Beyond Blunderdome

"Beyond Blunderdome" is the premiere of the eleventh season of The Simpsons. It aired on September 26, 1999.

Plot
Homer takes a test drive of a new electric car so that he can get a free gift. After destroying the car, the family return to the dealer to receive their gift, which they forget to open until Homer and Marge are in bed. His gift turns out to be free tickets to a preview screening of the new Mel Gibson movie, a remake of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. The audience members are given comment cards to fill out so that the filmmakers can change the movie based on the audiences' reactions. The movie is a smash with everyone but Homer, who finds it "more boring than church." During the screening, Mel Gibson is assured by the producers that the movie is wonderful. "But I don't shoot anybody," he screams. Later, while reading the comment cards, Mel is certain that everyone loves him too much to tell him how to improve the movie. When he reads Homer's comments, he decides that Homer was the only person brave enough to tell him the truth.

Mel shows up on the Simpsons' door and invites Homer and his family to come with him to Hollywood to change the movie. Homer and Mel begin work on the film while the rest of the family explores Hollywood. When Homer's ideas prove to be stupid and pointless, Mel begins to wonder whether he made a mistake. However, he is enthusiastic when Homer tells him his ideas for the famous "filibuster" scene at the end. The next day, they present the new ending to the producers. In the new version, Mr. Smith goes berserk and slaughters every member of Congress and the President in a mindless action movie sequence. The producers are horrified at this, saying that "Mr. Smith" was meant to be the Studio's big prestige picture and that they've already "bought five Golden Globes." They attempt to burn the new ending, as Homer and Mel, determined to save their movie, run for it.

They meet up with the rest of the family at a wax museum, where they steal a replica of the car from the Mad Max movies and engage in a ludicrous car chase through the streets of Hollywood, with the film executives hot on their trail. They eventually manage to evade them. Homer and Mel then attend the movie's premiere back in Springfield, and when the film ends, the entire audience walks out disgusted. Homer then tries to apologize to Mel and offers similarly stupid ideas for "their" next movie. While leaving the theater, Mel, having had enough of Homer, kicks him out of his limousine.

Trivia

 * The Electaurus car seen at the start of the episode is a driveable car in The Simpsons Road Rage and The Simpsons Hit & Run.

Cultural references

 * The title is a reference to the movie "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome"
 * When Homer is watching a test screening for Mel Gibson's remake of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, he badmouths it, saying "At least the Jimmy Stewart version had the giant rabbit who ran the savings and loan!". These are references to Harvey and It's a Wonderful Life.
 * Rainier Wolfcastle is seen filming Saving Irene Ryan, a reference to both Saving Private Ryan and the TV sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies.
 * After the studio cart crashes, Mel says to Homer, "I'm getting too old for this crap," which is what Danny Glover often says to Mel Gibson's Lethal Weapon character.
 * Mel Gibson tossing away his U.S. Senator badge at the end of the Mr. Smith remake is similar to the endings of Dirty Harry and High Noon.
 * Mel Gibson's pilot is John Travolta, who is a pilot in a number of films including 'Look who's talking', and who knows how to fly in real life as well.
 * The police shoot-out scene with Robert Downey Jr. is a reference to Downey's problems with the law in the 1990's, during which the actor battled drug addiction and was arrested on several occasions.