The Front

The Front is the nineteenth episode of Season 4.
==Synopsis==
After watching a terrible episode of The Itchy & Scratchy Show, Bart and Lisa agree they can write better episodes themselves, but when they get rejected by Roger Meyers, Jr., the pair use Grampa Simpson's real name (Abraham J. Simpson) to be taken more seriously, leading Grampa to be hired as an I&S writer. Meanwhile, Homer and Marge go to their high school reunion, and Homer must go back so he can pass remedial science 1-A.
== Full Story ==
Bart and Lisa watch a terrible episode of The Itchy & Scratchy Show (one where the duo listlessly hit each and it ends with a tacked-on "Say No to Drugs" message) and decide they can write a better one themselves. Inspired by the sight of Homer accidentally cutting Marge's hair with hedge shears, they write "Little Barbershop of Horrors," but the episode is rejected by Roger Meyers, Jr., head of Itchy & Scratchy International. Correctly guessing that Meyers did not take them seriously because they were children, they resubmit the manuscript under the name of Abraham Simpson. As a result, Grampa is given a job as staff writer. Bart and Lisa inform him that they were submitting the scripts under his name, and they develop a plan whereby Grampa will show up for work at the writer's office and continue to secretly pass off Bart and Lisa's scripts as his own, while they split the money three ways. Later on, Grampa tells Roger Meyers, Jr. that he really didn't write any of the script and is also a fraud, but Roger ignores the confession.
Meanwhile, Homer and Marge are invited to their "Class of 1974" high school reunion. They have a great time, with Homer winning numerous awards (all of them with a dubious or negative nature). However, the school principal, Mr. Dondelinger, reveals that Homer never graduated because he failed a remedial science class. Mr. Dondelinger revokes all of Homer's awards, making him the subject of ridicule before the audience. A determined Homer says he is going to earn his GED. Marge seems proud of Homer, until he claims the incentive to do so is to reclaim the goofy trophies.
Later, at a ceremony called the "Annual Cartoon Awards", Grampa is recognized for outstanding writing in a cartoon series. Krusty the Clown and Brooke Shields present the award for Outstanding Writer, although by the time the awards started, only Shields committed to be the presenter of the awards, as Krusty angrily stormed off stage after the script writer mistook Krusty's hair for another hair color when writing jokes for his lines. After watching the clip shown to introduce the award — the first time he has ever seen the show — Grampa is appalled, both at how violent it is and at the audience for being amused by it. He directs his acceptance speech as an assault against the cartoon and against the audience attending the ceremony. He then storms off, as the crowd boos and throws vegetables at him. Two of the writers (modeled after Al Jean and Mike Reiss) are the only ones who take Grampa's speech seriously and decide that they've been wasting their lives writing for cartoons, with the Al Jean-looking writer deciding to write a live-action sitcom about a sassy robot instead. Grampa gives the award to Lisa and Bart, and Bart swears never to watch an award show again, unless it has "that delightful Billy Crystal".
In the subplot, Homer attends night school. One class talks about heat and calories, with the burning of a doughnut being shown as to how the calorie content of food is measured. Homer bursts into tears seeing one of his beloved donuts being used in this manner. At the course's end, Homer takes the final exam, which he passed. Homer earns his GED and expresses enthusiasm about he is no longer a dropout.
The episode ends with an elderly Homer and Marge attending the 50th reunion in 2024. An aged Mr. Dondelinger wonders why Homer is wearing a toilet plunger for a hat, which Homer is unaware of until now, much to Marge's consternation.
Before the rest of the credits start to roll, a brief segment entitled "The Adventures of Ned Flanders" is shown (complete with its own theme song). In it, Ned scolds Rod and Todd for not wanting to go to church. They then tell him that it is in fact Saturday, and Ned laughs as the episode finishes completely.
== Citations ==
de:Wir vom Trickfilm
fr:Le Roi du dessin animé
pl:The Front
pt:A barreira
Category:Grampa Episodes
Category:Episodes featuring guest stars
Category:Television-themed Episodes
Category:Homer episodes
Category:Bart episodes
Category:Lisa episodes
Category:Episodes named after a film or TV Show
Category:Episodes without Maggie
Category:Flash-forward episodes
Category:Episodes on DVD
Category:Episodes Set In The Future
Category:Written by one-time writers
Category:Directed by Rich Moore
Category:Highly Rated Episodes
Category:Education-themed episodes
Category:Episodes where Homer chokes Bart