The capsule for "Hungry Hungry Homer" is now available at The Simpsons Archive, at "http://www.snpp.com/episodes.html". You may access it by following the link for episode CABF09.
I apologize for the long delay since the last capsule, which was due to a combination of technical and time-resource problems. I hope to get back to my usual schedual now. We plan to have "Bye Bye Nerdie (CABF11)" up next, on June 17. (Yes, June of 2003.)
For your convenience, a copy the CABF09 capsule follows immediately. Enjoy!
Hungry Hungry Homer Written by John Swartzwelder
Directed by Nancy Kruse
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Production code: CABF09 Original Airdate on FOX: 04-Mar-01
Capsule revision A (31-May-03)
============================================================================================================================================================ None submitted.
[If you use these summaries to determine if you found the right capsule, here's a TV Guide-like synopsis: After Homer helps Lisa with a defective amusement park souvenir, Homer decides to become a champion of the downtrodden. His dedication is tested when he calls a hunger strike to keep the local baseball team from moving to Albuquerque, NM -- Ed.]
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============================================================================== Blackboard: "TEMPTATION ISLAND" WAS NOT / A SLEAZY PIECE OF CRAP
"TEMPTATION ISLAND" at cutoff
Couch: The Simpsons, wearing karate robes, run in and karate-chop the
couch into a pile of couch molecules. Sensei Homer then whips
out the remote control, strikes a dramatic karate pose, and
turns on the TV. [Recycled from BABF09]==============================================================================
==============================================================================
... Sherri and Terri aren't sitting by one another, as they usually do?
... the Albuquerque Isotopes' logo is a coyote wearing a baseball cap and
T-shirt?Don Del Grande:
... the Blocko-Land tram had square wheels, but the Blocko stroller had
round ones?
... the salon manager sounded like Apu trying to do a French impression?
... Henry K. Duff's hair was gray, but his toupee was black?
... the glove shrub in front of the stadium had three fingers and a thumb?
... one wall in Homer's bathroom has flower wallpaper, but the wall next to
it does not?Joe Green:
... Homer gets away with trespassing on four separate occasions?
(Specifically, by sitting in Bart's class, opening the Duff executive's
private closet, returning to the office with the reporters in tow, and
camping out in front of Duff Stadium.)Joe Klemm:
... the Isotopes have had at least three owners in the current series run?
... Homer and Marge obviously forgot to take the car keys out of the
ignition?
... Duff Man's first name is Sid?Alie Molino:
... Homer attempts to save Snake, a criminal who's attacked him and his
family before?
... Lisa resorts to a typical Bart/Homer [type of] joke ("Bart's got a
girlfriend!"; "Bart's got a problem!")
... Homer says "I'll go to bat for you" and eventually ends up fighting a
baseball franchise?
... the Duff family has been around for at least eight generations, and at
least one man in each generation has been named Howard?
... Act II seems much shorter than usual? [It was about five minutes,
about two less than average -- Ed.]
... there is a topiary in front of the stadium shaped like a baseball mitt?
... behind the scoreboard, there is a Duff fountain sending two sprays into
the air?
... the men in the announcer's booth amuse themselves by throwing pencils
into the ceiling (we don't see them throwing the pencils, but there are
pencils in the ceiling)?
... there are two references to Jesus in this episode (Homer's delirious
hunger song: "I'm like Jesus, but not in a sacrilegious way"; "Sid"
Duff Man: "What would Jesus do?")Mike Reed:
... unlike I&S Land, Homer is excited about going, while Bart and Lisa
aren't?
... Homer was able to keep the sno-globe in his back pocket and not smash
it when sitting down? [Steve Alpert replies, "I've tried to smash
those things, it's tough."]
... the souvenir stand guy did not have the typical "sarcastic guy" voice?
... we still don't know whether Bart likes Sherri or Terri?
... that's one freakin' big cracker Bart's eating!
... the first act ended and a second act began on the same scene?
... no one bothered to remove the protester's dead body?
... no one thinks anything of Homer's "Hungry for the truth" sign?Benjamin Robinson:
... the souvenir man's cigar had a "Blockoland" label?
... Marge isn't any fatter when she force-feeds the kids dinner?
... Homer eats the hot dog (and the other treats thrown at him) in one
bite?Preston X:
... Blockoland has block-shaped trees?
... Homer does a great job building his ham apple?
... Homer misses work *again*?
... Homer says, "I'll be right back," before going to tell the press about
the Isotopes? (How long did he think he'd be gone?)
... H.K. Duff VIII's first name is Howard, not Henry as we might expect?
(See 8F09)==============================================================================
==============================================================================
- Starring
- Dan Castellaneta (Homer, Cowboy Block, Lincoln Block, Snake, Park
Groundskeeper [?], Reporter, Hot Dog Vendor [?], Pork Chop Vendor [?],
Worker, Exec 2)
- Julie Kavner (Marge)
- Nancy Cartwright (Bart, Nelson, Ralph)
- Yeardley Smith (Lisa)
- Hank Azaria (Safety Attendant, Souvenir Attendant {jlm}, Hairdresser,
Carl, Moe, Duffman, Kirk, Wiggum, Exec 1 [?], Chavez, Mayor {jlm})
- Harry Shearer (Blockoland Announcer, Lenny, Kent Brockman, Principal
Skinner, Baseball Announcer, Peking Duck Man, Otto)- Special Guest Voice - Stacey Keach (H. K. Duff VIII) - Marcia Wallace (Edna Krabappel)
- Also Starring - Pamela Hayden (Milhouse) - Tress MacNeille (Boy in Blockoland commercial, Aide) - Russi Taylor (Sherri)
==============================================================================
==============================================================================
+ Hungry Hungry Hippos (game)
- title a spoof [See "Comments" section for more -- Ed.] + "Temptation Island" (TV series) {jc}
- blackboard gag refers to this [See "Comments" section for more -- Ed.] + Lego(tm) Land (European Amusement parks)
- Blocko Land an obvious knock-off + Lego(tm) (children's toy) {bjr}
- as Bart alludes to, Blocko is a direct knock-off [See "Comments"
section for more -- Ed.] + "squaresville" (old lingo) {bjr}
- Marge thinks this is the cool place to be in Blockoland + Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots (game)
- Bart and Nelson play a very similar (but not identical, as Nelson
found out) game [See "Comments" section for more -- Ed.] + the Rodney King beating {dj}
- Snake beating "beaten" by the cops while lying on the road - "Jack" (movie) {sa}
- Homer in Bart's classroom + Harry Shearer (actor) (tjm)
- the hair salon is called "Hairy Shearers" after the voice actor + "Bride of Frankenstein" (movie)
- Marge's twin hair streaks make her look a little like the title
character ~ Kool-Aid commercials {jg}
- Duffman bursts into a room shouting "Oh yeah!" like Kool-Aid Man - Coors Field in Denver {jc}
- Duff Stadium also named after a beer company + "Peanuts" (comic strip)
- Homer rests on the doghouse roof exactly as Snoopy does
- Bart says, "Good Grief," which was Charlie Brown's tagline + "M*A*S*H" (TV series) {am}
- Mike Farrell, author of "My Core Beliefs, and Wayne Rogers, whom he
allegedly "hates," were featured on this series+ Godzilla (movie monster)
+ Jabberwocky (poem by Lewis Carroll) {px}
- Sportzilla and the Jabberjocks (The monster in the Carroll poem is
called the Jabberwock) - "Jabberjaw" (TV series) {am}
- Jabberjocks is a reference to this cartoon about a shark - The Kissing Bandit {jk}
- ballpark figure that farts on the players - "Me So Horny" (song) {am}
- Homer says, "Me so hungy" (as opposed to "hungry") - "Full Metal Jacket" (movie) {jc}
- Homer misquotes the Saigon prostitute who said "me so horny" to Rafter
Man and Joker with "me so hungy" ~ "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" (movie) {cl}
- Homer [cf. Luke Skywalker] begs Duffman [cf. Darth Vader] to do the
right thing; Duffman looks both directions, and decides to pick up the
team owner [cf. Emperor] and throw him over the edge==============================================================================
==============================================================================
- [7G03] Homer stands up for the little guy {dj}
- [7F05] Homer is the mascot for the Springfield Isotopes
- [7F24] Homer was in a "loony bin" {ddg}
- [9F03] Maggie drives the car {ddg}
- [9F04] Marge's hair done like the Bride of Frankenstein {bjr}
- [9F11] Lisa once again has trouble with the water at an amusement park boat
ride {am}
- [9F11] Abraham Lincoln is impersonated at a theme park {jg}
- [9F11], [2F01], [AABF04] OFF visits a theme park {jg}
- [2F14] Homer compares Bart to a rodent, and Bart subsequently acts like one
{jg}
- [3F03] Bart and Lisa are dragged to a place only Maggie likes {jg}
- [3F23] The mayor of Albuquerque (cf. Homer) wants to own the Dallas Cowboys
{jg}
- [4F22] Duffman appears {ddg}
- [5F04] The Hairy Shearers beauty parlor is seen
- [BABF03] OFF eats at a Lego-themed restaurant {jg}
- [BABF05] secret room becomes "ordinary" {ddg}
- [BABF12] Duff Man makes a significant appearance, oh yeah! {bjr}
- [CABF04] The Mayor of Albuquerque (I think) appears {bjr}==============================================================================
==============================================================================
- "Lands" within Blockoland {bjr}SQUARESVILLE CUBE COUNTRY
RECTANGLE
LAND- Robot boxing game {bjr}
ROCK 'EM
BLOCK 'EM
BLOCKBOTS- Restaurant sign {bjr}
BUILD YOUR OWN MEAL
- After-hours box {bjr}
BLOCKOLAND
OVERNIGHT
STORAGE- Eiffel Tower box {bjr}
BLOCKOLAND
MISSING
EIFFEL TOWER
PIECES- Jar that Homer opens {bjr}
MOULDING
MUD- The lifeblood of the styling industry (barrel label) {bjr}
LOAFER
LIGHTENER- Mr. Duff's office door {bjr}
H. K. DUFF
VIIIOWNER
- New stadium display {bjr}
THE FUTURE HOME
OF THE[stadium]
ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES
- Homer's protest sign {bjr}
HUNGRY
FOR THE
TRUTH!- Mike Farrell's book {bjr}
MY CORE
BELIEFS[portrait]
MIKE FARRELL
- Woman's protest sign {bjr}
CLEAN
THE
LADIES
ROOM!- Mayor's desk nameplate {bjr}
MAYOR OF ALBUQUERQUE
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==============================================================================
= The cowboy Blocko character doesn't have any peg holes on the front of his
suit. {bjr}= Meanwhile the Lincoln character does have the holes, but they don't seem to match up with the pegs on the back of the cowboy's suit. {bjr}
c In the scene where Homer is trying to get the hair stylist to streak
Marge's hair, the stylist says something to the effect of "But we can't do
that", which is captioned "But I can't do that". {tf}- Marge's streaks don't even go all the way up, making me wonder why the hairdresser was protesting about "having to streak that much hair." {am}
= The neon tubing for the part of the sign that extended above the normal part of the sign wasn't there except when the neon was lit. {ddg}
- Homer ought to know what a tractor looks like, but he mistakes it for the door to the executive offices. {am}
= After Homer spun the rolodex a second time, it changed when it was shown from over Duff's shoulder. {ds}
- HK Duff asks for two bottles of Duff, but Duff Man brings in two cans. {jc}
+ Homer doesn't recognize "Duffman". {mr}
= The pocket on Homer's shirt, when he was declaring a hunger strike, would disappear when the camera angles changed. {ds}
= The dead protestor next to Homer does not appear until Bart mentions her. {px}
+ Mr. Duff calls Duff Man "Sid" in this episode, but in "Pygmoelian (BABF12)," he was called "Larry."
= The toppings on Homer's hot dog kept changing positions. {ddg}
* Why did the baseball commissioner [H. K. Duff, actually -- Ed.] put Homer
in front of a microphone, when he knew the latter knew about his dastardly
plot? {cj}==============================================================================
============================================================================== Steve Alpert: Finally, a coherent plot that began right away! Homer as people's advocate is a role he's taken on before (the pothole episode), and not only are there several funny scenes built around this role, but he takes on the hunger strike for about 11 days. Yeah, we all know no one can survive that long, let alone proclaim that a team's moving to Albuquerque, but I think that's understood. I was on a keen lookout to see how much exposition there was, and thankfully there was little. Yeah, I'd rather have none, but I'll take what I can get. Laugh out loud quite often, low chuckles other times. Also, the ending was reasonable. If not the best episode of the season, tied for it. (A)
Don Del Grande: At least it's different from the old "switch straight from the subplot to the main plot" in that there was a third plot (Blocko Land -- Homer stands up for the little guy -- Homer goes on a hunger strike), but it wasn't anything I haven't seen at least one too many times before. (B+)
Joe Green: This show got off to a weak start by rehashing jokes from earlier episodes, but eventually picked up steam (Duffman saying "What would Jesus do?" was one of my favorites moments). However, the end result was yet another typical "not great, but not horrible either" episode. (C+)
Carl Johnson: This is the best episode since "Lost Our Lisa". Great jokes, a good story, and they even mentioned Albuquerque! Hm, these reviews are kinda boring when I can't think of anything bad to say. (A)
Darrel C. Jones: Homer going without food was every bit as funny as I thought it would be. Also many wonderfully weird jokes (Maggie wanting to go to Blockoland, the secret room in the Isotopes owner's office, Homer's "vision" the mayor of Albuquerque). Duffman shone, too. Absolutely a classic. 10/10 (A+)
Jamie Liddel: Just where the hell did this come from? It had no out-of-the-blue story of lunacy, no cop-out ending, no cheap sight gags, no forced flavor-of-the-week pop cultural satire, no Jerkass Homer, no Homer being hit by stuff, no insanity, no unfocused wandering plot ; it had none of the hallmarks of season 11 or 12 fare. This was a truly charming and very funny episode. Homer's undertaking of a hunger strike to save the team would have seemed "wacky" and ridiculous if we had been thrown into it head-first through a quick consequential plot turn, as we are thrown into so many of OFF's wacky adventures these days. But, after a quick excursion to Blockoland, we are shown a sequence of scenes that show the development of "the new Homer", so when the hunger strike is decided upon it makes perfect sense when coupled with Homer's traditional naivete and impulsiveness. Perhaps the best thing about this episode is that is incredibly tight and flows very smoothly (and is constantly engaging as a result), traits which haven't been seen in Simpsons episodes for quite a while. The actual hunger strike scenes are well done, the satire on the corporate sports market is effective yet neatly subtle, and the triumphant ending is the icing on the cake (or the Southwestern spices on the hot dog). And like all good episodes it's hilarious from start to finish, in particular the Peanuts reference and virtually every scene with Duffman in it. A warm, feel-good story with loads of good gags and a smooth, cohesive plot -- and I reckon the first Simpsons episode to deserve an grade in the A category since Lisa Gets An A back in season 10. (A-)
Troy J. Matthews: What a major improvement from last weeks' horrific episode. This episode made me forget about last week, and I hope other episode following this one will follow suit. (A-)
Alie Molino: I didn't like this episode as much as last week's. I'm not sure how promising the actual premise was, but it kind of meandered here and there and then rolled to a halt 22 minutes later. Was the story easy to follow? Sure. Did it go cleanly from one end to the other? Pretty much. Did I enjoy it? Not as much as I would have liked to. Not enough laughs, not enough action, but perhaps we should have expected that, as Homer spends half the episode chained to a lawn chair ... Grade: (C-)
Michael Nusair: This wasn't a bad episode. But it wasn't really good, either. But, if I had to go with one of the two, I'd lean more towards "good." It had a few laughs, especially in the first act. But there were also very loooong periods where the show really lagged. The plot was pretty good, though, and so was the characterization. However, overall, this was a very forgettable episode. In fact, I think I'm already starting to forget it. (B-)
Mike Reed: A pleasant surprise from a writer who I thought was washed up. After many lackluster episodes from him, John Swartzwelder finally turns it around in what may be his most solid episode since [5F21.] I liked Homer's characterization here, and most of the jokes worked. I also liked the ending, and the fact that Homer actually won this time. I'm am very pleasantly surprised. (A-)
Fox Wolf: I know everyone here is gonna hate this one, so I'd better get this out quickly before someone points out all the bad minutiae and knock my review down ... I liked it. I didn't like it any more than usual, though. As usual, the family starts out going somewhere cool and fun, this time, it's "Blocko Land". One word of advice to the writers: Stop doing that! After the first act in Tennis the Menace, I thought you'd stop. That will make the grade suffer a bit. Anyway, the plot went as slow as a snail, but it was good nonetheless. So blah blah blah and a review later, I give it a (B)
Preston X: This was an enjoyable episode. It was nice to see a plot that actually made sense. The story moved along at a fast enough pace to keep us interested, and didn't seem rushed. There wasn't a whole lot of hilarious moments but there were a few; my biggest laugh came from Lenny: "They said *they* wanted it!" I did think there was too much crude/shock humor in the third act. Paint Drinking Pete? What the hell was that? Still, this one managed to get rid of the unpleasant aftertaste of CABF12. (B-)
Yours Truly: "Hungry Hungry Homer" does is like watching an older episode, and I mean that in a good way. The pacing is excellent, with an opening that serves as a good catalyst to the rest of the story, and the writers left plenty of time for cat-and-mouse games between Homer and Mr. Duff. The former strikes the right balance of buffoonery and good intentions, and the latter shows an interesting perspective on corporate callousness, being not so much evil as self-absorbed. Homer's various crusades are also consistently good for a laugh. They have retro everything else, so why not retro "Simpsons" episodes? "Hungry Hungry Homer" left me hungry for more of the same. (A-)
AVERAGE GRADE: B+ (3.32) Std Dev.: 0.6901 (15 reviews computed)
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==============================================================================
Joe Klemm explains: Just when we thought that Fox has learned their lesson in sleaze after the Multi-Millionaire Wedding Fiasco, they reach a new low with Temptation Island. [Fox has kept reaching since this was written -- Ed.] A weekly series that aired the last few weeks, the show features four couples [unmarried, but committed] being split up by gender and sent on different parts of the island. On each part of the island, the couples are tempted by hot bachelors that attempt to sway them from their current girlfriend/boyfriend, with some wild results. The biggest level of sleaze on the show was achieved when, in a fashion similar to the Multi- Millionaire fiasco, Fox didn't check their information too well, as one of the couples actually had a child. As a result, the couple left the show early and received counseling.
Benjamin Robinson: Practically every critic slammed the show, and social pundits decried the way it made light of committed relationships. (Meanwhile, I'm wondering why any rational couple would volunteer for this show.) Naturally, it was a big ratings hit.
Stephen Houchen remarks: Why do the opening chalkboard sentences always have to be joke-of-the-month. This is a great way for The Simpsons to become dated. In 10 years when people are watching re-runs, who's gonna remember TI??
Benjamin Robinson writes: Three toys get spoofed in this episode. Lego is the most obvious target. The interlocking plastic blocks have been a favorite of children for decades. Their popularity has even spawned real- life parks similar to Blockoland, where detailed tableaus of famous buildings, people, and landscapes have been patiently assembled.
Hungry Hungry Hippos is a children's game here in the States; I don't know if it has the worldwide popularity Blocko, er, Lego has. The game is designed for four players. Each player mans a plastic hippo attached to one side of a square board. The hippo's "tail" is a lever which, when pressed, briefly thrusts the hippo's head forward. Plastic balls are released on the board, and the players try to scoop up the balls with the hippos' heads. When the head snags the ball, it retracts and the ball drops down a hole to a collection area. The player with the biggest collection wins.
Alie Molino adds: [Trapping the balls] really just involves hitting the levers in the backs of the hippos as quickly as possible. This makes it the noisiest board game I ever played as a child. There's also a travel version.
Benjamin Robinson: Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em Robots is a robot boxing game that looks almost identical to the parody version Bart and Nelson played. Two robots stand in a boxing ring. They are connected to levers the players use to move the robots around the ring, and throw punches at the opposing robot. The object is to land a punch on the chin of your opponent's robot, which will cause its spring-loaded head to pop up. In Blockoland this was a bad thing, but in real life this means that you won. It's become one of the great kitschy toys.
Dirk adds: The long-running 1960s-era commercials for this toy featured just such a confrontation between two boys as seen with Bart and Nelson. In the old TV commercial, one boy triumphs, and you hear a classic, memorable exclamation: "You knocked his BLOCK off!"
In this episode, Bart exclaims the very same line--which alerts Blocko-Land security, who haul Nelson away for his infraction.
I thought the brief scene astutely summed up the evolution of parental attitudes toward children's supervision over the past 35 years.
Benjamin Robinson explains: Saying "He's a little light in the loafers" is a way of implying that someone is gay. (Note also that there is a stereotype holding that all male hairdressers are gay.)
Wondering about the footage of Homer with his pants aflame? Schoolchildren accuse one another of being untruthful by yelling, "Liar, liar, pants on fire!" Your guess about the origin of this phrase is as good as mine.
In his review, Steve Alpert claimed that neither Homer, nor anyone else, could sustain a hunger strike for 11 days. A few people quickly dissented.
Michael Black led with: People have done hunger strikes for longer than 11 days.
Cesar Chavez's ghost wasn't in there just for fun, though Homer's visualizing him as Cesar Romeo (the Joker in the Batman TV series) was funny. Cesar Chavez did quite a few hunger strikes, though I can't at the moment find details.
The suffragettes held hunger strikes, though they were often/always force fed. Gandhi himself led a hunger strike or two, and I'm sure they were longer than 11 days. Mitch Snyder did some long hunger strikes for the homeless. In World War II, a conscientious objector named Corbett Bishop did 426 days without food or water, and most of that time he refused to do anything at all. I'm not sure if he was force-fed. I've known people who have done hunger strikes, and they lasted longer than 11 days.
Eleven days is a very short time. Admittedly, for something trivial like a baseball team moving, it might be difficult to stick with it for more than a few days, but for the important things, the cause provides it's own power. People don't go on hunger strikes, or go to jail for a cause, or break segregation rules, or walk to New York City like I once did, because it's easy; they do it because the power derives from what they believe in and their willingness to make the sacrifice.
Shi No Bai adds: In the various survival training I've participated in, the general rule of thumb is "3 days without water, 3 weeks without food" before you die. The above reference [to Corbett Bishop's strike] must relate to a force feeding/intravenous situation. Also, keep in mind that there are loopholes in these types of symbolic starvations. For instance, during the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast for an entire lunar month. This may seem like a long time to go without food, but they actually eat between sundown and sunrise. So you'll have a big, greasy, protein-rich meal at 4:00 a.m. and then starve all day long before enjoying another greasy, protein-rich meal at 9:00 p.m. or so. (Several of my Muslim friends in high school hated Ramadan, as they had decided to become vegetarians and hated eating a lot of oily meat dishes in the middle of the night.)
Homer would have died without water after a couple of days, as would any human (if you don't believe me, just try it!), but considering his size, he might have been able to last a month or so on stored fat. :)
A number of people had creative explanation for Duffman's apparent name change (from "Larry" to "Sid").
"Big Hungry Joe": He changed it because of a paternity suit gone awry.
"inertia7": Did somebody say long lost *twins*?
Stephen Houchen: Maybe his name is Larry "Duffman" Sidney.
"mayx": No, his name is Sid Larry.
Jeremy Bleichman: Duffman uses a lot of names! Ohhhhhhhh, yeah!
Matthew Carney offers a plausible theory: Maybe they're 2 different people playing 1 character. I'm sure Mickey Mouse isn't played by one person 24-7 at Disney World. Please ignore that they look a bit similar, that's your imagination.
Stephen Houchen counters: Nobody "plays" Krusty. He stays in his clown get- up all the time. Same thing with Duffman. We've even seen him out washing his car with his "costume" on.
"Supergooberboob": Would the analogy of Ronald McDonald be a little more clear? Not the same person is always behind the makeup, on TV, or in local appearances. But it is still "Ronald McDonald".
Dan Hinojosa: Great research. I am from Albuquerque, and our team the Dukes moved out last summer. We have been looking for a team since then. [And now they have one. What's more, it's called the Isotopes! -- Ed.] We are going to steal Calgary's team is what the rumor is. The mayor looks like our mayor too. Wow!
Brian Gonzales: Did you notice the image of Cesar Chavez? Is it a coincidence Albuquerque Sports Stadium is located on Avenida Cesar Chavez?
Benjamin Robinson: Bob Dylan is the phenomenally successful folk singer. He had a penchant for singing about social issues and causes as a way of attracting public attention.
Cesar Chavez fought to protect the rights of migrant farm workers. He organized a union that would eventually become the United Farm Workers of America. He organized boycotts against grape and lettuce growers, but I'm not aware of any hunger strikes for which he is responsible. [But see Michael Black's comment, above -- Ed.]
Mike Farrell is the actor who played B. J. "Beej" Hunnicutt on the TV series "M*A*S*H." In his post-"M*A*S*H" days, he has embraced a variety of causes, and a "My Core Beliefs" book wouldn't be too far out of the realm of possibility. Incidentally, Wayne Rogers (the guy Farrell supposedly railed against in the book) played Trapper John, Hunnicutt's predecessor on "M*A*S*H."
Haynes Lee writes: Mike Farrell didn't rail against Wayne Rogers but he was very embittered about being typecast by M*A*S*H. One of his more loopy post-MASH television appearances was hosting a show about UFOs where it's revealed that aliens love strawberry ice cream (I am not making this up!).
Benjamin Robinson: As Homer settles in to start his hunger strike, an orange VW Old Beetle convertible can be seen in the parking lot behind him. Later, a pair of hardtops, one brown and one red, is visible. Perhaps they're breeding back there?
The dark green sedan behind Homer resembles a Dodge Dart (or maybe a Plymouth Valiant) from the early 70s.
Mike Reed transcribes: (clips of "The Land of Chocolate" and Homer drooling from [2F06] are shown)
Voice-Over: Homer's appetite is legendary ... so what would make him go on a hunger strike?
Homer: So hungry ... (his stomach growls and the chains rattle) I'm wasting away ... I'm down to a B-cup! (Homer tries to eat his hand.)
Paul Melnyk rejoices: Well, I was watching the syndicate of "Hungry, Hungry, Homer". I loved the episode, so perfect, and such an anti-thesis to what everyone hates about Scully's reign. Homer actually becomes kinder, and when the problem of a baseball team moving became apparent, he would work for it to stop it. The end scene in the stadium was icing on the cake. However, I thought it was killed by the mayor of Albuquerque scene. Yet by god, in syndication, it's cut out, making the episode perfect, one again.
The Joe Green alterna-title for this show is: What's Eating Homer Simpson?
==============================================================================
============================================================================== % The show opens with a commercial for Blockoland, the park where % everything is made of Blocko Brand(tm) Assembly Fun Blocks. Homer is % hooked, despite the fact that even the park-goers in the commercial % seem un-enthused.
Homer: Kids, how would you like to go to ... Blockoland! Bart + Lisa: Meh. Homer: But the TV gave me the impression that -- Bart: We said, "Meh!" Lisa: M-e-h, meh. -- Intense indifference, "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% Marge is more willing to go. So is Maggie, who is so enthusiastic % that she straps herself into her car seat and "hops" it out the % front door. The family thinks this is cute -- until they hear the % car's motor start. % % The tram at Blockoland bumpily rolls along on its square wheels. It % drops off the Simpsons and some other people at the park entrance, % and then continues on its way. At the front gate, a man dressed as % a block with a cowboy hat greets guests with a friendly, "Howdy, % partner!" Another block, dressed as Lincoln gets too close and % bumps into the cowboy. The two stick together and need to be pried % apart by park attendants. Elsewhere, a little girl bounces down a % blocky slide. % % The family stops at a map showing the lay of the land.
Lisa: Okay, we have our choice of Rectangle Land, Cube Country, or Squaresville. Marge: Squaresville sounds pretty cool. -- Only to you, Marge, "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% Homer amuses himself with funhouse mirrors. The first one makes him % look as if he's constructed of Fun Assembly Blocks.
Homer: [robotically] I am a robot. Do what I say. [laughs] [moves to the next mirror, which is similar to the first but with the extra effect of making Homer look shorter] [robotically] I am a washing machine. Do what I say. [laughs] -- "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% In the arcade, Bart and Nelson play with Rock-Em Sock-Em Robots. % Nelson bops Bart's robot in such a way that the robot's head pops up % on a spring. A horrified attendant says, "You knocked his block % off!" and Nelson is dragged away to parts unknown. % % The family eats at the "Build Your Own Meal" restaurant.
Homer: [holds up a blocky-looking apple] Check it out -- I built myself a healthy apple. Lisa: But you made it out of ham cubes. Home: Yup, a shiny new apple. [shines the "apple" on his shirt, where it leaves a grease stain, and takes a bite] -- Keeps the doctor away, "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% Homer has an epiphany while riding in a Blocko-boat with Lisa. "I % get it," he says, "Everything's made of blocks!" Even the "water" % surrounding the boat is just loose blue Assembly Fun Blocks. He % playfully splashes a few in Lisa's face, and a safety attendant % reprimands him. When Homer defies his order, the attendant gets % down from his chair, and walks across the "water" towards Homer's % boat. Homer leaps overboard, and immediately sinks. After some % flailing around he manages to climb back into the boat. Lifting his % shirt, he discovers that the Blocko water has Blocko leeches, and % hurriedly plucks them off his chest. % % Aside from that incident, it was a pretty fun day for the Simpson % family. They drive home from the park with their souvenirs. Bart % is having second thoughts about his uncomfortable shirt made of % Assembly Fun Blocks.
Bart: Ow! Why did I get this Lego(tm) shirt? Marge: Don't you mean Blocko shirt? Bart: Right, right. *Blocko* shirt. Marge: Lisa, how's your Eiffel Tower kit? Lisa: It's okay, but it's missing a piece. [points to missing block at the tower leg] Homer: Welcome to real life, Lisa. You can't fight City Hall, a.k.a. Blockoland, so don't even try? Marge: What kind of thing is that to tell your children. Homer: It's what I always tell them. I told them that twice yesterday, and then again as they were going to sleep. Marge: I'm sure the gift shop will replace the missing piece. Homer: You're right, honey. Hear that, kids? [with gusto] The Simpsons are going to Blockoland! All: Yay! [well, all except Maggie] -- "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% Homer U-turns the car, surprising the other drivers on the highway. % The family arrives as workers disassemble Blockoland for overnight % storage. Fortunately, the souvenir man is still at his stand.
Homer: You sold my little girl a shoddy Eiffel Tower. Salesman: Hey, tough luck, pal. You can't fight the souvenir industry, we're too powerful. -- "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% Homer agrees, and walks off. When he sees how disappointed Lisa is, % he works up the courage for a second try. He vows to give the man % "a little souvenir of my own," which turns out to be a snow globe % with a little bust of Homer inside. The souvenir guy is so touched, % he digs around in a box of missing Eiffel Tower pieces and hands the % tower leg to Lisa.
Lisa: Thank you, Dad. Homer: Hey, any friend of Marge is a friend of mine. -- "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% On the way home, Homer pledges to stand up for the little guy more % often. He quickly gets the opportunity to make good on his pledge. % Just up ahead on the road, three policemen beat Snake savagely with % their nightsticks. Homer guns his car toward them, scaring the % policemen away.
Homer: Those bullies are gone now. Snake: You idiot! They were beating out my shirt fire. [his T- shirt bursts into flame] Homer: My heart was in the right place, jerk! [gets in the car and peels out, spraying Snake with gravel] -- "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% Homer continues standing up for the little guy.
Homer: I'm going to spend the whole day helping schmoes with their problems. Got a problem, Bart? Bart: A girl at school won't go to the dance with me. Lisa: [taunting] Bart's got a girlfriend. Bart: No, I don't that's the problem. Lisa: [giggles] Bart's got a problem. Homer: Don't worry, son. I'll handle this. -- "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% Homer infiltrates Bart's classroom and sits next to Sherri.
Homer: Come on, why won't you go out with Bart? Sherri: He's a smelly, ugly dork. Homer: Please, "ugly" is such a smelly word. Who would you rather go out with? Sherri: Tommy. [indicates a handsome boy bathed in an angelic glow] Homer: Well, duh! He's breathtaking. But Bart has inner beauty, like you'd find in a rodent. [cut to Bart, gnawing rat- like on a cracker, then back to Homer] And face it, you're no prize, either. You wear braces, you dress like a kid, and you're not getting any younger. Edna: He's right. Grab something, and don't let go. -- More life lessons from Ms. Krabappel, "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% Sherri decides Bart isn't so bad after all. % % The beauty parlor doesn't honor Marge's coupon for two free hair % streaks, so Homer goes to bat for her.
Hairdresser: Yes, may I help you? Homer: Nice place you got here. Oh, look, a hairnet. It would be a shame if it was hurled to the ground. [Homer tries to throw it hard to the floor, but it just gently floats down] Oh, how clumsy of me. [unscrews a jar lid, and drops it on the counter] Oops. Hairdresser: Why are you doing these things? Homer: Either you honor my wife's coupon, or a lot more lids will be unscrewed. Hairdresser: I cannot streak that much hair. Think of the costs -- I'd be ruined. Homer: Oh, really? [cut to the back room. Homer has his reading glasses and an eyeshade on, and sits at a table with an adding machine. He and the hairdresser go over the store's financial books] Boy, you weren't kidding. Your profit margins are razor-thin. Hairdresser: You see? This is what I'm -- Homer: Wait a minute. Four hundred a month for loafer lightener? Hairdresser: But we must have it -- it is the lifeblood of the industry. [another hairdresser dips a pair of loafers in a barrel of lightener, bleaching out their dye] Homer: You get the same results with a mincing gel. Hairdresser: But of course! I will save thousands. Thank you. -- "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% Marge, newly streaked, thanks Homer.
Marge: Oh, Homey, I live them. I can't thank you enough. Homer: The satisfaction of helping another human being is all the thanks I et cetera. -- "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% Homer tells the regulars at the tavern how helpful he's been.
And I gave that man directions, even though I didn't know the way. 'Cause that's the kind of guy I am this week. -- Homer Simpson, "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% [End of Act One. Time: 6:58] % % The second act picks up where the first left off, in the bar. Lenny % complains about the Springfield Isotopes, who have been terrible % since they were bought by the Duff Corporation.
Carl: Wait a minute, Duff owns the Springfield Isotopes? Since when? Moe: They bought 'em a year ago from the Mafia. It was the last of the family-owned teams. Lenny: I tried to return my season tickets, but they wouldn't give me my money back. They said *they* wanted it. Homer: Say no more. I'll help you, Lenny. Lenny: You want to help me? Moe: Oh, haven't you heard? He's the new Homer. Carl: [dreamily] He's wonderful. -- "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% After a couple of false starts with the equipment shed and the % utility room, Homer finds the executive office at the team's home % field. The team's new owner, Henry K. Duff VIII, is the biggest % challenge yet for Crusading Homer.
Duff: Sir, I can't give you a refund just because the team's losing. Homer: [sarcastically] I'm sorry to hear that. [spins Duff's Rolodex(tm)] Duff: Spin that back the way it was. Homer: Yes, sir. [does so] Duff: This meeting is over. Homer: Okay. [starts toward the door] So, uh, you wanna get something to eat? Duff: No. I don't. Get out of here. [Homer opens a door marked, "Private"] No, no! Not that door! [inside the room is a collection of Isotopes team memorabilia. *Albuquerque* Isotopes memorabilia] Homer: Albuquerque Isotopes? What is all this stuff? Duff: It's not anything! It has no purpose. [slams the door shut and blocks it with a chair] Homer: What a crazy room. There's no Albuquerque Isotopes. It's the Springfield [realizes] Oh. Duff: No, no. There's no "oh." Homer: You're moving the team to Albuquerque, aren't you? Duff: No, no, we would never abandon our loyal Springfield fans. By the way, all this barging into rooms marked "Private" must have made you thirsty. Would you like a beer? Homer: Well, okay, but you can't silence Homer Simpson. I'm a friend of the downtrodden. And I'm not going to forget what I saw here today. Duff: Of course not. [pushes a button on the intercom] Duffman, could you bring in two bottles of smooth, untainted Duff? Duffman: [over intercom] Oh, yeah. [Duffman quickly comes into the room, bearing two bottles of Duff, and two mugs] Duff: Now, Homer, we've developed this additive that makes beer super, super malty. Care to try it? Homer: Wait a minute, will this erase my memory? Duff: No, not at all. [Duffman prepares a hypodermic needle, and injects Homer. He's immediately knocked out] [Duff takes a drink of beer] Man, that is malty -- but he'll never know! [he and Duffman laugh] -- "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% The next morning, Bart finds Homer sprawled on the roof of the % doghouse.
Bart: Good grief. Homer: Ow, my head. How long have I been out here? Bart: All night. You were yelling at the swings. Homer: I was? But I love the swings. Bart: Dad, you were nuts. Homer: You know me. Occasionally, I'll be quirky. [to himself] "I'll be quirky." Albuquerque! I'll be right back! [runs off] -- Should've used Amnesia Duff, after all, "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% Homer calls a press conference to reveal Duff's plan.
Homer: Members of the media, thank you for coming. The proof that the Isotopes are moving to Albuquerque is right behind this door. Duffman: [thinly disguised as a reporter] Excuse me, Joel Duffman, "The Newsly Times." What's with the smear campaign against this beloved brewer? And weren't you once in a loony bin? Oh, yeah. Duff: He's right folks. The only story here is the rich, smooth taste of Duff. Homer: Yes, that is an important story. But so is this! [opens the door to the Albuquerque room. It is now empty, save for a man with a trumpet, who plays a plaintive two-note "you lost the game" theme] Duff: Well, I think I know tomorrow's headline: "Local man is liar." Reporter: That is a good headline! [one of the reporters takes a picture] -- Someone call Joseph Pulitzer, "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% Duff continues the media blitz against Homer by appearing on Kent % Brockman's news show, reiterating that there are no plans to move % the Isotopes to New Mexico, and calling Homer a liar. Homer is % incensed.
I don't mind being called a liar when I'm lying, or about to lie, or just finished lying. *But not when I'm telling the truth!* -- Homer Simpson, "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% Lisa begins ticking off things that Homer can do to get the public % on his side. When she mentions that Cesar Chavez led hunger % strikes, Homer vows to do the same thing. Marge is skeptical, % pointing out that even as Homer declares his strike, he's eating a % big sausage. Homer throws the meat to the floor, and has a tough % time restraining himself. He apprehensively puts his hand in his % mouth, only to discover it tastes kind of good. % % [End of Act Two. Time: 12:02] % % Homer sets up camp just outside the ballpark with a folding chair, % American flags, and a sign that reads, "Hungry for the truth."
Homer: Let's see those AA baseball honchos ignore this! Marge: You're really not going to eat anything? Homer: My hunger strike will not end until Duff admits they're moving the team. Bart, my chain. [Bart hands him some chain and Homer chains himself into the chair] Now it begins. Lisa: Dad, I'm so proud of you. If you need some inspiration, here's a book of Mike Farrell's core beliefs. [hands Homer said book] Homer: [reads] Man, he really hates Wayne Rogers. Marge: [kisses Homer] Good-bye, Homey. Here's Dr. Hibbert's number if you feel weak. [hands Homer a card] Homer: Don't worry, Duff's not going to let me waste away to nothing. Bart: Uh, Dad? [points to the skeletal remains of a woman in a similar folding chair, with a sign reading "Clean the ladies' room." Homer looks nervous] -- Maybe you should've written a protest song, instead, "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% Milhouse and Mr. Van Houten walk past Homer.
Milhouse: What a great ball game. Thanks, Weekend Dad. Kirk: Stop calling me that. Homer: Hey, kid and man! Don't support a team run by liars. Milhouse: Liars? Homer: They're secretly planning to move to Albuquerque. Kirk: That's crazy. It would have been on a talk radio show like "Sports Chat" or "Sportzilla and the Jabber Jocks." Milhouse: Yeah! Homer: Why, you little ... [lunges for the pair, scaring them away] -- Winning over the masses, "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% Homer is getting hungrier, but will not give up. Even when an % errant ice cream cone lands on his face, he won't eat it. (Although % his hands don't seem to have gotten the message.) % % The rest of Homer's family is having eating problems of their own. % All three children are noticeably fatter as they wearily eat supper.
Marge: There's still more meatloaf. Bart: Oh, it's impossible. Marge: Come on, come on, we all have to pitch in and eat your father's share. Lisa: Why don't you just cook less? Marge: I don't do things that way, Lisa. -- "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% The hunger strike continues into its second day.
Homer: [singing and dancing, sort of] I'm dancing away my hunger pangs, Moving my feet so my stomach won't hurt. I'm kind of like Jesus, But not in a sacrilegious way. Moe: Jeez, Homer's losing it already. Carl: Yeah, but his weary shuffling makes my heart smile. Homer: [groans] Oh, I'm so hungry. [his stomach growls mightily] Ralph: His tummy sounds angry, Daddy. Wiggum: Yeah. [cheerily] That's his stomach eating itself. -- "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% From his office, H. K. Duff surveys the nearly empty bleachers.
Duff: It's such a beautiful day. Where are the crowds? Duffman: Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem. [does pelvic thrusts towards the window] Duff: [looks at Homer, who has a large crowd standing around him] People seem to be drawn to that kook. Maybe we can exploit it. Duffman: He's too dangerous, sir. He knows about Albuquerque. Duffman is a cautious cat. Duff: No, listen. Fans love wackos. Remember that busty woman who ran out on the field and farted at the ballplayers? I think we found our newest attraction. Duffman: Duffman has a bad feeling about this. Duff: Can it, Sid. Duffman: [breaking character] Why don't you can it, Howard? -- Ooh, yeah, "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% While Homer sleeps, two workers saw through the pole he chained % himself to. The drag the pole and his chair to a small hill in the % stadium that overlooks center field, and set the pole in the ground. % Homer wakes up.
Homer: Huh? What's going on? What am I doing here? Worker: Order of Mr. Duff. And word to the wise. If someone hits a home run, fireworks come out here and here. [points to two launchers] [the crack of the bat announces another homer] Gotta go! [runs away shortly before the fireworks begin] -- "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% The announcer introduces Homer as a "superfan" who is on a hunger % strike until the 'Topes win the pennant. The crowd cheers Homer's % dedication, drowning out his protests about moving the team. Homer % is discouraged. % % If you ever plan on going on a hunger strike, dear reader, try not % to do it in a ballpark. Being surrounded by delicious ballpark food % and loudly chewing fans is not doing Homer any favors. % Nevertheless, he finds the will to go on. % % Marge shows up in Duff's office to complain about her husband's % treatment.
Marge: It's been a whole week. Why are you letting my husband die? What does it have to do with baseball? Exec 1: Death is a part of baseball. Exec 2: Oh, yeah, the main part. Duff: Guys ... [motions to the other two, to quiet them] Exec 2: We won't let any harm come to your husband, Mrs. Simpson. He's fine. Marge: He's not moving. [looks through a telescope to see flies buzzing around Homer] Duff: He's probably resting from all the moving he did before you got here. He'll start moving in a second; I'm sure of it. [aside to his men] Turn on the sprinklers. [the sprinklers turn on. Homer groans and weakly rolls over] You see there? He's fine. Exec 2: Ooh, look at him go. Marge: [grumbles] -- Boardroom compassion, "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% The Isotopes play a game that night, not that it makes any % difference to Homer.
Homer: Oh, I'm so hungry. Oh, why keep starving myself? No one cares. [there's a half-eaten pretzel lying on the grass in front of him. Homer reaches for it. A ghostly man in a white suit appears and steps on the pretzel] Who are you? Chavez: The spirit of Cesar Chavez. Homer: Why do you look like Caesar Romero? Chavez: Because you don't know what Cesar Chavez looks like. Homer: Why are you here? Chavez: To tell you not to give up. Homer: [whiny] Oh, but I wanna. -- "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% To the executives watching him, it looks like Homer's talking to % himself. They decide to replace him with another weirdo, Paint- % Drinking Pete. % % Still, there's one more publicity favor that Homer can do for the % Isotopes. Duff and his executives bring him to a microphone set up % on the field.
Duff: Well, Homer, your hunger strike lasted twelve amazing days. Homer: Oh, me so hung-y. Duff: Of course you are, Hungry Hungry Homer. So why not break your fast with our new Isotope Dog Supreme. [Duffman presents a hot dog loaded with toppings] Homer: [sniffing] Oh, oh, so hard to resist. Mesquite-grilled onions, jalape�o relish ... wait a minute, those are Southwestern ingredients. [the crowd gasps] Mango-lime salsa? That's the kind of bold flavor they enjoy in ... Albuquerque! [the crowd gasps again] Lenny: [in the stands] He's right! Moe: Yeah, and the wrapper says, "Albuquerque Isotopes." Mel: Homer was right! They're planning to move the team! -- Vindicated at last, "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% The crowd looks angry, and shouts at Duff. Homer quickly has them % chanting, "Tell the truth!" Duff orders Duffman to get Homer out of % sight. Homer asks him not to, but instead to "stand up for the % little guy." Duffman is torn between these two alternatives. He % asks himself what Jesus would do. In an interesting theological % conclusion, Duffman picks up his boss, twirls him around, and hurls % him into the stands. % % Homer takes a victory lap around the field. Chanting, "Eat! Eat! % Eat!" the crowd tosses hot dogs, pretzels, and ice cream cones at % Homer, who snarfs them down right out of mid-air. The Simpsons, who % are in the stadium that night, are proud of him. The fireworks go % off. The little guy has won. % % Meanwhile, someone in Albuquerque is watching this scene unfold on % television.
Mayor: Dang! That town's got too much spirit. [turns off the TV] Looks like we'll have to steal some other baseball team. See what Dallas wants for the Cowboys. Aide: Uh, that's a football team, sir. Mayor: They'll play what I tell 'em to play. [walks to a window] [menacingly] For I am the Mayor of Albuquerque. -- The new evil empire, "Hungry Hungry Homer"
% [End of Act Three. Time: 20:09] % % Normal closing music and Gracie shush.
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============================================================================== {am} Alie Molino {bjr} Benjamin Robinson {cj} Carl Johnson {cl} Chad Lehman {ddg} Don Del Grande {dj} Darrel Jones {ds} Dave Sibley {jc} Jeff Cross {jg} Jeremy Gallen {jk} Joe Klemm {jlm} Jesse L. McCann {mr} Matt Rose {px} Preston X {sa} Steve Alpert {tf} Ted Fedya
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============================================================================== This episode capsule is Copyright 2003 Benjamin Robinson. It is not to be redistributed in a public forum without consent from its author or current maintainer ([email]). All quoted material and episode summaries remain property of The Simpsons, Copyright of Twentieth Century Fox. All other contributions remain the properties of their respective authors. The Quote and Scene Summary itself is Copyright 2003 Benjamin Robinson. This capsule has been brought to you by Blockoland.
This work is dedicated to Raymond Chen, James A. Cherry, Ricardo Lafaurie, Frederic Briere, and all of those who made episode capsules what they are today.