History Recap / TheSimpsonsS3E24BrotherCanYouSpareTwoDimes

Episode - 8F23\\
First Aired - 8/27/1992

* ContrivedCoincidence: Upon discovering that Homer has unwittingly become sterile from working in the power plant, Mr. Burns writes him a $2000 settlement check to forestall any future lawsuits, preventing him from reading the fine print by telling him he's the recipient of a made-up award. When Homer asks if he's going to get a "big awards ceremony," one of Burns' lawyers advises him to deliver, which he does in such an over-the-top manner that Herb winds up reading about his brother's minor windfall in a ''non-local'' paper.

--->'''Herb:''' ''(standing at the door)'' What am I gonna say? This is the guy who ruined me! But on the other hand, he's family. So many conflicting emotions, how to express them?\\

* ContrivedCoincidence: Upon discovering that Homer has unwittingly become sterile from working in the power plant, Mr. Burns writes him a $2000 check to forestall any future lawsuits, preventing him from reading the fine print by telling him he's the recipient of a made-up award. When Homer asks if he's going to get a "big awards ceremony," one of Burns' lawyers advises him to deliver, which he does in such an over-the-top manner that Herb winds up reading about his brother's minor windfall in a ''non-local'' paper.

* ContrivedCoincidence: After discovering that Homer has become sterile when the physical results come back, Mr. Burns writes him a $2000 check to forestall a lawsuit, then prevents him from reading the fine print by telling him he's the recipient of a made-up award. When Homer asks if he's going to get a "big awards ceremony," one of Burns' lawyers advises him to deliver, which he does in such an over-the-top way that Herb winds up reading about his brother's minor windfall in a ''non-local'' paper.

* ContrivedCoincidence: After finding out Homer has become sterile when the physical results come back, Mr. Burns writes him a $2000 check to forestall a lawsuit, then prevents him from reading the fine print by telling him he's the recipient of a made-up award. When Homer asks if he's going to get a "big awards ceremony," one of Burns' lawyers advises him to deliver, which he does in such an over-the-top way that Herb winds up reading about his brother's minor windfall in a ''non-local'' paper.

* ThrowTheDogABone: The whole family has ideas about what to do with the $2000 check from Burns--most prominently, Homer wants a highly expensive massage chair to replace their broken couch. Instead, they lend the money to Herb for his new invention. It succeeds and he buys each member of the family what they wanted. To Homer, he simply offers his forgiveness, which Homer, despite his disappointment, ultimately accepts with gratitude...only to find that Herb ''also'' bought him the chair.

* PyrrhicVillainy: Mr. Burns tries to bribe Homer with 2000$ to keep him from potentially suing the plant for millions for sterilizing him. The glitzy award ceremony he has to cook up to validate the scheme probably cost as much. Furthermore, Homer does not have the means to take up a long, drawn out court proceeding against Springfield's most competent and ruthless lawyers.

** Lisa was a little upset that Herb didn’t write to her. Herb pointed out that he couldn’t because he didn’t want to tell her how his life is now that he’s a hobo. Lisa then understood Herb’s point.

* TheThingThatWouldNotLeave: Herb stays with the Simpsons while he tries to get back on his feet. Justified in that he's destitute and has been living as a hobo until now. Also subverted in that Herb moves out once he regains his fortune, pays the Simpsons back the $2,000 they lent him and gets them all gifts for believing in him.

* BoringButPractical: Marge's idea of what to do with the money that Homer won. While the rest of the family wanted to get more extravagant things like a vibrating chair (Homer), a machine gun (Bart), or classic literature (Lisa), Marge thought it best that they get a new washing machine and dryer.

* RealityEnsues: Herb is determined to rebuild his fortune. Unfortunately, that's easier said than done:

* {{Jerkass}}: The one time Homer has a chance to make Herb accept his forgiveness (getting comments for Herb's baby translator), Homer complains that it's a stupid idea that will never work.

* ThemeTuneCameo: The show's theme plays when Homer wins the award.

* ItsAllAboutMe: Homer insults the look of Herb's baby translator prototype, saying it a stupid idea that will never work and a waste of the $2000 he had given him, then complains about how he could've been relaxing on the vibrating chair he had planned to buy with it instead. Herb calls him out on it.

* {{Hobos}}: Ever since he automobile company folded, Herb's been living as and with a group of them out in the sticks, living in a CardboardBoxHome, subsisting off garbage, and stowing away on trains to travel.

* BeyondTheImpossible: Homer somehow has over 100% body fat. The extra 4% are implied to come from the chicken drumstick he's eating while suspended in the buoyancy tank.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Mr. Burns despises his own lawyers for essentially making a living on people's misery.

* WhatAnIdiot: The bum who thought it'd be a good idea to run unlicensed, Disney-themed ''massage parlors''.

* RagsToRiches: Herb

--> '''Joe Frazier''': Webster's Dictionary defines "excellence" as "the quality or condition of being excellent."

* ItsAllAboutMe: Homer insults the look of Herb’s baby translator prototype, saying it a stupid idea that will never work and a waste of the $2000 he had given him, then complains about how he could’ve been relaxing on the vibrating chair he had planned to buy with it instead. Herb calls him out on it.
-->'''Herb:''' Homer will you stop thinking about your ass!?

* TalkToTheFist: Herb’s first greeting to Homer in a long while.
--->'''Herb:''' ''(standing at the door)'' What am I gonna say? This is the guy who ruined me! But on the other hand, he’s family. So many conflicting emotions, how to express them?
--->'''Homer:''' ''(opens door)'' ...Herb? ''(Herb punches him out cold)''

* ItsAllAboutMe: Homer insults the look of Herb’s baby translator prototype, saying it a stupid idea that will never work and a waste of the $2000 he had given him, then complains about how he could’ve been relaxing on the vibrating chair he had planned to buy with it instead. Her. Calls him out on it.