Sweets and Sour Marge

"Sweets and Sour Marge"
The Simpsons episode
File:Dabf03.jpg
Episode no.	Season 13
Directed by	Mark Kirkland
Written by	Carolyn Omine
Original air dates	January 20, 2002
Episode features
Couch gag	The family members take their places on the couch, as usual. A giant mechanical claw, like the kind in the machines where players must grab small stuffed animals, reaches down and grabs Homer. As he shouts, "Ow! My brain!" the claw lifts him off the couch and out of frame.

"Sweets and Sour Marge" is the 8th episode of the Thirteenth (13th) season of The Simpsons.

Synopsis

Template:Spoilers Homer buys a book on world records published by Duff. After boring everyone with world record trivia, Homer decides to break a record himself. He gathers the whole town to build the world's tallest human pyramid. After Jimbo and Kearney move their hands just before the record is claimed, the pyramid collapses into a giant sphere. The entire town rolls to a truck weighing station and the Duff record book officials say that Springfield is the world's fattest town, ahead of Milwaukee.

The townsfolk are happy to have made it in the record book. Marge is worried that the whole town is overweight. She discovers that there is sugar in nearly everything Springfielders eat. After complaining to Garth Motherloving, head of the Motherloving Sugar Corporation, (voiced by Ben Stiller), Marge decides to sue the sugar industry. Judge Snyder sides with her and bans all sugar products in Springfield (angering Homer and a few others).

The whole town goes cold turkey. Homer joins a secret group to smuggle sugar from the island of St. Glucose. After arriving back in Springfield, and evading a police boat, Homer brings the sugar to the docks. Marge pleads Homer to dump the cargo. After contemplating, Homer does so. All Springfielders, even those who seemed happier and healthier without sugar, jump into the harbor and drink the sugar water. Judge Snyder declares the ban over and dives in with everyone else.

Cultural references

• Erin Brockovich is referenced several times in this episode. She is set to appear in The Simpsons Movie.
• This episode takes a very blatant jab against Butterfinger candy bars. When the police must burn all of Springfield's candy and other assorted sugar products, a big stack of Butterfingers are thrown and is even referred to by name. The fire is unable to burn the candy bars and they bounce right back without even a singe to which Chief Clancy Wiggum comments, Even the fire doesn't want them, hinting at a general disdain for the candy. What makes this interesting is that when this aired, the Simpsons were currently depicted in commercials and print ads for Butterfinger. Shortly after, Butterfinger dropped the Simpsons as spokespersons. Two episodes later, Bart's chalkboard punishment was "I will not bite the hand that feeds me Butterfingers."

Trivia

• This episode was dedicated to the memory of Ron Taylor, the voice of Bleeding Gums Murphy.

• This episode is often cited as evidence of the state that Springfield is in. Homer implies that Tennessee is the next state south, suggesting that Springfield is in Kentucky, Missouri or Virginia.

Quotes

• Lou: (burning the town's candy in a giant bonfire) Even this promotional Johnny Depp from the movie 'Chocolat'?"
  Chief Wiggum: We melted for him, now he's gonna do likewise. (the sculpture is thrown into the fire and melts into The Scream)
• Homer: You went to a sugar factory? Were there Oompa-Loompas?
  Marge: There was one in a cage. But he wasn't moving.
• Ralph Wiggum: I'm happy and angry!
• Garth: Nice work, Homer.
  Homer: Before I bring the sugar in, I want to see the Oompa-Loompa!
  Garth: He's right over there.
  (points to the Oompa-Loompa, who is depressed and smoking a cigarette)
  Homer: (to Bart) That guy is freaky.
• Suicidal man: Good bye, cruel world. (lands on human ball) Hello, ironic twist.
• Burns: Stroke! Stroke! Stroke!
  Apu: I'm rowing as fast as I can, sir!
  Burns: No! I'm having one!
• Disco Stu: I'll get down with your lawsuit. Disco Stu got hooked on the white stuff back in the 1970s. (inhales sugar as though it's cocaine and puts on "More, More, More". Marge boogies her way out of Disco Stu's apartment)
• Records woman: Mr. Simpson, there are thousands of people like you with no discernible talent.
  Homer: Yeah! They're called "Congress"!
• Moe: That's the best book I've ever seen!
  Homer (looking in his World Records book): Nope. The best book you've ever seen is "Tom Clancy's Op-Center".
  Moe: That thing knows me better than I know myself.
• Marge: Hello?
  Voice on telephone: Marge Simpson?
  Marge: Who is this?
  Man: I'm an anonymous whistleblower. I was part of a secret program called Operation HOY-VIN MAY-VING!
  Marge: Professor Frink?
  Frink: Oh, what gave me away? Out of curiosity, was it the "hoyvin" or the "maving" or was it the whole "GA-HOW-VING!" thing that I do?
• Lisa: (to Homer) Is it really worth risking your lives for some sugar?
  Marge: Dessert's on! I steamed some limes!
  Lisa: God speed.
  
• Dr. Nick: (Looking at a human body book) Oh, that woman swallowed a baby.
• Homer: (After being told Springfield is now officially "the world's fattest city" and looking directly into the camera) In your face, Milwaukee!!