Most obscure Boston reference on the Simpsons Boston episode?

By adamg on Sun, 10/09/2016 - 8:36pm

The writers know their Boston. One scene featured a Cumbie's, Lechmere and an old 'BCN billboard. Even one local pol got a shoutout, indirectly, when Marge marveled over one of City Councilor Matt O'Malley's free sunscreen dispensers: "So progressive!"

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Boston

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Matt O'Malley

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Comments

Best. Episode. Ever.

By Ralph Boston on Sun, 10/09/2016 - 8:40pm.

I probably missed the most obscure references (well Adam just confirmed that I did).

Was too busy laughing my ass off to catch it all.

Completely accurate too. Right down to cheating football team.

We Did Not Cheat

By Suldog on Sun, 10/09/2016 - 8:55pm.

We won 12 division titles in 10 years fair and square!

Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com

P.S. In case anyone wants to accuse me of anything, that's a line from the show.

Looking at list from boston.com article

By Ralph Boston on Sun, 10/09/2016 - 8:50pm.

Yes, there actually is a boston.com article worth reading:

The "Baby Whale" sunfish (Khed!)

"Menino Panini" cart.

so many more....lol

I don't have high [any?]

By anon on Mon, 10/10/2016 - 12:22am.

I don't have high [any?] expectations for Boston.com, but really -- misspelling "NECCO" and getting the full company name wrong (referenced as "New England Candy Company" instead of "New England Confectionery Company" in point 13) -- shame.

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By ThatGuyFromRoxbury on Mon, 10/10/2016 - 12:40am.

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Sense of Humor?????

By SBer on Mon, 10/10/2016 - 1:05am.

I think you've lost your sense of humor. Boston.com didn't "misspell" the candy company's name....that is what the company was named on the Simpson's show. Like many other Boston names, they changed it ever so slightly, but the locals got the reference.

"Homer gets a job as a safety inspector at NEKCO, the New England Candy Company."

Yes, but Boston.com could've

By anon on Mon, 10/10/2016 - 3:45pm.

Yes, but Boston.com could've gotten the name of the company correct in their write-up.

They DID get it correct

By Imma Dork on Mon, 10/10/2016 - 4:55pm.

They reported on the episode, so they spelled it the same way as aired in the episode.

Now, don't have an episode.

Um

By SwirlyGrrl on Mon, 10/10/2016 - 9:40am.

The show used NECKO because NECCO is trademarked.

Just like Legal Seafood (not Lawful Seafood) and Dunkin Donuts (Duncan's Doughnuts).

Boston.com went with the parody names used in the show.

My two favorite obscure refs

By Henry John on Sun, 10/09/2016 - 8:51pm.

Dukakis' eyebrows in the Faneuil Hall scene...

A bowling alley, "The Lanes of Eddie Coyle" which works in a direct reference to the book (Higgins) and movie (Mitchum) while working in a side ref to the Affleck's The Town, when the bank manager is forced to walk blindfolded towards the ocean.

Was so busy noticing Steven Tyler ...

By adamg on Sun, 10/09/2016 - 8:56pm.

I missed Fred the Baker.

Not to mention..

By Neal on Sun, 10/09/2016 - 9:39pm.

Standing behind Fred to the right, is David McCullough. Elizabeth Warren, the whole Cheers cast, Elizabeth Warren, the Bosstones, Mike Dukakis in a tank costume, Barney Frank and Bobby Orr also make cameos in the parade crowd.

And also Elizabeth Warren!

By anon on Mon, 10/10/2016 - 9:57am.

And also Elizabeth Warren!

Oh yeah, her too!

By Neal on Mon, 10/10/2016 - 10:30am.

I see what I did there! One of those Liz Warrens was supposed to be Conan O'Brien! I guess I was too quick to hit post.

Another parade onlooker I forgot...

By Neal on Mon, 10/10/2016 - 10:37am.

To David McCullough's right: the waistcoat-clad ghost of Paul Revere, holding a silver teapot in his left hand, with his right hand up to his chin, just as in the Copley painting.

Dunkie's

By Suldog on Sun, 10/09/2016 - 9:00pm.

In one of the very fleeting backgrounds at the Americans' victory parade, the "Time to make the donuts" guy was in the crowd.

Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com

And I see...

By Suldog on Sun, 10/09/2016 - 9:01pm.

Adam just beat me to it. He gets extra points for knowing the actual character name.

Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com

And that was a DD cup

By Ben on Sun, 10/09/2016 - 9:12pm.

Thrown at them in traffic as they arrive in town.

But the DD in the ep stood for....

By Ralph Boston on Sun, 10/09/2016 - 10:17pm.

Duncan's Donuts.. lol

I see marvelous Marvin Hagler

By Mfc on Sun, 10/09/2016 - 9:13pm.

I see marvelous Marvin Hagler and ric ocasek in the background of that shot.

Noticed Ocasek....whiffed on Hagler

By Ralph Boston on Sun, 10/09/2016 - 10:20pm.

Thx for pointing that out.!

Not Hagler

By MC PeePants on Mon, 10/10/2016 - 4:26am.

Hawk from Spenser for Hire!

Hagler

By Suldog on Mon, 10/10/2016 - 5:39pm.

In boxing trunks. Hawk is in another group.

Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com

And

By Eighthman on Tue, 10/11/2016 - 10:18am.

Behind Officer Mike and the ducklings are the kids from ZOOM. THAT'S one that wasn't in the Boston.com article.

Robert Parish's Parish

By Ralph Boston on Sun, 10/09/2016 - 9:10pm.

...the church with Robert Parish as pastor made me laugh....as did about 1,000 other things from the show.

Work on Drydock Ave and would

By Murphquake on Sun, 10/09/2016 - 9:35pm.

Work on Drydock Ave and would have to say the South Boston dock workers with the veggie drinks.

TEDDD

By JohnAKeith on Sun, 10/09/2016 - 11:36pm.

Ted made it in, along with Johnnie (Mark Wahlberg).

The ducklings, RIc Ocasek, an Aimee Mann reference, Bit Warren, Lechmere, Duncan's Donuts, Fribbles (but spelled Fribels, I think), Conan O'Brien, having locals as guest voices (including Rachel Dratch).

Negative was ... ugh, my constant beef that "Boston" means "Greater Boston" to everyone who doesn't live here. There wouldn't be sunscreen dispensers on Memorial Drive, MIT isn't in Boston, and Brandeis University is in (gasp) Waltham and the Peabody Essex is in .. I dunno, New Hampshire?

Some felt the "hidden racism" line was out of line but, eh.

EDIT: I posted 7 stills from the episode to my Twitter feed (not an attempt to promote myself) https://twitter.com/JohnAKeith

PEM is in Salem, MA

By Felicity on Sun, 10/09/2016 - 10:58pm.

PEM is in Salem, MA

Peabody Museum @ Harvard

By BikerGeek on Sun, 10/09/2016 - 11:55pm.

was the reference there I think. Building looks the same.

PEM reference

By Chowdahead68 on Mon, 10/10/2016 - 4:00pm.

As someone who grew up and lives in the Merrimack Valley I have long understood anything north of 128 was NH. I guess now it is anything north of the Charles. It's ok though because it's been a while since I have met anyone who lives in Boston that is from Boston. :)

Those probably are the Winklevoss twins

By BikerGeek on Mon, 10/10/2016 - 12:04am.

A lot of the writers for The Simpsons went to Harvard, and, for all we know, knew the twins during their time there.

Johnny Tremain

By SBer on Mon, 10/10/2016 - 12:56am.

Thank you for posting the stills John! I missed so many of the details when watching it live. Did you notice the character standing between Conan and the cast of Cheers? I was puzzled by him but realized it's Johnny Tremain, from one of my favorite books from elementary school.

Great pics

By MC PeePants on Mon, 10/10/2016 - 4:29am.

But I lost it at "It's your cousin... Marvin!"

Boston proper is irrelevant.

By Chris77 on Mon, 10/10/2016 - 7:06am.

Boston proper is irrelevant. Harvard Square is as "Boston" as anything to a lot of people. If you live in Davis Square, you basically live in Boston.

Brandeis

By Eve on Tue, 10/11/2016 - 8:28am.

Speaking as a Brandeis alumna, we're just glad to be included.

My Fave

By Felicity on Sun, 10/09/2016 - 10:57pm.

The boston.com article showed a frame with a Dana Hersey - Movie Loft poster

The Mikey "It's a Baby Wheel, Kid!" Bergin reference

By ThatGuyFromRoxbury on Mon, 10/10/2016 - 4:24pm.

Glad I wasn't the only one to catch the "It's a Baby Whale, Kid!" sunfish in there!! I also thought it was amazingly awesome how spot-on Faneuil Hall Marketplace was, right down to the carts selling cheesy tourist stuff in that little plaza across the street from Long Wharf. Can't say I've ever seen bobbleheads there, but I digress. The Cheers-esque riff anytime they did a wide shot of the area was a nice little touch as well.

edit: Just remembered, Homer was drinking a beer called "Brockton's Best" that featured Rocky Marciano on the label.

"Noam Chompsky's Smoothies"

By BikerGeek on Sun, 10/09/2016 - 11:54pm.

Storefront in the background near Faneuil Hall.

Also, a cop with a bunch of ducklings in the parade.

And Howard Stern--who famously got his radio start at WBUR back when it was a student-run radio station.

The Jordan's commercial that was a pastiche on the show's opening credits and couch gag was a nice touch. (If it's old hat for the show, please be kind--I haven't watched the show in many, many years.)

Also, one scene with the theme music to St. Elsewhere.