Saturday, September 02, 2006

why Homer's pockets hurt

"My pockets hurt" is a quote from "Kill The Alligator and Run." It's the nineteenth episode of the eleventh season of The Simpsons. It aired on April 30, 2000.

A self-help test gone wrong gives Homer insomnia which causes him to go crazy. The company psychiatrist recommends a long vacation. Somewhere along the way, Homer finds a little "mental" pennant to wave. As the Simpson family arrives in Florida for Homer's recovery this exchange takes place:

Lisa: Mom, Bart's sitting next to me.
Bart: Mom, Lisa's growing.
Marge: Quiet, you two. You know your father's just had a breakdown.
Homer: My pockets hurt.

When the family arrives in Florida, it is Spring Break. Marge wants Homer to stay in his hotel room, but he escapes to party.


The Simpsons have a long and festive history of dealing with mental illness. In "Stark Raving Dad," Homer is committed for failing a psychological test.





In another episode, "Hurricane Neddy," Ned Flanders is taken to "Calmwood" a mental institution after a breakdown.


In one of my favorite episodes "Treehouse of Horror V," a remake of "The Shining," Homer goes crazy after being deprived of TV and beer.

Marge: Homer? Homey? Hmm...[notices typewriter] What he's typed will be a window into his madness. [reads it] "Feelin' fine". Woah! That's a relief. [lightning strikes, revealing "No TV and no beer make Homer go crazy" scribbled all over the walls] Mmm...this is less encouraging.
Homer: [bursting in] Hello!
Marge: Aah!
Homer: So what do you think, Marge? All I need is a title. I was thinking along the lines of "No TV and No Beer Make Homer" something something.
Marge: [timid] "Go Crazy"?
Homer: Don't mind if I do!




Ultimately, Home has one of these and I don't:

1 comment:

betty said...

does he get this from a cereal box or by mail order? 'cuz i'm sure we can hook you up with one of those if it's very necessary :)