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| Wrestling fans (probably) know its scripted, but they still enjoy... enjoy this. |
Homer becomes addicted to a reality show called Storage Battles whose primary focus is people opening up abandoned storage lockers to find value in junk. Homer wants in on this possibly productive venture, and goes to a nearby storage facility where abandoned lockers are being auctioned off. Homer is able to acquire one for $1000, but is somewhat disheartened when the locker he bought contains nothing really valuable. In fact, the attire within is rather flamboyant, as though it were meant for men in drag. Even more shocking, its learned that everything inside the locker belongs to Grampa, leaving Marge to believe that Grampa is actually gay.
Marge tries to get Grampa to admit it by not actually mentioning it, but Grampa kicks them out after hearing they opened up his storage locker. Not wanting Grampa to die with his feelings supposedly bottled up, she helps set up a "male looking for male" "casual encounter" for Grampa at his usual duck feedin' spot. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Smithers shows up looking for just that, leaving Grampa somewhat confused. Marge and Homer, hiding in the bushes nearby, confront Grampa again when Grampa adamantly tells Marge he's not gay, even with Homer holding the wig he got from the closet - which he puts on Grampa for some reason.
Just then, Mr. Burns arrives, which causes Smithers to flee rather unceremoniously. Burns recognizes Grampa in the wig as "Glamorous Godfrey", a wrestler from the 50s, taking Grampa and the rest of the Simpsons to a shrine Burns had built for the wrestler. Grampa does reveal he was Godfrey, who was played up as a "heel", a villain who made people boo him relentlessly with his narcissism and cheating. However, that hatred seeped in his everyday life as well and he couldn't take it anymore and retired, leaving his wrestling stuff in the locker. Burns doesn't understand this of course, and through the power of song convinces Grampa to embrace the role of the villain and come back to wrestle. Grampa agrees to do so, with Bart - who has taken a liking to these revelations - on his side.
Grampa returns as Glamorous Godfrey in a nostalgic wrestling show run by Burns, pulling off the routine as wonderfully as ever. Bart likes it so much he emulates the routine... in a game of baseball, angering everyone including his parents. Homer tries to confront Burns and Grampa over how they've influence Bart and the two decides to simply bring him in as a sidekick.
Grampa is enjoying the time he's spending with Bart, but Marge shares her worries with Grampa that Bart's taking his 'bad boy' act too far, that he's not just saving it for the ring, but is also using it in real life as well. After seeing Bart shoot snot into a fan's autograph book, Grampa realizes Marge is right and decides to do something about it. In the duo's next appearance, Grampa ditches his Godfrey attire and puts on a fake beard and hat, calling himself "Honest Abe", a good-guy wrestler. He also redresses Bart into patriotic attire, calling him "Laddy Liberty". Grampa admits his error, then upon realizing the show still needs a good guy beating up a bad guy, he and Bart team up to subdue Burns.
Quick Review
This episode's couch gag was basically the family - and eventually the rest of the town - doing a Harlem Shake, oh I'm sorry, I meant a "Homer Shake". The rather short fad was done by the show just about when the fad had been overkilled. I bet, and I write this truthfully, the writers were laughing their asses off getting this couch gag ready. "OH MAN look at Maggie starting up the Harlem Shake! HIGH-larious! This will never NOT be funny!" Truth be told, I'm one of the lucky few to have successfully avoided watching any Harlem Shake before, during or after its popularity. Hell, I didn't even know what the song being used was by the fad the internet had destroyed. The episode uses a modified version of the song sung by Homer, so technically I'm still in the clear. Of course, part of my soul still died from watching the show sink that low, but hey, little victories, right?
So, yeah, that whole thing sunk the episode before it started, not that the episode was particularly funny anyway. Grampa's bits as Godfrey were decent, but otherwise the episode didn't have much to offer for comedy.
Final Score: 6.0
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