[3F21] Homerpalooza
Homerpalooza Written by Brent Forrester
Directed by Wesley Archer
=======================================================================
Production Code: 3F21 Original Airdate in U.S.: 19-May-96
Capsule Revision A, 10-Jun-96 Original Airdate in Canada: 18-May-96
"TV Guide" Synopsis {sp}
Homer goes to Hullabalooza, a rock concert featuring freakish
sideshow acts, where he displays his special talent: catching a
cannonball with his belly. Cartoon cameos include Peter Frampton,
Smashing Pumpkins, Cypress Hill.
Opening Sequence
COUCH SCENE
The couch scene begins in "black light", then Homer turns on
a lamp and the colors return to normal. {ddg}
While the black light is on (distortion guitar): {jl}
(O1)L8 B> D# F# A#__.
When the regular light is turned on the harp plays and
normal music continues. {jl}
(Recycled from 3F11.)
Did you notice...
... the "Suicide Notes" clerk reads "Mondo Frowno" magazine (with
an ad for Laramie 100s in the back cover)?
... the Led Zeppelin poster and Pink Floyd "Dark Side of the Moon"
poster, as well as a peace symbol, in teenage Homer's room?
... Burns owns Ticketmaster?
... Marge curses during the ride home?
Ricardo A. Lafaurie Jr.:
... Lisa eats bacon?
... when Homer sings with Barney he sounds like Miss Piggy with
laryngitis?
... young Homer wears a shirt with footprints on it?
... this is the first time musical groups have appeared on the
Simpsons since 1F01?
Jose Lafaurie:
... right after Lisa says Gen. X has tolerance and respect for all
people, Homer says "A freak show!"?
... Sonic Youth's rendition of the Simpsons theme vaguely resembles
the music used in "Bart vs. the Space Mutants" (It's wacko)?
Haynes Lee:
... the 8-Track player in Homer's Car?
... Bart and Lisa used the same seatbelt in front seat, Milhouse and
Janey uses one, and Nelson uses a lap belt?
... the phrase "pissed off" is used not once but twice?
... one of the Cypress Hill band members says "Ha-ha"?
Lawrence Lam:
... Springfield has a wrecking yard?
... Springfield seems to only have one school bus in the whole city,
since they cannot replace the wrecked one?
... Homer thinks rainbow suspenders are cool?
... Springfieldians don't know Apple Computers?
... Hullabalooza is sponsored by Duff?
... someone wears a Planet of the Apes T-Shirt when the guy doesn't
know if he's sarcastic?
... someone wears a T-Shirt of the Great Gazoo (from The
Flintstones) when Marge says cannons are designed to hurt?
Dale Abersold:
... Homer realizes the great truth: the greatest music of all time
was released during one's high school senior year? (1987 rocks!)
... the sexual innuendo in "The Second Base-Mobile"?
... Homer's silly walk at "Hullbalooza" is reminiscent of Robert
Crumb's "Keep on Truckin'" character?
Don Del Grande:
... Homer listens to "KFSL 103 (FM)"?
... young Barney's shirt pocket is on his right side?
... Lisa knows about Woodstock?
... Capitol City (spelled with an "O") is 30 miles from Springfield?
... Homer calls Christianity "a religion" (as opposed to the number
of religions that it is)?
... when Cypress Hill whispers among themselves, you can understand
everything they say, instead of the usual mumbling used for
whispers?
... Maggie fell for the second time this season (the first being in
the Halloween Special)?
Benjamin J. Robinson:
... Bart and Lisa share a seat belt? (this can be dangerous -- seat
belts are designed for one person at a time)
... no one in the car has lap belts?
... the poster in Suicide Notes hawking lava lamps?
... the Pink Floyd (Dark Side of the Moon) and Led Zeppelin (Led
Zeppelin I) posters in young Homer's room?
... Marge covers Maggie's eyes when Homer sets up for his stunt?
Veronica Marquez:
... Otto almost runs over Jasper?
... OFF carpool with Nelson, Janey and Milhouse?
... the "Suicide Notes" clerk appears repeatedly in Hullabalooza?
... a "groove" is a kind of "rut"?
... Homer brought a homemade Kahlua to Hullabalooza?
... after Homer announces Peter Frampton and walks away, Frampton's
loud chord sends Homer shaking across and out the stage?
... Patty, Selma, and Dolph in the hometown concert?
Jason Hancock:
... the store's "oldies" section has only vinyl albums (no CD's or
tapes)?
... Homer is able to hold a cannonball with one hand?
... Homer doesn't wear underwear?
... when Homer's cannonball act begins, the grandstands are nearly
empty?
... Homer doesn't wear his seat belt at all in this episode, while
everyone else does?
Tom Baker:
... Homer was not wearing his seat belt?
... Marge made the kids a big breakfast (bacon, eggs, and something)
and then Homer has a stack of pancakes?
Michael Stein:
... "Free Nose Piercing With Every Admission" on the ticket booth
sign?
Mark Richey:
... Otto nearly runs down Jasper and knocks over a mailbox?
... Otto's jacket smells like marijuana (what a shock!)?
... Homer "Keeps on Truckin'"?
... Homer was wearing a bandana while roadskiing?
... the Homer billboard?
... Homer's skull & crossbone cape?
... the constant refs to song and album titles scattered though the
dialogue?
... Fox actually resisted the urge to talk over Sonic Youth's
closing theme?
Dominik Halas:
... the guy wearing an Edvard Munch's "The Scream" T-shirt?
... the tattooed freak?
Shawn Berry:
... the doorman at the backstage of Hullabalooza looked almost like
Bart as a young adult?
Cast
Starring
- Dan Castellaneta (Homer, Barney, Abe, nail guy, Otto's shoes)
- Julie Kavner (Marge)
- Nancy Cartwright (Bart, Nelson)
- Yeardley Smith (Lisa)
- Hank Azaria (Suicide Notes clerk, guy in the van, hat sales clerk,
NARC guy, man delivering orchestra)
- Harry Shearer (Otto, entrance guard, Pig guy, freak show manager,
guy who doesn't know if he's sarcastic, vet, security guard,
London Symphony Orchestra, Burns, Smithers)
Also Starring
- Pamela Hayden (Milhouse, "Hate crimes!", Jimbo)
- Tress MacNeille (Sandra, Sandra's friend)
Special Guest Voice
- Cypress Hill
- B-Real (himself)
- DJ Muggs (himself)
- Sen-Dog (himself)
- Peter Frampton (himself)
- The Smashing Pumpkins
- Billy Corgan (himself)
- Jimmy Chamberlain (himself)
- D'Arcy (herself)
- James Iha (himself)
- Sonic Youth
- Kim Gordon (herself)
- Thurston Moore (himself)
- Lee Ranaldo (himself)
- Steve Shelley (himself)
Movie, Music, and other References
+ Annual rock concert Lollapalooza
- episode title (see below)
- "Hullabalooza"
"Jive Talking" by the Bee Gees {hl}
- Homer showing the kids how to say "jive"
+ CBS's "Read More About It" {ddg}
- Homer's line when the kids leave the carpool
+ "Mississipi Queen" by Mountain {gg}
- second song on Homer's radio
~ "Necessary Roughness" {vm}
- "Par-tay"
+ Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations" {hl}
- name of the record store
+ "Hullaballoo" {hl}
- an NBC music and dance show of long past.
+ "Rock and Roll All Night" by KISS {hl}
- Homer saying he is going "Rock and roll all night and party every
day"
- KISS's first concert in 17 years was widely publicized when this
episode aired too
"Scooby-Doo" {jl}
- the 2nd-base mobile guy bears a striking resemblance to Fred
- the mobile looks like the Scooby-Doo gang's van
+ Edgar Winter Band's "Frankenstein"
- music during the strobe light scene
+ "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" by Leo Sayer {hl}
- Homer and Barney butcher it
+ Robert Crumb's "Keep On Trucking"
- animation while Homer walks cool before he is claimed to be a
NARC
+ Pink Floyd's "Animals" album {hl}
- cover had a lot of pigs
- Pink Floyd reportedly hauled around the giant pig balloon while
touring on this album. They recently brought it out of
retirement for one of their more recent tours {bjr}
+ "Zero"
- the Smashing Pumpkins' song
+ "Planet of the Apes"
- someone in the crowd wears a T-shirt featuring Dr. Zaius, that
wacky orangutan
+ "Insane in the Brain"
- Cypress Hill's second song
+ "Do You Feel Like I Do?"
- Peter Frampton's song
+ "The Flintstones"
- someone in the crowd wears a Great Gazoo shirt
+ "Don't Fear the Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult {hag}
- Homer's line
+ Guns and Roses' "Appetite For Destruction" album {jh}
- Homer's line "... but all I really wanted was a club sandwich."
+ Huey Lewis and the News' "Hip to be Square"
- Homer's line "like the song says"
- many people thought it wasn't square enough to be hip, like me.
{vm} [Hey, I like that song! --ed]
Freeze Frame Fun
On the bus {ddg}
Otto Mans
Bart Simpson
Lisa Simpson
Milhouse van Houten
Wendell Borton
Sherri and Terri
Janey Hagstrom
Ralph Wiggum
Lewis
Martin Prince
Nelson Muntz
Becky and Ezekiel (but they apparently didn't get off)
Street Sign
CAPITOL CITY
30 Miles
Signs at Hullabalooza
- HULLABALOOZA
Free Nose Piercing
With Every Admission
- Register Not to Vote
- Bungee Jump Against Racism
- Raleigh-Durnam
SKOAL
BOWL
HULLABALOOZA
Some people in stands during the Frampton show {jh}
Ruth Powers
Herman
Carl
Lenny
Otto Mann
Jimbo Jones
Waylon Smithers
Mr. C.M. Burns
Sign at the Vet
CAT DETAILING
WHILE YOU WAIT
Selected spectators on the grass during Homer's cannonball show {jh}
OFF (except Homer)
Sideshow Mel
Otto Mann
Patty and Selma
Nelson Muntz
Kearny
Jimbo Jones
Apu Nahassapeemapetilam
Herman {dh2}
Sideshow Mel {dh2}
Milhouse van Houten {dh2}
Miscellaneous FFF
- Homer walks by "Pizza" and "Discount Fashion".
- Sponsors of Hullabalooza: Laramie Cigarettes, Duff Beer, Krusty
Burger, and Buzz Cola. {tb}
"Simpsons" Closing Theme Credits {ddg}
Simpsons Closing Theme
Performed by
SONIC YOUTH
Recorded at
ELECTRIC LADY STUDIOS
by
BRIAN SPERBER
Technical Credits (if you care) {vm}
Overseas Animation: Akom (N.J. Kim) {ddg}
Assistant Director: Nancy Kruse
Animation Timers: David Bastian, Nichole Graham, Pete Michels,
Brian Sheesley
Storyboard: John Rice, Chris Moeller, Ted Mathot
Character Design Supervisor: Scott Alberts
Character Design: Dale Hendrickson, Joseph Wack, Mark Howard, Matt
Groening, Sam Simon
Background Design Supervisor: Lance Wilder
Background Design: John Krause, Maria Marrioti-Wilder, Edgar
Duncan
Lines in Copyright Page {ddg}
USE OF THE LOLLAPALOOZA TRADEMARK
COURTESY OF PERRY FARRELL
Previous Episode References
- [7F05] Homer is a mascot and goes to Capitol City {hl}
- [7F05], [7F13], [3F14] Mr. Burns mingles with the common people {vm}
- [7F06] A family member wears a skull cape while doing a ridiculously
dangerous stunt {vm}
- [7F11] Doctor warning Homer that he may die {jh}
- [7F12], [1F03] Homer's high school days
- [7F12] Flashbacks to 1974 {jh}
- [7F17], [8F04] "Frankenstein" is heard {jl}
- [8F17] Ominous chords using during "He'll die" {vm}
- [8F21] Simpsons attend a concert
- [8F21] Otto totals the bus {hl}
- [8F21] Otto attends a rock concert {jh}
- [9F03] Young Homer with a shirt with footprints
- [9F09] Homer has a life-threatening medical condition {hl}
- [9F10] Man with many cigarettes stuffed in his mouth (cf. Homer's
file photo)
- [9F17] Homer is examined by a veterinarian {dh2}
- [9F21] Homer uses the word "bong" while driving {dh2}
- [1F20] Homer: "Forever... forever... forever..." {jl}
- [2F02] Homer's weight neutralizes a heavy ball
- [2F06] People accusing Homer of a crime he didn't commit {jh}
- [3F04] Otto has acid hallucinations {vm}
- [3F08] Raleigh/Durham, NC, is referenced {jh}
- [3F09] Homer mentions rainbow suspenders {dh2}
- [3F14] Someone almost runs over Jasper {vm}
Animation, Continuity, and other Goofs
* Auto crushers don't pull cars in; the cars are pushed in from behind
somehow. {ddg}
= Becky and Ezekiel (or was that Ishmael) were on the bus before it was
crushed, but not in the crowd of kids afterward. {ddg}
+ Lisa was eating bacon for breakfast.
+ Lisa should like oldies. See 3F06.
+ Bart, Milhouse, and Nelson listened to seventies rock music on their
road trip (3F17); why would they object to it now? {jh}
= There are no houses visible along the street in front shots from
within the car, but houses do appear in side shots. {dh2}
= The "Laramie" ad on the magazine's back cover disappears in one shot.
{jh}
* When Homer was looking at the van, he appeared to move only between
strobe flashes, and his last move would have been incredibly fast.
{ddg} [Somehow, I think that was the joke. --ed]
- The flag outside Springfield H.S. has only eight stripes. {dh2}
- When Lisa holds the Hullabalooza tickets, one of them is especially
thick. {ddg}
* Capitol City was over 220 miles from Springfield in 7F05. {jh}
= Homer gets hit with the cannonball the first time, he sits on it ...
and it disappears!! Where did it go? {tb}
* In this episode, Billy Corgan has a full head of hair, but he's
been bald for months now (see below). {bjr}
= At the desert venue, cheering noises are heard but the crowd is
motionless. {dh2}
c The closed captions misidentified Billy Corgan as "Billy Corrigan".
+ Homer usually wears briefs. {vm}
= One of the members of Cypress Hill is outside the building to laugh
at Bart, but when they get inside, he's instantly inside.
= In the opening shot of the stage, it is empty, but in a close-up
shot, Peter Frampton is singing, and numerous people are on stage.
= Otto and Jimbo are standing in front of the stage in one scene during
the Frampton concert, but in the next scene they are sitting in the
stands. {jh}
= In the last scene, Homer is facing the cannon wearing shorts. When
he jumps off the stage to hug Marge, he is back in his normal jeans
and no shirt (the redneck leisure suit!). {rjr}
= When the Smashing Pumpkins walk away to buy fur coats, Billy Corgan
and Jimmy Chamberlain are blond, and Iha and D'Arcy switch places.
{jl}
Comments and other observations
Dinosaur Rock
Benjamin J. Robinson notes, "In addition to the featured bands, we got
to hear from some classic-rock artists. `Mississippi Queen' was
the second song on the radio (the one that Bart switched off in
disgust). `Frankenstein,' by the Edgar Winters Group, was playing
as Homer reminisced about the custom van. Of course, the song by
Grand Funk Railroad was, uh, was, say, what _was_ that song by
Grand Funk Railroad?"
If this van's a rockin'...
Benjamin J. Robinson says, "The `Kalifornia Kustom' van fad got its
start in the '70s. People would find some hapless van, and outfit
it with high-end stereo, shag carpeting, and even beds. Wild
graphics on the outside provided the finishing touch. Custom vans
are still being made, but, like McDonald's, they've grown up. Now
they're elaborately, almost formally, decorated, and marketed to a
middle-age clientele."
I'm gonna haul ass to Lollapalooza!
Benjamin J. Robinson notes, "Hullabalooza is (obviously) based on the
series of alternative-rock tours, Lollapalooza. [Also based on
"Hullabaloo" (see above) --ed] The original Lollapalooza was the
brainchild of ex-Jane's Addiction frontman Perry Farrell. Inspired
by a similar festival in Reading, England (called, `The Reading
Festival'), Farrell created a touring concert that combined
cutting-edge music with sixties-throwback politics. The basic idea
was to marshall together a group of bands new enough to be cool,
but not so new as to be completely obscure. As they spent the day
playing, concert-goers could just groove to the music, or they
could go to an alternative `village.' There, vendors had set up
kiosks selling everything from vegetarian food, to on-the-spot body
piercing, to the latest political causes. The show was a big
success, and it has since become an annual event. One year, a
traveling freak show shared the spotlight with the musicians. They
performed weird stunts, many of which would never be able to air on
a network television show (even Fox) in a million years.
"Sonic Youth, Smashing Pumpkins, and (I think) Cypress Hill have all
played Lollapalooza. So have other notable alterna-rock bands such
as Nine Inch Nails, the Breeders, Body Count, L7, and even funk
master George Clinton. We're still waiting for Peter Frampton."
Face the Music
Benjamin J. Robinson tells me (and thank him, because I don't follow
the music scene. It's none of my business.) "If you don't follow
the rock music scene, you might not be familiar with all of the
bands. Here's some background information on `Homerpalooza's'
musicians."
"Some music critic once said that hardly anybody bought a Velvet
Underground album, but that everyone who did went out and founded a
successful band. He could just as easily have been talking about
Sonic Youth; virtually every new band nowadays cites them as an
influence. The people who decide who's hip and who isn't have long
admired Sonic Youth, despite (or because of) the their only
moderate album sales. The band is known for their noisy, almost
atonal songs. The dissonant closing theme is very Sonic Youth-ian.
This motif carries over into the bands they admire, too: when
guitarist Thurston Moore hosted MTV's `120 Minutes,' he brought
along clips from acts that he liked. They were even farther out
than Sonic Youth, if you can imagine such a thing." Aaron Varhola
adds: "Sonic Youth has been rumored to want to do a longer version
of the Simpsons' theme for one of their albums. That would make
the third album the theme was included on. The other two are Danny
Elfman's `Music for a Darkened Theatre' and Danny Gratton's `88
Elmira Street'."
Benjamin J. Robinson: "For the record, the Sonic Youth lineup is:
- Thurston Moore Guitar & Vocals
- Lee Ranaldo Guitar
- Kim Gordon Bass & Vocals
- Steve Shelley Drums"
"In their March 1994 issue, US magazine described Smashing Pumpkins'
sound as, `Passionate, richly textured neo-psychedelia.' You can
judge the accuracy of this statement for yourself (they don't sound
_that_ psychedelic to me); Smashing Pumpkins is all over modern
rock radio. The song they played was `Zero,' which oddly enough
was the current single when `Homerpalooza' aired. Nice timing!
Unfortunately, that timing seemed to break down when it came time
to drawing Billy Corgan. He's been bald for months now, yet sports
a full head of hair in this episode. One of the perils of working
with a long lead time, I suppose. Oh, yeah, Smashing Pumpkins is
made up of:
- Billy Corgan Guitar & Vocals
- James Iha Guitar
- D'Arcy Bass & Vocals
- Jimmy Chamberlin Drums
"According to the Smashing Pumpkins FAQ, Mr. Iha pronounces his
name, `ee-hah.' You can access the FAQ at `http://www.engr.wisc.
edu/~agnew/sp-faq.html'. It's designed to look best with Netscape
2.0. An all-text version is at `http://www.engr.wisc.edu/~agnew/
sp-faq.txt' if your browser doesn't have the requisite bells and
whistles." Nick Navas adds that Billy Corgan is reported to do a
good imitation of Homer and Marge, hence his "Woo-hoo"ing in this
episode.
"I was less successful in finding information on Cypress Hill. As you
could probably tell, they're a rap band. They've enjoyed big
success with their single, `Insane in the Brain.' In addition to
Lollapalooza, I remember the group performing on `Saturday Night
Live.' Cypress Hill's biggest claim to fame so far is their
fiercely pro-marijuana-legalization stance; the band has been very
activist in promoting this cause on and off the stage. This
explains why most of the drug humor in this episode is attached to
them."
"As the credits indicate, Cypress Hill is B-Real, D.J. Muggs, and
Sen-Dog. I'm not Cypress Hill-literate enough to tell who mans
what position, however."
"Peter Frampton was a big guitarist and singer in the mid-'70s. He's
best known for (of all things) a live album, `Frampton Comes
Alive,' which featured such hits as `Show Me the Way.' This
episode featured the live version of `Do You Feel Like I Do.' I
don't think he's done anything earth- (or chart-) shattering
lately; like a lot of '70s acts, he's in a `permanent nostalgia
tour' mode. On the other hand, David Bowie did pick him to play
guitar on the Glass Spider tour." John Westergaard adds that
Frampton's guitar said, "I want to fV(& you" on "Frampton Comes
Alive" version.
I'll give Gen X-ers the helping hand they deserve: the iron fist!
Aaron Varhola notes, "Burns' remark was interesting. A couple years
ago, Pearl Jam sued Ticketmaster, claiming anti-trust violations;
Pearl Jam wanted to market tickets for its tour at a flat $20, but
Ticketmaster insisted on adding `service charges' to the price.
The band members ended up testifying before Congress, but no anti-
trust action was taken. BTW, Pearl Jam turned down the chance to
be in this episode; the line would have been more ironic had they
been in the episode."
That Smooth Carolina Smoke
Don Del Grande says, "The `Skoal Bowl' is probably a reference to
tobacco companies having to find `alternative' ways to advertise on
TV since tobacco commercials (cigarettes in 1971, all forms
sometime in the early 90s) were banned on television in the USA.
(For example, a number of tobacco signs appear on scoreboards that
would show up when a baseball player is rounding first base and is
shown in a close-up.)"
The Wormy Apple
The "Suicide Notes" clerk doesn't know about Apple Computer. Veronica
Marquez rambles, "Apple Computer was a company pioneered by Steve
Wozniak and Steve Jobs out of their garages. Since 1979 they have
catapulted into computer fame with the Apple II series and the
Macintosh computers. But lately the company has been falling
apart. Steve Jobs left Apple because of disputes about the Mac
and formed his own company, NeXT. He made veeery sloow computers
using the UNIX system and a clunky graphics interface. [Which is
what I have at school. --ed] They had no color at first, but by
the time they released a color NeXT, it was too late, and the
company bowed out of the business in 1995. The once-president of
Apple (can't recall his name, but they recruited him from PepsiCo)
tarnished the name of the company, and the Apple II series has been
discontinued. Sales of Macs continue to be low today, despite
numbers of people who continue to be loyal (including myself.)
Things look bleak for Apple Computer."
Slo-Mo Shot of Homer in his first Cannon Experience
That is a reference to something, but I don't know what. A '94
Skittles commercial featured stock footage from the '40s and '50s,
and one of them was a B&W shot of a big guy being shot with a
cannon and held by a trampoline much like Homer in slow motion.
Richard Rodriguez, Jr. adds, "I think Fred Rogan (The Lighter Side of
Sports?) used to give out a trophy commerating this act for people
who had shown similar intestinal fortitude."
I just heard them on the King Biscuit Flour Hour!
Jason Hancock says, "Styx (one of the groups whose record Homer found
in the `oldies' section) was a Chicago-based rock band of the late
seventies and early eighties. Its well-known tunes include
`Renegade', `Blue Collar Man', `Too Much Time On My Hands', and
`Mr. Roboto,; a song Homer quoted from in `Team Homer' (3F10)."
Freak Show!
Philip H. Carver says "If I am not horribly mistaken, then this whole
sideshow thing is in reference to Jim Rose's travelling sideshow
freaks, who did/do tour with Lollapalooza...Not so sure about a
cannon man, but Jim Rose nails nails in his nose, and was seen in
the beginning of the concert..Also, for you X-Files fans, the
episode where the man who has a puzzel of a globe tattooed on his
body also travels with this group, and his name is The Enigma...if
you were curious.."
Miscellaneous References
Abba... a mediocre foreign pop band that has a cult following... and
I think I just insulted them.
"The Alan Parsons Project consists of Alan Parsons (mostly renowned as
a producer, and engineer of the Beatles' `Abbey Road' and Pink
Floyd's `Dark Side of the Moon') and Eric Woolfsonm as well as a
passel of British Studio musicians. They have released a series of
concept albums beginning with `Tales of Mystery and Imagination:
Edgar Allan Poe' and are probably best remembered for their songs
`Eye in the Sky' and `Don't Answer Me'. Though the group has its
fans (called `Projectologists') it is considered by many to be a
poor man's Pink Floyd," says Dale Abersold.
Dominik Halas says, "Josten's is a company which sells overpriced
high-school photos and, apparently, class rings. The Clark Bar is
one of many products, such as Bosco chocolate syrup and Drake's
coffee cakes, which I know of only from Seinfeld."
Reviews
Dale Abersold - To paraphrase a line from the episode, "Homerpalooza"
isn't about writing or characterization. It's about marketable
guest voices. It was saved from a failing grade only by its rips
on corporate America and its drug jokes. C-.
Tom Baker - Not bad at all. I liked it. But ... it was painfully
obvious I was watching a "cartoon", not something that could
really happen. [...] Besides, I don't like Generation X jokes.
That term doesn't seem to apply to the young people *I* know.
I give this a B.
Shawn Berry - I thought this episode was kinda mediocre. I give it a C.
Frederic Briere - Well... I didn't feel very comfortable watching
Homerpalooza, as if it were a party and I wasn't invited. After
all, it was meant as a gift for the fans of all those bands
mentioned throughout the episode; since I don't know most of them
and don't care for the others, I don't think I have the right to
comment the musical part of it. As for the "true" Simpsons part,
which made roughly a third of the episode, it was above average,
making Homerpalooza still enjoyable for me. GRADE: C+
Chris Courtois - "Homerpalooza" was the sort of episode that has been
rare lately, one that improves on multiple viewings. The first time
through I was overwhelmed by the "look-at-all-the-cool-guest-stars-
we-got" aspect and ranked the episode a high C. But the second
time around, I remembered all the genuinely funny bits scattered
throughout the episode. Lots of spoofing of the whole Lollapalooza
music festival scene. When the episode focused on satire, it was
quite good. It was less interesting when it was trying to come up
with stuff for the myriad guest stars to do. Fewer guests would
have improved the show. Still, as ratings ploys go, it was better
than it needed to be. Final grade: B.
Don Del Grande - B-plus - the only things I didn't really like about
this episode were (a) the lack of "things happening" when Homer was
on the tour (it was "stop at a town, Homer takes a cannonball in
the stomach, stop at another town, Homer takes another one in the
gut, etc."), and (b) the telegraphed "Homer chooses his family"
ending.
Jeff Gustafson - Well, it wasn't that good, but not that bad either.
This episode had a few laughs, but I feel it was upstaged by
"Summer of 4 ft. 2". Grade: B-
Dominik Halas - Episodes in which rock groups guest star (Flaming
Moe's, The Otto Show) are usually excellent, and this was no
exception. This episode had lots of great lines from Homer, a good
flashback, and dead-on satire of today's teenage culture. Grade:
A-.
Jason Hancock - To quote Braves announcer Skip Caray, "It had a home
run cut, but it came up empty" -- especially after all this hype.
I'm not a big fan of alternative music to begin with (and I'm 20
years old), but the whole idea of Homer trying to be a part of
Generation X just didn't work for me. A generic ending didn't
help either. Grade: D.
Lawrence Lam - This was an okay episode, didn't interest me too much.
I didn't see "The world is a vampire." "It is? AAAAAA!!!!" Wasn't
Barney supposed to be Smart before his Beer-years? It didn't seem
to like it. Who are these bands that Homer talks about? I give it a
B-.
Norman J. Landis - "Homerpalooza" was a bit flat in parts and the real
musicians when given speaking parts showed why they should stick
with music and forego a career in voiceovers. Still, any savage
satire, as this was, is OK by me. Plus I finally got a new sig!
Thanks Grampa!!!! My grade: A-
Haynes Lee - The Simpsons finally meet Generation X. A great season
finale. But what about the Yellow Album? GRADE: A
John Westergaard - [responding to above] I totally disagree. D+. All
jokes fell flat (IMHO) Except the "Otto's jacket" one.
Veronica Marquez - The Gen-X stabs were right on the money and the
guest voices didn't mind making fun of themselves. It sounded
like it was going to be terrible but it turned out to be
wonderful. I give it an A+.
John Murray - Overall this was only an okay episode, while it did do
well at the gen X parody it seriously lacked any of the Simpsons
trademark ROFL lines that the great episodes have. Even the guest
stars didn't really make me like this episode any better. Also the
gen X parody, was funny at first but about halfway through it just
got old. Grade: D-
Ryan Pederson - The Season Finale was okay, the part with Homer in the
car talking about jive was pretty funny and I also enjoyed the
Cypress Hill jokes. Otto triping on acid was funny. The show is
really turning into a show for oldering teens. The flash back
scene with Homer was classic. The show seemed to get off on a
great start, but after Homer goes to the concert it goes downhill.
But the none-stop jokes seem to have disappeared from the show
entirely. Nevertheless still very funny, but this episode was too
hyped up. They could have made better jokes with all the guest
stars on the show. B
Jeff Reis - I gotta say I liked it, though it did have its weaknesses--
the perfunctory guest shots, the abrupt ending, several flat gags.
I feel like more could have been done with such ripe material, but
this was an above average effort in spite of itself. [...]
Anyway the lame stuff/good stuff ratio was at least 50/50 here
(probably better) and that makes it one of the season's stronger
episodes. It's almost a B-, but I'll give it the benefit of the
doubt and a B.
Benjamin J. Robinson - Good bands and great spoofing of the modern-rock
scene combine to make "Homerpalooza" a kickin' tale. The best part
is that the highlight is _not_ the soundtrack -- it was the way the
writers poked fun at their guest bands. Peter Frampton, especially,
had a great cameo -- right up there with Ringo Starr's appearance
several years back. Well, Dick, "Homerpalooza" had a nice beat and
you could dance to it, so I'll give this one an A-.
Mark Richey - I'm not much of a fan of alternative music (my music
tastes actually run closer to Homer's), so this episode really
didn't work that much for me. I enjoyed the ruthless satire of
Lollapalooza, and I did get most of the jokes involving the various
bands, but it could have been much funnier. Grade: C+
Terrance Scanlan - The act I found had no storyline, and Otto's dream
at the beginning sorta threw it off, and if Homer knew that
Hullabalooza was coming to Springfield why didn't he wait til then
to take Bart and Lisa. But what really made me smile was the idea
of Homer being a stuntman (and what his stunt was), it really made
Homer shine, unlike Homer Defined. Grade: ***, B+, 8/10.
Devin Tuffy - A somewhat lame plot but helped with some good laughs
(most involving Cypress HIll) and lots of great Gen-X and
alternative music scene (?) slams. B-
Aaron Varhola - Tight writing and a lot of ROTFLMAO lines; the bands
did a good job of parodying themselves, especially Cypress Hill.
The opening seemed forced, and the end was a classic "moment of
uh...crud", but the rest of the episode held together well as both
satire and touching family comedy. I liked Bart's report topic,
touching and nicely understated. A/A-.
Yours Truly - "Homerpalooza" surpasses "The Otto Show" at spoofing
rock and roll, and takes lots of stabs at Generation Xers.
Certainly there will be a few that are offended, but that's their
own damn problem. I liked this episode, and give it a B.
AVERAGE GRADE: C+/B- (2.78)
Quotes and Scene Summary {fb}
It's the School District Safety Awards night, and the winner is...
no, that can't be! Not Otto?!
Wow. You know, most of my life I've... I've had to live with the shame
of being a screw-up. But now, as I stand here with the award for the
district's safest bus driver... well, it... it's like a dream come
true.
-- The fantasies of a bus driver, "Homerpalooza"
Of course it is a dream, as the district's safest bus driver would
never be sleeping on the road, which is what Otto is doing right now.
Milhouse wakes him up just in time to dodge Jasper who is crossing
the street, but abrupt maneuvers send the bus spinning off control
into the auto wrecking yard. With all the professionalism he has,
Otto manages to park the bus right into the car crusher. The kids run
out screaming as the bus is quickly reduced to one tenth of its size.
So, um... who's good at keeping secrets?
-- Otto, about to design a cover-up, "Homerpalooza"
Dear parents. Due to yesterday's unscheduled field trip to the auto
wrecking yard, the school bus will be out of commission for two weeks.
By reading this letter out loud, you have waived any legal
responsability on our part in perpetuity throughout the universe.
-- Marge reads the school's letter, "Homerpalooza"
Homer: Well, we'll have to organize a car pool. Hey! Every day will be
like a road trip... with your dad... to school!
Kids: [groans]
-- This almost sounds exciting, "Homerpalooza"
The next morning, Homer takes the responsability of car pooling Bart,
Lisa, Milhouse, Nelson and Janey. He tries to make the trip fun, but
fails miserably.
Homer: So... how about those rainbow suspenders, huh?
Bart: Dad...?
Homer: Pretty cool way to keep your pants up, eh?
Bart: Dad!
Homer: I see these kids now with "Jive" printed on their shirts.
Pftt... Now, I can teach you how you're supposed to say "jive".
Lisa: Dad... Please just drive the car, dad.
Homer: I'm watching the road, sweetie.
You jive turkey. See? You got to sass it. Quit jivin' me,
turkey. You got to sass it. A "turkey" is a bad person.
-- On the verge of beating Grampa, "Homerpalooza"
In order to sink even lower, Homer turns on the radio to his favorite
station, which he's the only one in the car to enjoy.
KFSL -- Fossil 103. Classic hits from Abba to Zeppelin, comma, Led.
-- Never thought I'd miss KBBL, "Homerpalooza"
Milhouse asks Homer to change the radio station, but Homer retorts
that it's Grand Funk Railroad. No one knows what he's talking about,
and Homer is surprised.
Homer drops the kids to school, and they rush out of the car.
For more information on Grand Funk, consult your school library!
-- Homer's word of wisdom, "Homerpalooza"
That afternoon, on the way back, Homer explains to the kids how he
nods his head to the music.
Bart: Dad, please, you're embarrassing us.
Homer: No, I'm not.
-- What an argument, "Homerpalooza"
And thus Homer keeps going on and on...
Grand Funk Railroad paved the way for Jefferson airplane, which cleared
the way for Jefferson starship. The stage was now set for the Alan
Parsons project, which I believe was some sort of hovercraft.
-- Homer, who else, "Homerpalooza"
Bart: Dad! No one cares about any of your stupid dinosaur bands! You
have the worst, lamest taste in music ever.
[turns off the radio]
Homer: I'm just trying to party with you guys.
Bart: Homer, first of all, it's "par-tay", and second, we wouldn't
"par-tay" with you if you were the last dad on Earth.
-- "Homerpalooza"
This slap in the face troubles Homer, so he decides to take a walk at
his favorite music store, "Good Vibrations" --later renamed "Suicide
Notes". He searches for the latest Bread releases and is surprised
when directed to oldies.
Homer: Now, here are some of your no-name bands. Sonic Youth? Nine Inch
Nails? Hullabalooza?
Clerk: Hullabalooza is a music festival; the greatest music festival of
all time.
Homer: There can only be one truly great festival a lifetime and it's
the "Us Festival".
Clerk: The what festival?
Homer: The "Us Festival"! Geez! It was sponsored by the guy from Apple
Computers.
Clerk: What computers?
-- You know, the guy with the suit, "Homerpalooza"
Homer walks in the street, dejected.
Why do you need new bands? Everyone knows rock attained perfection in
1974. It's a scientific fact.
-- Homer, "Homerpalooza"
Flashback to the aforementioned year, where a group of people are
installing a strobe light in a custom van of theirs: "Quadraphonic
sound, a waterbed, and now a strobe light. Gentlemen, say hello to
the second-base mobile." When they resume dancing on "Frankenstein"
with the strobe light on, Homer tries to join in, but fails
miserably.
"Back then, we didn't care what anyone thought and the chicks found
that irresistible." narrates Homer, as he remembers drinking from the
school fountain as two teen girls walk by. "I think you're cool,
Homer Simpson." affirms one of them, and even if the other one
declares that this remark was mean, Homer takes it as a compliment.
"But most of all, I remember the music..." Homer and Barney, in
Homer's room, butcher "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing", when Abe
interrupts them. "What the hell are you two doing?" "It's called
rockin' out," replies Barney, and Homer tells Abe he wouldn't
understand 'cause he's not "with it".
I used to be with it, but then they changed what "it" was. Now, what
I'm with isn't it, and what's "it" seems weird and scary to me.
-- "Homerpalooza"
He warns them, "It'll happen to you." But teen Homer denies the
undeniable, and looks at the mirror: "We're gonna keep on rockin'
forever... forever... forever..." Fade-in to adult Homer, looking at
his reflection, and realizing those words have lost their meaning.
Marge: What's wrong, Homie?
Homer: [sighs] I went to the record store today and they were playing
all that music I've never heard of. It was like the store had
gone crazy.
Marge: Hmm. Record stores have always seemed crazy to me, but it
doesn't upset me. Music is none of my business.
-- "Homerpalooza"
"That's fine for you, Marge", Homer says, "but I used to Rock 'N'
Roll all night and party everyday." Now he finds he has little time
left to get funky.
I've gotta get out of this rut, and back into the groove.
-- Homer, "Homerpalooza"
Marge asks him to include Bart and Lisa.
The next morning, Bart and Lisa apprehend another humiliation.
Bart: Dear Lord, if you keep Homer from embarrassing us today, we
promise to build several churches in your honor.
Lisa: Bart, no!
-- The price to pay, "Homerpalooza"
Homer passes in front of Milhouse without stopping.
Hey, wait! I'm okay today! My mom bought me deodorant!
-- Milhouse, "Homerpalooza"
Lisa: Dad, you forgot to pick up Milhouse.
Homer: [exagerated] I did? I must be getting forgetful in my old age.
Open the glove compartment and fetch me my brain medicine.
-- This stuff doesn't seem to be working at all, "Homerpalooza"
Lisa doesn't understand the point of all this, but Homer keeps
pointing at the glove compartent. Curious, she opens it, to find...
Homer: Well? What have we here? Looks like your uncool dad scored
tickets to Hullabalooza!
Lisa: [gasps] Bart... these look real...
Bart: Check the authenticator spot
[Lisa removes a sticker, which reveals a microchip]
Chip: This is an authentic Hullabalooza ticket. For authentic
refreshment, eat Clark bars. And for totally outrageous class
rings, it's Josten's. Go, Josten's!
-- "Homerpalooza"
You're not going to school today. Today your classroom will be the
Capitol City amphitheater; your teacher, four dozen rock bands. So, get
ready for some well-supervised craziness while you rock out with your
father!
-- Homer, "Homerpalooza"
[End of Act One. Time: 7'28"]
Once they reach Hullabalooza ("Free nose piercing with every
admission"), the kids feel right at home.
Wow! It's like Woodstock, only with advertisements everywhere and tons
of security guards.
-- Lisa reflects on Hullabalooza, "Homerpalooza"
They get let in, but Homer has to surrender his homemade kahlua.
Lisa: Generation X may be shallow but at least they have tolerance and
respect for all people.
Homer: Hey: a freak show!
-- To a certain extent, "Homerpalooza"
Performers include a bearded woman, a man smoking dozens of
cigarettes at one time, two poodles, and a man able to stick nails in
his nose. After hitting his finger with the hammer, he presents the
next attraction: Cypress Hill.
Before we start, we have a lost child here. If she's not claimed within
the next hour, she will become property of Blockbuster Entertainment.
-- A warning from Cypress Hill, "Homerpalooza"
Bart: [sniffing] What is that smell?
Lisa: It smells like Otto's jacket...
-- Which can only mean one thing... "Homerpalooza"
Homer, on his side, is buying some kind of Jamaican hat.
Clerk: Dude, karma.
Homer: What?
Clerk: [pointing at the hat] Karma, karma.
[pause]
Homer: [neuter] Oh, I get it. [walks away]
-- But I don't, "Homerpalooza"
Just as Bart and Lisa are starting to appreciate the show, Homer
shows up, wearing this hat of his.
Bart: Dad, you cannot wear that! That's a rastafarian hat.
Homer: Pft. Hey, I've been safariing since before you were born.
Lisa: Wearing a Jamaican hat makes a bold statement about your
connection to reggae music.
Homer: Well, excuse me.
[sticks a "Too cool for this planet" sticker to his hat]
Bart: You know what, dad? Maybe we'll go exploring on our own for a
while.
[the kids run away]
-- Run boy, run for your life!, "Homerpalooza"
Left alone, it's time for Homer to get in touch with the young
people. He tries to blend in the crowd, but his Jamaican-rastafarian
hat gets in the way.
Homer: Good concert, am I right?
Teen1: Yeah, nice try, narc.
Teen2: Where's a narc?
Teen3: Who?
Teen1: That fat Jamaican guy.
Homer: What did I say? What's going on?
Teen4: Hey, we're just trying to have a good time, narc. Why do you
want to destroy us?
Teen5: Don't commit your hate crimes here. [yelling] HATE CRIME!
-- All I did was say "Gimme four more justices", "Homerpalooza"
Thus Homer finds himself on the top of the crowd, being led outside.
Meanwhile, Bart and Lisa are at the concert listening to Smashing
Pumpkins, where the crowd is dancing in sort sort of nostalgic
trance.
Lisa: It may be bleak, but this music is really getting to the crowd.
Bart: Eh, making teenagers depressed is like shooting fish in a barrel.
-- "Homerpalooza"
Homer walks away, disillusioned as always.
Oh... Makes no sense. I haven't changed since high school and suddenly
I'm uncool.
-- Hand Homer a mirror, "Homerpalooza"
In his rage, Homer kicks a cannon, which goes haywire. After several
bursts, it shoots its bullet right into Homer's stomach. After
bouncing off and falling on the ground, the bullet breaks open,
revealing an inflatable pig, which soars in the sky.
Tech: Aw, man. There goes Peter Frampton's big finale. He's gonna
be pissed off.
Frampton: You're damn right I'm going to be pissed off; I bought that
pig at Pink Floyd's yard sale!
-- Oink oink, "Homerpalooza"
But the crowd is more impressed with Homer's ability to withstand
such a blow without any side effects. Even a manager is impressed:
Sir, I run Hullabalooza's pageant of the transmundane --the freak show,
and I've been looking for a big fatso to shoot with a cannon. I'd like
very much for you to be that fatso.
-- Hullabalooza's manager wants to hire Homer, "Homerpalooza"
Homer is flattered, but Marge doesn't take it the same way.
Marge: So... you want to go on tour with a traveling freak show.
Homer: I don't think I have a choice, Marge.
Marge: Of course you have a choice.
Homer: How do you figure?
Marge: You don't have to join a freak show just because the opportunity
came along.
Homer: You know, Marge, in some ways, you and I are very different
people.
-- After all these years, he finds out, "Homerpalooza"
As you could've guessed, Homer stuck with his idea, and is about to
be shot on stage for the first time ever.
[in a shy, nervous tone] Hi everybody. Is everybody... good?
-- Homer is about to begin his number, "Homerpalooza"
Homer puts on his safety glasses, takes place in front of the cannon,
and receives the bullet right in the stomach. He quickly gets up,
though, and is acclaimed by the crowd.
In backstage, Homer autographs a cannon ball: "Stay in school, your
hero, Homer". The kid takes the ball, but is instantly crushed by it.
Corgan: Hey cannonball, I like your statement: when life takes a cheap
shot at you, you stand your ground. Billy Corgan, Smashing
Pumpkins.
Homer: Homer Simpson, smiling politely.
-- That's not a band!, "Homerpalooza"
Homer: You know, my kids think you're the greatest. And thanks to your
gloomy music, they've finally stopped dreaming of a future I
can't possibly provide.
Corgan: Well, we try to make a difference.
-- Positive differences, check with Barry Manilow, "Homerpalooza"
At school, Bart reads a letter from his father. "Dear Bart and Lisa.
All is well on tour with America's most popular alternative music
festival." Cut to a shot of the Hullabalooza bus on a 3-way
crossing. They turn left for Cleveland, then back and right for
Cincinnati, then they change their minds and turn back home.
"Our first job is to entertain." Homer gets shot with a cannon, with
cheering from the crowd. "And I like to think sometimes we get a
message across as well." Same thing, but this time Homer has "No
Litter" written on his stomach before he gets shot.
"But the main thing is: I've finally tapped into that spirit of self-
destruction that makes Rock 'N' Roll the king of music." Everyone on
the bus is cheering Homer, who's "water-skiing" with the bus, only
with frying pans instead of skis. Cypress Hill throws cans at him.
Homer yells "Woo-hoo!"
And the tour keeps going on, with a huge success.
Teen1: Oh, here comes that cannonball guy. He's cool.
Teen2: Are you being sarcastic, dude?
Teen1: I don't even know anymore.
-- Well, duh, "Homerpalooza"
Thank you! And remember, don't trust anyone over 30! And now, Peter
Frampton!
-- Homer, after his number, "Homerpalooza"
Corgan: Hey, Homer, looks like our next stop is your hometown,
Springfield.
D'Arcy: Is it true that we have to bring our own water?
Homer: We got a little rule back home: if it's brown, drink it down;
if it's black, send it back.
-- Springfield, still a national proudness, "Homerpalooza"
Chamberlin: The hometown show's the big one, Homer.
Iha: Yeah, people who called you a weirdo in high school get to
see what a successful freak you've become.
[points to D'Arcy]
D'Arcy: Hey, I wasn't a weirdo. I was in the audio-visual club.
Homer: Really? Me too! But I got kicked out 'cause of my views of
Vietnam. Also, I was stealing projectors.
-- Also because I didn't know what I was doing, "Homerpalooza"
When Homer drinks beer to celebrate, though, his stomach echoes when
he burps. The manager, worried, slaps his stomach and the same
echoic sound occurs.
Homer, nothing's more important to me than the health and well-being of
my freaks. I'm sending you to a vet.
-- Hullabalooza manager, "Homerpalooza"
The veterinarian diagnoses that the cannonballs have demolished
Homer's stomach. Among other things, he strongly encourages Homer
not to get hit by another cannonball.
Homer: Pftt... Rules. I'm a rocker, I don't care for rules.
Vet: Mr. Simpson, this is serious. If you take one more cannonball to
the gut, you will die.
Homer: Die? Well, you don't scare me, doc, 'cause dying would be a
stone groove. Got any messages for Jimi Hendrix?
Vet: Yes: "Pick up your puppy."
[pan to Rover Hendrix]
-- And play better shuffleboard, "Homerpalooza"
[End of Act Two. Time: 15'24"]
Back at home, Homer is the subject of Bart's attention.
Bart: So, what's it like being famous, dad?
Homer: People know your name, but you don't know theirs. It's great.
-- Basic mantra of the prestigious, "Homerpalooza"
Bart: Do you wear boxers or briefs?
Homer: [checking] Nope.
Bart: What religion are you?
Homer: You know, the one with all the well-meaning rules that don't
work out in real life. Uh... Christianity.
-- "Homerpalooza"
Homer wonders why all those questions, but Bart avoids the subject by
saying it's "just some report [he's] gotta do for school", and offers
him a piece of pie. While he's away, Homer takes a look at Bart's
paper, which is about the person he admires most: his father. When
Bart comes back, they eat their pie silently, sharing this moment,
but the rumbling from Homer's stomach reminds him of the price he
could pay.
At Springfield Fairgrounds, the family is allowed access to the
backstage of Hullabalooza.
Guard: Clear the way, clear the way! Performer coming through.
Marge: This is so exciting. Last time I got to go backstage was when
Bart ripped his pants at the Christmas play.
Bart: Mom...
DJ: [pointing to Bart] Ha-ha!
-- Cypress Hill takes a cue from Muntz, "Homerpalooza"
Once backstage, it's time for the last-minute preparations...
Who is playing with the London Symphony Orchestra? Come on people,
somebody ordered the London Symphony Orchestra... posssibly while high.
-- Backstage at Hullabalooza, "Homerpalooza"
Most signs point at Cypress Hill, so they take the orchestra:
DJ: Uh, do you know "Insane in the Brain"?
Violinist: [British accent] We mostly know classical... but we could
give it a shot.
[hip-hop music, gradually accompanied by the orchestra]
"Put the water on the flame, boiling temper"
"Just toss that ham in the frying pan like spam..."
-- Mmm... spam, "Homerpalooza"
On stage, Peter Frampton uses a synthesized voice to create the
illusion that his guitar "talks" while playing.
Jimbo: Man, that guy's guitar is talking.
Otto: Hey, my shoes are talking too!
Left Shoe: Don't worry. We won't hurt you.
Right Shoe: We only want to have some fun.
-- "Homerpalooza"
There are even some spectators you wouldn't expect...
Burns: [chuckles] And to think, Smithers: you laughed when I bought
TicketMaster. "Nobody's going to pay a 100% service charge."
Smithers: Well, it's a policy that ensures a healthy mix of the rich
and the ignorant, sir.
-- Burns attends Hullabalooza, "Homerpalooza"
Back on stage, Frampton's having some problems with his show, as his
"pig" pedal doesn't do anything.
Frampton: God. Homer Simpson wrecks my pig, Cypress Hill steals my
orchestra, and Sonic Youth's in my cooler! Get out of there,
you kids!
Moore: Aw, come on, Mr. Frampton. You're not gonna eat all that
watermelon.
Frampton: Please, I'm trying to perform!
Shelley: Go ahead. We'll stay here and guard your cooler.
[they all dig in]
-- "Homerpalooza"
Discouraged, Frampton leaves the stage to Homer.
And now, Springfield, this is the moment that you've been waiting for,
the man who embodies everything about Rock 'N' Roll, except the music.
-- Introduction, "Homerpalooza"
The crowd cheers their homegrown hero like no one else; even Milhouse
is proud to state: "I used to carpool with that guy".
Oh, this is heavy. Okay Homer, don't fear the reaper.
-- "Homerpalooza"
Marge: Cannons are designed to hurt. They're designed to hurt.
Lisa: Shh! Mom, dad needs our support.
Marge: [smiles to Homer]
Bart: You're the coolest dad alive!
-- He won't stay both for very long, "Homerpalooza"
As the cannon fuse burns, everybody is paralyzed in anticipation of
Homer's stunt, even Sonic Youth who have stopped eating their
watermelon. Ultimately, Homer dodges the cannon, to the disappoint-
ment of the crowd.
I thought I had an appetite for destruction, but all I wanted was a
club sandwich.
-- Homer, after "wussing out", "Homerpalooza"
Homer: Oh, Marge. I thought I had an appetite for destruction, but
all I wanted was a club sandwitch.
Marge: There might be one in this cooler.
[digs in Frampton's cooler] Oh, here you go.
Frampton: Ohh!
-- "Homerpalooza"
Oh, man. Homer wussed out. I'm so disillusioned.
-- Lee Ranaldo, "Homerpalooza"
Hullabalooza isn't about freaks; it's about music, and advertisement,
and youth-oriented product positioning.
-- Kim Gordon, "Homerpalooza"
Gordon: Hey, Hullabalooza isn't about freaks; it's about music, and
advertisement, and youth-oriented product positioning.
Sen-Dog: That, and getting toasted. Nicely toasted.
-- "Homerpalooza"
Manager: Homer, I'm sorry. There's nothing worse than a yellow-bellied
freak... unless that's his act. I expect your letter of
resignation on my desk.
Homer: You have a desk?
Manager: I mean, the hood of my car.
-- "Homerpalooza"
Homer: I'll miss you, Pumpkins, but I just can't share your bleak
world view. I've got too much to live for.
Corgan: We envy you, Homer. All we have is our music, our legions
of fans, our million of dollars and our youth.
[pause]
Woo-Hoo!
Iha: Let's all go out and buy fur coats!
Chamberlin: I want a walk-in humidor.
-- So much for _that_ plan, "Homerpalooza"
In the car, on the trip to go home, Homer concludes his adventure:
Homer: So, I realized that being with my family is more important
than being cool.
Bart: Dad, what you just said was powerfully uncool.
Homer: You know what the song says: "It's hip to be square".
Lisa: That song is so lame.
Homer: So lame that it's... cool?
Bart+Lisa: No.
Marge: Am I cool, kids?
Bart+Lisa: No.
Marge: Good. I'm glad. And that's what makes me cool, not caring,
right?
Bart+Lisa: No.
Marge: Well, how the hell do you be cool? I feel like we've tried
everything here.
Homer: Wait, Marge. Maybe if you're truly cool, you don't need to
be told you're cool.
Bart: Well, sure you do.
Lisa: How else would you know?
-- "Homerpalooza"
[End of Act Three. Time: 21'30"]
Over the credits, a crowd of teenagers dances mindlessly to "The
Simpsons" theme as played by Sonic Youth.
Contributions
{dga} - Dale Abersold
{tb} - Tom Baker
{gg} - Geoff Gardner
{hag} - Herschel A. Gelman
{ddg} - Don Del Grande
{dh2} - Dominik Halas
{jh} - Jason Hancock
{hl} - Haynes Lee
{jl} - Jose Lafaurie
{vm} - Veronica Marquez
{sp} - Serge Polishchuk
{rjr} - Richard Rodriguez, Jr.
{bjr} - Benjamin J. Robinson
Legal crud
The above compilation of observations, quote summaries, statistics, and
other miscellaneous information copyright 1996 Chips-Fey Productions.
Not to be used in a public forum without explicit permission from the
author (Ricardo A. Lafaurie Jr.) or his brother Jose Lafaurie.
Any quoted material above remains property of the original authors;
mainly, quoted material and episode summaries remain property of The
Simpsons, and copyright to Twentieth Century Fox. The compilation is
copyright to Frederic Briere. So don't sue.
Huge thanks and applause applause to Dave Hall for sending me the notes
from alt.tv.simpsons while I was away on my damn six-day weekend.