'Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in 'The Curse of the Flying Hellfish''
The Simpsons episode
Episode no.	Season 7 Episode 22 (150th overall)
Directed by	Jeffrey Lynch
Written by	Jonathan Collier
Production code	3F19
Original air date	April 28, 1996[1]
Episode features
Couch gag	The family sits on the couch. Homer notices a plug in the middle of the floor and pulls it. Everyone and everything gets sucked down the drain.[2]
Commentary	Bill Oakley Josh Weinstein Jonathan Collier David Silverman
Episode chronology
← Previous '22 Short Films About Springfield' Next → 'Much Apu About Nothing'
The Simpsons (season 7)
List of The Simpsons episodes

1. The Simpsons Road Rage Online Game
2. The Simpsons Road Rage Mr Burns Quotes Images
3. The Simpsons Road Rage Wii
4. The Simpsons Mr Burns Alien
5. The Simpsons Road Rage Mr Burns Quotes Prussian Embassy

'Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in 'The Curse of the Flying Hellfish'' is the 22nd episode of The Simpsons' seventh season. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 28, 1996.

In the episode, one of Abraham Simpson's fellow World War II veterans, Asa Phelps, dies, leaving him and Mr. Burns as the only living members of Grampa's war squad, the Flying Hellfish. In the final days of the war, the unit had discovered several paintings and agreed on a tontine, placing the paintings in a crate, and the final surviving member would inherit the paintings. As Mr. Burns wants the paintings as soon as possible, he orders Abe's assassination. To escape death, Abe moves into the Simpsons' house, where the family lets him live in Bart's room. Bart eventually joins Grampa in a daring mission to recover the paintings.

The episode was written by Jonathan Collier and directed by Jeffrey Lynch. It was inspired by several stories about lost art surfacing. The animation of the episode has been praised for its action and underwater scenes. The staging in several scenes was based on DC Comics's Sgt. Rock.

It scored a Nielsen rating of 8.3, and was the second highest-rated show on the Fox network the week it aired.

Plot[edit]

The relationship between Grampa and Bart deteriorates after Grampa's senility and abrasiveness embarrass Bart during Grandparents Day at Springfield Elementary School.

Back at the retirement home, Grampa receives word that Asa Phelps, one of the men who served under his command in the Army during World War II, has died. Grampa and Mr. Burns are now the only two surviving members of their infantry squad, known as the 'Flying Hellfish'. Not wanting to wait for Grampa's natural death, Burns hires an assassin to kill him. After avoiding several attacks, Grampa takes shelter with the Simpsons. He moves into Bart's room, putting further strain on their relationship, and reveals to Bart his reason Burns wants him dead.

In a flashback, it is revealed that during the final days of World War II, the Flying Hellfish discovered several priceless paintings in a German castle. To avoid being caught for theft, the soldiers set up a tontine and locked the paintings in a strongbox to be hidden away; the one who outlived all the others would inherit the collection. Each man was given a key, all of which would eventually be needed to trigger a mechanism that would reveal where the paintings were hidden.

After Grampa finishes his story, Burns breaks into his room and tries to take Grampa's key by force. However, Bart manages to steal both keys back and the two Simpsons go after the paintings. They hurry to the local cemetery, where a monument to the Hellfish is located. After activating the locator mechanism built into the monument, they discover that the paintings have been hidden at the bottom of a lake, so they borrow a motorboat from Ned Flanders and head out onto the water. Bart brings up the strongbox, but just as he and Grampa open it, Burns shows up to take the paintings at gunpoint. When Bart calls him a coward and an embarrassment to the Hellfish, Burns kicks him into the empty strongbox, which topples back into the lake. Grampa dives in to save Bart, and the two chase Burns back to shore, where Grampa overpowers Burns. However, rather than killing Burns, Grampa instead gives him a dishonorable discharge for trying to kill his commanding officer and his grandson, and expels him from the tontine, much to Burns' distress.

Nov 24, 2001 The Simpsons: Road Rage is a Mission-based driving game, created by Radical Entertainment which became a subsidiary of Sierra Entertainment after being acquired in 2005, which developed the game for Fox Interactive who only publishes games mainly based on 20th Century Fox properties, like The Simpsons. Episode References Gags Appearances Gallery Quotes Credits Springfield Mountains (Simpsons Road Rage) Evergreen Terrace (Simpsons Road Rage) Entertainment District (Simpsons Road Rage) Homer Simpson: Retirement Castle, please! Grampa found a treasure map! Grampa Simpson: Take me to the Burlesque House! I'm not gettin' any younger! Edna Krabappel: Take me to Seymour's House. If anyone asks.

Before Grampa and Bart can go home with the paintings, several agents of the U.S. Department of State arrive on the scene, as the U.S. government has been trying for 50 years to track down the paintings to avoid an international incident with the German government. As such, the agents take the paintings and turn them over to a Eurotrash heir of one of the original owners, and Bart and Grampa are left empty-handed. Despite the loss, Grampa is somewhat relieved that he at least proved to Bart that he used to be something besides a pathetic old man, and Bart says that he never thought of Grampa that way. The two hug, their relationship back on good terms.

Production[edit]

Jonathan Collier, who wrote the episode, got the idea after reading several then-current stories about lost art surfacing.^[4] The story then evolved into one involving Grampa and Burns, and it gave the writers a chance to introduce the relatives of some of the recurring characters.^[4] The other members of the Flying Hellfish were based on stereotypical war movie characters.^[5] The idea of having a tontine came from Bill Oakley, who got the idea from 'an old Barney Miller episode'.^[5] Collier originally named the unit the 'Fighting Hellfish' but it was later changed to the 'Flying Hellfish'.^[4] The logo for the unit was designed using the original name and was not subsequently changed when the name was switched.^[6]

Supervising director David Silverman describes the directing in the episode as an 'amazingly brilliant job'. Director Jeffrey Lynch received help from Brad Bird, with whom he worked on many complex staging shots. Lynch did not have any other episodes to work on at the time and was able to devote a lot of time to working on the episode. He storyboarded most of it by himself.^[6] The episode contains more effects shots than an average episode of The Simpsons, many of which were worked on by animator Dexter Reed. Other animators that worked on the episode include Chris Clements, Ely Lester, James Purdum, Tommy Tejeda, and Orlando Baeza.^[6]

Cultural references[edit]

Much of the staging in the flashback scenes is based on DC Comics's Sgt. Rock and Marvel Comics's Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos.^[3] Many of the paintings in the episode are based on real paintings that went missing during World War II. The animators referenced a book of lost art for the designs.^[6] Other cultural references in the episode include Grampa's recollection of his brush with death at the Retirement Castle, which is a reference to Dorothy's return to Kansas in The Wizard of Oz.^[5] The sequence where Ox explains the concept of a tontine is similar to a scene in the M*A*S*H episode 'Old Soldiers'. The Flying Hellfish raid on the castle recalls the attack on the chateau in The Dirty Dozen. The scene where Grampa tries to assassinate Hitler is based on The Day of the Jackal.^[3] The song played by Baron von Hertzenberger as he drives off is Caterpillar (Rabbit in the Moon mix) by DJ Keoki. ^[7]

The Simpsons Road Rage Online Game

Reception[edit]

In its original broadcast, 'The Curse of the Flying Hellfish' finished 48th in the ratings for the week of April 22 to April 28, 1996, with a Nielsen rating of 8.3.^[8] The episode was the second highest-rated show on the Fox network that week, following The X-Files.^[8]

The authors of the book I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide, Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, wrote that the episode is 'notable for Mr Burns' impersonation of Marge, some spectacular action sequences, and some good underwater scenes – but [it is] not especially brilliant'.^[2]

Dave Foster of DVD Times said: 'It's easily the highlight of this season in terms of cinematic presence, with wonderful animation, staging and lighting which complements what is essentially a mini action adventure movie superbly realised via Grandpa and Bart. Like numerous episodes this season it also works as another example of family ties being reinforced though never at the sake of entertainment.'^[9]

DVD Movie Guide's Colin Jacobson wrote that 'many Grampa episodes tank, but ‘Hellfish’ provides a very notable exception. It’s a lot of fun to see his wartime past, especially since we find precursors of series regulars. I also like the action swing the story takes, as it becomes clever and inventive. This comes out as a terrific show.'^[10]

Adam Finley of TV Squad listed “Raging Abe” as one of the most touching episodes of The Simpsons, noting that it is 'more 'crazy action flick' than emotional, but I list it here because it shows Grandpa Simpson as someone other than a crazy old coot.'^[11]

References[edit]

1. ^'Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in 'The Curse of the Flying Hellfish''. The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
2. ^ ^abMartyn, Warren; Wood, Adrian (2000). 'Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in 'The Curse of the Flying Hellfish''. BBC. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
3. ^ ^abcSilverman, David (2005). Commentary for 'Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in 'The Curse of the Flying Hellfish', in The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
4. ^ ^abcCollier, Jonathan (2005). Commentary for 'Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in 'The Curse of the Flying Hellfish', in The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
5. ^ ^abcOakley, Bill (2005). Commentary for 'Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in 'The Curse of the Flying Hellfish', in The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
6. ^ ^abcdLynch, Jeffrey (2005). Commentary for 'Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in 'The Curse of the Flying Hellfish', in The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
7. ^https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOo7KXtnyIY
8. ^ ^ab'Prime-time ratings'. The Orange County Register. 1996-05-01.
9. ^Foster, Dave (2006-02-25). 'The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season'. DVD Times. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
10. ^Jacobson, Colin (2006-01-05). 'The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season (1995)'. DVD Movie Guide. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
11. ^Finley, Adam (2007-09-10). 'The 14 most touching Simpsons episodes'. TV Squad. Retrieved 2009-01-07.

External links[edit]

Wikiquote has quotations related to: 'Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in 'The Curse of the Flying Hellfish'

• 'Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in 'The Curse of the Flying Hellfish' at The Simpsons.com
• 'Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in 'The Curse of the Flying Hellfish' episode capsule'. The Simpsons Archive.
• 'Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in 'The Curse of the Flying Hellfish' at TV.com
• 'Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in 'The Curse of the Flying Hellfish' on IMDb

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/VideoGame/TheSimpsonsRoadRage

Go To

The Simpsons: Road Rage is a 2001 video game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts. It is one of a series of games based on the animated television series The Simpsons.

The game has many similarities to Sega's Crazy Taxi, to the extent that Sega sued the developer and publisher in 2003 for patent infringement.

Mr. Burns has bought all transit systems in Springfield and has begun to overcharge everyone for the transportation services. Even worse, the buses are nuclear powered, thus irradiating whoever rides it.

The citizens of the city (managed by the game player) must earn money by driving cars around town in order to regain control of the transit systems. The game contains 17 different drivable/collectible vehicles, six starting locations (five of which are unlockable), and 10 different missions. In order to collect the vehicles and unlock starting locations, players must earn progressively more money for each vehicle or starting location they want to get. In order to complete missions, players must do certain things (such as knocking down 12 baseball team mascots in 45 seconds or running into Gils within a time limit).

To earn money, players must drive around a vehicle for a given amount of time, picking up passengers and taking them to their destinations. Any of the vehicles that the player has collected can be used as taxis. Players have to avoid certain hurdles, such as other vehicles that spin out of control, rocks, flying street objects, Smithers's car, Mr. Burns' nuclear transit buses, and houses on difficult curves.

The game features six locations familiar to Simpsons fans, which have varying levels of difficulty for completing tasks.

The Simpsons Road Rage Mr Burns Quotes Images

• Evergreen Terrace: Is the location of the Simpsons' house, the Flanders' house, Gerald Ford's (formerly George H. W. Bush's) house, the Maison Derriere, Milhouse's house, the Kwik-E-Mart, Smithers's apartment, Principal Skinner's house, Chief Wiggum's house, Springfield Elementary School, Willie's shack, the First Church of Springfield, Reverend Lovejoy's house, Edna Krabappel's house, Apu's apartment, Hans Moleman's house, the grocery store, the Springfield Retirement Castle, Barney's apartment, a Krusty Burger restaurant, Spinser City Apartments and a gas station.

Advertisement:

• Entertainment District: Is the location of Moe's Tavern, the King Toot's Music Store, the She-She Lounge, the Duff Brewery, the Rusty Barnacle, the Guilded Truffle, Planet Hype, a milkshake shop, Sir Putt-A-Lot's, the Aztec Theatre, the Gogolplex, the Frying Dutchman, the Noiseland Arcade, the Girlesque, the Springfield Mini Mall, Barney's Bowl-O-Rama, Circus of Values, the Try-N-Save, Moe's house, Fiesta Terrace, Candy Most Dandy, the Box Factory, a dating building, a pet shop, the Duff Center, the office of an insurance company, three Krusty Burger restaurants, five gas stations, a 24-Seven, a Pineas Q. Butterfat's Ice Cream Parlor and a Lard Lad Donuts restaurant.
• Springfield Dam: Is the location of the Springfield Dam, Mayor Quimby's Mansion, Kamp Krusty, the Stonecutters Lodge, Jittery Joe's Coffee Shop, the office of K Radio, Rancho Relaxo, an interesting home, a builder's shack and a trailer park.
• Nuclear Power Plant: Is the location of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, the Springfield Mall, the Springfield War Memorial Stadium, the Springfield Community Center, a run-off stream, a Lard Lad Donuts restaurant and two gas stations.
• Downtown: Is the location of Herman's Military Antiques, Helter Shelter, the Springfield Plasma Center, the Veterans of Popular Wars, the office of Burns Transit, the Springfield Observatory, the Android's Dungeon, the Springfield Stadium, a cathedral, Saint Sebastian's School for Wicked Girls, the Springfield Airport, Area 51A, the Little Black Box, the Legitimate Businessman's Social Club, the DMV, Professor Frink's apartment, Snake's hideout, Krusty's house, the Springfield Drive-in, Springfield Park, Whacking Day Park, the Happy Sumo, the Singing Sirloin, Chez Pierre, Clown College, the Springfield General Hospital, Channel 6 Studios, the Popsicle Stick Skyscraper, the 50-Foot Magnifying Glass, the Escalator to Nowhere, the Springfield Revolving Restaurant, the Monty Burns Casino, two car parks, a convention center, the Springfield Natural History Museum, Springfield City Hall, the Springfield Court House, the Springfield Public Library, the Springfield Police Station, Copy Jalopy, the Springfield post office, a savings and loan, three Krusty Burger restaurants, two Lard Lad Donuts restaurants, two 24-Sevens, two Big T's, a Phineas Q. Butterfat's Ice Cream Parlor and four gas stations.
• Springfield Mountains: Is the location of Mr. Burns' Mansion, the Springfield Pet Cemetery, the Gold House, the Tire Fire, the office of KBBL, the Springfield Gorge, a gas station, the world's largest toilet and an inspiration point

The Simpsons Road Rage Wii

The Simpsons: Road Rage contains the following tropes:

The Simpsons Mr Burns Alien

• Artificial Stupidity: The buses in the game crash into things themselves, and crash into you all the time. The introduction in the game's manual attempts to justify this by claiming Mr. Burns gave the drivers 'free reign to wreak havoc' all over Springfield.
• Big Bad: Mr. Burns. He usually appears in his limo (driven by his partner Smithers) to stop you from progressing.
• Breaking the Fourth Wall: Near the end of the introductory cutscene, Bart says to just start the game already.
• Continuity Nod: Arguably the strongest source of praise for this game is the various winks and nudges to the Simpsons universe, such as various sight gags and the vehicles the playable characters drive (including the unlockable Mr. Plow truck).
  • A lot of the characters have specific interactions with each other that you would expect based on their relationship in the show and everyone says 'hi' back to Dr. Nick after his Catchphrase. Try to find all of the special interactions!
• Drives Like Crazy: The point of the game, just like Crazy Taxi, is to drive your charge to their destination quickly. Some passengers will specifically ask for a destructive ride and give you a huge bonus if you destroy a certain number of objects before you arrive at the destination. Other passengers, however, will offer a bonus if you arrive before hitting less than three vehicles.
• Holiday Mode: If you play the game on Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day or New Year's Day (Or just set the system clock to those dates), you'll get access seasonal variants of Bart, Marge, Apu and Krusty respectively:
  • For Halloween, Bart is wearing a Frankenstein's Monster costume and his Honor Roller is painted like a jack o’lantern.
  • For Thanksgiving, Marge is dressed like a pilgrim and her Canyonero is painted in autumnal colors.
  • For Christmas, Apu is dressed as Santa Claus and his car is painted a festive green and red.
  • For New Years, Krusty is wearing a tuxedo and conical party hat, and his car is decorated with confetti and champagne bottle decals.
• Kids Driving Cars: Bart and Lisa are able to drive vehicles despite only being ten and eight years old, respectively, though they're limited to just driving the Honor Roller and the Electaurus.
• Loads and Loads of Loading: Another major criticism among critics, other than its clone-status mentioned above. We're talking 50 seconds of loading for a task that only lasts for 20 seconds.
• Self-Deprecation: In Simpsons tradition. The game opens with a cutscene of Bart playing a game in the living room, to which Homer tells him that the game is just a waste of time. The music from the game is also music from Road Rage, and the tiny parts of the screen visible seem to indicate it is, indeed, Road Rage.
• Shout-Out:
  • If you do a good job bringing Krusty the Clown to a destination, he'll remark 'Boy, that was over faster than Chevy Chase's Talk Show.' Krusty will also criticize a bad ride by negatively comparing your driving skills to Mickey Rooney's.
  • In the Entertainment District, one of Bart's reasons for heading to the Ice Cream Parlor is to look for Betty and Veronica.

The Simpsons Road Rage Mr Burns Quotes Prussian Embassy