Ep. 1 - You Only Live Twice

Season 1

Sep 24

This week, Adam introduces Nate to You Only Live Twice (1967), perhaps the most ridiculous James Bond film of the Connery era and fodder for the beloved Simpsons episode, “You Only Move Twice” (S8E2). Come for Roald Dahl’s wacky take on the James Bond formula, stay for the tremendous amount of cringe!

Also in this episode:

Some of Bond’s most outlandish gadgets, including an autogyro named “Little Nellie”
A case of yellowface that rivals even The Simpsons
A deep dive into the legacy of Ken Adam’s iconic volcano lair, from The Simpsons to Austin Powers to The Incredibles
A roundup of favorite James Bond moments from The Simpsons
A few thoughts on parody mashups and how parodies work when viewers don’t know the source material

Next week, Nate invites Adam to watch The Karate Kid (1984) for the first time.

Every Reference to You Only Live Twice on The Simpsons

By our count in The Simpsons Movie Reference Database, You Only Live Twice has been directly referenced in 3 episodes of the first 13 seasons of The Simpsons, including 2 scene parodies and 2 smaller references. The first reference appears in “Duffless” (S4E16) in 1993, 26 years after the release of the movie.

In our research for this episode, we found one new reference that hadn’t been recorded yet on IMDb, Wikipedia, Simpsons Wiki, or Wikisimpsons.

Scene Parodies

You Only Move Twice (S8E2): The conversation between Homer and Scorpio takes place in front of a parody of the climactic battle from You Only Live Twice. Also, the title of the episode is, of course, a parody of the title of the movie.

Small References

Duffless (S4E16): Bart sitting in the chair, stroking the hamster is a reference to James Bond character Ernst Stavro Blofeld, who strokes a cat in his chair. While Blofeld appears in earlier Bond movies, this is the first time the audience sees his full body and face.

The poster of For Your Eyes Only (1981).

NEW • Whacking Day (S4E20): When Willy meets a Scottish lassie, he is framed between her legs much like Bond is in the hot spring scene. This composition later inspired the poster for the Roger Moore outing, For Your Eyes Only (1981).

Bonus: Other James Bond References on The Simpsons

Dr. No (1962)

And Maggie Makes Three (S6E13): The couch gag for this episode spoofs the famous gun barrel sequence, first scene in Dr. No.
The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular (S7E10): The deleted scene from "$pringfield" in which Homer deals blackjack with James Bond, echoing a similar scene in Dr. No.
Bart Carny (S9E12): When Cooder wears Homer’s clothing, Spud tells him he looks like James Bond, who first appears in this movie.

From Russia with Love (1963)

Two Bad Neighbors (S7E13): During their fight, former President Bush attempts to kill Homer by strangling him with piano wire that he pulls out of his watch. This is the villain, Red Grant's, signature weapon in the film.

Goldfinger (1964)

Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire (S1E1): To remove his tattoo, Bart is strapped to a table with a laser moving towards him similar to Bond in this movie.
Homer Defined (S3E5): Homer averts the crisis at Springfield Nuclear Power Plant as the timer reaches "007," mimicking the de-activation of a nuclear bomb in the James Bond movie.
Cape Feare (S5E2): An Itchy & Scratchy cartoon spoofs the iconic laser scene from this movie.
Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part One) (S6E25): Mr. Burns’ model of Springfield underneath the floor is based on Auric Goldfinger’s model of Fort Knox.
You Only Move Twice (S8E2): Laser-scene killer machine scene is parodied with "James Bont" instead of Bond. The "Do you expect me to talk?" "No, I expect you to die!" dialogue is also spoofed.
You Only Move Twice (S8E2): Credit music is a parody of the Goldfinger theme.
Homer to the Max (S10E13): Homer sings a "Max Power" version of the theme tune.

Casino Royale (1967)

You Only Move Twice (S8E2): One of Scorpio’s employees is named Miss Goodthighs, after a character from the 1967 James Bond parody Casino Royale. In the climactic battle, she can be seen attacking a character modeled after U.S. Army General Norman Schwarzkopf with her legs, which some have claimed is a reference to Xenia Onatopp’s similar move in GoldenEye, but we think it’s just a happy coincidence, given the short turnaround between the movie’s release (November 17, 1995) and the episode’s air date (November 3, 1996).

Live and Let Die (1973)

The Joy of Sect (S9E13): Marge running across the gators is a recreation of a similar move by Roger Moore in Live and Let Die.

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

Treehouse of Horror XII (S13E1): When Bart suggests the house should have the voice of 007, Marge says "George Lazenby?"

Octopussy (1983)

Lisa's Wedding (S6E19): Homer says he saw Octopussy twice.
Girly Edition (S9E21): Bart calls Lisa “Octopussy.”
Bart the Mother (S10E3): Nelson refers to Bart as “Octo-wussy.”

License to Kill (1989)

Das Bus (S9E14): The bus plunge off the overpass was inspired by the climax of the 1994 film True Lies, although some Simpsons animators remarked that a similar scene happened in the 1989 James Bond film Licence to Kill, where a corrupt cop helps to free the Bond villain from custody.

GoldenEye (1995)

Treehouse of Horror XII (S13E1): When Marge says thinks Bart wants the house to sound like George Lazenby, Lisa clarifies that he meant Pierce Brosnan, who first appeared as 007 in this movie.

Extra Credit

Looking for more like this or an interesting double feature? Here are our recommendations for other so-bad-it’s-good James Bond movies.

From Adam: Live and Let Die (1973) & Die Another Day (2002)