Episode 3F05
Written by Dan Greaney
Directed by Jim Reardon
Also starring: Pamela Hayden
Special guest voice: Joan Kenley

Premise: 'All my life I've been an obese man trapped inside a fat man's body.' Homer needs to gain 61 lbs in order to be classified as disabled and thus be allowed to work at home.

Features: Smithers, Mr Burns, Carl, Lenny, Dr Hibbert, Dr Nick, Arnie Pie, Ned Flanders, Milhouse, Nelson, Jimbo Jones, Spotty Boy, Ralph.

Couch: The Simpsons rush in - as sparking clockwork toys.

Trivia:

• Products seized on by Homer include Ham Ahoy!, Much Ado About Stuffing, Tubbb!, Cheezs And Rice, and Uncle Jim's Country Fillin'.
• He visits The Vast Waistband clothing store.
• Homer goes to see the movie Honk if you're Horny starring Pauly Shore and Faye Dunaway.

Homage: The scene where Bart, Milhouse and friends crowd outside the window of the Simpsons' house to spy on the obese Homer is a lifted scene from What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (Lasse Hallstrom, 1993).

Mmmmm: ...I can feel three kinds of softness.

That's Homer Simpson, sir: 'One of your chair moisteners from Sector 7G.'

Notes: Homer's antics with the computer ('Press any key? There is no any key!') and Mr Burns running exercise classes ('push out the jive, bring in the love!') are plus points, but this isn't one of the best episodes. Homer's at his most irritating and childish here - you really want Marge to beat him up.