The 20 Most Cromulent Simpsons Episodes of All-Time: #13

Howdy everyone. Only 12 more weeks until “The Simpsons Movie” comes out. Leading up to then CDNMoose and I are counting down the 20 most cromulent episodes of The Simpsons. We’re hear at 13 and I must give you a bit of warning before going on.

This episode is one of my favorites. It’s definitely in my personal Top Five episodes of the entire series. Yes it’s a little weird. Ok, a lot weird especially in Act II. And yes there are not a lot of LOL jokes in there. Yet the entire show, from beginning to end, just fits perfectly together. Plus, who doesn’t like talking dogs?

So let’s go explore the rest of this episode which, along with several other already profiled shows, makes me realize that Season 8 wasn’t as bad as I thought.

#14 “El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer” Written by Ken Keeler Directed by Jim Reardon Season 8, Episode Originally aired January 5, 1997

20. Homer At The Bat 19. Hurricane Neddy 18. Homer Goes to College 17. Homer’s Enemy 16. The Cartridge Family 15. 22 Short Films About Springfield 14. Treehouse of Horror II 13. El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer 12. 11.

10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1.

Episode Synopsis

Marge tries to keep the Chili Cook-Off a secret from Homer, but can’t. When the family goes to the event, Homer eats an “insanity pepper” and starts to hallucinate. During his trip a space coyote tells him to find his soul mate. Homer states that his soul mate is Marge, but has some doubts after she gets mad at him. At the end they realize that, indeed, they are each other’s soul mates. And everyone gets some hot pants.

Why This Episode Is Particularly Cromulent

Because the animation in this episode is enough for inclusion. It’s fantastic, especially in Act II. Johnny Cash makes a guest appearance, which again is enough.

Notes and Observations

• In case someone didn’t take Spanish I in high school (hey, maybe they took French), the title in English is “The Mysterious Voyage of Homer.” Or to be more technical, “The Mysterious Voyage of Our Homer.”
• This episode is based on the books by Carlos Castaneda.
• George Meyers first pitched the idea, but the staff minus Matt Groening thought it was too odd at first.
• Meyers wanted an episode that saw someone take a mystical journey without the use of drugs. He decided to go with really hot chili peppers.
• As stated above, Johnny Cash makes a guest staring role as the space coyote. The show wanted either him or Bob Dylan, but Dylan turned them down.
• David Silverman animated the majority of the hallucination sequence because he wanted to get it just right.
• The butterfly Homer runs away from was created using 3D computer animation.
• Several of the scenes in this episode is a reference to other shows-the train heading straight towards Homer at the end of hallucination is a reference to Soul Train, and EARL being a computer is in reference to a Twilight Zone episode.
• FOX sent a note to the writers about the scene where Homer pours candle wax in his mouth. Quote the censors: “To discourage imitation by young and foolish viewers, when Homer begins to pour hot wax into his mouth, please have him scream in pain so kids will understand that doing this would actually burn their mouths.”

Memorable Quotes

Homer: Oh, why do they have to put all of this crud in my newspaper. “World.” “The Arts.” “Religion.” Ah-ha! Here it is: “Kickin’ Back.”

Homer: Yeah, it’s a lazy dog-dangling afternoon.

Marge: Well, I just fell like filling the house with the rich satisfying smell of tobacco.

Homer: What’s wrong with you? What are you trying to hide from me…
[Homer opens the door and sniffs]
What’s that smell? Onions…chili powder… cumin… juicy ground chuck? It’s chili! Oh, my God, I’m missing the chili cook-off! I’m missing the cook-off, it’s going on right now, and I’m missing it.
Marge: All right, I was trying to keep it from you, but I had a good reason. Every time you go to that cook-off you get drunk as a poet on payday.

Lisa: I’m gonna go get some vegetarian chili before they get desperate and add meat.
Bart: I’m gonna go claim some valuables at the lost-and-found.

Marge: Oh, look at that adorable spice rack! Eight spices? Some must be doubles. Ore-GAH-no? What the hell?
Homer: Marge, we’re missing the chili. Less artsy, more fartsy.
Marge: Homer, I happen to like handicrafts much more than stuffing my face.
Homer: Fine, I’ll come find you when I’m ready to stop having fun.

Helen Lovejoy: Howdy howdy, Marge and Home… oh, my mistake. Homer’s not even with you. Probably just knocking back a few “refreshments.” [chuckles]
Marge: Thank you for your concern, Helen. Homer isn’t drinking today.
Helen Lovejoy: Oh! I think it’s lovely that he said that. And that you believed him.

Homer: Five-alarm chili, eh?
Ned: Uh-huh.
Homer: [eats some] One, two… hey, what’s the big idea?
Ned: Oh, I admit it. It’s only two-alarm, two-and-a-half, tops. I just wanted to be a big man in front of the kids.
Todd: Daddy? Are you going to jail?
Ned: We’ll see, son. We’ll see.

Wiggum: Afternoon, Homer. Care for some chili? I’ve added an extra ingredient just for you. The merciless peppers of Quetzlzacatenango! Grown deep in the jungle primeval by the inmates of a Guatemalan insane asylum.

Wiggum: Hey, everybody, look who’s back. It’s the biiig baby.
[childlike] Oh, dis porridge is too hot! Oh, wah-wah-wah!
Want some more, do you? Well, sure! Heck, it’s not my job to talk people out of killing themselves.

Quimby: Good lord, this can’t be happening!
Hibbert: By all medical logic, steam should be shooting out of his ears.
Krusty: His ears, if we’re lucky.

Flanders: Well, sure, buddy, I’d be happy to help out. What can I do-diddily-doodily-diddly-hobbily-hibbily-gobbily-gobbily- gobble-gabba-gabba-hey.

Ralph: Hey, Mister, do you need some help?
Otto: Let him go, Ralph. He knows what he’s doin.

Bart: …so then I says to Mabel, I says…
[Homer walks in]
Homer: Hi, kids!
Bart: I’ll finish this later. Hi, Dad.
Homer: Where’s your mother?
Lisa: Out back.
[Homer walks out]
Bart: So anyway, I says to Mabel, I says…

Homer: I always just figured my wife was my soulmate. But if it’s not Marge, then who is it? Where do I begin looking?
Man: This really goes beyond my training as a furniture salesman, sir. Now if you don’t want the sofa, I’ll have to ask you to leave.

Homer: Hello? Is this…GBM? Uh, yeah. I read in the personals that you were seeking a soulmate. Well, I also like rainy days and movies. Uh-huh… [apprehensively] Uh, no, I don’t like that…Or that…No, it’s not that I’m afraid. [very quickly] I’m going to hang up now, bye-bye.

Homer: Oh, I give up.
Coyote: [voiceover] Find your soulmate, Homer. Find your soulmate.
Homer: Where? Where?
Coyote: This is just your memory. I can’t give you any new information.

Bart: Hey look! Is that dad?
Lisa: Either that, or Batman’s really let himself go.

McAllister: Arr, matey. Nary a warning light to be seen. ‘Tis clear sailing ahead for our precious cargo.
Sailor: Uh, would that be the hot pants, sir?
McAllister: Aye, the hot pants.

Homer: Oh, Marge! We’re number one! We’re number one! In your face, space coyote!
Marge: Space coyote?

Wiggum: Look at all them hot pants.
Lenny: Hey, who likes short shorts?
Crowd: We like short shorts!

And because I could never do justice to the beginning of the second act…

Summary

Realizing that your high school sweetheart was and is your soul mate while going on a spiritual journey lead by a space coyote cause by Guatemalan insanity peppers which was eaten by the help of pouring candle wax in your mouth=13th most cromulent Simpsons episode ever.

And stay away from those insanity peppers…