The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace (S10, E02-205)

Well, that wall is ready to have some fun at night, wouldn't you say?

Plot Summary
Upon learning that the average life expectancy of males is slightly under double his age, Homer has a mid-life crisis, depressed that his life is half over and he hasn't done anything noteworthy with it (though, as the episode later points out, he has - multiple times).  The family tries to cheer him up with a movie reel of said accomplishments, but as a cameo from Knight Rider is about to air, the reel is burned up.  Homer chides the inventor of the film projector, but Lisa points out that its Thomas Edison, even noting several of his inventions when Bart points out that Edison only invented the light bulb.  Homer decides to study up on Edison, and does so to the point of obsession, boring everyone he comes across with tale after tale of Thomas Edison and his inventions.  Marge tries to get him to stop, but in the process Homer decides to become an inventor himself.

Quitting his job rather easily, Homer goes to the basement to invent.  However, he has a rather difficult time coming up with ideas.  He eventually seeks out a scientist for help, Professor Frink.  Frink tells Homer that his ideas can go into two subsets: things people need that do not exist, or existing items that are made to do new things.  Inspired, Homer is able to "invent" and showcase to the family four items: an electric hammer that's rather buggy, an "everything is okay" alarm that produces a loud horn as long as everything is okay, a shotgun that shoots make-up, and a recliner that doubles as a toiler.  However, the family is not receptive of these ideas, and Homer is left depressed again.  At dinner, though, Homer unwittingly reveals he placed a couple of hinged legs on the back of a chair to prevent it from falling over, not realizing that this, too, counts as an invention.  Homer is thrilled with his success, but again is ruined when he sees a poster of Edison where he, too, is sitting on a hinged chair.  Bart points out, though, that the chair isn't listed as one of Edison's inventions.  Homer realizes that he can still claim the invention as his if he goes to the Edison museum where the other chair is, and destroy that one.  The two head for New Jersey where the museum is located.

Despite the ghost of Edison pleading with Homer not to destroy the chair, the two make it to the museum.  Breaking off from the tour group, the two approach the hinged chair, Homer having brought his electric hammer to do the job.  Just before he begins, though, he sees a chart which compares the number of Edison's inventions to that of Leonardo Da Vinci's.  Realizing that Edison was in the shadow of another inventor just like he is, Homer decides to leave the chair alone, having gained renewed respect for Edison.

Later, the two watch TV to find that two more of Edison's inventions have been discovered: the hinged chair and an electric hammer, the same one Homer and Bart left behind.  Homer's raged is only subsided by his use of the reclining toilet.

Quick Review
I've noticed in my other reviews that, in having been spoiled by the past six or seven seasons, I find myself giving more critique than praise to episodes that fall in the low 8s and such.  Episodes that reach 8 and up are still very funny, high quality episodes but because they're surrounded by a bunch of 9s and even 10s, I find myself rather critical of the 8s for not being among the best.  As I enter Season 10, I can't approach such episodes with the same disdain.

This episode gets exactly an 8, and it gets an 8 because there were plenty of good jokes.  Sure, there wasn't a memorable or classic bit (though the "its funny and true" quote is a wonderful line), and there are some lulls in the episode, but don't be mistaken.  This episode is of high quality, and if you feel like watching select episodes from Season 10, there's no reason why you should exclude this one unless you dislike the mere mention of Thomas Edison or something.

Final Score: 8.0