[7.0/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] I really like the concept for this one. As Matt Selman himself noted, Homer having a longtime admirer is not really a plot the show has gone with before. And by the same token, I like the idea that Homer is bowled over to be considered someone’s mentor, because he is not respected by anyone at home or at work. It makes for some nice emotional conflicts and obstacles as he tries to live up to the image that this Mike Wegman has of him.
The problems are two-fold. First, Mike Wegman is kind of annoying and feels out of step with the rhythms of the show. Michael Rappaport hits some high notes when Wegman is dressing down Bart or Mr. Burns with a stream of creative insults. But otherwise, he feels too much like a character from another series who doesn't really fit and is kind of annoying. The sports reference well runs dry after a while, and although I can appreciate the specificity of the character, he feels miscalibrated for The Simpsons.
The other problem is that the laughs are mild at best here. Sure, “Abra-ca-Debra” is a chuckle-worthy play on words, and Lisa’s reaction to Wegman insulting Bart is outstanding. But there’s loony gags like Homer’s office supply musical number and Marge’s eye going the other way that just make me roll mine. Even when the gags aren’t bad, they’re just a little too gentle to be too funny.
Still, the plot largely works. Fat Tony’s involvement at the end seems tacked on to raise the stakes, but Homer trying to honor his undeserved mentorship of Mike by getting the kid to follow his dreams and succeed rather than follow in his less-than-admirable footsteps ironically makes him worthy of the role. That’s a good arc, and papers over some of the weaker aspects of the episode.
Overall, this is a sturdy episode that isn’t flashy, but checks the right boxes, although just barely on some of them.
Shout by TikiWhoVIP 2BlockedParent2023-12-22T06:32:43Z
The insults were clever but overall it wasn’t working for me. All the Simpsons working together in the yard seemed a little farfetched, even for the cartoon, so it makes sense that it was a dream sequence.