Dancin' Homer

So we finally reached season 2's first non A-/A episode. It's actually one of a very few episodes I would call boring in the classic era. It's not boring in the fact that it doesn't have many gag(it doesn't really) but the plot moves a slow pace for no reason. There is nothing added to any characters by the episode movie slowly i.e Bart vs. Thanksgiving. The episode though does have some high points and was written by Ken Levine and David Isaacs.

The plot starts where many Simpson's episodes would start at Moe's. But this trip to Moe's isn't one Homer enjoys because everyone just wants to hear his fall from grace or how Homer puts it "how he became a loser". He eventually gives in and tells his tale. So the SNPP employees and their families are given tickets to see the towns minor league team play. The team is of course terrible to match the typical Springfield aspect. The team is filled up with young up and comers and a few older players particularly Flash Baylor who provides a decent gag by hitting on Marge for an autograph for Bart. There a re a few decent gags before the start of the game i.e Homer on the jumbo tron and Burns throwing the ball. But Bleeding Gums singing the anthem is a failed gag and one of the worst of the classic era in my books. Burns is forced to sit with the employees to prove he is indeed their friend. Of course he is seated beside Homer which to Homer means he won't be able to get rowdy and drink lots of beer. But to his amazement Burns wants to drink with him. The gags here seem a bit off with Burns drinking with Homer and yelling at players but I did laugh at them. The Isotopes are about to lose their 27th game in a row but they have the bases loaded in this game in the bottom of the 9th. So Homer musters up the courage and begins to dance to pump up the crowd and the players to every one's amazement it works and the Isotopes win. Burns is of course disgusted with Homer's behaviour and it earns him a banned for life from all SNPP related activities. The astonishing thing about this is this the end of the first act and it's something like 9/10 minutes long. That's crazy because it leaves so little room for plot development and it really shows in the next two acts.

So Homer's career being a mascot begins. It's a pretty bland 5 minutes of a second act. It's a quick flash montage of Homer dancing to a reggae beat in one of the games. Homer is of course an enormous hit and becomes more famous than The Isotopes. Homer even gets put on a t-shirt and a nice self referential jokes is made. But Homer just as he is becoming the biggest thing is called up to be a mascot for Capital City. It's a tough decision for Homer but the kids and Marge agree to go to please Homer(mostly at Marge's approval). Lisa says something that has always stuck with me despite this episodes lack of real punch in "we're too small for Capital City....."everyone here has forgiven us. It is really telling about The Simpsons and status quo in Springfield and how everyone just puts up with their antics because they're Springfieldian. So Bart says his good bye to Milhouse and Flanders comes to say his good byes and cries. Overall it's pretty cornball stuff. But the act ends on a decent not of Homer saying good bye to the fans a la Pride of the Yankees.

The family then heads to the city and these brief scenes are what I think are the top of this episode. The lighting as they enter the city is particularly nice and creates a really nice atmosphere. The Simpsons are entranced by everything they see in the city street crime, duff brewery etc. So it's time for Homer's big day he is a mascot at a big league game. He meets the Capital city Goofball who is a decent guest star. The kids and Marge get their free seats which they assumed would be close to the field but are in fact at the very top of the stadium. Homer is too nervous to even concentrate on the game and when it is finally his chance to replace the Goofball he shines. Well he thought he would. He says he danced better than he ever had and everything but the crowd has no reaction. The crowd in a hilarious snobbish way dismiss Homer as being from the sticks and not ready for the big leagues. Homer is of course devastated to be fired and thinks the family will be upset with him but the family is able to put their feelings behind them about the sudden moves and able to cheer Homer up. I think this is where the episode should've ended but they decided to have one last wrap around at Moe's and it is decent but I preferred to end it on a bitter sweet ending of the ball park.

The problems I have with this episode are almost what I have wrong with lots of episodes in the post classic era. This episode's flaws of course aren't as drastic as the post classic era's are but regardless the episode seems terrible compared to the brilliance of season 2. The wraparounds are a terrible idea and just seem like useless filler. None of them add anything or bring anything funny to the episode like THOH wraparounds do. The plot moves at way to slow of a pace to be good. I have no problem with episodes being of a slow pace indeed most of season 2 is but this one was slow and had no benefits for it being slow. There is no character development and is just a silly Homer gets a job episode(one the worst ones of the classic era). While none of the characters are out of character except maybe Burns but that was for the sake of trying to act friendly. There is nothing added to them and nothing said about them. You never feel anything for Homer. You don't feel happy when he succeeds or sad when he fails and I think you can credit that to the first act taking the majority of the time without leading to any build up.

Grade:C+