Mitt Romney has won the New Hampshire primary, and is on-course to be the Republican nominee for president. That means it's time for Homer Simpson to find politics (again) and become America's newest and loudest talking head as The Simpsons tries again to be topical, if it can't be edgy. Fortunately, everyone is in on the joke; after all, we're all "Politically Inept, with Homer Simpson".
Homer Simpson, America's Man
After the Simpsons are in a grounded airplane for over 7 hours due to a prison break in New South Wales, Homer has enough and goes on the rampage in the crowded and smelly cabin ("We probably have rights!"). His prolonged outburst, uploaded to YouTube by Bart, wins him a legion of fans, including those at a television network who give him his own show - Gut Check with Homer Simpson. In it, Homer cries a lot and comes up with bizarre and outlandish (but "NOT RACIST"!) things to express his patriotism.
Springfield's Republicans recruit Homer to pick out the next white male to be president, but none of the candidates impress him. So he goes outside the box. He goes to Ted Nugent.
Homer's Journey from Airplanes to Airwaves
"Politically Inept, with Homer Simpson" will not go on record as being the funniest, or the sharpest, satire of politics that The Simpsons has done, but the episode benefits from still being current and relevant. Jokes about airport delays and TSA checks are sure to strike a chord so soon after the holiday season, and for once, the first act has a logical lead-in to the larger story that follows.
The story is of Homer Simpson as a television pundit. Again, not new, but writer John Frink has new targets: the Tea Party is now the "Gravy Boat" movement, Homer cries a lot and uses Dutch angles on his show, and reassures his family that since he's playing a character ("Like Stephen Colbert, or Newt Gingrich"), nobody will take him seriously.
Fake News and Real Children
It's easy skewering the establishment. No points for making the Gravy Boat and Occupy movements look ridiculous. Points instead for a subtle shot at the Daily Show fortress, where anything can be said without fear of criticism because it's just comedy. Points also for some hilarious scenes with the kids: Bart proudly telling Homer that he will now publicly acknowledge him as his father, Lisa tearfully accepting Homer's return to idiocy after he drops his endorsement of Ted Nugent ("My fellow Americans, I am full of crap").
Verdict: Not Guilty
Nugent's voice work in "Politically Inept, with Homer Simpson" is limited to him saying crazy things (like antagonizing Lisa by offering her elk antlers to appease her vegetarian tastes). It keeps the episode on the right side of taking itself too seriously, and is the right antidote to Homer abruptly losing his enthusiasm for being a talking head. Had Nugent's insanity not been on hand, this would have been another one of those Simpsons installments where the sudden resolution and life lessons (with 30 seconds until the end credits) would have shot the whole story in the foot. Nugent's taking the whole thing in stride not just saved Homer, it saved the whole episode.
The Simpsons, "Politically Inept, with Homer Simpson": 7/10. Fun, occasionally sharp, and smart enough to keep things light.
Michael Perera - The only rule in writing is honesty. If you're honest, the words will write themselves.
