Review: The Simpsons “¡The Fall Guy-Yi-Yi!”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
Homer revitalizes Bumblebee Man’s career when he becomes his secret stuntman.  But how much punishment can a Stunt-Bee take before it starts to sting?

Our Take:
Being a stunt performer may be one of the most awesome careers in the world, especially in the film industry.  However, it can also be one of the most dangerous depending on the stunt you’re performing for an actor.  This is one of the many lessons I’ve learned from watching and even researching movies, including last year’s film adaptation of “The Fall Guy”, which was described as a love letter to Hollywood’s stunt department.  Now, it looks like I’ll be adding “The Simpsons” onto that list, as Homer tackles a career change outside of working at the power plant: becoming a stuntman for Bumblebee Man.
Bumblebee Man has been around in the show’s earlier episodes, though in cameos.  However, I think this is the first time we get to see him front and center, unless I’m mistaken.  There have been a plethora of episodes, so it’s hard for me to keep up.  The reason is that the episode features a flashback exploring how Bumblebee Man, or Pedro, arrives in Springfield and becomes the town’s favorite slapstick comedian.  But like most physical comedians, such as Johnny Knoxville, Pedro’s body can only take so much from the practical stunts he’s done.  There’s no doubt the episode showcases that comedy can bring joy and laughter to the viewers, but it also doesn’t shy away from the repercussions that stem from performing slapstick-like stunts on screen, whether you’re an actor or a stuntman.
“¡The Fall Guy-Yi-Yi!” also features a slew of Mexican flair that blends with its satirical yet honest portrayal of the slapstick stunt work akin to The Three Stooges and “Jackass”, particularly from a Mexican actor’s perspective.  The episode marks the English debut of Humberto Vélez, who has dubbed Homer in the show’s Latin American dub, underscoring the involvement of international voice actors in “The Simpsons”.  Given the circumstances surrounding accurate representation, I’d consider Humberto Vélez a suitable substitute for Bumblebee Man in terms of his vocal performance.  It also features Oscar-winning Alejandro González Iñárritu as a fictionalized version of himself, who hires Bumblebee Man to star in his Mexican film involving, you guessed it, physical slapstick.  To put it simply, the episode highlights the show’s physical comedy while satirizing the stunt work in media with honesty and hilarity.