Team Homer

"Team Homer" is the twelfth episode of Season 7.
==Synopsis==
In order to play on League Night at Barney's Bowl-A-Rama, Homer assembles a ragtag group of bowlers (Apu, Moe, and Otto the bus driver) to play, but when he can't pony up the $500 fee, he asks Mr. Burns for the money, who is so high on ether that he thinks Homer is The Pillsbury Doughboy (Poppin' Fresh). Meanwhile, Bart buys the latest issue of MAD magazine and finds an iron-on T-shirt decal that reads "Down with Homework", which he wears to school — and the ensuing riot leads Springfield Elementary to implement a uniforms-only dress code that slowly turns the kids into boring shells of their former selves.
== Full Story ==
Homer is at Moe's and hardly anyone is there (not knowing that they almost had Mayor Quimby and his family come in for a drinking contest, which would have led to some excitement and a big payday for Moe), so he and Moe go to the bowling alley. Unfortunately, it's League Night at Barney's Bowl-o-Rama and is so crowded that The Squeaky-Voiced Teen can't rent a lane to his own mother (which turns out to be literal when Lunchlady Doris walks by and says, "I have no son!"). Homer decides that he, Moe, Apu, and Otto (who was randomly picked after Homer was told that bowling teams are supposed to have four members) can be a bowling team so they can play on league nights. There's just one problem: the application fee is $500 which none of them have. When offering to pay with a two-party, out-of-state, post-dated check doesn't work, Homer asks Marge for the money in exchange for sex, which doesn't work as Marge is morally opposed to prostitution and, even if she wasn't, she doesn't have the money for it. Marge then suggests that Homer can get the money from his boss, Mr. Burns. Homer initially refuses, as Mr. Burns turned Homer down for three times that amount ($1500) for an undisclosed reason, but, seeing as how Homer has no choice (and didn't think to ask Moe or Apu for the money, since both have their own businesses and are successful at it), Homer goes to Mr. Burns' to ask for the $500, which he easily gets as Mr. Burns is high on ether and sees Homer as Poppin' Fresh (The Pillsbury Doughboy). In the bowling league, the "Pin Pals" are crushing the competition, giving Homer and the others a huge step toward the trophy, but when Burns realizes he's given money away while under the influence, he takes his anger out on the team by joining it.
Meanwhile, Bart wears a shirt with a "Down With Homework" slogan design (on it that he got from a MAD Magazine to school, which completely shocks his teachers (including Skinner) but all the kids love it and says there should be no homework, this leads them to make a big mess and have fun. After Superintendent Chalmers is trampled by the kids, Skinner discovers Bart is behind this. Skinner takes away Bart's shirt, he reveals that he knew about Magazine which was a hard part in his life. While not sure about Bart's punishment, he says he'll think on it and has Bart where a seat cushion home. Three days later, Skinner is on the assembly stage telling all the students about the Down With Homework incident and that he requiring every student (including Bart) to wear uniforms starting Monday. All the students blame Bart for the incident. Martin and Lisa model the new uniforms, which the students all hate. The uniforms arrive in extra small or extra large when Skinner gets informed they ran out of extra large. With the new uniforms all the students are acting neutral, even blinking in unison. The kids are losing their edge as Bart cannot seem to pull pranks and Nelson can't even do his signature laugh. Later when all the students are having recess, Superintendent Chalmers arrives, commending Skinner for the kids' sense of quiet and melancholy. Suddenly, rain starts pouring down and the non-colorfast uniforms turn vibrant tie-dye colors. The kids then freak out and start having fun again. The children are overjoyed at the now-fun outfits. Skinner runs off after remembering that he got the uniforms from the same place he got his mother's dress, and his mother is outside at the park right now. Chalmers follows soon after not wanting to miss it.
Homer, Moe and Apu are upset that Burns costs them every game they play and make Homer tell Burns he is off the team, but they have a change of heart when he gets them new uniforms. The team then play the Holy Rollers, a team of members of the church, in the championship game. In a bizarre turn of events, Burns wins the game for the team, but he takes the trophy for all himself. Homer doesn't stand for this, and breaks into the mansion to steal it as his teammates watch. Homer gets mauled by the guard dogs and his team runs off as he continues to be mauled.
==Behind the Laughter==
===Production===
This episode was dedicated to the memory of Doris Grau.
== Citations ==
fr:Une partie Homérique
pl:Team Homer
pt:O time de Homer
Category:Sport-themed Episodes
Category:Homer episodes
Category:Mr. Burns Episodes
Category:Apu episodes
Category:Moe episodes
Category:Episodes named after a character
Category:Otto episodes
Category:Episodes featuring guest stars
Category:Superintendent Chalmers Episodes
Category:Bart episodes
Category:Kids episodes
Category:Episodes without Maggie
Category:Episodes named after Homer
Category:Written by Mike Scully
Category:Directed by Mark Kirkland
Category:Highly Rated Episodes
Category:History
Category:Film Roman