Difference between revisions of "Sashes to Sashes/References"

Revision as of 14:35, November 30, 2025

Cultural references

• The episode title is a reference to a phrase used in funeral services, "ashes to ashes, dust to dust."
• The episode presents the parallel stories of Joe Quimby, Sr. and Joe Quimby III, parodying the parallel dramas of Vito Corleone and Michael Corleone as depicted in the 1974 American epic crime film The Godfather Part II. Many scenes take place in a New York City-like Springfield, referencing the film's setting.
• The ship entering Springfield Harbor is a reference to young Vito Corleone arriving at Ellis Island in The Godfather Part II with Springfield's immigration station looking the same as Ellis Island.
  • It is a popular myth that names were changed at Ellis Island. Names were simply checked against the ship's passenger list.
• The colossal verdigris Lard Lad statue engraved with "Give Me Your Hungry" around the donut is a parody of the Statue of Liberty.
• Devin refers to the "twinks" as one of the demographics of the school. He then clarifies that he means "kids that like Twinkies."
• During the Saint Patrick's Day parade, "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" by Robert Dwyer Joyce plays.

Irish icons such as playwright George Bernard Shaw, a Leprechaun, and poet Oscar Wilde are seen in a parody of New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade.

• On the parade float, people resembling Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, a Leprechaun, and poet Oscar Wilde are seen.
• Feast of the Seven Slobs is a parody of the Feast of the Seven Fishes.
• During the news report about Joe Quimby, Sr. taking over the Quimby Barrelworks, the New York Stock Exchange and Grauman's Chinese Theatre are seen.
• Quimby Sr.'s musical Over the Falls is a reference to how several people have attempted to go over Niagara Falls in barrels.
• The scene of Lisa researching the Quimby family is a reference to the film All the President's Men.
• Bart has a figure of Frankenstein's Monster and a Rubik's Cube in his room.
• Bart plays the video game Donkey Kong. In the past, Quimby played the tabletop portable arcade version of Donkey Kong Jr.. Later, Joe Quimby III plays a VR version of the game, and his speech references what happens in the game.
  • A blue version of Donkey Kong and a parody of Pauline appear in the game.
• Quimby III's attack ad parodies Lyndon B. Johnson's 1964 Daisy commercial, with Ralph in place of the girl counting and plucking petals.
• The Quimbys driving off bridges may be a reference to Ted Kennedy's 1968 Chappaquiddick incident.
• When running for election in 1982, Joe Quimby tells people that the rich deserve LeRoy Neiman paintings. LeRoy Neiman later attends the wedding of Joe Quimby and Beatrice Bouvier, where he paints the wedding.
• Joe Quimby quotes E.T. in his election campaign, saying "As E.T. the extraterrestrial said: 'We phoned home.'" He then says that the voters told them that they have the "eye of the tiger," referencing the song "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor.
• Joe Quimby plays Donkey Kong Jr., a spin-off of Donkey Kong.
• At the start of the wedding of Joe Quimby and Beatrice Bouvier, the "Bridal Chorus" by Richard Wagner plays. After they are pronounced man and wife, "Wedding March" by Felix Mendelssohn plays.
• During Bart's campaign, the kids perform "Hail to the Chief" by James Sanderson.
• The "Bart For President" flyer features Bart performing a double-handed V sign, one of Richard Nixon's signature gestures.
• In his counter-attack ad, Bart says "It's 3 a.m. Whose finger do you pull?". This is a reference to the "3 a.m. White House Ringing Phone" ad featured by Hillary Clinton during the 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries. Clinton's ad, considered by many an attack ad, suggested that at an urgent moment, people need a trustworthy, competent leader to answer the call.
• Joe Quimby III's full name, Joseph Fitzgerald Shriver Onassis Schlossberg Quimby III, is a play on words that combines the names and surnames of American politicians and businessmen related to the Kennedy family:
  • "Joseph" refers to Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., the ambitious patriarch of the Kennedy family.
  • "Fitzgerald" refers to John Fitzgerald Kennedy (JFK), former President of the United States.
  • "Shriver" refers to the Shriver family, into which Eunice Kennedy, JFK's sister, married.
  • "Onassis" refers to Aristotle Onassis, the Greek magnate who married Jacqueline Kennedy after JFK's death.
  • "Schlossberg" refers to the Schlossberg family. Caroline Kennedy, JFK's daughter, married American artist and designer Edwin Schlossberg.

Continuity

• Bart previously ran for class president in "Lisa's Substitute".

Goofs

• At the inauguration day speech, one student in the crowd appears completely colored blue.