History Recap / TheSimpsonsS14E5HelterShelter

* InadvertantEntranceCue: When termites start to infest the Simpsons' house, Bart complains that their "crap shack's going to hell," causing Marge to tell him, "Bart, watch your potty mouth!" Cue the upstairs toilet dropping through the ceiling with Homer on it.

Last episode broadcast-wise to utilize traditional cel animation.

* ImmoralRealityShow: The reality show that the Simpsons signed up to drops them without warning in the jungle (which destroys everything they own at the moment ''and'' kills actor David Lander ("Squiggy") and the Simpsons team up at the climax with former contestants of a ''Series/{{Survivor}}'' rip-off that were left behind by another production team... because the prize for the final challenge was ''being taken back to civilization''.

* GardenHoseSquirtGag: At the end, Homer attempts to drink from the garden hose and gets squirted in the face three times (twice onscreen, and once offscreen).

* HypocriticalHumor: Homer refuses to live as if it were 1895, saying [[ComicallyMissingThePoint they’d be unable to save Lincoln and Kennedy from being assasinated]]. When Moe points out he could save [[UsefulNotes/WilliamMcKinley McKinley]], Homer declares “It’s not a time machine, Moe.”

* OfCorsetHurts: On the reality show, one clip shows Marge wearing a tight corset, and the camera zooms down to her horribly swollen feet.

The family ends up on an ''The 1900 House''-type reality show after Lisa's newly-obtained hockey stick from a Russian player infests the house with termites.

** Apu claims that Oreos were first made in 1896. They were actually introduced to the market in 1912.

* EndOfAnAge: This is [[EndOfAnAge the final episode aired to be animated with cels]] before [[ArtEvolution permanently transitioning to digital ink and paint]] ("How I Spent My Strummer Vacation", which aired 3 weeks earlier, was the last ''produced'' episode using cel animation); digital animation had been experimented with before in a few preceding episodes, but after this episode, the technique became a mainstay.

This is [[EndOfAnAge the final episode aired to be animated with cels]] before [[ArtEvolution permanently transitioning to digital ink and paint]] ("How I Spent My Strummer Vacation", which aired 3 weeks earlier, was the last ''produced'' episode using cel animation); digital animation had been experimented with before in a few preceding episodes, but after this episode, the technique became a mainstay.

* EndOfAnAge: This was the final episode aired to be animated with cels before the show transitioned to digital ink and paint.

* GoodIsBoring: The Simpsons soon become much nicer after living a 19th-century lifestyle, but ratings plummet.
* HypocriticalHumor: Homer refuses to live as if it were 1895, saying [[ComicallyMissingThePoint they’d be unable to save Lincoln and Kennedy from being assasinated]]. When Moe points out he could save [[UsefulNotes/WilliamMcKinley McKinley]], Homer declares “It’s not a time machine, Moe.”.

* ImmoralRealityShow: The reality show that the Simpsons signed up to drops them without warning in the jungle (which destroys everything they own at the moment ''and'' kills actor David Lander (who played "Squiggy" in ''Series/LaverneAndShirley'' and was placed in the home as a ratings stunt)) and the Simpsons team up at the climax with some people that were contestants in a ''Survivor'' rip-off that were left behind by another production team... because the prize for the final challenge was ''being taken back to civilization''.

--> '''Marge:''' ''(suddenly shuts herself into the confessional room and faces the camera)'' ... uh... heh heh... my hair isn't really blue... ''({{Beat}})'' [[DidIJustSayThatOutLoud GASP! I NEED THAT TAPE!]] ''(attacks the camera)''
* PopCulturePunEpisodeTitle: The title is a reference to the song "Helter Skelter" from the Beatles' ''White Album''.

--> '''Bart''': ''[opens the kitchen door and the termite-damaged knob comes off]'' Hey Mom, our crapshack's going to Hell.\\
'''Marge''': ''[offended]'' Bart, watch your potty mouth!\\

'''Homer''': ''[notices Marge and Bart]'' Hey, get out! I'm in here! ''[{{beat}}]'' Oh.
* {{You Monster}}s: Homer calls the television executives this through the confessional camera after learning they had put the house into the river, turning the show into a ''Series/{{Survivor}}'' clone.

* HypocriticalHumor: Homer refuses to live as if it were 1895, saying [[ComicallyMissingThePoint they’d be unable to save Lincoln and Kennedy from being assasinated]]. When Moe points out he could save McKinley, Homer declares “It’s not a time machine, Moe.”.

* GoodIsBoring: The Simpsons soon become much nicer after living a 19th-century, but ratings plummet.

--> '''Marge:''' ''(suddenly shuts herself into the confessional room and faces the camera)'' ... uh... heh heh... my hair isn't really blue... ''({{Beat}})'' GASP! I NEED THAT TAPE! ''(attacks the camera)''

--> '''Marge:''' ''(suddenly shuts herself into the confessional room and faces the camera)'' ... uh... heh heh... my hair isn't really blue... {{Beat}} GASP! I NEED THAT TAPE! ''(attacks the camera)''