Homer Goes to College (S05, E03-084)

"I am so smart!  I am so smart!  S-M-R-T, I mean, S-M-A-R-T!"

Plot Summary
At long last, Homer has to answer for his vast incompetence at his nuclear plant job.  A worker inspection team comes to the plant to gauge worker competence.  To ensure high marks, Mr. Burns has Smithers slink away the less capable off somewhere.  Despite that, Homer still finds his way to the inspection truck where, despite the truck not having any nuclear material, still undergoes a meltdown.  Burns is told that Homer will have to take a college course on nuclear physics or face legal action.  Homer attempts to apply to various colleges, but none will have him.  Burns, who has "a chair" at Springfield University, is able to help Homer get into that college despite being vastly unqualified, and as such Homer is a college man.

Along the way, Homer prepares for the experience by watching college-themed programming, the type that portrays the stereotypes of jocks, nerds, and the "crusty old dean", and exudes that attitude as he begins college.  After an accident with a proton accelerator creates another meltdown, Homer is advised by this school's dean to get some physics tutoring.  While the three young men who are to tutor Homer are clearly nerds, Homer doesn't pick up on this until later, when he is shocked to learn as such.  Seeing them holed up in their studies or the early 90s Internet, Homer decides to show them the true meaning of college life: partying down!

Homer intends to take the three out on a road trip, but when Marge forces the kids to come along, that idea goes down in flames.  Homer goes back to the nerds' dorm with the kids, where Homer gets a hankerin' for some dean prankerin'.  Bart advises them to kidnap the mascot of the nearby Springfield A&M: Sir Oinks-alot, a pig.  They do so, but after Homer shares some malt liquor with the pig, it faints loudly near the three nerds (with Homer nowhere around), which the dean overhears.  With the pig having mighty allies, notably Richard Nixon, the dean has no other option but to expel the nerds.

With the nerds being duped by a fake wallet inspector, Homer decides to let the nerds stay at his house, where their habits become an instant nuisance for Marge and the kids.  With them quickly urging Homer to get them to leave, Homer decides that an even zanier scheme than the pig kidnapping is required to get them back in.  This time, Homer will attempt to run down the dean with his car while the nerds jump in to save him.  However, the nerds lose track of time discussing wind resistance, and Homer runs over the dean.  While at the hospital, Homer admits his blame in both this and the pig prank, and the dean forgives all involved, readmitting the nerds in the process.

Of course, there's still the matter of Homer actually passing his nuclear physics course.  Despite the nerds having Homer cram like one has never crammed before, Homer still ends up failing the final exam.  The nerds suggest that Homer could "fix" his grade using computers, which Homer happily agrees to.  Marge picks up on this immediately, though, and encourages Homer to retake the course and pass it legitimately.  Homer reluctantly agrees, but is happy that he'll have another chance to "party down" with the nerds.

Quick Review
Homer Goes to College is another superb episode full of classic bits.  The nerds are bit stereotypical, uh, 90s nerd stereotypical anyway, but they're only a complement to the humor.  Bits such as "Hello, dean, you're a stupid head!", "Curly, straight!  Curly, straight!", "The bee bit my bottom, now my bottom's big!" or the scene after Homer burns his GED in celebration as pictured above, really give this episode a lot of quality and makes it one of the best episodes of the season.

Final Score: 10