, Cobb tells Homer that in order to stop the train, he needs to find an anchor. Homer grabs the giant "M" from the side of the monorail, ties it to a rope, and throws it out the window (just barely remembering at the last second he needs to also tie the rope to something inside the monorail). Eventually, the M latches onto a giant doughnut, stopping the monorail and saving its passengers. As the passengers get off the monorail, Leonard Nimoy says his work is done. Barney tells Nimoy he didn't do anything. Nimoy asks, "Didn't I?" and vanishes in a {{W2|transporter|Star Trek}} effect very similar to ''[[Star Trek]]''.
+Leonard Nimoy takes credit for saving the day while Marge says the Monorail is the only folly Springfield ever embarks on—except for the [[Popsicle Stick Skyscraper]], the [[50ft Magnifying Glass]], and the [[Escalator to Nowhere]].
 == Reception ==