Episode AABFO8
Written by Tom Martin, George Meyer, Brian Scully and Mike Scully
Directed by Steven Dean Moore
Also starring: Pamela Hayden, Tress MacNeille, Karl Weidergott
Special guest voices: Troy Aikman (as himself), Rosey Grier ( as himself), Dan Marino (as himself), John Madden (as himself), Pat Summerall (as himself), Dolly Parton (as herself), Rupert Murdoch (as himself), Fred Willard (as Wally Kogen)

Premise: Homer's new friend Wally Kogen can get tickets for the ball game and, with a coachload of their mates, they head off. However, Wally's tickets are fakes and they have to find another way of getting in.

Features: Carl, Lenny, Moe, Barney, barflies, Jasper, Chief Wiggum, Skinner, Milhouse, Martin, Nelson, Sherri and Terri, Lewis, Richard, Wendell, Ralph, Rev. Lovejoy, Ned Flanders, Maude Flanders, Mr van Houten, Dr Hibbert, Bumblebee Man, Android's Dungeon Guy, Captain McCallister, Krusty, Sideshow Mel, Apu, Spotty Boy, Dr Nick Riviera.

Couch: The couch is sunk by an iceberg and only Maggie survives.

Trivia:

• As the gang race for the stadium, they are accompanied by Song 2, a 1997 hit for Blur.
• Dolly Parton leaves the boys to go and sing a song with actor Rob Lowe and industrial instrumentalists and dancers, Stomp.

Homage: Well, the couch gag owes itself to Titanic (James Cameron, 1997). This episode's title is borrowed from Sunday, Bloody Sunday (John Schlesinger, 1971) but certainly not the plot.

Notes for Brits: Working on the assumption that neither Ms Parton nor Mr Murdoch need introduction, Aikman, Grier and Marino are sportsmen, and Summerall and Madden are sports commentators.

Look out for: Rupert Murdoch living up to his description as the billionaire tyrant, plus cameos from Vincent Price (no one can quite remember whether he's dead or not) and President Clinton who, in the wake of the Lewinsky affair, is having his curtains measured by Al Gore. Already dated, but nicely observed.

Notes: A thoroughly enjoyable romp through what happens when a bunch of lads go for a Sunday out at the ball game. It's not quite sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, but both Dolly Parton and, bizarrely, Rupert Murdoch - spice things up nicely. By far the most engaging thing is Wally Kogen. A shame he doesn't join our regulars.