“Then me and my friend were about to press it, but the man said not to press it, but we pressed it anyway! And we ran and we hid in a giant tire, oh yeah, and my other friend was already there!” – Homer Simpson
In yet another desperate bid for attention, Zombie Simpsons has once again hitched its cart to a more currently successful person. In this case, it’s Judd Apatow (who wrote a couple of good episodes of The Critic back in the day), who dusted off an old spec script he wrote twenty odd years ago. The premise is that Homer gets hypnotized and thinks he’s Bart’s age. I’ll just say this: there’s a reason this didn’t get made when the show was good, and it’s not because Apatow wasn’t famous then.
– Oof, that couch gag took an awful long time.
– And we get an early start on this week’s unnecessary exposition with Homer singing to himself about walking.
– So there’s another safety inspector? I’m sure glad he and Homer repeated who he was and what he did several times. I never would’ve caught it in one.
– The book titles are pretty good, “The Core: Mistress of Death”. As usual, the sign gags are the best thing here.
– Lenny and Carl were there, then they weren’t.
– Now Lenny’s back.
– Ah, that’s good exposition, unneeded, nonsensical, the whole megillah: “You need to relax. So, I got us all tickets to see the circus on Saturday.”
– Homer is ranting about parking now. It’s like they believe that the famous phrase is “tell, don’t show” instead of the other way around.
– I get that the sideshow signs are Apatow references, but reminding the audience about the existence of Funny People isn’t a good idea. I gave up on that movie halfway through and have never talked to a single person who liked it.
– So, Marge needed to explain to Homer that she had to use the port-a-potty, why, exactly?
– “No, I’m not”/”Yes you are” just keeps going, doesn’t it?
– “Mom, Dad’s been hypnotized to think he was ten.” – Thanks, Exposition Lisa!
– “Buddy Ebsen Died Here” on the hospital sign is pretty good. Sadly, this episode would probably be funnier on mute.
– Hey, a briefly popped eyeball.
– I’ll give them this, 10-year-old Homer is at least a novel take on Jerkass Homer. It’s not funny or entertaining or anything, but he’s never been an asshole quite like this.
– Culottes were funny that one time; here, not so much,
– Uh, why is Homer at the school?
– Naturally, Chalmers is there. Remember when he was the superintendent? Good times.
– They’re reusing the happy music from “Treehouse of Horror II” when Bart and Homer bond. It was ironic then. It’s kinda ironic now, but in a different way.
– Also, Chalmers and Skinner are back.
– Speaking of re-used music, Lisa’s playing “Baker Street“.
– “Lis, you know how Dad thinks he’s a ten-year-old?”/”I’ve been emotionally dealing with that all week, so, yes.” We just saw Lisa have fun with Homer. Also too, unnecessary exposition.
– And now Bart’s explaining what we just saw.
– Now they’re at Itchy & Scratchy Land for some reason. That was unexpected.
– The MST3K robots on the amusement park ride are a nice touch, though once again the best parts of this episode have nothing to do with its story and work fine without any sound whatsoever.
– Incidentally, if you ever do get suckered into going to Disney’s California Adventure park, the Soarin’ Over California ride is one of the few things really worth doing. It’s a lot more entertaining in person than as filler in Zombie Simpsons.
– Marge, Chief Wiggum, Lou, and the hypnotist just showed up out of nowhere. How did they find Bart and Homer? Enh. At least Wiggum re-explained things.
– And Homer’s back to normal now, though he also recapped things.
– I guess the “Je Suis Charlie” thing is a nice gesture, but why was it in between the end of the story and this weird Marvel thing they needed to fill the contractually obligated runtime?
– Huh, that was Stacy Keach at the beginning.
Anyway, the numbers aren’t in for some reason, but given the lack of late football on FOX and competition from yet another awards show, I wouldn’t expect much. I’ll update after TV By the Numbers does.
Update: Here they are, just 4.39 million.
Dead Homer Society 
48 responses to “Behind Us Forever: Bart’s New Friend”
The catalyst may by far be the stupidest thing in this episode. So wait…Homer is actually capable of being a competent safety inspector? If he’s just a stooge for God knows what reason (nobody once asks why Homer got and remains on the job), why don’t they make him somebody else’s stooge? Or why Carl & Lenny never told him before.
But yeah, the episode comes across as phoney and more than a little disturbing. The mere act of Homer acting like Bart’s best childhood friend is more than a little sad/pathetic when you think about it. The creepy and pathetic side of it gets seriously glazed over. Wouldn’t Bart at least at some point, if he wasn’t going to take advantage of him, decide he didn’t want a father with the brain of a 10-year old
Speaking of which, the critically lame aspect of this episode is that Bart never once takes advantage of Homer’s adult body. He still has his ID and is legally an adult with plenty of money–Bart should have taken him for the ultimate sleigh ride. 10-year old Homer obviously wouldn’t care and would have been all for it. We’re talking about a story that supposedly got its genesis during Bart’s “bad boy” era. No wonder this one never got made then.
This also goes for Marge, who is eerily on board with having Homer go out in public in his state on a regular basis. Shouldn’t she at least try to keep him at home until the hypnotist is found.
In terms of the countless times we saw flashbacks of the “real” 10-year old Homer, he also seems a bit too…normal to fit. Usually he was shown to be more or less Ralph like: stupid even for a kid.
Lastly, since the script goes back to the Klasky-Csupo era. Any chance the Rugrats writers cribbed the idea for their extremely similar episode?
You’re thinking like a halfway competent story-teller. You know ZS doesn’t have any of those.
[QUOTE]Anyway, the numbers aren’t in for some reason, but given the lack of late football on FOX and competition from yet another awards show, I wouldn’t expect much. I’ll update after TV By the Numbers does.[/QUOTE]
Usually, the TV ratings don’t come in until Tuesday or Wednesday (at least on this site), but I do agree. It’s probably low due to no late football and the Golden Globes.
I’m not sure if anyone has told you this yet, but BBCode does not work in WordPress comments. Just saying.
Oh, I know. I just don’t care.
Can we get Kang and Kodos back instead?
Wow, another chalkboard-less post? I’m creeped out man, so you think this episode is decent like last week’s one? I’m terrified, dude…
I don’t think the “chalkboard” has been used at all this season.
You just don’t think before you write something, do you? Pathetic…
I don’t think you think before writing your garbage, romanator. Pathetic…
I don’t think you think before writing your garbage, romanator. Pathetic…
Why isn’t anybody replying to me?! I’m writing comments here, peeps! Please reply.
Hi.
AJ is that you? Look, just bring some old Simpsons writers back and work with them on better quality episodes like the old ones, ok? Thanks.
Hey, begging for attention is my job.
You’re hired.
YESS! I HAVE NO LIFE! SCRUBBA DEE BUBBA!
C’mon Charlie, I’m sure you can do better.
“Can” and “will” are two very different things. As for the chalkboard, I just kinda got tired of doing it. Way too many times I’d have the post ready to go and get stuck on that.
I made some responses below, and you can read ’em there (if you want). But I’ve been meaning to ask, do you ever plan to resurrect “Crazy Noises”? I DO know (unlike the chalkboard) that you haven’t done them since you wrapped up S11, but I feel like it’d be sort-of worth it for last week’s episode, given how bizarre and off the charts (intentionally, though) it was, even for ZS.
Note that’s only for last week’s episode, judging for your posts on this week’s ep, I don’t think it’d be worth it for the latter.
Listen. Dang, I’m well aware you’re the one impersonating me.
Stop it or else face the consequences.
Sidenote: I’m pretty sure there are multiple people posting as Anonymous, as I can confirm that the only comment I posted as Anonymous was this one: http://deadhomersociety.com/2015/01/12/behind-us-forever-barts-new-friend/#comment-82479
Anyways, I had no idea you didn’t use the chalkboard at all this season, so when I saw last week’s post, I was surprised and thought that the episode was so good enough (compared to normal ZS fare these days) it deserved a break from form. My bad on that part.
Dammit, meant to reply to this comment and I screwed up: http://deadhomersociety.com/2015/01/12/behind-us-forever-barts-new-friend/#comment-82492
Anyways, didn’t know you were getting stuck on the chalkboard stuff. I guess just like the original creaters were at after almost 8 Seasons, you just start to run out of gags (though having to do them for ZS episodes surely must have drained your energy even faster!).
Selfies, Ice Bucket Challenges, Je Suis Charlies…
I thank you, writers, for saying “fuck you, we’ll put some recent stuff in our new eps because we’re cool” to my face. And I’m sorry I didn’t watch all those recent shows you’re getting a jab at so often, because y’know, I didn’t have to watch the X-Files to laugh during the Leonard Nimoy episode, but that’s okay, mistakes happen, right?
“Fuck’s sake you’re amateurs” (c) C. Bale
The “Je Suis Charlies” thing seems a bit more honest in this case given that it is something that has particularly touched the cartoonist/animator community so I can more believe that the Simpsons staff earnestly supports the solidarity there compared to other “hot topic” stuff like fracking.
But yeah, I agree it would have been better if they made it into something with an attempt at humor. But I guess even the Simpsons writers know that can’t do satire anymore, just stock tributes or straight lectures.
A simple chalkboard gag would’ve been enough.
In their defense, I doubt the writers had the ability to quickly write and animate something about Charlie Hebdo, given that it happened that week and it wouldn’t fit within the episode. The “Je suis Charlie” was probably the best they could do.
How dare they pay tribute to cartoonists who died? Shame on them.
D’oh! I was going to mention the slain cartoonist btw.
You don’t just compare 20 something dead people to hundreds and thousands dead civilians every year in the Middle East. 9/11 was a tragedy, this is simply a reminder to the West that humor also has its limits.
HOW DARE THEY ANGER ALMIGHTY STAN?
Do you also jerk off when you’re thinking of me at night?
The fuck is wrong with you this is a Simpsons website nobody ever jerks off to you
You do =)
You’re having fun at fantasizing me with long blue hair.
lol like marge
Ironic part is there is an image that does not offend those radicals of M. burning in Hell. In either literature or art, it does exist.
Some anonymous ass has been impersonating me. To know that it is really me and not that shitface, I will end all my comments with a secret phrase: “Scrubba dee bubba”.
Thanks.
No one here cares about you or your problems, Stan. You’re not even meaningful enough to piss Charlie off. But you just might anger other readers for good if you keep posting your nonsense.
….would you read my screenplay?
Scrub a dee bubba. I forgot that part.
Слив засчитан, мудила.
Charlie, it’s a 6.8 rating I think. A commentator on the IGN article of this episode said it was a 6.8 rating and get this… He couldn’t believe the rating was so low!!! Many are still defending this show, saying it’s great…. Sigh
I wondered how much of Apatow’s original script was used. On his Twitter feed there’s only one mention of this and it was a reminder to watch the episode, nothing else.
Knowing ZS, probably just the premise (Homer is hypnotized into acting like a ten year old).
I may have misunderstood, in this case shame on me, but reading some reviews I understand that at some point in the episode, before Homer is turned back to normal, Marge is asked if she wants to change anything about Homer. At this point it would have made sense and would have been in character for Marge to ask something like drinking with moderation, being a better father for the children, just be a more responsible man, since a number of times there have been problems because of these problems Homer has. But the only thing she would change is something sex related (I didn’t watch the episode, I could not understand exactly). This caught my attention since it’s a recurring complaint I have had about the show in the last 10 years. It’s like their marriage is only about sex, it’s like if for the writers marriage=sex. Every time they want to show that the marriage works, it about them having sex, when it’s not sex, it’s fighting. It seems like the only reason Homer and Marge are still together is sex, the only thing the enjoy doing together is fucking. I understand that the show targets mostly horny young men, but for people a bit more grown-up it’s very annoying, it’s simplistic and not true. It’s the point of view a 13-year-old has about marriage.
And the final ratings are in: 2.0 in 18-49 demo (which I still belong to) and 4.28M viewers (source: TV by the numbers.)
I agree kind of – i always felt that in the ZS episodes the writers seemed to be so desperate to let the audience know what a great bedroom life Homer and Marge had. it seemed so artificial, actually – like those couples who try to let the world know how much in love they are with each other, but in reality they don’t like each other.