The Blue and the Gray (The Simpsons)
Encyclopedia
"The Blue and the Gray" is the thirteenth episode of the twenty-second season
of the animated television series The Simpsons
. It originally aired on the Fox network
in the United States on February 13, 2011.
attends a seminar
led by Dr. Kissingher in the hopes of gaining more confidence with women. Moe takes the doctor’s advice and asks Homer to be his wingman
. Meanwhile, Marge discovers her first gray hairs and surprises both her family and the neighborhood by going completely gray and sporting a brand new mature hairdo, but Bart is not humored when the neighborhood kids tease him about Marge’s look. Later, Marge confronts Homer when she learns that he is becoming increasingly popular with the young ladies, but Homer helps Marge realize that he only has eyes for her and proves that love is still in the Springfield air.
" established that Marge already has gray hair, and indeed went prematurely gray ("she's been gray as a mule since she was 17"). However, the writers acknowledge the continuity issues by having Marge's hairstylist explain that the fumes from the blue hair dye he uses cause partial memory damage, so she simply forgot that her hair was already gray.
". This might have been due to the episode airing against the 53rd Grammy Awards
.
The episode was met with lukewarm reviews from critics, who called it "funny" but "unmemorable."
The Simpsons (season 22)
The Simpsons twenty-second season began airing on Fox on September 26, 2010 and ended on May 22, 2011. The Simpsons was renewed for at least two additional seasons during the twentieth season leading up to this season. The cast is currently signed through the 25th season. On November 11, 2010, the...
of the animated television series The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
. It originally aired on the Fox network
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
in the United States on February 13, 2011.
Plot
After spending another Valentine's Day alone, MoeMoe Szyslak
Momar / Morris "Moe" Szyslak is a fictional character in the American animated television series, The Simpsons. He is voiced by Hank Azaria and first appeared in the series premiere episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire"...
attends a seminar
Seminar
Seminar is, generally, a form of academic instruction, either at an academic institution or offered by a commercial or professional organization. It has the function of bringing together small groups for recurring meetings, focusing each time on some particular subject, in which everyone present is...
led by Dr. Kissingher in the hopes of gaining more confidence with women. Moe takes the doctor’s advice and asks Homer to be his wingman
Wingman (social)
Wingman is a role that a person may take when a friend needs support with approaching potential partners. A wingman is someone who is on the "inside" and is used to help someone with relationships...
. Meanwhile, Marge discovers her first gray hairs and surprises both her family and the neighborhood by going completely gray and sporting a brand new mature hairdo, but Bart is not humored when the neighborhood kids tease him about Marge’s look. Later, Marge confronts Homer when she learns that he is becoming increasingly popular with the young ladies, but Homer helps Marge realize that he only has eyes for her and proves that love is still in the Springfield air.
Continuity
Marge is shocked in this episode to discover that her hair is graying, even though the season 5 episode "Secrets of a Successful MarriageSecrets of a Successful Marriage
"Secrets of a Successful Marriage" is the twenty-second and final episode of The Simpsons fifth season. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on May 19, 1994. In the episode, Homer fears he may be a little slow, so he goes to the adult education center...
" established that Marge already has gray hair, and indeed went prematurely gray ("she's been gray as a mule since she was 17"). However, the writers acknowledge the continuity issues by having Marge's hairstylist explain that the fumes from the blue hair dye he uses cause partial memory damage, so she simply forgot that her hair was already gray.
Reception
In its original American broadcast, "The Blue and the Gray" was viewed by an estimated 5.618 million households and received a 2.7 rating/7% share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49. This episode marked a 10% drop from the previous episode, "Homer the FatherHomer the Father
"Homer the Father" is the twelfth episode of The Simpsons twenty-second season and aired on January 23, 2011 on the Fox Network.-Plot:Homer becomes obsessed with a 1980s family sitcom and starts acting like the show's father...
". This might have been due to the episode airing against the 53rd Grammy Awards
53rd Grammy Awards
The 53rd annual Grammy Awards were held on February 13, 2011, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. They were broadcast on CBS with a rating of 26.6 million viewers. Barbra Streisand was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year two nights prior to the telecast on February 11. Nominations were...
.
The episode was met with lukewarm reviews from critics, who called it "funny" but "unmemorable."