Homer & Marge Conversations

One of the underrated highlights of the show

There are a lot of great things about The Simpsons. Yes, there are the incredibly quotable lines that any person over the age of 30 has made a part of their personality. And there are the memorable bits such as “steamed hams” that seem to have transcended generations. And there are all the clever signs that show up on buildings (such as the “Candy-Shaped Rat Poison Convention” happening beside the candy convention). There’s a lot to like.

One of my personal favourites is the exchanges between Marge and Homer. You know the ones:

Marge : Have you noticed any change in Bart?

Homer : New glasses?

Marge : No. He looks like something might be disturbing him.

Homer : Probably misses his old glasses.

Marge : I guess we could get more involved in Bart's activities, but then I'd be afraid of smothering him.

Homer : Yeah, and then we'd get the chair.

Marge : That's not what I meant.

Homer : It was, Marge. Admit it.

There’s so much greatness there. Homer is trying to pay attention, he truly is. He is listening to what Marge is saying, but he’s not understanding. Instead, he’s just making up his own scenario where Bart (who doesn’t regularly wear glasses), got new glasses and misses his old glasses. And then, after assuming Marge wants to physically smother Bart (presumably to death), he asserts that he’s right, despite being completely wrong. It’s perfect. It makes me laugh every time.

He created his own reality and then demanded that Marge live in it. And that’s his right. After all, he’s a white male, aged 18 to 49. Everyone listens to him, no matter how dumb his suggestions are.

But that exchange is far from the only Marge and Homer conversation that is great comedy.

Marge: If you feel so bad about yourself there’s always things you can do to feel better.

Homer: Take another bath in malt liquor?

Marge: There’s that. Or you could take an adult education course.

Homer: Oh, and how is “education” supposed to make me feel smarter? Besides, every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain! Remember when I took that home wine-making course and I forgot how to drive?

Marge: That’s because you were drunk!

Homer: And how.

Again, Marge is trying to talk about an actual issue, and Homer is completely in his own universe.

I’ve already gone over another one of my favourite Homer/Marge conversations in another post (“Marge, please, that was twenty minutes ago.”)

What’s the point of all of this? There really isn’t one, other than to try and make you laugh by bringing up these funny moments from the show. But, truthfully, this is mostly because I remembered that I have this Substack today and I’m determined to use it.

What’s your favourite Marge/Homer exchange?