7F12 - The Way We Was (January 31, 1991)

Summary: Homer and Marge tell the story of how they first met in high school.

Episode Timeline:
1974, Tuesday:
- Homer listens to the car radio, driving to school. He meets Barney outside, late for English.
- Marge and a friend discuss equal rights for women, then pass by the boys room, where the shop kids are smoking
- Those kids are Homer and Barney, who are late for Wood Shop, then get 3 days detention when the principal catches them
- Marge burns a bra in protest and also gets detention
- In detention at 3pm, Barney gets rejected to the prom, then Marge walks in and Homer falls for her
- Homer talks to Marge and gets 6 more days of detention
- At dinner, Homer and Abe discuss girls
1974, Wednesday:
- Homer meets with the guidance counselor to discuss Marge. The counselor gives Homer a pamphlet for the new power plant opening soon.
- Homer in a Power Plant? "Heh, heh, KABOOM!"
- Homer signs up for the debate team
- That evening, Homer researches for the speed limit debate
1974, Thursday:
- During the debate, Homer presents his rebuttal
- On the track field, Homer asks out Marge.
- Marge talks to Homer's shot putting coach
- Marge talks to Homer's shop teacher
- Marge talks to Barney at lunch, but still decides not to date Homer. But she tutors French part-time.
- Homer prepares for his "date"
- Marge arrives at 6:18pm
- At 9:22pm, Marge tries to finish the study session (she has a big forensics meet tomorrow)
- Marge and Homer do the hustle
- At 1:07am, Homer asks Marge to the prom, then blows it by telling her the truth
1974, Friday:
- Marge is too tired during the meet
- Artie Ziff asks Marge to the Prom
1974, 3 weeks later, Saturday:
- Marge's mother helps Marge get ready for prom
- Patty and Selma let Homer in, he meets Marge's father, then Marge comes down surprised, and Artie Ziff arrives
- Homer tells the limo driver to take him to the prom
- Homer arrives at prom
- Prom pictures are taken
- Barney streaks, Marge and Artie are crowned, Homer leaves when they dance
- Homer talks with Marge, but she says she's with Artie for good
- The limo takes Homer to a make out point
- Artie gets physical, Homer decides to walk home at 1:00am
- Artie and Marge drive past Homer
- Marge arrives home, listening to her family badmouth Homer
- Marge picks up Homer
A day in the past, about 9 Months before Bart is born:
- A young, afro'd Dr. Hibbert congratulates Homer and Marge on Marge's morning sickness
One Night (Present Day):
- The family watches a movie review show, but the TV stops working. After Homer fails to fix the TV, the family starts talking. Lisa asks how Homer proposed to Marge.
- Marge would rather tell the story of how she and Homer met.
- Lisa and Bart comment on the love at first sight
- The family reacts to Homer's rebuttal
- Bart tries to continue fixing the TV.
- Lisa is enthralled, Bart quickly sums up the rest of the story
- Bart gags at the end of the story

References to Time:
- The new "McBain" movie is reviewed on television
- Before they got married, Homer and Marge would shoot pool and go dancing instead of watch TV
- Homer and Marge were both seniors in high school when they met
- Artie Ziff uses an article from the January 8, 1974 issue of TIME as a source
- Marge had known Artie for 8 years before he asked her to prom
- Homer skipped school for 3 weeks, and hoped he could graduate that summer

References to Other Episodes: None

SLH Presence:
- SLH is not present

Minimum Time Spanned: The main story lasts 4 days in 1974, then continues 3 weeks later on prom night. This part probably occurs during May. There is a brief flashback that occurs before Bart is born. The story is being told on one night.

Canon: Yes, although there is something strange about Homer and Marge's age. They are both seniors at the same time, yet Homer is usually mentioned as being older than Marge. I shall assume that at some point in Homer's education, he was held back a year. Also, 1974 is the first fixed year referenced in the show. This year will always be the class of Homer and Marge.

Favorite Moment:
Every moment with Artie Ziff is wonderful. From him quoting TIME Magazine when he asks out Marge, to his belief that everyone at the school loves him, Artie steals every scene he's in. Jon Lovitz created a unique character by having fun with the educated way Artie speaks. His final "Good night!" is especially inspired.

Review: This is the first "flashback" episode and it set the tone for those to follow. It's interesting seeing the backstory of the characters we are familiar with, and it tells a good story as well. Later flashbacks will be funnier, but this one had a heartwarming, realistic story that is rarely touched on in The Simpsons. High school life is not often represented in the series, so it's a nice change of pace. A