A Milhouse Divided

Season 8, Episode 6, Aired
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Episode Summary

Marge is upset with Homer because their married life has become routine so she decides to hold a dinner party with other married couples to show him what a marriage can be. The party ends when the Van Houtens get into a huge argument and decide to get a divorce. Homer befriends Kirk, who tries to become a singer when he loses his job and Marge befriends Luann, who begins dating an American Gladiator. Milhouse stays with his mother and becomes a spoiled brat. Meanwhile Homer recalls his awful wedding with Marge and he worries that he and Marge have drifted apart, so he tries to win her back. When that doesn't work, he applies for a divorce. He breaks the news to her and then surprises her with a wedding ceremony. This time, all her friends are there and Kirk tries unsuccessfully to win back Luann at the wedding.moreless
8.6
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Cast & Crew

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  • Julie Kavner

    Marge Simpson, Patty Bouvier, and Selma Bouvier

  •

    Harry Shearer

    Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner, Waylon Smithers, Kent Brockman, and others

  •

    Dan Castellaneta

    Homer Simpson, Grampa Simpson, Barney Gumble, Krusty the Clown, Groundskeeper Willie, and others

Fan Episode Reviews (13)

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  • this was a good ep

    8.5
    "Great"
    By cube2k8, May 22, 2010 Report Abuse
    in this ep of the simpsons show everyone all the parents come and have a party at night and there playing games and stuff thing is that milhouse parents are the only ones not getting along and they end up geting into a huge fight and she says she wants a divorse right infront of all of them and leaves.and homer thinks there marage is introuble and things seem to go wrong for him then she agrees to renew her vows him homer. this was agood ep itought and showed some excitement . and that is why i gave it a 8.5moreless

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  • The Divorce

    10
    "Perfect"
    By futuramarama, Dec 09, 2009 Report Abuse
    Luann and Kirk split up, and soon Homer worries he and Marge will too. Will Homer be able to save their marriage?

    A pretty simple episode. The Simpsons have a dinner party with other families, but it soon becomes apparent that the Van Houtens are having marital issues. So they have a divorce. Soon, Kirk talks to Homer about how things can change, and Homer worries he and Marge are going to go down a similar road.

    Some fans don't really like this episode, particularly how it changes from Kirk and Luann to about Homer and Marge, but I love this episode. Great plot.moreless

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  • Milhouse's parents split up.

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By Hornets3, Aug 30, 2009 Report Abuse
    The Simpsons hold a dinner party, and invite the Van Houtens, Flanders, Hibberts, and Lovejoys. In front of the guests, Luann Van Houten announces she wants to divorce Kirk. Homer is confident that this will never happen to him, until Kirk tells him how quickly things change. Homer arrives home and receives a note about having to make his own dinner, and realizes he has taken his marriage for granted. He overcompensates by smothering Marge with love. She gets fed up and he goes to the courthouse to file for divorce. He arrives home and calls Marge into the living room. He surprises her by asking for a second marriage. Reverend Lovejoy performs the ceremony in their living room. Inspired by the two, Kirk asks Luann if she will marry him again, to which she refuses. So many things went through me while watch this episode, sadness, laughter, and happiness. This is a very funny and heartfelt episode even if it does end badly for kirk.moreless

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  • Milkhouse's family ends.

    7.0
    "Good"
    By twilightboy, Apr 16, 2008 Report Abuse
    This has been by far the least enjoyable episode of this season. I did'nt laugh once during the whole show. First of all, Milkhouse's family is such a group of very detestable people. The mother, Luan, is an angry person who is always telling Milkhouse and his dad what to do (although in this episode she spoils Milkhouse letting him do anything he wants)Kirk is a not very likeable man either. And Milkhouse has been a judas to Bart in many ocassions. Yep, they are not the Simpsons.

    The Simpsons compared to the Van Houtens are a great family but compared to the Flanders, they are better too!moreless

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  • A very sad episode

    8.9
    "Great"
    By Iverson82094, Jan 27, 2008 Report Abuse
    In a move that will surely cause even more psychological damage for their son Milhouse, Kirk and Luann Van Houten split up in a messy, public way. Each Van Houten deals with the breakup differently: Luann begins dating an American Gladiator named Pyro while Kirk kicks off a new career a singer, self-producing an album called "Can I Borrow a Feeling?" Milhouse, for his part, takes his parents' break-up in stride and loses his mind even more than before. Meanwhile, Homer starts panicking that Marge might one day want to divorce him. To prevent that from ever happening, he files for divorce first and then remarries her in a surprisingly romantic ceremony. Sadly, there's no such happy ending for the Van Houtens, who remain divorced.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • Kirk's song is titled "Can I Borrow a Feeling?". Edit
    • Music From This Episode "I Love The Nightlife" by Alicia Bridges (sung by Luann as she burns Kirk's belongings) Edit
    • We learn that Milhouse's parents are named Kirk and Luann. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • The producers had contacted Sheryl Crow and asked her to record Kirk's song "Can I Borrow A Feeling" to play over the closing credits. Crow declined. Edit
    • The first scene where the family is eating dinner in front of the television with TV trays is the actual test for background artists to be hired for the show. Edit
    • Blackboard Joke: None. Couch Gag: Everyone sits on the couch. Bart is a green hue; Homer fixes the TV and Bart changes to a red color, then Homer slaps him upside the head and Bart's color returns to normal. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Nelson: My mom left my dad after she got hooked on cough drops. At the end her breath was so fresh, she wasn't really my mother anymore. Edit
    • Kirk: Oh, my demo tape! Homer: (Homer looking at the tape) "Can I Borrow a Feeling?" (Laughing) "Can I Borrow a Feeling?" (Still laughing) That's your picture on the front! (Keeps laughing) Kirk: Go ahead, Homer, laugh at me. Homer: But I already did. Edit
    • Kirk: How about it Luann? Will you marry me...again? Luann: Ewwww! No! Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • I Love The Nightlife Before burning Kirk's remaining belongings, Luann sings a portion of the chorus from the song "I Love The Nightlife" by Alicia Bridges. Edit
    • American Gladiators Chase (aka Pyro)'s occupation is an American Gladiator. The "Atlasphere" that Luann and Chase leave in and the music playing are both from the series American Gladiators. Edit
    • Pandora's Box After Luann and Kirk Van Houten separate, Luann's new haircut is identical to Louise Brooks' in the 1928 film Pandora's Box, by G.W. Pabst. Her new boyfriend, Chase, even calls her "Lulu" like Brooks' character in the film. Edit

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