Marge and Homer's marriage is tested when they travel to a tropical island to compete for a million dollars on Marge's favorite reality competition show (Marge wants to re-do the kitchen while Homer wants the money for his latest selfish pursuit), only to be eliminated on the first day and end up having to stay in an airport hotel until filming ends. But there is a way to get back on the show — for one of them.
Tropes Used in the episode:
- Alternate Catchphrase Inflection: When Selma reveals that she needed an epidural to cope with being waxed, Nelson can't even really enjoy his Signature Laugh.Nelson: ...Ha-ha?
- Bedroom Adultery Scene: Parodied; Marge shows Nick how she would have played The Three-Legged Chase challenge from The Amazing Place.
- Bumbling Sidekick: While Lisa prepared a video compilation of Marge getting rejected, Bart merely fed Santa's Little Helper marshmallows during that time.
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer: The Blue-Haired Lawyer, after terminating the phone call, allows Bart and Lisa a cap full of bubble bath.
- Confession Cam: Tad Tuckerbag explains to the contestants that they'll be given interviews where they have to pretend they're in a middle of a challenge when it's already over.
- Determinator: Bart and Lisa persist with the idea of wanting their mom to try out for The Amazing Place, despite eventually wearing out their voices after a few days.
- Don't Celebrate Just Yet: Marge ends up celebrating her victory with Nick, up until Tad reveals that Marge failed to salt the rims of the glasses.Marge: I screwed up a recipe?
- Easily Forgiven: Homer is way more forgiving of Marge screwing up her final challenge than she was of him screwing up their first challenge together, because this time he gets to take advantage of the newfound pity he gets for her mistake instead of the other way round.
- Expy:
- Tad Tuckerbag seems to be a mashup of Jeff Probst and Phil Keoghan.
- In line with the episode's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? homage, the other competing couple Marge invites to the room are named Nick and Honey, with Nick being voiced by George Segal, who played the character of the same name in that film.
- Gilligan Cut: As Marge comes to terms with living in a hotel with Homer, she tells him that she isn't worried about what the kids are up to. The next scene immediately show Bart ordering Milhouse, Nelson and Ralph to dig a hole for the pool.
- The Gimmick: Marge and Homer have tried this at least a couple of times; from being a couple that doesn't bicker, to being a couple at each other's throats, to being Motorcycle Bikers. Eventually, they give up after 46 rejections.Homer: (regarding his biker gimmick) That's our persona.
- Gosh Darn It to Heck!: Marge realises what she had said to Bart and Lisa, and regrets saying "can it" to the kids.
- Halfway Plot Switch: Starting in the second act, the episode focuses on ejected contestants Homer and Marge staying at a hotel and arguing.
- #HashtagForLaughs: The Amazing Place has about a handful of them.
- Henpecked Husband: After Marge finds out that Homer was the one who screwed up their one challenge, Homer is reduced to this role for weeks, sarcastically putting up with her constant public braying.
- I'm Not Here to Make Friends: Nearly and definitely said word for word respectively by Kirk and Clancy.
- I'm Your Biggest Fan: Marge is this to The Amazing Place; she watched every episode of the 47 seasons, listened to the director's commentaries and played The Amazing Place CD game.
- Lawyer-Friendly Cameo: The Blue-Haired Lawyer allows Homer and Marge to phone home under the condition they don't reveal that they've been ejected from The Amazing Place.
- Long Runner: Apparently, The Amazing Place is running for 48 seasons and counting.
- Mistaken for Romance: Bart and Lisa were nearly accepted on The Amazing Place due to one judge claiming that they're 'married kids'.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: During the first task, Suitcase Stowaway, the couples are supposed to find an item in their luggage they didn't pack. Homer finds the item (a bar of chocolate) within seconds, but despite having packed both his and Marge's luggage together Homer doesn't stop to think for a second that this is the item needed to win and eats it. As a result, Homer and Marge get eliminated on the first day.
- Noodle Incident: Homer apparently lost the college funds for Bart and Lisa by investing in a chain of chewing tobacco cafes. Aside from a mail regarding a website renewal for dippin dens, it isn't brought up again for the rest of the episode.
- Once Done, Never Forgotten: Marge refused to let go of the fact Homer unwittingly ate the chocolate bar on the first task. In turn, it gets turned back on her on an even bigger scale for screwing up a recipe on the final challenge.
- Pixellation: Happens the moment Clancy's skirt breaks.
- Also happens when Homer disregards the "Help The Environment, Please Reuse Towels" sign, but he sticks up the middle finger.
- Product Placement: A Kia Sportage is merely there in the final challenge mainly because the producers couldn't quite figure out how to insert it into the challenge.
- Ratings Stunt: The main reason why Marge and her husband Homer was accepted for the 48th season of The Amazing Place was because of a video compilation of her being rejected.
- Shout-Out:
- Clancy aspired to become a bug-eating nude fatso, like with Richard Hatch from the first season of Survivor. There is also a nod to fellow contestant "Boston" Rob Mariano.
- The third act opens as a homage to the play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.
- Show Within a Show: The Amazing Place is a combination of The Amazing Race and Survivor. There are even some moments and challenges based from the latter.
- Song Parody: Homer sings a song which feels like a parody of "Heartbreak Hotel".
- Take That!: Homer doesn't get an episode of Sports Center until he sees it a third time.
- Titled After the Song: The title comes from a song by Elvis Presley.
- Threat Backfire: When she finds Bart and friends digging up the backyard to create a pool, Lisa threatens to tell Patty and Selma. Cue the two coming in wearing bikinis and carrying towels, being onboard with the idea of a pool. Nelson is too confused to laugh.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Homer ends up eating the giant chocolate bar inside Marge's suitcase, leading to the both of them being Shelliminated.
