Team Homer
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"Team Homer" is the 12th episode of The Simpsons' seventh season.
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[edit] Plot
Bart and Milhouse are browsing in The Android's Dungeon. They find a "special edition" of Mad, and eagerly peruse its contents. After they complete the "fold-in," Comic Book Guy forces them to buy the magazine. Back at home, Homer also finds the magazine hilarious.
Later at Moe's, Homer is the only customer. Disappointed, Moe closes the bar early (unaware that Mayor Quimby and his posse were about to come into the bar for multiple drinks). Desperate, Homer and Moe search for another place to spend their evening. At the bowling alley, Homer and Moe are disappointed to learn it is "league night," and they cannot bowl. They find Apu, who is also without a team. Approaching the Squeaky Voiced Teen to announce their intentions to bowl as a team, the trio learn they are one member short. Homer sees Otto at a crane arcade game and claims him as their fourth team member. The Squeaky Voiced Teen again disappoints, asking for a $500 registration fee. Back at the Simpson house, Homer's attempt to prostitute himself to Marge fails. She suggests a team sponsor: Mr. Burns.
The next day at Springfield Elementary School, Mrs. Krabappel is assigning homework. Bart — wearing a sweater — comments that it is extremely hot in the classroom. He slowly removes his sweater, revealing a T-shirt with a MAD iron-on reading "Down with Homework." The shirt sparks a riot in the class. In the hallway, Superintendent Chalmers is evaluating the school. Highly pleased with the school's performance, he prepares to give the school a perfect "10," but curiously decides to record the "0" first. Before the score can be completed, Chalmers is stampeded by Bart's angry classmates.
In Principal Skinner's office, a shirtless Bart hears a story from Skinner's war days. Skinner claims an iron-on t-shirt caused him to be taken captive as a prisoner of war. Momentarily daydreaming, he dismisses Bart without punishment.
Later, in Mr. Burns' office, Smithers is giving Burns a manicure. As Smithers leaves to get more ether, Homer sneaks inside. Burns, high on ether, eagerly gives Homer the $500 sponsorship, having mistaken him for the Pillsbury Doughboy.
Back at the bowling alley, Homer's team debuts their new uniforms: a white t-shirt with "Pin Pals" scrawled in black marker on the back. Their first opponent is the team from the "Channel 6 Wastelanders." As Otto collects a spare for the win, the Pin Pals celebrate with beer while the team from KBBL-TV leaves in disgust. At the Simpsons house, Homer tries to take credit for the team's win when recapping the match to Marge.
The next day, Skinner holds a school assembly to announce the school's new uniform policy. Martin and Lisa model the new uniforms, much to the disgust of the schoolchildren. That night, the Pin Pals face a new opponent: the "DMV Regulation Kings." This victory for the Pin Pals is followed by another over the "Springfield Police Framers," moving the team into 2nd place in their league. The championship trophy within reach, the team observes their next opponent: the "Holy Rollers" (Ned Flanders, Maude Flanders, Reverend Lovejoy, and Helen Lovejoy). Later, Mr. Burns discovers he wrote a check to "Poppin' Fresh" for bowling. Rather than disbanding the team, Burns asks to join it.
Back at Springfield Elementary, the uniforms have worked wonders in decreasing horseplay, youthful exuberance, and high spirits. The students even blink in unison. Even Bart and Nelson are having trouble remembering their old pranks. Superintendent Chalmers' next visit is disturbed only by a bit of rain at recess. However, the rain causes the drab gray color to be washed out, making the uniforms a swirl of tie-dye colors. The playful spirit of the children returns.
Later it's time for the championship game between the Pin Pals and Holy Rollers. Mr. Burns comes into the bowling alley complaining of arthritis in his knee, but Moe (as a "masked stranger") hits Mr. Burns with a crowbar, fixing his disability. The irony is that Moe wanted to injure Mr. Burns. Just as Homer works up the courage to kick Mr. Burns off the team, Burns gives the rest of the team new bowling shirts. Reduced to tears, they let Burns play. In the final frame, the Pin Pals are down by one pin to the Holy Rollers with only Mr. Burns left to bowl. On his final roll, two pins are knocked down from a chain reaction caused by Otto knocking the prize machine over. Burns, in one of his "trademark changes of heart," takes the trophy back to his mansion. Later that night, the team (reunited with Otto) has Homer attempt to steal the trophy. He fails, and is attacked by the hounds as the remaining Pin Pals flee.
[edit] Alternate versions
In the original broadcast version, the name on Homer's Oscar was Haing S. Ngor. In all other versions (including the Season 7 DVD Collection), the name was changed to Don Ameche, presumably out of respect for Ngor, who was killed on 25 February 1996.
[edit] Trivia
- When Mr. Burns discovers a register entry in his checkbook for "bowling," he says to Smithers, "Stop everything! I don't remember writing a cheque for bowling!" And Smithers says, "Uh, sir, that's your boweling." Burns says, "Ah yes." Then he sees the real bowling entry and repeats: "Stop everything! I don't remember writing a cheque for bowling!" Upon replay of this episode in subsequent seasons, Fox cuts the first "bowling/boweling" reference.
- The episode is dedicated to the memory of Doris Grau, a script supervisor and voice provider of Lunchlady Doris.
- This is the last episode David Mirkin was the executive producer and show runner.
- It is revealed in this episode that Squeaky Voiced Teen is the son of Lunchlady Doris.
[edit] Cultural references
- Caddyshack - the final bowling scene is similar to the final golfing scene.
- Cinnaburst commercials - "Those magazines cause a disturbing amount of laughter."
- The Jazz Singer - Doris remarks "I have no son!"
- Nancy Kerrigan - Moe's attempt to sideline Mr. Burns is done in a similar manner to Shane Stant's attempt in 1994.
- Styx - Homer rhymes "Otto" with "Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto."
- A Wrinkle in Time - theme of conformity in the public school; scene of children bouncing balls in unison.
[edit] Bowling teams
- Pin Pals: Homer, Moe, Apu, and Otto (replaced by Mr. Burns)
- Holy Rollers: Reverend Lovejoy, Ned Flanders, Helen Lovejoy, and Maude Flanders
- Channel 6 Wastelanders: Kent Brockman, Krusty the Klown, Arnie Pie, and the Bumblebee Man
- DMV Regulation Kings: Patty Bouvier, Selma Bouvier, and two unnamed workers
- Springfield Police Framers: Chief Wiggum, Lou, Eddie, and Snake (who runs away, and made the team forfeit)
- The Homewreckers: Jacques (the French bowler who tried to seduce Marge from Life on the Fast Lane), Princess Kashmir (the bachelor party stripper from Homer's Night Out), Lurleen Lumpkin (the barmaid/country singer from Colonel Homer), and Mindy Simmons (the female coworker from The Last Temptation of Homer)
- The Stereotypes: Groundskeeper Willie, Luigi the Italian chef, Cletus the Slackjawed Yokel, and Captain McAllister (the Sea Captain). Apparently they begged Apu to join them as well.
[edit] External links
- "Team Homer" episode capsule at The Simpsons Archive
