Homer's Enemy
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"Homer's Enemy" is the twenty-third episode of The Simpsons' eighth season and originally aired May 4, 1997.[1] It was directed by Jim Reardon and was written by John Swartzwelder.[2] After the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant hires a new man named Frank Grimes, Homer tries to befriend him. However, Grimes ends up hating Homer and declares himself Homer's enemy.[1]
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[edit] Synopsis
In an edition of "Kent's People", Kent Brockman tells the heartbreaking story about Frank Grimes "the man who had to struggle for everything he got in life." After watching the story, Mr. Burns is so touched that he demands Smithers find Grimes and hire him to be his Executive Vice-President. A day later, Burns sees a similar story about a heroic dog and demands it become the new Executive Vice President. Grimes is unceremoniously given a job in Sector 7G, working alongside Homer, Lenny and Carl. Grimes takes an immediate dislike to Homer, and is irked by his abrasive cheerfulness, poor work ethic and irresponsibility.
Meanwhile, Bart gets bored during a visit to Springfield town hall and buys "35 Industry Way" for a buck during a foreclosure auction. It turns out to be a run-down old factory and gives Milhouse a job as night watchman. However, later in the episode, Milhouse is unable to prevent the factory from falling over.
At the plant, Grimes becomes increasingly annoyed by Homers antics: Eating Grimes's lunch, chewing Grimes's pencils, ignoring safety warnings and eating like a pig (or duck). Grimes saves Homer from drinking a beaker of sulfuric acid. The acid corrodes a wall and Mr. Burns admonishes Grimes for his actions but gives him a second chance and a reduced salary. An angered Grimes marches into Homer's work area and declares that he is now Homer's enemy.
In response, Homer attempts to invite Grimes to dinner at his house to get on his good side. This only fuels Grimes's hatred of Homer as he sees how Homer is able to live comfortably even after a life of sloth and ignorance. Grimes calls Homer a "fraud" and angrily storms away.
In another attempt to earn Grimes's respect, Homer acts like a good model employee, but Grimes is less than impressed. He tries pointing out Homer's faults to Lenny and Carl, but they dismiss Grimes saying Homer is okay. Finally having had enough, Grimes decides to prove to the Power Plant how truly incompetent Homer is. To do so, he enters Homer in a nuclear power plant design contest without telling Homer the contest is for children only. Homer takes it as a challenge to prove that he's a professional.
At the design contest, Mr. Burns is won over by Homer's design and gives Homer first place. Everybody applauds Homer which causes Frank Grimes to finally snap and run amok through the plant, acting like Homer Simpson. Declaring that he doesn't need safety gloves, he grabs some high voltage wires and is immediately electrocuted. His last words were "I don't need gloves, because I'm Homer Simp...". At the funeral, Homer falls asleep and asks Marge to change the channel causing everyone to laugh while Grimes's casket slowly lowers into the grave.[1][3][4][5]
[edit] Production
During the Oakley/Weinstein era, they tried to have a couple episodes each season that "pushed the envelope conceptually."[6] The idea was first thought of by then-showrunner Bill Oakley who thought that Homer should have an enemy.[6] From there, the idea evolved into the concept of a "real world" character working alongside Homer and he either would love him or be driven crazy.[6] The result was Grimes, a man who had to work hard for everything and can't believe that Homer has so much yet does so little.[6] The episode examines what it would be like if a real life, hard-working man had to work alongside Homer. Homer Simpson is one of the most popular characters in TV history, yet he embodies many negative characterics. Yet Grimes, a "real American hero"[7] who embodies hard work and perseverance is seen as the "bad guy" in the episode.[7] In an interview with internet site NoHomers.net, Josh Weinstein said "We wanted to do an episode where the thinking was "What if a real life, normal person had to enter Homer's universe and deal with him?" I know this episode is controversial and divisive, but I just love it. It really feels like what would happen if a real, somewhat humorless human had to deal with Homer. There was some talk [on NoHomers.net] about the ending -- we just did that because a) it's really funny and shocking, 2) We like the lesson of "sometimes, you just can't win" - the whole Frank Grimes episode is a study in frustration and hence Homer has the last laugh and 3) We wanted to show that in real life, being Homer Simpson could be really dangerous and life threatening, as Frank Grimes sadly learned. Poor Grimey."[8]
[edit] Frank Grimes
Hank Azaria provided the voice of Frank Grimes, but he originally thought that William H. Macy should do the role.[9] Normally such a role would have gone to a guest voice, however the producers felt this was a role that a regular cast member was more suited to do,[6] so Azaria provided the voice of Grimes, but modeled many of his mannerisms after Macy.[9] Frank Grimes was originally designed as a "burly ex-marine guy"[10] but he would later be modelled after Michael Douglas in the movie Falling Down[6] and director Jim Reardon's college room mate.[10] Josh Weinstein has expressed regret about killing off Grimes, saying that he was "such a great character".[6]
[edit] Reception
The BBC website called this episode "one of the series' darkest episodes and ends on a real downer but is nevertheless also one of the wittiest and cleverest in ages."[2] In a 2000 Entertainment Weekly article, Matt Groening ranked it as his sixth favorite in the history of the show.[11] It is also a favorite of then-showrunner Josh Weinstein, who cites the scene with Frank Grimes in the Simpson home as being one of his favorite scenes,[6] and The Office creator Ricky Gervais who has called it "the most complete episode."[11] In 2006, IGN.com released a list of "The Top 25 Simpsons Peripheral characters". Grimes was ranked 17th and was the only one-time character to make the list.[12] The episode earned a score of 8.2/10 on IMDB,[13] 9.4/10 out on TV.com[14] and B- (2.51) on The Simpsons Archive.[4]
When the episode first aired, many fans called it too dark and unfunny;[4] however, the episode has since become a fan favorite.[6] In the commentary for the episode, Josh Weinstein mentions that this is one of the most controversial episodes of the seasons he show-ran because it is very observational humour and many fans "didn't get it."[6]
Chief Wiggum's quote, "Ralphie, get off the stage sweetheart" is used as the chorus in the song "Ralph Wiggum" by the Bloodhound Gang.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d "Homer's Enemy" The Simpsons.com. Retrieved on February 13, 2007
- ^ a b c d e f Homer's Enemy BBC.co.uk. Retrieved on February 13, 2007
- ^ Martyn, Warren; Adrian Wood (2000). I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide. Virgin Books. ISBN 0-7535-0495-2.
- ^ a b c Episode Capsule at The Simpsons Archive
- ^ Richmond, Ray; Antonia Coffman (1997). The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to our Favorite Family. Harper Collins Publishers, p. 173. ISBN 0-00063-8898-1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Weinstein, Josh. (2006). The Simpsons season 8 DVD commentary for the episode "Homer's Enemy" [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
- ^ a b Turner, Chris. Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Documented an Era and Defined a Generation, 99-106. ISBN 0-679-31318-4.
- ^ Ask Bil & Josh NoHomers.net. Published on November 2, 2005, Retrieved on March 26, 2007
- ^ a b Azaria, Hank. (2006). The Simpsons season 8 DVD commentary for the episode "Homer's Enemy" [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
- ^ a b Reardon, Jim. (2006). The Simpsons season 8 DVD commentary for the episode "Homer's Enemy" [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
- ^ a b Springfield of Dreams EW.com. Published January 14, 2000, Retrieved on February 28, 2007
- ^ The Top 25 Simpsons Peripheral characters IGN.com. Retrieved on March 15, 2007
- ^ Homer's Enemy IMDB. Retrieved on February 28, 2007
- ^ Homer's Enemy TV.com. Retrieved on February 7, 2007
[edit] External links
- "Homer's Enemy" episode capsule at The Simpsons Archive
- "Homer's Enemy" episode page at The Simpsons.com
- "Homer's Enemy" at the Internet Movie Database
- "Homer's Enemy" at TV.com
