Review: The Simpsons “The Man in the Blue Flannel Pants”

Episode Synopsis: After Homer hosts a party to promote Krusty’s new liquor, Mr. Burns makes him an account exec and an ad pro (voice of John Slattery) mentors him. Soon Homer begins to neglect his family. Meanwhile, Bart begins reading classic novels.

Spoilers Below

I guess they are doing away with the classic Simpsons intros. When the execs for Krusty’s “Absolut Vodka” need to bring a spark to struggling sales, they hold a party at a random viewers house to create some viral marketing. As luck would have it “The Stimsons” are ripe for partying, and all the major players are there, including Mr. Burns. Impressed by Homer’s swagger, he gives him a job as an account exec. Its a great job too with an office that has his name on the wall and a bowling alley. His first job is to convince Mayor Quimby to sign off on a deal, which of course he does. But, this comes at the expense of his wife and kids who never see Homer anymore at home. Even Moe and the bar doesn’t wait up for his shit! Marge can’t stand it so she asks Homer’s predecessor Marlo to try and reclaim the job that Homer now has which at first doesn’t work so she opts to book a river rafting vacation in which Homer also brings along his boss. Its not long before he has to make a difficult choice…work or wife?

Bart reads a book to Lisa while she has Madame Bunny( if you know Groening you can see the resemblance to another MG property). He can’t read though so Lisa offers to help.  He reads all sort of shitty girly books much to the delight of all the bullies who threaten him to keep reading.

Another solid episode of The Simpsons, although I was actually enjoying the “Bart learns to read subplot” but I guess they cut it early in favor of main plot. I gotta tell ya I am NOT liking the full intros being taken out of the equation either, shit Fox even had the time to show the full The Cleveland Show intro AFTER the conclusion of the football game. I will say, the main plot involving Homer being a sales guy isn’t far off to how it actually works, and was surprised as to how accurate the depiction was having been there…done that!