[The long of it]
Pretend for a minute that you are a comic book writer whose assignment is to make Homer Simpson a superhero. What super-power would you endow him with? The ability to support a family of five with no steady job? The power to eat entire meals in a single gulp? The agility to leap from bumbling father to insensitive jerk, and then back again?
Would you believe the power of super empathy? That's essentially what lead writer Jon Vitti does in this story that traces Homer's alter ego Pie Man, who brings comeuppance to the arrogant. "Simple Simpson (FABF15)" is a fun episode that not only skewers the conventions of superhero story-telling, but is an interesting story in its own right.
That story begins at the state fair, where mild-mannered Homer Simpson is just another man judging pigs at the state fair. Suddenly, he overhears a cruel judge in the nearby place-setting competition humiliating Lisa. It's up to Homer to defend his daughter's honor. As most fathers would, he disguises himself in a makeshift mask and cape, takes a pie, and smacks it right in the judge's face. Justice is served, and from this moment forward Homer Simpson is ... Pie Man!
Taken at face value, the plot stands well on its own. We've seen crusading Homer before, and he pays a welcome visit tonight. Seeing Homer try to do something good, and coming up with a harebrained way of doing it, is funnier than watching him act like a heartless lout for half an hour. Not that I have a problem with Homer acting selfish; it's just nice to see him stick up for his loved ones once in a while, like he does with Lisa. I can buy the premise that draws Homer into the superhero arena, too. It's far more believable to imagine Homer taking jerks down a peg or two as opposed to say, foiling bank robberies. Indeed, except for a few scenes where Homer displays an acrobat's agility, he doesn't do anything that would be physically beyond him in any other episode. Instead, the writers had to get creative, finding ways for Homer to fight for truth, justice, and the American way using just his normal talents. They do a fine job.
You'd expect a story like this to take some shots at superhero clich�s, and "Simple Simpson (CABF15)" delivers. Evidently, Homer remembers the hoary old "You never see Bruce Wayne and Batman together" argument, because he dresses up the family dog as Pie Man and snaps a picture of he and Homer standing next to one another. See? That proves they're two different people! Homer's weak efforts to create an alter ego are hilarious; I liked the "Pie Cave" scene in particular. Other conventions are skewered, too, but I don't want to give too much away. Let's just say the standard scene where the villain gets an opportunity to unmask the hero doesn't play the way I expect. Also, Marge's final comment echoes a question that "Superman's" more cynical readers have been asking for years. Even the basic plot is a spoof, since the relative triviality of Pie Man's quest contrasts with the grave save-the-world mission of most superheroes.
Although it's just a throwaway gag to open the episode, I'd like to mention the terrific reality-show parody, "Promiscuous Idiot Island." As seems to be a requirement of reality shows nowadays, the host announces a major rule-change halfway through. The island, it turns out, is actually a peninsula. I loved the betrayed reactions of the contestants. One of them says she wishes she could "take the boat back home right now." The host callously answers, "Actually, you could just walk." I also enjoyed the Farmer Billy Bacon commercial that gets the plot rolling. Later, Nichelle Nichols of "Star Trek" fame has a short cameo with a pretty good line.
So, with his powers of sympathetic character, good plotting, and insightful parody, Pie Man has once again saved the day. We're safe from Mediocre Episode Man ... but, for how long?
[The short of it]
This is a fun episode that not only skewers the conventions of superhero story-telling, but is an interesting story in its own right. The plot stands well on its own, creatively giving Homer a way to fight the minor injustices of the world with the talents he normally has. "Simple Simpson" also delivers some excellent parodies of superhero story clich�s, from the "Homer and Pie Man together" photo to Marge's bedtime comment at the end of the episode. The "Promiscuous Idiot Island" parody starts the show on a good note. Nichelle Nichols has a short but good cameo, too. Once again, Pie Man saves the day ... but, for how long? (A)
[DYNs]
... how fitting the couch opening is, given the subject matter of this episode? ... Ralph is on the conveyer belt to the pig shredder? ... Maggie uses a straw to suck up spilled soda off the table?
[References]
"Temptation Island" (TV series) - the Simpsons watch "Promiscuous Idiots Island"
"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (children's novel and movie) - food factory runs a sweepstakes; customers who find a golden ticket get a free tour of the factory
the pie prankster - there is a guy (in Europe, I think) who goes around pie-ing those he feels are too big for their britches [Bill Gates was one of his targets a couple years ago]
"Superman" (superhero) - Homer's costume, with the blue tights and cape, looks similar to the Man of Steel's outfit
The Green Lantern (superhero) - one of Bart's comics is "The Green Listener"
"Batman" (TV series) - the family slide down poles in the couch opening, changing from their street clothes to their superhero outfits - the spinning pies in the scene segues are similar to this show's spinning backgrounds - musical flourish is similar, too - Homer fashions a "pie cave" headquarters in the basement
"Fantastic Four" (comic book) - CBG sells Milhouse an issue of "Fantastic Floor" - Homer announces "It's cobblering time," a play on the Thing's catchphrase, "It's clobbering time"
"Spiderman" (superhero) - Homer leaves a calling card from "your friendly neighborhood pieman" (cf. "neighborhood Spiderman")
"Spiderman" (movie) - the kissing scene between Homer and Marge staged just like the one with Spidey and Mary Jane in the movie
<John Ritter movie> - I forget the name, but in this film an ordinary schmo dresses like a superhero and rescues people
"Greatest American Hero" (TV series) - show with an "ordinary guy as hero" theme (except the lead character had a suit that actually gave him super powers)
[Previous Episode References]
[7G03], [1F09], [CABF09] Homer crusades for the public good [2F05] Nominal island is actually a peninsula [9F02] Vaseline used for that frictionless smile
[FFF]
Apu's gun bin:
$2.00/lb
County fair sign:
SPRINGFIELD
COUNTY FAIR
WHO STILL GOES
TO THESE?
FIND OUT
<-INSIDE--People in the establishing shot of the fair:
Ned and Todd, the Simpsons, Luann and Milhouse, Comic Book Guy,
Groundskeeper Willie, Chief and Ralph Wiggum, Lenny, Carl, and
Kent Brockman(So now we know who still goes to those)
Garden giants:
THE THE THE
WORLD'S WORLD'S WORLD'S
BIGGEST BIGGEST BIGGEST
PUMPKIN BOK CHOY RIBBON THE WORLD'S THE WORLD'S BIGGEST
BIGGEST PILE OF
BRUSSEL SPROUT MASHED POTATOESPeople holding the flag:
(Starting with the upper left-hand corner and working clockwise)
Captain McAllister, Bee Man, Leopold, Rev. Lovejoy, Kent Brockman,
Hans Moleman, Luigi, Sanjay, Old Yiddisha Guy, HermanLisa's contest:
PLACE-SETTING COMPETITION
Crappy comics:
R I � H I E R I � H EASY TO BELIEVE
THE POOR LITTLE RICH BOY TALES
INCORPORATES IN DELAWARE SUPERGIRL THE GREEN
VS. THE LISTENER
GLASS CEILING FANTASTIC
FLOOR ANNUAL
HARDWOOD
ISSUE!Pie Man's "calling card":
EVILDOERS
BEWARE!
SIGNED,
SIMPLE SIMON
YOUR FRIENDLY
NEIGHBORHOOD
PIEMANNewspaper headline:
OBESE NERD EATS HUMBLE PIE
"PIE MAN"
BACK FOR SECONDSBanner at pie/gun exchange:
PIES FOR GUNS
Banner at Dalai Lama's speech:
TONIGHT: THE DALAI LAMA
"FREE TIBET"
FREE T-SHIRTS TO FIRST HUNDRED FANSPeople in the audience at the Dalai Lama's speech:
Groundskeeper Willie, Disco Stu, Ms. Hoover, Bee Man,
Kirk Van Houten, Dr. and Mrs. Hibbert, Otto, Sarah Wiggum,
Nelson, Milhouse, Apu, Superintendent Chalmers, Gil,
Sideshow Mel, Jasper, Moe, Eddie, Principal Skinner,
Ms. Krabappel, Louie the Gangster, Dr. Nick, Carl, Lenny,
Lou the Cop, and Chief Wiggum[Oops!]
Wait a minute ... did Homer ever does pay for all the bacon packages he opened while hunting for the golden ticket?
While Homer's at work, an extra picture frame appears after Burns walks in, and the original frame changes position.
[Personal Comments & Observations]
Bart says anyone who signs a contract with Fox should expect to be humiliated and betrayed. The voice actors can probably vouch for that.
Homer -- uh, I mean Pie Man -- pies Krusty for a "slight decline" in his show's quality. For the same reason, many a.t.s. regulars wanted to do that, and much worse, to the "Simpsons" producers over the years.
thief!
When "Promiscuous Idiots Island" goes to commercial, Homer stays put, saying that he feels like he's stealing TV if he doesn't watch the ads. There's at least one television executive out there who would be delighted to hear that. I forget this man's name, but in a press conference he complained that TiVo and ReplayTV hurt the industry because they allow people to easily skip commercials. Then, he went further: Anyone who watched TV but not the ads violated an implicit bargain. These people were like thieves, the executive claimed. One reporter, understandably thunderstruck by this unusual ethical theory, wondered if it meant you couldn't take a bathroom break. The executive grudgingly admitted that people could make "occasional" trips to the loo. You know, if they really had to.
Naturally, nobody took this idea seriously, except perhaps the man who said it. One TV critic, noting that ad time has increased over the years, said he wanted to renegotiate his bargain. Meanwhile, people with TiVos and ReplayTVs -- not to mention VCRs -- walk the streets with impunity.
Ever notice how, even in companies that don't overtly discriminate against women, you hardly ever see any top female executives? People have called this phenomenon, where women rise to the threshold of upper management only to see their careers stall, the "glass ceiling." It's supposed to invoke the image of an invisible barrier that keeps women out of the executive suite. Bart's comic visualizes this by showing Supergirl pushing against a literal glass ceiling, which supports an all-male boardroom.