Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes? (S03, E24-059)

The winner of the First Annual Montgomery Burns Award for
Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence, everyone.

Plot Summary
After a plant physical, Smithers learns that Homer has gone sterile from years of radiation at the plant (this must've been a recent occurrence as Homer did conceive Maggie less than two years prior after all).  Fearful that Homer could sue for millions, Mr. Burns gets advisement to his lawyers to offer Homer $2000, and that he'll be so grateful he'll sign anything (including a form preventing him from suing Burns for the impotence).  Later, when offered that money, Homer is a bit skeptical as to why he's getting the $2000.  Burns explains barely that Homer is getting the money for winning "The First Annual Montgomery Burns Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence".  Homer of course ponders where the award and ceremony is.  Still trying to play the ruse, soon Burns hosts a big awards show to give Homer his phony award and the money.

Meanwhile, Herb, now a bum living in a train yard, refuses to give up, claiming that as long as one has an idea, they can make it in America.  Trying to come up with such an idea, Herb sees a woman having trouble understanding her baby.  Realizing his idea, Herb then finds out he also needs money to get his idea off the ground.  Finding a stray newspaper which has an article on Homer's "award", Herb gets on the next train to Springfield.

Some time earlier in the episode, Homer's couch falls apart, leaving him in a state of dismay.  He then sees, however, The Spinemelter 2000, some kind of super chair with so many built in rollers to melt Homer's back and ass, but as it does cost $2000 Marge convinces Homer to hold off on spending the award money so hastily.

Herb mistakenly arrives as Flanders' home, but the good Samaritans they are, they clean up Herb and make him look presentable before he goes next door.  Conflicted with emotions over his half brother Homer, Herb's reaction upon seeing Homer is to punch him in the face.  After a day's worth of catching up, Herb reveals his plan to the family: he wants to build a "baby translator" which will determine what a baby is trying to say based on the pitch and sound of its voice.  To get it going, though, Herb needs the $2000 Homer won.  Homer is willing to give Herb the money, but can't get Herb to treat him like a brother at this point.

Herb works extensively with Maggie to try and get the correct translations.  Eventually, Herb builds a working prototype which he brings to a Baby Expo.  As the crowd figures out that it works, people and companies quickly buy it up, making Herb rich again.  As a reward for their help, Herb refunds the $2000, and gives each member of the family gifts.  To Homer, Herb offers his forgiveness and willingness to call Homer his brother again.  Also, that spine-melting chair Homer liked.  Homer's sterile sperm couldn't be happier.

Quick Review
In the episode Oh Brother, Where Art Thou from back in Season 2, Homer meets and ultimately ruins his long lost yet successful half-brother Herb Powell.  The way in which that episode ended, you know, with Herb in ruins thanks to Homer, left a bad taste in some viewer's mouths apparently.  So much so that the staff of the show felt compelled to write another episode which brings about a happier ending for Herb.  As a result, we've got what ends up being the Season 3 finale.

This ended up being a great conclusion to both the Herb Powell story (though apparently he's coming back in Season 24 - I'm worried), and an excellent end to Season 3.  I loved everything about the Montgomery Burns award, et al, including the multiple amount of people who say the entire title (the chorus at the ceremony, Joe Frasier, Bart later on).  The rest of the episode is strong as well, a fine conclusion to the season.

Final Score: 9.1

Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? (S02, E15-028)

Its like looking through some kind of bizarro mirror.

Plot Summary
A heart attack forces Grampa to think about things, which results in him telling Homer about an illegitimate son he and a carnival woman had a couple of years before he married and had Homer.  Determined to find his long-lost brother, Homer goes to the Shelbyville Orphanage where he was raised, and learns that his name is Herbert Powell and he lives in Detroit.  Homer is able to make contact with Herb, and the two agree to meet up at Herb's place.  It isn't until the Simpsons reach Detroit, however, when they learn that Herb is the head of an auto company and super rich.  In a moment of foreshadowing, Grampa, hoping to cash in, pleads with Homer not to screw anything up until the old man gets there.

Frustrated both at the then surge of Japanese automobiles and his executives being unable to come up with any ideas he likes, Herb eventually gets a crazy idea: under the impression that Homer is "the average Joe", he'll give complete priority to a new car design with Homer having complete creative control.  Its a move met with great resistance within the company, but Herb insists he doesn't even want to see it until the grand showing.  Homer is initially unable to contribute much to the project, but after Herb gives him a pep talk, Homer goes back into the design room full of energy and ideas, and ultimately "The Homer" is ready.

Homer's car, a tacky green design with Jetsons-like glass bubbles for seats and multiple horns, along with those silly-looking ridges in the back, is an immediate failure, and given the price of the monstrosity (over $80,000), Powell Motors is bought out by a Japanese automaker and Herb himself goes bankrupt.  As the episode ends, Herb now hates Homer's guts, Grampa arrives too late and chastises Homer for messing it up, and Bart admits that it was a pretty cool car Homer came up with.

Quick Review
The ending might've been a bit harsh (enough to where a happier concluding 'sequel' episode was written for Season 3), but overall the episode was great.  The little "McBain" part at the beginning, anything involving Grampa, Homer throughout, there is plenty to like here.

Final Score: 8.0