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Mypods and Boomsticks
The Burns and the Bees
Lisa the Drama Queen

"The Burns and the Bees" is the eighth episode of Season 20.

Synopsis

When Mr. Burns wins a professional basketball team in a poker game, he plans to build a new sports arena in Springfield for them - on the site where Lisa is trying to keep Springfield's bee population from becoming extinct, and Homer tries to solve the problem by mating the bees - with "killer" Africanized bees.

Full Story

Mr. Burns wins a basketball franchise the Austin Celtics (who he renames the Springfield Excitement) in a poker game from the Rich Texan at Billionaire Camp. However, he fails to keep the spectators after an incident where he, under the mistaken belief that the mascot of the team was a live gorilla instead of a man dressed as one, shot the mascot and killed him. Meanwhile, Lisa discovers that bees all over the world are dying of bee measles ("beesles"). Lisa starts a colony of healthy bees, and gets a sanctuary for them. However, Mr. Burns builds a basketball stadium on the reserve. Homer then rebuilds a new bee colony from African bees. However, the new bees are attracted to the stadium, which looks like a beehive. Burns opens the stadium's retractable roof, causing the bees to enter the arena and attack everyone inside. In the last scene, Burns returns to Billionaire Camp, but learns he is four million dollars short of a billion dollars, so he is kicked out and sent to the Millionaires' camp.

Behind the Laughter

Production

Billionaires Mark Cuban and Jeff Bezos and sportscaster Marv Albert guest star as themselves. The episode marks a second use of the Christmas-themed opening, first seen in "Kill Gil: Vols. 1 & 2".

Opening Sequence

A Christmas-themed opening sequence was animated for this episode and was later reaired with "The Burns and the Bees". Not counting the "Treehouse of Horror" episodes, this is the second time that the title sequence is radically different from the norm.

It begins with two lines of instrumental "O Christmas Tree" and then the normal theme music begins. This version is similar to the normal version, except for several key differences:

  1. Everything outside is covered with snow.
  2. Bart's skateboard has been replaced with a snowboard.
  3. Everyone is wearing winter clothes.
  4. Mr. Burns and Smithers have been replaced by a Scrooge-esque Burns and Ghost of Marley-esque Smithers, and there are several Christmas banners in the plant.
  5. Lisa's saxophone solo is a jazzy version "Deck the Halls".
  6. Bleeding Gums Murphy, who is now deceased, has been replaced with Jasper in a Santa costume. Maude Flanders, however, remains in the pan across Springfield, despite having also passed away.
  7. Marge and Maggie's supermarket and car sequence have unfortunately been cut.

SchoolRehearsalChristmas BartTownsPeopleChristmas Panorama-Christmas

In the end, the family sits on the couch and the camera then pulls out to reveal that the family was reflected in a Christmas ornament, which rests on a Christmas tree.

Reception

IGN gave the episode 7/10 and said that, with an episode like this, "I just don't laugh as much as I would have liked."

Season 19 Season 20 Episodes Season 21
Sex, Pies, and Idiot ScrapesLost VerizonDouble, Double, Boy in TroubleTreehouse of Horror XIXDangerous CurvesHomer and Lisa Exchange Cross WordsMypods and BoomsticksThe Burns and the BeesLisa the Drama QueenTake My Life, PleaseHow the Test Was WonNo Loan Again, NaturallyGone Maggie GoneIn the Name of the GrandfatherWedding for DisasterEeny Teeny Maya, MoeThe Good, the Sad and the DruglyFather Knows WorstWaverly Hills, 9-0-2-1-D'ohFour Great Women and a ManicureComing to Homerica
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