18.1 The Mook, the Chef, His Wife and Her Homer<\/p>\n
When Fat Tony is sidelined by a mob hit, Bart and Homer take over his “waste management” business: extorting Moe, Krusty, etc.<\/p>\n
Their brief reign ends when Fat Tony’s less than ambitious son proves his moxie and poisons the rival gang.<\/p>\n
This funny episode is an effective homage to mobster movies (with a plot straight from The Godfather\u00a0<\/em>and guest stars from\u00a0The Sopranos<\/em>). At this point in the show’s long run, it was finally shaking the doldrums of its first dip in quality, entering into the first (of many) renaissances.<\/p>\n It’s not the best of the season, but it’s a solid outing.<\/p>\n 18.2 Jazzy and the Pussycats<\/p>\n When Bart makes a scene at the funeral of Homer’s Vegas wife Amber, a therapist suggests he learn to play the drums to channel his anger.<\/p>\n He’s surprisingly good, which sends saxophone-playing Lisa into a tailspin; she turns to collecting animals to cope.<\/p>\n Jealous Lisa is always amusing and I loved the change of pace for Bart.<\/p>\n The references worked for me and I loved the White Stripes cameo.<\/p>\n It was a really fun episode.<\/p>\n 18.3 Please Homer, Don’t Hammer ‘Em<\/p>\n To combat sexist attitudes, Marge uses Homer as a front for a new carpentry business. However, when Homer denies her credit, she leaves him alone to renovate Springfield’s wooden roller coaster with predictably disastrous results.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Bart and Skinner use their respective food allergies (Skinner to peanuts and Bart to shrimp) in a humorous battle.<\/p>\n It’s a classic, zany episode with a salient point. Marge as a put down woman is a little over done for me, but other than that it’s firing on all cylinders.<\/p>\n 18.4 Treehouse of Horror XVII<\/p>\n Homer as a blob is on the nose, but the twist ending with him eating the homeless is funny, and I like the Dr. Phil cameo.<\/p>\n The middle section with the golems (voiced by Fran Drescher and Richard Lewis) is a delightful foray into a lesser known mythology.<\/p>\n The final section is an amusing update of Orson Welles famous War of the Worlds prank and brings Kang and Kodos into the story organically.<\/p>\n It’s not the best Treehouse episode, but it’s a solid hit, continuing a strong run to start the season<\/p>\n 18.5 G.I. (Annoyed Grunt)<\/p>\n Milhouse and Bart are recruited to join the army. To get Bart out of the commitment, Marge convinces Homer to talk to the recruiter, but when he does, he accidentally joins the army himself and his drill sergeant (Kiefer Sutherland) makes his time in the army miserable.<\/p>\n It’s a poor attempt to mine Full Metal Jacket<\/em> for humor. I love Kubrick’s film, but didn’t think this was funny. Homer in the military has been done better and I hated the idea of the guys attacking Springfield.<\/p>\n It was a waste of a Kiefer cameo.<\/p>\n 18.6 Moe’N’a Lisa<\/p>\n After Homer forgets Moe’s birthday, Moe writes an angry letter which Lisa transforms into poetry. Moe becomes a literary sensation, but predictably wants all the credit. However, he’s forced to reconcile with Lisa when he’s unable to create anything else<\/p>\n I love the Moe \/ Lisa dynamic. This is one of the few episodes which gives Moe agency and doesn’t limit him to a sad sack who complains and bemoans his existence, which I appreciated.<\/p>\n I loved the literary guest stars (Tom Wolfe, Gore Vidal, Michael Chabon, and Jonathan Franzen.)\u00a0 This is one of the few shows which can reach out to people in high literary circles and people in the lowest forms of entertainment and have an equal opportunity to have them guest star, a remarkable testament to the show’s broad appeal.<\/p>\n A JK Simmons cameo is an abundance of riches.<\/p>\n This is one of the show’s highlights.<\/p>\n 18.7 Ice Cream of Margie (with the Light Blue Hair)<\/p>\n During another unplanned sabbatical, Homer becomes an ice cream truck driver and a floundering Marge becomes a burgeoning popsicle stick artist.<\/p>\n There’s a funny parody of Oprah, and a memorable exchange between Lenny and Carl, but this is one of the worst episodes of the season. It’s too contrived and the resolution where Marge readily and happy accepts Homer’s point of view is out of character.<\/p>\n Very forgettable, unenjoyable episode.<\/p>\n 18.8 The Haw-Hawed Couple<\/p>\n After Bart is forced to attend Nelson’s birthday party, they become best friends, until a jealous Nelson pushes Bart away. In the B plot, Homer is deeply affected while reading the Angelica Button fantasy series with Lisa.<\/p>\n The pop culture references are spot on (a Goodfellas<\/em> homage and an extended parody of Harry Potter<\/em>).<\/p>\n Nelson’s machismo hiding an inner vulnerability is not utilized enough and I enjoyed the tender side of Homer, shielding Lisa from uncomfortable truths.<\/p>\n It’s a great addition to the season.<\/p>\n 18.9 Kill Gil Vol, Volumes I & II<\/p>\n Gil Gunderson’s act of Christmas kindness to Lisa backfires and gets him fired (in typical Gil fashion). Marge feels bad and lets him crash with them for the holiday, but he overstays his welcome by several months.<\/p>\n When he eventually leaves and becomes a successful realtor in Scottsdale, the Simpsons follow him and once again inadvertently ruin his rare good fortune.<\/p>\n I think Gil (based on a Jack Lemmon performance) is hilarious so I was predisposed to like this, and I love when Marge’s good intentions backfire.<\/p>\n Another solid hit this season.<\/p>\n 18.10 The Wife Aquatic<\/p>\n Homer takes Marge to her childhood family vacation spot, Barnacle Bay, only to discover it’s a rundown derelict. Homer’s efforts to revitalize the city get him conscripted into a local fisherman’s pursuit of the valuable Yum Yum Fish. During their expedition, a massive storm destroys the ship, and everyone briefly thinks Homer has perished.<\/p>\n There’s a few solid moments, but this is one of the weaker episodes of the season.<\/p>\n “Homer’s best laid plans go bad,” is not foundational to a good episode. There are exceedingly few original variations on this formula.<\/p>\n 18.11 Revenge is a Dish Best Served Three Times<\/p>\n When Rich Texan cuts Homer off, he swears revenge. To dissuade him, Marge, Lisa and Bart tell three stories illustrating the danger of vengeance. Marge tells a version of The Count of Monte Cristo<\/em>, Lisa a story about a nerd (Milhouse) who attacks his bullies, and Bart the origin story of Bartman (oddly similar to a certain Caped Crusader).<\/p>\n It’s a weak concept and a weak episode.<\/p>\n The thru line is pedestrian. The mini episodes are not funny.<\/p>\n I really like The Treehouse<\/em> anthology, but what makes it special is its uniqueness. At some point, the show decided to feature at least two anthology episodes a year, doing something close to Simpsons <\/em>sketch comedy. This provides flexibility, but sometimes leads to uninspired episodes like this.<\/p>\n 18.12 Little Big Girl<\/p>\n Lisa falsely claims Native American heritage to get ahead in school. Meanwhile, Bart puts out a fire (which he had started) and is rewarded with a driver’s license and begins a romantic relationship with Darcy (Natalie Portman), who wants to get married because she’s pregnant with someone else’s baby.<\/p>\n The plot is too much. Lisa brazenly lying is out of character and Bart’s storyline is wildly uncomfortable.<\/p>\n One of the lesser episodes of the season.<\/p>\n 18.13 Springfield Up<\/p>\n Documentarian Declan Desmond (Eric Idle) returns for his periodic look into the lives of Springfield’s residents in the latest edition of\u00a0Growing Up Springfield, <\/em>focusing attention on Homer who unsuccessfully fakes being a success.<\/p>\n Homer and Declan eventually reconfigure what their definition of success is and frame Homer’s happy home life as a goal and not something to be dismissed lightly.<\/p>\n I love the\u00a0Up\u00a0<\/em>series, a thoughtful, moving portrait of the human condition.<\/p>\n This is an effective homage. A+<\/p>\n 18.14 Yokel Chords<\/p>\n When Bart is forced to see a psychiatrist (Meg Ryan), he develops a close bond with her. Meanwhile, Lisa tutors the Spuckler children and works to prevent their exploitation as child stars by Krusty and Cletus.<\/p>\n I really enjoyed the expanded look at the Spuckler family, and Brandine’s military career was a nice character detail.<\/p>\n The cameos were superb, Meg Ryan was excellent and I loved the meta casting of Peter Bogdanovich as the psychiatrist’s psychiatrist (a nod to his Sopranos<\/em>\u00a0role.) Stephen Sondheim on The Simpsons<\/em> is a dream cameo and James Patterson was funnier than expected.<\/p>\n One of my favorite one off gags is an ill prepared Homer packing Lisa’s lunch bag with a drawing of a sandwich.<\/p>\n This is an excellent episode.<\/p>\n 18.15 Rome-Old and Julie-Eh<\/p>\n Bart and Lisa trick a delivery company to provide them with extra cardboard boxes to build a fort which leads to an absurd “war.”<\/p>\n In the A-story, Homer’s financial worries leads to a revaluation of Grampa’s living situation which, in turn, inexplicably leads to Grandpa and Selma getting married.<\/p>\n I love episodes focused on Selma’s absurdly sad love life and I love her home life with Ling. Grandpa centric episodes always bring a smile to my face and the absurdity of the Bart Lisa storyline was perfection.<\/p>\n One of the best this season has to offer.<\/p>\n 18.16 Homerazzi<\/p>\n After a fire burns their pictures and Marge tries to desperately restage them, Homer stumbles into a side hustle as a paparazzi taking pictures of Springfield celebrities.<\/p>\n The guest stars were game (JK Simmons, Jon Lovitz and Betty White), but it’s a thin episode.<\/p>\n This commentary has been done better elsewhere and “Homer side job” is a genre I don’t need more of.<\/p>\n 18.17 Marge Gamer<\/p>\n Marge joins the internet and starts playing a MMORPG with Bart, leading to intergenerational conflict. Homer refs Lisa’s soccer game, leading to intergenerational conflict.<\/p>\n It’s a by the numbers episode. Family conflict resolved in twenty minutes, both sides learn about themselves, throw in a guest star (Ronaldo).<\/p>\n It’s pedestrian and feels like an obligation.<\/p>\n 18.18 The Boys of Bummer<\/p>\n Homer gets a job selling mattresses after falling asleep in a store. When he sells an uncomfortable mattress to Reverend Lovejoy, they fight over who gets to keep a good mattress for sex.<\/p>\n Bart is instrumental in getting the Springfield Little League to the championship game, but after his poor play costs them a victory, he’s mercilessly ridiculed and ostracized.<\/p>\n I appreciated the critique of the “what have you done for me lately” mentality of sports fandom, but the episode is too mean and doesn’t offer enough levity. The flash forward implying Bart was eternally defined by a fleeting moment from a meaningless childhood game was a depressing outcome.<\/p>\n It’s not the worst the season has the offer, but in this season, that’s faint praise.<\/p>\n 18.19 Crook Ladder<\/p>\n Marge attempts to wean Maggie off her pacifier, leading to sleepless nights, leading to Homer taking Ambien, leading to him sleepwalking, leading to him sleepdriving Milhouse and Bart, leading to an accident, leading to Homer becoming a volunteer fireman, leading to him stealing from the homes he rescues, leading to a moral dilemma (where Marge steps in to make sure Homer chooses correctly).<\/p>\n I love rabbit hole episodes with severe turns totally disconnected from the inciting action, and few shows do this better than The Simpsons<\/em>.<\/p>\n This is the show in stride.<\/p>\n 18.20 Stop, or My Dog Will Shoot!<\/p>\n After Santa’s Little Helper rescues Homer from a cornfield maze, the family pet is hired as a police dog. Unfortunately, the stress of his new position causes the family to send him to live with Lou.<\/p>\n But when Bart’s new pet (an African Rock Python) causes a toxic waste incident at school, Santa’s Little Helper returns to save the day.<\/p>\n I always enjoy a Stephen Hawking cameo, but this episode didn’t land for me, I especially didn’t like how quickly the family sent SLH packing.<\/p>\n It feels like the show was focused on the upcoming 400th episode and let the some of the episodes building up to the milestone suffer.<\/p>\n 18.21 24 Minutes<\/p>\n Skinner puts Lisa in charge of the new Counter Truancy Unit (CTU).<\/p>\n Kiefer Sutherland and Mary Lynn Rajskub reprise their\u00a024<\/em> roles as Jack Bauer and Chloe O’Brian respectively in this clever send up. There’s double agents, defectors, split screens and a ticking clock.<\/p>\n 24<\/em> was a hugely popular show which has somehow turned into a relic less than twenty years after its finale. Sadly, its conspiracy theory driven plots seem all too realistic now.<\/p>\n I loved 24<\/em> and this parody is a perfect encapsulation of what made the show great.<\/p>\n The best this season of The Simpsons <\/em>has to offer.<\/p>\n 18.22 You Kent Always Say What You Want<\/p>\n During an interview with Homer, a frustrated Kent Brockman accidentally swears on air. A huge FTC fine pressures the station to first demote and later fire him.<\/p>\n When a despondent Kent reveals Fox’s plan to funnel funds from the fines generated by their outrageous programming into the Republican Party, an outraged Lisa convinces him to expose the practice.<\/p>\n However, when the Republican cabal offers Kent his old job back with a substantial raise in exchange for burying the story, he quickly abandons any pretense of principles, leaving Lisa to question the point of modern journalism.<\/p>\n This is a slightly lower than average episode. The jokes were obvious and I’m always unimpressed when The Simpsons<\/em> does “edgy” jokes at the expense of their corporate parent and longtime home.<\/p>\n It’s not courageous to speak truth to power while cashing the checks the power gives you.<\/p>\n For my taste, I wish they had flipped the order and let the previous episode air as #400. It’s a superior episode and not as ham-fisted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 18.1 The Mook, the Chef, His Wife and Her Homer When Fat Tony is sidelined by a mob hit, Bart and Homer take over his “waste management” business: extorting Moe, Krusty, etc. Their brief reign ends when Fat Tony’s less than ambitious son proves his moxie and poisons the rival gang. This funny episode is… Continue reading Stuck at Home(r): Season 18<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2032],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-stuck-at-homer","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/tenkmovies.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/tenkmovies.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/tenkmovies.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tenkmovies.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tenkmovies.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14315"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/tenkmovies.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14315\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14316,"href":"http:\/\/tenkmovies.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14315\/revisions\/14316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/tenkmovies.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tenkmovies.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tenkmovies.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
\n 1<\/td>\n 24 Minutes (18.21)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 2<\/td>\n Rome-Old and Julie-eh (18.15)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 3<\/td>\n The Haw-Hawed Couple (18.8)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 4<\/td>\n Moe’N’a Lisa (18.6)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 5<\/td>\n Kill Gill, Volumes I & II (18.9)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 6<\/td>\n Springfield Up (18.13)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 7<\/td>\n Crook and Ladder (18.19)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 8<\/td>\n Yokel Chords (18.14)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 9<\/td>\n Please Homer, Don’t Hammer ‘Em (18.3)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 10<\/td>\n Jazzy and the Pussycats (18.2)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 11<\/td>\n The Mook, the Chef, the Wife, and Her Homer (18.1)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 12<\/td>\n Treehouse of Horror XVII (18.4)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 13<\/td>\n The Boys of Bummer (18.18)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 14<\/td>\n Marge Gamer (18.17)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 15<\/td>\n You Kent Always Say What You Want (18.22)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 16<\/td>\n The Wife Aquatic (18.10)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 17<\/td>\n Homerazzi (18.16)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 18<\/td>\n G.I. (Annoyed Grunt) (18.5)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 19<\/td>\n Revenge is a Dish Best Served Three Times (18.11)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 20<\/td>\n Little Big Girl (18.12)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 21<\/td>\n Ice Cream of Margie (with the Light Blue Hair) (18.7)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 22<\/td>\n Stop, Or My Dog Will Shoot! (18.20)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n