Rosebud (The Simpsons)
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"Rosebud" is the fourth episode of The Simpsons
Short description
As a child, Burns lived with his family and cherished his teddy Bobo, but abandoned Bobo when he left to live with a "twisted, loveless billionaire". Bobo lies in the snow until the spring, when a thaw washes him downriver to New York. There, he is picked up by Charles Lindbergh and flown across the Atlantic Ocean.
Upon arrival in Paris, Lindbergh tosses the bear out the window, where it is caught by a young Adolf Hitler. In his bunker in Berlin, Hitler blames Bobo for losing the war and tosses him away. In the next scene, Bobo lies onboard the submarine Nautilus headed for the North Pole. He becomes encased in a block of ice until packed up by an ice-gathering expedition. The bag of ice with him in it is sent to Apu's Kwik-E-Mart in Springfield. Bart Simpson buys the bag of ice, finds Bobo, and gives it to Maggie to play with.
Burns discovers that Maggie has the bear and goes through incredible feats to get it back, including interrupting all TV shows, and cutting off the beer supply to Springfield, in order to get Homer to give it up. Maggie, however, loves the bear, and Homer's conscience prevents him from taking Bobo away from her. Burns becomes deeply depressed and asks Maggie to look after his teddy. Maggie, in an act of pity, lets the desperate Burns have the bear. Burns is overjoyed, but his loving mood does not last.
Trivia
- The episode title is a reference to Charles Foster Kane's dying word in the 1941 Orson Welles film Citizen Kane. Rosebud itself is a sled that Kane had as a child; the teddy bear Bobo is a substitute for Rosebud in this episode.
- Mr. Burns' line, "Resistance is futile!" is a reference to a Star Trek villain, The Borg.
- The jackboots that break up Burns' birthday bash are similar to Nazi Sturmabteilung who allegedly busted up groups who were antagonistic to the Party's political platform.
- This was the first episode executive produced by David Mirkin, though it was the second that aired.
- Bobo was also the name of a police dog that briefly appears in "There's No Disgrace Like Home" (Season 1)
- A repaired Bobo makes a brief cameo in the end of "Homer the Smithers"
- According to DVD commentary, there was a scene where Bobo was in the car during the JFK assassination. This was left out because the writers felt it was in bad taste.
- In the last scene where Mr. Burn's robotic body runs off with Bobo is a spoof of Planet of the Apes in which Homer Simpson, like humans, are enslaved by apes.
Quotes
- Smithers: Ladies and gentlemen, The Ramones!
Mr Burns: Ah. These minstrels will sooth my jangled nerves.
Joey Ramone: I'd just like to say this gig sucks!
Johnny Ramone: Hey, up yours, Springfield!
Joey Ramone: ONE-TWO-THREE-FOUR! (music starts) Happy Birthday to you (Happy Birthday!), Happy Birthday to you (Happy Birthday!), Happy Birthday, Burnsie, Happy Birthday to you!
C.J. Ramone: Go to hell, you old bastard!
(Mr. Burns is shown shaking with fear at his table)
Marky Ramone: (after the curtain closes) Hey, I think they liked us!
Mr. Burns: Have The Rolling Stones killed.
Smithers: Oh, sir, those weren't...
Mr. Burns: Do as I say! - Mr. Burns: (as a disembodied head in a robot/cyborg body) Bobo, I know I say this every century, but I'll never leave you behind again.
Smithers (as a disembodied head in a dog-shaped robot/cyborg body): Wait for me, sir! (starts following him and barks) - Headline, Springfield Shopper: Burns' Birthday Today
Subheading: Credits long life to Satan - Marge: Come on, dear, it's time to go.
Homer: Okay, stupid!
Marge: Homer, you've got to stop insulting everyone, especially your boss.
Homer: Marge, the comedy roast is an American tradition. It's what gives us the freedom to criticize our social betters. [To Ned Flanders, outside clipping his hedges] Hey Flanders! You smell like manure!
Ned Flanders: Uh oh. Better cancel that dinner party tonight. Thanks for the nose news, neighbor! - Waylon Smithers: Look at all the wonderful things you have, Mr. Burns: King Arthur's Excalibur, the only existing nude photo of Mark Twain, and that rare first draft of the Constitution with the word "suckers" in it.
Burns: Yes, yes, yes. So what!
Smithers: You want your bear, Bobo, don't you?
Burns: Liar! I'll give you a thrashing of a lifetime! (flails his arms in weak attempt to hit Smithers) Resistance is futile!
''' - Mr. Burns: I won't get what I really want.
Mr. Burns: (in Smithers' dream nude in a cake/singing) Happy birthday, Mr. Smithers.
External links
- ["Rosebud"] episode capsule at The Simpsons Archive
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