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Miscellaneous / Verschiedenes » alt.tv.simpsons » A review of "Homer's Paternity Coot (HABF03)"
| A review of "Homer's Paternity Coot (HABF03)" [message #201132] |
Mi, 11 Januar 2006 05:21 |
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[The long of it]
Family psychologists say that one thing you can't choose in life is
who your parents are. Better not tell that to Homer. He does exactly
that in "Homer's Paternity Coot," which sets up a fun contest between
"Same Ol' Grampa" and "Suave New Stranger."
"Same Ol' Grampa" is the Abe Simpson we know and more or less love.
The "Suave New Stranger" is Mason Fairfield, a lifeguard who had an
affair with Mona Simpson long ago and, according to a forty-year-old
letter, might very well be Homer's real father. (He's voiced by
Michael York, sounding a bit like Moe's bar college professor from
"Homer the Moe (CABF20).") With much of the show's attention focused
on Mason and his relationship to Homer, The success of "Paternity
Coot" hinges upon how well the father-come-lately character is drawn.
He certainly has appeal. After his affair with Mona ended, Mason went
on to become a successful treasure hunter, lining his palatial seaside
home with interesting bric-a-brac from his salvage dives. He's
debonair, witty, and travels in heavyweight social circles. While the
Simpsons pay a visit, Mason says he's had lunch with, "The Prince of
Wales and killer whales, and only the latter knew how to chew without
humming."
That's one of Mason's few funny lines, though. He's a deliberately
subdued character, acting as a catalyst for humor rather than throwing
a lot of punch lines himself. When Homer meets him for the first
time, he tries to keep is possible relationship a secret by telling
Mason he's a reporter. We get laughs watching him bumble through his
"cover story" while Mason calmly acts like a person normally would.
In comparison to Mason, Abe looks especially cantankerous,
highlighting the contrasts in Homer's "choice" between the two. It's
a pity the writers couldn't give him more clever lines like the
"Prince of Wales" remark. It would have made his character more
amusing without undermining the suave-vs.-coot dynamic the script was
going for.
I normally am not a big fan of openings that segue in from an
unrelated topic. The connection between the opening scenes and the
rest of the episode was really tenuous in this show, but somehow it
worked for me. Marge's reluctance to pay tolls resonated with me, and
I liked Sideshow Mel's reaction to the "severe tire damage" sign. The
snippet of "Ring of Fire" was a nice touch, too.
Other humor highlights include Kent Brockman's report from the
mountaintop, Joe Frazier's appearance in a store commercial, and the
"outtake" that runs under the closing credits. I also loved the
awkward conversation between Lisa and Abe at the retirement home.
To be honest, "Homer's Paternity Coot" didn't have as many laugh-out-
loud moments as episodes like "The Italian Bob (HABF02)," but it makes
up for it with a good human-interest tale and balanced
characterizations. I'd choose it for a night of enjoyable "Simpsons"
fun.
[The short of it]
The success of this show hinges upon the portrait of the man who could
be Homer's true father. Mason Fairfield is up to the task. He's
witty, debonair, and has an interesting career. By design, he isn't
that funny but makes an effective catalyst for humor, allowing the
rest of the cast to get laughs by reacting to him. The opening scenes
were especially disjointed, but somehow they clicked with me, as did
Kent Brockman's report and the family's awkward visit to Abe in the
retirement home. Not that many laugh-out-loud moments, but this
episode makes up for it with balanced characterizations and a good
human-interest plot. (B+)
[DYNs]
.... in the sequence of family portraits, Maggie keeps her pacifier
for the next four years (until 2010)?
.... a man wheels a grandfather clock with a $2 price tag out of the
store?
.... nobody seems to wonder why the mailman was on the top of the
mountain forty years ago?
.... Jasper has been issued a last name (Beardly)?
[References]
President George W. Bush
- one of the knocks against him is that he doesn't come off as
being very bright; Bart shares this opinion, if this week's
blackboard gag is any indication
"stop, drop, and roll" (fire-safety advice)
- announcer in commercial says, "stop, drop, and save!"
"Playboy" (magazine)
- tollbooth worker reads "Playbooth"
frozen caveman
- 5,000-year-old (or older) body found frozen in Italian Alps,
similar to the way Springfield's mailman was found
"Star Wars" (movie)
- Ralph likens himself to "C3-D2," a mashing of "C-3PO" and
"R2-D2"
"The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" (movie)
- the shot of Homer and Mason on the deck of the ship, in front of
the submersible vehicles, reminds me of the way one scene in
this movie was staged
(I'm going by the trailer, since I didn't see the actual film)
[Previous Episode References]
[3F08] Simpson wagon runs over tire-damage spikes the wrong way
[4F16] Frozen body on a mountain
[7F16], [EABF22] Long-lost relative of Homer and Abe appears
[7F14], [3F03] Point-of-view shot from inside the mouth
[FFF]
Store sign:
SMOKE DAMAGE
OUTLET STORE
Store banner:
MEET
SMOKIN' JOE FRAZIER
Road sign:
THE OL'
CHEAPSKATE
TRAIL
------->
Booth worker's magazine:
PLAYBOOTH
Prophetic sign:
DO NOT BACK UP
SEVERE
TIRE
DAMAGE
Tire yard sign:
SPRINGFIELD
TIRE FIRE
NOW SMELLED
+--+
IN |46| STATES
+--+
Mason's letter (as seen when Homer reads it):
you're
carrying is mine, not Abe's.
Meet me tomorrow
at my lifeguard stand.
If you do, we'll be together
forever. If you don't
I'll know you've chosen
your husband over me.
M
Books Homer reads:
SPRINGFIELD SPRINGFIELD NIGHT SPRINGFIELD
LIFEGUARDS WATCHMEN OF THE FRY COOKS
OF THE 20TH CENTURY A - E
20TH CENTURY
Homer's notes:
Daddy
Smell Good
Too Soon
For Hug?
Mason's ship:
"THE SON I NEVER KNEW"
DNA sample vial labels:
Same Suave
Ol' New
Grampa Stranger
Hibbert's T-shirt:
{front} (back)
#1 WORLD'S
SON BIGGEST
BASTARD
Oxygen warning lights (top to bottom):
+---------------+
| OXYGEN | [green]
|SLIGHTLY HIGHER|
+---------------+
+---------------+
| OXYGEN | [yellow]
| LOW |
+---------------+
+---------------+
| OXYGEN | [orange]
| LOWER |
+---------------+
+---------------+
| OXYGEN | [red]
| GONE |
+---------------+
Heart transplant list:
H E A R T
R E C I P I E N T S
Abe Simpson <- written in, using red ink
Montgomery Burns
Jasper Beardly
Old Jewish Man
Jebediah Springfield IV
[Personal Comments & Observations]
>> Musical References
As the workers stack the blown tires on the tire fire, we hear Johnny
Cash singing, "Ring of Fire."
Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" plays as Homer fantasizes about his
mystery dad.
>> Car Watch on the Cheapskate Trail
The car following the Lovejoys' wagon looks like a 1967 Ford Fairlane.
>> Personality Parade
M Night Shyamalan -- Director of "The Sixth Sense," "Signs," and "The
Village." The most prominent feature of his films is the surprise
twist ending, a device he used most successfully in "The Sixth Sense."
His work is also elegantly choreographed and quietly paced; they don't
hit you over the head with suspense but instead creep up on you. Many
critics, like Homer, feel he peaked with "Sixth," an early film, and
has been going gradually downhill ever since.
--
Benjamin Robinson bjr7 [at] freenet.tlh.fl.us
This message may or may not contain sarcastic content; your burden to decide
"I'm naked, clueless, and f-e-e-e-ling good!" -- Ratbert
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| Re: A review of "Homer's Paternity Coot (HABF03)" [message #201141 ] |
Mi, 11 Januar 2006 16:07 |
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"Laugh out loud moments"? The "Emerald of Piso Mojado" is one of the
best jokes ever. The writers were probably working late, saw the "Piso
Mojado" sign in the restrooms as they were being cleaned by the
custodians, and got the idea from that. Me, I kept thinking to my self
"I have seen that so many times, ... but where, WHERE?"
Aaron Xpac3 Mvx3vm
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| Re: A review of "Homer's Paternity Coot (HABF03)" [message #201155 ] |
Mi, 11 Januar 2006 21:57 |
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Benjamin Robinson wrote:
> [4F16] Frozen body on a mountain
This is in 5F16, right?
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