Homer's bowling-ball gift "for Marge" prompts her to take up the sport, and maybe also a handsome instructor who offers to teach her "many things."
Marge's affair subplot carries an 81-rated episode on character comedy and sustained cringe tension.
Directed by David Silverman · Written by John Swartzwelder
WAR
44.6
Wins Above Replacement
“Life On The Fast Lane” ranks #166 of 552 The Simpsons episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 81.0 — Elite. The episode packs 46 scored jokes at 2.4 per minute, averaging 7.0 on craft and 6.9 on impact, with Homer landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
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Top Jokes
Patty · Selma: Do you know the Heimlich Maneuver? - No. - Good.
Patty Selma Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Jacques: There are ten pins in my heart. You've knocked over eight. Won't you please pick up that spare?
Jacques Wordplay/Pun Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Lisa · Bart: You're in stage two, denial. - No, I'm not. - Yes, you are. - I'm not. I'm not. Am not! - I stand corrected.
Jacques: Many people have senseless attachments to heavy, clumsy things, such as this Homer of yours.
Jacques Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Marge · Bowling alley worker: I'm here out of spite. - Can't bowl without a lane.
All Jokes — 46 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Bart: Who wouldn't like a bottle of real French perfume all the way from gay Paree? Four bucks, plus tax.
Bart Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Bart: Oh, big deal. Dry macaroni, spray paint and glue. Whoopie.
Bart Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Bart: Litha, my 'ongue' is 'uck' in the 'eaters.' My 'ongue'!
Bart Physical/Slapstick Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch Homer · Bart: My birthday? It's my birthday? - No!
Homer: But it's a surprise. You know, it's such a beautiful morning, I think I'll take a little stroll around the block.
Homer Character Comedy Misdirection Lisa · Marge: I think he forgot, Mom. - Mm-hmm.
Mall PA: Good morning, consumers. The Springfield Mall is now open for your spending needs.
Mall PA Observational Dark/Subversive Homer: Too salty. Um... nah. Hmm? Nah, too corny. Too exciting.
Homer Absurdist Character Comedy Selma: And when he surprised you with the Connie Chung calendar?
Selma Absurdist Callback Callback Marge · Homer: And the kids. - Fair enough. - And my sisters. - Doh!
Restaurant singers: Havin' my baby / What a lovely way to say how much you love me / Nearer my God to thee
Patty: 34 years old. Time enough to start over with a new man. Someone who eats with his mouth shut.
Patty Dark/Subversive Character Comedy Patty · Selma: Do you know the Heimlich Maneuver? - No. - Good.
Patty Selma Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Bart · Marge: What the hell are you talking about? There's gallons of it! But this occasion is already so special. If we made it any more special, we might end up making it less special.
Marge: It's hard for me to judge since I've never bowled in my life!
Marge Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Homer: I couldn't very well chop your hand off and bring it to the store.
Homer Absurdist Misdirection Marge · Homer: You can't take it back. You had your name engraved on it! - So you'd know it was from me!
Homer: What? But you don't know how to bowl. Oops.
Homer Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Marge · Bowling alley worker: I'm here out of spite. - Can't bowl without a lane.
Bowling alley worker: 13 double 'A'? This is the closest I've got. A nine and a fifteen.
Marge: A little warm and moist. Ugh!
Marge Cringe/Discomfort Observational Marge · Jacques: Oh, no, no. Homer's my... ball's name. - I'm Marge.
Jacques: Many people have senseless attachments to heavy, clumsy things, such as this Homer of yours.
Jacques Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Jacques: Pick up Homer. Pick him up. - Now throw. Throw, damn you.
Jacques Wordplay/Pun Escalation Callback Jacques: But first of all, you yell, 'The eight-pin is a cop.' - Let it out, Marge. Laugh loud. Laugh out loud. You'll lose weight.
Homer: Hot pizza-- the food of kings.
Homer Absurdist Character Comedy Homer: Does the time always drag like this?
Homer Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Jacques · Marge: Caress it. Experience it. Quite smooth, isn't it, Marge? You could eat off of it. You hungry? Four onion rings!
Homer: All right! We're clean!
Homer Visual Gag Character Comedy Jacques: Sport, dear. It's a sport, you silly thing.
Jacques: It's really for me. Seventeen-fifty. Enjoy it, my darling.
Jacques Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Jacques: My mind says,'Stop,' but my heart... and my hips cry,' Proceed.'
Jacques: Not at Barney's Bowlarama. Away from the thunderous folly of clattering pins.
Jacques Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch Jacques: It's not quite breakfast, it's not quite lunch, but it comes with a slice of cantaloupee at the end. You don't get completely what you would at breakfast, but you get a good meal.
Jacques Observational Absurdist ★ Rewatch Jacques: There are ten pins in my heart. You've knocked over eight. Won't you please pick up that spare?
Jacques Wordplay/Pun Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Lisa: Oh, Bart, don't you see? This is what psychologists call overcompensation. Mom is wracked with guilt because her marriage is failing.
Lisa Observational Character Comedy Lisa · Bart: You're in stage two, denial. - No, I'm not. - Yes, you are. - I'm not. I'm not. Am not! - I stand corrected.
Marge · Jacques: I'm a married women. Don't call me that. - No, no, no, no, no. Mimosa is the name of the drink.
Jacques: Let's hope something runs over her.
Jacques Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement Jacques · Marge: You're so naive. They are for lovemaking. - Really? - Yes.
Jacques: Some divine pinspotter must have placed us side by side. Like two fragile bowling pins-- Standing bravely-- Until inevitably-- We must topple.
Jacques Wordplay/Pun Cringe/Discomfort Callback Bart · Homer: Dad, you didn't even say 'ouch.' - Oh, sorry. Ouch.
Bart Homer Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Bart · Homer: You told me when something's bothering you and you're too damn stupid to know what to do, just keep your fool mouth shut. At least that way, you won't make things worse. - Hmm. Good advice.
Homer: I don't know how you do it. Youjust got a gift, I guess. I've always thought so. I just never mentioned it, but it's time you knew how I feel.
Homer Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Homer: How can I eat it? She made it. It's all I have left.
Homer Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Homer: Tell him I'm going to the backseat of my car with the woman I love, and I won't be back for ten minutes.
Homer Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Top Episodes — The Simpsons