"
Simpson Tide" is the nineteenth episode of
The Simpsons<nowiki>'</nowiki>
ninth season and originally aired on the
Fox network on March 29, 1998. After being fired from the
Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, Homer decides to join the
United States Navy Reserve. The episode was the second and last to be written by
Joshua Sternin and
Jeffrey Ventimilia and was also the final episode directed by Milton Gray.
It guest starred
Rod Steiger as Captain Tenille and
Bob Denver as himself, with one-time
Simpsons writer
Michael Carrington making an appearance as the Drill Sergeant. This was the last episode
Al Jean and
Mike Reiss executive produced together, although Jean would become show runner again in
season 13.
Plot
Homer,
Lenny and
Carl all want a
doughnut, but only one is left. Homer thinks up a solution: he places the donut in the reactor core in an attempt to make it huge. Within ten minutes, the
power plant is on fire and Homer is fired (after pretending it was his first day which Mr. Burns initially fell for until Smithers pointed out who he actually was). While lying on the couch at home, Homer sees a recruitment ad on TV for the
Naval Reserve and decides to make a difference and enlist.
Moe,
Barney, and
Apu also decide to join him. Meanwhile,
Bart is impressed when
Milhouse gets an
earring, and all the students (including the bullies) find it very cool. Bart then buys himself an...
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