Homer's Odyssey
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- This article is about an episode of The Simpsons. For the epic poem, see Odyssey.
- January 21, 1990
- June 3, 1990
- August 30, 1990
The episode marks the first appearance of Duff Beer, Blinky the three-eyed fish, Sherri and Terri and Waylon Smithers* (introduced as an African-American due to a communication error with Korean animators, but later changed to yellow and explained as having an extreme suntan). The Chief of the Springfield Police, Clancy Wiggum also first appears in this episode formally. Smithers was earlier heard in Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire This is also the first episode we see Otto Mann the bus driver. Sherri and Terri are introduced when they make Bart scream on the bus by kissing him. Bart also calls Moe's Tavern, owned by Moe Szyslak, for the first time asking for Mr Freely, first initials I.P. This is the first time that we see Mr Burns, the last episode we only hear his voice over the loudspeaker.
Synopsis
Mrs. Krabappel takes the class on a trip to the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. While riding through the plant in an electric cart in an effort to find them, Homer takes his eyes off his driving and crashes into a radioactive pipe, causing the plant to shut down.
Homer is fired for repeated safety violations. Depressed and unable to find a new job, he writes a good-bye note and leaves to jump off a bridge. Lisa finds the note and alerts the family. Rushing across the bridge to stop him, they are almost run down by a speeding truck. Homer pulls them out of the way just in time.
Homer embarks on a public safety crusade to make Springfield a safer place to live. Speed bumps, warning signs, and public awareness posters are placed throughout the city. When he becomes bored with traffic safety, Homer takes on the nuclear power plant, rallying the people of Springfield to his cause. To end the furor Homer is creating, Mr. Burns offers him a position as a safety supervisor with a large pay increase. Homer accepts the job, telling the mob to go home and assuring them that he will make the nuclear power plant safe.
Trivia
- Chalkboard Scene: Bart writes "I will not skateboard in halls".
- Signature Couch Scene: The family hops on the couch and the sides pop off and the legs give out. They end up sitting on the cushions of the floor. Opening Credits roll.
- On their way to Springfield Powerplant they pass the Springfield Toxic Waste Dump, the Springfield Tire Yard (which is not on fire as of yet), the Springfield State Prison, Springfield Elementry School.
- Bart is forced to sing "John Henry was a steel drivin' man" because he was being too loud on the bus.
- The atom mascots' name is "Smilin' Joe Fission" who sweeps left over nuclear waste under the rug where "no one will find it for a billion years.
- A three-eyed fish, Blinky, swims near the nuclear plant in a pond.
- A sign at the plant reads, "Our Safety Record: [7] Days Since Last Accident."
- Homer gets fired by Sherri and Terri's dad when he runs an electric car into a radiation vapor pipe.
- Marge goes back to her roller waitress job.
- Bart's report card includes an F in Social Studies, an F in Math, and a D in Physical Education, a U in Science, a U in Reading, and a U in writing.
- Homer pens his suicide note on "Dumb Things I Gotta Do Today" stationery.
- When Homer reaches the Bridge he is almost ran over by who appears to be Hans Moleman who zooms by in a car.
- El Barto is signed on the steps of city hall and Chief Wiggum talks about the graffitti problem in Springfield. He then passes around an artist sketch of the culprit who looks like an older and tougher Bart Simpson.
- Springfield Shopper headlines: "Simpson Says Safe!," "Dozens Cheer Homer Simpson," "Homer Simpson Strikes Again!," "Watch Out, Here Comes Homer," and "Enough Already, Homer Simpson!"
- In the Rally against the Powerplant Homer's opening line is" Thank You. Unlike most of you, I am not a nut".
- Homer gets promoted to his current position as a Safety Inspector for the entire plant.
- In the scene where Homer and another man are making the announcement to everyone, if you look very carefully you can see a man in the background who looks like Brad Goodman from Season 5.
References
[Put Your Hand Inside the Puppet Head] by They Might Be Giants: Homer writes a memo to himself: Dumb things I gotta do today.
Get Smart: The Power Plant doors that open up in different forms.
The Odyssey: The episode title comes from the Greek epic.
Al Jolson: Burns says: “I haven't seen anything like it since Jolson.”
Goofs
While in the power plant, when the school was walking down a hallway, in one shot, one of the twins (either Sherri or Terri), was just a floating headExternal links
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