Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish

"Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish" is the fourth episode of The Simpsons' second season. The episode aired on November 1, 1990.

Episode details

Production Number: 7F01
Original Air Date: November 1, 1990
Writers: Sam Simon and John Swartzwelder
Director: Wesley Archer
Blackboard: "I will not Xerox my butt." or "It's potato, not potatoe"
Couch Gag: The couch springs out into a bed

Synopsis

Bart and Lisa go fishing (with Bart using worms for bait), and the car of Springfield Shopper report Dave Shutton pulls up. Then, Bart discovers a three-eyed fish, Blinky. The Democratic governor of the state Springfield is in, Mary Bailey, calls for an investigation of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. During the investigation, Mr. Burns is accused of owning a shoddy power power plant, being presented with a list of over 342 violations, and he is fined $56 million to fix the place up. Feeling worried, in the parking lot, Mr. Burns tells Homer he will run for Governor. Homer supports Burns, against the wishes of Marge, a Bailey supporter.

Burns starts his campaign with a negative image. His political advisor has created a team to make more people find him as being a good person over Mary Bailey. Burns also does a commercial on TV, discussing Blinky with an actor portraying Charles Darwin, and after the ad, Burns is up in the polls. The campaign team also smears Mary Bailey, causing her to lose in the polls and eventually lead to Burns beating Bailey in the polls. On the night before the election, Smithers suggests Burns have dinner at the Simpsons' house as a press opportunity. Marge serves the three-eyed fish, Blinky, for dinner, and Mr. Burns eats a part of his head. He spits out the part he eats, and Burns' campaign is ruined. He blames the Simpsons for his eventual defeat.

Trivia

• The motto of the state Springfield is in is "Not Just Another State."
• The line "You can't do this to me! I'm Charles Montgomery Burns!" parodies a quotation from Citizen Kane, which is "You can't do this to me! I'm Charles Foster Kane!" This also reveals the full name of Charles Montgomery Burns.

Quotes

• Mr. Burns: (after eating a small bite of the fish) YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME! I'M CHARLES MONTGOMERY BURNS!
• Marge: Homer, we're a Mary Bailey family.
  Homer: Mary Bailey isn't going to fire me if I don't vote for her.
  Lisa: Ooh, a political discussion! I feel like a Kennedy.
• Bart: Is your boss governor yet?
  Homer: Not yet, son, not yet.