Homer vs. Patty and Selma (26 Feb. 1995)

Desperate for money, Homer takes a loan from Patty and Selma. Meanwhile, Bart discovers a natural talent for ballet.

Director:

Mark Kirkland

Writers:

Matt Groening (creator), James L. Brooks (developer),

Stars:

Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Dan Castellaneta	...	Barney Gumble / Homer Simpson / Groundskeeper Willie (voice)
Julie Kavner	...	Marge Simpson / Patty Bouvier / Selma Bouvier (voice)
Nancy Cartwright	...	Bart Simpson / Lewis / Ralph Wiggum / Nelson Muntz / Kearney (voice)
Yeardley Smith	...	Lisa Simpson (voice)
Hank Azaria	...	Moe Szyslak / Carl / Stockbroker / Executive / Bank Manager / Chief Wiggum (voice)
Harry Shearer	...	Lenny / Principal Skinner / Classy Joe's Announcer (voice)
Mel Brooks	...	Himself (voice)
Susan Sarandon	...	Ballet Teacher (voice)
Pamela Hayden	...	Milhouse Van Houten / Richard / Jimbo Jones / DMV Superintendent (voice)

Storyline

Desperate for money, Homer takes a loan from Patty and Selma. Meanwhile, Bart discovers a natural talent for ballet.

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Plot Keywords:

2d animation

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Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Family

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 February 1995 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

20th Century Fox Television, Gracie Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When the IOU lands on the lamp it is projected onto the ceiling. However, if the message was written on normal paper, which is most likely, the projection would have just been a solid square rather than the message.

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Quotes

Marge: Try to be nice to my sisters. It's very hard on me to have you fighting all the time.
Homer: Oh, OK Marge, I'll get along with them. Then, I will hug some snakes! Yes, I will hug and kiss some poisonous *snakes*!
[pause]
Homer: Now that's sarcasm.

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Connections

References The Joy Luck Club (1993)

User Reviews

The best time to sell your pumpkin supply is NOT January

While I'll readily admit the sixth season of The Simpsons has funnier episodes than Homer vs. Patty and Selma, this one still remains one of my favorites from the season. Both Homer and Bart develop throughout the episode. We know more about the characters by the end of the episode than we did at the beginning. That rarely happens in the current, in the 24th, season of The Simpsons.

So Homer invests his money into pumpkins before Halloween and then neglects to sell them off in time to make a profit (or before they rot). This leaves him with a mortgage payment due and no money to pay it. That predicament leads him to Patty and Selma's door for a loan. Many of the episode's laughs come from Homer forcing himself to be nice to his wife's sisters after they make it clear they'll tell Marge about the loan if he isn't. This includes a lot of foot rubs.

Homer goes to these great lengths because he doesn't want to look like a failure who can't provide for his family in front of Marge. I think it would be hard for a man to not sympathize with Homer in this one. In the episode, Bart's manhood (boyhood?) is also questioned as he's forced into ballet and ends up liking it.

The resolution to the episode is especially satisfactory. It's hard for me to find a fault with this one. And why should I? Let's just enjoy it. This is the golden age of The Simpsons as it should be watched.