The Bonfire of the Manatees

"The Bonfire of the Manatees"

Episode Information Showrunner: [[{{{showrunner}}}]]

"Bonfire of the Manatees" is the first episode of The Simpsons' seventeenth season. It originally aired September 11,2005. It was the first episode to air in September and first non-Halloween episode to start out the season since season 11's "Beyond Blunderdome". This was the second time this name for the episode was seen in Simpsons media. A mission in The Simpsons: Hit & Run, which predated this episode, was also titled "Bonfire of the Manatees". 11.1 million viewers tuned into this episode.

Plot

Unable to repay his gambling debts to the Mafia, Homer is forced to let Fat Tony use the Simpson home as a set for the "gentlemen's film" "Lemony Lick-It's A Series of Horny Events", starring Carl and Lenny. Homer sends Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie to "Santa's Village" to get them out of the way.

When Marge and the kids return, they discover what is going on and a disgusted Marge walks out, leaving Homer alone with the kids. Before she can be reconciled with Homer, Marge meets Dr. Caleb Thorn, a good-looking scientist devoted to saving the endangered manatee. Homer and the kids go to stay with their "country cousins" while looking for Marge (their dog is Santa's Little Helper's brother) who turn out to be much more modern and sophisticated than Homer believes. Meanwhile, Caleb helps Marge realise that Homer is the same man she fell in love with - the only problem is that she still expects him to change. Homer tries to win Marge back by saving a herd of manatees from a gang of jet skiers. Despite his attempts to organise the manatees to attack the gang, they all flee. Luckily, Homer's country cousin shows up with a notarized court order which puts paid to the gang. Impressed, Marge declares she is taking home "the real endangered species: the devoted husband."

Production

Al Jean originally pitched the idea of an episode based around the Simpsons rescuing manatees in 2003 during the writers' retreat sessions for The Simpsons Movie. Although not used in the movie, the idea eventually became an episode in its own right.

Cultural references

• The title is a take-off on the novel The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe.
• The title of the "snuggle film" Fat Tony wants to shoot ("Lemony Lick-It's A Series of Horny Events") is a spoof of the popular children's book series and movie Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.
• During the "snuggle film" shooting, Carl tells the director that he has a Foghorn Leghorn tattoo and showing it might lead to possible copyright infringement.
• The New Jersey band Folly released a song called 'Bonfire of the Manatees'.
• The song playing at the end, while Mr. Burns and Smithers wash the manatee dressed like Homer, is "Car Wash"

Reception

On May 11, 2008, Entertainment Weekly named Alec Baldwin's role as Caleb Thorn as the first of 16 great guest stars on The Simpsons.

References

es:Bonfire of the Manatees fr:Ma femme s'appelle reviens (Les Simpson) pl:Na ratunek manatom fi:Pelastakaa manaatit

← Season 16 Season 17 Episodes Season 18 →

The Bonfire of the Manatees • The Girl Who Slept Too Little • Milhouse of Sand and Fog • Treehouse of Horror XVI • Marge's Son Poisoning • See Homer Run • The Last of the Red Hat Mamas • The Italian Bob • Simpsons Christmas Stories • Homer's Paternity Coot • We're on the Road to D'ohwhere • My Fair Laddy • The Seemingly Never-Ending Story • Bart Has Two Mommies • Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife • Million-Dollar Abie • Kiss Kiss Bang Bangalore • The Wettest Stories Ever Told • Girls Just Want to Have Sums • Regarding Margie • The Monkey Suit • Marge and Homer Turn a Couple Play