There's No Disgrace Like Home

Season 1, Episode 4, Aired
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Episode Summary

After the family embarrasses him at a company picnic, Homer becomes convinced that something is wrong with them and he sets out to “fix” his family.
8.2
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461 votes
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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 (48)

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  • Superb

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By jmbsonic555, Oct 17, 2011 Report Abuse
    The episode begins with Bart and Lisa in the living room, pushing and shoving each other, while having an argument. Homer quickly rushes in to break them up. He tells them to get the bad behavior out of their system, because they are going to Mr. Burns' company picnic, and he doesn't want his family to embarrass him in front of Mr. Burns. In the kitchen, Homer admires all of the gelatin desserts that Marge has prepared for the picnic. Homer is hoping to earn brownie points with Mr. Burns because Mr. Burns commented once before on how he liked Marge's gelatin dessert. The Simpsons drive to Mr. Burns' mansion and each family member carries a dessert in their lap. As they arrive at the mansion and walk up to the front door, Homer reminds his family that they need to behave and show him some love and/or respect. At the front door to the mansion, Mr. Burns greets his guests. The kid in the family ahead of the Simpsons, makes a smart aleck comment, and Mr. Burns orders Smithers to fire the father of the child. A nervous Homer and the rest of the family make it through their greeting with Mr. Burns without incident.

    Overall, a funny episode
    9.5 out of 10moreless

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  • homer is embaressed by the famaly at mr. burns picknik. so he takes them to a famaly doctor (marven mungroe) to bond them and ends up with a new tv.

    6.5
    "Fair"
    By jamieor, May 15, 2011 Report Abuse
    a ok episode that is the 2nd best episode in season 1.
    i quite liked it but bart the genoral is a bit better.
    i have it on tape so i know evry detale.
    marven mongroe is a bit well ruder than usuale.
    even said his famaly see him as a trole but in the end there all happy.
    the thing is i dont think they got a new tv just re~bought there old one as sean in futcher episodes.
    it is very very good for all simpsons fans age 8 to 80 mabe 90.
    not to funny but has a song about wine in it.
    overall its a very good episodes.moreless

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  • When will I learn? The answer to life's problems aren't at the bottom of a bottle...they're on TV!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By zzyzxxopferna, Oct 17, 2010 Report Abuse
    Bart and Lisa are fighting over who loves Homer more. Homer tells them to get it out of their system now before they embarrass him at SNPP's company picnic. They head to the picnic, which is held at Mr. Burns's mansion. Upon arriving, Homer tells his kids to show him love and respect. Mr. Burns and Smithers are greeting employees. Burns fires an employee because his son makes a smart mouth comment about having to go to the picnic. Homer manages to get past meeting Mr. Burns, but as soon as they are outside, Bart and Lisa run off and Homer chases after them. Marge dumps Maggie off in the daycare and goes off to drink punch with the other employees's wives. Homer manages to catch Bart just as Smithers announces that all fathers and sons are required to participate in a sack race with Mr. Burns. Smithers gives Mr. Burns a head start, but Bart decides to go for the win. Homer stops Bart just before he crosses the finish line, allowing Mr. Burns to win. Meanwhile Marge gets totally drunk off of the punch. Soon Mr. Burns orders everyone to leave before he releases the hounds. As the Simpsons leave, they see a family that is totally happy and perfect and Homer starts wishing his family could be more like them as he drives home. The next night, the Simpsons are stuffing TV dinners into their faces while watching TV. Homer is appalled by their behavior and makes his family eat at the table. When Lisa says that all families are like theirs, Homer decides to show them other families to prove her wrong. They see a creepy happy family and a father who orders his son to get the shotgun when he hears the Simpsons in the bushes outside his house. They then go back home, but Homer, feeling depressed, goes to Moe's Tavern to drink beer. There, he finds out that the families he spied on called the cops on him and he also gets into a fight with Barney. Homer then witnesses a TV commercial for Dr. Marvin Monroe's Family Therapy Center, promising familial bliss "Or double your money back". Homer calls in for an appointment. Next day, Homer has a family meeting and tells them they need $250 for the appointment. Marge says they don't have that kind of money, but Homer decides to use the kids's college fund. They only have $88.50 in the college fund, so Homer decides to pawn the TV, against the family's wishes, for the rest of the money. At Dr. Monroe's therapy center, it is soon revealed that Homer is believed to be a stern authority figure. Dr. Monroe decides to let the Simpsons wack each other with his aggression therapy mallets, but this accomplishes nothing. Dr. Monroe decides a more drastic measure will be needed: electric shock therapy. He wires the Simpsons to electrodes. They are to shock each other until gradually they learn not to hurt each other. Soon the Simpsons start shocking each other like crazy and nearly blow out power for all of Springfield (Which Mr. Burns notes). Dr. Monroe is furious and declares that the Simpsons must go. He gives them double their money back like the commercial promised. The Simpsons are overjoyed, and Homer decides to buy a better TV with their $500.

    This episode introduces police officers Eddie and Lou (Lou is yellow in this episode instead of being black), Itchy and Scratchy, and Dr. Marvin Monroe. Smithers also becomes yellow in this episode, after being black in "Homer's Odyssey". We also get to hear Homer say "Mmm..." for the first time in the series (He says "Mmm...marshmallow" in this episode). Every one of the Simpsons but Bart is out of character in this episode (Homer is the one who cares about the family, Marge is carefree and the one who drinks at the picnic, and Lisa is as bratty as Bart), but this is forgiveable as it is one of the first episodes. In spite of that, this is the first episode of the Simpsons I would honestly give a 10 to, as it has a good plot and the electric shock therapy scene had me laughing for hours. The Simpsons continue to improve throughout their first season, and this is (In my opinion) the best of the first 5 episodes.moreless

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  • Pretty good episode

    8.5
    "Great"
    By fenway98, Aug 10, 2010 Report Abuse
    During a family picnic, Homer realizes that The Simpsons are the worst family in town. He sees all the other families love and care for each other, but The Simpsons are just goofing off. He decides to take the family to Doctor Marvin Monroe, for some shock therapy. This dosn't go well, but the family gets double their money back because the therapy failed. This was a pretty good episode. I thought it was a lot funnier than the past episodes, and the animation I think is a little better. I loved seeing the family shock each other, and making the power go out.

    Overall Grade: 85%/B+moreless

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  • There's No Disgrace Like Home: Homer is embarrassed by his family so enrols them all in a family bonding club.

    7.0
    "Good"
    By Sabrespongebob, Jul 12, 2010 Report Abuse
    There's No Disgrace Like Home

    This was a big improvement over the last episode. This one had a fair amount of jokes not laugh out loud jokes but a few funny moments and a good plot that was well executed. This is probably my favourite season 1 up to this point. It may not be up to other season one classics (Krusty Get's Busted, The Tell-Tale Head and Life On The Fast Lane) but it still delivers some laughs (Mainly in the 2nd act) Over all this episode was good but not great but it shows signs of more better episodes to come

    Score: B-, 3.5/5, 7/10, Goodmoreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • Dr. Marvin Monroe's phone number is 1-800-555-HUGS. Edit
    • The song a drunken Marge sings during the company picnic, is none other than Dean Martin's song, "Hey Brother, Pour The Wine." Edit
    • One of the families that needs therapy in Dr. Monroe's clinic, is the "perfect" family from the nuclear power plant company picnic. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • The original story behind Dr. Marvin Monroe was that his real name was Marylin Monroe, and he got into psychology to help himself. But since the voice was a workout on Harry Shearer's throat, the character was dropped and the story never came to be. Edit
    • In 2006, this episode was ranked #10 in Matt Groening's list of top 10 episodes of all time. Edit
    • The character of Dr. Marvin Monroe was based a lot on the look and personality of Dr. David Viscott. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Homer: You know, Moe, my mom once said something that really stuck with me. She said, "Homer, you're a big disappointment," and god bless her soul, she was really onto something. Edit
    • Homer: Okay, now look; my boss is going to be at this picnic, so I want you to show your father some love and/or respect. Lisa: Tough choice. Bart: I'm picking respect. Edit
    • (Dr. Monroe introduces electric shock therapy to the Simpsons.) Dr. Monroe: Now, don't touch any of those buttons in front of you for a very important reason, i.e., you are wired in to the rest of your family. You have the ability to shock them, and they have the ability to shock-- (Homer screams as Bart shocks him.) Bart: Just testing. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Freaks Homer imagines his family in the car after the picnic as devils and they chant, "One of us, one of us." This chant is directly taken from the 1932 film Freaks. Edit
    • Mr. Mom The plot involving Homer attempting impress his boss at the company picnic, and especially the scene in which he attempts to let the old man win the sack race is very similar to a plot development in the 1983 comedy Mr. Mom in which Michael Keaton throws a track event in order to let his wife's boss win. Edit
    • Citizen Kane After the sack race, the fanfare and the shot of the crowd gathered are taken from a scene in the movie Citizen Kane. This is the first of many references to the famous, award winning film in the history of the show. Edit

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