Welcome back to your regularly scheduled The Simpsons recap party! (It's similar to a Nick Cannon party in that neither has a definite end point.) We parted ways with animated comedy's first family before the holidays with a brief foray into the distant future of Simpsons continuity. Now, we're back to the present with what's sure to be Noah Rothman's favorite episode of the season: A rather thorough ribbing of political pundits slash the Tea Party slash commercial airlines. Quick with a one-liner and featuring some clever bits from the whole family, "Politically Inept, With Homer Simpson" gets us back into the groove with style.

That said, the ep does pick up right where that Krusty the Klown reboot left off re: wackadoo plot structure. Here's what I gathered from this one: The family's traveling by air to a wedding and not a single thing goes Homer's way. The TSA crackdown hits hard. The plane gets stuck on the tarmac for 7+ hours with no air, crying babies, and odorous ethnic food aplenty. (One dude drinks of a mostly-intact goat skull. This plot is not messing around). Then, to top it all off, a flight attendant forbids Homer from going to the bathroom. He freaks out and seizes control of the intercom, which he uses to shout out an air travel manifesto: "I only want what everyone wants... preferential treatment!" The tirade earns Homer a trip to the security office and a beating from the airline personnel--though, if you're reading this post on an airplane, they aren't from the airline you chose. The caption said so! Eventually, Homer makes it out in one piece, but not before Bart uploads a video of his father's exploits to YouTube.

The video goes viral and soon Homer's appearing on a major conservative talk show. The talking heads appear eager to take him down, but Homer gets some good advice from Marge and yells at his detractors the same way he does during sports games. Speaking loudly and emphatically is a good strategy, so eventually Homer gets his own show called Gut Check with Homer Simpson. It's a big success, mostly because Homer cries a lot and talks about America. Then there's this thing where Homer has a giant steak in the shape of the continental U.S., from which he carves California and New England before covering the whole thing in the "gravy of freedom." At the end of this bizarre carnivore/patriot ritual, he dons the gravy boat as a helmet and inspires his legion of followers to do the same.

It's not long before Homer's summoned to a meeting of influential Republicans to hammer out his election endorsement. He doesn't like any of the candidates so he ends up siding with Ted Nugent, who arrives with bow and arrow in hand. Frightened at the prospect of a Nugent 2012 win, Lisa fakes a vision from James Madison to convince Homer that politics are srs bsnz. She confronts Homer directly about his endorsement when he's announcing it on his show--when his emotions fail him, he listens to reason and withdraws from the political world completely.

I think any The Simpsons recap with this many leftovers is indicative of a good episode. I'll have to ask Noah if he saw it tomorrow, whether the gravy boaters are Tea Party members, etc. etc.

SumOlogy

Grade: 7/10

Leftovers

I always sort of suspected that Marge would hide a murder weapon in her hair.

"Marge, do we really need all of these feminine products?" "That's toothpaste."

"WE PROBABLY HAVE RIGHTS!"

I'm tagging everything Baby Rides Kitten Rides Penguin.

"From now on, when someone asks me, I'm gonna say you ARE my father!"

NOT RACIST THINGS!

"That's not you; they just painted Shrek yellow!" "It's still a great honor."

"People know I'm doing a character! Like Stephen Colbert, or Newt Gingrich."

"If there's one that I hate being taught, it's a lesson."

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