Homer the Whopper

"Homer the Whopper" is the premiere episode of Season 21, although this episode was originally produced for Season 20.
==Synopsis==
Comic Book Guy's comic book hero, Everyman that Homer is disguising himself as, becomes a big hit in Springfield and he agrees to a movie version. Comic Book Guy insists that he chooses who plays the lead role and gives the part to Homer. However, the movie company hire a personal trainer for Homer, known as Lyle McCarthy, so that he can get fit for the part. When Lyle leaves, Homer puts on weight again and the movie is a disaster. The company offers CBG the chance to direct a sequel if he pretends he liked the movie but he criticizes it.
== Full Story ==
Bart and Milhouse convinced Comic Book Guy into publishing a comic book he wrote titled Everyman, in which the title character, an overweight average man called Avery Mann, can absorb superpowers from the characters of comic books he touches. The comic becomes an instant hit and many Hollywood studios become interested in making it into a movie. Comic Book Guy agrees to let Everyman become a movie but only if he can pick the star. When Comic Book Guy sees Homer, he considers Homer would be perfect for the role, as he wants Everyman to be played by a middle-aged fat man like his character. The studio executives realize that audiences want a physically fit actor for the role, so that people will see the everyman they "want" to be rather than the everyman they are. They hire celebrity fitness trainer Lyle McCarthy to make Homer fit for the role. After a month, Homer becomes fit and muscular, so the movie begins production. Soon afterwards, however, McCarthy leaves Homer for another client. Without McCarthy to keep him fit, Homer starts eating again and gains all the weight back. Homer can no longer fit into his costume or even his trailer and the movie begins to go over budget. The studio executives and Comic Book Guy worry that the film will not be successful. The final version of the movie features scenes with the fat Homer and the physically fit Homer merged, upsetting the audience. After the premiere of the film, McCarthy returns and offers to make Homer physically fit again, which Homer accepts. The studio executives offer to permit Comic Book Guy direct the sequel, on the condition that he will give false information to the fans and say that he liked the film. However, Comic Book Guy rejects the offer and openly criticizes the movie online by saying, "Worst. Movie. Ever."
==Behind the Laughter==
* Everyman looks like Iron Man in the first scene.
* In the filming scene it looks like Bruce Wayne having a dinner just like in the films.
=== Production ===
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, writers of the film Superbad, asked the producers of The Simpsons if they could write an episode. They were invited to the writers room where they pitched several episode ideas. One was accepted, and they wrote an outline with the help of some feedback from the regular writers. The table read took place in August 2008, and production on the episode began soon after that. Rogen later said, "we sat down for a read-through and three hours later I'm in a studio improv-ing with Homer Simpson, it was the single greatest day of my life."
=== Reception ===
"Homer the Whopper" was watched in 8.31 million homes and acquired a 4.3 Nielsen rating/12% share.
== Citations ==
fr:Super Homer
pl:Homer the Whopper
pt:Homer a Baleia
ru:Гомер - громила
sv:Homer the Whopper
Category:Homer episodes
Category:Season premieres
Category:Comic Book Guy Episodes
Category:Episodes named after a character
Category:Episodes featuring guest stars
Category:Work-themed Episodes
Category:Movies and films themed-episodes
Category:Milhouse episodes
Category:Super-heroes themed episodes
Category:Firsts
Category:'The' Episodes
Category:Episodes named after Homer
Category:Action-packed episodes
Category:Bart episodes
Category:Episodes with narration
Category:Episodes with alternate end credits
Category:Episodes Where Homer cries