“My god man, I’ve watered her down as far as she’ll go.  I cannot water no more!” – Groundskeeper Willie 

There were three competitive curling scenes in this episode.  They all started and ended the same way.  I don’t think they recycled any footage but, really, would it surprise you?  In between curling segments the audience was repeatedly clubbed in the face with the fact that Homer and Marge love each other and a number of clock killing montages, including a hallucination, a one joke opening ceremony, and a Fantasia take off that finally got us to the credits. 

Despite appearing and disappearing seemingly at random, Skinner and his mother had a plot . . . well “arc” is probably too strong a word.  Plot “dimple” maybe?  I’m not sure.  Also, Lisa and Bart were there and Bob Costas did his best Mitch Albom impression by pretending to satirize his profession. 

Anyway, continuing their policy of having one good joke per episode I did laugh at the “joyous” Swedes.  But even that little pleasure was sucked out when the Swedes came back near the end and did nothing.  Screen time must have been at a premium.  The real Bob Costas and the actual Olympics were on opposite this, so if we’re lucky the ratings will be just as awful as two weeks ago.