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The Simpsons: Maximum Homerdrive

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After entering an eating contest, Homer fills in for his truck driver opponent, who after the contest is no longer able to drive. While on the road Homer and Bart discover the other truckers' shocking secret. Meanwhile, Marge and Lisa's attempts to buy a doorbell introduce them to the heroic Se�or Ding-Dong. Read full recap »

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Writers:: John Swartzwelder

Director:: Swinton O. Scott III

Stars:: Julie Kavner (Marge Simpson, Patty Bouvier, and Selma Bouvier); Hank Azaria (Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Moe Szyslak, Chief Wiggum, Comic Book Guy, Lou, and others); Yeardley Smith (Lisa Simpson); Nancy Cartwright (Bart Simpson, Nelson Muntz, Ralph Wiggum, Todd Flanders, and others); Dan Castellaneta (Homer Simpson, Grampa Simpson, Barney Gumble, Krusty the Clown, Groundskeeper Willie, and others); Harry Shearer (Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner, Waylon Smithers, Kent Brockman, and others)

Recurring Role:: Tress MacNeille (Agnes Skinner, Brandine Del Roy, Dolph and others); Karl Wiedergott (Additional Voices); Pamela Hayden (Milhouse Van Houten, Rod Flanders, Jimbo Jones, and others)

The doorbell Marge buys plays "Close To You" by The Carpenters. edit »
When Marge and Lisa go to Se�or Ding-Dongs Lisa shows Marge a yellow doorbell, but in the next shot it is dark blue. edit »
When Homer turns on the truck's radio, we hear "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls. In the closed captioning, it says "Dancing Queen" by ABBA. edit »

Matt Groening's new primetime cartoon Futurama premiered immediately after this episode, and became the first show to air at 8:30 after The Simpsons to get more viewers than The Simpsons. This feat was done again the next week, and then Futurama moved to Tuesday, and since then no show airing after The Simpsons at 8:30 has gotten more viewers. edit »
Blackboard Joke: It does not suck to be you.
Couch Gag: The family comes in, but now Homer and Marge are children while Bart and Lisa are adults. Maggie is now a doll that Marge has. edit »

Homer: Well son, I guess it's time to go home.
Bart: Any thoughts on how we're going to get there?
Homer: No, but I'm sure the good Lord will provide.
(nearby an engineer argues with a man in a military uniform)
Engineer: Are you crazy? I'm not driving a trainload of napalm to Springfield. (throws his cap on the ground and walks off)
Homer: Thank you. edit »
Homer: Look, son. It's one of Nature's most beautiful sights� the convoy.
(one of the Trucks hits Homer's trailer)
Bart: He hit us!
Homer: Oh, I should have known. They're hazing us, to initiate us into the truckers' fraternity. (the truck is hit again) Thank you sir, may I have another?
Bart: Dad, they're trying to kill us.
Homer: Oh, why do all my trips end like this? edit »
Trucker: All right, pal, here's the deal. You stumbled on a secret that only truck drivers are supposed to know� (Homer giggles) � Hey, pay attention and stop looking at that squirrel.
Trucker 2: We get forty bucks an hour to drive these rigs. You think anybody'd hire us if they knew we weren't driving the trucks?
Homer: Wow, you guys are even lazier than me. Well, don't worry, I'll keep your secret. edit »
Homer: Uh, yeah. I need something that will keep me awake, alert, and reckless all night long.
Clerk: Well, Congress is racing back to Washington to outlaw these. (shows him a bottle of pills)
Homer: Sold!
(Swallows the pills straight away)
Clerk: Hey, you can't take that many pep pills at once.
Homer: No problem, I'll balance it out with a bottle of sleeping pills. edit »
Gwen: Little more hi-test, darling?
Homer: Sure thing � (reads her nametag) Gwen.
Gwen: I'll be right back with your pie, hon.
Homer: Ah, there's a nice friendly gal.
Bart: Yeah.
Homer: Wouldn't it be great to live right here at the truck stop, watching all the people come and go? You could have a different best friend every day.
Bart: I suppose.
Homer: Great! I'll write your mother and tell her the marriage is off. Then, when the paperwork is done, I'll make Gwen my wife.
Gwen: Will that be all, sweetie?
Homer: For now. edit »

Navitron Auto Drive: I'm afraid I can't let you do this, Red.
The auto-drive's warning is an eerie imitation of HAL, the computer in the 1968 Stanley Kubrick film, 2001: A Space Odyssey. edit »
Maximum Overdrive
The title of this episode is a spoof of the title of the 1986 film Maximum Overdrive. edit »
The ending tanker chase is a loose reference to the 1989 James Bond film Licence to Kill, where Bond has to defeat the villain, Sanchez, and his four Kenworth tankers, full of liquidized drugs. The part where Homer flips the truck over the fleet is an outrageous stunt, like Bond doing a wheelie and driving the tanker he stole on two wheels, thanks to a roadside ramp. edit »

9.7
00
Iverson82094
member since: Aug 23, 2007
Maximum Homerdrive
The Bottom Line: "Another great installment"
One of my favorite episodes from season 10... ...Continue »
01/28/08 02:49pm | report abuse
9.6
10
jimbo_001
member since: Jul 12, 2005
Maximum Homerdrive
The Bottom Line: "Exactly why I watch this series"
who would have thought that competing in a meat-eating competition would open the door to a world of truck driving and doorbells? ...Continue »
12/10/05 04:50am | report abuse
8.7
10
Star_Blaster
member since: Jun 15, 2005
Maximum Homerdrive
The Bottom Line: "Cleverly plotted"
Truck-driving and doorbell ding-donging disasters! ...Continue »
12/06/05 12:08am | report abuse