From one of my most fave-o-reet episodes of “The Simpsons”, I present “Skinner & the Superintendent”, or (as I prefer) “Steamed Hams”:
And for good measure, the key exchange:
Superintendent Chalmers: I thought we were having steamed clams.
Seymour Skinner: Oh, no, I said steamed hams. That’s what I call hamburgers.
Superintendent Chalmers: You call hamburgers steamed hams?
Seymour Skinner: Yes, it’s a regional dialect.
Superintendent Chalmers: Uh-huh. What region?
Seymour Skinner: Uhh… Upstate New York.
Superintendent Chalmers: Really? Well, I’m from Utica, and I’ve never heard anyone use the phrase ’steamed hams.’
Seymour Skinner: Oh, not in Utica. No, it’s an Albany expression.
Superintendent Chalmers: I see.
[Chalmers bites into a steamed ham.]
Superintendent Chalmers: You know, these hamburgers are quite similar to the ones they have at Krusty Burger.
Seymour Skinner: Oh ho ho, no. Patented Skinner burgers. Old family recipe.
Superintendent Chalmers: For steamed hams…
Seymour Skinner: Yes…
Superintendent Chalmers: Yes, and you call them steamed hams despite the fact that they are obviously grilled.
One last tidbit: Along with the obvious allusions to Pulp Fiction throughout, this episode also owes its title — “22 Short Films About Springfield” — to Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould. The title and structure of which, in turn, was inspired by the 32 pieces that comprise Bach’s Goldberg Variations.
Category: Comedy, Creative, Movies, New Yorkin', TV
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Pure Classic! Heh…the Aurora Borealis. At this time of year. Localized entirely within your kitchen.
Damn, but that episode was awesome.
Comment by david — 05/12/2008 @ 10:59 PM
And speaking of SuperNintendo Chalmers — one of my favorite lines of his: “Oh, I have had it, I have _had_ it with this school, Skinner! The low test scores, class after class of ugly, ugly children…”
Comment by david — 05/12/2008 @ 11:04 PM
“SuperNintendo Chalmers” — love that.
And I was waiting for someone to cite the final line of this mini-skit: “I must say — you steam a good ham”. But obviously, I’ve already run out of patience on that point…
Comment by CT — 05/12/2008 @ 11:13 PM
Preceded by a classic: “Seymour, you are an odd fellow…”
Comment by david — 05/12/2008 @ 11:37 PM
Who Amongst You Has Experienced the TK Burgers Truck?…
Not me. But its quality is something I wonder about every time I pass by the OC steamed hams icon. I’ve seen the Carl’s Jr. truck in action, eaten at an In-n-Out version, and virtually live at taco truck. But I’ve only seen the TK truck in person at…
Trackback by Stick a Fork In It — 02/25/2009 @ 10:28 PM