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 #95 of 226 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.
Get weekly comedy rankings
Join comedy fans getting new analyses, score drops, and the funniest moments each week. Free, no spam.
Top Jokes
Do you know the Heimlich Maneuver? - No. - Good.
Patty Selma Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch 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 You're in stage two, denial. - No, I'm not. - Yes, you are. - I'm not. I'm not. Am not! - I stand corrected.
Many people have senseless attachments to heavy, clumsy things, such as this Homer of yours.
Jacques Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy ★ Rewatch I'm here out of spite. - Can't bowl without a lane.
All Jokes — 46 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ 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 Oh, big deal. Dry macaroni, spray paint and glue. Whoopie.
Bart Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Litha, my 'ongue' is 'uck' in the 'eaters.' My 'ongue'!
Bart Physical/Slapstick Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch My birthday? It's my birthday? - No!
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 I think he forgot, Mom. - Mm-hmm.
Good morning, consumers. The Springfield Mall is now open for your spending needs.
Mall PA Observational Dark/Subversive Too salty. Um... nah. Hmm? Nah, too corny. Too exciting.
Homer Absurdist Character Comedy And when he surprised you with the Connie Chung calendar?
Selma Absurdist Callback Callback And the kids. - Fair enough. - And my sisters. - Doh!
Havin' my baby / What a lovely way to say how much you love me / Nearer my God to thee
34 years old. Time enough to start over with a new man. Someone who eats with his mouth shut.
Patty Dark/Subversive Character Comedy Do you know the Heimlich Maneuver? - No. - Good.
Patty Selma Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch 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.
It's hard for me to judge since I've never bowled in my life!
Marge Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy I couldn't very well chop your hand off and bring it to the store.
Homer Absurdist Misdirection You can't take it back. You had your name engraved on it! - So you'd know it was from me!
What? But you don't know how to bowl. Oops.
Homer Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy I'm here out of spite. - Can't bowl without a lane.
13 double 'A'? This is the closest I've got. A nine and a fifteen.
A little warm and moist. Ugh!
Marge Cringe/Discomfort Observational Oh, no, no. Homer's my... ball's name. - I'm Marge.
Many people have senseless attachments to heavy, clumsy things, such as this Homer of yours.
Jacques Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Pick up Homer. Pick him up. - Now throw. Throw, damn you.
Jacques Wordplay/Pun Escalation Callback 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.
Hot pizza-- the food of kings.
Homer Absurdist Character Comedy Does the time always drag like this?
Homer Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Caress it. Experience it. Quite smooth, isn't it, Marge? You could eat off of it. You hungry? Four onion rings!
All right! We're clean!
Homer Visual Gag Character Comedy Sport, dear. It's a sport, you silly thing.
It's really for me. Seventeen-fifty. Enjoy it, my darling.
Jacques Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy My mind says,'Stop,' but my heart... and my hips cry,' Proceed.'
Not at Barney's Bowlarama. Away from the thunderous folly of clattering pins.
Jacques Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch 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 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 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 You're in stage two, denial. - No, I'm not. - Yes, you are. - I'm not. I'm not. Am not! - I stand corrected.
I'm a married women. Don't call me that. - No, no, no, no, no. Mimosa is the name of the drink.
Let's hope something runs over her.
Jacques Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement You're so naive. They are for lovemaking. - Really? - Yes.
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 Dad, you didn't even say 'ouch.' - Oh, sorry. Ouch.
Bart Homer Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy 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.
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 How can I eat it? She made it. It's all I have left.
Homer Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy 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