A Fish Called Selma
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A Fish Called Selma is the 19th episode of The Simpsons' seventh season. It guest stars Phil Hartman (as Troy McClure) and Jeff Goldblum.
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[edit] Synopsis
Washed-up actor Troy McClure gets pulled for driving without wearing his corrective lenses. When Troy goes to the DMV to get his license changed so that he will not be required to wear glasses anymore, he offers to take Selma Bouvier to dinner if she will let him pass the eye test.
After dinner at the "Pimento Grove" photographers notice Troy leaving with a human woman (rumors about a romantic abnormality concerning fish essentially destroyed Troy's career). The next day, Troy's agent calls and says that he can get work again if he continues seeing human women. Troy continues dating Selma to help his career. On his agent's advice, Troy asks Selma to marry him.
The night before the wedding, a drunk Troy tells a drunk Homer the reason for his marriage. After the wedding, Homer tells Marge offhand. Marge and Patty try to explain Selma, who accuses them of coming down with "the green-eyed gazungas." She confronts Troy who eagerly admits that their marriage is a sham to help his career. Troy explains to Selma that even though their marriage is a sham, she has benefitted and Selma initially accepts the situation. Troy's agent thinks he can get Troy the part of McBain's sidekick in the next McBain movie, but most parts go to actors with families.
Troy and Selma try to conceive, but neither can get aroused. Selma decides that bringing a child into a loveless family is wrong and leaves Troy, with the words "I'll always remember you Troy, but not from your films." Troy turns down the role of McBain's sidekick to direct and star in his own film.
[edit] Trivia
- Troy drives a DeLorean. His home resembles the famous Chemosphere house in Los Angeles.
- The title of the episode is a parody of the 1988 film A Fish Called Wanda and is also a reference to Troy McClure's romantic abnormality.
- Jeff Goldblum appears on the DVD commentary for this episode.
- Troy says of Jub-Jub "He's fantastic. He's everywhere you want to be." This is in reference to Visa's famous slogan.
- Fat Tony appears, but not voiced by Joe Mantegna as usual, but by a regular castmember (possibly Phil Hartman) doing a Mantegna impression.
[edit] Cultural references
- At one point Troy tells Selma to “sit back and enjoy Mr Troy’s wild ride”. This is a play on “Mr Toad’s wild ride”; a Disney adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's novel the Wind in the Willows.
- Troy's agent is named MacArthur Parker, a reference to the song MacArthur Park.
- The "Dr. Zaius" song from the Planet of the Apes musical is a parody of "Rock Me Amadeus" by Falco.
- Selma says of Troy's ultramodern house, "It's like living in the not-too-distant future!", a reference to the Mystery Science Theater 3000 theme song.
- Troy McClure stars in the fictional film The Muppets Go Medieval, a reference to various Muppet movies, and the film Pulp Fiction, which featured the term "get medieval".
- Troy suggests that he might have a fragrance named after him called "Smellin' of Troy," a take-off of Greek mythological character Helen of Troy.
- Troy being pulled over in a Delorean mimics Johnny Carson's drunk driving offense while driving a Delorean DMC-12 in 1982.
- Troy's sham marriage to Selma mirrors that of Rock Hudson's own marriage as Selma asks Troy if he were gay. This may refer to actors who get married to cover their homosexuality.
[edit] Quotes
- Lisa: Dad, what's a muppet?
Homer: Well, it's not quite a mop, and it's not quite a puppet, but man... (laughs, then continues in a serious manner) So, to answer your question, I don't know. - Troy: That's right boys, Troy's back from the gutter, and he's brought someone with him!
- Parker: Troy! Mac Parker. Ever hear of... Planet of the Apes?
Troy: Uh... the movie or the planet?
Parker: The brand-new multimillion dollar musical. And you are starring... as the human.
Troy: It's the part I was born to play, baby! - Troy: My good looks paid for that pool, and my talent filled it with water.
- Selma: Is this a sham marriage?
Troy: Sure baby, is that a problemo? - Waiter: Cigarette, Mrs. McClure?
Troy: You bet! From now on she's smoking for two! - Legs: I thought you said Troy McClure was dead!
Fat Tony: No, what I said was: "He sleeps with the fishes." - Troy: You wouldn't ask a handsome man like me to wear glasses! It'd be a crime against nature!
[edit] 'Planet of the Apes' The Musical
Ape #1: Help, the human's about to escape!
Troy: Get your paws off me you dir-ty ape!
Ape #1: [gasp] He can talk!
Chorus: He can talk! He can talk! He can talk! He can talk! He can talk! He can talk!
Troy: I can si-ng!
Ape Nurse: Oooh, help me Dr. Zaius!
Chorus: Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius! Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius! Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius, oh Dr. Zaius!
Ape #3: Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius!
Troy: What's wrong with me?
Dr. Zaius: I think you're crazy!
Troy: I want a second opinion!
Dr. Zaius: You're also lazy!
Chorus: Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius! Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius! Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius, oh Dr. Zaius!
Ape #3: Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius!
Troy: Can I play the pia-no any more?
Dr. Zaius: Of course you can!
Troy: Well I couldn't before! [plays a few notes]
Chorus: Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius! Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius! Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius, oh Dr. Zaius!
Ape #3: Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius!
Chorus: Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius! Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius! Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius, oh Dr. Zaius!
Bart: This play has everything!
Homer: Oh, I love legitimate theater!
[Fade to last song]
Troy: I hate every ape I see, from chimpan-A to chimpan-Z, no you'll never make a monkey out of me.
Troy: (Statue of Liberty rises up in background) Oh my god, I was wrong, it was Earth all along, you've finally made a monkey...
Chorus: Yes we finally made a monkey!
All: Yes you fin-ally made a mon-key out of me-e!
Troy: I love you, Dr. Zaius!
