Bart vs. Australia/References
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Cultural references[edit]
- Lisa explains to Bart how the Coriolis effect causes the flow to spin in opposite ways in different hemispheres. While The Simpsons is prone to some errors simply for comic effect, in this particular episode, the supposed scientific knowledge of drains flowing differently in the Southern Hemisphere is actually a myth. The Coriolis effect is indeed accurate, but it is only seen in large systems such as eddies, whirlpools in the ocean, and cyclonic storms such as hurricanes and tornadoes. Drains and toilets are too small to be affected.
- Bart confuses the logo of Rand McNally, the real-world company that produced the globe, for a country.
- The segment involving Adolf Hitler refers to a conspiracy theory that he survived World War II and escaped to Argentina. Had Hitler survived, he would have been 105 years of age when the episode aired.
- The building seen in the background resembles the Buenos Aires City Hall, located in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- A picture of Uluru, the recognized landmark from Australia, is seen at the Drundridge's house in the fictional rural locality of Squatter's Crag.
- Bart taunts Bruno Drundridge by saying: "I think I hear a dingo eating your baby!". This is a reference to Evil Angels, a 1988 Australian drama film that chronicles the case of Azaria Chamberlain, a nine-week-old Australian baby girl who was killed by a dingo during a family trip to Uluru.
- Andy, is drinking Foster's Lager, the largest-selling Australian beer brand in the world.
- Later in the episode, Homer is given a Foster's in the bar.
- The slides presented by Evan Conover describe moments of short-lived passion with Australian culture from the United States in the late 1980s. These include:
- A picture of Crocodile Dundee from the 1986 action comedy of the same name.
- The store Koala Blue, a fashion and lifestyle brand founded in 1983 by Olivia Newton-John, originally as an Aussie-themed boutique in L.A. It expanded globally but collapsed by the early 1990s due to overexpansion and financial troubles.
- Australian footballer Mark Jackson, who became notable for several television appearances, including commercials for Energizer.
- A Subway store selling a footlong Vegemite sub.
- A City Theater somewhere in Australia playing the Yahoo Serious Festival, an event dedicated to Australian actor Yahoo Serious.
Mick Dundee, the Australian protagonist in Crocodile Dundee
Koala Blue, a fashion and lifestyle brand founded in 1983 by British and Australian singer Olivia Newton-John
Australian footballer Mark Jackson, who participated in commercials for Energizer
The Yahoo Serious Festival, an event dedicated to Australian actor Yahoo Serious
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- Accidentally, one of the slides shows Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro as a target.
- The Buddhist goddess of wealth, prosperity, and abundance, Vasudhara, is seen at the center of planet Earth.
- Part of the United States' first space station, Skylab, is seen right underneath the grounds of Australia. Skylab disintegrated in the atmosphere in July, 1979, scattering debris across the Indian Ocean and Western Australia.
- Homer sings "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" when he watches the toilet drain spinning in the way it does in the US.
- Bart calls the US Marine "G.I. Joe", a reference to the figure line and media franchise G.I. Joe.
- "That's not a knife: That's a knife!" is a famous line from the film Crocodile Dundee. Notably, the episode misquotes it as "You call that a knife? This is a knife", a common mistake.
- The trial takes place at the Parliament House, Canberra.
- Lisa would like a didgeridoo as a souvenir from Australia. This instrument was developed by Aboriginal peoples of northern Australia at least 1,000 years ago.
- During the chase scene from the Australian Parliament, a motorcycle gang member from the Australian media franchise Mad Max can be seen in the crowd.
- An instrumental version of the patriotic song "America the Beautiful" is heard when Bart agrees on facing the punishment.
- Bart hums "The Star-Spangled Banner" after he avoids the Prime Minister's kick.
- The Simpsons fleeing the American Embassy in Australia recreates the April 29, 1975 22 Gia Long Street evacuation during the Fall of Saigon.
- According to the helicopter pilot, the closest ship is the USS Walter Mondale "laundry ship". This is a reference to Walter Mondale, who was the 42nd vice president of the United States serving from 1977 to 1981 under President Jimmy Carter.
- The whole subplot regarding Bart Junior being released into the wild and multiplying at an alarming rate is a reference to the introduction of Cane Toads into Australia in order to control the Cane Beetle, a native pest. Since their introduction, the toads have had a similar, albeit less extreme, effect on the ecosystem.
- The scene in which the bullfrog infestation is seen on a larger scale with synthesizer music playing is a reference to the 1977 horror film Frogs.
Trivia[edit]
- The 46-digit number Bart dials to reach Antarctica, based on the DTMF tones, is 2527756237425763562356746235736235736257635725.
- The 5 digits Bart dials to reach Brazil are 57746.
- The 6 digits Bart dials to reach Argentina are 462358.
- Unexpectedly, the single digit Bart dials to reach the operator and be connected to Australia is 3.
- Despite Homer being very much against the Australians' proposed "booting" punishment, a very similar looking boot struck Bart in the butt in "Burns' Heir". That time Homer found it hilarious.
- It would later be revealed that the Simpsons' ancestors were exiled from Australia.[citation needed]
- Despite the implication of the ending scene of the episode, koalas would not be able to survive in America. This is because their sole food source, eucalyptus leaves, cannot be found in any significant quantity in America, due to the eucalyptus tree being virtually non-existent there.
- The parliament has German "Parliament-haus der Austria" with "al" added in between the r and i on it as a joke the building was taken from similarly named Austria, except Austria in German is Österreich.
Goofs[edit]
- Lisa demonstrates "counterclockwise" by making a clockwise circle with her finger.
- The flag at the embassy has 14 stripes.
