Every Simpsons Ever: Episode 10 “Homer’s Night Out”

Episode 10: Homer’s Night Out – Bart gets a spy camera and almost ruins his parents’ marriage.

Uh oh, gang. Two episodes in a row putting specific stress on Homer and Marge’s marriage.  If not for the fact that the show is now in its 29th season, I’d be worried for them. Nevertheless, “Homer’s Night Out” raises the stakes in trying their relationship.

It all begins, of course, with something seemingly inconsequential. Bart sends away for a spy camera in a magazine. He clips the appropriate ad, puts the money in an envelope, and waits impatiently. When it finally arrives, six months later, the postwoman is at her wit’s end with Bart’s daily harassment. But it’s here! The spy camera has arrived. And Bart goes to work immediately, taking pictures of his unsuspecting family members.

Meanwhile, Homer has been invited to what he assures Marge is not a “stag party.” His supervisor, Eugene Fisk (formerly his assistant) is getting married, and the power plant guys are throwing him a party. With Homer’s reassurance that it’s not going to be “one of those parties,” Marge elects to take her mind off of it by taking the children to dinner. Unfortunately for Marge, the restaurant she chooses is the same restaurant hosting the “stag party” she worried about. So, when Bart goes to the bathroom, he’s lured by the sound of Homer’s coworkers’ merrymaking.

“Marge… Don’t even attempt to find meaning in it. There’s nothing between me and Princess Kashmir!” -Homer Simpson

Bart opens a door and sees Homer dancing on a table with an exotic dancer. Naturally, he uses his spy camera to take a picture. And here is Homer’s eventual downfall. Soon, Bart caves to pressure and gives Milhouse a copy. Milhouse, in turn, copies and distributes this copy. Soon, everyone in Springfield has a copy, including Mr. Burns and Reverend Lovejoy. Eventually, a copy of the picture makes its way to the aerobics studio where Marge exercises. Mortified, Marge goes home and confronts Homer. Now it’s Marge’s turn to strangle Homer with a “You little…” Homer gets booted out of the house and seeks refuge at Barney’s bachelor pad.

Meanwhile, whereas Marge protested Homer’s proximity to an exotic dancer, Mr. Burns seeks Homer’s counsel. The billionaire admits to his employee that he is lonely, and needs advice to approach women. But, Homer’s redemption comes in his refusal to accept his new playboy reputation. Instead, he takes Bart to track down Princess Kashmir to teach him that women aren’t objects. He ends up making a beautiful speech to the burlesque crowd, and Marge takes him back.

FIRSTS

• Barney’s gross apartment
• Princess Kashmir (AKA Shauna Tifton AKA April Flowers)
• Female Mail Carrier
• Gulliver Dark

GAGS

• Couch Gag: The couch collapses under the weight of the Simspons
• Chalkboard: I will not call my teacher “Hot Cakes”