History YMMV / TheSimpsonsS4E12MargeVsTheMonorail

* MemeticMutation: This episode -- specifically the "Monorail" song -- is frequently referenced in videos and discussions about monorails.

* NightmareFuel: What happened to the monorail in North Haverbrook.

* FranchiseOriginalSin: This episode, considered one of the greatest of all time, is now the most fan-rewritten as a "modern" Simpsons episode to illustrate how badly the show has fallen into SeasonalRot as it has a lot of elements present in later episodes that fans have criticized: celebrity cameos (Phil Hartman as Lyle Lanley and Creator/LeonardNimoy as himself), the plot involving Homer having a new job that only lasts one episode, Bart's role being largely that of KidSidekick in Homer's escapade, the Big Lipped Alligator Moments mentioned above, and a musical number that could be replaced with more jokes and general scenes. However, the reason said elements were better received here was beacuse (on top of the episode having pretty solid writing and a plethora of funny jokes and memorable moments) they were either new or at the very least not done to death yet (such as the BigLippedAlligatorMoment at the beginning or Homer getting a one-episode job) or the way they were used (Lyle Lanley is considered a very charismatic, entertaining and memorable villain, while Leonard Nimoy's appearance was fairly small and [[AdamWesting got a few funny jokes at his expense]]). To some these days, this would be more at home as a ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode, not a ''Simpsons'' one.

* FranchiseOriginalSin: This episode, considered one of the greatest of all time, is now the most fan-rewritten as a "modern" Simpsons episode to illustrate how badly the show has fallen into SeasonalRot as it has a lot of elements present in later episodes that fans have criticized: celebrity cameos (Phil Hartman as Lyle Lanley and Creator/LeonardNimoy as himself), the plot involving Homer having a new job that only lasts one episode, Bart's role being largely that of KidSidekick in Homer's escapade, the Big Lipped Alligator Moments mentioned above, and a musical number that could be replaced with more jokes and general scenes. However, the reason said elements were better received here was beacuse (on top of the episode having pretty solid writing and a plethora of funny jokes and memorable moments) they were either new or at the very least not done to death yet (such as the BigLippedAlligatorMoment at the beginning or Homer getting a one-episode job) or the way they were used (Lyle Lanley is considered a very charismatic, entertaining and memorable villain, while Leonard Nimoy's appearance was fairly small and [[AdamWesting got a few funny jokes at his expense]]. To some these days, this would be more at home as a ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode, not a ''Simpsons'' one.

* FranchiseOriginalSin: This episode, considered one of the greatest of all time, is now the most fan-rewritten as a "modern" Simpsons episode to illustrate how badly the show has fallen into SeasonalRot as it has a lot of elements present in later episodes that fans have criticized: celebrity cameos (Phil Hartman as Lyle Lanley and Creator/LeonardNimoy as himself), the plot involving Homer having a new job that only lasts one episode, Bart's role being largely that of KidSidekick in Homer's escapade, the Big Lipped Alligator Moments mentioned above, and a musical number that could be replaced with more jokes and general scenes. To some these days, this would be more at home as a ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode, not a ''Simpsons'' one.

* FranchiseOriginalSin: This episode, considered one of the greatest of all time, is now the most fan-rewritten as a "modern" Simpsons episode to illustrate how badly the show has fallen into SeasonalRot as it has a lot of elements present in later episodes that fans have criticized: celebrity cameos (Phil Hartman as Lyle Lanley and Creator/LeonardNimoy as himself), the plot involving Homer having a new job that only lasts one episode, Bart's role being largely that of KidSidekick in Homer's escapade, the Big Lipped Alligator Moments mentioned above, and a musical number that could be replaced with more jokes and general scenes. What potentially saves this from being a Zombie Simpsons episode is that Phil had been a recurring voice actor on the show since season 2, the story ties into the overall theme of deconstructing popular media and showing how things can get pearshaped as to ''The Simpsons'' core elements, being based off of an actual movie and stage play, the story doesn't revolve around entirely guest characters like Nimoy, much like how Lurleen Lumpkin was not her guest voice actor entirely, and its more surreal and larger-than-life aspects has some basis in reality. To some these days, this would be more at home as a ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode, not a ''Simpsons'' one.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: One of the gags regarding how much Lanley has cut corners with his swindle is a TakeThat at Creator/{{Gallagher}}, who died in November 2022.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: One of the gags regarding how much Lanley has cut corners with his swindle is a TakeThat at Gallagher, who died in November 2022.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: The enigmatic [[SdrawkcabAlias Mr. Snrub]]. Fans ''really'' seem to enjoy pretending that he ''isn't'' [[spoiler:Mr. Burns]], or making up all sorts of crazy explanations for why he ''is''. He even has his [[https://simpsons.fandom.com/wiki/Mr._Snrub his own page on the show's wiki]].
* FranchiseOriginalSin: This episode, considered one of the greatest of all time, is now the most fan-rewritten as a "modern" Simpsons episode to illustrate how badly the show has fallen into SeasonalRot as it has a lot of elements present in later episodes that fans have criticized: celebrity cameos (Phil Hartman as Lyle Lanley and Creator/LeonardNimoy as himself), the plot involving Homer having a new job that only lasts one episode, Bart's role being largely that of KidSidekick in Homer's escapade, the Big Lipped Alligator Moments mentioned above, and a musical number that could be replaced with more jokes and general scenes. What potentially saves this from being a Zombie Simpsons episode is that Phil had been a recurring voice actor on the show since season 2, the story ties into the overall theme of deconstructing popular media and showing how things can get pearshaped as to ''The Simpsons'' core elements, being based off of an actual movie and stage play, the story doesn't revolve around entirely guest characters like Leonard Nemoy, much like how Lurleen Lumpkin was not her guest voice actor entirely, and its more surreal and larger-than-life aspects has some basis in reality. To some these days, this would be more at home as a ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode, not a ''Simpsons'' one.

** When Marge tells Homer that Sebastian Cobb is here to help stop the out-of-control monorail, Homer asks "Is it Franchise/{{Batman}}?", Marge tells him "He's a scientist.", Homer tells her "Batman's a scientist...", making Marge say "It's not Batman!". Years later, the climax of ''Film/BatmanBegins'' has Batman trying to stop an out-of-control elevated train. Even more hilariously, [[spoiler:he doesn't actually ''stop'' the train at all; he just thwarts [[BigBad Ra's al Ghul]]'s plan, then lets the train crash]].

* FranchiseOriginalSin: This episode, considered one of the greatest of all time, is now the most fan-rewritten as a "modern" Simpsons episode to illustrate how badly the show has fallen into SeasonalRot as it has a lot of elements present in later episodes that fans have criticized: celebrity cameos (Phil Hartman as Lyle Lanley and Creator/LeonardNimoy as himself), the plot involving Homer having a new job that only lasts one episode, the Big Lipped Alligator Moments mentioned above, and a musical number that could be replaced with more jokes and general scenes. What potentially saves this from being a Zombie Simpsons episode is that Phil had been a recurring voice actor on the show since season 2, the story ties into the overall theme of deconstructing popular media and showing how things can get pearshaped as to ''The Simpsons'' core elements, being based off of an actual movie and stage play, the story doesn't revolve around entirely guest characters like Leonard Nemoy, much like how Lurleen Lumpkin was not her guest voice actor entirely, and its more surreal and larger-than-life aspects has some basis in reality. To some these days, this would be more at home as a ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode, not a ''Simpsons'' one.

* FranchiseOriginalSin: This episode, considered one of the greatest of all time, is now the most fan-rewritten as a "modern" Simpsons episode to illustrate how badly the show has fallen into SeasonalRot as it has a lot of elements present in later episodes that fans have criticized: celebrity cameos (Phil Hartman as Lyle Lanley and Creator/LeonardNimoy as himself), the plot involving Homer having a new job that only lasts one episode, the Big Lipped Alligator Moments mentioned above, and a musical number that could be replaced with more jokes and general scenes. What potentially saves this from being a Zombie Simpsons episode is that Phil had been a recurring voice actor on the show since season 2, the story ties into the overall theme of deconstructing popular media and showing how things can get pearshaped as to ''The Simpsons'' core elements, being based off of an actual movie and stage play, the story doesn't revolve around entirely guest characters like Leonard Nemoy, much like how Lurleen Lumpkin was not her guest voice actor entirely, and its more surreal and larger than life aspects has some emphasis in reality. To some these days, this would be more at home as a ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode, not a ''Simpsons'' one.

* MemeticMutation: This episode - specifically the "Monorail" song - is frequently referenced in videos and discussions about monorails.

** One line from the "Monorail" song has someone from the audience say "I hear those things are awfully loud." In ''VideoGame/CitiesSkylines'', one of the biggest (and most notorious) drawbacks of the monorail is their noise pollution.

* HarsherInHindsight: The first shot of the lounge car of the monorail is a painting of the Hindenburg, an obvious tongue-in-cheek {{foreshadowing}} of the disaster to come on the monorail. But the ''second'' [[https://www.reddit.com/r/TheSimpsons/comments/2ebzuf/just_saw_this_in_the_monorail_episode_is_that_the/ painting we get a glimpse of]] appears to be a large rectangular skyscraper eerily similar in appearance to the World Trade Center, covered in smoke. [[note]]It should be noted this was not only many years before 9/11, but the episode aired only a month before the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.[[/note]]

* FranchiseOriginalSin: This episode, considered one of the greatest of all time, is now the most fan-rewritten as a "modern" Simpsons episode to illustrate how badly the show has fallen into SeasonalRot as it has a lot of elements present in later episodes that fans have criticized: celebrity cameos (Phil Hartman as Lyle Lanley and Creator/LeonardNimoy as himself, the plot involving Homer having a new job that only lasts one episode, the Big Lipped Alligator Moments mentioned above, and a musical number that could be replaced with more jokes and general scenes. What potentially saves this from being a Zombie Simpsons episode is that Phil had been a recurring voice actor on the show since season 2, the story ties into the overall theme of deconstructing popular media and showing how things can get pearshaped as to ''The Simpsons'' core elements, being based off of an actual movie and stage play, the story doesn't revolve around entirely guest characters like Leonard Nemoy, much like how Lurleen Lumpkin was not her guest voice actor entirely, and its more surreal and larger than life aspects has some emphasis in reality. To some these days, this would be more at home as a ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode, not a ''Simpsons'' one.

* harsherInHindsight: The first shot of the lounge car of the monorail is a painting of the Hindenburg, an obvious tongue-in-cheek {{foreshadowing}} of the disaster to come on the monorail. But the ''second'' [[https://www.reddit.com/r/TheSimpsons/comments/2ebzuf/just_saw_this_in_the_monorail_episode_is_that_the/ painting we get a glimpse of]] appears to be a large rectangular skyscraper eerily similar in appearance to the World Trade Center, covered in smoke. [[note]]It should be noted this was not only many years before 9/11, but the episode aired only a month before the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.[[/note]]

* FunnyAneurysmMoment: The first shot of the lounge car of the monorail is a painting of the Hindenburg, an obvious tongue-in-cheek {{foreshadowing}} of the disaster to come on the monorail. But the ''second'' [[https://www.reddit.com/r/TheSimpsons/comments/2ebzuf/just_saw_this_in_the_monorail_episode_is_that_the/ painting we get a glimpse of]] appears to be a large rectangular skyscraper eerily similar in appearance to the World Trade Center, covered in smoke. [[note]]It should be noted this was not only many years before 9/11, but the episode aired only a month before the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.[[/note]]

*** ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' also had an episode in 2000 where Kenny [[Recap/SouthParkS4E15FatCamp eats things for money.]]
** A [[WhatCouldHaveBeen sadly removed]] joke had Homer in his conductor outfit being mockingly compared by Selma to Darth Vader. ''The Simpsons'', as a 20th-Century Fox franchise, was a sister franchise to ''Star Wars'' and the reference was legal... until Disney purchased Lucasfilm (and removed all references to Fox from the films, including the fanfare), then purchased 20th-Century (and added the Fox references back in).
** This episode's SignatureScene features a con-man who's [[TheBarnum modelled after Great Depression era ringmasters]] leading the town in a lavish musical number, [[Film/TheGreatestShowman could you imagine such a thing.]]

** One line from the "Monorail" song has someone from the audience say "I hear those things are awfully loud." In ''VideoGame/CitiesSkyline'', one of the biggest (and most notorious) drawbacks of the monorail is their noise pollution.

* MeneticMutation: This episode - specifically the "Monorail" song - is frequently referenced in videos and discussions about monorails.

* CatharsisFactor: Lyle getting a brutal beatdown by the people of North Haverbrook.

* VindicatedByHistory: The voice actors all agreed that this was one of the worst episodes they had ever done. To fans and critics, this is considered one of the show's best and most-remembered episodes (even if, as mentioned in FranchiseOriginalSin above, it feels like it could be the plot to one of the later episodes, which are not beloved).