History YMMV / TheSimpsonsS9E1TheCityOfNewYorkVsHomerSimpson

* HarsherInHindsight: The episode becomes this in light of the 9/11 attacks. The line "they stick all the jerks in Tower One" is one the writer would regret.

** The scenes at the World Trade Center towers have dated the episode to pre-9/11.

* FranchiseOriginalSin: A holdover from Season 8, Homer's {{Jerkass}} behavior in this episode may have began his eventual {{Flanderization}}. It does work here, however, since Homer goes through such a TraumaCongaLine throughout the episode that he's still fairly sympathetic. Later episodes would make Homer even more of a jerk, but without [[JerkassWoobie the sympathy]] or even the [[UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist over-the-top behavior]] that makes his characterization work in this episode.

* {{Woolseyism}}: In the German dub, Bart thinks the rabbis are the last three members of Music/TheBeatles, rather than Music/ZZTop.

* MemeticMutation: No meme, only Khlav Kalash.[[note]]The Khlav Kalash man’s dialogue became a meme format.[[endnote]]

%%* EnsembleDarkhorse: The Khlav Kalash man.

%%* MemeticMutation: No meme, only Khlav Kalash.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: The Khlav Kalash man.
* FranchiseOriginalSin: A holdover from Season 8, Homer's {{Jerkass}} behavior in this episode may have began his eventual {{Flanderization}}. It does work here, however, since Homer goes through so much shit throughout that he's still fairly sympathetic.
* HarsherInHindsight:
** The infamous "They stick all the jerks in tower one!" line, followed by the men in opposite buildings arguing rudely with each other until a third interrupts them, revealing all three men were jerks.
** One of the most infamous examples in the show's run: [[https://frinkiac.com/img/S09E01/406855.jpg This shot of Lisa holding up a magazine advertising a bus to New York.]] The bus fare is shown in a large, bold font to be $9, and the Twin Towers sure do look like an 11. The problem becomes obvious. Some nuttier [[ConspiracyTheorist 9/11 truthers]] actually use that shot as "evidence" that it was all a U.S. Government conspiracy - exactly ''why'' writers for ''The Simpsons'', of all shows, would be in on it, is... unclear.[[note]]The writers explained that $9 was considered by them to be a comically low fare, and of course, no travel ad for New York would omit the Twin Towers.[[/note]]
* HilariousInHindsight:
** As punishment for his car being left in New York City, [[DisproportionateRetribution Homer's car will be thrown into the East River]], which was known for its parasitic and hazardous conditions in 1997. Nowadays, the river has been cleaned up considerably and ironically enough, it would be far worse to throw it into the ''Hudson'' River, whose quality has severely declined in the years since this episode first aired.
** When at Magazine/{{MAD}} Magazine headquarters, Bart sees Alfred E. Newman[[note]]The MAD Magazine mascot[[/note]] talk about a spoof called "[[Music/NewKidsOnTheBlock The New Kids on the Blecch]]". [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS12E14NewKidsOnTheBlecch Three-and-a-half years later...]]
** Barney struggles with being the designated driver two seasons before he actually got sober.

* MemeticMutation: No meme, only Khlav Kalash.

* ValuesResonance: The Betty Ford Clinic musical about celebrities going to rehab for their erratic, criminal behavior is still relevant today, thanks to the likes of Music/BritneySpears, Creator/LindsayLohan (who actually did check into Betty Ford), Creator/CharlieSheen, Creator/AmandaBynes, Creator/TaraReid, Creator/ParisHilton, and others getting the same treatment (in fact, the main character of the musical even looks a little like Charlie Sheen, even if he was based on Creator/RobertDowneyJr).

* CatharsisFactor: Seeing Homer steal a jackhammer and use it to violently destroy the boot on his car, is rather satisfying after the HumiliationConga he endured before that point. The damage it does to his car almost seems WorthIt.