Rate & Review “Coming to Homerica” (LABF12)

[sung]

The presence/delivery of the xylophone joke is not the problem; it's the joke itself. "Notes don't fail me now!" doesn't have any merit besides it being unexpected and having him tiptoe out is just ridiculous.

i do get what you're saying... btw 'tip toe' is one of the xylophone effects so i did forgive the notion of largo having to tiptoe out of the way. anyways, i do not think i was implying 'notes don't fail me now' line as one of the aspects that got me to think that the xylophone was funny; it was rather a notion that the silly pronunciation error in the first place was later carried out later to the real judgment.

The problem is this "illustration" doesn't contain anything humorous. We can laugh at the physical humour of Lenny getting punched by Homer or the absurdity of having Homer sit at a wedding with the machine but Eddie just lying in a bed doesn't have any worth on its own. Therefore the humour has to come from not expecting to see Eddie lying in a bed.

You might think that I'm being hypocritical defending Homer at the wedding and criticising Largo's xylophone gag when they're both cases of absurd humour. Well the difference lies in the context.

you're diagnosing the different 'problem' of the joke here. first, you accuse it of being a 'random' cutaway joke. second, you're accusing it of not having a humorous material in it and i do agree with that but it still does not help what you originally attacked it of. the maggie joke in marge on the lam and punch joke in lets were brought up by me just because of the introduction of the joke here. i didn't find the eddie scene funny, but accusing of its identity (regardless of the humorous aspect) isn't the thing

[Mr. Krikt]

it was rather a notion that the silly pronunciation error in the first place was later carried out later to the real judgment.

Yes, but that joke was expended when Largo exclaimed "never!". The following gag was superfluous and is the basis of my complaint.

you're diagnosing the different 'problem' of the joke here. first, you accuse it of being a 'random' cutaway joke. second, you're accusing it of not having a humorous material in it and i do agree with that but it still does not help what you originally attacked it of. [etc]

You're missing my point. The two points are not mutually exclusive; in fact, they're very much related.
I understand how this confusion arose.
My response was addressing how the humour of the cutaway is purely "random", not that cutaways are necessarily random.

[sung]

Yes, but that joke was expended when Largo exclaimed "never!". The following gag was superfluous and is the basis of my complaint.

i never really felt largo bit was too superfluous (it has to do with one's preference on that, i guess) but i understand where you're coming from.

My response was addressing how the humour of the cutaway is purely "random", not that cutaways are necessarily random.

i see... it's all cool

[Cartoonnetwork]

The xylophone gag was a bit labored, but I don't think it was as bad as some people are implying. I guess the problem is that the joke had too many parts considering its randomness, but I actually think most of these parts were somewhat funny on their own. The joke could have ended with Homer's statement about skeletons, or they could have cut Homer's response to Lisa and just linked Lisa's explanation to Quimby incorporating it to the discussion, then the Mr. Largo part. Still I believe the tip toe thing was pretty funny. I even think this whole gag wouldn't have felt so out of place in classic era, it won't probably be one of the best jokes ever but it is not more lame than some of the stuff in A Star Is Burns or Round Springfield.

Ralph's gag, on the other hand, felt really lame. I actually don't think the idea of the gag was so bad either, but it felt forced and misplaced in that particular moment and I also believe that it would have worked better with a different animation/sound effect. This is a gag that probably needed to be more cartoony to work, so Ralph should have been rolled up in the form of a ball and maybe he should be quiet instead of making noises,using the sounding effect of a real tumbleweed while he's passing by. Also they didn't need to show the first tumbleweed, Ralph's movements should be similar enough to a tumbleweed to understand the joke. I'm not sure but I think it would have worked better that way. Or maybe it was just misplaced, inadequate in this moment of the episode.

[NoOneFamous]

I don't think it would have worked very well that way either... why is Ralph a tumbleweed? The only reason the joke exists is because the writers seem to think that Ralph + random = OMG FUNNY

[zitro]

3.4/5

Al Jean never closes a season with a bad episode, but this was a tad lacking as it had both very good elements mixed with lackluster ones.

Examples of that:
_The first act was a bit slow and had weak gags but introduced the main plot really well.

_The 2nd act had some bad gags, but my first laughs were in here and I liked the different pacing and quick jokes. Some moments like the hospital scene, the major banning xylophones, and Homer telling Burns to shut up were excellent, yet they had some bad gags around them. Maggie saying 'ja' was awesome and unexpected and every Simpsons character was in character, especially Marge.

_Act 3 made the satire a bit less subtle than I would have wanted. However, there were some really good laughs in here like Wiggum patrolling the border, Homer with the balloons, his beer buddies freezing high in the air (a subtle gag of a balloon, the immigrants?), and the quick scene with characters with guns (gil, moleman, and otto seemed absurdly funny)

_Act 4. When it came to the wall, the satire was way too obvious yet it was interesting how the immigrants helped build it, and then the door. That was a really sweet moment, ruined by a stupid dancing ending.

So, it's a mixed bag. If they took out the lame jokes, it would have been a 4/5 or even 4.5/5

[Nameless]

Gosh. That was one quick eight months. End of the season already, eh?

Bland but inoffensive. Could have been worse...made a valid attempt at satire. C

[Cartoonnetwork]

I don't think it would have worked very well that way either... why is Ralph a tumbleweed? The only reason the joke exists is because the writers seem to think that Ralph + random = OMG FUNNY

Well, I do agree with them to some extent. I know there has been a lot of criticisms concerning the random uses of Ralph and all and that's because people tend to defend his origins in I Love Lisa, but I think that even then his behaviour was mostly absurd and unpredictable. The writers are obviously too enamoured of him and they perhaps overuse him a little but I think absurd jokes like those that reflects that Ralph is absent-minded can be funny. I think the problem of this joke is not that Ralph is used as a tumbleweed but more that it felt awkward and too labored in that context, it took too much time too. I think it could have been a cute visual gag in other contexts, for example in a zoom-in to Springfield in which they show a panoramic of the landscape, or something.

[Cartoonnetwork]

One thing about the "Up" reference, does anyone else have the feeling that the whole scene was included just o make that reference? Do you think they have this whole gag with the balloons in mind or they just created all this situation just to include the nod to "Up"?

The scene was ok, but I actually think the Wall-E reference, that many people criticized, had a somewhat funnier context. It was one of those crazy Homer imaginations. Here the nod is cute but it would work better if I didn't feel as if they have created Lenny and Carl's situation just to include this thing.

[Cash Kerouac]

They may just be referencing pop culture to try to be more relevant. Who knows?

[zitro]

One thing about the "Up" reference, does anyone else have the feeling that the whole scene was included just o make that reference? Do you think they have this whole gag with the balloons in mind or they just created all this situation just to include the nod to "Up"?

It was a reference to Pixar? I didn't know, but I laughed because I thought those bunch of balloons was yet another method for the Nordics to cross the border.

I kinda found the whole (lets fly in balloons) idea funny because of the absurdity.

[Thrillho]

It was a reference to Pixar? I didn't know, but I laughed because I thought those bunch of balloons was yet another method for the Nordics to cross the border.

I kinda found the whole (lets fly in balloons) idea funny because of the absurdity.

The lawnchair balloon thing was a reference to an actual event that happened in Long Beach, CA. This.

The house, however, was a reference to "Up". Weird though, it hasn't even released yet.

[arii]

How is that weird? It's out in like, a week. A week and a half from this episode's original airing. And the house with all the balloons on it is part of the movie's very premise, so it's not like the reference is completely out there or hyper-specific to the film or anything (it amazingly enough even works if your mind doesn't go to Up, like zitro's first impression of the gag).

I don't feel like that chairs tied to the balloon were included for that reference only. Hell, it actually had a nice, natural feel for me and the Up gag in the background was bonus. I wasn't expecting it or anything. It was a funny scene (my mind first went to KotH, actually, since they have an episode with a subplot involving balloons tied to a chair... and like Thrillho said, it's a real-life thing), the Up reference was just the icing on the cake.

[Thrillho]

How is that weird? It's out in like, a week. A week and a half from this episode's original airing. And the house with all the balloons on it is part of the movie's very premise, so it's not like the reference is completely out there or hyper-specific to the film or anything (it amazingly enough even works if your mind doesn't go to Up, like zitro's first impression of the gag).

I don't feel like that chairs tied to the balloon were included for that reference only. Hell, it actually had a nice, natural feel for me and the Up gag in the background was bonus. I wasn't expecting it or anything. It was a funny scene (my mind first went to KotH, actually, since they have an episode with a subplot involving balloons tied to a chair... and like Thrillho said, it's a real-life thing), the Up reference was just the icing on the cake.

Yeah, but usually now movie parodies are done after the release of the movie, like the Wall-E and No Country for Old Men references this season, as they assume the audiences are more acquainted with them.

[arii]

I'm sure that when this episode was being made they had a pretty good idea of the initial airing date. Which would be about near the end of the season. Around the end of May. Around a time when Up trailers would be everywhere, since the release date has been known as May 29 for a while now. I think it was a safe assumption for the writers to figure that people would understand what the balloon house was referring to.

It wasn't even a flat-out parody like the WALL-E and NCfOM ones were - it was just a background gag. It didn't even really draw a whole lot of attention to itself like those two did.

[Cartoonnetwork]

Ok, ok, I didn't know about that actual event. Then, you are right...It's just because I live in my own cartoony world and I'm highly anticipating "Up" with all the news in Cannes, so the moment I saw the chair with the balloons I was already thinking about "Up".

[Thrillho]

Dunno what to make of this episode. The jokes were fairly inconsistent throughout, there were some smart ones, surrounded by some very flat ones. The plot itself actually worked itself to a predictable, yet decent enough ending. I'm pretty glad that it didn't include a subplot, and unlike many other S20 episodes was pretty well-timed. The characterizations were fine, even though they obviously weren't at the core of the episode. Not exactly the most original episode, however. Most of the it, especially Homer and Lisa's reactions to the immigrants, felt like a rehash of "Much Apu About Nothing". Still, I was expecting Homer to go on an immigrant-hunting rampage. Luckily this episode turned out much more thoughtful and deliberate.

I know it says a 2/5 on the poll results for me but it should actually be a 3, or a B-.

[TheSimpsonsFan]

I'm Norwegian and I loved this episode.

For those of you who are wondering why they chose Norway: It's because of Norwegian national day on May 17th. Kind of a tribute/celebration. (Registered just to clear that up for those wondering)

[lionelhutz123]

I'm Norwegian also, but that doesn't determine my opinion for the episode. For what it's worth, this episode was average for me. It had a decent plot, lazy ending, great gags, and a good amount of lame ones.

[Jesse Pinkman]

3/5, started off well, but like others recently, lost my attention at some point. the ending was also bad

[Lithium]

I voted 5/5. I quite liked it, much more than some of the other episodes to come out of this season.

[me12722]

This season was awful i just watch cause im a die hard fan but the jokes and message are heavy handed the plot is predictable please watch the episode about immigration where apu needs to get a green card and homer teaches him thats a great episode great episode same message better delivery

[Colonel Klink]

Decent episode suprisingly enough, but the ending was tacked on with a rivet gun because they had to end it in the next couple of minutes.

[D'ohmer]

A solid season finally with a good plot, funny gags and a happy ending. 4/5

[Snaked]

This episode would have worked out better for me..............IF THE PEOPLE WERE FROM OGDENVILLE!!!

I mean, they say it is and all but in previous episodes with the town in them, the citizens aren't all Norwegian and shit (& if it REALLY was Ogdenville, wouldn't they have references like the Monorail built there or the Outlet Mall going out of business as a result of the tainted corn?!). Also, why is Ogdenville so close to Springfield anyway when it was like hundreds of miles away in Scenes from the Class Struggle in Springfield?

I mean, if the town was called something along the lines of Jaberg (Ya-berg), then that would have made WAY more sense but it didn't and this is why the episode suffers a score of 3/5 from me.

The plot was ok, but they fucked with continuity and I just don't like that (same for the "Shelbyville" in The Seven Beer Snitch).

[emanuellburnell]

Not too bad of a episode at least not for season 20 which had the best quality episodes in the shows whole entire history,compare to the early part of the Al jean era seasons and the late Mike scully era seasons which did not have the best episodes in quality.This was a good season finale but not the best of the Simpsons but the show will hopefully continued for a very long time to come.

[pulpa11]

INTRODUCTION

Couch Gag: Classic sitcom setups
Chalkboard: It’s “facebook” not “assbook”
Billboard: Spider Pig the musical with U2 and Alf Clausen
Other: Newly designed opening sequence

GOOD GAGS

Krusty: “What are those unhealthy sounding ‘he/she’ things?”
Assistant: “Trans-fats?”

Krusty: “People care about their health, for some reason.” - a very Schwartzwelder phrase

Homer to stomach: “What’s wrong old friend? Can’t sleep?”
Stomach: Gurgle

Sign Gag--Welcome to Springfield: Two Drink Minimum

Nelson on the bus with a ‘Haw Haw’ sign as Bart lay in crippling pain…very nice.

Norwegian medical form: fake Norwegian is funny “ER Bacteriologisk prÆve tatt,” reminiscent of the opening of Monty Python’s “Quest for the Holy Grail’

Homer sneezing like the Norwegian guys at the hospital! Like most things, so much more funny when Homer does it!

The milk and hugs bit was surprisingly sweet. I really enjoy when Homer and Lisa bond.

Wiggum’s lackadaisical policing the border, ineptitude and authority figures go well together.
Wiggum: “All we’re paying them is bullets and beer.”

Carl and Lenny on the lawn chair with the UP! house in the background.

Snake talking about his girlfriend’s pillows “and if the little one is in back of the big one, oohh, God help you.”

The police cars have shocks, in case you hadn’t figured out which ethnic group the episode was really referencing!


COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER GAGS

The Drowningest Catch had so much more potential to be a hilarious parody, instead it was an easy joke about how sailors sometimes drown. I like the reference nonetheless though…Also Homer’s response “The real drowningest catch is man,” seemed very odd and out of place.

The saxophone gag was a little weird…plus was Homer gagging just because his lips were stuck or that vomit had filled up the whole instrument and he was stuck to relive that experience?

Marge when showing the house to Inga was odd…
The line “Great, so you know your way around a blender.” What? Is that supposed to be a reference to the fact Marge doesn’t know how to cook or a drinking joke? And the Flanders bit seemed a bit forced.

Marge to Homer after he gets fired, “And you and your alcoholism?” Drinking and drunkeness are always funny…all characters drink too much on tv, a direct reference to the fact Marge knows Homer has a life-threatening problem and not doing anything about it…not my style joke.

Star-spangled goofballs? Eh.

Ralph as a tumbleweed…

CHARACTERIZATION

Maggie says “Ja,” makes sense this would turn Marge, but I always liked Maggie as the strong silent type, she could’ve been drawing a picture or playing with some Norwegian handicraft or anything…her character is one of ridiculous smarts and can express herself in other ways.

CONTINUITY

A mysterious third bathroom that Marge is using downstairs.

Ogdenville is full of Norwegians and is in the South East…the monorail episode had the whole town shut-down, maybe the towns people got a hold of the crooked cash from Lionel Lanly and moved out while Norwegians moved in and settled…I think I would of preferred a new town to be referenced.

Homer doesn’t have any silverware at the dinner table and there are only two glasses of wine (not an error just seemed to reinforce that it was animation and not real.)

ANIMATION

The ‘Mother Nature Burger’ commercial was very well staged and animated from Krusty’s hair under the hat, the swaying fields, to the rather obvious-meant to be subtle-gag about how Krusty refuses to use/eat any of his products.

Homer’s shirt pop’s up revealing his belly when he lifts his arms up. A nice touch.

Chalmers shivering as Skinner laid on the floor with a trash bin giving announcements! Great posing!

Good designs on the Nordic sweaters/ cardigans.

Ogdenville in depression/dust bowl style…good colors.

Marge is feeding Maggie at the dinner table.

OTHER

Overall a pretty good episode. The satire was fair and hit on a few points from both sides of the issue. The end seemed to come too quickly with no real consequences of the wall being experienced on either side. They simply said “we missed you, that’s why we built this door.” The party scene is never a bad one to exit on and the music cues throughout the episode remained as good as ever.

Scale rating of 1-10: 8

[dapper dan]

good review pulpa11. Nicely detailed. Keep posting.

[Nauru-1]

Average season 20 episode. The opening with the Krusty burger was kind of interesting and the premise had potential. Nothing special about though IMO. 2/5

[Granto]

Had the best first act of any Season 20 episode and held on to most of that gold for the episode but it was lacking in the end which takes its rating down a bit.

I do love Wiggum though and I will go out on a limb and say that he is the most consistently funny character throughout the whole series.

Didn't like Maggie talking though and the Norwegians coming from Ogdenville was kinda strange and was confusing for the most part of the episode.

3/5


Season 21 should be interesting as this season was certainly lacking overall but the second half was a major improvement on anything post Season 16