{{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox Simpsons episode | image = | caption = | season = 24 | episode = 14 | director = [[Chuck Sheetz]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://direct.foxfast.com/FoxFast/aspxfiles/TitleDetailsHome.aspx?TitleId=CF90A6CF-31E6-4C1B-9897-C46F20235E8F&Type=SN&TtlSrchMode=All%20Titles~A&TtlSrchTxt=simpsons |title=FoxFast.com - View, Screen, Download |publisher=Direct.foxfast.com |date= |accessdate=2014-04-15 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> | writer = [[Matt Selman]]<ref name="Chris Ledesma">{{cite tweet|first=Chris|last=Ledesma|user=mxedtr|number=302531609230462977|title=About to begin spotting RABF06 GORGEOUS GRAMPA, written & show-run by @mattselman, airs on FOX SUN, 3/3/13|access-date=3 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304233149/https://twitter.com/mxedtr/status/302531609230462977|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> | production = RABF06<ref name="copyright">{{cite web|url=http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?Search_Arg=PAu003625982&Search_Code=REGS&PID=GJlyL_P6U2hw13aQKbwjFlwGTty&SEQ=20130205194535&CNT=25&HIST=1|title=Reg. #PAu003625982|publisher=[[United States Copyright Office]]|access-date=5 February 2012|archive-date=June 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603030049/https://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?Search_Arg=PAu003625982&Search_Code=REGS&PID=GJlyL_P6U2hw13aQKbwjFlwGTty&SEQ=20130205194535&CNT=25&HIST=1|url-status=live}}</ref> | airdate = {{Start date|2013|03|03}} | guests = | blackboard = | couch_gag = The Simpson family and several secondary characters do the [[Harlem Shake (meme)|Homer Shake]]. | commentary = | prev = [[Hardly Kirk-ing]] | next = [[Black Eyed, Please]] }}
"'''Gorgeous Grampa'''" is the fourteenth episode of the [[The Simpsons season 24|twenty-fourth season]] of the American animated television series ''[[The Simpsons]]'', and the 522nd episode overall.<ref name="copyright" /> The episode was directed by [[Chuck Sheetz]] and written by [[Matt Selman]]. It originally aired on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox network]] in the United States on March 3, 2013.
In this episode, Grampa reveals that he was a professional wrestler, and Mr. Burns wants him to return to the ring. The episode received mixed reviews.
==Plot== [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] becomes addicted to a [[reality TV]] show called Storage Battles ([[parody]] of ''[[Storage Wars]]'') and decides to participate in a storage unit auction as a result. He wins the storage unit with $1000, outbidding several townspeople and elephant [[Stampy (The Simpsons character)|Stampy]]. The family goes through its contents to find it is full of women's clothes and muscleman magazines belonging to [[Grampa Simpson]]. Marge comes to the conclusion that Grampa is a closeted homosexual who was forced to be heterosexual through most of his life. Homer and [[Marge Simpson|Marge]] set Grampa up with [[Waylon Smithers]], but the plan fails when [[Mr. Burns]] arrives and scares Smithers off. Marge then admits to Grampa that she thought he was homosexual, to which Grampa becomes enraged and Mr. Burns reveals that Grampa actually used to be an old-time [[Gorgeous George]]-type [[professional wrestling|wrestler]] called "Glamorous Godfrey," whose [[heel (professional wrestling)|radical fighting style]] was heavily despised by the wrestling fan community, forcing him to retire. Burns reveals himself to be Godfrey's biggest fan (and only living one); he then persuades Grampa to return to the wrestling scene, which Grampa does. Though he is again met with loathing, Grampa continues the act under Burns's manipulation.
[[Bart Simpson|Bart]] soon becomes fascinated with Grampa and starts mimicking the mannerisms Grampa uses in the ring. However, he also attracts hatred and it worries Homer and Marge, but pleases Grampa and Burns. Under Burns's supervision, Grampa and Bart partner up in a tag team wrestling match. Marge tries to appeal to Grampa, but he turns her efforts down. However, he changes his mind when he observes Bart harassing the audience and takes on another wrestling identity that he calls "[[Honest Abe]]" in order to convince Bart to stop his ways. When Burns protests against this, Grampa and Bart defeat him in the ring. Afterwards, the two retire from wrestling.
==Production== The couch gag features Homer singing "[[Harlem Shake (song)|Harlem Shake]]" by [[Baauer]] with Maggie dancing followed by the rest of the townspeople in the style of the Harlem Shake [[Harlem Shake (meme)|meme]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Mizoguchi|first=Karen|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/simpsons-homer-does-harlem-shake-425663/|title='The Simpsons' Join in on 'Harlem Shake' Craze (Video)|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=March 1, 2013|access-date=August 20, 2023|archive-date=August 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821011855/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/simpsons-homer-does-harlem-shake-425663/|url-status=live}}</ref> When asked in an interview about the show staying topical, writer and executive producer [[Matt Selman]] suggested that the show should not have followed the Harlem Shake meme craze.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fox|first=Jesse David|url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/09/simpsons-showrunners-on-the-classic-era-myth.html|title=3 Simpsons Showrunners Reflect on New Fans and the 'Classic Era' Myth|website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]|date=September 23, 2014|access-date=August 20, 2023|archive-date=April 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427162227/https://www.vulture.com/2014/09/simpsons-showrunners-on-the-classic-era-myth.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Executive producer [[Al Jean]] quipped that the couch gag ended the fad.<ref name="Jean">{{cite web|last=Jean|first=Al|author-link=Al Jean|url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/03/simpsons-writers-pick-their-favorite-songs.html|title=The Ten Best Simpsons Songs, As Picked by the Show’s Writers|website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]|date=March 18, 2013|access-date=August 20, 2023|archive-date=August 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821011855/https://www.vulture.com/2013/03/simpsons-writers-pick-their-favorite-songs.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
"High to be Loathed," the song Mr. Burns sings, was written by Selman and Allen Simpson. Jean stated that having songs in episodes was becoming more difficult because it used to be a novel idea, but other contemporary television series also produce original songs now. He also said that the writers enjoy having Burns sing because it is funny. In 2013, the show's writers named the song as their ninth favorite original song on the show.<ref name="Jean"/>
==Reception==
===Critical reception=== Robert David Sullivan of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' gave the episode a B−, saying, "The season has already been heavy on nostalgia and on Grampa appearances, so it's not a pleasant surprise when the Simpsons stumble upon a storage unit with boxes of feather boas, wigs, and perfume sprayers in boxes marked 'Property of Abe Simpson'."<ref>{{cite web|last=Sullivan|first=Robert David|url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/gorgeous-grampa,92646/|title=The Simpsons: "Gorgeous Grampa"|website=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=2013-03-03|access-date=2014-04-15|archive-date=March 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307052413/http://www.avclub.com/articles/gorgeous-grampa,92646/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Teresa Lopez of ''TV Fanatic'' gave the episode 3 out of 5 stars. She was concerned that Grampa was starting to have too many former occupations but enjoyed the family thinking Grampa was gay. She also liked the commentary about reality television.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lopez|first=Teresa|url=https://www.tvfanatic.com/2013/03/the-simpsons-review-high-to-be-low/|title=The Simpsons Review: High to Be Loathed|website=TV Fanatic|date=March 3, 2013|access-date=August 20, 2023|archive-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221185131/https://www.tvfanatic.com/2013/03/the-simpsons-review-high-to-be-low/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Ratings=== The episode received a 2.2 in the 18-49 demographic and was watched by a total of 4.66 million viewers. This made it the most watched show on Fox's Animation Domination line up that night.<ref>{{cite web|first=Sara|last=Bibel|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/03/05/sunday-final-ratings-once-upon-a-time-the-amazing-race-celebrity-apprentince-red-widow-the-cleveland-show-americas-funniest-home-videos-adjusted-up-60-minutes-t/171785/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312040039/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/03/05/sunday-final-ratings-once-upon-a-time-the-amazing-race-celebrity-apprentince-red-widow-the-cleveland-show-americas-funniest-home-videos-adjusted-up-60-minutes-t/171785/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-03-12 |title=Sunday Final Ratings: 'Once Upon a Time', 'The Amazing Race', 'Celebrity Apprentice', 'Red Widow', 'The Cleveland Show', 'America's Funniest Home Videos' Adjusted Up; '60 Minutes', 'The Simpsons' Adjusted Down |website=[[TV by the Numbers]] |date=March 5, 2013|accessdate=2014-04-15}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == {{Wikiquote|The_Simpsons/Season_24#Gorgeous Grampa|"Gorgeous Grampa"}} {{Portal|The Simpsons}} * {{IMDb episode|2710780}} {{The Simpsons episodes|24}}
[[Category:The Simpsons season 24 episodes]] [[Category:2013 American television episodes]] [[Category:Television episodes written by Matt Selman]] [[Category:Television episodes directed by Chuck Sheetz]]