Thursday August 27, 1992
8F23
Homer's half-brother Herb Powell returns. After Homer wrecked his car company, Herb now lives as a bum, but with a little help from Maggie, and financial support from Homer, he thinks he has come up with an invention that will put him back on top.
Write a Recap »Herb Returns in a better than ever episode. Great season finale!!!! hide show
Homer "wins" the first annual "Montgomery Burns Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence", a fictional $2000 prize awarded by Montgomery Burns. The name of the "award" was hastily concocted by Burns on the spot in an attempt to convince Homer to sign a waiver freeing the nuclear plant of all liability for Homer's recently discovered sterility. Joe Frazier is the host of the award ceremony, which features extraordinary extravagance (including a lengthy opening) but only the one $2000 prize is awarded to Homer. Despite planning on using the money for the Spinemelter 2000 vibrating chair, Homer agrees to loan the money to his bitter half-brother Herb Powell who, ruined by Homer previously, is now a hobo. Herb's idea to become rich again is by making a machine to translate a baby's words into actual English. He uses Homer's money to develop his invention, which is an instant money-making success. Herb becomes rich once again. Along with returning the money to Homer, he buys several gifts for the Simpson family, including a new washer-dryer for Marge (the old, broken washer and dryer are sold to Moe's Tavern where they are subsequently engaged in racing), an honorary membership to the NRA for Bart and a subscription to the Greater Books of the Western Civilization for Lisa. Herb then tells Homer that his gift to him is that he forgives him for ruining him in the first place, and he and Homer re-establish a brotherly relationship. Finally, Homer is rewarded for his generosity and faith when Herb has a truck pull in with Homer's vibrating chair.
After Homer gets $2000 given to him from the plant so that he won't sue them for making him sterile, his half brother Herb Powell (Danny DeVito) asks Homer for the money so he can patent his new invention: a baby translator.
The first half of BCYSMTD centres on Homer being given $2000 as a kind of bribe to stop him from suing the plant for making him sterile. This comes in at the right time because Bart & Lisa have broken his beloved couch. This half of the episode has a problem of taking too long to get to the point. Everything that was done in 11 minutes could have been done just as well, if not even better in 5. There is however quite a selection of great jokes stuffed in the first 10 minutes such as Homer’s sperm and the memories Homer has of the couch montage. All are really great gags and work brilliantly. Direction is done well, especially the scene under a bridge with Herb and his fellow bums. A performance worth mentioning is Harry Shearer’s delivery of Mr. Burns angry dispute with his lawyers, not only is it realistic but the writer and director done a great job of making it very amusing to watch. Overall, the first half (or first 2 acts) of the episode falls short in terms of plot and takes too long to get to the real interest of the episode, which is the meeting of Herb and Homer.
It’s amazing just how much BCYSTD progresses in quality from the first half to the second. It centres on Herb asking the Simpsons for a loan of the $2000 to patent his newest invention: a baby-talk translator. Inside the third act we have a brilliant performance by DeVito as Herb, and the chemistry created by the interaction between Homer and his brother. Furthermore, there is a high level of comedic value in this half, most noteworthy being the vibrating chair scene (a reference to 2001: A Space Odyssey) and the drinking duck scenes, all of which are based around Homer. In addition to this, we get to hear what Maggie is thinking for the first time thanks to Herb’s invention, and it isn’t short of laughs. Direction also gets vastly greater with the family settling down rather cosily with uncle Herb to play a board game and the final scene with Homer and Herb having a brother to brother talk outside. It’s a great way to wrap up the episode and the performance from the characters is brilliant. What’s more is that everybody gets what they want in the end, even Homer who gets his new chair… and a couch identical to the old one it would seem. No doubt however, the ever famous ‘everything back to normal by the next episode’ bleach will wipe it all clean and the vibrating chair will be gone next time we visit the family. Oh well, at least Herb has his money back, it has been a full season after all.
This is a pretty funny episode that offers closure and great development to the relationship between Homer and his brother Herb. The problem with the episode however is that it takes far too long to get to where it wants to be, and as a result things are pretty rushed near the end. In a way, this has become a classic Simpsons episode in the past decade, not just because of its nice qualities but also because of its high level of significance to the family’s history.
Homer gives his half brother, Herb $2,000 for his new invention. hide show
A routine physical at work reveals that Homer's sperm count has been damaged due to a radiation exposure. Fearing a lawsuit, Mr. Burns tricks Homer into forgetting it and gives him $2,000. Meanwhile, Homer's half-brother Herb who has turned into a bum thanks to Homer, needs a invester for a new invention. Herb asks Homer for the $2,000 to build his new invention the baby translater. Homer gives it to him and the new invention becomes a instant money-maker. Rich again, Herb gives Homer the $2,00 back and gives the family various gifts. He also forgives Homer for ruining him in the first place.
Homer's half brother returns hide show
Homer receives an award at work called "The First Annual Montgomery Burns Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence." He receives a plaque and some money. Herb, Homer's half brother, sees this in the newspaper and returns to the Simpsons house. He wants to use Homer's money to fund a new device that translates what babies say when they try to speak. Homer is reluctant but gives the money. The device is a huge success, boosting Herb to luxury again. Herb is thankful and buys everyone gifts in gratitude. I like this episode because it explores the relationship between Homer and Herb so well.
the first annual montgomery burns award for outstanding achievement in the field of excellence! hide show
danny devito reappears as herb powell, homer's half brother who is now a hobo because of homer putting him out of business. this episode finally patches things up with homer and herb, although not at the start where herb keeps hitting homer. this is a very humerous episode with the introduction (and only appearance of) the baby translater, herb's new invention. my favourite joke is the drinking bird invention that homer becomes obsessed with. the only real problem with the episode is that homer and herb are now buddies but haven't talked to each other in 13 seasons. this episode is a funny and memorable one and i personally hope that devito decides to appear one more time if the writers can think of a storyline involving herb.
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