Pray Anything
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"Pray Anything" is the tenth episode of the fourteenth season of The Simpsons. This is the 301st episode of the Simpsons in production order; in broadcast order, this is the 299th.
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[edit] Plot
The episode starts with The Simpsons visiting The Springfield Square Garden to watch a WNBA game. The announcer offers a $50,000 prize for shooting a basket. Homer presumes he is the winner, since he is sitting in Section A, Row 12, Seat 16. His ticket however, is for the following day's game and, to his dismay, the real winner is Ned Flanders. Ned kneels and prays before shooting the basket, and he makes it. He declares he will donate his money to "Bibles for Belgians." The Rich Texan then gives Ned an extra $100,000 for his generous attitude. Adding to Homer's fury, Ned gets to drive home in the Wienermobile.
The following day, Homer asks Ned what his secret is, and Ned replies it is prayer. Later, Homer can't find the remote control and prays to God to help him find it. He finds it under the couch and is able to switch away from a Ken Burns documentary to the "Monkey Olympics." Homer sees that his prayers are working, and sets up a prayer station in his workstation at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant.
After Homer prays for a new snack treat (resulting in Bacon Fudge after two trucks collide), prays to help Bart with his homework, and asks God to help him unblock the sink, Marge then tells Homer God cannot do everything for him. A plumber who comes to examine the sink finds the pipes full of roots and points out that the moisture is ruining the drywall, which crumbles at his touch.
On Sunday, Homer is walking towards the church and looking up, talking to God. Not looking where he is going, he falls down into a shallow hole, reserved for the Nativity Scene. A shady lawyer is walking by, and convinces Homer to sue the church. Homer goes through with this because he needs the money to fix the pipes and drywall. While in court, the Blue-Haired Lawyer shows a video of Homer's stupidity to prove he is accident prone, but the jury (led by Cletus) still finds in Homer's favor. Homer is granted $1,000,000, but the church cannot pay this. Instead, Homer receives the deed to the church and, despite Marge's objections, moves the family there, displacing Reverend Lovejoy.
Homer immediately commences watching TV in his underwear, drinking beer out of a Communion chalice, and using a crucifix as an air-guitar. He kicks out an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, telling them that the room now belongs to the dog. Marge tells Homer that he's not being a good Christian, and Homer decides to repay them by throwing a big party.
Meanwhile, Reverend Lovejoy has set up a temporary church in Barney's Bowl-A-Rama. Only a very few faithful, including Marge and the Flanders, still attend. Constant interruptions of his sermon cause Lovejoy to give up hope and leave town.
The church becomes a bar and hangout for the townspeople, complete with drinking, poker, violence, fires, and worship of idols. Ned observes that they have broken all Ten Commandments. As Marge worries that Homer is incurring God's wrath, a rainstorm begins and Homer is struck by lightning. The town begins to flood, and the townspeople flee to the roof of the church. Homer tries praying again but the flood keeps rising. Reverend Lovejoy returns in a helicopter and leads everyone in prayer, asking God to forgive them for letting themselves be led by a "demon in blue pants."
The flood subsides, and Lisa explains that the rain is actually the result of soot in the air from the earlier bonfire, and the lack of trees in Springfield caused the flood. Bart asks what made the rain stop, and Lisa shrugs and says "I don't know, Buddha?" The final scene shows God, Buddha and Colonel Sanders in heaven eating popcorn chicken.
[edit] Cultural references
- The episode title is a play on the title of the 1989 romantic comedy movie Say Anything.
- The documentary Homer watches for a while is by Ken Burns and about Ken Burns, featuring the Ken Burns Effect before Homer manages to switch the channel.
- The repairman refers to the blockbuster 1970s miniseries Roots.
- The phrase "God: the original Tony Soprano" (written on the sign in front of the church) is a reference to the American TV series The Sopranos.
- The song that Homer sings (and dances to) in church is "I Was Made for Lovin' You" by KISS.
- When the plumber breaks off a piece of the drywall, the pattern of cracks on the wall briefly resembles Washington Crossing the Delaware. [1]
- The beer keg smashing through the window is a reference to Animal House.
- In the final scene, God has Colonel Sanders toss him popcorn chicken pieces. He then says it's time for the Colonel to reveal the spices used in them, a reference to the "seven secret spices" that remain a mystery as part of making Kentucky Fried Chicken foods.
- When Homer kicks the AA group out of the church, Moe (in disguise) said they should come to his church St. Pauli Girl Cathedral, a reference to St. Pauli Girl beer.
- When Carl starts worshipping the deer head he starts chanting "On Dasher, On Dancer", a reference to the poem A Visit from St. Nicholas, before realizing he is really drunk.
- Portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz was credited for a file photo of Rev. Lovejoy.
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