Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder (S11, E06-232)

Running on the ocean floor takes a lot out of a guy.

Plot Summary
After sleeping through an entire day, Homer's next waking day goes rather badly.  After getting pulled over by police, Homer is late for work.  He's punished by Mr. Burns by eating toxic waste for the day, though Lenny and Carl are able to get him out at day's end for bowling.  Frustrated over a lot of things, Homer takes it out on the pins, getting several strikes in a row.  In fact, he doesn't stop: he ends up bowling a perfect game, and is celebrated for the accomplishment.

Homer tries to make his newfound fame last, but people don't care about a 300 bowler for long, and soon enough he's "yesterday's news".  Depressed that his life has 'peaked', Homer attempts suicide but after miraculously surviving the attempt unharmed, realizes that he still has a purpose in life.  Ron Howard inadvertently gives Homer that purpose: spending time with the kids.

However, Bart is doing just fine without Homer and Homer isn't going to be helping Lisa out any time soon.  So, Homer focuses his attention on Maggie (whom he had neglected several times throughout the episode).  Maggie has become unwilling to play with Homer, though, so Homer tries to find a way to build trust with her.  He attempts to take a child swimming course with Maggie, but again she's unwilling to get near Homer.

Driving back, Homer mistakes Maggie's motions as the idea to try the swimming exercise again at the ocean.  Homer goes into the ocean to start up another trust exercise, but is swallowed up by the current.  Maggie then is somehow able to go in and rescue Homer, which Dr. Hibbert later attributes to the acquisition of "superhuman" strength to save a parent in peril.  Still, Homer and Maggie grow closer, and Homer takes Maggie bowling, where she "bowls" a 295.

Quick Review
This was another enjoyable episode, though I admit the part where Homer attempts suicide was off-putting.  Still, a lot of the humor spot on, the appearances by Penn & Teller as well as Ron Howard were appreciated, and overall the episode is one of Season 11's highlights.

Final Score: 8.6