Homer's Odyssey

Plot
While on a field trip to the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, Bart waves to  Homer, distracting him and he ends up breaking something, which causes him to get fired. But just when his family stops Homer from killing himself, he notices there isn't a stop sign on a dangerous intersection. He becomes a public safety advocate and rallies to have speed bumps installed on roads and fights against his old boss.The power eventually goes to his head and becomes a safety lunatic, adding signs everywhere. Eventually, he abandons his cause and gets rehired at the plant with a raise.

Behind the Scenes
The cartoon at the power plant was given an old-time reel footage feel by having the animation cells dragged across a cement floor to scratch it up. This trick was used several times by the animators for the next 10 seasons.

At the first appearence of Mr.Smithers. He skin color was actually black instead of yellow. According to David Silverman, Gyorgi Peluci, the person who did the color styling randomly decided the ethnicity of various characters, which usually wasn't much of a a problem, but it sort of ruined the ``white sycophant'' persona for Smithers. Budget constraints precluded recoloring, so they left it the way it was. If it really bothers you, just imagine that he has a ``Caribbean suntan.''

Although Mr. Burns was seen in Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire, this was his first appearance in order of production codes (as well as the first use of his name), hence the dramatic music when the camera pans out on him.

Reception
Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, the authors of the book I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide stated that "the story rather fizzles out at the end, but there are many good moments, especially in the power plant."

Errors

 * At the very end of the episode, when Homer is being carried off by the crowd, you can see that the crowd carrying Homer, the people are small, so you'll have to look closely, but right before the credits, Marge's necklace changes from red to white, back to red and then finishes with white all in one shot.
 * In the park, Marge's necklace changes from white to red.
 * Just after Mr Smithers says "...so that we have the energy to from your favourite video game to yummy cotton candy machines", all the children start clapping but the sound of clapping starts BEFORE they start clapping.
 * After Bart's prank call with Moe, you can see Bart and Lisa laughing. However the telephone's wire does not connect to the receiver.
 * As Sherti and Terri are walking along talking to Bart, one of the twins' bodies disappears and her head seems to be floating in mid-air.

Trivia

 * The title comes from the greek myth of "Homer's Odyssey," or in its more common known form of just The Odyssey.
 * The power plant doors that open up in different forms is a homage to the openign sequence in the 1960's show Get Smart.
 * In the Season 1 DVD commentary, we find out that the "J" in Homer's full name was inserted by the writers as a tribute to Bullwinkle J. Moose from The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show.
 * The first time we see Mr.Burns office, it was rather differently arranged and smaller compared to later episodes.
 * One of the signs Homer puts up says: "Sign Ahead."
 * Chalkboard Scene: Bart writes "I will not skateboard in halls".
 * Signature Couch Scene: The family hops on the couch and the sides pop off and the legs give out. They end up sitting on the cushions of the floor.Credits roll.
 * On their way to Springfield Powerplant they pass the Springfield Toxic Waste Dump, the Springfield Tire Yard (which is not on fire as of yet), the Springfield State Prison, Springfield Elementry School.
 * Bart is forced to sing "John Henry was a steel drivin' man" because he was being too loud on the bus.
 * The atom mascots' name is "Smilin' Joe Fission" who sweeps left over nuclear waste under the rug where "no one will find it for a billion years.
 * A three-eyed fish, Blinky,swims near the nuclear plant in a pond.
 * A sign at the plant reads, "Our Safety Record: [7] Days Since Last Accident."
 * Homer gets fired by Sherri and Terri's dad when he runs an electric car into a radiation vapor pipe.
 * Marge goes back to her roller waitress job.
 * Bart's report card includes an F in Social Studies, an F in Math, a D in Physical Education, a U in Science, a U in Reading, and a U in writing.
 * Homer pens his suicide note on "Dumb Things I Gotta Do Today" stationery.
 * When Homer reaches the Bridge he is almost run over by who appears to be Hans Moleman who zooms by in a car.
 * El Barto is signed on the steps of city hall and Chief Wiggum talks about the graffitti problem in Springfield. He then passes around an artist sketch of the culprit who looks like an older and tougher Bart Simpson.
 * Springfield Shopper headlines: "Simpson Says Safe!," "Dozens Cheer Homer Simpson," "Homer Simpson Strikes Again!," "Watch Out, Here Comes Homer," and "Enough Already, Homer Simpson!"
 * In the Rally against the Powerplant Homer's opening line is" Thank You. Unlike most of you, I am not a nut".
 * Homer gets promoted to his current position as a Safety Inspector for the entire plant.

Episode Quotes

 * Mrs. Krabappel: [blows whistle] Now class remember, I don't want this field trip to be a repeat of our infamous visit to the Springfield State Prison. So I want all to be on your best behavior, especially you Bart Simpson.
 * Bart: Mrs. Krabappel, I didn't unlock that door.




 * (at Moe's Tavern)
 * Homer: I'm just a technical supervisor who cared too much.
 * [phone rings]
 * Moe: Moe's Tavern.
 * Bart: [on phone] Is Mr. Freely there?
 * Moe: Who?
 * Bart: Freely, first initials I.P.
 * Moe: OK, I'll check. Uh, is I.P. Freely here? Hey everbody, I.P. Freely!
 * [patrons laugh]
 * Moe: Wait a minute. Listen to me you lousy bum. When I get a hold of you, you're dead, I swear I'm going to slice your heart in half!
 * [Bart and Lisa laugh]
 * Homer: You'll get that punk someday, Moe.
 * Moe: Oh I don't know, he's tough to catch. He keeps changing his name.




 * Moe: I don't think you're ever going to get another job and be able to pay me back.




 * Bart: All he does is lie there like an unemployed whale.
 * Lisa: I don't know what else to do.
 * [Maggie pokes him in the eye]
 * Bart: There's only one thing we can do. Take advantage of the guy. [Holds up a report card] I need you to sign this, Homer. [Bart picks up Homer's hand and writes his signature on the card.]




 * Homer: Damn it! I'm no supervising technician. I'm a technical supervisor. It's too late to teach this old dog new tricks.




 * Smilin' Joe Fission: I'll just put it where nobody'll find it for a million years.




 * Marge: There, there, Homer. You've caused plenty of industrial accidents and you've always bounced back.




 * Homer: You can't depend on me all your lives. You have to learn that there's a little Homer Simpson in all of us.




 * Homer: Unlike most of you, I am not a nut.




 * Homer: Our lives are in the hands of men no smarter than you or I. Many of them incompetent boobs. I know this because I've worked alongside them, gone bowling with them, watched them pass me over for promotions time and again.




 * TV Announcer #1: Loaftime, the cable network for the unemployed, will be right back with more tips on how to win the lottery right after this.
 * TV Announcer #2: Unemployed? Out of work? Sober? You sat around the house all day, but now it's Duff time. Duff, the beer that makes the days fly by.
 * Duff TV Jingle: You can't get enough of the wonderful Duff. Duff Beer!
 * Homer: Beer! Now there's a temporary solution.




 * Sherri: Hey, Bart. Our dad says your dad is incompetent.
 * Bart: What does 'incompetent' mean?
 * Terri: It means he spends more time yakking and scarfing down donuts than doing his job.
 * Bart: Oh, okay. I thought you were putting him down.




 * Chief Wiggum: Well, it's no secret. Our city is under siege by a graffiti vandal known as, "El Barto". Police artist have a composite sketch to go over and if anyone has any information, please contact us immediately.
 * [A sketch of an older, stubbly, mean-looking version of Bart is passed around]
 * Bart: Cool, man.

Complete List of Characters

 * Homer Simpson
 * Marge Simpson
 * Bart Simpson
 * Lisa Simpson
 * Maggie Simpson
 * Edna Krabappel
 * Otto Mann
 * Wendell
 * Sherri
 * Terri
 * Milhouse Van Houten
 * Lewis
 * Richard
 * Krusty the Clown
 * Charles Montgomery Burns
 * Waylon Smithers
 * Smilin’ Joe Fission
 * Blinky
 * Sherri and Terri’s Father
 * Moe Szyslak
 * Barney Gumble
 * Sam the Barfly
 * Larry the Barfly
 * Mr. Winfield
 * Sylvia Winfield
 * Chief Clancy Wiggum
 * Jasper Beardley

Credits
Homer's Odyssey/Credits