(originally aired February 26, 1995)
This is one of those episodes that kind of falls into the ether of the classic seasons. We all remember the Stonecutters and Bart’s comet, but is anyone’s favorite episode the one where Patty and Selma lend Homer money? Probably not. It’s a more low-key, character driven episode, similar to what we’d see in season 2 or 3, but with decidedly more wacky jokes and bits. Look no further than the source of Homer’s money woes: sinking his whole life savings in pumpkin stocks (“They’ve been going up the whole month of October and I got a feeling they’re going to peak right around January,”) leaving him broke very quickly. Similar to what we’ve seen before, Homer keeps the family money woes from Marge. His sole role in the family is to be the provider, and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep it that way. His final resort brings him to his lowest point: agreeing to take a loan from Patty and Selma, who of course are quick to take advantage of him at every turn.
Around this, we have a B-story featuring Bart getting stuck in ballet for P.E. Odd that a school so underfunded as Springfield Elementary would have many, many choices for a grade school physical education concentration. What school has that? Anyway, it isn’t long before Bart is overtaken by the allure of the dance, as tutored by the ballet instructor, voiced by Susan Sarandon. It’s mostly an empty plot that’s sort of an extensive set-up to a predictable pay-off. Not wanting to be the subject of ridicule, Bart does his first public performance in a mask. The bullies, who previously had been shown to have daintier tendencies, are enthralled by the performance. Inspired by this, Bart reveals his identity and defends doing what he loves… and is chased out by the bullies anyway. It’s the typical Simpsons subversion you can see from a mile away, but I do like how in the end, Bart undoes himself by attempting to leap over a chasm and failing. The bullies are satisfied (“Well, as long as he’s hurt.”) Also, Sarandon’s advice to Bart (“Leap like you’ve never leapt before!”) seems like a reference to one of the very first Simpsons shorts where Homer urges Bart to leap into his arms.
It may be small in scale, but this episode is incredibly solid, where each bit of information in the main story is integral. Homer attempts to repay his dues by working as a limo driver, only to be pulled over and told he must apply for a chauffeur’s license at the DMV, leading to a final confrontation with the gruesome twosome. Patty and Selma nitpick Homer at every turn, of course resulting in a failed test. The two are so overstimulated with joy that they instinctively light their cigarettes, getting them in hot water with their supervisor, threatening to deny them their promotions, which is what they came over the house for to celebrate in their first scene. What started as a simple bit at the beginning ends up as being a big piece of the final climax. It’s small stuff, but it makes these episodes feel more meaningful. Also upon arriving at the DMV, Marge comments how she doesn’t like seeing her husband and her sisters fight all the time (a sentiment she very rarely seems to express), which later makes Homer feel guilty for taking pleasure over the two getting in trouble, and ultimately saving them in the end, a gesture and sacrifice he makes solely for his wife’s sake. It’s really a shining moment for Homer, and may be one of my favorite endings to any show.
Tidbits and Quotes
– Great moment where Homer lights his cigar with a dollar bill like a showman, then immediately puts it out and back into his wallet, which is filled with other slightly burnt bills. Lenny comments, “Hey, Homer! How come you’ve got money to burn? Or singe, anyway?”
– Lovely bit of animation where Homer pulls the couch out of the house, dumps his sisters-in-law out on the lawn and pulls it back in. I also like how the sisters clung their nails into the couch prior, implying previous incidents where Homer has physically thrown them out. Marge tries to do some damage control (“I’m sorry: Homer doesn’t mean to be rude, he’s just a very complicated man.”) Homer appears from the upstairs window, smashes a plate over his head and yells, “Wrong!” I always like how cruel Patty and Selma are to Homer as well, and aren’t shy on telling Marge (“Granted, you got some kids out of him, but when the seed have been planted, you throw away the envelope.”)
– Gotta mention dear ol’ Rat Boy (“Bart, I told you before, stop gnawing on the drywall.”)
– Bart greets a glorious morning (“The sun is out, birds are singing, bees are trying to have sex with them, as is my understanding.”)
– The drawing of Homer with his fake grin when Patty and Selma show up at the house in the second act is so fucking funny. So much care was put into these classic years, where even though the show isn’t that visually elaborate, the drawings themselves still elicit laughs, as good animation should.
– I like how Lenny and Carl are planning on stopping by Moe’s for a Zima (“Homer, quit wallowing in self-pity. Pull yourself together and come get drunk with us.”)
– The ballet teacher isn’t so in touch with American youth when Bart complains about his required attire (“But so many of your heroes wear tights: Batman, for example, and… Magellan.”)
– Great moment when Patty and Selma force Homer to act like a dog, then Marge comes in and asks what’s going on. Homer tries to give an explanation, but he’s still locked into talking like Scooby-Doo while on his knees. Then we have the big reveal of the I.O.U. note, illuminated by the lamp. Not only does it make no sense for the light to shine through, but it lands face up so it wouldn’t even be oriented correctly on the wall. Regardless, Marge completely saves it with the great line, “Homer! Is this projection accurate?”
– I like the risque carnival gag paper with the headline of Bart being World’s Greatest Sex Machine. What kind of carnival was this they’d give that to a child?
– I guess I should comment on Mel Brooks… fine appearance, I guess. I really haven’t seen a lot of his films, so there’s not really much I can say about his scene.
– Like “Flaming Moe’s,” we get another great bit of Homer completely failing to be subtle in his sarcasm (“Okay, Marge, I’ll get along with them. Then, I will hug some snakes… yes! Then, I will hug and kiss some poisonous snakes. …now that’s sarcasm.”)
– I like how panicked Homer gets during the driver’s test. He’s at the end of his rope and is quickly learning he’s in a no-win scenario (“Being a jerk. Minus a million points!”)
– I absolutely love Homer’s flat delivery as he sucks down both cigarettes, coughing (“I am in flavor country.”) The supervisor asks is they’re both his, he responds, “It’s a big country.”
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I love how Homer thinks “Young Frankenstein” is a horror movie.
The DMV supervisor’s reprimand of Homer is outstanding, too –
“Girls, I apologize. You, sir, are worse than Hitler!” – and then smacks him across the face.
My friends and I use the Hitler line amongst ourselves all the time.
Mel Brooks was written in the episode when he showed up with Anne Bancroft (his wife) when she came in to record for “Fear of Flying.” I don’t blame the writers for not passing up the opportunity.
This is definitely one of my favourites. I can’t get enough of “Homer! is this projection accurate?” and of course “Well, as long as he’s hurt.”
I was a sweet and innocent child so it took my years to get the “TS” joke at the start.
There were quite a few times “T.S.” was said in the early seasons. I’m surprised they got away with it, but then I’d think the censors probably didn’t know what it meant. I didn’t… until I thought about it.
How can you not like Mel Brooks, Mike? I was introduced to his movies about 7 years ago and wondered where they had been all my life. Most of them are utterly fantastic be it the normal highly praised ones like Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, Spaceballs, History of the World, to even the under appreciated ones like High Anxiety and Silent Movie.
Anyway, this episode is very funny and I agree about the scene when Homer tosses the sisters out on the couch. Although I think my favorite moment is when he is tossing them out of the house and accidentally throws Marge out, so he runs out to grab her before throwing Selma out.
As for the Bart subplot, it’s fine. It’s funny and I love how the bullies love his work until he reveals himself. Although, my favorite line is, “No, I fear the girls will laugh at me… I’m afraid the boys will beat me up.”
Oh, I also like how the Homer moment of him setting his bill on fire so he can light up a cigarette is done in the exact opposite manner that Krusty did it two episodes beforehand.
Agree with you about everything. And Mel Brooks is a genius (at least for the biggest part of his career).
There’s one gag no one here has mentioned, but it’s one of my absolute favorites. It’s when Homer, in his rage, throws Patty out the house, and then Marge follows, before Homer gets her and throws out Selma. I know it’s not the funniest the show has ever done, but just the idea of Homer being so incensed at P+S he wanted rid of anything associated with them kills me.
Also, “I never wanna see you again! …You either.”
No mention of Homer’s dream? “Why would *you* need to see it? *You’re* the genius who invented… the product in question.”
Needless to say, it’s left to the viewers to decide what the invention actually is and what it actually does, besides looking like some sort of miniature mine and fitting in the palm of the hand.
And some great dialogue when Marge wakes Homer up:
Marge: “There’s still a few minutes till our usual bedtime!”
Homer: “Oh, my invention! All our money problems could have been –”
Marge: “Money problems? Homer, are we in some sort of fiduciary trouble?”
A pretty good episode. It’s not the most memorable episode admittedly, but it is a pretty solid story. The ending is really great, too. There’s some good humor, such as Homer with the plate yelling out the window, Homer trying to escape the police with his car in park, the weird TV gag, Rat Boy, the pumpkins, and his excuse for having two cigarettes. While the craziness of the past few episodes has been well handled and made up some hilarious episode, it’s nice to have a more low key episode (as you said, the plot of this episode could’ve been done back in season 2 or 3).
I mean, it was the 90s… Moms might have been uptight, carnies were not. They’d sell whatever to a kid.
It seems almost unthinkable to me to not “get” Mel Brooks. I could see not liking the more low brow ones, but really? Anyway this cameo was pretty wasted, he only had one decent bit. And I didn’t pick up at all on the gag where he’s still in his silly yiddish voice when he asks “Vat’s vit de- what’s with the siren?” because it was too brief and too subtle.
But it wasn’t nearly as wasted as the Cheech and Chong cameo episode. You KNOW they would have done one sooner, if the two weren’t in the middle of a schism. By the time they got back together, even the somewhat creative plotting of that episode (reversing their real-life creative differences) wasn’t able to cover the zombie stink.