"Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes?" is the 24th episode of The Simpsons' third season. It was originally supposed to be the opener for season four, but FOX decided to air it earlier to promote the series premiere of Martin; thus, it became the finale of season three. This is the second episode to air after a season's official finale, the first being "Blood Feud", which aired after the official end of season two.

Plot

Homer "wins" the "First Annual Montgomery Burns Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence", a fictional $2000 prize awarded by Montgomery Burns. The name of the "award" was hastily concocted by Burns on the spot in an attempt to convince Homer to sign a waiver freeing the nuclear plant of all liability for Homer's recently discovered sterility after taking a routine physical at work. Joe Frazier is the host of the award ceremony, which features extraordinary extravagance (including a lengthy opening) but only the one $2000 prize is awarded to Homer.

Despite planning on using the money for the Spinemelter 2000 vibrating chair, Homer agrees to loan the money to his bitter half-brother Herb Powell who, ruined by Homer previously, is now a hobo. After hearing a baby cry while in the park, Herb's idea to become rich again is by making a machine to translate a baby's babbling into actual English. He uses Homer's money to develop his invention, which is an instant money-making success. Herb becomes rich once again.

Along with returning the money to Homer, he buys several gifts for the Simpson family, including a new washer-dryer for Marge and the $50 he got from selling them (the old, broken washer and dryer are sold to Moe's Tavern where they are subsequently engaged in racing), an honorary membership to the NRA for Bart, (since he is too young to own a gun just yet), and a subscription to the Greater Books of the Western Civilization for Lisa. Herb then tells Homer that his gift to him is forgiveness for ruining him in the first place, and he and Homer re-establish a brotherly relationship. Finally, Homer is rewarded for his generosity and faith when Herb has a truck pull in with Homer's vibrating chair, which both Homer and his few remaining sperm enjoy.

Production

The fight between Barney and Joe Frazier was originally going to have Barney victorious; however, Frazier's son objected. On the commentary, Al Jean states that Frazier was very hard to record, especially saying the word 'Excellence' in the award title. George Meyer was the director and, after almost twenty takes, Frazier got the word down. Afterwards Meyer said to Frazier that the take was 'excellent', but he did not get the joke.

Cultural references

The episode's title is a play on the Great Depression-era tune "Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?". The images Homer sees when sitting in the Spinemelter chair are a reference to the penultimate scenes of the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Homer reminisces about sitting on the couch while watching Dallas - specifically Kristin's revelation that she shot J.R. Ewing, the Hands Across America charity event, and the Berlin Wall coming down, which he switches over to Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.. Homer's line "excuse me while I kiss the sky" is a reference to Jimi Hendrix's song "Purple Haze".

References

External links