Follow TV Tropes

Following

Recap / The Simpsons S 23 E 10 Politically Inept With Homer Simpson

Go To

Episode PABF03
First Aired 1/8/12

After putting up with TSA agents and airport incompetence, Homer goes on a rampage on a grounded airplane — and his antics become viral video gold (just like his showboating on "Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass") and a chance to host his own political talk show on Fox News.


This episode contains examples of:

  • Adam Westing: Ted Nugent.
  • Better the Devil You Know: The episode's opening features a billboard with an ad for Quimby's campaign describing him as "The Devil You Know" for 18 years.
  • Blatant Lies: When James Madison tells Homer that his portrait is printed at 5,000-dollar bills, Homer asks if he gives those portraits to fans and claims to be a fan.
  • Continuity Nod: The episode starts at an airport with a sign saying it was built for the olympics they didn't get. It might be a nod to "The Old Man and the C-Student".
  • Expy: Homer becomes one of Glenn Beck, as a conservative media figure who cries Manly Tears about his love for America.
  • For the Evulz: Bart agreed to help Lisa and Marge fake an Opinion-Changing Dream solely to mess with Homer's mind. Homer does not like the reason and strangles him for it.
  • Fox News Liberal: And he has a song: "Oh, the plain and simple fact is, I'd love to raise your taxes, And make your children gay."
  • Manly Tears: Being a Glenn Beck parody, this is taken up to eleven. Lampshaded by the characters.
    Carl: Don't you think he's been crying a lot lately?
    Lenny: No way! When a man who loves America cries, that makes him super-straight.
  • No Sympathy: The plane crew don't care how hot, tired and uncomfortable their passengers are. When Homer badly needs to go to the bathroom the air hostess actually tells him off.
    "You should have thought of that before you took the liquid you need to live."
  • Opinion-Changing Dream: Homer has a dream where former President James Madison convinces him not to support Ted Nugent's candidacy. Subverted when the dream is revealed to be a fake with a paid actor pretending to be Madison.
  • Our Lawyers Advised This Trope: While Homer is putting up with the ridiculous practices on the plane, a disclaimer appears telling the audience that if they're on a plane watching this episode, this is not their airline. Also, when the family is criticizing Ted Nugent's political views, they make sure to say they love his music.
  • Politically Incorrect Villain: When Mr. Burns asks Homer to pick someone to be the Republican Party's next presidential candidate, he insists that Homer picks a white male.
  • Pompous Political Pundit: Homer becomes a very successful, very insane example of this.
  • "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Homer delivers an epic one towards the airlines about how they don't treat their passengers with any kind of respect.
  • Self-Deprecation: "Ladies and gentlemen, I am full of crap."
  • Shout-Out: The chalkboard gag is "Tintin did not sucksuck", in reference to the 2011 Tintin movie.
  • Soccer-Hating Americans: Homer speaks ill of Soccer in his show.
  • Special Guest: Ted Nugent As Himself. He isn't portrayed in a very flattering light.
  • Take That!:
    • Once again at the Republican Party and FOX News pundits, portrayed as being greedy and appealing to primal, base emotions at expense of reason. Nugent and New Jersey governor Chris Christie are portrayed as worse than most of them; the first wants to start big-game hunting in the San Diego Zoo, and the second is shown as a Villainous Glutton who is hypocritical about Obamacare and is completely rejected as a viable candidate.
    • An in-universe example on Homer's show: he considers the West Coast and the Eastern Seaboard to be the "gristle" of America's "meat," which he throws to his cardboard lions.

Top