Conan wrote one of the funniest episodes of the Simpsons ever. When the town comes into money they foolishly spend it when a shyster played by Phil Hartman convinces the the town they need a Monorail system just like Ogdenville and North Haverbrook. Homer becomes the monorail driver and everything goes haywire! The "Monorail Song" is hilarious! One of the funniest lines in a Simpsons song is when Apu asks in song, "is there a chance the track could bend?" Phil Hartman's character answers, "Not on your life my Hindu friend." Leonard Nimoy appears in one of his 2 guest appearances on the Simpsons. I wish Conan still wrote for the Simpsons, it might still be funny if he did.
18 Reviews
There's nothing on earth like a genuine, bona fide electrified, six-car monorail!
zacpetch26 February 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Yes, I've given this ten out of ten but only because that's the maximum I can give. It deserves a lot more.
We begin with a nice little throwaway gag about the Flintstones before Burns and Smithers set out to dispose of some Nuclear Waste in the park but they get caught and are forced to pay a fine. Mr Burns fails to "get to the money" (as Mr Snrub... Yes that'll do!) so the money is up for grabs and here is where our villain shows up: Lyle Lanley. Lanley is a parody of the music man for no reason other than for him to perform (with all of Springfield, naturally) one of TV's finest musical numbers in which he convinces the citizens of the town to purchase a monorail for reasons they're "twice as smart as the people of Shelbyville" and that if he just tells them his idea they'll vote for it. Suddenly he has won over everyone and even has Homer as the monorail conductor, even after Marge discovers it's a death trap. For example there are no brakes and the fire extinguisher is replaced with a family of possums (I call the big one Bitey), but it is too late and the monorail has gone haywire. Marge has to tell Homer via telephone how to stop the train of doom and ultimately he's saved by a doughnut... "Is there anything they can't do?"
The voice cast are excellent as ever and are joined by two notable guest stars this time. Guest-regular Phil Hartman is Lanley and Leonard Nimoy is himself. He plays a caricature of himself, as if he's the real person behind Spock. His scenes are deliciously random and it's one of the best examples of "guests as themselves" that the show has ever produced in more than two decades on screen. There's tonnes of throwaway jokes (like the popcorn van or the escalator to nowhere) and the script (by the one and only Conan O'Brien) is good and incomparably funny, you get more laugh out loud moments in this than at any other episode. Every line is as quotable as the next.
To call this a classic is to undersell it, I literally haven't got a bad thing to say about this. If you only ever watch one episode of The Simpsons make it this one.
We begin with a nice little throwaway gag about the Flintstones before Burns and Smithers set out to dispose of some Nuclear Waste in the park but they get caught and are forced to pay a fine. Mr Burns fails to "get to the money" (as Mr Snrub... Yes that'll do!) so the money is up for grabs and here is where our villain shows up: Lyle Lanley. Lanley is a parody of the music man for no reason other than for him to perform (with all of Springfield, naturally) one of TV's finest musical numbers in which he convinces the citizens of the town to purchase a monorail for reasons they're "twice as smart as the people of Shelbyville" and that if he just tells them his idea they'll vote for it. Suddenly he has won over everyone and even has Homer as the monorail conductor, even after Marge discovers it's a death trap. For example there are no brakes and the fire extinguisher is replaced with a family of possums (I call the big one Bitey), but it is too late and the monorail has gone haywire. Marge has to tell Homer via telephone how to stop the train of doom and ultimately he's saved by a doughnut... "Is there anything they can't do?"
The voice cast are excellent as ever and are joined by two notable guest stars this time. Guest-regular Phil Hartman is Lanley and Leonard Nimoy is himself. He plays a caricature of himself, as if he's the real person behind Spock. His scenes are deliciously random and it's one of the best examples of "guests as themselves" that the show has ever produced in more than two decades on screen. There's tonnes of throwaway jokes (like the popcorn van or the escalator to nowhere) and the script (by the one and only Conan O'Brien) is good and incomparably funny, you get more laugh out loud moments in this than at any other episode. Every line is as quotable as the next.
To call this a classic is to undersell it, I literally haven't got a bad thing to say about this. If you only ever watch one episode of The Simpsons make it this one.
Interesting Episode!
g-bodyl5 January 2015
This is the twelfth episode of the fourth season of the Simpsons and it's a pretty weird, but satisfying episode. I also find it strange how it's one of the lowest rated episodes in the series so far. I found it to be funny and quite action-packed. The train sequence in the end was very good. We also are treated to a wonderful cameo by Leonard Nimoy. Let those Star Wars versus Star Trek jokes begin!
In this episode, "Marge vs. the Monorail," Mr. Burns is forced to donate three million dollars to Springfield and it was decided, thanks to a slick-speaking salesman, that the money will go toward a monorail system, despite protests from Marge. Homer decides to sign up to be the conductor. Eventually Marge learns that this monorail system is not for real and it is a faulty design only used to suck up money.
Overall, this is a really solid episode and one that involves all of Springfield in more of a joint effort. I keep forgetting that these episodes are written by the hilarious Conan O'Brien, so no wonder why we keep getting quality episode after quality episode this season. I rate this episode 9/10.
In this episode, "Marge vs. the Monorail," Mr. Burns is forced to donate three million dollars to Springfield and it was decided, thanks to a slick-speaking salesman, that the money will go toward a monorail system, despite protests from Marge. Homer decides to sign up to be the conductor. Eventually Marge learns that this monorail system is not for real and it is a faulty design only used to suck up money.
Overall, this is a really solid episode and one that involves all of Springfield in more of a joint effort. I keep forgetting that these episodes are written by the hilarious Conan O'Brien, so no wonder why we keep getting quality episode after quality episode this season. I rate this episode 9/10.
Great elisode
stuart_jarman21 April 2020
I think I have probably watched this episode dozens of times now and it never gets boring or repetitive. From the opening scenes with Homer's take on the Flintstones song '... about to hit a chestnut tree!' To the image of Mr Burns as Hannibal Lectar...
Just a classic episode from when The Simpsons were at their very best.
Just a classic episode from when The Simpsons were at their very best.
Best Episode
crangus8226 February 2022
Unquestionably the best episode of the Simpsons. Wonderful cameos, the iconic monorail song and an incredible opening sequence that references the Flintstones and Beverly Hills Cop. I love South Park, early Family Guy and Rick & Morty, but this is without doubt the high watermark of 22 mins animated comedy.
They don't make them like they used to...
safenoe9 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I know it's hard to compare the current crop of Simpsons episodes with the classic ones from the first five seasons. Marge vs the Monorail was impressive on so many levels, and the Monorail song will always be unforgettable, an instant hit!
Leonard Nimoy's cameo was inspired (although some may say Ronaldo's cameo in Marge Gamer was the best I guess). Phil Hartman was in top form, and it's still hard to believe he lost his life in tragic circumstances.
I hardly watch the current crop of Simpsons episodes (sorry) but at least episodes like Marge vs the Monorail serve as the gold standard for The Simpsons.
Leonard Nimoy's cameo was inspired (although some may say Ronaldo's cameo in Marge Gamer was the best I guess). Phil Hartman was in top form, and it's still hard to believe he lost his life in tragic circumstances.
I hardly watch the current crop of Simpsons episodes (sorry) but at least episodes like Marge vs the Monorail serve as the gold standard for The Simpsons.
It's the Music, Man!
Hitchcoc1 May 2022
When Mr. Burns is fined three million dollars (pocket change) for dumping toxic waste right in town, Springfield has a windfall. They are about to fix Main Street, when a sort of Harold Hill shows up and talks them into building a monorail. All common sense goes out the window. Cleverly done with an actual heroic act performed by Homer.
It's not Batman!
snoozejonc17 August 2022
A con artist sells Springfield a dodgy monorail system.
This is very strong and memorable episode with great humour.
The strength of 'Marge Vs The Monorail' is the prolific number of gags and the use of characters. Homer and family lead it well; but there is great use of guest characters like Lyle Langley and Leonard Nimoy. Regulars like Mr Burns, Smithers, Mayor Quimby, and Chief Wiggum also have great moments.
Additionally the Monorail song is very funny and the animation is some of the best up this point in the show's run.
This is very strong and memorable episode with great humour.
The strength of 'Marge Vs The Monorail' is the prolific number of gags and the use of characters. Homer and family lead it well; but there is great use of guest characters like Lyle Langley and Leonard Nimoy. Regulars like Mr Burns, Smithers, Mayor Quimby, and Chief Wiggum also have great moments.
Additionally the Monorail song is very funny and the animation is some of the best up this point in the show's run.
On the Fast Track
hellraiser724 February 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Warning do not read unless seen episode.
This is my second favorite episode of the show, the fact this was written by Conan O Brian makes it all the more great. This episode is a hilarity fest from beginning to end, just like the speed of the Monorail it doesn't slow down. In a strange way this episode was a bit prolific in the railway system I have in my hometown Seattle, only difference is that it actually works.
There are a lot of great verbal and visual gags. From seeing the condition of Main Street like seeing some popcorn truck just fall into one huge pothole, explode and popcorn bursts. The conductor outfit Homer wears which is pretty much the Darth Vader outfit the only thing missing is the mask. Let alone the solution to stopping the run away Monorail which in laws of physics wouldn't work but that what makes it all the more funny since it's a cartoon you just roll with it.
Really loved Phil Hartman's performance as Lile Landley whom is inspired by the character Prof. Harold Hill from the musical "The Music Man". He is just a silver tongued sleaze that wants big money in the worst possible way. I love the Monorail song which is hilarious and fun at the same time, I still love to sing along to it.
And of course Lenard Nemoy guest stars he was just dryily hilarious as he is just playing contrary to himself. Each of the scenes he's in are kinda random which makes is why their great, like calming he did something to help the circumstances and beaming out, probably saving Krusty the Clown was his primary mission.
It then comes down to the final minute that just make me crack up as we see three different follies that are just so random, most notably an escalator that goes nowhere. It it just hilarious as each of the people riding it are stupidly riding it and of course you can guess what happens at the end of the ride.
This episode is on the right track.
Rating: 4 stars
This is my second favorite episode of the show, the fact this was written by Conan O Brian makes it all the more great. This episode is a hilarity fest from beginning to end, just like the speed of the Monorail it doesn't slow down. In a strange way this episode was a bit prolific in the railway system I have in my hometown Seattle, only difference is that it actually works.
There are a lot of great verbal and visual gags. From seeing the condition of Main Street like seeing some popcorn truck just fall into one huge pothole, explode and popcorn bursts. The conductor outfit Homer wears which is pretty much the Darth Vader outfit the only thing missing is the mask. Let alone the solution to stopping the run away Monorail which in laws of physics wouldn't work but that what makes it all the more funny since it's a cartoon you just roll with it.
Really loved Phil Hartman's performance as Lile Landley whom is inspired by the character Prof. Harold Hill from the musical "The Music Man". He is just a silver tongued sleaze that wants big money in the worst possible way. I love the Monorail song which is hilarious and fun at the same time, I still love to sing along to it.
And of course Lenard Nemoy guest stars he was just dryily hilarious as he is just playing contrary to himself. Each of the scenes he's in are kinda random which makes is why their great, like calming he did something to help the circumstances and beaming out, probably saving Krusty the Clown was his primary mission.
It then comes down to the final minute that just make me crack up as we see three different follies that are just so random, most notably an escalator that goes nowhere. It it just hilarious as each of the people riding it are stupidly riding it and of course you can guess what happens at the end of the ride.
This episode is on the right track.
Rating: 4 stars
Good episode but could've been better
alexmegas98-465-116601 September 2012
Warning: Spoilers
This is considered to be one of the greatest episodes this show has ever produced. For those who aren't familiar with the plot...well it goes something like this... A mysterious man tries to get everyone in Springfield to support his idea of creating a monorail for the people of Springfield and Marge tries to stop him. Well, here's the problem. Although this episode is hilarious, it doesn't really have a solid plot. It's more like a joke-after-joke episode without any actual story development and character development. The same can be said about other "classic" Simpson episodes like "You Only Move Twice" which in my opinion is one of the most overrated episodes of The Simpsons. Still, this episode provides good laughter so I guess it is worth seeing for every Simpsons fan. It bothers me however that the writer of this episode (Conan O'Brien) makes absolutely no use of guest star Leonard Nemoy. Guest stars usually play a serious role in The Simpsons so this is unacceptable.
Monorail wins every time
Mr-Fusion3 August 2017
Pretty good rule of thumb: the best episodes usually show a flagrant contempt for the town's citizens (a lot like South Park). In this case, the use of a $3 million windfall a mass transit boondoggle rather than much-needed street repairs. On the other hand, don't you wish town halls can be settled so easily with Phil Hartman and a big musical number? The jokes are hopelessly cynical (read: hysterical) and even Leonard Nimoy gets in on the fun. The whole thing's a treat.
8/10
8/10
Bit of a messy episode
IvanJolic2 February 2014
Overall merely a mediocre episode. The problem is that for the most part it just focuses on "laugh-moments", and the storyline gets affected by it. On the other hand, there's some good stuff too, some of the gags are really excellent. The story also gets quite interesting during act 2, only to crash back down again in act 3 due to too many unnecessary (though sometimes funny) gags (the story doesn't develop at all anymore in the third act). The good laughs and fast pace in this episode save it, however you can't help feel that - as Ryan Williams has already pointed out - the episode could have been done better.
Still a 8/10, or a B.
Still a 8/10, or a B.
"Marge vs. the Monorail" is one of the worst episodes in the series...
Zabon8 June 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Overview: This is without a doubt one of my least favorite episodes in the series. I absolutely hated the very simple plot... it makes me wonder if people actually like the episode just because it was written by Conan O'Brien... I'm certainly not going to like something just because it was by someone or just because it has a certain character in an episode. The episode's main idea is to show this guy named Lyle Lanley (a smooth talking con man) who pretty much cons the town into building a monorail which fails. Homer drives the monorail prior to its failure... and that's about it. There wasn't much more to the plot nor was there anything special in terms of character development. They randomly tossed in a guest star appearance of Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek... who did absolutely nothing anyway... so that was a real waste of a character. That may be another reason why people may like the episode... based on a random character appearance or something of this caliber. This is probably one of the worst reasons to rate an episode highly... I'm still confused as to why this episode is highly rated... most of the other episodes amongst the highly rated make more sense to me except for this episode and "You Only Move Twice"... probably the only other episode I despise exceptionally due to failure of providing some form of solid story/plot. In the long run... I'm confused... I tried to break it down...
Story: Well... that's about it... a guy tricks the town into paying for a poorly built monorail... and it fails. Yeah... it's that simple.
Development: There is none... nothing happens in the episode to change or alter the characters... nor does it have any effect on any of the characters.
Lyle Lanley: The character seemed really annoying to me... I completely preferred Hartman's other characters... (for example: Troy McClure and Lionel Hutz)... Hartman's a very good voice actor... so this character definitely isn't the most definitive when it comes to his excellent performances. Overall, Lanley was rather limited in terms of story. He was merely a plot device... and a rather poor one at that... considering I really love well-written plot device characters a lot (they are likely my favorite type of characters, even more than main characters)
Leonard Nimoy: Yeah... uh... he didn't DO anything... even if I was a Star Trek fan (which I'm not)... I wouldn't vote highly JUST because he's on screen. That is completely poor reasoning. Say, for example, one of my favorite Star Wars (which I greatly prefer to star trek) characters (DARTH MAUL) randomly appeared in an episode... I still wouldn't rate the episode highly solely based on this. A character or cameo doesn't make an ENTIRE EPISODE a good episode. This is merely to toss in something extra... not a definitive basis for judgment. I'm neutral for Nimoy, at best. Although I myself don't care about star trek much... I found it rather repetitive and lame in comparison to star wars.
Conan O'Brien: I watched this guy's TV show for a very long time. It was better than his writing... that's for sure. Some people should stick to what they do best. Conan's got a good sense of humor. But this episode wasn't humorous... it was more towards the annoying side if anything. Very poorly written overall. Conan must've just rushed it or something... I know for a fact I wouldn't love an episode JUST 'cause it's by Conan O'Brien... that is just plain stupid reasoning. Even if God wrote an episode... I wouldn't love it JUST 'cause. It has to compel and convince me... it has to move me and soothe me... it must have a climactic impact on me of some type in order for me to feel some form of emotion. Only a hardcore Conan O'Brien fan will love this... JUST because it's by him and nothing else.
The Song: I hated the whole singing scene... just as I hate almost any random singing scenes. Most of the songs are just plain annoying... but this one... this particular one was EXTREMELY annoying. There's a few songs in the series as a whole that I did enjoy (such as "We Do" from "Homer the Great" and the "Dr. Zaius" track from "A Fish Called Selma") but this track was just plain annoying... like those other really annoying tracks from "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious"... those tracks just plain ticked me off.
Overall: I wouldn't recommend this episode... unless for some reason you're a fan of musicals (which I'm not)... there isn't much of a story to it really... okay... so the monorail failed... big deal. It sucked anyway.
Story: Well... that's about it... a guy tricks the town into paying for a poorly built monorail... and it fails. Yeah... it's that simple.
Development: There is none... nothing happens in the episode to change or alter the characters... nor does it have any effect on any of the characters.
Lyle Lanley: The character seemed really annoying to me... I completely preferred Hartman's other characters... (for example: Troy McClure and Lionel Hutz)... Hartman's a very good voice actor... so this character definitely isn't the most definitive when it comes to his excellent performances. Overall, Lanley was rather limited in terms of story. He was merely a plot device... and a rather poor one at that... considering I really love well-written plot device characters a lot (they are likely my favorite type of characters, even more than main characters)
Leonard Nimoy: Yeah... uh... he didn't DO anything... even if I was a Star Trek fan (which I'm not)... I wouldn't vote highly JUST because he's on screen. That is completely poor reasoning. Say, for example, one of my favorite Star Wars (which I greatly prefer to star trek) characters (DARTH MAUL) randomly appeared in an episode... I still wouldn't rate the episode highly solely based on this. A character or cameo doesn't make an ENTIRE EPISODE a good episode. This is merely to toss in something extra... not a definitive basis for judgment. I'm neutral for Nimoy, at best. Although I myself don't care about star trek much... I found it rather repetitive and lame in comparison to star wars.
Conan O'Brien: I watched this guy's TV show for a very long time. It was better than his writing... that's for sure. Some people should stick to what they do best. Conan's got a good sense of humor. But this episode wasn't humorous... it was more towards the annoying side if anything. Very poorly written overall. Conan must've just rushed it or something... I know for a fact I wouldn't love an episode JUST 'cause it's by Conan O'Brien... that is just plain stupid reasoning. Even if God wrote an episode... I wouldn't love it JUST 'cause. It has to compel and convince me... it has to move me and soothe me... it must have a climactic impact on me of some type in order for me to feel some form of emotion. Only a hardcore Conan O'Brien fan will love this... JUST because it's by him and nothing else.
The Song: I hated the whole singing scene... just as I hate almost any random singing scenes. Most of the songs are just plain annoying... but this one... this particular one was EXTREMELY annoying. There's a few songs in the series as a whole that I did enjoy (such as "We Do" from "Homer the Great" and the "Dr. Zaius" track from "A Fish Called Selma") but this track was just plain annoying... like those other really annoying tracks from "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious"... those tracks just plain ticked me off.
Overall: I wouldn't recommend this episode... unless for some reason you're a fan of musicals (which I'm not)... there isn't much of a story to it really... okay... so the monorail failed... big deal. It sucked anyway.
Fading Platinum Era, But Very Good Humor
santifersan5 January 2024
The problem I see with this episode is that the platinum era of the series, which comprises the first three seasons, is already starting to fade here. The first three seasons had a therapeutic value, which declined in the fourth, and by the fifth, it had disappeared entirely.
The plot now serves solely for humor, which is why some people complain that it has a simple plot. Honestly, there are episodes of The Simpsons much more valuable than this one; the only thing is that this episode has some very good humorous moments, a well-crafted villainous secondary character and the portrayal of Leonard Nimoy's character is very amusing here. However, the direction of the episode is not as masterful as in other episodes of the series.
The plot now serves solely for humor, which is why some people complain that it has a simple plot. Honestly, there are episodes of The Simpsons much more valuable than this one; the only thing is that this episode has some very good humorous moments, a well-crafted villainous secondary character and the portrayal of Leonard Nimoy's character is very amusing here. However, the direction of the episode is not as masterful as in other episodes of the series.
A great episode!
housea-053475 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
One of the best Fox TV episodes of the early 1990s. Bolstered by cracking writing for Conan O'Brien, a stellar voice cast, and of course, Phil Hartman as the con man Lyle Lanley, who tricks the crap out of Springfield via his new monorail which-spoilers-leads to destruction and going at 180 miles per hour. And some of the most memorable one-liners.
An Early Example of Wacky Humor Done Right
vlinalter22 November 2020
This episode is really amazing, and very absurd, a quality usually reserved for the later seasons, but unlike the later seasons, this episode gets it right, being actually funny and not just desperately trying to be funny. The main villain of this episode is con man, Lyle Lanely, played expertly by the late Phil Hartman. The monorail song is so hilarious and very catchy. The humor is the episode is some of the best and most funny in any episode and there is a random guest appearance from Leonard Nimoy. Even though there is no clear reason for him to be there it is still really funny unlike some other guest stars I know of from the later seasons...
Overrated episode
mathewtoporov3 August 2023
A lot of people call this the greatest Simpsons episode to air but I think otherwise. Don't get me wrong, this is a fantastic episode with wonderful cameos such as Lanley being voiced by the late Phil Hartman and Leonard Nimoy voicing himself. Besides the wonderful cameos, the rest of the episode is kind of dry having little to no jokes that I personally found unfunny. The story is also pretty bland having no staggering plot twists through out the episode. Overall, I think that this is a pretty solid episode featuring one of the best Simpsons cameos and the iconic monorail song, however I can't say the same for the story and the jokes, being bland and unfunny. 7/10.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
