Dancin' Homer
Dancin' Homer
Written by Ken Levine and David Isaacs
Directed by Mark Kirkland
Title sequence
Blackboard
{I will not trade pants with others.}
{I will not trade pants wit} at cutoff.
Driveway
Homer says nothing when Lisa scoots past.
Couch
The family fit, with Maggie in Marge's 'do.
Quotes and scene summary
At Moe's Tavern, the gang beg Homer to tell his story...
Homer: There's only one thing worse than being a loser. It's being one
of those guys who sits in a bar telling a story of how he became
a loser, and I never want that to happen to me.
Barney: Please, Homer?
Moe: Yeah, come on, Homer.
Homer: Well, okay.
-- Homer becomes one of those guys who sits in a bar telling a story of
how he became a loser, ``Dancin' Homer''
The story begins at `Nuclear Plant Employees, Spouses, and No More
Than Three Children Night', at Springfield War Memorial Stadium to
watch the local minor-league team, the Springfield Isotopes, known
as the 'Topes to its fans...
[police sirens wail in the distance] \\
Heh, I think we lost 'em. Hey, and we're at the ballpark! Awright!
Two birds with one stone!
-- Otto drives the bus to the ballpark, ``Dancin' Homer''
pull back to see the huge set of skid marks leading up to the bus.
Heading into the stadium...
Homer: You know, boy, some of the players you see tonight may make it
to the big leagues someday.
Bart: What? Aren't we going to see any washed-up major-leaguers?
Homer: Sure! We get a nice mix here.
-- At the ballpark to watch the local minor league team, ``Dancin' Homer''
Lisa looks forward to seeing poetry in motion, but Homer looks forward
to the 72-ounce tubs of beer.
Marge: Last year you got a little rambunctious and mooned the poor umpire.
Homer: Marge, this ticket doesn't just give me a seat, it also gives me the
right, no, the duty! to make a complete ass of myself.
Marge: Mph.
-- At the ballpark to watch the local minor league team, ``Dancin' Homer''
At the gate, Mr. Burns greets each family as it arrives.
Burns: Ah, the Gammels. Good to see you.
Mr.G.: You're an inspiration to all of us in waste management, sir.
Burns: Well, take your mind off contaminants for one night and have a hot dog!
[laughs]
-- Out of the frying pan... ``Dancin' Homer''
Burns: Ah, well, if it isn't the Simps!
Homer: Uh, it's Simp-son, sir.
Burns: Eh? [refers to the index card] Oh, yes. Homer and Marge Simpson.
Oh, and these must be Bart, Lisa, and uh, `expecting'.
-- At Nuclear Plant Employees, Spouses, and No More Than Three Children Night
``Dancin' Homer''
At the stadium, Flash Baylor doesn't sign a baseball for Bart, so
Marge angrily takes the ball and approaches him. She returns with the
ball...
Marge: Here you go, Bart.
Bart: [reads the inscription] Springfield Kozy Kourt Motel, Room 26,
How about it? -- Flash.
Homer: Wow! Flash Baylor came onto my wife! You've still got the magic,
Marge.
-- Marge gets a baseball autographed, ``Dancin' Homer''
Homer appears on `Jumbo-Vision', and is embarrassed to find that his
zipper is undone.
Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, throwing out tonight's first ball,
the man whose name is synonymous with our nation's safest
and cleanest energy source, Mr. Montgomery Burns!
[isolated smatterings of applause]
Smithers: Oh, they love you, sir.
-- At the ballpark, ``Dancin' Homer''
Burns only manages to throw the ball two feet and is taunted by Homer,
Bart, and even Lisa. The National Anthem is sung by Bleeding Gums
Murphy...
Oooooooooooooooooooooh say. \\
Can you, \\
I'm asking you, \\
can you seeeeeeeeee \\
byyyyyyyyyy the dawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww... \\
[time passes] \\
Aaand the rocket's red glaaaaaaaaaaare, \\
The bombs bursting, suit it on, pop and wail up in the aiiiiiiiiir... \\
[time passes] \\
... laaaaaaaaaaaaaaand of theeeeeee... \\
[time passes] \\
... hooooooooome of theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
braaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaave. \\
[huge sigh of relief from crowd]
-- The Star Spangled Banner, spangled by a star, ``Dancin' Homer''
... and Lisa is the one one who manages to stay awake for all of
it. The game between the Springfield Isotopes and the pesky Shelbyville
Shelby-Villians begins, the 'Topes hoping to snap a record 26-game
losing streak. Burns is shown to his seat...
Ah, sitting with the employees. I guess this proves I'm their friend.
Tsk, get me something on an aisle, Smithers, I don't want to be
<surrounded> by them...
-- Monty Burns joins his employees at the ball game, ``Dancin' Homer''
... which is right next to Homer. The two smile nervously at each other.
Homer bemoans his fate. Burns orders a tub of beer for himself and
Homer.
Wait a minute, we're not having a drug test tomorrow, are we?
-- Homer suspects a trap when Burns buys him a beer at the ball game,
``Dancin' Homer''
The cost of two 72-ounce tubs is $2.50. The game continues,
and Homer and Burns join in taunting the players, and doing `the wave'
(which looks pretty stupid with only two people). It's now the bottom
of the ninth. One out, the bases are loaded, and the 'Topes are down
by three. The batter strikes out (``of course'').
Big Bill McCloskey coming up. As soon as he pops out, we'll go right to the
post-game show.
-- Dan Horde calls the game between the 'Topes and Shelbyville,
``Dancin' Homer''
To the music of `Baby Elephant Walk', Homer dances on the dugout and
fires up the crowd, to the embarrassment of his family. (Lisa covers
Maggie's eyes, as well as her own.)
And I got up in front of them. I felt an intoxication that had nothing to
do with alcohol. It was the intoxication of being a public spectacle!
-- Homer narrates his story, ``Dancin' Homer''
And it works. McCloskey belts a homer out of the park to win the game.
But Homer's antics earn him a `banned for life' stamp on his index card.
In the parking lot, a shadowy figure approaches Homer. It's Antoine
Tex O'Hara, the owner, who hires Homer as the team's mascot.
[End of Act One. Time: 9:22] [pretty long]
Homer is decked out in his goofy `Dancin' Homer' outfit and drags the
family away from dinner to go to the game.
Our lives have taken an odd turn.
-- Lisa comments on Homer's goofy costume as... ``Dancin' Homer''
Homer: Don't fill up on those vegetables, kids. Save room for your nachos!
Lisa+Bart: All right!
Marge: [disapprovingly] Mmm.
-- Homer takes the kids to the ballpark dressed as... ``Dancin' Homer''
At the park, Homer is a hit.
For the first time in my life, people weren't laughing at me,
they were laughing <towards> me!
-- Homer narrates his story, ``Dancin' Homer''
The 'Topes win a second game, and Homer eventually gets top billing on
the signage.
A Simpson on a T-shirt. I never thought I'd see the day...
-- Marge reacts disapprovingly to Homer's likeness on a T-shirt,
``Dancin' Homer''
Homer tries to cast a spell on an opposing player, and gets threatened.
He asks the organist to play `Baby Elephant Walk' with a reggae beat.
And two long-haired Caribbean types express their approval. It's the
bottom of the ninth, the bases are loaded, and there are two outs...
S! P! R! I! N! G! F! E! E! L! D!! Springfield!!!!!
-- Homer spells out the town name while dressed as... ``Dancin' Homer''
But it doesn't help; the 'Topes lose. Homer is called to Tex's office
and is informed that he's going to be promoted to the big leagues, to
fill in for the Capital City Goofball a couple innings a night.
Tex: Why don't you talk it over with your family?
Homer: Because they might say no.
-- Homer learns he's being promoted to work for the Capital City team,
``Dancin' Homer''
This was the biggest decision the Simpsons ever faced.
I should've listened to the kids instead of my big, dumb wife.
Oh, I shouldn't have called her that.
Bite my tongue. Bite my tongue. Mmph. Ow!
-- Homer narrates his story, ``Dancin' Homer''
He tells the family...
Lisa: I can't leave Springfield!
I was born here and I thought I would die here!
Homer: It won't be so bad. You'll die someplace else.
-- On moving to Capital City, ``Dancin' Homer''
Bart fears losing his friends, but Homer says he'll make new ones.
We're simple people with simple values. Capital City is too big and
too complex. Everyone in Springfield knows us and has forgiven us.
-- Lisa lists some reasons not to move to Capital City, ``Dancin' Homer''
But Marge tells Homer that this may be his calling in life and he should
go for it. The kids are won over.
Whatever doesn't kill me can only make me stronger!
-- Lisa (quoting Nietzsche) agrees to move to Capital City, ``Dancin' Homer''
Even Maggie raises her arms in triumph. Homer asks his supervisor for
a leave of absence.
Sure, what would you like? Four years? Five years.
-- Homer's supervisor grants him a leave of absence, ``Dancin' Homer''
The family holds a yard sale, and Ned has trouble finding the right words...
Ned: I don't know how to say this, but uh...
Homer: Oh, knock it off, Flanders; don't start blubbering on me.
I'll miss you too... [aside] not.
-- Homer prepares to move to Capital City, ``Dancin' Homer''
In the treehouse, Bart and Milhouse seal their bond as `spit brothers'.
(``Ewwww...'')
Lisa: I can't help but feel that if we had gotten to know each other
better, my leaving would actually have meant something.
Friends: Yeah.
-- Lisa bids farewell to her classmates, ``Dancin' Homer''
Marge bids farewell to her sisters, and Homer gives a tearful farewell
speech to his fans at Homer Appreciation Night.
[End of Act Two. Time: 14:42]
The car is packed, and the family drive to Capital City. They arrive
at night and are awed at being in the city. They admire the sights...
Kids, look! Street crime!
-- Homer drives the family through Capital City, ``Dancin' Homer''
then check into the Come Back motel for the night. Homer practices his
spelling, but Marge tells him to come to bed. ``We would talk about it
always. For the first time in our lives, Marge fell asleep before I did.''
At the stadium, Homer goes in the ``Players-Mascots Entrance'', while
Marge and the kids get their tickets for the players' wives section.
Bart was strangely quiet. Later, he explained he was confused by feelings
of respect for me. It wouldn't last.
-- Homer narrates his story, ``Dancin' Homer''
Homer talks to the Capital City Goofball (``If there's anything I can do
for you, just squeeze the wheeze'' [squeezes his nose, which honks]),
and learns he's going to be doing the fifth inning.
Goof: What exactly do you have planned for us?
Homer: Well, I get up and dance, and I spell out the name of the city,
all to the tune of `Baby Elephant Walk'.
Goof: Ah, Mancini. The mascot's best friend.
-- Homer and the Capital City Goofball plan their strategy, ``Dancin' Homer''
On his way out, Goof bumps into a hanging lamp.
Well, hello again, everybody. Dave Glass talking at ya.
We've got great weather here tonight, under the dome...
-- Calling the baseball game, ``Dancin' Homer''
Marge and the kids get seats in the upper-upper-upper-mezzanine, and it's
not the players' wives section; it's the players' ex-wives section.
Homer: [narrating] I was too tense to enjoy the game. Every ounce of
concentration I possessed was focused on the task at hand.
Vendor: Red hots! Getcher red hots here!
Homer: Ooh, red hots!
-- ``Dancin' Homer''
The spotlight shines on Homer, who quickly scarfs down his hot dog and beer,
then launches into his act. But he's a total flop. He is called into
the owner's office, who fires him. (``And for God's sake, put some clothes
on.'') The family wait depressed outside the ``players-mascot'' entrance,
but they put up a good front for Homer when he comes out.
Oh, what a family. My wife and kids stood by me. On the way home, I
realized how little that helped...
-- Homer narrates his story, ``Dancin' Homer''
And that's the story. Homer is amazed that everyone was hanging on his
every word. The bar denizens beg Homer to tell it again, and he agrees.
``I wonder why stories of degradation and humiliation make you more
popular.'' Moe responds, ``I dunno. They just do.''
[End of Act Three. Time: 20:27]
Over the closing credits, Tony Bennett sings the `Capital City' song.
Voice Credits
Starring
Dan Castellaneta (Homer, Barney)
Julie Kavner (Marge)
Nancy Cartwright (Bart)
Yeardley Smith (Lisa)
\: and
Harry Shearer (Burns, Smithers, announcer, Ned)
Also Starring
Hank Azaria (Moe)
Daryl L. Coley
Pamela Hayden (Milhouse)
Ken Levine (Dan Horde)
Special Guest Voice
Tony Bennett (himself)
Tom Poston (The Capital City Goofball)
Didja notice...
... the cash register at the stadium has a total of $1.14 in its
display? @{mn} At most stadiums, the cost of things is in
multiples of 5 cents, so as to avoid fussing with pennies.
... Marge was loaded down with a huge satchel of pennants, etc.?
... the angry people stuck behind Marge? @{dh}
... Bleedin' Gums Murphy's rendition of `The Star Spangled Banner'
began at 7:30pm and ended at 7:56pm, for a total of 26 minutes?
... Smithers dusted off Mr. Burns' place with a brush not unlike
the one that umpires use to brush off home plate?
... aside from the `Employees and...etc' group in section Z, the
stands were nearly empty?
... the 'Topes' batter was out of the batter's box?
... the mug shots hanging up in the announcer's box? @{dh}
... the organist (Helen) had a martini atop the organ?
... and she had pictures of body builders on the wall behind her? @{tws}
... when the ball was hit, it flew over the moon? @{dh}
... the `Dancin' Homer' T-shirts were selling 2 for $24?
... When Homer asks his supervisor for time off, he's standing in
front of a sign that says, ``DANGER! DO NOT STAND HERE''?
... Homer was selling `like new' golf clubs that were completely
bent out of shape?
... at the very end, we see Richie Sakai [7[FG]11] in Moe's Tavern
listening to Homer's story? @{tws}
| Dave Hall @{dh}:
... the old gal (dressed as a guard?) lets the guy with the video camera
go through, or that Bart sneaked in by using a couple as cover?
(Possible animation goof as the scenes before and after shows him
already in the stands.)
... the wide shot of the Simpsons driving down the street shows what
appears to be cars double and triple parked?
Movie (and other) References
+ The Tidewater Tides; see below
+ The Natural
- slo-mo as Bill McCloskey hits a tater. @{jdb}
(The music is also similar.)
. Nearly any other movie about baseball (Major League, Mr. Destiny)
- and in true movie form, ever ball game ends either in a
home run or a strikeout.
+ Bobby Thompson's home run
- `The Isotopes win a game! The Isotopes win a game!'
(cf. `The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!')
+ Friedrich Nietzsche
- ``Was nicht micht umbringt, macht micht starker.'' @{jdb}
Twilight of the Idols, number 8 of the `Maxims and Arrows' @{las}
- ``That which does not destroy me makes me stronger.''
~ Saturday Night Live / Wayne's World
- `I'm gonna miss you too... not.'
(SNL didn't invent it.)
+ Pride of the Yankees
- Homer's farewell speech to the fans. ``I consider myself the
luckiest mascot on the face of the earth.'' (Lou Gehrig's
farewell address.)
- according to `Simpsons Illustrated'
+ `New York, New York'
- the vamp for the song `Capital City' sounds like that of
`New York, New York'.
Freeze Frame Fun
The billboards in the ballpark
| Theron Stanford @{tws} kindly provides the list:
* SPRINGFIELD SAVINGS / SAFE FROM 1890-1986 / 1988-
* ROYAL MAJESTY / CLOTHING FOR THE OBESE OR GANGLY GENTLEMAN
* Moe's Tavern (with a beer mug)
- HIT THIS SIGN AND / WIN A FREE WELL / DRINK
* GIRDLES N' SUCH / Fancy Lingerie / THE SPRINGFIELD MALL
| Also seen in other scenes...
* MILK!
Atop the car on the drive to/from Capital City
* a tall potted tree.
* a huge Homer-sized teddy bear.
* a Krusty doll sticking(?) to the window. @{dh}
Media coverage
Daily Press - Hampton Roads Newport News VA, Nov. 16, 1990
Profuse thanks to Ken Miller for locating this article, written by
Terry Armour. I certainly hope Mr. Armour and his paper take no offense to me
passing along this newsworthy article. \ddt
\Q
{\bf Local baseball teams give inspiration to Simpsons}
Fans of The Simpsons may have noticed an eerie local flavor in last
Thursday's episode on the Fox Network.
For those who didn't see the episode, Homer, the gruff but lovable
patriarch of the Simpsons' household, was the mascot for the local minor
league team. His name was `Dancing Homer'.
`Dancing Homer' was so good at the local minor-league stadium, he made the
jump to the Major Leagues. The major league team was owned by Dave
Rosenfield, as in the Tidewater Tides general manager. There were also
references to Dave Glass, the Tides' former radio man, and there was a
player on the minor-league team named Flash Bailey as in Lash Bailey,
former Peninsula Pilot. \Note1
It turns out the episode was written by Ken Levine, who for two years has
done some radio work for the Tidewater Tides.\Note2 Levine is a former
writer for the Emmy-award winning Cheers. \Note3
According to Rosenfield, Levine hinted he would use Rosenfield's name in
an upcoming episode. Later, Rosenfield was told to watch Thursday's
episode. His wife taped it for him.
``I had a bunch of calls on it,'' Rosenfield said. ``People saw it and
thought it was interesting. Funny thing about it is people always say,
`Ordinarily I don't watch the Simpsons but I just happened to watch it
Thursday.' ''
Rosenfield was somewhat a bad guy in the episode. He fired Homer Simpson.
``I haven't fired a mascot in my whole life, primarily because I haven't
hired one,'' Rosenfield said with a grin. ``I only fire assistant general
managers.''
Rosenfield admitted he's not a big fan of The Simpsons, having now watched
it just twice. Frankly, he doesn't find it funny. Rosenfield said he smiled
once during the Thursday's episode. ``I know it's a very successful show
and an awful lot of people like it,'' Rosenfield said. ``I'm just not one
of them. I don't like The Simpsons.''
\eQ
Mr. Miller concludes, ``Mr Rosenfields' opinions about The Simpsons are fine
with me. I don't like the Tidewater Tides. So if you can believe what you
read in the newspaper, this is the story behind the baseball episode of The
Simpsons.''
\Note1 Actually, the character's name was Flash Baylor.
\Note2 Ken Levine is now the announcer for the Seattle Mariners.
\Note3 Ken Levine and David Isaacs always work together as a team.
They wrote 28 `Cheers' episodes together, and earned two Emmy
nominations for their work. (They didn't win, though.)
\Note4 Oh, and by the way, the Tidewater Tides are the farm team for
the New York Mets, if you cared.
Comments and other observations
References to previous episodes
* [7[FG]04] The Gammels again.
* [7[FG]02] The ``Royal Majesty'' billboard
Capital City
As they set out on their journey, the family pass a sign that
says, ``Capital City, 220 miles.''
Things in Capital City
* The Cross-Town Bridge (a suspension bridge)
[Cross-town? What kind of city needs a cross-town bridge?]
* The Penny Loafer (a restaurant shaped like a... well... a penny loafer)
* Street crime.
* A bum who washes your car windshield.
* Tony Bennett singing the song, `Capital City'.
* The `Original' Frenchie's.
* Fourth Street and `D'.
* ``To the brave men of the Army Reserve'' statue. (A man holding a gun
in one hand and a briefcase in the other.)
* The Duff Brewery. (``Can't get enough of that wonderful Duff.'')
* A skimpily clad lady on the billboard shakes her leg; across the street,
a man with a `shocked' look (on the Laramie's billboard) blows smoke
rings (at her?). @{dh}
* `Health for less'
* Neon sign for Bootleg T-Shirt Emporium.
* Neon sign for St. Dominick's Cathedral.
The Capital City Song
Lyrics by Jeff Martin, performed by Tony Bennett, and punctuated
by the Simpson.
\Q \let@\smallskip
\: [Homer: Well, kids, there it is! Capital City!] \par
\: [Marge: Look, the Cross-Town Bridge!] \par
[begin vamp] \par
\: [Bart: Wow!] \par
\: [Homer: Wow.]
@
There's a swingin' town I known called... Capital City.
@
\: [Lisa: The Penny Loafer!]
@
People stop and scream hello in... Capital City.
@
\: [Homer: Kids, look! Street crime!]
@
It's the kind of place that makes a bum feel like a king.
@
\: [Homer: Wow, that's service!]
@
And it makes a king feel like some nutty, cuckoo, super-king.
@
\: [Marge: Look, it's Tony Bennett!] \par
\: [Tony: Hey, good to see you.]
@
It's against the law to frown in... Capital City.
@
You'll caper like a super-clown when you chance to see...
@
[Marge: Fourth Street and `D'!]
@
... Fourth Street and `D'! Yeah!
@
Once you get a whiff of it, you'll never want to roam.
@
[Homer: The Duff brewery!]
@
Capital City, my home sweet, yeah! \par
Capital City, that happy-go city, \par
It's Capital City, my home sweet swingin' home!
@
\: [All: Capital City! Yeah!]
\eQ
The song was also performed during the closing credits, but our local
affiliate decided that hyping `Beverly Hills 90210' was more important
than hearing Tony Bennett. Anyone care to check if there were any
new verses?
The location of Capital City
Theron Stanford @{tws} notes...
\Q
Capital City seems to be a synthesis of a number of large American
metropolitan areas. The ``crosstown bridge'' is a parody of SF/East Bay,
as well as perhaps NY. Also, Capital City has two restaurants named
``The Penny Loafer'' and ``The `Original' Frenchie's''. In Los Angeles,
there used to be a restaurant called ``The Brown Derby'' which indeed
was in the shape of a hat. And there still is a hamburger stand on
Beverly and Rampart called ``The Original Tommy's''. They have a number
of affiliated stands, as well as a few copycats such as ``Tom's Number 5'',
hence the epithet ``original''.
\eQ
The Capital City baseball team
In the locker room @{dh}
* The `Playdude' pin-up in one of the lockers. (cf. [7[FG]02])
* Pan shot of locker room shows one of the players placing a cake on
the seat of another player (playing poker), who is about to sit down.
Another player is placing a sharp object (tack?) under the seat of the
player who's placing the cake under the other player, while yet another
player is testing the flexibility of a towel behind that player. Off
camera, you hear the sound of a crack and a yelp.
What happens on the field as Homer waits for his big break @{jdc}
The right fielder catches a foul pop up and lands right next to Homer.
Everyone runs out on the field for a fight (one guy pops up in the air).
The Goof Ball rides by on a bicycle.
Antoine Tex O'Hara
Eric Jablow @{ej} points out: For many years, New York's WABC-TV evening
news had a popular weatherman, Tex Antoine. Tex had been around for 20
years or so, but he self-destructed in a gruesome way. In the mid-70s,
his spot came up just after a report of a rape case. Tex thereupon said
about the last story, ``Confucius says, `If rape be inevitable, just lie
back and enjoy it.' '' This so-called joke got him first suspended, and
then fired. [The incident was a major news story at the time. Whether
this is an intentional reference or just a coincidence is still
unresolved. --rjc]
Production notes
Dave Hall @{dh} notes that at the end of the story, the mugs are still
full of beer. The reason is that the decision was made late in the
production process to use Homer's narration as a frame around the
entire story. By then, it was too late to produce new animation for
the framing bits. That's why the lip sync is off for all the narration
scenes except for the one at the very beginning.
Random comments
Since this episode was a flashback, there is no inconsistency with
Mr. Burns having an outdated index card on the Simpsons, though it does
conflict with their banishment from all company outings in ``There's No
Disgrace Like Home''. Apparently, Homer was forgiven after his mascot
escapades.
Homer and Burns drank three 72oz tubs, which comes out to 18 beers each,
3/4 of a case! Burns must have set a world's record for blood alcohol
level since he only weighs about fifty pounds. @{ptb}
Boring distribution restrictions
Episode summaries Copyright 1991--1993 by Raymond Chen.
Not to be redistributed in a public forum without permission.
(The quotes themselves, of course, remain the property of The Simpsons,
and the reproduced articles remain the property of the original authors.
I'm just taking credit for the compilation.)
HTML conversion by
Howard Jones(ha.jones@ic.ac.uk) on Sat 10 Sept 1994