The Last of the Red Hat Mamas

The Last of the Red Hat Mamas is the seventh episode of the 17th season of "The Simpsons." The episode aired in North America on November 27, 2005, however due to its Easter theme it did not air in the UK until April 16, 2006 (Easter Sunday 2006).

Synopsis
The Simpsons children participate in the annual Easter celebration at Mayor Quimby's mansion. When Maggie is unable to gather any Easter eggs, Homer decides to take the other children's eggs. Maggie is delighted, but Hugs Bunny, who is refereeing the egg hunt, voices his displeasure. Homer and Hugs get into a huge fight. Meanwhile, Marge goes on a tour of the mansion, led by Quimby's estranged wife, but things quickly go downhill when the fight spills into Quimby's office. Marge is embarrassed by Homer's childish actions, and her friends determine she is bad news and shun her.

At home, Marge tells Homer exactly how she feels, leading Homer to try to make amends by trying to find some new friends for Marge. He goes to the supermarket and begins pursuing a potential friend, but the woman (thinking she is being stalked) winds up running into a display of cans.

Where Homer fails, Marge succeeds. At a restaurant, she meets up with members of the Cheery Red Tomatoes. She quickly impresses the group's leader, Tammy, and - after participating in a few low-key meetings - is soon invited to become a member of the women's group.

However, when it comes time for the initiation, Tammy asks Marge to assist in their efforts to break into Burns' mansion to steal $1 million. They explain they are a group that raises funds for charity, and that Burns once promised them that amount to donate to a children's hospital; however, at a press conference, the selfish millionaire announces he plans to keep the money for himself (to undergo a procedure that will extend his life by 10 minutes). Marge tells the Cheery Red Tomatoes members she cannot go ahead with the robbery, however bad of a person Burns is, but when told her membership rides on her participation, she decides to cast her morals aside and proceed with the robbery.

At home, Homer finds Marge's Tomatoes folder laying around the house and after rummaging through it, learns about the group's plans to break into Burns' safe. He tries to warn the police, but they are too busy watching Officer Eddie direct traffic. Meanwhile, Marge is able to sneak onto Burns' grounds through an air duct and unlock a gate; from there, the women crack open the safe and begin helping themselves to the expensive jewels and other items that sit inside.

As the women are leaving, Chief Wiggum and Burns arrive at the mansion to arrest the women. Burns is disgusted by Chief Wiggum and Eddie arguing over Wiggum's pants size. Homer arrives to stop Marge from doing something she'll regret, but finds himself a prime suspect in the heist. However, once everything is explained, Marge realizes she doesn't need the group to make friends; after all, she already has one very special friend - Homer. Marge does, however, give the group a Fabergé egg she took.

In the subplot, Lisa is seeking summer opportunities and settles on traveling to Italy. She tries to convince Principal Skinner that she speaks fluent Italian, but the principal is skeptical. Rather than putting her on the spot, he decides to test Lisa tomorrow. This gives Lisa time to hire a tutor, who turns out to be Milhouse. Milhouse is actually quite good at teaching Lisa, and before long, Lisa is speaking fluently and apparently forms a friendship with Milhouse. However just as it seems that Milhouse's unrequited feelings for Lisa would be reciprocated, he is caught...with Angelica.

Trivia

 * The very next episode ("The Italian Bob"), The Simpson family goes to Italy. Lisa speaks some Italian in that episode.

Cultural references

 * Aliens – Homer's line, "Game over man ... game over" (when the police arrive at Burns' mansion) is taken from the movie.
 * "Dancing Cop" – Eddie's animated style of traffic direction is likely a reference to Tony Lepore, the "Dancing Cop" of Providence, Rhode Island.
 * The Godfather Part II - When Lisa and Milhouse go to Little Italy, Milhouse acts like Don Fanucci from the movie. His clothes in that scene are similar, too.
 * Looney Tunes - Hugs Bunny, the referee of the Springfield Easter Celebration, is an obvious pun on the famous cartoon lagomorph Bugs Bunny. Mrs. Quimby also mimics Elmer Fudd's speech impediment in introducing Hugs. Later, Homer mentions the Road Runner, surprised to learn there is an actual bird by that name.
 * Oval Office - Mayor Quimby's office is styled after the White House Oval Office. Mrs. Quimby's trip around the mayor's office is vaguely reminiscent of a spoken word track on the record, The First Family, wherein Mrs. Kennedy led the paparazzi around the White House, leaving everything "just the way it is."
 * Red Hat Society - The Cheery Red Tomatoes organization is a spoof of the women's group, focusing on fun and companionship.
 * "Rigoletto" - Lisa sings new lyrics to the aria "La donna è mobile" from Verdi's opera.
 * "Sophie Tucker - The Last of the Red Hot Mamas" - The episode title is a play on the movie title, about the life of the Vaudeville entertainer.
 * Trix - During his fight with Hugs Bunny, Homer remarks, "Silly rabbit. Kicks are for ribs!" This is a play on the catchphrase for the children's breakfast cereal.

Goofs

 * When Homer lifts the Marge's 'heist plans' folder into view, it acually says 'Burns Manson', not 'Burns' Mansion' as Homer dictates.

Quotes

 * Homer: "Burns' mansion"?! That's Mr. Burns' mansion!
 * Wiggum: Lou, talking like the chief doesn't make you the chief! Lou: No, to be chief I'd have to wiggle into size 58 pants! Wiggum: Oh, here it goes with the fat jokes! I just wish you could hit the easy targets on the firing range! You know... (pause, sees Lou preparing to cry) Lou, why do we always fight? Lou (crying): Because...it's easier to be cruel than to say what you really feel. Permission to hug, chief. Wiggum: Permission granted.
 * Ralph: (Picking up eggs not noticing he is dropping them and picking up the same one again and again) Yay! Bart: Ralph your basket has a hole in it. Ralph: (Stares blankly for a while) You're Lisa's Brother!
 * Homer (in a fight with Hugs Bunny the Egg Hunt referee): Silly rabbit, kicks are for ribs!
 * Homer: You're just like all Easter bunnies; can't take a punch to the crotch!
 * Burns: Now, while we're out, remind me to get my eyes "re-balled" and my brain flushed out with vinegar. Smithers: Yes, sir. Oh, and your knees will be back from the shop tomorrow. Burns: Excellent.
 * Tammy: I'm Tammy, and these are the women of the Cheery Red Tomatoes. Marge (gasp): The national organization for women of a certain age? Agnes: Yeah, only we don't sit around watching TV and eating bonbons, except on TV-Bonbon night, which is every Tuesday and Thursday.
 * (Homer and Marge are having dinner in the basket of a hot-air balloon. There is a thud and the camera pans upward, showing Moe on top of the balloon) Moe: I can't believe this happened to me twice!
 * (in a flashback, Milhouse is walking through Italy with Grandma Nana Sophie) Milhouse (voice-over): My grandma hated English, 'cause in World War II, a GI left her with a child, my uncle Bastardo. She only spoke Italian to me. Nana Sophie: (Italian) These, my cherub, are olives. Young Milhouse: I love you, Nana. (gets slapped) Nana: Idiota! Milhouse (voice-over): Every time I spoke English, she hit me. Young Milhouse: Ow, that hurt. (gets slapped) Nana: Idiota! Young Milhouse: I'm sorry I'm so stupid. Nana: Milhouse Mussolini Van Houtan, parla in italiano, IDIOTA! (chases Milhouse with an olive branch) (back to the present) Milhouse: That's how I learned Italian and started wetting my bed.
 * Marge: I never had the courage to sky dive before! Tammy: When we get back, we have a surprise for you. Marge: Oh! Now I really hope my chute opens! (the girls go into a circle while Moe dives through them attempting suicide) Moe: Goodbye, cruel world! (to the girls) Ladies.
 * Lisa: I studied all night. I even made flashcards. (Milhouse takes the flashcards and rips them up) My efforts! Milhouse: Lisa, you don't learn Italian! You live Italian!
 * Luigi: Mr. Milhouse, I need your help! I don't know the translation to the cheese in my lasagna. Lisa: But Luigi, surely you speak Italian. Luigi (sigh): No, I don't. I speak-a, how you say, fractured English. It's what my parents spoke at the home.
 * Miss Springfield: Joe! You said your wife was dead! Quimby: And you said you graduated from Typing School! Miss Springfield: I have trouble with the spacebar.
 * (at the Easter Egg hunt, Nelson takes four eggs from a bird's nest) Lisa: Nelson, those don't count as Easter Eggs. Nelson: Yeah, but they count as breakfast. (Nelson eats one of the unhatched eggs. Several birds then fly in and begin pecking at his face) Nelson: Ow! Ow! Ow! It was worth it!
 * Homer: If Marge is going bird watching, then why did she leave our copy of The Field Guide to the Birds by Roger Tory Peterson on our kitchen shelve? (opens book and begins reading) (gasp) Roadrunners are real!
 * Wiggum (watching Eddie direct traffic): Look at him tease that Subaru. And that guy can't get a girl; I'll never figure it out.
 * Skinner: Okay, Lisa, to go to Italy you must have outstanding grades. Check. Uh-oh. In order to go, the person must speak fluent Italian. Lisa (lying): Uh, check. Skinner: You speak Italian? Lisa: Of course! Why would I lie? Skinner: Hmm, faultless logic. Of course, I must ask you to speak a few phrases to verify your fluency. (Lisa makes a nervous noise) Though not right now, 'cause I have meetings. (Lisa makes a relieved noise) How's tomorrow? (Lisa makes a nervous noise) 'Cause it's terrible for me. But I'll get back to you...soon.
 * Italian tape: "Voglio affittare una barca piccola." - I would like to rent a small boat. (Lisa stops tape, repeats, then pushes "play") Tape: "Progetto di scaricare questo corpo nell'oceano." - I plan to dump this body in the ocean. Lisa: Huh? (she looks at the tape case, which says "Italian for Italian-Americans") Tape: Ciò è che cosa ottenete per fare le domande! - This is what you get for asking questions! (gunshots are heard and Lisa throws the tape in the garbage)
 * Lisa: Hmm, "Spend a summer in Rome". Sherri: Rome? Terri: Founded by twins by the way. (sees Lisa is gone) Hey, where'd she go? Sherri: Oh, well. Let's speak in our secret twin language. (Sherri and Terri then go into a bizarre language of high-speed jabbering and body movement)
 * Marge (after learning of the plan to break into Burns' mansion): Are there any other surprises? Tammy: I'm not a natural red-head. (Marge faints)
 * Agnes: I'll handle the vault. Burns told me the combination while feeling me up during the Depression. Zero to the left, zero to the right, back to...zero.
 * Burns: (about to hand a giant cheque before snatching it back) Instead of giving the money, I will use it to extend my life, another ten minutes. Smithers. (Smithers takes out a giant marker pen and writes the word VOID over the cheque) Burns: And the register. (Smithers uses the pen to draw a cross over the reply slip)

Broadcasting Information
USA/Canada UK Australia Iceland
 * 1st Airdate: Sunday, November 27, 2005
 * 2nd Airdate: Sunday, January 8, 2006
 * 3rd Airdate: Sunday, April 16, 2006 (Repeated on Easter Day)
 * 1st Airdate: Sunday, April 16, 2006 (Aired on Easter Day)
 * 2nd Airdate: Friday, April 21, 2006 (Encore Screening)
 * 3rd Airdate: Friday, May 26, 2006
 * 4th Airdate: Friday, July 7, 2006
 * 5th Airdate: Monday, August 14, 2006
 * 6th Airdate: Tuesday, August 29, 2006
 * 1st Airdate: Tuesday, April 4, 2006 (12 Days before Easter)
 * 1st Airdate: Tuesday, August 11, 2006