It’s episode 69 – nice! – and we’re playing witness to “Lisa’s First Word”, which first aired on 3 December 1992, just as the final word was being said on Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales’ marriage. Yes, we’re taking the most ill-tim

Episode 68 – Mr Windsor Castle Fire

Mar 31st, 2022 55m 9s

Aliens, bio-duplication, nude conspiracies – none of these are why Retrospecticus took a long break, but we’ll explain why, whilst Garreth ploughs through the stone cold classic, “Mr Plow”, with tons of pure West and a visit to Crazy Vaclav’s!

Episode 67 – Women Priests on the Block

Jul 31st, 2021 50m 25s

Episode 67, and Bart’s got a crush and Homer’s full of shrimp in “New Kid On The Block”, first aired on 12 November 1992 – one day after the Synod of the Church of England voted to ordain women priests! Along the way we’ll go from C and E to C

Episode 66 – Marge Gets Mortal Kombat

Jul 17th, 2021 53m 22s

Episode 66, and we’re gassing Tom Jones in “Marge Gets A Job”, first shown on 5 November 1992 – a mere month after Mortal Kombat first cut a bloody swathe through the arcades! Along the way we’ll fight the creature from the wrong lagoon, compla

Episode 65 – US Election 1992 The Movie

Jun 26th, 2021 51m 34s

Episode 65, and we meet the unforgettable Bang Bang Bart in “Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie”, first aired on November 3rd 1992 – the day of a US Presidential election that elected Bill Clinton! Along the way we’ll drink milkshakes, watch Telemundo

Episode 64 – Galileo of Horror

Jun 12th, 2021 47m 59s

We’re back… And it’s Halloween again! Garreth takes on apes, zombies and a killer doll in “Treehouse of Horror III”, first shown on 29 October 1992, while Tom takes us through Pope John Paul II’s apology to Galileo a few days later. Featuring m

Episode 63 – Charles Taylor the Beauty Queen

May 8th, 2021 49m 44s

This time Retrospecticus heartily endorses “Lisa The Beauty Queen”, which first aired on October 15th 1992, the same day as Charles Taylor launched Operation Octopus in the Liberian Civil War. As you might expect it’s a bloody tale, but there’s

Episode 62 – Mozambique the Heretic

Apr 24th, 2021 49m 23s

Retrospecticus is back, as long as no minor royals have died this week, with Homer’s new ways of worship in “Homer the Heretic”, first shown on October 8 1992, four days after the end of the civil war in Mozambique. We’ve got a none-more-nineti

Episode 61 – A Streetcar Named Sinéad O’Connor

Apr 10th, 2021 39m 8s

It’s episode 61, and “A Streetcar Named Marge” sees Marge treading the boards, while Sinéad O’Connor rips up a photo of Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live. Along the way we’ll meet a singing dentist and possibly upset the Catholic Church

Episode 60 – Kamp Fernando Collor de Mello

Mar 20th, 2021 53m 13s

Season four is upon us! Bart encounters everyone’s favourite non-recurring character Mr Black in “Kamp Krusty”! And meanwhile in Brazil, President Fernando Collor de Mello is in a spot of impeachment bother – so we’ll bring you up to date on th

Episode 59 – Black Wednesday Can You Spare Two Dimes?

Feb 6th, 2021 46m 32s

It’s the last show of season 3, for both The Simpsons and us! An embittered Uncle Herb returns in “Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes?”, and the UK Government could use use those two dimes as Black Wednesday runs wild! Meanwhile, we jump three mo

Episode 58 – The Space Shuttle Endeavour Falls in Love

Jan 16th, 2021 47m 47s

Happy 2021 everyone! We’re back to take a look at Bart’s Friend Falls in Love, the episode that sees Milhouse fall in love with Samantha Stinky, sorry, Stanky! It’s the episode that features some excellent sex education courtesy of Fuzzy Bunny,

Episode 57 – The Betty Boothroyd Show

Dec 24th, 2020 58m 6s

It’s a Christmas special of Retrospecticus! And a special calls for a special guest: writer and broadcaster Tim Worthington joins us to discuss Spinal Tap, as we reach “The Otto Show”, first aired on 23 April 1992 and coinciding with Betty Boot

Episode 56 – Fujimori Widower

Dec 12th, 2020 47m

Sideshow Bob makes his first return in “Black Widower”, first shown on 9 April 1992, and we examine the life of Alberto Fujimori, the Peruvian leader who launched a coup against himself four days earlier. Along the way we’ll see the roots of Br

Episode 55 – Colonel Al Atheer

Nov 28th, 2020 37m 8s

We’re looking at “Colonel Homer” this week, the one that introduces country and western singer Lurleen Lumpkin. Along the way we’ll visit Googolplex cinemas, the Beer ‘n Brawl, and Big Shirtless Ron. For the history we’re covering what happened

Episode 54 – Apartheid of Death

Nov 14th, 2020 47m 3s

It’s Episode 54, and the prognosis is bleak for Santa’s Little Helper in “Dog Of Death”, broadcast on 12 March 1992, but looking better for South Africa after their Apartheid referendum, which came five days later. Along the way we’ll get Covid

Episode 53 – Contra 3 Vocations

Oct 31st, 2020 52m 25s

The world goes topsy turvy as Bart goes straight and Lisa flouts the rules in “Separate Vocations” – and meanwhile, Contra 3 drops on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, giving us a great opportunity to cover the history of videogames! Alo

Episode 52 – Ross Perot at the Bat

Oct 17th, 2020 46m 26s

Well Mr Burns had done it…if by “it” you mean wrecked a perfectly good works softball team in “Homer At The Bat”, aired on February 20 1992, the same day as Ross Perot announced his run as an independent candidate for President of the USA. Alon

Episode 51 – Hugo Chavez the Lover

Oct 3rd, 2020 54m 27s

Episode 51, and it’s a doozy from the Simpsons side: “Bart The Lover” from 13 February 1992, featuring Woodrow, the swear jar and a world without zinc! Tom then takes us to meet Hugo Chavez and his attempted coup in Venezuela, which reached a c

Episode 50 – The Maastricht Treaty Alone

Sep 19th, 2020 45m 51s

Retrospecticus has reached the big five-oh, so we celebreate by talking about “Homer Alone”, the episode that sees Marge snap through stress and visit Rancho Relaxo, while Homer tries and fails to look after Maggie. The episode was first broast

Episode 49 – Zaire the Greek

Sep 5th, 2020 47m 48s

This week, Lisa and Homer bet on the Washington Football Team in “Lisa The Greek”, and we take a look at the history of Zaire, plus its bloody history as a colony of Belgium. Somehow we also touch on Pinchy the lobster and the Rumble in the Jun

Episode 48 – Radio Salvadoran Civil War

Aug 15th, 2020 49m 41s

As Britain reels from a Cayman Islands-style heatwave, your perspiring hosts take you back to a colder time – January 9, 1992 – to send our love down the well in “Radio Bart” and witness the merciful end of the Salvadoran Civil War. Along the w

Episode 47 – I Married the Dissolution of the Soviet Union

Aug 1st, 2020 43m 6s

So it’s come to this: the end of the Soviet Union, with a suitably nostalgic partner in “I Married Marge”. Along the way we’ll impersonate a world leader, say another goodbye to Freddie Mercury, and visit with a different Crazy Otto. And you’ll

Episode 46 – Belavezha Accords Verkaufen der Kraftwek

Jul 11th, 2020 36m 47s

We’re back in the USSR – but not for long! This week, we witness the signing of the Belovezha Accords, one of the last nails in the coffin for the USSR, whilst Springfield says a hearty willkommen bei den Deutschen in “Burns Verkaufen Der Kraft

Episode 45 – Flaming Moehemian Rhapsody

Jun 27th, 2020 43m 3s

Welcome to the podcast where happiness is just a Flaming Homer away – yes! It’s time for “Flaming Moe’s”, an episode where greed tears a friendship asunder and Aerosmith play nightly. Plus, Tom looks at the life and times of Freddie Mercury, ta