Deep Space Homer

Season 5, Episode 15, Aired
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Episode Summary

At the plant, Homer never gets to be employee of the month; they even choose an inanimate carbon rod over him. At NASA the ratings are down, so they begin a campaign to recruit an everyday loser for the next pointless mission. Naturally, Homer and Barney are among the finalists. The family gets to go to Florida while they train. Barney is kicking Homer's butt, but alcoholism ends his quest. Homer gets really nervous about the mission. He will go with two former astronauts, so he can't screw up like he always does, right? Nope! He brings potato chips into space and wreaks havoc on the mission. James Taylor comes up with a plan to save them, but Homer screws up again. An inanimate carbon rod finally saves them for their reentry. Homer once again fails to get any recognition, because a rod takes the spotlight.moreless
9.1
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Superb
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Cast & Crew

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Fan Episode Reviews (14)

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  • perfect

    10
    "Perfect"
    By futuramarama, Aug 19, 2011 Report Abuse
    what i liked- everything after Homer goes up to space is just hilarious, like the ants, "I for one welcome our new insect overlords", Grampa proclaiming Homer is 'of course' going to be alright because it's 'tv', the ending with the rod getting all the credit, 'you win be default.' 'woohoo! default. the two sweetest words in the english language', homer calling bill clinton and the line about 'if anyone knew where to get tang, i knew it would be you.'
    really funny episode. homer going in space is unique and it has a lot of funny moments. A+moreless

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    1 0

  • Homer's Space Odyssey

    10
    "Perfect"
    By sh811a, Aug 14, 2010 Report Abuse
    This episode is just perfect, it's another favorate of mine. There just isn't one dull moment from begining, middle and end. This is one of the last great episodes where Homer is at his best.

    There is a lot to say so I'll just say a few things that really made it work for me. One I really like who guest stared in it, from Buzz Aldren I found it funny because you pritty much have a real American hero astronaut and a fictional astronaut Homer in the same space. Though for me it was more James Taylor because he had some of the best lines and there was one moment which was funny when James says something the NASA guy with the glasses takes out a bever tail billy club and is about to hit him, noted that guy uses that club a lot in this episode mainly for no reason.

    I really loved that competition between Barney and Homer. Barney really shows that he really is capable of becoming more as long as he's can kick the alcholism, which unfortunately doesn't last when there is a celebration and he suddenly goes drunk crazy. Noted the wine they celebrated with was non alcholic which made it more hillarous, I don't know how Barney could suddenly get jacked up from that talk about low tollarance.

    And of course Homer whom is not just funny, and of course he really is funny from the press conference with that reference quote joke of "Planet of the Apes" it was just hillarous because despite seeing the ending he never understood it until he just thought about it. To eating chips in space and even crashing into that ant farm and hearing what the ants were saying. But Homer is actually sympathtic which made his character actually have a slight sense of humanity. From his need to become more but also the reluctance of taking a risk. I really liked that one story when he talked about not meeting Mr.T at the mall, I just find that sad because it's a story about missed opportunity. I think most may'be not all have this kind of story, but this really works because we can all emphasize with that.

    The question is not what is the meaning of life, but what more life can be.moreless

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  • One of the greatest Simpson ep of all time.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By AangPhantom777, Aug 14, 2010 Report Abuse
    This episode, truly, is one of the greatest Simpson episode of all time. The whole plot of Homer going into space was pure genious from the writers, same with the jokes. It had som suspense, and that rod got all the credit! Hilarious!

    That rod was in newspapers, when the people of Springfield don't care that Homer was the one that put it there.

    Plus, at the beginning, when it got Employee of the MOnth (Or week, i forget) Was klassic, too.

    I also liked the scene with the ants. One was like, "Save the queen!" and another, "Who's the queen?" and another, "I'm the queen!" and then another, "No, I am!" was just really awesomely sweetical in so many ways it's hard to put them down in this review.

    So, if you're into the Simpsons, or are a first time viewer, watch this episode first. You will get a very good first impression.

    10 out of 10, a perfect score from me.moreless

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    2 0

  • this was a really good ep

    8.5
    "Great"
    By cube2k8, May 18, 2010 Report Abuse
    this was a good ep of the simpsons show in this ep the space station want to send a avarage man into space and they recruit homer and barney as astrounts and then homer and barney start to do alot of tests and homer is the man they choose at the end of the training period and then homer goes up into space with the volager aplo 11 vetrain buzz aldrin. homer and the others are up in space but homer causes things to go wrong like open a bag of chips and stuff and ants start to go lose and stuff and then homer saves the day and they sussfuly land . this was a good epmoreless

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  • Wacky is the one word that can describe this episode, but then again most of these stroylines are, and that's what makes them great!!!

    8.9
    "Great"
    By Iverson82094, Jan 23, 2008 Report Abuse
    Homer and Barney are recruited to be NASA astronauts, so the organization will be more appealing to the common man. It looks like Barney will actually be the one shot into space, but when he falls off the wagon, Homer goes instead. In the space capsule, Homer causes all forms of accidents and conflicts with other astronauts like Buzz Aldrin, until he actually endangers the lives of everyone by breaking the handle off of an outer door. The only thing that can save the day is a heroic inanimate carbon rod. Guest Stars: Buzz Aldrin as himself; James Taylor as himselfmoreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • Music From This Episode: - "The Blue Danube Waltz" by Johann Strauss the Younger (during the classic potato chips in zero gravity scene) Edit
    • The sign outside Cape Canaveral reads: "Cape Canaveral-Formerly Cape Kennedy-Formerly Cape Arbuckle" Edit
    • While the other astronauts hum "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" during reentry, Homer opts to sing the Golden Graham cereal jingle as the Corvair plummets towards Earth. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • In the DVD commentary for this episode, Matt Groening says he doesn't like the sight gag of Homer's face changing to Popeye and Nixon when he's experiencing excessive G-force. Edit
    • This episode has Barney give up drinking before space travel. Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin himself gave up drinking right before going to the moon. Edit
    • Itchy & Scratchy: "Scar Trek: the Next Laceration" Scratchy is the pilot of a space ship. He eats a sandwich, then Itchy pops out of his stomach (as in the 1979 film Alien) with a sandwich in his hand and eats it. Then he throws Scratchy in the airlock and hits the "blow hatch" button. Once Scratchy is outside the spacecraft, Itchy uses the ship's mechanical arms to grab him and saw him in half on the rings of some planet. Scratchy's legs fly away. He tries to "swim" after them as they float toward the planet, but he is perplexed when they somehow burst into flames despite the planet's lack of an atmosphere. Itchy then uses the ships arms to pull Scratchy's helmet off, then he pokes his bulging head with a pin and it explodes. The blood spatter spells out "the end." Then we see a warning: "The preceding program contained scenes of extreme violence and should not have been viewed by young children." Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • (The family watches Homer's launch on TV.) Bart: Go, Dad, go! Lisa: How doth the hero, strong and brave, a celestial path to the heavens paved! (The family stares at her.) Lisa: Go, Dad, go. Edit
    • NASA Scientist: Sir, we've run into a serious problem with the mission. These Nielsen ratings are the lowest ever. NASA Executive: Oh, my God! We've been beaten by "A Connie Chung Christmas." Edit
    • Buzz Aldrin: So Barney, we hear you're kickin' ass. Homer: I, uh, don't think this contest is over yet Buzz. If that is your real name. I believe there is still a little something called the swimsuit competition. Buzz Aldrin: There's no swimsuit competition, Homer. Homer: You mean I shaved my bikini zone for nothing? Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Alien Itchy bursts out of Scratchy's chest, much like the Alien bursts out of John Hurt's chest in the 1979 classic Alien. Edit
    • Deep Space Nine The title of this episode is a play on the title of the Star Trek spin-off series, Deep Space Nine. Edit
    • Airplane II: The Sequel Homer imitates Nixon during the shuttle take off a la Airplane II: The Sequel, circa 1982 . Edit

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