Popular Culture References
The final segment of "Treehouse of Horror XIX" (the fourth episode of the twentieth season of The Simpsons) is called "It's the Grand Pumpkin, Milhouse". It is a parody of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (and was supposed to be named "It's the Great Pumpkin, Milhouse", but due to legal reasons, was rejected) and contains several references to the Peanuts series. In the segment, Milhouse wears the same clothes and plays the same role as Linus. Lisa Simpson is modeled after Sally Brown, and Bart looks like Charlie Brown; he even says "good grief", echoing Charlie Brown's catchphrase. A redesigned version of Santa's Little Helper can be seen sleeping on top of his dog house, and Homer is seen sleeping on top of his house in a manner similar to Snoopy. When Marge first speaks, she uses a muted trombone. This is a parody of the "wah wah wah" voice that is used for adults in the various Peanuts specials. Note: Marge actually gives the viewers an "adress" for them to send hate mail to, which is only expressed in more muted trombone noise. The dance scene during the Halloween party is a parody of the dance scene in A Charlie Brown Christmas right down to Kang and Kodos in a non-speaking cameo as the twins 3 and 4." Parts of the segment had music by Vince Guaraldi (best known for composing music for animated adaptations of the Peanuts comic strip), which they had obtained the rights to use.
The special is mentioned in the power metal band Helloween's song "Halloween", from their 1987 album Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 1. The title was featured as a puzzle on the October 26, 2011, episode of the television game show Wheel of Fortune.
The Supernatural season four "It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester" was named after the special (Although it is only connected to this story in that it takes place on Halloween).
Read more about this topic: It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
Famous quotes containing the words popular and/or culture:
“I do not see why, since America and her autumn woods have been discovered, our leaves should not compete with the precious stones in giving names to colors; and, indeed, I believe that in course of time the names of some of our trees and shrubs, as well as flowers, will get into our popular chromatic nomenclature.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“The higher, the more exalted the society, the greater is its culture and refinement, and the less does gossip prevail. People in such circles find too much of interest in the world of art and literature and science to discuss, without gloating over the shortcomings of their neighbors.”
—Mrs. H. O. Ward (1824–1899)