Homer's Enemy (4 May 1997)

Mr. Burns hires Frank Grimes (the human interest subject of Kent Brockman's report) as executive vice president at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. Grimes meets the employees and is immediately stunned at Homer's lackadasial work performance and his co-workers are nonchalant about it. Grimes - already annoyed by Homer's habits - becomes horrified when he observes Homer nearly drink a flask ... See full summary »

Director:

Jim Reardon

Writers:

Matt Groening (creator), James L. Brooks (developed by),

Stars:

Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright

Cast

Episode credited cast:
Dan Castellaneta	...	Homer Simpson / Grampa / Barney Gumble / Krusty the Klown / Groundskeeper Willie / Mayor Quimby / Hans Moleman / Sideshow Mel / Others (voice)
Julie Kavner	...	Marge Simpson / Patty Bouvier / Selma Bouvier / Others (voice)
Nancy Cartwright	...	Bart Simpson / Nelson Muntz / Todd Flanders / Ralph Wiggum / Kearney / Others (voice)
Yeardley Smith	...	Lisa Simpson (voice)
Hank Azaria	...	Frank Grimes (voice)
Harry Shearer	...	Montgomery Burns / Waylon Smithers / Ned Flanders / Kent Brockman / Rev. Lovejoy / Principal Skinner / Dr. Hibbert / Rainer Wolfcastle / Others (voice)
Pamela Hayden	...	Milhouse Van Houten / Rod Flanders / Others (voice)
Russi Taylor	...	Martin Prince / Others (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frank Welker	...	Executive Vice-President

Storyline

Mr. Burns hires Frank Grimes (the human interest subject of Kent Brockman's report) as executive vice president at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. Grimes meets the employees and is immediately stunned at Homer's lackadasial work performance and his co-workers are nonchalant about it. Grimes - already annoyed by Homer's habits - becomes horrified when he observes Homer nearly drink a flask containing a toxic acid in absent-mindedness; however, Grimes is harshly reprimanded when he knocks the vial away and causes damage. Grimes tells Homer that they are "enemies," but Homer - still wanting to be friends - invites "Grimey" over for dinner. However, the attempt only makes matters worse when Grimes sees that Homer is living in a nice home and has a family. Resolved to expose Homer as a fraud once and for all, he hands out a flyer announcing a "design your own power plant" contest, which has all references to this being a contest for elementary school students. However, Homer easily ...

---

Plot Keywords:

skeleton visible during electrocution | disgruntled worker | silo | 2d animation | suicide by electrocution

---

Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Family

---

Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 May 1997 (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?

Trivia

Matt Groening commented that the story also has a Zen quality to it. Homer is just himself and gets along fine. Frank Grimes is a Type-A personality who wants everything perfect, and he falls apart. Thus, Homer is the stronger person, despite his obvious faults.

---

Goofs

Frank confronts Homer by telling him he lives "in a single room above a bowling alley and below another bowling alley." However, earlier in the episode, we see him standing on the front porch of a fixed house when he receives his diploma in nuclear science.

---

Quotes

Frank Grimes: [Referring to the Simpson's house] THIS PLACE IS A PALACE! I MEAN, I LIVE IN A SINGLE ROOM ABOVE A BOWLING ALLEY and below another bowling alley!

---

Connections

Featured in The Nostalgia Critic: Top 11 Simpsons Episodes (2012)

---

Soundtracks

"Take Me Out to the Ball Game"
(uncredited)
Music by Albert von Tilzer
Lyrics by Jack Norworth
Performed by Dan Castellaneta

User Reviews

Possibly my favourite episode of The Simpsons ever!

If I had to choose a favourite episode from The Simpsons, one of my all-time favourite TV shows, I'd probably say Homer's Enemy because not only is it funny, but it's also clever and dark as well.

We're introduced to a new character named Frank Grimes; a smart, hard-working but somewhat unfriendly guy who had to struggle for everything in life and had nothing handed to him. Homer Simpson, of course is the exact opposite to him; everything was handed to him, he has no idea about working hard or responsibility and is as dumb as, well Homer Simpson.

When Grimes comes to meet Homer, he becomes extremely confused and outraged that such a man as lazy, irresponsible and idiotic but also well-off as Homer can exist and wants to show to the world how big of a fraud he really is and prove that this isn't how life works. But the more and more Grimes tries to prove it, the more it leads to his downfall.

This episode is also interesting because Frank Grimes is pretty much the only real-life and down-to-earth character that sees how big an idiot Homer is and it makes you wonder what the show would be like if we had more characters like Grimes in the show.