[APLang3-2006] Nelson Bonilla Column

[NelsitoB@aol.com]

my column, on time as usual ;p

-nelson bonilla


Review:  "Homer Simpson in: 'Kidney Trouble' "
Matt Groening has done it countless times, a marvelous episode of the 
Simpsons that becomes a classic re-run enjoyed with every viewing as much as the 
last. In the 10th season, "Homer Simpson in: 'Kidney Trouble' " tells the story of 
how Abe “Grandpa” Simpson’s kidneys exploded and Homer had to donate one of 
his to save his father’s life.
            Currently in their 17th season, the producers of she Simpsons 
have yet to lose their spark. In what I consider to be the peak of the series, 
the middle seasons (I’d say 7-13), they had gained years of valuable experience 
and knowledge of what the audience wanted, but were still fresh with new ideas 
and jokes. "Homer Simpson in: 'Kidney Trouble' " is a timeless example of 
Simpsons’ wit, satire, and metaphor of everyday life occurrences as well as less 
common ones.
            In the typical Simpson fashion, the episode’s first 10 minutes 
have almost nothing to do with the actual plot which destroys any sense of 
predictability that one may have at first. It is Grandpa Simpson’s birthday and the 
rest of the family is going to a historical western town. The car breaks down 
in front of the Nursing Home where Grandpa lives so Grandpa thinks the family 
is there to spend time with him when in reality they are desperately trying 
to get the car started before Grandpa gets on. Comical hilarity ensues.
            As the family arrives at Bloodbath Gulch, “The friendliest town 
in the old west,” Marge, the mother, thinks her kids will get a real 
educational kick out of the experience, but ironically, the town was founded by 
prostitutes and the economy was run by prostitutes and the prostitute express, which 
could bring in a fresh prostitutes every three days! A pretend shootout breaks 
out while Curly, the laid-off town preacher, walks the streets drunks. Now, in 
society, who knew that penniless people might turn to alcoholism to solve 
their problems? The producers of the Simpsons sure did, and they decided it might 
be nice to include that in their episode. This is just one of the many 
subtle, and not-so-subtle, insights into society that the Simpsons provides.
            A personal favorite of the episode was in the Bar, where robot 
cowboys were playing poker and dancing on stage. Homer walks up to the counter 
and says “Hey robot, get your metal ass down here!”
The bartender walks over and responds, “First of all, I’m not a robot. And 
second of all, I got this metal ass in ‘Nam defending this country for lazy 
bums like you!…Now what’ll you have partner?”
Goodness, when will Vietnam veterans let go? John Kerry certainly has. Not 
once did he mention his Veteran Status during the ’04 campaign. We’ve given you 
our gratitude and even built a memorial. GOSH
            With a more than a few empty bottles on the counter, Grandpa 
says, “you can’t get a good sarsaparilla like this back in Springfield, it 
angries up the blood.”
“You like it, do you?”
“UP YOURS!”
This short, but sweet conversation lays the pavement for the actual plot of 
the episode. The writers do a great job in their transition, but the random 
swing of events makes one wonder if they sat down with an idea of what they were 
going to write about, or if they just sat down and wrote whatever came to 
mind. On the ride home, Grandpa needs to use the restroom, but Homer refuses to 
pull over. A trip to Dr. Hibbert’s afterwards proves that Grandpa’s kidneys 
exploded from holding in his urine too long. Homer has no choice but to give one 
of his kidneys to his dying father. After learning that the removal of a 
kidney not just a “deadly procedure,” but is actually a “deadly operation,” Homer 
has second thoughts about his generous donation. 
            Homer runs away from the hospital (twice) seconds before being 
put to sleep, but luckily on his second escape, an 18 wheeler hauling cars 
almost runs him over. The 18 wheeler stops in time, but one of the cars it was 
carrying falls on Homer.  While he was in the hospital recovering, the Dr. helped 
himself to one of Homer’s kidneys.
An angry Homer sees his dad well and yells “I’ll get my kidney back old man! 
You have to sleep sometime!”
            What a marvelous episode, from beginning with Grandpa’s birthday 
till the end with Grandpa’s re-birth, Matt Groening keeps the audience 
wondering as to where the show will go. The scattered humor and unpredictability of 
this episode make it impossible to change the channel. Years after its original 
air date "Homer Simpson in: 'Kidney Trouble' " is still as funny as the first 
time I saw it.
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