It’s possible some of you reading this weren’t even alive when The Simpsons first tackled gay issues in the Season 8 episode “Homer’s Phobia,” which debuted 15 years ago on February 16, 1997.
But Mike Scully, a producer with the long-running series since 1993, told USA Today this week that it’s one of his faves.
In the episode, Homer is uncomfortable with the fact that Marge and the kids have befriended John (director John Waters), the kitsch-loving owner of a local antiques shop. Fearful John is turning Bart gay, Homer embarks on a ridiculous campaign to bolster his son’s masculinity—including a visit to what turns out to be a queer steel mill. Homer eventually overcomes his bias, though, when John rescues him from a hunting trip gone terribly awry. As John cannily explains, “Homer, I won your respect—and all I had to do was save your life. Now, if every gay man could just do the same, you’d be set.”
Scully called the episode “relatable and hilarious” and said the out filmmaker “did a great job.”
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After it premiered, “Homer’s Phobia” won a GLAAD Media Award and an Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program, and was also named one of Entertainment Weekly‘s 25 favorite episodes of The Simpsons.
The show’s 500th episode airs this Sunday at 8pm.
Images via Fox
John
A great episode….too bad Bart Simpson is a lunatic Scientologist, that kinda taints my view of the show. Bart donated more money to Scientology then Tom Cruise.
Pocket Otter
Marge, trying to drop the hint to Homer that his new friend is gay, says, “I believe he enjoys the company of men.”
Homer’s response: “And who doesn’t?”
Classic
Nat
The audio commentary on that episode with John Waters is great.
B
It seems the video is “currently not available”. What’s the purpose of embedding a video if you can’t see it?
MotorGay.net
A classic episode.
Mark
Way before this episode was Marge Simpson in “Oh, Streetcar!” where they were all watching the Miss Springfield pageant on TV and they introduced one of the judges, a Mr. Blackwell type, and Bart snickered: “HE’S SUCH A BITCH!!”
Probably my favorite line and I remember howling the first time I saw it.
Marcus
I’m sure the producers had good intentions, but this episode is a collection of stereotypes.
wc1
@Marcus:
Your response is a stereotype.
Gregoire
One of the great gay moments of television from the pre-Will And Grace years.
shannon
OK…IN REAL LIFE….HOMERS CHARACTER WOULD BE HOMOPHOBIC ROUND HIS WIFE…BUT IN PRIVATE WOULD BE TRYING TO HOOK UP WITH GAY ONE FOR GAY SEX….WE KNOW THAT…
Tom
@wc1: LOL!
Jake the libertarian
@wc1: Haha. Amen!
NYMATGM
@Marcus: It’s John Waters, dude. Whatever stereotypes you were thinking of, he probably invented them.
Ben
Whoah, I can’t believe I’d never seen this before! Brilliant! 🙂
Jay
I don’t think the episode is that brilliant. I understand that it was the 90s and shit with any kind of a positive message towards gays hardly ever got produced back then but the episode was full of put downs towards gays. That ain’t equal treatment and I hate when gays accept contempt with open arms saying “well it could be worse!”