Turn that down under frown upside down

Beyond Blunderdome

Fridays are not “pants optional”

Couch gag: The current family come face-to-face with themselves, Tracy Ullman era. All 10 scream and run away.

Director: Steven Dean Moore

Guest voices:
Mel Gibson as himself
Jack Burns as Edward Christian

Synopsis: At a test screening for Mel Gibson’s new movie, Homer leaves negative feedback and Mel agrees to let Homer reshoot the ending.

Discussion: Oh boy, where do I start?

Firstly, I agree with Homer that the the ending to Mr Smith Goes to Washington needs some work. Although I’m a big Jimmy Stewart fan, I didn’t love anything about the original 1939 film. In context, the film was very much a love letter to America in a time of depression and war. it also served to show the rest of the world how awesome America was, or as awesome as it wanted to seem anyway. Anyhoo, Mel Gibson’s fictional remake didn’t sit well with Homer, who thought a bit of violence would liven up the yak-fest.

Unfortunately, Hollywood and viewers disagreed and this film ruined Mel’s career (in the Simpsons universe). This episode is a clever satire of Hollywood processes such as testing audiences and a self-reflexive look at what it means to be a powerful celebrity in Hollywood. This was produced before Mel’s fall from grace: anti-semitic rants, domestic violence charges, drinking… In hindsight, Mel’s little speech about “it’s hell being Mel” is awkward now but at the time, Mel could do no wrong in Tinsel Town.

Other than that, it’s a decent episode and a solid start to Season 11.