Homer vs. Dignity

Season 12, Episode 5, Aired
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Episode Summary

Bart gets an A in astronomy, so Homer takes the family out for a celebration dinner. Homer's credit card is declined. He and Marge realize that they are broke, so Homer asks Mr. Burns for a raise. With Smithers away in New Mexico mounting his play about Malibu Stacy; Mr. Burns gives Homer a promotion. Homer has to make Mr. Burns laugh. Homer becomes a clown for him with Homer's life becoming an episode of MTV's "Jackass." As the title indicates, he has no dignity. After a panda rapes him, he begins to hate the job. Lisa discovers his secret and tries to get him to retrieve his dignity. Mr. Burns eventually fires him, so he becomes a department store Santa (again?). He is in a parade as Santa when Mr. Burns offers him $1,000,000 to pull one more prank. When Homer refuses, Mr. Burns does it himself, pouring fish guts onto the children.moreless
8.1
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Great
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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 (8)

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  • Lost Some Points Because It Had A Panda In It

    7.0
    "Good"
    By futuramarama, Nov 14, 2009 Report Abuse
    A hilarious episode. The first 3 minutes were hilarious, and when you laugh that much at the first few minutes, you are almost guaranteed to love the episode.

    Too bad it got worse. Burns was portrayed very poorly, I thought. Don't know why, it just felt that way.

    And, the infamous panda scene. Yes, it was quick, but sometimes even a quick gag or joke in an episode can make you hate it or dislike it. So I have to take off some points for that scene. Might be dumb, but I feel it was a bad scene.

    So, good laughs {for the most part}, bad characterization, somewhat bad plot= season 12 episode Homer Vs. Dignitymoreless

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  • Homer becomes a prank monkey.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By Hornets3, Sep 04, 2009 Report Abuse
    Short on funds, Homer approaches the ever-wealthy C. Montgomery Burns for a token raise. But when Burns grants his request on the condition that Homer act as his personal jester, the Simpson family finds itself the subject of degrading and embarassing activities. Bottom line: this is one of the funniest half hours you will spend by the TV in your life. The whole episode was chaulk full of jokes, and you gotta love the part with Homer and the Panda. Mr. Burns was a great character for Homer to be used by. My favorite line: What are you doing man?! That's Carl!moreless

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    0 0

  • The Simpsons are broke. Desparate for money Homer takes a job performing humilitaing acts for Mr. Burns' entertainment.

    8.5
    "Great"
    By meathead704, Aug 31, 2009 Report Abuse
    "Homer vs. Dignity" is not a very memorable episode as another review has pointed out. I am giving it a high score because the episode does have quite a few laughs and clever bits of dialogue. The scenes of Homer getting more than what he bargained for at the zoo is either the highpoint of the episode or the lowest of lows depending on what your opinions are, but I think it was quite clever. The laughs through out the episode almost make up for the episode's predictable ending. Not a perfect episode, but it does have its positive moments.moreless

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  • felt like one of those unmemorable episodes.

    7.0
    "Good"
    By offline1234, Jun 13, 2009 Report Abuse
    Homer vs. Dignity was funny but not that funny because they are basing their views on physical humor. The panda joke was not that funny and somehow only the ending of that scene gave me a moderate chuckle. the other jokes were funny and it was possibly original. The writers did not get carried away to some different plot and stayed with Mr Burns bashing storyline. The ending was suitable and somehow it suited this episode s ending better than usual. Ok, so most of the jokes and settings of this episode is funny,storyline is fine good enough,but i was not really sure about the character development. Anyway 7/10 is a decent mark and this was a decent episode.moreless

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  • This proves that the Simpsons humor quality has not gotten worse at all; a stupendous episdoe with so many laugh-out-loud jokes How could you hate this episdoe???

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Iverson82094, Jan 26, 2008 Report Abuse
    In celebration of Bart's first 'A' the Simpsons go out for a nice dinner. Unfortunately, Homer's credit card is rejected and the family realizes their finances might be in more trouble than they thought. So, on the advice of a financial planner, Homer asks Mr. Burns for a raise. Lucky for him, Smithers is off to New Mexico for the production of his Malibu Stacy musical, leaving Mr. Burns in quick need of a new henchman. Promoted to Executive Assistant in Charge of Hi-jinks, Homer begins playing practical jokes at Mr. Burns prompting. For every nasty trick Homer plays on an unsuspecting sucker in Springfield, Burns pays him handsomely. Things get a little rough when Burns convinces Homer to dress up as a panda and make "friends" with a real panda at the Springfield Zoo. Realizing his dignity is worth more than money, Homer decides to quit the hi-jinks business.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • Dr. Hibbert pulls out a syringe to administer polio injections to the children. However, since 1958 the most commonly used way to give polio vaccinations is by mouth. Edit
    • The woman who walks in on Homer in the men's room, and who sees Homer naked after the panda incident is wearing the same dress that Marge bought in the episode "Scenes From A Class Struggle in Springfield." Edit
    • When Smithers is telling Mr. Burns about his show, Mr. Burns stops him and says "There's a NEW Mexico?". This is the same joke used by Homer in the episode "Boy Scoutz N' The Hood" (episode 5-8). Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • Blackboard Joke: I was not the sixth Beatle. Couch Gag: Family skateboards onto the couch, but Homer lands on his face in the floor. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Homer: I would like to buy a mint condition Spiderman issue number one. Comic Book Guy: And I would like an hour on the holodeck with Seven of Nine! Edit
    • Costington: Why, I don't think I've ever seen such generosity. You're a modern-day Kris Kringle, sir. Homer: I'm just trying to dig myself out of a pit of shame. Costington: Say no more. I've had a bit of a shoe-sniffing problem myself. I'm still not allowed on the third floor. Homer: That's okay. (They hug each other) Edit
    • Homer: What should I do with all this dirty, ill-gotten money? I'd better throw it in the garbage. Lisa: Well, there's lots of needy kids out there. Homer: I see what you're saying. I need to buy a gun! Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Mr. Burns: A show about a doll? Why not write one about the common cat or the King of Siam? Mr. Burns references Broadway shows Hello, Dolly, Cats and The King And I, respectively. Edit
    • Comic Book Guy: And I would like an hour on the holodeck with Seven of Nine… Seven of Nine is a very attractive character on Star Trek: Voyager played by Jeri Ryan. Edit
    • James Bond: The code that Comic Book Guy uses to open the sealed cylinder containing the Spiderman comic is "007", while Bond style music is playing in the background. Edit

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