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| Grampa: "They pay me $800 a week to tell a cat and mouse what to do!" |
The main plot of this episode features two kids who, upon seeing their favorite cartoon fallen into uninspired, preachy writing, take matters into their own hands and write several good episodes that redeem the program. File it under "things that can't happen in real life".
Bart and Lisa witness such an episode of Itchy & Scratchy (basically a "don't do drugs" promo), and immediately decide that they could write an episode better than that. Quickly devising a good episode and putting it on script, they submit their creation to the studio, but is quickly rejected. Lisa believes that it was rejected because they were dismissed for being children, and decides to put an adult name on there. Bart decides to use Grampa's name because, hey, he probably wouldn't realize it for awhile. After getting his name on the script and turning it back in, Roger Meyers Jr. finds the script hilarious and decides to hire Grampa to write more episodes. Grampa agrees to do so, despite having no idea what Itchy & Scratchy is, only because of the money.
Meanwhile, Marge is invited to a high school reunion. Upon figuring out that Homer didn't receive an invitation, Homer reveals that he never passed Remedial Science 1A and as such never graduated from high school. Regardless, the two go to the reunion and have fun. Homer receives a lot of fun awards (gained the most weight, most improved odor, lowest paying job), however old Principal Dondelinger reveals Homer never graduated, and takes his trophies away, making him the laughing stock of the reunion. Upset, Homer decides to re-take that science course and graduate high school. He succeeds, and earns his diploma.
Meanwhile, Bart and Lisa reveal to Grampa why he's getting money, and agree they'll write more episodes in Grampa's name and split the check up three ways. The cartoons are so good, Meyers fires the other writers and Grampa is nominated for an award for his "writing". At the awards show, he finally gets a chance to see the cartoon he's credited for, but is appalled by the violent content. He wins the award, but uses his time at the podium to attack the cartoon and the people who enjoy it so. He leaves the stage as stuff flies his way and gives the award to the kids, and the three take their leave.
In a bonus segment, The Adventures of Ned Flanders, in the episode entitled Love That God, Flanders has a conversation with his two sons.
[Ned enters room, Rod and Todd are praying]Truly the best segment of our time.
Ned: Knock that off you two, its time for church!
Todd: We're not going to church today.
Ned [shocked]: What!? You give me one good reason!
Todd: It's Saturday!
Ned: Hah-hokalidokily doo!
Quick Review
The episode was great just like pretty much all of Season 4. Homer's side-story turns out to be excellent, and Grampa was used well even if it was just "feeble" Grampa most of the time. The Flanders segment at the end, regardless for why its even there in the first place, brings another good laugh as well. The Itchy & Scratchy cartoons written by Bart and Lisa, of which there were two, were very good though I'm fairly sure they were the longest running I&S cartoons to this point (not that its a problem by itself). An excellent episode overall.
Final Score: 9.2
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