Inside The Simpsons’ ‘Life on the Fast Lane’

Columentary (title sadly not pending) is a weekly feature, in which I’ll listen to the commentary track of a sitcom, and divulge, through pretty pictures and less pretty words, the behind-the-scenes secrets the creators, writers, and cast discuss about their show. If you’ve ever wondered who was boinking who on The Brady Brunch, this is for you.

Show: The Simpsons

Episode: “Life on the Fast Lane� (S01E09)

Original Airdate: March 18, 1990

Episode Plot: After Homer thoughtlessly gives Marge a bowling ball with his name on for her birthday, she goes to the Bowlarama and meets Jacques, a suave bowling instructor. (Stop saying “bowling� so much!) Will she cheat on him in this episode from 1990, or will she remain faithful?

Players Involved: James L. Brooks, producer; Matt Groening, creator; Al Jean, producer; and David Silverman, director.

“We’re here to talk about an episode originally titled ‘Bjorn to be Wild.’ But we changed it from a Swedish guy to a French guy, I guess.�

“That was Albert Brooks who came in and said, ‘I don’t want to be Swedish, I want to be French. It’ll be funnier,’ and he was right.

“That became a national fad.�

“By this time, we had a floor plan of the house and design for all the rooms.�

“I remember very early on, I wanted a consistent floor plan to the house and geography of Springfield. I remember we drew maps…And then we realized that when we wanted a joke where the closet is next to the bathroom floor, we would switch things around. We gave up all on that.�

“We would change a few things when we need to, especially where the basement door is.�

“I think their house is next door to the school, the power plant, and Moe’s at various points during the series.�

“This is an example of Maggie sucking the pacifier all the time, which we got rid of because it became too distracting for the dialogue.�

“More freakish early designs of the show.�

“I remember at the time debating if him giving her a ball that said Homer was too crass, but it won an Emmy, so I guess it wasn’t.�

“[Albert Brooks is the] only guest star who improvised a full half-hour of his own material.�

“I remember speaking to him after he did, and his thrill was coming up with the definition of what brunch was.�

“This is a thing we’ve lost: the nightly and daily rituals of the Simpsons. Back in the early days, it was very closely observed.�

“I was just thinking how much worse of a father Homer has gotten.�

“Marge is pretty hot.�

“We stopped doing those head-on shots. That was an early decision. When the characters are seen straight on, they generally lose their personalities. It’s mostly three-quarter profile.�

“This would be an impossible story to do in live-action, for a family show.�

“Yeah, it’d be creepy.�

“That was one of the first butt cracks on TV.�

“He doesn’t seem to do that job anymore.�

“Well, he’s Safety Inspector now, right?�

“He was then, actually.�

“I think in real nuclear power plants, people aren’t actually handling radioactive material like that.�

“I’ve got other news for you: plutonium doesn’t glow.�

Josh Kurp loves Albert Brooks, but hates Jacques.