Just watched yesterday's Simpsons, entitled "Bart-Mangled Banner" in which the family is sent to Alcatraz for being unpatriotic (Bart moons the flag). I also see that next week's season finale is called "Fraudcast News" and is summarized thusly: "Lisa Simpson fights for freedom of speech in Springfield by creating her own newspaper."
Looks like they're really stepping up the pointed satire.
Some quotes from yesterday's episode:
[Interior of Springfield Shopper newsroom]
Editor: (holds up photo of Bart mooning flag) "Alright, who can take a story and blow it waaaaay out of proportion?"
Reporter: "I'm your man, boss!"
Editor: "I want you to overhype this story so much it makes the New York Post look like the New York Times. Or the New York Times look like the New York Post. I forget which one the good one is."
[The Simpsons go on a cable talk show to try to clear the matter up]
Anchor: "Bart Simpson, what do you hate most about this country? Is it the freedom?"
Bart: "Nash, I've realized something. I'm the worst kid in the world, and the last thing I deserve is forgiveness, but [starts crying] with a little help from Jesus and our fighting men and women overseas..."
Anchor: "Alright, so if I hear you correctly, you're saying that America is better than Jesus. [points at Homer] Do you agree? Eh, before he can answer, do you [points at Marge]?"
[Inside the Kwik-E-Mart, two of Apu's babies are fighting]
Marge: "Uh-oh. Punab and Umar are fighting!"
Apu: "No no. Those are their pre witch hunt names. Their new names are Freedom, Lincoln, Condoleezza, Coke, Pepsi, Manifest Destiny, Apple Pie and Superman."
Church marquee reads "Is God Patriotic Enough?"
Reverand Lovejoy: "Lord give us the courage to worship the American flag, be it on a car, a belt buckle or on your holy person."
[S.W.A.T. team breaks into church, points guns at Simpsons]
Policeman: "Simpsons! You're under arrest for violation of the Government Known Best Act."
[Simpsons in a jail cell]
Homer: [writing in a notebook] "Do you get time off for snitching on your cell mates?"
[Shot of notebook, where he's written: "Bart - Never served in armed forces."
Lisa: "Well, we're not the only ones to be unjustly imprisoned. Check out all the left-wing celebrities."
[Camera pans across cells showing Michael Moore, The Dixie Chicks and Elmo]
Elmo: "Elmo go to wrong fundraiser!"
Homer: "Bill Clinton! What are you doing here?"
Clinton: "Oh, I called the Republican tax cuts unwise. And I stand by it! They're unwise! I want my Washington Post!"
Guard: "Here's your Washington Post! [sprays Clinton with fire hose] Ya like that Clinton?!"
Other Guard: "You traitors pipe down. You're all here because you hate freedom."
Bearded Inmate: "My only crime was driving a truck full of explosives in from Canada."
Marge: "Haah, I don't know why they put the real ones in with the joke ones."
After a trip to the Ronald Reagan Reeducation Center, they plot to escape during the prison talent show, during their musical number.
Bart (singing): "Americans are brave and loya. So, come on jerks... give us your oil."
Lisa (singing): "My card here says ACLU. Now look what I'm going to do. [she burns the card]
[they escape and start swimming]
Lisa: "Swim toward San Francisco!"
Homer: "I'm not made of money! We'll swim to Oakland."
[they hop a French ship and are eating at the Eiffel Tower]
Marge: "I miss America."
Lisa: "I miss America too. The United States has its grandeur, and it's follies, but mostly, it's the place where all our stuff is."
Ah, The Simpsons. Is there anything they don't know?
