Homer vs. the 18th Amendment

Season 8, Episode 18, Aired
EDIT

Episode Summary

It's St. Patrick's Day in Springfield and the Simpsons go to the parade, while there Bart accidentally gets drunk, and the whole town sees him inebriated on television. The town starts pushing for prohibition, but it is discovered that there is already an old law that prohibits drinking, under punishment of catapult. With the old law back in place, organized crime starts supplying alcohol. Wiggum becomes the scapegoat for this and is fired. Rex Banner is brought in as his replacement and he stops any alcohol from entering Springfield. Homer and Bart come up with an idea to profit off the situation. They take some hidden beer supplies and begin selling it to bars and Homer becomes the "Beer Baron" and Marge is impressed. When his supply runs out, Homer starts making his own liquor in the basement. Marge is not crazy about this new strategy, meanwhile Rex Banner can't seem to find the mysterious "Beer Baron". With no job, Wiggum has fallen on hard times. Because it is so hard to keep the alcohol supply up, Homer decides to turn himself in to Wiggum. Rex Banner plans on catapulting Homer, who gets away scot-free when it is revealed that the old law is invalid. The town instead catapults Rex Banner, and reinstates Wiggum.moreless
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EPISODE RATING: Superb
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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 (15)

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  • After Bart accidentally gets drunk at the Springfield St. Patrick's Day Parade, the townspeople start pushing for Prohibition. It is soon discovered that Prohibition has been in effect in Springfield for years (The law has just never been enforced.).moreless

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By meathead704, Dec 01, 2011 Report Abuse
    For the bazillionth time Homer takes up a new job. This time as a bootlegger. The episodes with Homer taking new jobs have been popping up a lot recently, but this particular episode is one of the best. There are a number of reasons for this. They range from the very clever and well written storyline, to the terrific jokes and the very memorable dialogue (Especially the final line spoken in this episode). This episode contains all of the elements that make The Simpsons the great show that it is. By all means, don't miss "Homer vs. the 18th Amendment."moreless

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  • Homer becomes a bootlegger for a speakeasy. (One of my Top 5 Simpsons episodes ever)

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Hornets3, Dec 28, 2010 Report Abuse
    During a St. Patrick's Day Parade, a Duff Beer float sprays beer into Bart's mouth, causing him to get drunk. A group of women burst into City Hall and demands an all-out ban on the sale of alcohol. A clerk discovers a prohibition law that has been on the books for 200 years but never enforces. Mayor Quimby declares an end to liquor sales. Fat Tony smuggles alcohol into Moe's, so Chief Wiggum is replaced by a man named Rex Banner. He puts Fat Tony out of business. Homer steals Duff barrels from the city dump and under the name "Beer Baron", sells the beer. When the supply is finished, he creates his own beer in the basement. He confronts Wiggum with a plan to "expose" him to get his job back. Homer receives punishment, being catapulted out of town. The City Hall clerk stops the punishment stating the statute had been repealed. This was probably the funniest episodes the Simpsons ever made. Definately watch this episode and you wont be disappointed.moreless

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    3 0

  • Homer is the Beer Baron

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Southparkfa, Nov 26, 2010 Report Abuse
    In this hilarious episode, St. Patricks day brings a beerfest mania, and Bart is caught in the middle of it (he gets drunk.) The women of the town then call for a law banning alcohol. Then it is discovered that there already is a law out for it, it just was never enforced. Cheif Wiggium is then fired and Rex Banner is put in his place. Then Homer digs up some older beer, and becomes the Beer Baron. This episode is hilarious the whole way through, with excellent lines from Rex (I'll get you Beer Baron. No you won't) and a smart plan made by Homer, this is definitly an episode not to miss. 10/10 A+moreless

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  • One of the best Simpsons episodes ever!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Sami5118, Nov 26, 2010 Report Abuse
    This episode is a classic. Definately one that you must see. It was probably one of the funniest episodes ever and there is not another one like it. The idea of Homer being the Beer Baron was hilarious. Here's what I liked and did not like about the episode:

    What I did like:
    *The storyline
    *The idea of Homer being the Beer Baron
    *The fact that this was probably one of the funniest episodes ever *The ending because they finally get rid of Rex Banner and Prohibition no longer exists in Springfield
    *And the last quote by Homer Simpson-"To alcohol, the cause of -and solution to- all of life's problems

    What I didn't like(not a whole lot)
    *Rex Banner- he was sooo annoying- good thing that they got rid of him at the end of the episode

    So overall I would have to give this episode an A+ because it is one of the best Simpsons episodes ever.moreless

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  • Homer Vs The Eighteenth Amendment

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By futuramarama, Nov 26, 2010 Report Abuse
    When beer is considered illegal, Homer comes to the rescue: as the beer baron. But now new police chief Rex Banner has to catch him smuggling beer. In the end he is caught and is supposed to be catapulted, as it is the punishment. But instead Homer is let go and Rex is catapulted. Then, almost all the adults drink till they are loaded.

    A decent episode, I never thought it was one of the bests though. It's quite decent and funny in some parts, but some of it bored me, not too much though. Overall grade would be B-moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • Signs put up in Moe's Tavern on St. Patty's Day read: "Erin Go Braugh" "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" "Help Wanted, No Irish Need Apply" Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • Blackboard Joke: None. Couch Gag: The family are in a Southwestern desert decked out in cowboy gear. They get on the couch and gallop away. Edit
    • After the town official (the only one in Springfield with a New England area accent besides Mayor Quimby) finds the prohibition language in the town charter, among people's murmurs you can hear Chief Wiggum say, "Get outta here, old... clerk guy." Edit
    • Those references were called the XVIII Amendment- Section I, and XXI Amendment- Section I. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • (As Marge waits in her bedroom, there is a loud explosion from one of Homer's moonshine stills, and Marge sees Homer running out to the front lawn on fire, screaming as he rolls on the grass to put out the flames) Homer: (after collecting himself) I've thought about what you said, honey, and I've decided to quit. Edit
    • Narrator: Dateline: Springfield. The elusive beer baron continues to thumb his nose at the authorities. Swaggering about in a garish new hat, he seemed to say, "Look at me, Rex Banner! I have a new hat!" Edit
    • Rex Banner: You're out there somewhere, beer baron! And I'll find you. Homer: (Way off in the distance) No, you won't. Rex Banner: Yes, I will! Homer: Won't! Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Scene: Moe converts his bar into a "pet shop" When Rex Banner comes to Moe's Tavern to investigate people breaking the prohibition law, Moe quickly transforms his bar into a pet shop. The scene is reminiscent to a scene in the movie "The Sting," where a bar is quickly disguised to fool the authorities. Edit
    • :
      Rex Banner, Lou and Eddie dine at a restaurant inspired by the "Nighthawks" painting by Edward Hopper. Edit
    • Comic Book Guy: Yes, but only by night. By day I'm a mild-manner reporter for the Metropolitan newspaper.
      He's obviously referring to Superman's alter-ego Clark Kent. Edit

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