Look who's talking, thanks to Herb Powell.
Episode 8F23
Written by John Swartzwelder
Directed by Rich Moore
Also starring: Maggie Roswell
Special guest voices: Joe Frasier (as himself), Danny DeVito (as Herb)
Premise: The ruined Herb Powell returns to Homer's life. This time he's trying to patent a unique baby-deciphering device. He badly needs cash - and Homer's just won $2000.
Features: Lenny, Mr Burns, Smithers, Dr John Frink, Herb Powell, Rev. Lovejoy, Helen Lovejoy, Ned Flanders, Maude Flanders, Todd Flanders, Rod Flanders, Carl, Apu, Principal Skinner, Moe, Barney.
Couch: The Simpsons cartwheel on to the sofa.
Trivia:
- Homer wins the First Annual Montgomery Burns Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence.
- There are flashbacks to .
Homage: Homer's TV memories include Kristen shooting JR from Dallas, the Berlin Wall coming down in 1989, the Hands Across America event of 1985, and the sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter. His 'trip' on the vibro-chair references the climax of
2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, 1969).
Notes for the Uneducated: The novel Less Than Zero by Brett Easton Ellis is a tale of contemporary youth's angst.
Look out for: Bart and Lisa avoiding the blame for the destruction of the sofa.
That's Homer Simpson, sir: 'One of your cabbage heads from Sector 7G.'
Notes: We love the drinking bird, the development of Homer's fixation for mechanically aided chairs, and Maggie talking through Herb's translator device.
The information in this section is taken from 'I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and
Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide' by Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, published by Virgin Books. Content © 2000 Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood.