The Simpsons: Season 8, Episode 15Homer's Phobia (16 Feb. 1997)Homer fears that Bart's masculinity is at stake when he suspects that he's being influenced by a flamboyant homosexual collectible store owner named John(Waters). All his efforts to show ... See full summary » Director:Mike B. Anderson |
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This is probably one of the best episodes the Simpsons have produced. It just worked. It had a strong family-story background, a great deal of inventive jokes and set pieces, a brilliant guest star and warnings about evil metal Santas from Japan.
Seriously though, one of the best things about this episode is the depiction of John. He may have been stereotypically campy but he never freaked out, became militant or resentful over Homer's reaction to finding out he was gay. He took it for what it was: a guy who didn't get what he was freaking out about.
I know it's the Simpsons, but it would have been easy for it to become some sort of gays vs. straights political war.
And of course, Bart being completely clueless as well was a nice touch.