Mom and Pop Art vs. Homer the Smithers

[stip]

Mom and Pop Art

Homer is relaxing on a Saturday when Marge tells him that he should be doing work around the house and yard. Homer overcomes his reluctance and takes Bart to Mom & Pop Hardware to get some equipment. But while there, Homer sees a do it yourself barbecue pit and is compelled to buy it instead of anything that might help him with his work. Homer tries to install the pit, but bungles the job when he drops the parts of the barbecue into wet cement. He frantically tries to assemble the barbecue pit before the cement hardens, but only makes things worse. In the end, Homer is left with a mismatched collection of parts stuck in hardened cement, which angers him. He vents his rage on the construct, mangling it further. Later, Homer takes the results of his work back to the store for a refund, which he does not receive. On the way home, Homer loses control of the wagon containing the jumbled mess of concrete and bricks. It rolls down the highway and crashes into a woman's car, wrecking it. Homer flees the scene of the accident, but the woman tracks him down. It turns out that she is an artist named Astrid Weller (voiced by Isabella Rossellini), and sees Homer's handiwork as being a masterpiece of outsider art. Homer's exhibit goes to the Louvre: American Style museum and when Mr. Burns buys his work, Homer becomes a success.

Now officially an outsider artist, Homer uses his channeled rage to continue his work and befriends other stereotypically pretentious artists, like Jasper Johns. All the while, his easily achieved fame makes Marge jealous due to her lack of success at becoming a successful artist despite years of effort. Homer later gets a notice from Astrid Weller that his work will be in the "Art in America" show, but his new masterpieces are rejected by Springfield's residents and his new "friends" for being repetitive of his first piece.

Down on his luck and starved for inspiration, Lisa recommends Homer visit the Springfield Art Museum. But none of the art Homer sees serves to inspire him; he feels inadequate when he sees what other artists have done, and it only worsens the situation when he takes a nap and has a nightmare of various paintings attacking him. He goes back home, discouraged, but is soon given another suggestion by Lisa. She tells him about the artist Christo, causing Homer to try doing something similarly groundbreaking. He and Bart flood Springfield by opening all the fire hydrants (having covered the sewer drains with the city's doormats, including their own) and putting snorkels in the animals of the zoo (so that they do not drown). Surprisingly, Astrid Weller and even the whole town of Springfield is impressed with Homer's work, and enjoy the newly made "Grand Canals of Springfield" along with the swimming zoo animals. As Marge and Homer kiss each other on the roof of their house Jasper Johns comes on a boat and steals the painting Marge was painting. The song playing in the end of episode is "Arrivederci Roma" performed by Michael Dees.

Homer the Smithers

After a company night out to the Springfield drag races, Smithers fails to protect Mr. Burns from being harassed by a drunken Lenny. Though he tries to make amends the next day, Smithers again bungles his duties and attempts to drown himself in the water cooler out of guilt, so Burns suggests he take a vacation. Seeking a replacement who will not outshine him, Smithers purposely selects Homer for the job. He then proceeds to go on vacation to what appears to be a gay male resort. However, Burns soon proves to be ridiculously demanding for someone who has not devoted his life to him like Smithers had. After putting up with Mr. Burns's constant abuse for several days, Homer finally snaps and punches Burns in anger. Fearing he has killed the old man, Homer runs away in panic, and hides at home.

Homer returns to apologize but is turned away by a fearful Burns. With no one around, Burns learns to do things himself, such as making coffee and operating the telephone. Burns soon becomes completely self-reliant and thanks Homer for making him learn that he can fend for himself. Burns then fires Smithers when he returns from his vacation. Smithers tries to find other employment but eventually decides he can only be happy working for Mr. Burns. He enlists Homer in a scheme to get his job back by handling a call from Burns' mother (the one task that Burns still cannot do), but it backfires when Homer accidentally hangs up the phone and then attempts to impersonate Burns' mother. Smithers and Homer engage in a fight within Burns' office which ends when Burns accidentally falls out the window. Burns is seriously injured and becomes reliant on Smithers once again. In gratitude, Smithers sends Homer a fruit basket.

[tragabigzanda]

I remember almost nothing from the Art episode, which makes me think it's not great.

[stip]

its not

[LoathedVermin72]

It's a solid episode. "Stupid Lisa!" is one of my favorite Simpsons quotes.

[Jorge]

No recollection of Mom and Pop either so I guess I will watch it tonight!

[Norah]

it's not very great