[The long of it]
Star-studded episodes may be a favorite of Fox's marketing team and entertainment press writers looking for a quick story, but I've always thought they were an iffy proposition. It's hard to write a story that (1) finds some reason to gather all the celebs in Springfield at the same time, (2) gives enough screen time to each star so they can say more than, "Hi, I'm _______," and (3) does this without seeming contrived. Oh, and is funny on top of all that. Occasionally, the writers can pull it off, like they did with "Homerpalooza (3F21)." More often, the results are like "Krusty Gets Kancelled (9F19)," a so- so episode that existed mainly to showcase its constellation of movie and TV stars.
"How I Spent My Strummer Vacation" scores well on the first three challenges. The celebrity excuse for this episode is a rock-and-roll fantasy camp, where rock stars help baby boomer wannabes live their rock-and-roll dreams for a week or so. Such things actually exist (although not with such an A-list roster), so I can buy this idea. I can also say that each man in the line-up -- Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Tom Petty, Elvis Costello, Lenny Kravitz, and Brian Setzer -- has at least one substantial scene. Jagger and Richards, in particular, get a lot of the writers' attention. So while the point of the show is to have a lot of fun guest stars, it doesn't feel like a half-baked excuse to do so.
As for humor, it varies from the workaday (Homer tries to copy Kravitz' stage "look") to the clever (Keith Richards teaches would-be stars the finer points of getting to the limo after the show). Costello is funny when he's pressed into the role of camp equipment manager, and I liked the lyrics lesson Petty tried to give by the campfire. A final shot of Richards and Jagger at home was pretty cute, too.
And yet, "Strummer's" best scenes were at the beginning, before we even saw the celebrities. Homer is in no condition to drive home from Moe's Tavern, so he takes a cab. It turns out the cab is equipped with a video camera, which records conversations for later use in a "Taxicab Confessions" kind of show. Homer unwittingly goes on record as saying he loves his family, yet also feels trapped by them. Now, this is an interesting sentiment. I imagine that just about everyone who has been married long enough has felt the same way Homer did: You love your family as much as life itself, but sometimes you wonder about the road not taken, about life as a free spirit. The rest of the family is understandably put off by Homer's "confession," but if they (especially Marge) haven't felt the same way at some point in their life, I'd be damned surprised.
There's probably a good story to go with this theme, but we need to get to the celebrities, so the Simpsons send Homer to the Stones' camp. The show's okay, if not as original, from this point onward. The ending is bit contrived. Of course all the stars happen to be playing a benefit concert in Springfield that week, and of course they all want Homer to hang out with them. They also unite to drive him off the stage even though, if you think about it, only one man needed to do so. But, of course, they all needed to be together at the end so they can help sum up the meaning of the story.
The celebrities involved do a good job, and "How I Spent My Strummer Vacation" is leagues ahead of that other musical episode, "New Kids on the Blecch (CABF12)." Still, for me, the episode rocked hardest when it was the Simpsons who had center stage.
[The short of it]
Star-studded episodes like this one are challenging. It's hard to write one that's funny AND has a good excuse for the stars to meet AND gives everyone something interesting to say. "Strummer" does a good job with the nuts-and-bolts issues, although the rock-star humor is uneven. Actually, I liked the "ordinary" Simpsons part even better. Homer's love-hate relationship with his family would make an interesting show by itself. As it stands, this episode is a good example of the parade-of-stars genre. (B-)
[DYNs]
... Lisa went to the trouble of drawing a little flower on her note to Homer? ... Bart, on the other hand, wrote his note on torn paper, addressed Homer as "Homer," didn't close with "Love," and had at least one grammatical error? ... someone who looks a little like Mike Scully (this episode's lead writer) stands behind Otto in the rest room line? ... the benefit logo, seen as the stage backdrop, is a model of the Earth with Band-Aid adhesive bandages on it? ... Lenny Kravitz's lip quivers when Homer tells the guys he can't join them for the follow-up concert?
[References]
Jump the Shark (website) - the Simpsons literally jump the shark in the couch gag
"Taxicab Confessions" (TV series) - "Taxicab Conversations" has identical premise
"Modern Maturity" (magazine) - Lisa reads "Teen Modern Maturity," apparently [See "Personal Comments & Observations" for more]
"Legs" (song) - Apu wants song lyrics about girls who have legs and "know how to use them," which is cribbed from this ZZ Top hit
"I Can't Drive 55" (song) Otto want a song about how he can't drive 55 m.p.h., as in the Sammy Hagar song
"Live at Monterrey" (movie) Homer lights his guitar on fire, like Jimi Hendrix, and strikes the same pose afterward
The Who (band) - Apu does that "windmill" thing with his guitar at the camp concert
"It's Only Rock and Roll" (song) - Mick Jagger consoles Homer by saying, "It's only rock-and-roll camp" - Homer responds with, "but I like it," the song's next lyric
[Previous Episode References]
[DABF12] "Jump the shark" metaphor illustrated literally [BABF11] Homer's not *not* licking toads [CABF12] End credits with live-action shots of guest stars recording their lines
[FFF]
Marge's note to Homer:
DEAR HOMIE,
HAD TO BUY DIAPERS
FOR MAGGIE. LOVE,
MARGE
(SIMPSON)Lisa's note to Homer:
Dear Dad
Took money for the
school book fair [flower] Love,
LisaBart's note to Homer:
Homer,
I need cash or
They're gonna
break my legs.Bart
Roadside warning sign:
DANGER:
THIN AIRHomer's blood-donor pin:
BE
NICE
TO ME
I
GAVE
BLOOD(Some) Places where Homer would never be bothered by his family again:
MENTAL SLAUGHTER SANTA'S
INSTITUTION HOUSE VILLIAGEFantasy camp sign:
THE
ROLLING ROCK N' ROLL
STONES'
FANTASY CAMPInstrument cabin:
ELVIS
COSTELLO'S
INSTRUMENT
SHACKCostume cabin:
LENNY
KRAVITZ'S THREAD <-- "Psychedelic" lettering
SHEDSign by campfire:
LYRICS
WORKSHOP
WITH
TOM PETTYLimo-escape simulation:
ESCAPING
TO THE LIMO
---------
PROF.
KEITH RICHARDSWritten on Petty's dune buggy:
IMPROVE
PUBLIC
SCHOOLSBenefit concert sign:
SPRINGFIELD CIVIC CENTER
CONCERT FOR
PLANET HOLLYWOODHomer's backstage pass:
[drum] [guitar]
BACKSTAGE
P A S S ALL
ACCESS <-- printed at angle[gold seal]
Lisa's sign:
DAD
ROCKSSome people at the show:
Jasper, Moleman, Crazy Old Yiddisha Guy, Flanders,
Some of Fat Tony's gang, Herman, Bumblebee Man,
Krabappel, Agnes Skinner, Principal SkinnerHomer's first jacket:
Honorary
RoadieHomer's second jacket:
Guitar
Hero[Oops!]
= Disco Stu appeared to disappear into the cab -- you couldn't see his head in the window after he got in.
[Personal Comments & Observations]
Tonight's rock-and-roll roster included:
* Mick Jagger and Keith Richards -- Vocalist and guitarist, respectively, for the Rolling Stones. Despite the usual party- hard lifestyle, the Stones have had remarkable longevity (Brian Jones being an exception). Jagger's and Richard's more domesticated personae -- putting up storm windows and fretting over the cost of oatmeal -- play against their fast-living reputation.
- Elvis Costello -- Of Elvis Costello and the Attractions. To me, he has kind of an acerbic, intelligent stage personality.
- Lenny Kravitz -- Funk-rocker known for, among other things, his cutting-edge fashion sense.
* Tom Petty -- Petty's lyrics are a step up from the "generic" lyrics he complained about on the show, although I never heard anything particularly activist about them. (Of course, that stuff might be on one of his albums that I don't have.)
* Brian Setzer -- Started out with the Stray Cats, a punk- rockabilly band, then founded the Brian Setzer Orchestra, fusing the punk genre with those old-fashioned swing bands. Really -- the BSO has the brass section, the matching uniforms, the podiums with the band logo on them, the whole nine yards. This is the group to whom Setzer was referring after the concert. I guess the budget wasn't there to draw and animate them for the show.
- Kenny Loggins -- Known mainly for successful movie theme songs, especially "Highway to the Danger Zone," from "Top Gun."
I think that covers everybody.
One of the byproducts of America's crackdown on drunk driving is a law making tavern owners partly responsible for accidents caused by people drinking at their establishments. The theory is that the bar assisted in making the person drunk (by supplying the booze), and so has some responsibility in keeping him off the road. (This also applies to people who host parties that serve liquor, by the way.) It's this law, and not Moe's sense of accountability, that led him to get a taxi for Homer.
There's a nice subtle bit of satire here. Although Homer is clearly wasted when he walked into Moe's, Moe would take the blame because that one sip of beer was the last thing Homer had before hitting the road.
"Modern Maturity" is the house magazine that the American Association of Retired People (AARP) sends to its members, meaning that its audience is of people fifty years old, or older. You might think this is one magazine that doesn't have to worry about a gender gap, but you'd be wrong. Apparently, the baby boom generation (whose oldest members are eligible to join AARP) doesn't want to tacitly admit they were getting older by reading "Modern Maturity." The publishers are attempting to solve this problem by offering two versions of the magazine, one for the original Geritol generation, and one for aging baby boomers. (I think the "young" version is also available on newsstands.) They haven't gone to the extreme of reaching for teenagers -- yet. [Side note: Matt Groening was featured in the first issue of the new "Mondern Maturity." I think he may even have gotten on the cover.]
The taxi that Moe crammed Homer into is most likely a Ford Crown Victoria. The resemblance is especially strong in the shot from the front, in "Taxicab Conversations."
There is a purple VW Old Beetle in the parking lot as the family leaves Springfield Civic Center.
The Olive Garden is a popular chain of Italian restaurants in the United States. Homer ought to like going there -- you get unlimited refills on bread sticks and soup. (Also salad, but Homer's not a salad kind of guy.)
Speaking of restaurants, Planet Hollywood is a theme restaurant that combines movies and food. It's the Hollywood answer to the Hard Rock Caf�, but it quickly ran into financial trouble. Some of its owners are high-flying Hollywood celebs, and I think there may be a few musicians in the mix, which might explain their interest in holding the concert.
Yes, even in glamour industry like rock-and-roll there are unglamorous jobs. Just ask the bass guitarist. For some reason, this position often gets overlooked when fame, fortune, and groupies are parceled out. Even bassists who are famous, like Paul McCartney or Sting, are famous for something other than their ability to play bass.