Team Homer: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Simpsons episode |
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| season = 7 |
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| episode = 12 |
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| director = [[Mark Kirkland]]<ref name="book"/> |
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| prod_code = 3F10 |
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| writer = [[Mike Scully]]<ref name="book"/> |
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| airdate = {{Start date|1996|01|07}} |
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| blackboard = "I am not certified to remove [[asbestos]]"<ref name="book">{{cite book |last=Groening |first=Matt |authorlink=Matt Groening |editor1-first=Ray |editor1-last=Richmond |editor1-link=Ray Richmond |editor2-first=Antonia |editor2-last=Coffman |title=[[The Simpsons episode guides#The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family|The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family]] |edition=1st |year=1997 |location=New York |publisher=[[HarperPerennial]] |lccn=98141857 |ol=433519M |oclc=37796735 |isbn=978-0-06-095252-5 |page=[https://archive.org/details/simpsonscomplete00groe/page/193 193] |ref={{harvid|Richmond & Coffman|1997}} }}.</ref> |
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[[David Mirkin]] |
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| couch_gag = The Simpsons run to and sit on the couch as normal and the camera zooms in on a nearby mousehole, where a family of mice resembling the Simpsons scurries to and sits on its couch. |
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| commentary = [[Matt Groening]]<br />[[David Mirkin]]<br />Mike Scully<br />Mark Kirkland |
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| next = [[Two Bad Neighbors]] |
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[[Mike Scully]] |
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[[Mark Kirkland]] |
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"I am not certified to remove asbestos" |
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{{ListGenBot-SourceStart|SimpsonsCouchGags|SimpsonsCouchGagsS07}} |
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The family run in and sit down as normal. The camera zooms in on a mouse hole to the right of the couch, and a family of five Simpson-esque mice run in and sit down on their own couch. |
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| guest_star = |
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[[Doris Grau]] as [[Lunchlady Doris]] |
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| season = 7 |
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"'''Team Homer'''" is the twelfth episode of the [[The Simpsons season 7|seventh season]] of the American animated television series ''[[The Simpsons]]''. It originally aired on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] in the United States on January 7, 1996. In the episode, [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] starts a [[bowling]] team with [[Moe Szyslak|Moe]], [[Apu Nahasapeemapetilon|Apu]], and [[Otto Mann|Otto]]. When [[Mr. Burns]] discovers the team was funded with his money, he insists on joining, but the team fears he will cost them the league championship. In the subplot, Bart's "Down with Homework" T-shirt incites a school riot, so [[Principal Skinner]] implements a uniform dress code. |
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"'''Team Homer'''" is the 12th episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki> [[List of The Simpsons episodes#Season 7: 1995-1996|seventh season]]. |
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The episode was written by [[Mike Scully]] and directed by [[Mark Kirkland]]. Scully came up with the idea for it when he went bowling one day. The episode features cultural references to ''[[Mad (magazine)|Mad]]'' magazine and the film ''[[Caddyshack]]''. |
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==Plot== |
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{{spoiler}} |
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[[Bart Simpson|Bart]] and [[Milhouse Van Houten|Milhouse]] are browsing in The Android's Dungeon. They find a "special edition" of [[Mad (magazine)|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 Simpson|Homer]] also finds the magazine hilarious. |
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Since airing, the episode has received mostly positive reviews from television critics. It acquired a [[Nielsen rating]] of 9.4, and was the third highest-rated show on the Fox network the week it aired. |
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Later at [[Moe Szyslak|Moe's]], Homer is the only customer. Disappointed, Moe closes the bar early (unaware that [[Joe Quimby|Mayor Quimby]] and his entourage 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 Nahasapeemapetilon|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 Mann|Otto]] at a [[Toy Crane Machine|crane arcade game]] and claims him as their fourth team member. The Squeaky Voiced Teen again disappoints, asking for a [[United States dollar|$500]] registration fee. Back at the Simpson house, Homer's attempt to [[prostitution|prostitute]] himself to [[Marge Simpson|Marge]] fails. She suggests a team [[sponsor]]: [[Montgomery Burns|Mr. Burns]]. |
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==Plot== |
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The next day at [[Springfield Elementary School (The Simpsons)|Springfeld Elementary School]], [[Edna Krabappel|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 Magazine|MAD]] iron-on reading "Down with Homework." The shirt sparks a riot in the class. In the hallway, [[Springfield Elementary School#Superintendent Chalmers|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. |
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Homer and his teammates — [[Moe Szyslak|Moe]], [[Apu Nahasapeemapetilon|Apu]] and [[Otto Mann|Otto]] — are unable to afford the $500 fee to join a bowling league. Homer asks his boss to [[sponsor (commercial)|sponsor]] the team while he happens to be anesthetized, so [[Mr. Burns]] unwittingly signs a [[Cheque|check]]. The newly named Pin Pals enter a bowling competition. They beat three teams and move to second place in their league. After recovering from his [[Diethyl ether|ether]]-induced stupor, Burns discovers he wrote a check to Homer and insists on joining the Pin Pals, replacing Otto. Homer and the team fear they will lose the championship, since Burns can barely bowl due to his frail physique. |
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Burns gives the Pin Pals new [[bowling shirt]]s before the championship game. Two pins away from victory, Burns takes his turn on the lane. When Otto tips over a [[Claw crane|claw arcade machine]] by accident, the vibrations knock down the pins and the Pin Pals win. As the team celebrates, Burns takes the trophy and keeps it for himself. Encouraged by his teammates, Homer attempts to break into Burns' mansion to recover the trophy; this ends disastrously when Burns releases the hounds and Homer is severely mauled. |
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In [[Seymour Skinner|Principal Skinner]]'s office, a shirtless Bart hears a story from Skinner's [[Vietnam War|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. |
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At school, Bart's ''[[Mad (magazine)|Mad]]'' [[iron-on]] "Down with homework" T-shirt incites a student riot, so in order to prevent another similar incident, Principal Skinner forces students to wear [[uniforms]]. The uniforms restore discipline, but demoralizes the students and they slowly begin to lose their individual mannerisms, even blinking in unison, much to the pleasure and delight of Skinner. However, a rainstorm soaks through the uniforms, causing their grey dye to run and separate into vivid [[tie-dye]] color patterns that revive the students' spirits and disregard of Skinner's authority, forcing him to put a stop to the uniform dress code. |
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Later, in Mr. Burns' office, [[Waylon Smithers|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]]. |
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==Production== |
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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. |
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[[File:Mike Scully by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg|upright|thumb|left|[[Mike Scully]] wrote the episode. He came up with the idea for it when he went bowling one day. |alt=A man with sunglasses smiles as he signs autographs.]] |
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The episode was written by [[Mike Scully]]. He was bowling "a lot" at the time, and one day when he was bowling, he came up with the idea for "Team Homer".<ref name="Scully">{{cite video |people=Scully, Mike |date=2005 |title=The Simpsons season 7 DVD commentary for the episode "Team Homer" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> The idea for the school plot came later in production when the school that Scully's children went to was thinking of introducing school uniforms. Both Scully and his children were against it so he decided to put it in the episode.<ref name="Scully"/> |
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Former [[show runner]] of ''The Simpsons'' [[David Mirkin]] thought the episode was "really fun" because there were "lots of characters" in it and it featured "lots of terrific animation". Mirkin liked that viewers could see the different characters "team up" and how they pair off. "It's kind of cool to see them hang around like this. Particularly Homer's group which has some nice emotion and they really comes together as a group", Mirkin commented.<ref name="Mirkin">{{cite video |people=Mirkin, David |date=2005 |title=The Simpsons season 7 DVD commentary for the episode "Team Homer" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> |
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The next day, Skinner holds a school assembly to announce the school's new [[School uniform|uniform]] policy. [[Martin Prince|Martin]] and Lisa model the new uniforms, much to the disgust of the schoolchildren. That night, the Pin Pals face a new opponent: the "[[Department of Motor Vehicles|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 Roller]]s" ([[Ned Flanders]], [[Maude Flanders]], [[Reverend Timothy Lovejoy|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. |
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The episode was directed by [[Mark Kirkland]]. When he first read the script, he thought the challenge of the episode was that the bowling theme had already been covered in the [[The Simpsons season 1|season one]] episode "[[Life on the Fast Lane]]". Since it had been done before, Kirkland felt pressure to make the bowling alley look "really good". Kirkland and his team of ''The Simpsons'' animators at [[Film Roman]] all went over to a local bowling alley and had lunch. They inspected the whole alley for inspiration and drew sketches.<ref name="Kirkland">{{cite video |people=Kirkland, Mark |date=2005 |title=The Simpsons season 7 DVD commentary for the episode "Team Homer" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> "Life on the Fast Lane" deals with [[Marge Simpson|Marge]] becoming infatuated with Jacques, a French [[bowling]] instructor. Mirkin points out that Jacques makes a brief appearance in this episode, but without a speaking role. Also appearing with non-speaking roles are [[The Last Temptation of Homer|Mindy Simmons]], [[Colonel Homer|Lurleen Lumpkin]], and [[Homer's Night Out|Princess Kashmir]], the three women who almost broke up Marge and Homer's marriage.<ref name="Mirkin"/> |
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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 Muntz|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. |
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Mirkin remembered the episode "very fondly" because when it was finished, the staff received customized ''The Simpsons'' bowling balls, bowling bags, and Pin Pal shirts as gifts.<ref name="Mirkin"/> Scully said the bowling balls were "really cool" because they were yellow and had ''The Simpsons'' logo on them.<ref name="Scully"/> |
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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" intending to disqualify Burns from the team by injury) hits Mr. Burns with a crowbar, fixing his disability. 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. |
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[[Doris Grau]], script supervisor for the show and voice of [[Lunchlady Doris]], died on December 30, 1995, from respiratory failure at a hospital in [[Los Angeles]], California. "Team Homer" was one of the last episodes to feature her voice, and included a dedication to her.<ref>{{Cite news |title=TBS premieres 'Survivors of the Holocaust' |work=[[The Journal Gazette]] |date=1996-01-08 |author=Robinson, Dean}}</ref> |
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==Alternate versions== |
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In the original broadcast version, the name on Homer's [[Academy Awards|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 February 25, 1996. |
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In one scene, Homer tells Marge: "We were so close to winning the championship. Now, thanks to Burns, it's never going to happen. And I spent so much time building that trophy case." The scene then cuts to the trophy case with an [[Academy Award]] in it that Homer has stolen. In the original Fox broadcast, the name in the inscription on the Academy Award was [[Haing S. Ngor]]. In American [[broadcast syndication|syndication]] and the season seven DVD, the name was changed to [[Don Ameche]] (who had won for ''[[Cocoon (film)|Cocoon]]''). Ngor, who won an [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]] for the 1984 film ''[[The Killing Fields (film)|The Killing Fields]]'', was murdered on February 25, 1996, between the original and the syndicated broadcast. Producers were concerned the syndicated episode would imply Homer had murdered Ngor to steal the statue.<ref name="Mirkin"/> |
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==Trivia== |
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*When Mr. Burns discovers a register entry in his checkbook for "bowling," he says to Smithers, "Stop everything! I don't remember writing a check for bowling!" And Smithers says, "Uh, sir, that's your boweling." Burns says, "Ah yes, that's always important" Then he sees the real bowling entry and repeats: "Stop everything! I don't remember writing a check for bowling!" Upon replay of this episode in subsequent seasons, Fox cuts the first "bowling/boweling" reference. |
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* The episode is dedicated to the memory of [[Doris Grau]], a script supervisor and voice provider of [[Lunchlady Doris]]. |
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*This is the last episode David Mirkin was the executive producer and show runner. |
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*It is revealed in this episode that [[Squeaky Voiced Teen]] is the son of [[Lunchlady Doris]]. |
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==Goofs== |
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When Superitendent Chalmers gets stampeded by kids, Milhouse can be seen stepping on Chalmers twice. |
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==Cultural references== |
==Cultural references== |
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[[Bart Simpson|Bart]] and [[Milhouse Van Houten|Milhouse]] buy an issue of ''[[Mad (magazine)|Mad]]'' magazine. Bart also puts a ''Mad'' [[iron-on]] reading "Down with Homework" on one of his T-shirts, which causes controversy at school. Milhouse is shocked to see the new school uniforms, and his jaw drops, a "[[Woody Allen]]-esque" type of joke.<ref name="Scully"/> The final bowling scene is similar to the final golfing scene in the 1980 film ''[[Caddyshack]]''.<ref name="Mirkin"/> Homer references the song "[[Mr. Roboto]]" by [[Styx (band)|Styx]].<ref name="BBC">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season7/page13.shtml |title=Team Homer |access-date=2009-01-04 |author1=Martyn, Warren |author2=Wood, Adrian |year=2000 |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref> Moe's unsuccessful attempt to sideline Mr. Burns by hitting his leg with a crowbar is done in a similar manner to [[Shane Stant]]'s attempt in 1994 to sideline [[Figure skating|figure skater]] [[Nancy Kerrigan]] by physical assault.<ref name="Groening">{{cite video |people=Groening, Matt |date=2005 |title=The Simpsons season 7 DVD commentary for the episode "Team Homer" |medium=DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> "[[Spanish Flea]]" plays while Martin and [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]] model the new uniforms. Mr. Burns' ether-induced hallucinations cause him to perceive Homer as [[Pillsbury Doughboy|Poppin' Fresh]] and Hans Moleman as "that [[Lucky Charms|delightful TV leprechaun]]." |
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* ''[[Caddyshack]]'' - the final bowling scene is similar to the final golfing scene. |
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* [[Cinnaburst]] commercials - "Those magazines cause a disturbing amount of laughter." |
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* ''[[The Jazz Singer (1927 film)|The Jazz Singer]]'' - Doris remarks "I have no son!" |
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* [[Nancy Kerrigan]] - Moe's attempt to sideline Mr. Burns is done in a similar manner to [[Shane Stant]]'s attempt in [[1994]]. |
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* [[Styx (band)|Styx]] - Homer rhymes "Otto" with "Domo Arigato, [[Mr. Roboto]]." |
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* ''[[A Wrinkle in Time]]'' - theme of conformity in the public school; scene of children bouncing balls in unison. |
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==Reception== |
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In its original broadcast, "Team Homer" finished 58th in the ratings for the week of January 1–7, 1996, with a [[Nielsen ratings|Nielsen rating]] of 9.4.<ref name=ratings>{{cite news |title=Nielsen Ratings |date=January 10, 1996 |page=F02 |work=[[The Tampa Tribune]]}} Retrieved on January 4, 2009.</ref> The episode was the fourth highest-rated show on the Fox network that week, following ''[[The X-Files]]'', ''[[Beverly Hills, 90210]]'', and ''[[Married... with Children]]''.<ref name=ratings/> |
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*'''Pin Pals''': Homer, Moe, Apu, and Otto (replaced by Mr. Burns) |
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*'''Holy Rollers''': Reverend Lovejoy, Ned Flanders, Helen Lovejoy, and Maude Flanders. They are ''always'' accompanied by a heavenly choir and divine beam of light. |
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*'''Channel 6 Wastelanders''': [[Kent Brockman]], [[Krusty the Clown]], [[List of recurring characters from The Simpsons#Arnie Pie|Arnie Pie]], and the [[List of recurring characters from The Simpsons#Bumblebee Man|Bumblebee Man]] |
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*'''DMV Regulation Kings''': [[Patty Bouvier]], [[Selma Bouvier]], and two unnamed workers |
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*'''Springfield Police Framers''': Chief Wiggum, Lou, Eddie, and Snake (who runs away, and made the team forfeit) |
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*'''The Homewreckers''': Jacques (the French bowler who tried to seduce Marge, from ''[[Life on the Fast Lane]]''), [[List of recurring characters from The Simpsons#Princess Kashmir|Princess Kashmir]] (the bachelor party stripper, from ''[[Homer's Night Out]]''), Lurleen Lumpkin (the barmaid/country singer, from ''[[Colonel Homer]]''), and Mindy Simmons (Homer's one-time female coworker, from ''[[The Last Temptation of Homer]]'') |
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*'''The Stereotypes''': [[Groundskeeper Willie]], [[List of recurring characters from The Simpsons#Luigi Risotto|Luigi]] the Italian chef, [[Cletus Spuckler|Cletus]] the Slackjawed Yokel, and [[Captain Horatio McAllister]] (the Sea Captain). Apparently they begged Apu to join them as well. |
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Since airing, the episode has received mostly positive reviews from television critics. |
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==External links== |
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{{wikiquote}} |
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It was named the fifth best episode of the show by [[MSNBC]]. They praised how the episode utilized Burns's physical weaknesses for laughs, and Homer's line; "I guess some people never change. Or, they quickly change and then quickly change back."<ref>{{cite news |first=Patrick |last=Enwright |title=D'Oh! The top 10 'Simpsons' episodes ever |publisher=[[Today.com]] |date=2007-07-31 |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/doh-top-10-simpsons-episodes-ever-1C9430188 |access-date=2022-01-20}}</ref> |
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DVD Movie Guide's Colin Jacobson said that to his surprise, "the dress code plot works the best". He liked the mockery of ''Mad'' magazine and the "overemphasis on the way it disrupts the educational process". Jacobson thought the bowling plot had plenty of "nice moments" too, and "these add up to a solid show".<ref name=dvdmovieguide>{{cite web |access-date=2008-12-01 |url=http://www.dvdmg.com/simpsonsseasonseven.shtml |title=The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season (1995) |publisher=DVD Movie Guide |date=2006-01-05 |author=Jacobson, Colin }}</ref> |
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Jennifer Malkowski of DVD Verdict considered the best part of the episode to be when Homer ends a phone conversation with the "highly quotable" line, "I gotta go. My damn wiener kids are listening." Malkowski concluded her review by giving the episode a grade of A−.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2008-12-01 |url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/simpsonsseason7.php |title=The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season |publisher=DVD Verdict |date=2006-01-16 |author=Malkowski, Judge |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204055914/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/simpsonsseason7.php |archive-date=2008-12-04 }}</ref> Mirkin described the episode as "excellent", and praised Scully's "great" script.<ref name="Mirkin"/> |
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The episode received criticism from the authors of the book ''I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide'', Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, who said that "Team Homer" is one of their least favorite episodes. They thought the school uniform plot was "a lot more satisfying than the bowling story". They added that the scene where [[Martin Prince|Martin]] and Lisa model the new uniforms is the highlight of the episode.<ref name="BBC"/> |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist|2}} |
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==External links== |
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{{wikiquote|The_Simpsons/Season_7#Team_Homer|"Team Homer"}} |
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{{Portal|The Simpsons}} |
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*{{snpp capsule|3F10}} |
*{{snpp capsule|3F10}} |
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*{{IMDb episode|0779675}} |
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{{The Simpsons episodes|7}} |
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[[Category:The Simpsons season 7 episodes]] |
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[[Category:1996 American television episodes]] |
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[[Category:Ten-pin bowling on television]] |
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[[Category:Television episodes written by Mike Scully]] |
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[[Category:Television episodes directed by Mark Kirkland]] |
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[[it:Episodi de I Simpson (settima stagione)#Squadra Homer]] |
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[[Category:The Simpsons episodes, season 7]] |
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Latest revision as of 10:04, 4 January 2025
| "Team Homer" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 7 Episode 12 |
| Directed by | Mark Kirkland[1] |
| Written by | Mike Scully[1] |
| Production code | 3F10 |
| Original air date | January 7, 1996 |
| Episode features | |
| Chalkboard gag | "I am not certified to remove asbestos"[1] |
| Couch gag | The Simpsons run to and sit on the couch as normal and the camera zooms in on a nearby mousehole, where a family of mice resembling the Simpsons scurries to and sits on its couch. |
| Commentary | Matt Groening David Mirkin Mike Scully Mark Kirkland |
"Team Homer" is the twelfth episode of the seventh season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on January 7, 1996. In the episode, Homer starts a bowling team with Moe, Apu, and Otto. When Mr. Burns discovers the team was funded with his money, he insists on joining, but the team fears he will cost them the league championship. In the subplot, Bart's "Down with Homework" T-shirt incites a school riot, so Principal Skinner implements a uniform dress code.
The episode was written by Mike Scully and directed by Mark Kirkland. Scully came up with the idea for it when he went bowling one day. The episode features cultural references to Mad magazine and the film Caddyshack.
Since airing, the episode has received mostly positive reviews from television critics. It acquired a Nielsen rating of 9.4, and was the third highest-rated show on the Fox network the week it aired.
Plot
[edit]Homer and his teammates — Moe, Apu and Otto — are unable to afford the $500 fee to join a bowling league. Homer asks his boss to sponsor the team while he happens to be anesthetized, so Mr. Burns unwittingly signs a check. The newly named Pin Pals enter a bowling competition. They beat three teams and move to second place in their league. After recovering from his ether-induced stupor, Burns discovers he wrote a check to Homer and insists on joining the Pin Pals, replacing Otto. Homer and the team fear they will lose the championship, since Burns can barely bowl due to his frail physique.
Burns gives the Pin Pals new bowling shirts before the championship game. Two pins away from victory, Burns takes his turn on the lane. When Otto tips over a claw arcade machine by accident, the vibrations knock down the pins and the Pin Pals win. As the team celebrates, Burns takes the trophy and keeps it for himself. Encouraged by his teammates, Homer attempts to break into Burns' mansion to recover the trophy; this ends disastrously when Burns releases the hounds and Homer is severely mauled.
At school, Bart's Mad iron-on "Down with homework" T-shirt incites a student riot, so in order to prevent another similar incident, Principal Skinner forces students to wear uniforms. The uniforms restore discipline, but demoralizes the students and they slowly begin to lose their individual mannerisms, even blinking in unison, much to the pleasure and delight of Skinner. However, a rainstorm soaks through the uniforms, causing their grey dye to run and separate into vivid tie-dye color patterns that revive the students' spirits and disregard of Skinner's authority, forcing him to put a stop to the uniform dress code.
Production
[edit]
The episode was written by Mike Scully. He was bowling "a lot" at the time, and one day when he was bowling, he came up with the idea for "Team Homer".[2] The idea for the school plot came later in production when the school that Scully's children went to was thinking of introducing school uniforms. Both Scully and his children were against it so he decided to put it in the episode.[2]
Former show runner of The Simpsons David Mirkin thought the episode was "really fun" because there were "lots of characters" in it and it featured "lots of terrific animation". Mirkin liked that viewers could see the different characters "team up" and how they pair off. "It's kind of cool to see them hang around like this. Particularly Homer's group which has some nice emotion and they really comes together as a group", Mirkin commented.[3]
The episode was directed by Mark Kirkland. When he first read the script, he thought the challenge of the episode was that the bowling theme had already been covered in the season one episode "Life on the Fast Lane". Since it had been done before, Kirkland felt pressure to make the bowling alley look "really good". Kirkland and his team of The Simpsons animators at Film Roman all went over to a local bowling alley and had lunch. They inspected the whole alley for inspiration and drew sketches.[4] "Life on the Fast Lane" deals with Marge becoming infatuated with Jacques, a French bowling instructor. Mirkin points out that Jacques makes a brief appearance in this episode, but without a speaking role. Also appearing with non-speaking roles are Mindy Simmons, Lurleen Lumpkin, and Princess Kashmir, the three women who almost broke up Marge and Homer's marriage.[3]
Mirkin remembered the episode "very fondly" because when it was finished, the staff received customized The Simpsons bowling balls, bowling bags, and Pin Pal shirts as gifts.[3] Scully said the bowling balls were "really cool" because they were yellow and had The Simpsons logo on them.[2]
Doris Grau, script supervisor for the show and voice of Lunchlady Doris, died on December 30, 1995, from respiratory failure at a hospital in Los Angeles, California. "Team Homer" was one of the last episodes to feature her voice, and included a dedication to her.[5]
In one scene, Homer tells Marge: "We were so close to winning the championship. Now, thanks to Burns, it's never going to happen. And I spent so much time building that trophy case." The scene then cuts to the trophy case with an Academy Award in it that Homer has stolen. In the original Fox broadcast, the name in the inscription on the Academy Award was Haing S. Ngor. In American syndication and the season seven DVD, the name was changed to Don Ameche (who had won for Cocoon). Ngor, who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the 1984 film The Killing Fields, was murdered on February 25, 1996, between the original and the syndicated broadcast. Producers were concerned the syndicated episode would imply Homer had murdered Ngor to steal the statue.[3]
Cultural references
[edit]Bart and Milhouse buy an issue of Mad magazine. Bart also puts a Mad iron-on reading "Down with Homework" on one of his T-shirts, which causes controversy at school. Milhouse is shocked to see the new school uniforms, and his jaw drops, a "Woody Allen-esque" type of joke.[2] The final bowling scene is similar to the final golfing scene in the 1980 film Caddyshack.[3] Homer references the song "Mr. Roboto" by Styx.[6] Moe's unsuccessful attempt to sideline Mr. Burns by hitting his leg with a crowbar is done in a similar manner to Shane Stant's attempt in 1994 to sideline figure skater Nancy Kerrigan by physical assault.[7] "Spanish Flea" plays while Martin and Lisa model the new uniforms. Mr. Burns' ether-induced hallucinations cause him to perceive Homer as Poppin' Fresh and Hans Moleman as "that delightful TV leprechaun."
Reception
[edit]In its original broadcast, "Team Homer" finished 58th in the ratings for the week of January 1–7, 1996, with a Nielsen rating of 9.4.[8] The episode was the fourth highest-rated show on the Fox network that week, following The X-Files, Beverly Hills, 90210, and Married... with Children.[8]
Since airing, the episode has received mostly positive reviews from television critics.
It was named the fifth best episode of the show by MSNBC. They praised how the episode utilized Burns's physical weaknesses for laughs, and Homer's line; "I guess some people never change. Or, they quickly change and then quickly change back."[9]
DVD Movie Guide's Colin Jacobson said that to his surprise, "the dress code plot works the best". He liked the mockery of Mad magazine and the "overemphasis on the way it disrupts the educational process". Jacobson thought the bowling plot had plenty of "nice moments" too, and "these add up to a solid show".[10]
Jennifer Malkowski of DVD Verdict considered the best part of the episode to be when Homer ends a phone conversation with the "highly quotable" line, "I gotta go. My damn wiener kids are listening." Malkowski concluded her review by giving the episode a grade of A−.[11] Mirkin described the episode as "excellent", and praised Scully's "great" script.[3]
The episode received criticism from the authors of the book I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide, Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, who said that "Team Homer" is one of their least favorite episodes. They thought the school uniform plot was "a lot more satisfying than the bowling story". They added that the scene where Martin and Lisa model the new uniforms is the highlight of the episode.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Groening, Matt (1997). Richmond, Ray; Coffman, Antonia (eds.). The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family (1st ed.). New York: HarperPerennial. p. 193. ISBN 978-0-06-095252-5. LCCN 98141857. OCLC 37796735. OL 433519M..
- ^ a b c d Scully, Mike (2005). The Simpsons season 7 DVD commentary for the episode "Team Homer" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- ^ a b c d e f Mirkin, David (2005). The Simpsons season 7 DVD commentary for the episode "Team Homer" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- ^ Kirkland, Mark (2005). The Simpsons season 7 DVD commentary for the episode "Team Homer" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- ^ Robinson, Dean (January 8, 1996). "TBS premieres 'Survivors of the Holocaust'". The Journal Gazette.
- ^ a b Martyn, Warren; Wood, Adrian (2000). "Team Homer". British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved January 4, 2009.
- ^ Groening, Matt (2005). The Simpsons season 7 DVD commentary for the episode "Team Homer" (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
- ^ a b "Nielsen Ratings". The Tampa Tribune. January 10, 1996. p. F02. Retrieved on January 4, 2009.
- ^ Enwright, Patrick (July 31, 2007). "D'Oh! The top 10 'Simpsons' episodes ever". Today.com. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
- ^ Jacobson, Colin (January 5, 2006). "The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season (1995)". DVD Movie Guide. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
- ^ Malkowski, Judge (January 16, 2006). "The Simpsons: The Complete Seventh Season". DVD Verdict. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
External links
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