@andrewbloom I doubt they'd ever get away with it today. Sadly I think if this episode was made now it would get a ton of complaints, even though the point is to show just how wrong and dated Homer's homophobic views are.
@whopottervian What's interesting is that it nearly didn't get made then. The network censors were so afraid of touching the issue of homosexuality with a ten foot poll that they nearly scuttled the whole thing. But a convenient;y-timed staff change and Fox allowed them to get it through.
@andrewbloom That's interesting, and not what you'd have thought their problem would be either. Thank God we've moved on from homosexuality being considered a taboo topic.
I think it was pretty brave of them to tackle homophobia, because in the wrong hands it could have come across as insulting to the LGBTQ audience. Instead the episode does such a great job at making it clear that Homer is the one who is in the wrong and needs to change, for the good of both those around him and the people he encounters.
@whopottervian Yeah, I think it's a sign of how far we've come as a society. Back then, the network was afraid of even depicting a gay man on television lest those with prejudice against them revolt, and now the concern would be whether this episode goes far enough in repudiating homophobia.
I'd like to think something like this could still get made. (It's Always Sunny has done something similar not that long ago.) But you're right that it'd have to follow this same tack, of making sure it's clear that the homophobe was in the wrong and is the one who needs to grow.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2017-06-21T22:30:17Z
[8.6/10] It's amazing how an episode about a hot-button issue like homosexuality from ~25 years ago can still feel so well-done and relevant today, without ever seeming overly preachy. The gist of how "Homer's Phobia" accomplishes this is simple -- it delves into Homer's fears about gay people but (a.) always depicts John as a decent, charming, and endlessly patient guy, and (b.) depicts Homer's anxieties as ridiculous and harsh but also realistic for someone of his age and upbringing. It makes Homer seem believably boorish and overblown about the whole thing, while John is consistently delightful, making Homer's rudeness toward him and homophobia seem all the more misguided.
Beyond that, it's a really funny episode. John Waters is a natural as a voice actor, and he brings John to life while giving him a rhythm of speech that makes him engaging and immediately sets him apart from the rest of Spingfield. The steel mill is an all-time great sequence. And the show pokes such fun at the idiocy of Moe, Barney, and Homer trying to "stop" Bart from turning gay that it manages to make their concerns seem hopelessly backward but also wrings comedy from it.
Again, it's so impressive that an episode that tackled an issue that's changed a lot in the public consciousness over the past couple of decades still manages to thread the needle to where it seems sensitive and still funny.