# Homer vs. Dignity

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5th episode of the 12th season of The Simpsons

"Homer vs. Dignity" The Simpsons episode Episode no. Season 12 Episode 5 Directed by Neil Affleck Written by Rob LaZebnik Production code CABF04 Original air date November 26, 2000 (2000-11-26) Guest appearance Leeza Gibbons as herself Episode features Chalkboard gag "I was not the Sixth Beatle" Couch gag Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie successfully do skateboard tricks off a ramp and onto the couch but Homer falls off the ramp and is hit on the head by his skateboard. Commentary Matt Groening Mike Scully Ian Maxtone-Graham Rob LaZebnik Carolyn Omine Matt Selman Don Payne Max Pross Episode chronology ← Previous "Lisa the Tree Hugger" Next → "The Computer Wore Menace Shoes" The Simpsons season 12 List of episodes

"**Homer vs. Dignity**" is the fifth episode of the [twelfth season](/source/The_Simpsons_season_12) of the American [animated television series](/source/Animated_television_series) *[The Simpsons](/source/The_Simpsons)*. It first aired on the [Fox network](/source/Fox_Broadcasting_Company) in the United States on November 26, 2000. In the episode, [Mr. Burns](/source/Mr._Burns) hires a cash-strapped [Homer](/source/Homer_Simpson) as his "prank monkey", paying him to play pranks on others and humiliate himself in public.

The episode was written by [Rob LaZebnik](/source/Rob_LaZebnik) in his last writing credit for over eight years, until [season 20](/source/The_Simpsons_season_20)'s "[Father Knows Worst](/source/Father_Knows_Worst)". The episode features cultural references to *[The Magic Christian](/source/The_Magic_Christian_(film))* and *[The Birds](/source/The_Birds_(film))*.

The episode received generally negative reviews from television critics who took issue with its writing. The scene where Homer gets implicitly [raped](/source/Rape) by a panda was universally panned by critics and fans, being cited as an instance where the series [jumped the shark](/source/Jumping_the_shark). It is considered to be one of the worst episodes of the entire series.

## Plot

The Simpsons go out to dinner to celebrate [Bart](/source/Bart_Simpson) getting his first test "A" grade; however, [Homer](/source/Homer_Simpson)'s credit card is rejected due to insufficient funds, and the family are made to sing for customers to work off their bill. After Homer reveals that he sold the back seats of his car for gasoline money, he and [Marge](/source/Marge_Simpson) seek advice from financial planner [Lindsay Naegle](/source/Lindsay_Naegle). Naegle explains to them that, due to poor money management on Homer's part, the family have multiple mortgages and will need to declare bankruptcy several times.

Meanwhile, [Mr. Burns](/source/Mr._Burns) is looking to amuse himself while his assistant, [Smithers](/source/Waylon_Smithers), is in [New Mexico](/source/New_Mexico) performing in a Malibu Stacy musical that he wrote. When Homer asks if he can have a raise, Burns offers him cash in exchange for throwing pudding at [Lenny](/source/Lenny_Leonard). He agrees to it, and a highly amused Burns decides to makes Homer his personal "prank monkey". Burns pays Homer to perform embarrassing and cruel tasks, such as pretending to be a baby who "made a boom boom" at the sports stadium restroom, eating a mint condition *[The Amazing Spider-Man](/source/The_Amazing_Spider-Man)* #1 in front of [Comic Book Guy](/source/Comic_Book_Guy), and later masquerading as the Springfield Zoo's new female [panda](/source/Giant_panda), Sim-Sim. However, the panda prank goes awry when Homer is electrocuted by animal handlers and sexually assaulted by the zoo's male panda, Ping-Ping.

[Lisa](/source/Lisa_Simpson) discovers what Homer has been doing and convinces him his dignity is more important than money. After he quits the "prank monkey" job, she suggests using the leftover money to help needy children, so he buys and then donates the entire selection of kid's toys at [Mr. Costington](/source/Mr._Costington)'s department store. Costington, impressed by Homer's generosity, invites him to play [Santa Claus](/source/Santa_Claus) in the store's [Thanksgiving Day](/source/Thanksgiving_Day) parade, which Burns sees as an opportunity for one more prank. During the parade, Burns offers Homer one million dollars to throw buckets of fish guts into the crowd, but Homer refuses and instead leaves the float to reunite with his family; Burns assumes the role of Santa and carries out the prank himself, causing the audience to be attacked by seagulls. As the Simpsons watch the chaos from the sidelines, Homer thanks Lisa for helping him regain his dignity.

## Production

[Leeza Gibbons](/source/Leeza_Gibbons) guest starred as herself.

The episode was written by [Rob LaZebnik](/source/Rob_LaZebnik) and directed by [Neil Affleck](/source/Neil_Affleck), the last episode that he directed. It is LaZebnik's first full written script with the first script being "G-G-Ghost D-D-Dad" from "[Treehouse of Horror XI](/source/Treehouse_of_Horror_XI)" and draws its plot from the British film *[The Magic Christian](/source/The_Magic_Christian_(film))*, itself an adaptation of [Terry Southern](/source/Terry_Southern)'s [novel of the same name](/source/The_Magic_Christian_(novel)).[1] There was originally a sub-plot with [Smithers](/source/Waylon_Smithers)' musical.[2] LaZebnik brought some friends and his wife to the table read and during the third act was repeatedly ended and went badly making [Larry Doyle](/source/Larry_Doyle_(writer)) laugh hysterically.[1] There was another prank where [Mr. Burns](/source/Mr._Burns) put a lottery ticket into a grave and everybody went digging for the lottery ticket.[1] The episode includes a character named Rusty the Clown, a reference to [Rusty Nails](/source/Rusty_Nails), the inspiration for [Krusty the Clown](/source/Krusty_the_Clown).[3]

There was originally going to be a running gag where [Lenny](/source/Lenny_and_Carl#Lenny_Leonard) keeps getting hit with random objects.[4] There were many endings to the original script. One ending was Homer throwing pig's blood into the crowd and 50 years later showing Homer telling a group of children that this was the reason why Thanksgiving was renamed Bloodsfest.[1] They were also going to be hit by blood and laugh.[3] There was also another ending with gravy, but then changed to fish guts.[4] The full version of the song "Sold Separately" was later released on *The Simpsons*' soundtrack album, *[The Simpsons: Testify](/source/The_Simpsons%3A_Testify)*.[5] "Homer vs. Dignity" was included on The Simpsons Christmas 2 DVD along with "[Dude, Where's My Ranch?](/source/Dude%2C_Where's_My_Ranch%3F)", "[Skinner's Sense of Snow](/source/Skinner's_Sense_of_Snow)", and "['Tis the Fifteenth Season](/source/'Tis_the_Fifteenth_Season)".[6]

## Reception

The episode has received negative reviews from critics. Cindy White of *[IGN](/source/IGN)* said that while the episode is universally panned, mostly due to the scene where Homer is implicitly [raped](/source/Rape) by a panda at the zoo, and the intentional recycling of other *Simpsons* episode premises (such as [the Simpsons having financial trouble](/source/Thirty_Minutes_over_Tokyo), [Mr. Burns hiring Homer to be his assistant while Smithers is on vacation](/source/Homer_the_Smithers), [someone dressing up as a baby](/source/Mr._Plow), [Homer dressing up as Santa Claus](/source/Simpsons_Roasting_on_an_Open_Fire), and [Lisa worrying over someone selling their soul](/source/Bart_Sells_His_Soul)), it has funny [throwaway jokes](/source/Throwaway_joke) and [sight gags](/source/Sight_gag) to make up for it.[7]

In September 2009, Colin Jacobson of *DVD Movie Guide* gave the episode a negative review, saying "Bad sign number one: when a series [plagiarizes itself](/source/Self-plagiarism). That occurs here when Mr. Burns states 'There’s a *new* Mexico?', a line that was a lot funnier...[back in season five](/source/Boy-Scoutz_'n_the_Hood). Bad sign number two: a scene in which Homer gets raped by a panda. A couple of the pranks provide minor amusement, but overall, this is a weak episode."[8] Judge Mac McEntire of *[DVD Verdict](/source/DVD_Verdict)* said the episode's best moment was with Homer and the panda.[9] [Mike Scully](/source/Mike_Scully) believes that the episode's negative reception was due to critics and audiences being unfamiliar with *The Magic Christian*.[4]

In January 2012, Johnny Dee of *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)* wrote that many fans regard the panda rape scene as "a low in the show's history" and suggested the phrase "raped by a panda" should replace "[jumped the shark](/source/Jumped_the_shark)" to imply that a popular series has declined in quality and is beyond recovery.[10]

## Cultural references

- The chalkboard gag reads "I was not the Sixth Beatle", a reference to the "[Fifth Beatle](/source/Fifth_Beatle)". - The chalkboard on *The Simpsons: Christmas 2* DVD reads "I will not surprise the incontinent". This is the chalkboard gag from the season 12 episode, "[Insane Clown Poppy](/source/Insane_Clown_Poppy)".

- The episode's plot is similar to the film *[The Magic Christian](/source/The_Magic_Christian_(film))*: - The main character, Sir Guy Grand, is an eccentric billionaire who bribes people to carry out his whims, similar to Mr. Burns' hiring Homer to be his "prank monkey". - Grand also plays his pranks to shock people, mocking what they consider to be important, similar to the prank that Burns and Homer play on [Comic Book Guy](/source/Comic_Book_Guy).

- In celebration of Bart's "A" on an astronomy quiz, the waitstaff at The Singing Sirloin sing "Happy First A", a parody of "[Happy Birthday](/source/Happy_Birthday_to_You)".

- When the Simpsons are pressed into service as a [Mariachi](/source/Mariachi) band to pay for their meal at The Singing Sirloin, they are heard playing: - "[La Bamba](/source/La_Bamba_(song))": Best known for its covers by [Ritchie Valens](/source/Ritchie_Valens) in 1958 and [Los Lobos](/source/Los_Lobos) in 1987. - "Spanish Eyes": Originally an instrumental titled "[Moon Over Naples](/source/Moon_Over_Naples)", it was re-titled to "Spanish Eyes" when lyrics were added.

- Singing Sirloin employee [Mary Kay](/source/Mary_Kay) seems to be a reference to the [Mary Kay](/source/Mary_Kay) company, judging by her pink makeup and all-pink outfit.

- When [Smithers](/source/Smithers) asks [Mr. Burns](/source/Mr._Burns) for time off to produce his [Malibu Stacy](/source/Malibu_Stacy) musical, Burns laughs and sarcastically asks, "Why not write a musical about the common cat? Or the King of Siam?", referencing the musicals *[Cats](/source/Cats_(musical))* and *[The King and I](/source/The_King_and_I)*, respectively.

- Just before Homer and Mr. Burns prank him, Comic Book Guy is eating pink marshmallow [Peeps](/source/Peeps).

- *[Star Trek: Voyager](/source/Star_Trek%3A_Voyager)*: When Homer says he'd like to buy a mint condition *Spider-Man #1* comic, Comic Book Guy sarcastically replies that he'd like an hour on the holodeck with [Seven of Nine](/source/Seven_of_Nine).

- During the Panda-Monium!, Mr. Burns has Homer (costumed as female panda) dance the [Lindy Hop](/source/Lindy_Hop), a dance which was very popular during the late 1930s and early 1940s.

- One of the Thanksgiving parade balloons is of Rusty the Clown, a reference to [Rusty Nails](/source/Rusty_Nails): - Rusty Nails was a popular TV clown in the 1960s in Portland, Oregon, where *Simpsons* creator [Matt Groening](/source/Matt_Groening) grew up. - [Krusty the Clown](/source/Krusty_the_Clown) is loosely based on Rusty Nails.

- Other balloons seen in the parade include: - A balloon that closely resembles El Chapulín Colorado, the main character of [the TV series of the same name](/source/El_Chapul%C3%ADn_Colorado), on whom [Bumblebee Man](/source/Bumblebee_Man) is based. - [Funky Winkerbean](/source/Funky_Winkerbean), the title character from the comic strip. - [The Noid](/source/The_Noid), who was an advertising mascot for [Domino's Pizza](/source/Domino's_Pizza) in the 1980s.

- The figure on the parade float "saluting the Native Americans" bears a strong resemblance to [Chief Wahoo](/source/Chief_Wahoo), the [Cleveland Indians](/source/Cleveland_Indians)' logo.

- When the gulls attack the townspeople (who are covered in the fish guts Burns has thrown on them), it is similar to a scene from [Alfred Hitchcock](/source/Alfred_Hitchcock)'s *[The Birds](/source/The_Birds_(film))*.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Do_the_Bartman_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Do_the_Bartman_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Do_the_Bartman_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Do_the_Bartman_1-3) LaZebnik, Rob (2009). *The Simpsons The Complete Twelfth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Homer vs. Dignity"* (DVD). 20th Century Fox.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Selman_2-0)** Selman, Matt (2009). *The Simpsons The Complete Twelfth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Homer vs. Dignity"* (DVD). 20th Century Fox.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Bongo_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Bongo_3-1) Groening, Matt (2009). *The Simpsons The Complete Twelfth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Homer vs. Dignity"* (DVD). 20th Century Fox.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-D'oh_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-D'oh_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-D'oh_4-2) Scully, Mike (2009). *The Simpsons The Complete Twelfth Season DVD commentary for the episode "Homer vs. Dignity"* (DVD). 20th Century Fox.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. ["Testify Review"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/r1186750). *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210818223651/https://www.allmusic.com/album/testify-mw0000482835) from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["The Simpsons - Christmas 2"](https://www.amazon.com/Simpsons-Christmas-2-Dan-Castellaneta/dp/B0002PYS60/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1273535014&sr=8-1). *[Amazon](/source/Amazon_(company))*. Retrieved November 3, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** White, Cindy (January 24, 2022). ["The Simpsons: The Complete Twelfth Season DVD Review"](https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/08/18/the-simpsons-the-complete-twelfth-season-dvd-review). *[IGN](/source/IGN)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220104083447/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/08/18/the-simpsons-the-complete-twelfth-season-dvd-review) from the original on January 4, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Jacobsson, Colin (September 2, 2009). ["The Simpsons: The Complete Twelfth Season (2000)"](http://www.dvdmg.com/simpsonsseasontwelve.shtml). *DVD Movie Guide*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20111103131030/http://www.dvdmg.com/simpsonsseasontwelve.shtml) from the original on November 3, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Mcentire, Mac (September 9, 2009). ["The Simpsons: The Complete Twelfth Season"](https://web.archive.org/web/20111103131117/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/simpsons12.php). *[DVD Verdict](/source/DVD_Verdict)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/simpsons12.php) on November 3, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Dee_10-0)** Dee, Johnny (January 13, 2012). ["The Simpsons at 500: What Are Your Favourite Episodes?"](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2012/jan/13/simpsons-500-favourite-episodes?newsfeed=true). *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*. Retrieved January 14, 2012.

## External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to ***["Homer vs. Dignity"](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Simpsons/Season_12#Homer_vs._Dignity)***.

- [The Simpsons portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:The_Simpsons)

- ["Homer vs. Dignity episode capsule"](http://www.simpsonsarchive.com/episodes/CABF04.html). *[The Simpsons Archive](/source/The_Simpsons_Archive)*.

- ["Homer vs. Dignity"](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0763031/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

v t e The Simpsons episodes Seasons 1–20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Season 21–present 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 Season 12 "Treehouse of Horror XI" "A Tale of Two Springfields" "Insane Clown Poppy" "Lisa the Tree Hugger" "Homer vs. Dignity" "The Computer Wore Menace Shoes" "The Great Money Caper" "Skinner's Sense of Snow" "HOMR" "Pokey Mom" "Worst Episode Ever" "Tennis the Menace" "Day of the Jackanapes" "New Kids on the Blecch" "Hungry, Hungry Homer" "Bye Bye Nerdie" "Simpson Safari" "Trilogy of Error" "I'm Goin' to Praiseland" "Children of a Lesser Clod" "Simpsons Tall Tales" See also Treehouse of Horror list The Simpsons episode guides "The Simpsons Guy" Category

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