Rate and Review: “The Man in the Blue Flannel Pants” (PABF01)

[Oh, that's raspberry!]

November 27, 2011: Homer becomes an account executive at the plant, but soon begins to neglect his family. Meanwhile, Bart begins reading classic novels. Discuss!

[FranklinGeorge]

Terrible. This episode was not original but that isn't exactly new with regard to the Simpsons. I felt like I watched it before. Homer and Marge facing marital problems has gotten so old that I did not have any interest to care. The only reason I gave this episode a 2 is because of the Bart and Lisa story but that was only a minor subplot. I feel that Al Jean is starting to lose interest in the show and is letting Matt Selman take the helm. I hope next week's episode is a lot better. I liked the Krusty introduction but I only wish he had more involvement in the rest of the episode. Again with no opening is troubling but I don't really care about that right now.
2 out of 5. D+.

[Snaked]

I feel that Al Jean is starting to lose interest in the show and is letting Matt Selman take the helm.

Don't make me laugh at the thought of such a pipe dream.

[irvine_11]

The only reason I gave this episode a 2 is because of the Bart and Lisa story but that was only a minor subplot. I feel that Al Jean is starting to lose interest in the show and is letting Matt Selman take the helm.

Since he's getting into writing, I think Jonah Hill should showrun an episode.

*Irvine goes to watch an episode of Allen Gregory*

Oh, god NO! He really shouldn't!

[Cartoonnetwork]

I'm surprised about the devastating critics. It wasn't great or hilarious but it was a good, decent episode for modern standards and with a little more amount of work it could have been good for the whole series standard.

I've only seen Mad Men once and it didn't blow my mind, but I'd rather see them playing homage to something like Mad Men than making references to 'trendy' movies like Twilight or Avatar. Yeah, maybe Mad Men is also something that's 'hot' these days among certain audiences, but it's not something as popular and massive, and even if I didn't love the one MM episode I watched I admit it's a quality product. When you are referencing a quality product, it generally shows. It looks like they actually like these series instead of introducing the topic because it's what everybody is talking about and the whole episode has some elegance and stylishness in its music/montages, etc.

It was also somewhat reminiscent of classic episodes in the fact that SNPP, Mr. Burns and even Smithers had something to do, and most of the plot and the subplot were 'realistic' and didn't include a lot of wacky adventures (except for the third act).

Some people said Homer was out of character, but I think they should maybe have gone more far with it. The episode ends with a too familiar conflict about having to pick between his job and his family after some little changes on his attitude. Maybe they should have gone deeper and darker with it showing Homer losing his naivity and becoming more of a less likeable person for a while (not jerkass Homer, just making him more cynical). Maybe having his family disappointing him, or his job partners influencing more in his change of personality. Then the conflict would have looked more difficult to solve.

Still, I thought it was good enough for what it was, especially in the middle section. I thought Homer's speech in the coach was pretty funny and even a little reminiscent of his "Chinatown" speech in Secrets Of A Succesful Marriage. The subplot was short but cute and virtually not very different from any subplot in classic era, only shorter.

So what were the flaws? a/The first act with Krusty was a little forced (though I loved Kirk's part). b/Mr. Burns' role was decent but not great. Even when they keep him somewhat evil and they don't make those horrible anatomical gags he's still a character that is just...there. He's not that menacing or interesting anymore and Smithers doesn't have a lot of good lines either. c/the action sequence at the ending. It had some fun parts but they could have done something more down to earth and original.

Other than that I quite liked it, the direction was fancy, there was enough sense of character, the pacing was refreshingly calmer and most of the gags delivered. A lot better than Replaceable You to compare with the most recent SNPP plot.

4/5 or a B.

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

*Good for modern standards = Bad episode (I'd say an episode has to be very good for modern standards to be good i.e 'The Book Job' & Faultless for modern standards to be very good i.e Eternal Moonshine)
*They shouldn't base any episode entirely on a homage of a film or tv programme, only acceptable in THOH segments.
*Style doesn't matter in terms of an episode if the episode isn't itself good or funny or entertaining.
*Mr Burns may have had something to do, but what did he actually do? Went to a party, was awkward, nobody wanted to talk to him and then 'lightened up' and sang karoke. Then based on an unfunny joke Homer told, he randomly makes him an executive and after not seeing him again for 10 minutes, bar a meal with Mayor Quimby, is in a boat with other people we know nothing about. So I wouldn't say it was "somewhat reminiscent of classic episodes" this is not even one tenth as great as he was in 'One fish, two fish, blowfish, bluefish' etc.
*Agreed, Homer was neither his true self or interesting displaying a 'new side', so the episode also failed in that regard, as you righly admitted.
*I don't recall the speech but if it's anyway near as funny as "Forget it Marge, it's Chinatown" then I must have missed it.
*So cute passes for a show like The Simpsons these days? On the contrary, the subplot was very different in comparison to seasons 1-9 as those were actually entertaining, hilarious and had a point. Not Bart, out of nowhere, being illiterate and then the bullies demand he read them a 'girl book' and they end up loving it. Oh that's funny! coz they're mean right? Not anything like Kearney loving Lisa's fantasy adventures from a book in another abomination of an episode...
*Correction - Mr Burns is not AT ALL menacing or interesting anymore.
*What were the flaws? The entire episode.

[Zombies Rise from the Sea]

I've only seen Mad Men once and it didn't blow my mind, but I'd rather see them playing homage to something like Mad Men than making references to 'trendy' movies like Twilight or Avatar. Yeah, maybe Mad Men is also something that's 'hot' these days among certain audiences, but it's not something as popular and massive, and even if I didn't love the one MM episode I watched I admit it's a quality product. When you are referencing a quality product, it generally shows. It looks like they actually like these series instead of introducing the topic because it's what everybody is talking about and the whole episode has some elegance and stylishness in its music/montages, etc.

I agree. However, a homage to something has to be good; I mean it's one thing to homage something less known and it's also another to make it good. The latest THoH had a Dexter parody and that show isn't really super popular, and it also sucked... You are right in the fact that the series should reference these things more but I have somewhat of a beef when it comes to the show sorely being used to remind people of lesser known shows; I mean what if The Simpsons became a showcase for all of the shows people don't know about instead of an animated sitcom. It's not like The Simpsons are going to go "Here is a show you've never seen before, you may like it, watch it." every sunday of the week.

Some people said Homer was out of character, but I think they should maybe have gone more far with it. The episode ends with a too familiar conflict about having to pick between his job and his family after some little changes on his attitude. Maybe they should have gone deeper and darker with it showing Homer losing his naivity and becoming more of a less likeable person for a while (not jerkass Homer, just making him more cynical). Maybe having his family disappointing him, or his job partners influencing more in his change of personality. Then the conflict would have looked more difficult to solve.

I was one of the ones who called him "out of character". Mainly because the transition to businessman felt forced and Homer was acting like a parody of a businessman he seemed to be; what I would of liked to see was some of Homer's personality inside of that businessman while still keeping the businessman aspect. I agree with the fact that Homer should of become cynical though, I mean that would of made the character a little bit more in character and given him somewhat of an interesting personality as well as a more interesting plot and ending. I wouldn't say it'd be difficult, eventually Homer will come to his senses and realize that the businessman life is not for him; I mean it's a heck of a lot better then Homer and two boats inbetween them.

[The Governor]

Homer's ascension into a businessman wasn't a satire, it was a stupid person's idea of what a businessman is.

[Alex_Of_Darkness]

I will do a big post in the week but now, I just want to say that the episode was very bad !

[qwerasdf]

great

[Captain Squid]

Not offensive, but not great. Pretty middle of the road 'sode. Felt like Simpson and Delilah minus a good hook. Lots of obvious lessons: family comes first, being an exec is hard. I would have actually preferred if Homer discovered some terrible secret about the Power Plant or some goofy situation than what we got.

Still, positives:

• Krusty stuff was great, love seeing new horrible products and Krusty's show's intro
• Bart's subplot
• Seeing the SNPP featured prominently in an episode
• Drawing smiles on Lenny and Carl, and Carl being impressed
• The name of the exec offices
• The views of Springfield from the office windows
• The many gears in Homer's head, Flanders gear getting the boot
• Family vacation clothing change reminded me of Call of the Simpsons
• The Mad Men fan in me liked the homages, especially the lawnmower bit. Just wish it was set in the power plant and not the Mad Men offices

3/5

[Jesse Pinkman]

honestly don't know how to grade this.

+Bart having to read to the bullies

+Dolph naming his fists

-Burns saying he survived the Titanic (and the way he did it)

+The guy saying that if Homer's mom was a secretary, he probably would be Homer's dad

nothing else really stood out. i'm torn between a 2/5 or 3/5. I was gonna go with 3/5 for the first couple acts but somewhere along the line i just lost interest. so probably 2/5.

[Oh, that's raspberry!]

Really liked this one. The Mad Men reference with Smithers probably made for the biggest laugh of the night. I don't think I caught any more Mad Men references, but there probably were. Both stories were far from original but they played out nicely. The guest did an alright job given his character but wasn't really fantastic or anything. The bullies' critique of Bart's reading(that entire scene really) was also really fun to watch.

Opening act was easily the weakest part, all the stuff with Krusty was boring with two notable exceptions: his freakout when Mr. Teeny tried giving him his own liquor(great line reading), and Kirk with the kids and Sideshow Mel. Other stuff I enjoyed included Quimby's amazement at a sports analogy, Moe falling asleep waiting for Homer, Maggie re-enacting Co-Dependent's Day, Homer commenting on how he should really look at the picture of his family longer, and Homer drawing the faces on Lenny and Carl. There were actually several other nice little gags in this episode, some of which I've already forgotten but then that's what re-watches will be for I suppose. Again by Season 23 standards, but I'd still feel comfortable giving this a 4/5.

PS: I'm beginning to wonder if we'll ever get a full opening again...

[Tubbb!]

Really liked this one. The Mad Men reference with Smithers probably made for the biggest laugh of the night. I don't think I caught any more Mad Men references, but there probably were.

Are you kidding me? The entire episode was a Mad Men reference / parody! (or rip-off... however you want to look at it.) Homer's office? Marge meeting at the door with a cocktail? John Slattery guest starring as a dead-on parody of Roger Sterling? The constant drinking and smoking? You really haven't seen much of Mad Men, have you? I didn't catch it, but it wouldn't surprise me if Mr. Burns was just wearing socks while he was in the "Executive Building." If he did have shoes on, I don't see why they didn't just go all the way with the joke and make him Bert Cooper.

Also, second parody episode in a row this season. (Not to mention the second Mad Men parody of the series.) The horrible Ocean's Eleven thing last week was bad enough... but two freaking parody episodes in a row? Now they're just insulting me. This show is just getting more and more lazy as this season drones on.

However, as a Mad Men fan... it made it less painful to watch, and it had better jokes than last weeks episode. Still gets the same rating as last week. 2/5 for some funny jokes, but still a lazy attempt at an episode. In a word: "meh."

I said "MEH."

[Oh, that's raspberry!]

Are you kidding me? The entire episode was a Mad Men reference / parody! (or rip-off... however you want to look at it.) Homer's office? Marge's outfits? John Slattery guest starring as a dead-on parody of Roger Sterling? The constant drinking and smoking? You really haven't seen much of Mad Men, have you? I didn't catch it, but it wouldn't surprise me if Mr. Burns was just wearing socks while he was in the "Executive Building." If he did have shoes on, I don't see why they didn't just go all the way with the joke and make him Bert Cooper.

I was actually referring to blatant scenes from specific episodes, the stuff you pointed out was obvious general things from the show that I assumed didn't need to be pointed out. I haven't watched Mad Men in awhile, but was a consistent viewer the first few seasons or so...

[Tubbb!]

I was actually referring to blatant scenes from specific episodes, the stuff you pointed out was obvious general things from the show that I assumed didn't need to be pointed out. I haven't watched Mad Men in awhile, but was a consistent viewer the first few seasons or so...

Understood. Sorry, this episode peeved me a bit. You should enjoy this then:


On a second viewing, I'm willing to up my rating to 3/5. I laughed more the second time around, that's for sure. This one may grow on me, but I'm still upset about the two parodies in a row. Lazy ass writers....

Bart read "Johnny Tremaine" just fine; why would he have problems with "Little Women"?

That's been one of my major qualms all this season. Nobody seems to give a shit about canon anymore. Oh well....

[Matty]

but two freaking parody episodes in a row? Now they're just insulting me. This show is just getting more and more lazy as this season drones on.

Yeah, if the next 4 are parody episodes as well it will be season 5 all over again

[Mr. Krikt]

Zombies Rise From the Sea gave me a renewed appreciation for a longer review in previous topics. That said I don't read others reviews before I write mine, just in case some points overlap.

I've got to say this episode has a bad case of plot whiplash, at least at the beginning. The starting scene just seemed to be a vehicle for poor jokes like Krusty's gadget being dialed "up to eleven" () and once Bart has chosen to throw his hat in for the viral marketing, Krusty's there with his representatives, completely glossing over Bart's entry and why it was accepted. I get the impression there's a hint of contempt for the audience here as well as being indicative of the rot of Zombie Simpsons: the Simpsons aren't just an upper-lower-middle-class family, they're constantly brushing elbows with the stars and everyone knows them. There's no doubt this is due to having to come up with plots for the last decade but even still, I feel something's lost there.

Secondly, when the pacing was kicked up a notch, they didn't leave much room for jokes at all. We had two very similar Krusty jokes about not wanting to drink his own brand of alcohol, Mr. Burns saying hilarious words and... what else? Kirk being afraid of clowns? That random dude claiming he's the surgery patient? They're forgettable and more importantly, they're not intelligent. They're time-wasters, deserving of little more than "heh".

I had a feeling when he karaoke started to start preparing myself for plot whiplash following the vodka->viral->party swift turns. True enough, less than 6 minutes in the vodka's forgotten and Homer gets a new random job. I'm somewhat surprised they parodied Mad Men during a dry season of the show; it hasn't had a new episode for over a year and the next one isn't for a good while. Of course, for someone watching years later that matters little, it just feels strange for a new episode. It was also blatant how much the writers were relying on "it's the Simpsons but Mad Men!" when Homer ran over Smithers. Oh I get it, it's the scene except with Simpsons characters. That's not funny in the slightest; there's no twist, no satire. Just a rather low budget animation of the scene.

I've got to say, the Simpsons really does feel more like Family Guy than ever. The two daydream sequences felt like cut-aways minus the snappiness. Later in the episode, Marge popping into other scenes just felt like an attempt at being "totally random". Please stop, writers. Yes, it is totally random but how about either some intelligent jokes or smooth plot development instead of the jumpcuts experienced earlier.

Oh right, yeah there's a subplot. Bart can't read then he can. Who could have guessed that when confronted by the bullies they'd suddenly get sucked into the narrative. Kearney's already done this with Lisa's fiction! It's not original, it's not funny and I could see its scraping its way towards the subplot from a mile off. What I didn't expect was it dying as soon as it arrived. Way to follow through there.

I was going to comment on the cliched bit with Homer trying to maintain both parties but I was shocked at his indecision. I find it hard to believe Homer could possibly have trouble choosing between his family and a bunch of people he cares nothing about (including his boss who couldn't even remember his name). That's what really killed the end for me; it just nullified everything that followed.

[Tubbb!]

Yeah, if the next 4 are parody episodes as well it will be season 5 all over again

Let me rephrase then: Two freaking shitty parody episodes in a row.


Nacho, nacho man! I wanna be a nacho man!
...I loved season five.

Also, this is not the first time a Simpsons character has been seen reading Little Women. It's the book Moe reads to the men at "Helter Shelter" in the episode Homer Loves Flanders... and he seems to have no problem doing it with his eyes closed!

[The Spruce Moose]

not my work and probably already mentioned but this sums up my problems with the episode

http://deadhomersociety.wordpress.co...flannel-pants/

[Hommer]

not my work and probably already mentioned but this sums up my problems with the episode

http://deadhomersociety.wordpress.co...flannel-pants/

Dead Homers in a nutshell:

THIS EPISODE IS GONNA SUCK!
THIS EPISODE DID SUCK!
ZOMBIE SIMPSONS!
ZOMBIE SIMPSONS!
ZOMBIE SIMPSONS!
ZOMBIE SIMPSONS!
quote of the day
ZOMBIE SIMPSONS!
ZOMBIE SIMPSONS!
SIMPSONS ZOMBIES!
SOMBIE ZIMPSONS!

[Mr. Krikt]

I think Zombie Simpsons is a victim of its length and the writers' inability to change. When there's twenty years of old episodes, they're going to cover some old ground. However, the problem is the writers don't seem to be afraid of this at all and when it does happen, they don't justify or add a fresh twist.
Homer getting promoted within the SNPP is far from new as Tubb pointed out but it's in a more general sense Homer getting a random job, one of the most overused plot hooks in the Simpsons.

The problem with this is twofold: the characterisation and their refusal to do something new/intelligent with it. Firstly, this is the same character that in season 20 mistook his reflection for another human being. Yet here he is being suave, holding a party and rubbing elbows with influential people in society. Even compared to standard Homer and not the Peter Griffin competitor that he has been recently, Homer is clearly contorted to fit the random plot.
Secondly, as I said in my original post, there's nothing interesting about his job. It's just a poor parody of Mad Men, if you can call it that. The lawnmower bit, for example, must be mystifying for someone not familiar with the scene and it's certainly not funny for them. That said, as a fan of Mad Men I didn't find it entertaining in the slightest; yes I get what they're referencing but swapping out the characters doesn't make it funny. I swear I've seen bad fancomics where it's essentially the author inserting themselves into situations from their favourite shows and this seems no better.

The writers seem to tack onto something (such as High School Musical) and insert the Simpsons in, letting the episode write itself. It's a very low form of parody and makes the series seem very tired. Just look at the raft scene as well, for how it's showing its weariness without leaning on some other intellectual property.
I find it hard with all this in mind to believe that people say the show is as good as ever.

[Tubbb!]

I think Zombie Simpsons is a victim... I find it hard with all this in mind to believe that people say the show is as good as ever

I agree with you 110%.

Seventh. The Devil Wears Nada. In which the result is that Homer works long hours and has no time for his family.
This Recycled Premise Poker game is fun! Someone dare to raise?

Dear lord! I thought I had remembered all the episodes that used this premise! Thanks Matty, Diversity Pumpkin, and Handsome B. Wonderful. And, no... I don't care to raise. I fold!

Since he's getting into writing, I think Jonah Hill should showrun an episode.
*Irvine goes to watch an episode of Allen Gregory*
Oh, god NO! He really shouldn't!

Think Homer the Whopper by Seth Rogen, only 100 times worse.
(Some people liked that episode, but not me. To each his own....)

this episode may have skipped the opening sequence (which I'm actually a supporter of, for the most part) for more time but on this occasion it didn't need it.

Sorry I missed that comment the first time I read your post... but I'd just like to point out that Matt Groening has said in the DVD commentaries that the long opening sequence was devised as a cheat so they could get away with doing less animation per episode back in the ink and paint cell days... so, I'm "meh" about it. I do miss the couch gags, however. I wonder if full openings will exist on the DVD versions? I guess we'll find out in a decade or so.

[irvine_11]

I didn't like Homer the Whopper, either. That was sort of the point of my Jonah Hill post.

However, most new episode haters might consider Homer being portrayed as a loud, obnoxious gay businessman to be a welcome change.

[The Governor]

I didn't like Homer the Whopper, either. That was sort of the point of my Jonah Hill post.

However, most new episode haters might consider Homer being portrayed as a loud, obnoxious gay businessman to be a welcome change.

Then he'd get his own show on Fox and guest star on Zombie Simpsons.

[The Governor]

Dead Homers in a nutshell:

THIS EPISODE IS GONNA SUCK!
THIS EPISODE DID SUCK!
ZOMBIE SIMPSONS!
ZOMBIE SIMPSONS!
ZOMBIE SIMPSONS!
ZOMBIE SIMPSONS!
quote of the day
ZOMBIE SIMPSONS!
ZOMBIE SIMPSONS!
SIMPSONS ZOMBIES!
SOMBIE ZIMPSONS!

Yes, that pretty much sums up the current state of the show.

[thewalkindude]

Not great, not terrible.

"He Hasn't exactly set the world on fire as safety inspector, although he has come close a couple times" is about the only memorable line. I did like Burn's choice of Karaoke, though. There was very little to inspire comment in this episode. Overall, entirely forgettable, and mediocre. At least it's better than "Replaceable You" and "The Falcon and the D'ohman."

[biffwestwood]

1/5

This episode was too sleep inducing. Many conversations with the characters linger aimlessly. The party at the Simpsons house was dumb and why wasn't Lisa in the basement with Bart and Milhouse. Homer's reliance on alcohol was ridiculous and Bart's subplot was just two scenes and screeches to a halt. Worst joke was Mr. Burns saying that he was a Titanic survivor when in reality, the last titanic survivor died over two years ago.

[irvine_11]

Horrible, horrible episode. Just another Al Jean ADD Adventure, featuring an incomprehensible plot and a stupid, unbelievable subplot. Even after it's over, I am still trying to understand what this episode is about. The very idea that a low-level worker like Homer could throw a great party that would earn him a promotion that quickly was just unbelievable, as was Bart's subplot. They both reminded me of Bart's Roosevelt obsession from earlier this season. The wacky adventure just jumped from one point to another with one shitty joke after another rearing it's head in. Just plain abysmal. Worst of the season so far. F

[Hommer]

Not really the best, but had a few good laughs. There was a bunch of memorable scenes.

B-