While Homer is visiting Moe's one day, Carl and Lenny confess that when they were still in high school with Homer, their now-retired principal ordered them to bury the ballot box for their class presidential election (in which Homer ran against Vance Connor — who had recently been inducted to the Springfield Wall of Fame — and lost). He excavates the box and discovers that he had the most votes. He visits the principal, who confessed that he buried the ballot box to protect Homer from the ridicule that would have resulted had he won. As the Simpsons dine at Luigi's Restaurant that night, Homer meets the saucier of the restaurant, who uses his special tomato sauce to give him a vision what what his life would be like if he became the class president.
This episode is the first one to be shown in high definition and the first episode since season two's "Bart Gets an F" to have a new opening sequence.
Tropes:
- Animation Bump: In conjunction with being the first episode animated in high definition, the animation in this episode showcases more complex sequences and more detailed environments. The dedication wall in this episode in particular has every single plaque clearly depict the name and face of specific background characters, and with a reflective sheen on top of that.
- Art Evolution: The first Simpsons episode to be animated and broadcast in HD, though the second Simpsons product since The Simpsons Movie. This included a heavily revamped opening sequence, keeping much of the same familiar beats but including more characters and Couch Gag bits. The animation style in general was changed to match, including a widescreen Aspect Ratio, cleaner character outlines and more saturated colors. The show even lampshades it with Moe's Tavern via a sign that says "NOW IN HIGH-DEF!"
- As You Know: The viewers and the characters in the main timeline learn that Homer and Marge have no kids in the other timeline when that timeline's Homer asks his Marge about their kids and she says they don't have any because he used protection.
- Butterfly of Doom: In the timeline where Homer won the election, he took Debbie Pinson to the prom but still would've ended up with Marge, Mr. Burns would have give him a better position at the plant, he'd have a bigger house built next to the one where Mainstream Homer lives and use the mainstream one as a guest house where Abe lives and doesn't complain about anything, and he used protection to avoid having children. And he still has hair. Patty and Selma also both think Homer's handsome when they first see him, with Patty specifically pointing out that she's not gay in that reality.
- Continuity Nod: In the alternate reality, Homer goes to the prom with Debbie Pinson, his first high school crush mentioned in "Homer to the Max."
- Dawn of an Era: This is the first episode to be broadcast in HD and use the new opening sequence, which has since been used to this day.
- Graceful Loser: The sauce reveals that had Homer won, Vance Connor would have accepted his defeat.
- Heroic BSoD: Homer doesn't take seeing a world where he got everything he wanted but can never go to well and tries to jump into the pot of sauce to be transported there, yelling how he wants to live in the sauce. The saucier asks him whether Homer thinks he himself would still be here if he could do that.
- In Spite of a Nail: In both timelines, Homer is married to Marge and works for Mr. Burns. For him, as long as he is rich and doesn't have children, it's fine. He and Marge also still own the house at 742 Evergreen Terrace, but use it as a guest house for Abe while they live in a mansion next door.
- Jerk Jock: The two football players who decided to switch the ballots as a prank. “Goooo sports!”
- Love at First Sight: In the alternate timeline, Homer doesn't meet Marge until prom, but still has this reaction to her and immediately ditches his prom date to chat her up.
- A Mistake Is Born: Homer still gets together with Marge in the alternate timeline, but he uses protection and they don't have any kids—a preferable reality for Homer, but not Marge.
- Riddle for the Ages:
- It's not been revealed how the alternative timeline's Patty knows there's a reality where she's gay.
- Homer doesn't believe Bruce Wayne is Batman. Lisa wonder why else he'd believe Batman and Alfred to be friends but Marge tells her to stop pursuing that matter.
- Sad Clown: Homer hopefully speculates that Vance is this. As Lisa points out, neither word fits him.Lisa: He looks happy.Homer: Tears of a clown.Lisa: He's not crying. And he's not known for clowning.Homer: Exception that proves the rule.
- Series Continuity Error: Maude Flanders is seen attending high school with Homer and Marge, as opposed to "Dangerous Curves" earlier in the season, in which she's presumably older than them and met them while she was on her honeymoon with Ned and they were still in their teens.
- Sheep in Sheep's Clothing: The Ace Vance Connor is this. During the opening ceremony, Homer just accuses him as a Stepford Smiler. One interaction with him later, it’s revealed the only thing Connor is hiding behind his smile, is an even bigger smile.
- Shout-Out: Homer says he'll tell Dondelinger he knows what the latter did last summer 22 years ago during winter.
- They Just Dont Get It: Homer refuses to believe that Bruce Wayne is Batman.
- Troll: The saucier who made the special sauce tricks Homer into asking a question to a loaf of garlic bread and then points and laughs at him when he does.
- Unseen No More: Debbie Pinson, the cheerleader Homer and Marge went to high school with that was only mentioned in Season 10’s “Homer to the Max” makes an appearance.
- Where the Hell Is Springfield?: While discussing the penalty for murder, Homer says it varies from state to state instead of saying what it is in the state where he lives.
