Ep. 22 - Westworld
Adam and Nate take a trip to Westworld (1973), Michael Crichton’s somewhat forgotten directorial debut with a long shadow that reaches into sci-fi and slashers movies, theme parks, and open-world video games. Along the way, they dig into The Simpsons’ full-length parody, “Itchy & Scratchy Land” (S6E4).
Also in this episode:
The incomparable influence of Michael Crichton on 1990s culture
Special effects that changed the face of movie-making
The Simpsons’ many unclear movie references, including Principal Skinner’s walk through the river in “The Boy Who Knew Too Much” (S5E20)
Our memories of Disneyland, including its recent shift toward role playing
Next time, special guest Marko Djurdjic joins Adam and Nate to turn it up to 11 with This Is Spinal Tap (1984) and “The Otto Show” (S3E22).
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Every Simpsons Reference to Westworld
By our count, Westworld has been directly referenced twice in the first 13 seasons of The Simpsons. The first reference appears in “The Boy Who Knew Too Much” (S5E20) from 1993, 21 years after the release of the movie.
Scene & Plot Parodies
The Boy Who Knew Too Much (S5E20): When Skinner thinks he’s on the trail of a class-skipping Bart Simpson, he transforms into the Gunslinger from Westworld. This is one of the more subtle references on The Simpsons, where it’s all about the details.
Skinner walks slowly while Bart runs frantically, just like Yul Brynner’s Gunslinger and Richard Benjamin’s victim. They also run through several familiar sets from the movie, including Roman World, a hill down to a river, and the rusty mountains on the edge of Westworld. And of course, Alf Clausen provides a pitch-perfect soundalike of the Westworld score.
However, Principal Skinner’s famous walk through the river seems to be a Simpsons original! It feels like it should be a movie reference because it’s so iconic. But that’s just because The Simpsons is iconic.
Itchy & Scratchyland (S6E4): This episode partially borrows its premise from Westworld: The Simpson family visits a theme park occupied by robots that quickly go berserk.
It also contains several more specific references to the film, including the pixelated POV shots of the robots vision, and the underground complex where bureaucrats ensure the “Bort” license plates are well-stocked and doctors remove the faces of robots to repair them. “I really wish they wouldn’t scream.”
Extra Credit
Looking for more like this or an interesting double feature? Here are our recommendations.
From Nate: Total Recall (1990), featuring another company that promises an immersive escape from reality that goes wrong.
From Adam: The Last of Sheila (1973), a murder mystery that inspired Knives Out (2019) and includes Westworld star Richard Benjamin.
