Encyclopedia Bartannica: A Simpsons Pop Culture Podcast

Classic Krusty Re-release: I Love Lisa with Nicole Vespa

In honor of Valentine's Day, we are re-sharing this classic episode, now with a new intro with Eli! 
 
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Love is in the air this week as we discuss The Simpsons Season 4 Episode 15, I Love Lisa- after receiving a Valentine from Lisa (out of pity), Ralph Wiggum starts courting her, much to her dismay. 
My guest today is Nicole Vespa (Redacted, Voila), an actor and improvisor in Chicago. We talk about parents giving bad advice, unrequited school crushes, and the bizarre death of President Zachary Taylor.
Follow Nicole at @nvespa on Instagram.
Follow this show @bartannicapodcast on Instagram, or email the show at bartannica@gmail.com.
Nicole Recommends: Drunk HistoryThe Demon of Unrest by Erik LarsonBob's Burgers
Harrison Recommends: To All The Boys I've Loved Before
Eli Recommends:Being in Love
 
Research for this episode came from: 
Accidental Presidents : Eight Men Who Changed America by Jared Cohen
Are You Prepared for the Storm of Lovemaking? : Letters of Love and Lust From the White House by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler
By One Vote: The Disputed Election of 1876 by Michael Holt
Combing Through the White House by Theodore Pappas
Dangerous Crooked Scoundrels Edwin Battistella
Never Caught: The Washingtons' Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge by Erica Armstrong Dunbar
The Carnival Campaign by Ronald Shafer
The President is Dead by Louis Picone
What Ails the White House: Medical History of the American Presidency by Dr. Jay Murphy 
Who’s Buried in Grants Tomb by Brian Lamb
Zachary Taylor : Soldier, Planter, Statesman of the Old Southwest by K. Jack Bauer
 
For more information about the presidents, check your local library!

Dancin' Homer with Asher Perlman

Today marks a new chapter in Bartannica history- Eli Mandel has joined the show! And we have a great episode to kick off this new era: today we're talking about the classic Simpsons episode from Season 2, Episode 5 Dancin' Homer, written by Ken Levine and David Isaacs and directed by Mark Kirkland. This the episode where Homer becomes the official mascot for the Springfield Isotopes. We're talking Tony Bennett, the Capital City Goofball, and Baby Elephant Walk! 
We're joined by comedian and artist Asher Perlman. Asher is a cartoonist for the New Yorker, a writer for the late show with Stephen Colbert, a performer with the improvised Shakespeare company, and an alumnus of the second city in Chicago. His second book of cartoons, a follow up to his bestselling debut, has just been released. 
We talk about how rare it is to see Homer give a shit about his obsession of the week, why Lisa loves the National Anthem, and if a gorilla could out-pitch The Great Bambino. 
You can follow Asher @asherperlman on Twitter, Instagram, and Substack. 
You can follow this show @bartannicapod on Instagram.Asher and Eli Recommend: Going to a Minor League baseball game!
Harrison Recommends: Ken Levine's blog (Here) and his podcast Hollywood and Levine
 

Bart Sells His Soul with Eli Mandel

“When you see one of these kitschy places like TGI Fridays, are they expecting you to be like “Whoa! There’s signs! Crocodiles don’t wear sunglasses!”? But Marge is exactly the type of person those are targeted for.”
 
Wow what an episode we have for you today! Not only is our guest super funny, not only is he one of my best friends, he’s also the new CO-HOST of the show! Welcome to the show Eli Coyote Mandel! Eli has written for shows like Saturday Night Live and Search Party and performs at UCB in New York. 
 
Today we’re reviewing the Simpsons episode “Bart Sells His Soul” from Season 7 Episode 4. This is the one where Bart sells his soul to Milhouse, and immediately suffers the consequences. This episode has it all: Iron Butterfly, Moe’s Family Feedbag, Ow, My Freaking Ears, and of course the return of Alf (in POG form!). We discuss the wild history of family restaurants with lots of crazy crap on the walls, the search for the human soul, and why After Hours is the most accurate NYC movie ever. 
 
You can follow Eli on Instagram at @elicoyote, on TikTok @elicoyotemandel, and @nickandelicomedy on both.
You can follow this show @bartannicapod on Instagram.
 
Eli RecommendsAfter HoursSonnetsETIn-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly
Harrison RecommendsDamn YankeesThe works of Pablo NerudaDr Faustus by Christopher MarloweEli’s Videos:
A Guy The Day After His Server Was Nice to Him
A Disney Channel Original Movie but Dad Took It Too Far
Dad Is Also Scared Of Bullies
 
Research: Orange Roofs, Golden Arches: the Architecture of American Chain Restuarants by Philip Langdon 
The Death of Flair: As Friday's Goes Minimalist, What Happens to the Antiques?
When T.G.I. Friday's Loses Its Flair
 

Bart on the Road with Thomas Kelly

"This extraordinary situation of a car, free time and $600 is enough for Martin, Nelson and Bart and Millhouse to kind of come together."
 
Today we’re talking Tennessee with a real Tennessianen-ite, Thomas Kelly!
 
We’re reviewing the classic Simpsons episode from Season 7 Episode 20 “Bart on the Road”- Bart, Milhouse, Nelson and Martin rent a car and road trip to Knoxville, TN for the 1982 World’s Fair. And Thomas is from Knoxville! We talk about seeing your home town on TV, if The Simpson’s anti-Fox satire matters, and if lunch is the funniest meal. We also discuss why Marge needs friends, and why this is one of the all time best Homer/Lisa stories. 
 
You can follow Thomas on Instagram at @thomaskelly.actingman and @sand.improv. 
You can follow this show at bartannicapod on Instagram.
 
Thomas Recommends: Any Quentin Tarantino movie (for the TN references)
Dolly Parton (just, as a person) 
Nashville by Robert Altman
Harrison Recommends: Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Any of Thomas’ acting performances:
Heart Race (short film by Katelyn Douglass)Amazing Animals Around Chicago (web series starring Kate O’Connor, directed by Thomas)Collection of Improv Promos for Sand ImprovWhen The Annual Work Review Gets Intimate (sketch)
Research:
Fair America by Robert Rydell
Vagabonds: The Story of Henry Ford and Thomas Edison's Ten Year Road Trip by Jeff Guinn
Randi Rain YT: Flippin' Fabulous: Reviving the Iconic Acrobatic Toy Dog!
Maxim: Last Tango on Brando Island

Grandpa vs. Sexual Inadequacy with Sunset Appleton

"I think the poor guys just going through changes."
 
Happy New Year! 
Today we're discussing The Simpsons Season 6 Episode 10 Grandpa vs. Sexual Inadequacy from 1994. It's the one where Homer and Grandpa sell their own aphrodisiac in a traveling medicine show. 
I'm joined by my new friend Sunset Appleton- we talk about how we've been watching The Simpsons for longer than we can remember (literally), and why the show lends itself to memes and shitposts more than other media. We also dive into the bizarre history of the medicine show- white suits, painless dentistry and the superhero who told kids to drink 16 martinis a day. We also cover the wild history of the twin bed. 
You can follow Sunset at complexpastiche on Instragram. 
Follow this show at bartannicapod on Instagram. 
Sunset Recommends: "Step Right Up" by Tom Waits 
Harrison Recommends: The "Simpsons Mental Health" Facebook GroupStep Right Up by Brooks McNamara"Slurf Song" by Michael Hurley Alice In Wonderland test footage - Unbirthday Mad Tea Party - Disney
 
Research: 
A Cultural History of Twin Beds by Hilary HindsHawkers and Walkers by Richardson WrightSnake Oil, Hustlers and Hambones by Ann AndersonQuackery, A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything by Lydia Kang and Nate Peterson
 
 

Three Gays of the Condo with Jamie Brew

"Does love outweigh everything else? I guess it has to, if you’re a sitcom.”
 
Happy Holidays! 
Today we’re discussing The Simpsons Season 14 Episode 17 Three Gays of the Condo: when Marge and Homer have a big fight, Homer moves out of the house and into an apartment in Springfield’s gay neighborhood, with sexy results! It guest stars Scott Thompson and Weird Al. 
My guest is Jamie Brew (Clickhole, The Onion); we discuss his AI company, Botnik Studios and his current project, Robot Karaoke. We talk about how he started making comedy with predictive text, using Craigslist to generate song lyrics, and the one thing AI art will never be able to properly reproduce.
We also talk about the ups and downs of Marge and Homer’s relationship, and if the show intentionally keeps it from truly changing, why there will never be another Rip Taylor, and how this episode totally wastes a cameo by Weird Al. 
You can follow Jamie @jamieabrew on IG/Twitter & @jbrew on Bluesky. 
You can follow this show @bartannicapod on IG. 
 
Robot Karaoke
- Regularly in NYC at Wonderville, Boshi's Place and elsewhere
- Every month at The Elysian Theater in LA
See upcoming shows at: https://theweirdalgorithm.com/
 
Botnik: Seinfeld Script
Botnik: Harry Potter and The Portrait of What Looked Like A Large Pile of Ash
Botnik: Fake Coachella Names
1040: Yesterday
CCK Philosophy: The Simpsons and the Death of Parody
 
Jamie Recommends:
The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling by Ted Chiang. 
 
Harrison Recommends:
These articles & books about gay neighborhoods- 
There Goes the Gayborhood by Amin Ghaziani
Who Are the People in Your Gayborhood by Daniel Baldwin Hess and Alex Bitterman
The Life and Afterlife of Gay Neighborhoods Alex Bitterman
Gay Urban Identity by Paul Ruiz
 

Behind the Laughter with Alex Nichols

“It’s asking you to think both too much and not enough.” 
 
To celebrate the show's 6 month anniversary we've got a great new episode for you. Today we're discussing the format-breaking episode from The Simpsons Season 11 Episode 22 Behind the Laughter. It's a parody of VH1's Behind the Music, where the Simpsons star in a TV show about their life. But they aren't actors, they're just playing themselves in a scripted sitcom, which is The Simpsons tv show we all actually watch. As I'll say more than once, this is a weird idea!
I'm joined by the very funny Alex Nichols, an actor/improviser/photographer based in Denver. We discuss whether this episode succeeds as a parody, the insane reason The Simpsons was banned in Alex's house growing up (it's not why you think!), and if the best part of the whole episode is in the last 5 seconds. We also talk about MC Hammer's unique rise to fame, the album Willie Nelson wrote for the IRS, and why doctors used to spray fire hoses at depressed people. 
You can follow Alex on Instagram and Letterboxd at alexnichols. And watch his new sketch, "Miss", on YT: Miss by Nickels and Coal
You can follow this show on Instagram at bartannicapod. 
Alex Recommends: 
Documentary: Close Up on Internet Archive
Harrison Recommends:
Complex TV: The Poetics of Contemporary Television Storytelling by Jason Mittell

Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie with Jodi Fabbri

“Maybe they’re not good or bad parents. Maybe they’re just parents.” 
 
Today we’re talking about The Simpsons Season 4 Episode 6’s Itchy and Scratchy: The Movie. After messing up 1 too many times, Bart is banned from seeing the Itchy and Scratchy movie forever. 
I’m joined by an old friend and new mom, Jodi Fabbri. Jodi is our 1st guest who doesn’t like The Simpsons! I loved hearing about her experience watching the show as a non-Simpsons freak. We discuss why Bart is such a little stinker, and how Homer and Marge could help Bart sort himself out. We also talk about the “Where’s the Beef” ads, the great VHS Format Wars of the late 80s, and the terrible thing Bart did to the new kid, Arthur (it involves firecrackers).
You can follow Jodi at jodifayefabbri on Instagram.
You can follow this show at @bartannicapodcast on Instagram.
Jodi Recommends: Mr. Rogers documentary, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”Childcare books by Janet Lansbury “No Bad Kids” and “Elevating Child Care” 
Harrison Recommends: “The Explosive Child” by Ross W. GreeneThe podcast "Hit Factory" about 90's movies

Weekend at Burnsie's with Steve Plock

“WE’VE BEEN GOING TO THE SAME PARTY FOR 30 YEARS AND IN NO WAY IS THAT PATHETIC.”
Hi Everybody and welcome to Gamehendge! This week I'm joined by musician, comedian, and certified Phish Fan Steve Plock (The Curls, Tobacco City, Jessica Risker) to chat about all things Phish. We talk about Steve's Phish journey (he's seen them 88 times!!) and why people love to hate on jam bands.
We review The Simpsons Season 13 Episode 16, Weekend at Burnsie's- after being attacked by crows, Homer gets addicted to medicinal marijuana. This leads to him being hired to laugh at Mr. Burns' jokes. Also, Phish is here! 
I do a deep dive into the history of medicinal marijuana in America, a totally chill topic that totally won't piss you off hearing how the government treats illegal drugs. And we ask the important question: is stoned Homer a better dad than drunk Homer? 
Follow Steve's bands: @thecurls_coolband, @truthzonerecs on Instagram.
And his improv team Dumb John @dumbjohn. 
And follow this show @bartannicapodcast. 
Steve Recommends: Phish documentary Bittersweet MotelTrey Anastasio interview on Marc Maron
Harrison Recommends: You should listen to Phish- seriously! Also the books below on medicinal marijuana. 
Research for this episode came from: High Bias: The Distorted History of the Cassette Tape by Marc MastersYou Don’t Know Me But You Don’t Like Me: Phish, ICP, and My Misadventures with Two of Music’s Most Maligned Tribes by Nathan RabinGreen Rush: The Rise of Medical Marijuana in the United States by Daniel Mallinson and A. Lee HannahWaiting to Inhale- The Politics of Medical Marijuana by Alan BockChristian Nationalism and the Birth of the War on Drugs by Andrew Monteith
Phish/Simpsons Connections- Phish.net
*The above quote is from a review of Phish's 2024 Madison Square Garden show

Marge Vs. SSCCATAGAPP with Greg Iwinski

Today we're discussing The Simpsons Season 15, Episode 8, Marge Vs Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens, and Gays: After a baby concert becomes a disaster, Lindsay Naegle rallies the town to favor childless adults, but Marge fights back with a voter initiative. 
I'm joined by Greg Iwinski, a 2x Emmy-winning TV writer who has worked on The Late Show, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and the Disney series Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures. We discuss the late night situation with Stephen Colbert vs the Trump Administration, hating the things you love (Star Wars/Simpsons), and how being a parent has changed since this episode first aired 21 years ago. Greg also points out a joke in this episode that made him laugh so hard he had to leave the room the first time he watched it. 
Follow Greg on all socials: @garyjackson
Follow this show @bartannicapodcast on Instagram, or email the show at bartannica@gmail.com.
Greg Recommends: Terrestrial History by Joe Mungo ReedThis Time Tomorrow by Emma StraubHarlem Shuffle Colson WhiteheadHarrison Recommends: The Baby Boon by Elinor Burkett
References
Frank Nelson and Jack BennyMummenschanz on the Muppet ShowNPR Code Switch: Unmasking The 'Outside Agitator'