Homer the Smithers

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The Simpsons episode
"Homer the Smithers"

Episode no.	145
Prod. code	3F14
Orig. Airdate	February 25, 1996
Show Runner(s)	Bill Oakley Josh Weinstein
Written by	John Swartzwelder
Directed by	Steven Dean Moore
Couch gag	The Simpsons drive around the living room dressed as shriners in tiny cars. They park in a row in front of the TV. They then honk twice, like Marge does in the intro.
DVD commentary by	Bill Oakley Josh Weinstein Steven Dean Moore
SNPP capsule
Season 7 September 17, 1995 – May 19, 1996
Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part Two) Radioactive Man Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily Bart Sells His Soul Lisa the Vegetarian Treehouse of Horror VI King-Size Homer Mother Simpson Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular Marge Be Not Proud Team Homer Two Bad Neighbors Scenes from the Class Struggle in Springfield Bart the Fink Lisa the Iconoclast Homer the Smithers The Day the Violence Died A Fish Called Selma Bart on the Road 22 Short Films About Springfield Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in "The Curse of the Flying Hellfish" Much Apu About Nothing Homerpalooza Summer of 4 Ft. 2
List of all Simpsons episodes...

"Homer the Smithers" is the seventeenth episode of The Simpsons' seventh season, which originally aired February 25, 1996. It was written by John Swartzwelder and directed by Steven Dean Moore.

1 Synopsis
2 Trivia
3 Cultural references
4 External links

[edit] Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

After a company night out to the Springfield drag races, Waylon Smithers fails to protect Mr. Burns from a drunken Lenny. Though he tries to make amends the next day, Smithers tries and fails to drown himself. Burns suggests that he take a vacation. Smithers purposely chooses Homer to be his replacement due to his incompetence. However, Homer fails to work to the specifications of Burns' rigid orders, the long hours, and Burns continually berates Homer for every little thing he does. In his rage, Homer punches Burns. He then panics and runs home, fearing he's killed him.

Homer goes to apologize, but is turned away by Burns (who suffered just a black eye) out of fear. With no one around, Burns learns to do everything himself, such as making coffee and operating the telephone, instead of relying on Smithers. Smithers returns early and is fired, as he is no longer needed. Homer tries to help him in a scheme to get his job back by getting Burns to handle a call from his mother (the one task he still cannot do), but it backfires. After Homer and Smithers engage in a fist fight, Burns is pushed out a window and is injured. Smithers then gets his job back to care for Burns, and Homer is rewarded with a basket of fruits from Smithers.

[edit] Trivia

Smithers appears to take his vacation at a gay resort. There are several clues to this, including the fact that there are only men seen in the dance club, and that he drives a speedboat pulling along a pyramid of men in pink speedos. He also makes a point of his reluctance to bring Mr. Burns any pictures of his vacation. Many fans of the show believe that the resort is the real gay holiday resort Fire Island. Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Relax is playing in the background as Mr. Smithers calls Burns before being pushed into a conga line.
In this episode Smithers finds in exceedingly difficult to find a job, but in "You Only Move Twice" he says that he cannot walk down the street without being offered a job.
The answer to the Junior Jumble is DETH, not a real word, but could mean "Death".
The episode suggests that Moe's phone number is 764-8437(7), which is the telephone equivalent of Smithers.

[edit] Cultural references

At the end of the episode, Smithers is feeding Mr. Burns peanuts, and Mr. Burns opens his mouth and makes a clicking noise, as in A Clockwork Orange when Alex is being fed by the Minister of the Interior. The manner in which Burns becomes injured is also similar to Alex: they both take a potentially life-threatening fall from a top story window.
Homer is punched in the stomach, which traps the assailant's hand within the fat. This is a reference to Terminator 2: Judgment Day, in which the T-800 punches the T-1000's head, only to be enveloped by liquid metal.
Smithers sensing something is wrong with Mr Burns is similar to Hallorann sensing something is wrong with Danny in the 1980 film The Shining.