Remaking Moe's...Again
I won't lie. It's been a while since I have actually tuned into a new episode of the Simpsons. It's like watching a cancer patient. An old friend dying a slow, at times painful death...
But (and perhaps this is a good sign or just the effects of the chemo) I was intrigued to see the preview of last Sunday's episode during football as it had something to do with Moe's being turned into a gay bar.
Sidebar: It's funny how a seemingly small town like Springfield has both a gay bar, a lesbian bar and a bar devoted to airline pilots... but I digress.
Upon seeing Moe's undergoing yet another transformation, I decided I had to watch. And I did. And I actually laughed a few times.
First of all,the episode is called "Flaming Moe" -- not to be confused with the delightful 1991 episode called "Flaming Moe's." When I first read the title, I read it as Flaming Moe's and got a little irritated. Sure, they've been rehashing the same jokes for a while now, but the same episode titles -- come on!
Alas, I was wrong. And the episode is not so much about Flaming Moe's as it is about Flaming Moe himself. Moe is convinced by Smithers to change the beloved dank of Moe's Tavern to a gay bar for the less-than-hot gay man.
So why would Smithers bother? Burns neglected to include his lapdog in his will, claiming it is due to Smithers not being a self-made man. And Smithers tries going to the town's only gay club to forget his troubles, only to be turned away at the door for his crewcut and bow tie. And somehow revamping a bar owned by someone else is supposed to convince Mr. Burns to put him in the will... hmm. Weak. I think a better idea would be for Smithers to try out and compete on Project Runway. That would be funny.
Anyhoo, the episode moves onto dealing with Moe and his acceptance of the gay lifestyle -- so much so that he doesn't mind that his patrons think he is one of them. And then in a reference to Milk, he runs for councilman. Smithers outs Moe as straight and it's right back to where we started from.
Some highlights...
Moe points out the fact that he has changed the bar so many times, showing his pictures on the wall of the pace when it was "The Nag and Weasel" (lame episode with Marge as his biz partner) and "Uncle Moe's Family Feedbag" (excellent episode) among others including a dream of his changing the bar into a 60's throwback complete with fringe vest and go-go dancers.
The montage to change the bar into Mo's (short for Homo's, I hope) and then another montage to change it back. I won't go into details here. See it for yourself.
At least, at this point in Season 22, The Simpsons can make fun of the fact that they are running out of ideas.
But (and perhaps this is a good sign or just the effects of the chemo) I was intrigued to see the preview of last Sunday's episode during football as it had something to do with Moe's being turned into a gay bar.
Sidebar: It's funny how a seemingly small town like Springfield has both a gay bar, a lesbian bar and a bar devoted to airline pilots... but I digress.
Upon seeing Moe's undergoing yet another transformation, I decided I had to watch. And I did. And I actually laughed a few times.
Alas, I was wrong. And the episode is not so much about Flaming Moe's as it is about Flaming Moe himself. Moe is convinced by Smithers to change the beloved dank of Moe's Tavern to a gay bar for the less-than-hot gay man.
Anyhoo, the episode moves onto dealing with Moe and his acceptance of the gay lifestyle -- so much so that he doesn't mind that his patrons think he is one of them. And then in a reference to Milk, he runs for councilman. Smithers outs Moe as straight and it's right back to where we started from.
Some highlights...
Moe points out the fact that he has changed the bar so many times, showing his pictures on the wall of the pace when it was "The Nag and Weasel" (lame episode with Marge as his biz partner) and "Uncle Moe's Family Feedbag" (excellent episode) among others including a dream of his changing the bar into a 60's throwback complete with fringe vest and go-go dancers.
The montage to change the bar into Mo's (short for Homo's, I hope) and then another montage to change it back. I won't go into details here. See it for yourself.
At least, at this point in Season 22, The Simpsons can make fun of the fact that they are running out of ideas.
