How I Spent My Strummer Vacation: Difference between revisions
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In 2003, Annie Alleman of ''[[The Herald News]]'' named the episode her all-time favorite ''Simpsons'' episode.<ref name=Alleman>{{cite news|last=Alleman|first=Annie|title='Simpsons' -- favorites from a classic favorite|newspaper=[[The Herald News]]|date=2003-02-13|page=D1}}</ref> The same year, writers of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' listed it as the twenty-second best ''Simpsons'' episode of all time. They elaborated that "You've gotta admire a show that lands the greatest names in rock and then gives them as much respect as a brown M&M. [...] While rockers have always shone in 'Simpsons' solos, the Stones so giddily mock their hall-of-fame status it makes "Strummer" the series' Woodstock: a classic-rock show even Disco Stu could get behind."<ref name=EW>{{cite news | title =The Family Dynamic | newspaper = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | url = http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,417748_5,00.html| accessdate=2011-10-21|date=2003-01-29}}</ref> Robert Canning of [[IGN]] in a Flashback Review gave the episode a 8.6 saying it was "Great" and also stated " In a season that I generally see as ho-hum ("Pray Anything" is the only other episode I rate highly), "How I Spent My Strummer Vacation" simply rocks".<ref>Canning, Robert (August 25, 2008) http://tv.ign.com/articles/902/902411p1.html ''[[IGN]]'' Retrieved May 30, 2010</ref> In 2007, Simon Crerar of ''[[The Times]]'' listed Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Elvis Costello and Lenny Kravitz's performances among the thirty-three funniest cameos in the history of the show.<ref name="Crerar">{{cite news|last=Crerar |first=Simon|title=The 33 funniest Simpsons cameos ever|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article2021776.ece|accessdate=2010-08-09|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=2007-07-05}}</ref> In 2011, Kravitz revealed that his greatest achievement was the appearance on ''The Simpsons'' in the eyes of his young relatives. He explained that "To my nieces and nephews appearing on 'The Simpsons' was when I actually made it. All the other stuff doesn't count."<ref>{{cite web|title=Lenny Kravitz Impressed Family With Simpsons|work=[[Contactmusic.com]]|accessdate=October 23, 2011|date=October 22, 2011}}</ref> |
In 2003, Annie Alleman of ''[[The Herald News]]'' named the episode her all-time favorite ''Simpsons'' episode.<ref name=Alleman>{{cite news|last=Alleman|first=Annie|title='Simpsons' -- favorites from a classic favorite|newspaper=[[The Herald News]]|date=2003-02-13|page=D1}}</ref> The same year, writers of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' listed it as the twenty-second best ''Simpsons'' episode of all time. They elaborated that "You've gotta admire a show that lands the greatest names in rock and then gives them as much respect as a brown M&M. [...] While rockers have always shone in 'Simpsons' solos, the Stones so giddily mock their hall-of-fame status it makes "Strummer" the series' Woodstock: a classic-rock show even Disco Stu could get behind."<ref name=EW>{{cite news | title =The Family Dynamic | newspaper = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | url = http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,417748_5,00.html| accessdate=2011-10-21|date=2003-01-29}}</ref> Robert Canning of [[IGN]] in a Flashback Review gave the episode a 8.6 saying it was "Great" and also stated " In a season that I generally see as ho-hum ("Pray Anything" is the only other episode I rate highly), "How I Spent My Strummer Vacation" simply rocks".<ref>Canning, Robert (August 25, 2008) http://tv.ign.com/articles/902/902411p1.html ''[[IGN]]'' Retrieved May 30, 2010</ref> In 2007, Simon Crerar of ''[[The Times]]'' listed Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Elvis Costello and Lenny Kravitz's performances among the thirty-three funniest cameos in the history of the show.<ref name="Crerar">{{cite news|last=Crerar |first=Simon|title=The 33 funniest Simpsons cameos ever|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article2021776.ece|accessdate=2010-08-09|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=2007-07-05}}</ref> In 2011, Kravitz revealed that his greatest achievement was the appearance on ''The Simpsons'' in the eyes of his young relatives. He explained that "To my nieces and nephews appearing on 'The Simpsons' was when I actually made it. All the other stuff doesn't count."<ref>{{cite web|title=Lenny Kravitz Impressed Family With Simpsons|work=[[Contactmusic.com]]|accessdate=October 23, 2011|date=October 22, 2011}}</ref> James Greene of Nerve.com however, put the episode seventh on his list ''Ten Times The Simpsons [[Jumping the Shark|Jumped the Shark]]'', criticizing "shoehorning six rock stars into a Homer-recaptures-his-youth story" and the fact that "the episode's namesake, [[Joe Strummer]], wasn't even in the fucking thing!"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nerve.com/entertainment/2010/05/07/ten-times-the-simpsons-jumped-the-shark?page=2| title=Ten Times The Simpsons Jumped the Shark|author=James Greene Jr.|date=2010-05-06|accessdate=2012-01-23|publisher= Nerve.com}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 17:43, 23 January 2012
| "How I Spent My Strummer Vacation" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
 | |
| Episode no. | Season 14 |
| Directed by | Mike B. Anderson |
| Written by | Mike Scully |
| Original air date | November 10, 2002 |
| Episode features | |
| Couch gag | The living room is in an ocean. Homer is on water skis, with the others on him, as he ski-jumps over sharks; everybody lands on the couch, but Homer’s legs are in the mouth of the sharks.[1] |
| Commentary | Matt Groening Mike Scully Al Jean Ian Maxtone-Graham Matt Selman John Frink Dana Gould Tom Gammill Dan Castellaneta Mike B. Anderson Steven Dean Moore Michael Price |
"How I Spent My Strummer Vacation" is the second episode of The Simpsons' fourteenth season. The episode was first broadcast on November 10, 2002.[2] It was intended to be the season premiere, but "Treehouse of Horror XIII" was moved ahead for Halloween. This episode was heavily promoted due to its list of high-profile guest stars, and is the last episode written by Mike Scully. This episode is also the last to be produced in traditional cel animation. 3 weeks later, "Helter Shelter" became the last traditional cel animated episode to air.
Plot
On a visit to Moe's, Homer has no money to pay for his beer and Moe will not give him any freebies. As a result, he goes around town doing alternate things to feel drunk, such as breathing thin air on top of a mountain, licking toads and giving blood. Moe feels guilty about earlier and gives Homer a free beer, but Homer is already heavily intoxicated. Moe, Lenny and Carl put Homer in taxi to take him home. He is secretly being videotaped on a reality show called Taxicab Conversations, and what he says on tape are some unpleasant things about Marge and the kids, as well as his dream of being a rock star. His family is not impressed with him, but soon realise that they do somewhat burden him. To make up for this, the family takes Homer to a Rock 'n Roll Fantasy Camp, run by The Rolling Stones. At the camp, Homer and a bunch of other Springfield citizens learn about rock music, with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Elvis Costello, Lenny Kravitz, Tom Petty, and Brian Setzer. Finally, the wannabe-rockstars have a mock rock concert, with Homer as the lead guitarist and singer.
However, it does not last long as the camp was actually a one-week only camp. Homer's dream is shattered and he does not want to leave. That is, until Mick Jagger offers Homer a chance to perform at a benefit gig, the "Concert for Planet Hollywood". Homer, excited, gets passes for his friends so they can see him at the concert. Homer is shocked when he is asked to perform the duties of a roadie. When he goes on stage to test the microphone, seeing his family and friends out there rooting for him, he sings a rock song and steals the show. This angers the rock stars, who attempt to run Homer off the stage with a big mobile fire-breathing devil's head. The devil's head goes out of control and plows into the audience.
The performers, feeling sorry about their actions, offer Homer an opportunity to perform at another benefit concert (for the victims of the recently messed-up gig), but he declines and prefers to perform at home instead. However, at the end of the episode he replaces his car with the big devil's head (given to him by the band) using it to take Bart and Lisa to school, much to the fascination of the kids there. Principal Skinner then tells Homer that he is not supposed to stop his car in the school bus zone. In retaliation, Homer activates the devil's fire breath, burning off Skinner's clothes, much to the delight of the kids.[1]
Cultural references
The cab videotaping Homer is a parody of Taxicab Confessions.[3] The title of the episode, How I Spent My Strummer Vacation, is a play on words, referencing Joe Strummer of The Clash. The couch gag is a visual pun of the slang term, jump the shark, which describes when a TV show has reached its creative peak and is slowly declining in quality. In addition, when the camp is over, Mick Jagger tells Homer to cheer up, "it's only rock and roll camp", and Homer responds, "but I like it." This is in reference to the Rolling Stones song "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I like It)". The songs include "Rip This Joint", "Start Me Up", "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)", and "She's So Cold", all by the Rolling Stones, "Are You Gonna Go My Way" by Lenny Kravitz, "Pump It Up" by Elvis Costello and "The Last DJ" by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. The name of the camp is a reference to Bad Company song Rock 'n Roll Fantasy.
Reception
In 2003, Annie Alleman of The Herald News named the episode her all-time favorite Simpsons episode.[3] The same year, writers of Entertainment Weekly listed it as the twenty-second best Simpsons episode of all time. They elaborated that "You've gotta admire a show that lands the greatest names in rock and then gives them as much respect as a brown M&M. [...] While rockers have always shone in 'Simpsons' solos, the Stones so giddily mock their hall-of-fame status it makes "Strummer" the series' Woodstock: a classic-rock show even Disco Stu could get behind."[4] Robert Canning of IGN in a Flashback Review gave the episode a 8.6 saying it was "Great" and also stated " In a season that I generally see as ho-hum ("Pray Anything" is the only other episode I rate highly), "How I Spent My Strummer Vacation" simply rocks".[5] In 2007, Simon Crerar of The Times listed Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Elvis Costello and Lenny Kravitz's performances among the thirty-three funniest cameos in the history of the show.[6] In 2011, Kravitz revealed that his greatest achievement was the appearance on The Simpsons in the eyes of his young relatives. He explained that "To my nieces and nephews appearing on 'The Simpsons' was when I actually made it. All the other stuff doesn't count."[7] James Greene of Nerve.com however, put the episode seventh on his list Ten Times The Simpsons Jumped the Shark, criticizing "shoehorning six rock stars into a Homer-recaptures-his-youth story" and the fact that "the episode's namesake, Joe Strummer, wasn't even in the fucking thing!"[8]
References
- ^ a b McCann, Jesse L. (2002). The Simpsons Beyond Forever!: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family ...Still Continued. HarperCollins. p. 43. ISBN 0-06-050592-3.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "How I Spent My Strummer Vacation". The Simpsons.com. Retrieved 2007-07-30.
- ^ a b Alleman, Annie (2003-02-13). "'Simpsons' -- favorites from a classic favorite". The Herald News. p. D1.
- ^ "The Family Dynamic". Entertainment Weekly. 2003-01-29. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
- ^ Canning, Robert (August 25, 2008) http://tv.ign.com/articles/902/902411p1.html IGN Retrieved May 30, 2010
- ^ Crerar, Simon (2007-07-05). "The 33 funniest Simpsons cameos ever". The Times. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
- ^ "Lenny Kravitz Impressed Family With Simpsons". Contactmusic.com. October 22, 2011.
{{cite web}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ James Greene Jr. (2010-05-06). "Ten Times The Simpsons Jumped the Shark". Nerve.com. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
External links
- "How I Spent My Strummer Vacation" at The Simpsons.com
- "How I Spent My Strummer Vacation" at IMDb
