Homer and Apu

Infobox Simpsons episode
episode_name = Homer and Apu


image_caption = Homer and Apu, upon arriving at, according to Apu, the world's first convenience store
episode_no = 94
prod_code = 1F10
airdate = February 10, 1994
show runner = David Mirkin
writer = Greg Daniels
director = Mark Kirkland
blackboard = "I will not go near the kindergarten turtle"
couch_gag = The family's heads pop out of the couch with Maggie's head popping up last in the middle of the couch.
guest_star = James Woods as himself
commentary = David Mirkin
Greg Daniels
Mark Kirkland
David Silverman
season = 5"Homer and Apu" is the thirteenth episode of "The Simpsons"' fifth season, first aired on February 10, 1994.

Plot

Homer goes to the Kwik-E-Mart and buys some "very" spoiled ham that Apu has just put on the Bargain Table. He eats it, and becomes terribly ill. After recovering, Homer returns to the Kwik-E-Mart to complain angrily, and Apu gives him two five-pound buckets of spoiled shrimp to placate him. Once again, Homer takes it, eats it, and becomes terribly ill. This time, however, as he is recovering, Homer sees the investigative news program "Bite Back with Kent Brockman", hosted by Channel 6 journalist Kent Brockman, and Lisa gives him the idea to get the show to investigate the Kwik-E-Mart. Kent gives Homer a giant novelty hat containing a spy camera to expose Apu for selling spoiled food. While inside the store, Apu asks about the hat, commenting on how it sounds like bees are in it. Homer takes the hat off, smashing it on the ground and runs out. Afterwards, the camera catches Apu re-selling a hotdog that recently fell on the ground. Kent Brockman comments how they now have evidence to convict him, but realizes that Homer has gone back into the store to buy the same hotdog. Caught in the act, Apu is immediately fired. He protests that he was simply following company policy with his actions, but company executives explain that policy also calls for some form of scapegoat to place the blame on, should someone get caught. Apu's replacement is actor James Woods, who is doing research for a role in an upcoming film.

After being fired, Apu does chores for Homer because he thinks that he is in debt to Homer for selling him spoiled food, and helping him would pay off his debt of karma. As time goes by, the family begins to love Apu and his traditions. However, Apu begins to miss his job at the Kwik-E-Mart, so Homer decides to help him by accompanying him to the Kwik-E-Mart head office in India, which is also the world's first convenience store — ironically located all the way at the top of the Himalayas. Once they arrive, they meet with the head of the Kwik-E-Mart. Unfortunately, due to Homer's incompetence, the head of the Kwik-E-Mart does not help Apu with his problems. Apu and Homer are forced to return home disappointed. Apu loses his temper and strangles Homer for his stupidity, causing both to fall off the mountain.

After they get home, Apu decides to return to the Kwik-E-Mart to "face his demons", and a robber bursts in and shoots at James Woods. Apu jumps in front of the bullet, and the grateful Woods then sees to it that Apu gets his job back at the Kwik-E-Mart, while he goes off to battle aliens on a distant planet. The episode ends with the Simpson family hugging Apu as he recovers in the hospital.

Production

When David Mirkin took over as show runner, he listed actor James Woods as one of the people he would most like to guest star on the show during his tenure. The script for "Homer and Apu" was originally written with Michael Caine as the actor who works at the Kwik-E-Mart. However, Caine rejected the role so the story was rewritten so that Woods got the job instead.Mirkin, David. (2004). DVD Commentary for "Homer and Apu", in "The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season" [DVD] . 20th Century Fox.] Woods was one of animation director David Silverman's favorite guest stars. In addition to his humorous ad-libbing, Silverman noted that Woods' tendency to hesitate while speaking is "great for animation", explaining that it makes the character feel "more real". [cite web | title=BBC Interview with David Silverman |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/interviews/silverman/page5.shtml |accessdate=2007-08-17]

Writer Michael Carrington appears as the voice of the comedian on television who tells the joke about black and white drivers.

Cultural references

*Kent Brockman's "Bite Back" show is a parody of David Horowitz's "Fight Back", and features an opening with a cartoon dog who resembles McGruff the Crime Dog.
*The scenes of Homer and Apu traveling are similar to that of "Lawrence of Arabia."
*Lisa's line, "I can see through time," is a reference to "Dune".
*James Woods becoming a convenience store clerk to prepare from a film is similar to Michael J. Fox becoming a police officer in the film "The Hard Way", which Woods also starred in.cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season5/page12.shtml|title=Homer and Apu|accessdate=2008-08-17|author=Martyn, Warren; Wood, Adrian |date=2000|publisher=BBC]
*Apu's song is a reference to Ravenal's song "Make Believe" in Kern and Hammerstein's musical "Show Boat".
*The scene with many passengers clinging outside of railroad cars resembles "Flame Over India" or "Gandhi".
*The scene with Apu jumping in front of James Woods is a parody of Clint Eastwood jumping in front of the president in "In the Line of Fire".
*The CEO of the Kwik-E-Mart resembles Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
*Homer's line "No way, man, get yourself another patsy!" is from Oliver Stone's "JFK".

References

External links

* [http://www.snpp.com/episodes/1F10.html "Homer and Apu" at SNPP.com]