Beatles and the Simpsons

(cont.)
   

When the group – are trying to find a name for themselves, Principal Skinner says, “We’ve got to have something that’s funny at first, but less funny each time you hear it.”

They record ‘Baby On Board’ and Nigel enters the studio saying ‘Gentlemen, you’ve just made your first number one.’ He also suggests to Homer that he keeps his marriage to Marge a secret.

Arriving at Kennedy Airport they are besieged by fans. One reporter asks, “Principal Skinner, you’ve been referred to as the funny one. Is that true?” “Yes. Yes it is” says Skinner – and everyone breaks out in hysterics.

The group win a Grammy award for their ‘Meet The Be Sharps’ album, presented to them by David Crosby.

In the after-the-ceremony party, Homer briefly meets George.

George: “Hello, Homer, I’m George Harrison.”

Homer: “Oh my God. Oh my God! Where did you get that brownie?”

George: “Over there. There’s a big pile of them.”

Homer downs the whole bunch: “Oh, ma-an.”

George: “Well, what a nice fellow.”

In it, there are many parallels to the Beatles career. Moe’s Tavern had previously been called Moe’s Cavern, Barney replaced Wiggum, just as Ringo replaced Pete Best, their ‘Meet The Be Sharps’ album cover mirrors ‘The Meet The Beatles’ cover and so on.

At home Homer shows Bart and Lisa his collection of Be Sharps memorabilia, including a Be Sharps lunch box.

“I can’t believe you’re still not popular” says Lisa.

“What’d you do, screw up like the Beatles and say you were bigger than Jesus?” asks Bart.

“All the time,” says Homer. “It was the title of our second album.”

He holds up a copy of ‘Bigger Than Jesus,’ which pictures the four walking across the Abbey Road zebra crossing, with Barney in his bare feet.

The group has problems, a shabby looking Be-Sharps, without Barney, are seen singing a jingle.

“And where’s Barney?” asks an angry Homer.

“Oh, he’s with his new girlfriend, the Japanese conceptual artist,” says Skinner.

Barney arrives, dressed in black and wearing granny glasses, accompanied by a Yoko look-alike.

“Barber shop is in danger of growing stale. I’m taking it to straaange new places,” he says.

The group decided to quit and Barney returns to Moe’s bar with his girlfriend. He orders a beer, she says, “I’d like a single plum floating in perfume, served in a man’s cap.”

After relating his story, Homer decides to arrange a reunion of the Be-Sharps and they reunite for a concert on the roof of Moe’s place. As they perform, George pulls up in his limousine, rolls down the window, looks at them and says, “It’s been done.”

As the credits roll, Homer says, “I’d like to thank you on behalf of the group, and I hope we passed the audition.”

In another episode of ‘The Simpsons’, Apu pulls out a record ‘The Concert Against Bangla Desh. It is almost an exact copy of the design of the original album with the exception that a mushroom cloud has replaced the image of the little boy.

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