It’s hard times for the UK economy with the announcement that three million people were unemployed on February 18th 1993.

We’re sure they didn’t take any consolation in the debut of “Duffless” in the US that day. In this episode, Homer battles alcoholism and Lisa reprograms Bart’s brain, all of which is funnier than it sounds.

Along the way we’ll tackle dance crazes, guitar faces, sadistic foley artists, Tory sleaze, negative equity and various “black” days. Please listen and share!

Its a warm February in Springfield as we tackle “I Love Lisa”, the one where Ralph receives the infamous “Choo-choo chose you” card. Along the way we examine the mediocre presidents, including one who died after consuming a surfeit of cherries and iced milk.

For the history, Tom revists the oft-forgotten story of Nebiu Demeke, the last man to carry out a transatlantic plane hijacking.

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Garreth witnesses Phil Hartman gives a masterclass in “Brother From The Same Planet”, broadcast on February 4th 1993. It’s a bit of an unsung classic, featuring no less than twenty eight memeable moments. It also features what looks like an obvious parody (“You’ve been out galavanting with that floozy of a bigger brother haven’t you? Haven’t you? Look at me!”). Tom talks us through the bombing of the World Trade Centre three weeks later, complete with the capers of some bumbling terrorists. And who’s that having a rap cut from a very famous nineties number one? Why not find out inside!

Retrospecticus rides the Whiplash (to be completed in 2026) on January 21st 1993 with Gareth’s thoughts on “Selma’s Choice”, a choice no less impactful for its later reversal, whilst Tom covers the assassination of the fearless Turkish investigative journalist Uğur Mumcu three days later. Along the way we’ll cover the epic history of Türkiye, exclusively reveal the other three of the Seven Duffs, and tell you what we’ve been up to for the last eternity!

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Episode 71 sees our regular intro finally come to fruition as Garreth tackles “Marge Vs The Monorail”, an all-time top-tier stone cold classic! They’ll tie themself in knots with a mega Leonard Nimoy crossover and discuss the ominous return of some omnipresent nineties chart-botherers.

After a record number of Memeable Moments, Tom somehow still has the energy to discuss IBM’s record losses, announced in the same week the episode was first broadcast. He’ll give you the 411 on IBM’s history of inventing everything, and how their hubris led to Bill Gates’ inexorable rise. Take ’em over, boys!

Episode 70, and it’s accidentally seasonal as Garreth looks at the nearest episode to Christmas 1992, “Homer’s Triple Bypass”, and Tom talks “Velvet Divorce” as we wave goodbye to Czechoslovakia. Along the way we’ll address the Twitter elephant in the room, serve up more defenestrations than is strictly healthy and present possibly the worst Randy Savage impression in history. All that and bad cops, this time on Retrospecticus!

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-timed trip to Buckingham Palace ever! (It was taped before last Thursday, we swear…) We’ll also take a look at a mysterious guest star and two unlikely true stories from the episode!

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! Then Tom will talk about the fire at the Royal Family’s second home, Pizza Express in Woking…sorry, we mean Windsor Castle, with a potted history of the royal residence! All that and a Gallic number one, who are you to say no?

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 of E, getting an “Eddie Fact” as we do. Content note: this episode includes a mention of Ann Widdicombe.

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, complain about sexism in fighting games and finally reveal the blood code for the SNES version!* (* = may be a lie)