Simpsons Quizzo

by John Vettese

Nonbelievers simply don't understand us Simpsons fanatics. Ever been met with blank stares when, during casual conversation, you blurt out, "That reminds me of the episode where …" and rant away? Frightened friends with conniptions of laughter because Homer just got told he is worse than Hitler for smoking two cigarettes at once? The exploits of that ageless Springfield family have become a religion for many of us; if you're like me, you grew up watching the series evolve from goofy sketches on The Tracy Ullman Show to the brilliant postmodern satire of American life it is today. But even if you got hooked through your kids, your friends or the hype, The Khyber will be the spot Monday to converge with like minds. Continuing the pub's recent Quizzo series, bartenders Paul Havelin and Tim Brown got the idea for this installment by observing the reaction of happy-hour crowds when that famous yellow logo pops out of the clouds on the TV. Music switches off, all eyes focus on the screen and hilarity ensues. Havelin promises the questioning will run the gamut of the show and be accessible to all skill levels, but won't shy away from hitting the obscure points. So basically, it's a chance to show off how devout you are. I swear by The Simpsons and am ready to feel like an idiot by the end of the night. But I can remember the name of Barney Gumble's cinema verite flick about life as an alcoholic. So there.

Simpsons Quizzo, Mon., May 3, 9 p.m., $5 (for teams of three to five people), The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888.

-- Respond to this article in our Forums -- click to jump there