Don't Fear the Roofer

"Don't Fear the Roofer" is the sixteenth episode of the sixteenth season of The Simpsons. Although it was advertised as the 350th episode, it is not the actual 350th episode (see The Heartbroke Kid and Future-Drama.)

Main Plot
Springfield becomes the target of a powerful thunderstorm and 742 Evergreen Terrace appears to be the main target and causes a leak in the roof. Homer plans to use a "Hot Wheels" track to stop the leak but Lisa's hamster goes down the chute and goes out the door via the mail slot and then Lisa has to open it to get her hamster and then he gets sick as he was the subject of Lisa's show and tell project. The leak also affects Bart and Maggie and causes Snowball to fall in quicksand which was his litter box wettend by rain. Homer then goes to Moe's Tavern but there he ruins a suprise party for Lenny and is kicked out. Homer then goes to a bar named Knockers a parody of "Hooters" and there he meets a roofer named Ray Magini. Ray agrees to fix Homer's roof and while the kids go to visit Grandpa with Marge. Ray comes over to fix the roof, However, rather then fixing the roof the two goof offs and have a nail fight. The nails then hit Ned Flanders riding his lawn mower. Homer then asks Ned if he met Ray but Ned does not seem to know Ray. Ray then has to leave when he finds out his kid attempted "something" and Homer is on the roof all alone and then falls through the hole.

Marge then returns home to find Homer doing nothing and Homer and Marge then have a discussion about Ray and Marge simply says Ray is non-exsistant. Homer is then sitting on the roof waiting for Ray to return while Marge tries to get Homer to beleive Ray is a figment of his imagination. The next day Marge sends Homer and Bart to Builder's Barn and there Homer sees Ray however Bart only sees Homer talking to himself. The next day Marge takes Homer to the Calmwood Mental Hospital and Doctor Hibbert tells Homer that Ray is a figment of his imagination he created because he was lonely and needed a friend. Homer then spends six weeks at the hospital and Marge returns with a little suprise -- Ray. It turns out Ray was real as the bartender at Knockers had an eyepatch and could only see Homer's side of the table, Ray was hiding behind the roof when he saw Flanders, and a space time continum blocked Bart from seeing Ray in Builder's Barn. However, as punishment for making Homer spend six weeks in the mental hospital, Homer forces Dr. Hibbert to fix his roof while Homer and Ray sit on it drinking beer.

Sub Plot
In the meantime Marge and Lisa, visit the Retirement Castle and they see how miserable the old people are and then they see how happy they are with Santa's Little Helper's company and let him stay there for a while but a day later he has become just as old and miserable as the seniors.

Trivia

 * This is the 350th episode (despite being the 351st to air). Originally The Heartbroke Kid was top be the 350th, but they were switched.
 * This episode aired the same year that guest star Ray Romano's own television series Everybody Loves Raymond had its series finale which Ray mentions during a confusing argument.

Cultural Refrences

 * The episode follows the same story as the "Big Idea's VeggieTales" classic "King George and the Ducky".

Goofs

 * Bart was on the other side of Homer, not Ray.
 * Unless Ray's equipment is of supreme antiquity, his nail guns would have a safety feature preventing them from firing unless pressed against something. The safety can be removed, but he would probably lose his roofing contractor's license.
 * In the hospital when Homer asks Marge if the bartender at Knockers saw him Marge says that the bartender did not at all, but he would have been the only person in the episode to see Ray because how could he give Ray the nachos and beer if he did not see him.