History Recap / TheSimpsonsS7E23MuchApuAboutNothing

[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/much_about_apu_nothing.jpg]]

** After Kearney tries to buy alcohol and cigarettes using a fake ID card to pass off as an adult, Apu will overlook...the ice cream Kearney is hiding under his arm pits freezing him.

** Moe is vehemently opposed to illegal immigrants, but is later seen taking the citizenship test in disguise.

[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/much_about_apu_nothing.jpg]]

** After Kearney tries to buy alcohol and cigarettes using a fake ID card to pass off as an adult, Apu will overlook...the ice cream Kearney is hiding under his arm pits freezing him.

** Moe is vehemently opposed to illegal immigrants, but is later seen taking the citizenship test in disguise.

arranged marriage

* ChekhovsGunman: Manjula first appeared as a little girl in Apu's flashback, in which Apu tells her that he is sorry that their arranged marriage will not happen, before he travels to the U.S. She comes back in "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS9E7TheTwoMrsNahasapeemapetilons The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons]]" where Apu finds that he can't escape his arranged marriage with her.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: In the flashback of Apu leaving India, he says goodbye to a girl named Manjula, and apologizes that their arranged marriage won't come to pass. [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS9E7TheTwoMrsNahasapeemapetilons A couple seasons later...]]

* GilliganCut: After Homer's RousingSpeech, everybody begins chanting "No on 24", even as they walk into the voting booths. Cut to a news report saying that ''95%'' of people votes YES ON 24.

* HiddenDepths: Apu is revealed to have a master's degree in computer science and an extensive knowledge of U.S. history.

* InsaneTrollLogic: An isolated incident involving a bear wandering into Springfield is responded to by the creation of a multi-million dollar "Bear Patrol". When Homer states that the organization is stopping bears from coming into town, Lisa compares his logic to claiming that the ordinary rock she's holding is a potent tiger repellent, since there aren't any tigers around. Homer, naturally, offers to buy the rock.

* JuryDuty: After getting his citizenship, Apu receives a letter summoning him for jury duty and he happily takes it as a sign he's now an American. Then he casually tosses the letter at a wastebasket. It contradicts [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS5E20TheBoyWhoKnewTooMuch another episode where Apu was a juror]].

* BrickJoke: When the angry mob first confronts Mayor Quimby, Moe complains that one "[[WesternAnimation swiped my pic-a-nic basket]]!" Once the mob leaves, it turns out the actual culprit is Mayor Quimby.

--->'''Homer''': Not a bear in sight. The Bear Patrol must be working like a charm.
--->'''Lisa''': That's specious reasoning, Dad.
--->'''Homer''': Thank you, dear.
--->'''Lisa''': By [[FalseCause your logic]], I could claim that this rock keeps tigers away.
--->'''Homer''': Oh, how does it work?
--->'''Lisa''': It doesn't work.
--->'''Homer''': Uh-huh.
--->'''Lisa''': It's just a stupid rock.
--->'''Homer''': Uh-huh.
--->'''Lisa''': But I don't see any tigers around, do you?
--->[''Homer thinks about this, then pulls out some money'']
--->'''Homer''': Lisa, I want to buy your rock.
--->[''Lisa is about to explain again, but gives up and accepts the money instead'']
* ComicalOverreacting: Ned's reaction to seeing a bear placidly sitting in the middle of the road? [[ScreamsLikeALittleGirl Shrieking in terror]], crashing his car, climbing out of the wreck and running for his house as if the bear were hot on his heels and out for blood, and when Maude (who's similarly panicking) can't unlock the door, Ned jumps through a window to get inside...all while the bear, which hasn't even moved through all of this, just watches, looking completely nonplussed.

* DescriptionCut: In the end, Marge is happy that things worked out for everyone they care about. The next scene shows Groundskeeper Willie being deported ("Ach ... ingrates").

* AnachronismStew: The episode ends with [[spoiler:Groundskeeper Willie]] being deported back to his homeland on a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-funnel_liner four-funnel ocean liner]] which haven't existed since the decommissioning of the ''RMS Aquitania'' in 1950. Also by the late 20th century, transatlantic travel by ship has mostly been phased out in favor of air travel so it's more likely deportees would have been sent home on a plane.
* BaitAndSwitch: After Apu reveals that he, too, is an illegal immigrant, Homer (one of the major proponents of the anti-immigration bill) has an empathetic expression and admits, "I got so swept up in the scapegoating and fun of Proposition 24 I never stopped to think it might affect someone I cared about. You know what, Apu? ... I'm really, really gonna miss you." And proceeds to staple an "I want you OUT" poster next to him.

* DescriptionCut: In the end, Marge is happy that things worked out for everyone. The next scene shows Groundskeeper Willie being deported ("Ach ... ingrates").

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Homer was initially caught up in fever of Proposition 24, and wasn't very sympathetic when Apu told him he might be deported, but resolves to help him after his breakdown.

* ShoutOut: The belief that picnic baskets have been stolen by a [[WesternAnimation/YogiBear smarter-than-average bear]].

* BearsAreBadNews: Parodied. The appearance of a bear invokes a Springfield-wide panic that kicks off the plot, but the actual bear did no harm by itself (aside minor property damage) and never once showed aggression.

** Becomes AllForNothing as it was then revealed the poll results was "YES on 24".

-->'''Mayor's Aide''': Sir, an unruly mob is here to see you.
-->'''Mayor Quimby''': Does it have an appointment?
-->'''Mayor's Aide''': [''Checks his clipboard''] Yes.
-->'''Principal Skinner''': [''Pops his head in''] I phoned ahead!

--->'''Mayor Quimby''': Are these morons getting dumber, or just louder?
--->'''Mayor's Aide''': Dumber, sir. They won't give up the bear patrol, but they won't pay the tax for it either.

* BodyWipe: Use this near the beginning where Homer tries to get beer from the fridge. "Let's all calm down. Everyone's going to be just fine. As long as I have enough beers."

** After Kerney tries to buy alcohol and cigarettes using a fake ID card to pass off as an adult, Apu will overlook...the ice cream Kerney is hiding under his arm pits freezing him.

** Not to mention Moe criticizing immigrants for not learning to speak English properly while repeatedly mispronouncing the word immigrant, and Barney's following string of drunken gibberish.

* BearsAreBadNews: Parodied. The appearance of a bear invokes a Springfield-wide panic that kicks off the plot, but the actual bear did no harm by itself and never once showed aggression.
** Though it wrecked that mailbox belonging to the Impson family.

* BaitAndSwitch: After Apu reveals that he, too, is an illegal immigrant, Homer (one of the major proponents of the anti-immigration bill) has an empathetic expression and admits, "I got so swept up in the scapegoating and fun of Proposition 24 I never stopped to think it might affect someone I cared about. You know what, Apu?.... I'm really, really gonna miss you." And proceeds to staple an "I want you OUT" poster next to him.

* BearsAreBadNews: Parodied. The appearance of a bear invokes a city-wide panic across Springfield that sets the plot into motion, but the actual bear did no harm by itself and never once showed aggression.

--->'''Homer''': Not a bear in sight. The Bear Patrol must be working like a charm.\\
'''Lisa''': That's specious reasoning, Dad.\\
'''Homer''': Thank you, dear.\\
'''Lisa''': By [[FalseCause your logic]], I could claim that this rock keeps tigers away.\\
'''Homer''': Oh, how does it work?\\
'''Lisa''': It doesn't work.\\
'''Homer''': Uh-huh.\\
'''Lisa''': It's just a stupid rock.\\
'''Homer''': Uh-huh.\\
'''Lisa''': But I don't see any tigers around, do you?\\
[Homer thinks of this, then pulls out some money]\\
'''Homer''': Lisa, I want to buy your rock.\\
[Lisa is about to explain again, but gives up and accepts the money instead]

* DescriptionCut: In the end, Marge is happy that things worked out for everyone. The next scene shows Groundskeeper Willie being deported.

* EmbarrassingMiddleName: Selma cites this as her reason for refusing to marry Apu, saying that the last thing she needed was to add "Nahasapeemapeti-whatever" to the mix (which includes Bouvier, Terwilliger, Hutz and [=McClure=]).

* FalseCause: An isolated bear attack leads the mayor to fund a massive Bear Patrol scheme. Homer claims that the lack of bears proves the Bear Patrol works, at which point Lisa points out that you might as well say that a rock keeps tigers away, since she's holding the rock, and she can't see any tigers. Homer's response? "[[ComicallyMissingThePoint Lisa, I want to buy your rock]]."

* GuiltByAssociationGag: A rather dark one. The people of Springfield originally said they were just going to get rid of ''illegal'' immigrants. Instead, [[AggressiveCategorism they tried to get rid of immigrants period]].

* HiddenDepths: Apu is revealed to have a master's degree in computer science as well as an extensive knowledge of U.S. history.
* HonorBeforeReason: Apu tries to save himself from deportation by buying a fake passport and "acting American", but drops the charade when he feels like he's betrayed his heritage.
* HypocriticalHumor: Homer went to bed after telling Apu sleeping was for the weak.

** Not to mention Moe criticizing immigrants for not learning to speak English properly while mispronouncing the word immigrant, and Barney's following string of drunken gibberish.

* JerkassHasAPoint: When the angry mob descends on Quimby a second time due to the raised taxes necessary to pay for the Bear Patrol ''that they demanded'' (and which they refuse to give up). It's hard not to sympathize with him when he says "Are these morons getting dumber, or just louder?"

* KickTheDog: The horrible treatment that immigrants suffer at the hands of Springfieldites. Special mention goes to the elementary school students (and ''Skinner'') picking on Uter, a foreign exchange student who came to America ''legally''. Even [[NiceGuy NED]] [[TookALevelInJerkass FLANDERS]] joins in!
* KnowNothingKnowItAll: Let's just say its a good thing Homer was born in America and never has to take a citizenship test.

* MinorWithFakeID: Kearney tries to buy cigars and beer with a fake ID and assumed name. Apu recognizes Kearney immediately ([[BadLiar his claims of his "adultivity" didn't help]]), but is impressed by the ID's quality. Apu asks where he got it, to obtain forged citizenship papers to avoid deportation, in exchange for letting Kearney keep the food he was trying to shoplift at the same time. [[NegativeContinuity Oddly]], this was around the time when Kearney started being portrayed as [[HeldBackInSchool well-over drinking age despite being in elementary school]].
* NoKillLikeOverkill: One of the Bear Patrol's weapons? A ''stealth bomber''.
* NoPronunciationGuide: Apu mispronounces the NY (New York) Mets as "the Nye Mets".

-->'''Willie''': "Ya want to pick on immigrants? Then pick on Willie!"

-->'''Homer:''' Most of us here were born in America. We take this country for granted. But not immigrants like Apu. While the rest of us are drinking ourselves stupid, they're driving the cabs that get us home safely. They're writing the operas that entertain us every day. They're training our tigers and kicking our extra points. [[MixedMetaphor These people are the glue that holds together the gears of our society]]. If we pass Proposition 24, we'll be losing some of the truest Americans of all. When you go to the polls tomorrow, please vote no on Proposition 24.
* ShoutOut: The belief that picnic baskets have been stolen by a [[WesternAnimation/YogiBear smarter than average bear]].
* SmallRoleBigImpact: The bear is quickly disposed of but what happens afterwards is based on people's reactions for its mere presence.

--->'''Mayor's Aide''': Sir, an unruly mob is here to see you.\\
'''Mayor Quimby''': Does it have an appointment?\\
'''Mayor's Aide''': ''(checks his clipboard)'' Yes.\\
'''Principal Skinner''': ''(pops his head in)'' I phoned ahead!
** Later, they march ''again'' against high taxes, which were the result of having to fund the "Bear Patrol" that ''they were campaigning to get during the first march.'' Which they apparently thought would be a free service. Quimby is not entirely without the audience's sympathy when he remarks:
--->'''Mayor Quimby''': Are these morons getting dumber, or just louder?\\
'''Mayor's Aide''': Dumber, sir. They won't give up the bear patrol, but they won't pay the tax for it either.
* UncleSamWantsYou: An anti-immigrant sign reading "I want you...'''OUT'''".
* UnrevealAngle: Homer tries to locate Springfield on the map, he points near Chicago. Lisa corrects him, but the view of her pointing at the correct location is obscured by Bart's head.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Apu attended the [[FunWithAcronyms Springfield Heights Institute of Technology]].