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Difference between revisions of "Homer's Barbershop Quartet"

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{{episode
+
{{Tab}}
|image=Homer'sBarbershopQuartet.JPG
+
{{EpisodePrevNext|Krusty Gets Kancelled|Cape Feare}}
|productionCode=9F21
+
{{Icons||FE}}
|originalAirdate=September 30, 1993
+
{{Quote|I'm telling you it's mighty nice<br>Each trip's a trip to paradise<br>With my baby on board!|[[The Be Sharps]]}}
|blackboardText=I will not win an Emmy.
+
{{Episode
|couchGag=The family does three different couch gags in three takes
+
|image= Homer's Barbershop Quartet promo.png
|specialGuestVoices=[[George Harrison]] as Himself, [[David Crosby]] as himself and The Dapper Dans as The Be-Sharp singing voices
+
|number= 82
|Written By=Jeff Martin
+
|season=5
|Directed By=
+
|snumber=1
 +
|prodcode= 9F21
 +
|airdate= September 30, [[1993]]
 +
|blackboard= I will never win an Emmy.
 +
|couchgag= The family does three different couch gags in three takes
 +
|guests= [[George Harrison]] as {{Ch|George Harrison|himself}}<br>[[David Crosby]] as {{Ch|David Crosby|himself}}
 +
|showrunner1= Al Jean
 +
|showrunner2= Mike Reiss
 +
|writer= [[Jeff Martin]]
 +
|director= [[Mark Kirkland]]
 +
|DVD features = yes
 
}}
 
}}
  
"'''Homer's Barbershop Quartet'''" is the first episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki> [[:Category:Season 5|fifth season]]. It features the Be Sharps, a fictional barbershop quartet.
+
"'''Homer's Barbershop Quartet'''" is the first episode of [[season 5]] of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and the eighty-second episode overall. It originally aired on September 30, [[1993]]. The episode was written by [[Jeff Martin]] and directed by [[Mark Kirkland]]. It guest stars [[George Harrison]] as {{Ch|George Harrison|himself}}, [[David Crosby]] as {{Ch|David Crosby|himself}} and [[The Dapper Dans]] as [[The Be-Sharps]] singing voices.
  
==Synopsis==
+
== Synopsis ==
It's the day of the Springfield Swap Meet. [[Bart Simpson|Bart]] and [[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]] notice an album cover showing [[Homer Simpson|Homer]]. They ask Homer when he recorded an album. Homer answers that he recorded an album in 1985. He mentions that every afternoon at [[Moe's Tavern|Moe's]], [[Chief Wiggum]], [[Principal Skinner]], [[Apu Nahasapeemapetilon|Apu]], and he would get together and sing.  
+
{{Desc|We flashback to 1985, where [[Homer]], [[Apu]], [[Principal Skinner]], and [[Chief Wiggum]] (later replaced by [[Barney]]) were the hit barbershop quartet known as [[The Be Sharps]]. [[George Harrison]] guest stars.}}
  
The crowd liked the singing. Homer says that his group was a barbershop quartet]], which was popular everywhere, even at church. The group initially started in [[Springfield]], but quickly found national fame.  Their career paralleled the Beatles in many ways.  This development came after an agent, Nigel, approached them and said everyone in the group could sing, except Chief Wiggum, who was too "Village People."  The group got people to audition, with [[Abraham Simpson|Grampa]] (who does a swing version of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm"), [[Groundskeeper Willie]] (who sings Petula Clark's "Downtown", but says "Doontoon" instead) , [[Jasper]] (who sings "Theme To a Summer Place" with made up lyrics), and [[Chief Wiggum]] (disguised as Doctor Dolittle who sings "If I Can Walk With the Animals") all making unsuccessful attempts. When the barbershop trio returned to Moe's, they heard [[Barney Gumble|Barney]]'s singing in a beautiful Irish voice, and are amazed. However, after Barney is chosen as the new member, people still liked Chief Wiggum. Eventually, the audience warmed up to Barney. It is obvious that this event is a parallel to Pete Best being replaced as the drummer for the Beatles by Ringo Starr. In fact, the audience warmed to Barney so fast that Moe thought Nigel paid them to support Barney.
+
== Plot ==
[[Image:Homers_Barbershop_Quartet.gif|right|200px]]
+
[[File:Homer's Barbershop Quartet.png|thumb|left|200px|The Be-Sharps performing "Hello, My Baby" at Moe's]]
 +
During the Springfield Swap Meet, [[Bart]] and [[Lisa]] notice an album cover showing [[Homer]]. They ask Homer when he recorded an album. Homer answers that he recorded an album in 1985. He mentions that every afternoon at [[Moe's]], [[Chief Wiggum]], [[Principal Skinner]], [[Apu]], and he would get together and sing.
  
The group considered various names, finally calling themselves "[[The Be Sharps]]." They had decided their name should be witty initially, but should become less funny each time you heard it.  
+
The crowd liked the singing. Homer says that his group was a barbershop quartet, which was popular everywhere, even at church. The group initially started in [[Springfield]], but quickly found national fame after their new agent, Nigel, approached them and said everyone in the group could sing except Chief Wiggum, who was too "Village People." The group held auditions for a replacement, with [[Grampa]] (who did a swing version of ''Old MacDonald had a Farm''), [[Groundskeeper Willie]] (who sang Petula Clark's ''Downtown'', but says "Doontoon" instead), [[Jasper]] (who sang ''Theme To a Summer Place'' with made up lyrics), and Chief Wiggum (disguised as Doctor Dolittle, who sang ''If I Can Walk With the Animals'') all making unsuccessful attempts. When the barbershop trio returned to Moe's, they heard [[Barney]] singing in a beautiful Irish voice from the toilet room, and were amazed. After Barney is chosen as the new member, people still liked Chief Wiggum. After hearing him sing, however, the audience warmed up to Barney. In fact, the audience warmed to Barney so fast that Moe thought Nigel paid them to support Barney.
  
Back in modern times, leaving the swap meet, Homer says he sold a spare tire, but unfortunately, a tire on the car blows out, and Marge has to take a long walk to a gas station. Homer tells the rest of the story: he looked at ideas for a new song, and they failed, until Marge got a "Baby on Board" sign, and Homer wrote his "Baby on Board" song inspired by the fad; the group sung it in studio and put it on their first album, ''With the Be Sharps'', a parody of The Beatles album "With the Beatles". The song became a number one hit. The group arrived in America in 1986 to perform at the centennial of the Statue of Liberty (parodying the Beatles´ presentation in 1964 at the Ed Sullivan Show). The Be Sharps also won a Grammy for "Outstanding Soul, Spoken Word, or Barbershop Album of the Year", and Homer met [[George Harrison]]. Meanwhile, Wiggum's singing career (now dead) was being mocked by numerous talk show hosts.
+
The group considered various names to call themselves, deciding their name should be witty initially, but should become less funny each time you heard it. They finally agreed on calling themselves "[[The Be Sharps]]." Although it was against his religion, Apu changed his last name to Apu du Beaumarche, because Nahasapeemapetilon would be too long to fit on a marquee
 +
 
 +
Back in the modern time, leaving the swap meet, Homer says he sold a spare tire, but unfortunately, a tire on the car blows out and Marge has to take a long walk to a gas station. Homer tells the rest of the story: he tried writing a new song with little luck, until Marge got a "Baby on Board" sign. This inspired Homer to write his ''[[Baby on Board]]'' song inspired by the fad. The group sang it in studio and put it on their first album, ''With the Be Sharps''. The song became a number one hit. The group arrived in New York in 1986 to perform at the centennial of the Statue of Liberty. The Be Sharps also won a Grammy for "Outstanding Soul, Spoken Word, or Barbershop Album of the Year" from [[David Crosby]], and Homer got to meet {{Ch|George Harrison}}, but was distracted by the brownie in his hand. Meanwhile, Wiggum's now dead singing career was being mocked by numerous talk show hosts.
  
 
Homer explains that the Be Sharps were on merchandise items - such as lunch boxes, mugs, posters, etc. When Lisa pulls out a bottle of Be Sharps Funny Foam, Homer says that it was pulled off the market when it was discovered to be poisonous. He goes on to voice his disapproval of that by remarking that, "...if you ask me, if you're dumb enough to eat it you deserve to die." He turns and finds Bart spraying the bottle into his mouth.
 
Homer explains that the Be Sharps were on merchandise items - such as lunch boxes, mugs, posters, etc. When Lisa pulls out a bottle of Be Sharps Funny Foam, Homer says that it was pulled off the market when it was discovered to be poisonous. He goes on to voice his disapproval of that by remarking that, "...if you ask me, if you're dumb enough to eat it you deserve to die." He turns and finds Bart spraying the bottle into his mouth.
  
The name of their second album was ''Bigger than Jesus,'' (the album cover parodied The Beatles' Abbey Road). Unfortunately, while the Be Sharps were becoming popular, Marge had problems raising the children, and the Be Sharps also had their own problems. They had creative disputes, and Barney left the group.  Barney's girlfriend was a Japanese conceptual artist similar to [[Yoko Ono]] (the two recorded a "Revolution 9"-like piece, with the Yoko-esque character reciting "Number 8" over and over atop tape loops of Barney's belches). The group lost its popularity and split up, with Principal Skinner returning to [[Springfield Elementary School]], and Homer returned to his job at the [[Springfield Nuclear Power Plant]] after a chicken named Queenie took his place.  
+
The name of their second album was ''[[Bigger than Jesus]]''. Unfortunately, while the Be Sharps were becoming popular, Marge had problems raising the children, and the Be Sharps had problems of their own. They had creative disputes, brought on by Barney's new girlfriend (resembling {{W|Yoko Ono}}), and Barney left the group. The two recorded a "Revolution 9"-like piece, with Barney's girlfriend reciting "Number 8" over and over atop tape loops of Barney's belches. The group lost its popularity and split up, with Principal Skinner returning to [[Springfield Elementary School]], Apu returning to the [[Kwik-E-Mart]] to continue gouging customers, Barney returning to Moe's with his girlfriend, and Homer returning to his job at the [[Springfield Nuclear Power Plant]] after a chicken named Queenie took his place. Despite numerous unanswered questions, like where the money Homer made went and why he never hung up his gold records, Homer simply sends the kids to bed and tells them he would answer their questions another day.
 +
 
 +
After Homer takes another look at the album, the group reunites to perform a rooftop concert at Moe's. During the concert, George Harrison pulls up in his limousine, sees them and says, "It's been done," referring to the impromptu concert on the Apple offices rooftop performed by The Beatles during their ''Get Back'' recording sessions. Before the episode ends, it is implied that Chief Wiggum plans to have to group arrested.
 +
 
 +
== Production ==
 +
One of the writers for ''The Simpsons'' suggested that they should create an episode that focuses on Homer in a barbershop quartet and "a big parody of The Beatles". Jeff Martin, who was an "obsessive" Beatles fan, was chosen to write the episode, while Mark Kirkland, a "huge" Beatles fan, directed the episode, and ensured that The Beatles' references were accurate. Kirkland enjoyed directing the episode because unlike other episodes he directed, he did not experience any trouble animating "Homer's Barbershop Quartet". The animators liked creating The Beatles' gags and enjoyed the barbershop music. They also enjoyed working on the choreography of The Be Sharps and trying to match the characters' movements with the music.<ref name="DVD">(2004) Audio commentary for ''Homer's Barbershop Quartet'', [[season 5]] DVD.</ref>
  
After Homer takes another look at the album, the group reunites to perform a rooftop concert at Moe's. During the concert, George Harrison pulls up in his limousine, sees them and says "It's been done," referring to the impromptu concert on the Abbey Road Studios rooftop performed by The Beatles during their ''Get Back'' recording sessions.
+
In a scene of the episode, [[Lisa]] grabs a [[Malibu Stacy]] doll with big breasts. [[Raphael]] tells her "they took [the doll] off the market after some kid put both his eyes out." A censor note from [[FOX]] network's censors was sent about the joke, because FOX did not want such jokes on the show. The writers ignored the censors, and the joke was seen in the episode.<ref name="DVD" />
  
==Trivia==
+
== Reception ==
* Principal Skinner recognizes an old prison helmet of his from Vietnam with the number '24601'; this is the number tattoed on Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, and his only identification.  The same number is also [[Sideshow Bob]]'s prison number in Black Widower.
+
In its original broadcast, "Homer's Barbershop Quartet" finished 30th in the ratings for the week of September 27 to October 3, 1993, with a Nielsen rating of 12.7, translating to 11,963,400 households.
*This was David Crosby's second appearance on the show, and the second appearance of a Beatle on the show.
 
*The famous [[Disneyland]] barbershop quartet, the [[Dapper Dans]], provided the singing voices for the Be Sharps.
 
*The record that [[Comic Book Guy]] had at the swap meet, "Melvin and the Squirrels" is a spoof of ''[[Alvin and the Chipmunks]]''.
 
*Apu's new name (de Beaumarchais) is French for 'of the good market', an obscure reference to the [[Kwik-E-Mart]].
 
*The Take One couch gag shows The Simpsons running into each other and shattering into pieces; this gag was reused in [[$pringfield]] and [[Lady Bouvier's Lover]].  The Take Two couch gag shows The Simpsons running into each other again and melding into a blob; this gag was reused in [[Bart Gets Famous]].  The Take Three couch gag shows The Simpsons once again colliding; this time they explode.  The Take Three gag was reused in [[Homer the Vigilante]] and [[Secrets of a Successful Marriage]].  In [[television syndication|syndication]], only the Take One gag is used.
 
*The song "Baby on Board" was first heard in Ishtar, the flop 1987 motion picture comedy starring Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty.
 
*A deleted scene of this episode showed Skinner going back to his mother. She asks him if he was with a woman, he says no, then she asks for a bath, followed by mad laughing and a close-up of their ''Psycho''-parody house. This is the first time Skinner would be involved in a knock-off joke based on the movie Psycho.
 
* This is the first episode to be dedicated in memory of someone.
 
* The cover of "Bigger Than Jesus", The Be-Sharps second album, features the group walking on water.  It is a direct parody of the art on The Beatles album [[Abbey Road]].
 
  
==Quotes==
+
The episode received generally positive reviews from critics. Many praised the Beatles appearance and the songs.
*'''[[Mayor Quimby]]:''' Welcome, swappers, to the Springfield Swap Meet. Ich bin ein Springfield Swap Meet patron!
 
*'''George Harrison:''' ''(responding to the Be Sharps' rooftop concert)'' It's been done.
 
*(Comic Book Guy puts the "Melvin and the Squirrel" record on.) "[[Yankee Doodle|Stuck a feather in his cap]] and called it [[Rice-a-Roni]]." "MEL-VIN!"
 
*'''Apu:''' Apu Nahasapeemapetilon.<br>'''Nigel:''' Hmm. Never fit on a marquee, love. From now on, your name is Apu de Beaumarche.<br>'''Apu:''' That is a great dishonor to my ancestors and God...but okay.
 
*''(Homer addresses the crowd after finishing the B-Sharps New York performance)''<br> '''Homer:'''I'd like to introduce you all to a [[Statue of Liberty|very special woman]]. She's 200 years old, 500 feet tall, and weighs 400...(''winks'') Tons. <br> '''Man in Crowd''': This gigantic woman will devour us all! YAAAAGH! (''Jumps into River'')<br>'''Homer:'''I meant the statue.
 
*''(Chief Wiggum is shooting the TV)''<br>'''Sarah Wiggum:''' Clancy, use the remote.
 
*'''Abe:'''"That's my son up there!"<br>'''Jasper''' "What, the balding fatass?"<br>'''Abe:''' "Uh, no, the [[Hindu]] guy."
 
*'''Homer:''' (after singing Baby On Board for the final time) I'd like to thank you on behalf of the group, and I hope we passed the auditions." (this is what [[John Lennon]] said after the Beatles' rooftop performance) <br>'''Crowd, including the B-Sharps:''' they all laugh loudly.<br>'''Barney:'''"Ha-ha-ha-ha. Ha-ha... I don't get it."
 
  
==Goofs==
+
== In other languages ==
*After the "replacement Homer" malfunctions, the next scene shows Santa's Little Helper burying him in the yard. Santa's Little Helper did not become the Simpsons' pet until the Christmas special (and first episode), "Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire"
+
{{LanguageBox
*The sign outside the Church credits the group as "The Be Sharps" before they even decided on the name.
+
|it=yes
* M.C. Hammer appeared at the 1985 Grammys but he didn't get famous until the 1990's.
+
|itName=Il Quartetto Vocale di Homer
*When the group (with Barney) performs at the Statue of Liberty, Chief Wiggum's voice can clearly be heard.
+
|itTrans=Homer's vocal quartet
* Homer refers to Joe Piscopo leaving Saturday Night Live in 1985 when setting the scene for the story, but Piscopo left the show in 1984, before the show underwent a cast overhaul for season 10 (and again in seasons 11 and 12).
+
|de=yes
*When the record "With the Be Sharps" is found at a Swap Meet, Chief Wiggum is on the cover, but in the story Barney has already replaced Chief Wiggum.
+
|deName=Homer und die Sangesbrüder
*When Homer sends the kids to bed, from one angle, his phone has no numbers.
+
|deTrans=Homer and the singing brothers
*While Homer says he had five and a half weeks at the top at the end of the episode, only one scene said it was 1985--and the John F. Kennedy airport scene said it was 1986.
+
|es=yes
*In the final shot of the episode, Wiggum is drawn off-model, and Lou (the black cop with the Popeye arms) disappears.
+
|esName=El cuarteto vocal de Homer
*Homer and Marge's bedroom had photos of Bart and Lisa when they were 10 and 8 years old. However, the story takes place when Bart and Lisa were only three years old and one year old respectively.
+
|esTrans=Homer's Vocal Quartet
*At the swap meet, Lisa finds a Malibu Stacy doll from 1958 that was pulled from the market because her pointed breasts caused eye damage, but in "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy", the original Malibu Stacy doll was a normal one made of dried onion meal before being changed to a plastic fashion doll (because the kids didn't like the dried onion meal taste, but they liked the doll), unless the big-breasted 1958 Stacy was a forgotten prototype.
+
|la=yes
*"Come on Eileen" by [[Dexy's Midnight Runners]] came out between 1983 and 1984, yet the Grammy show where Homer wins an award take place in 1985.
+
|laName=El cuarteto de Homero
 +
|laTrans=Homer's Quartet
 +
|jp=yes
 +
|jpName=夢のカルテット
 +
|jpTrans=Dream Quartet
 +
}}
  
 +
== References ==
 +
{{Images|ep=yes}}
 +
{{Reflist}}
  
 
{{season 5}}
 
{{season 5}}
[[Category:Episodes]]
+
 
[[Category:Season 5]]
+
[[Category:1993]]
 +
[[Category:Homer episodes]]
 +
[[Category:Musical episodes]]
 +
[[Category:Flashback episodes]]
 +
[[Category:Season premieres]]
 +
[[Category:Principal Skinner episodes]]
 +
[[Category:Apu episodes]]
 +
[[Category:Episodes written by Jeff Martin]]
 +
[[Category:Episodes directed by Mark Kirkland]]
 +
 
 +
[[sv:Homer's Barbershop Quartet]]

Latest revision as of 11:05, August 30, 2024

Season 5 Episode
081 "Krusty Gets Kancelled"
082
"Homer's Barbershop Quartet"
"Cape Feare" 083
"I'm telling you it's mighty nice
Each trip's a trip to paradise
With my baby on board!
"
The Be Sharps
"Homer's Barbershop Quartet"
Homer's Barbershop Quartet promo.png
Episode Information
Episode number: 82
Season number: S5 E1
Production code: 9F21
Original airdate: September 30, 1993
Chalkboard gag: I will never win an Emmy.
Couch gag: The family does three different couch gags in three takes
Guest star(s): George Harrison as himself
David Crosby as himself
Showrunners: Al Jean
Mike Reiss
Written by: Jeff Martin
Directed by: Mark Kirkland
DVD features


"Homer's Barbershop Quartet" is the first episode of season 5 of The Simpsons and the eighty-second episode overall. It originally aired on September 30, 1993. The episode was written by Jeff Martin and directed by Mark Kirkland. It guest stars George Harrison as himself, David Crosby as himself and The Dapper Dans as The Be-Sharps singing voices.

Synopsis[edit]

"We flashback to 1985, where Homer, Apu, Principal Skinner, and Chief Wiggum (later replaced by Barney) were the hit barbershop quartet known as The Be Sharps. George Harrison guest stars."


Plot[edit]

The Be-Sharps performing "Hello, My Baby" at Moe's

During the Springfield Swap Meet, Bart and Lisa notice an album cover showing Homer. They ask Homer when he recorded an album. Homer answers that he recorded an album in 1985. He mentions that every afternoon at Moe's, Chief Wiggum, Principal Skinner, Apu, and he would get together and sing.

The crowd liked the singing. Homer says that his group was a barbershop quartet, which was popular everywhere, even at church. The group initially started in Springfield, but quickly found national fame after their new agent, Nigel, approached them and said everyone in the group could sing except Chief Wiggum, who was too "Village People." The group held auditions for a replacement, with Grampa (who did a swing version of Old MacDonald had a Farm), Groundskeeper Willie (who sang Petula Clark's Downtown, but says "Doontoon" instead), Jasper (who sang Theme To a Summer Place with made up lyrics), and Chief Wiggum (disguised as Doctor Dolittle, who sang If I Can Walk With the Animals) all making unsuccessful attempts. When the barbershop trio returned to Moe's, they heard Barney singing in a beautiful Irish voice from the toilet room, and were amazed. After Barney is chosen as the new member, people still liked Chief Wiggum. After hearing him sing, however, the audience warmed up to Barney. In fact, the audience warmed to Barney so fast that Moe thought Nigel paid them to support Barney.

The group considered various names to call themselves, deciding their name should be witty initially, but should become less funny each time you heard it. They finally agreed on calling themselves "The Be Sharps." Although it was against his religion, Apu changed his last name to Apu du Beaumarche, because Nahasapeemapetilon would be too long to fit on a marquee

Back in the modern time, leaving the swap meet, Homer says he sold a spare tire, but unfortunately, a tire on the car blows out and Marge has to take a long walk to a gas station. Homer tells the rest of the story: he tried writing a new song with little luck, until Marge got a "Baby on Board" sign. This inspired Homer to write his Baby on Board song inspired by the fad. The group sang it in studio and put it on their first album, With the Be Sharps. The song became a number one hit. The group arrived in New York in 1986 to perform at the centennial of the Statue of Liberty. The Be Sharps also won a Grammy for "Outstanding Soul, Spoken Word, or Barbershop Album of the Year" from David Crosby, and Homer got to meet George Harrison, but was distracted by the brownie in his hand. Meanwhile, Wiggum's now dead singing career was being mocked by numerous talk show hosts.

Homer explains that the Be Sharps were on merchandise items - such as lunch boxes, mugs, posters, etc. When Lisa pulls out a bottle of Be Sharps Funny Foam, Homer says that it was pulled off the market when it was discovered to be poisonous. He goes on to voice his disapproval of that by remarking that, "...if you ask me, if you're dumb enough to eat it you deserve to die." He turns and finds Bart spraying the bottle into his mouth.

The name of their second album was Bigger than Jesus. Unfortunately, while the Be Sharps were becoming popular, Marge had problems raising the children, and the Be Sharps had problems of their own. They had creative disputes, brought on by Barney's new girlfriend (resembling Yoko Ono), and Barney left the group. The two recorded a "Revolution 9"-like piece, with Barney's girlfriend reciting "Number 8" over and over atop tape loops of Barney's belches. The group lost its popularity and split up, with Principal Skinner returning to Springfield Elementary School, Apu returning to the Kwik-E-Mart to continue gouging customers, Barney returning to Moe's with his girlfriend, and Homer returning to his job at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant after a chicken named Queenie took his place. Despite numerous unanswered questions, like where the money Homer made went and why he never hung up his gold records, Homer simply sends the kids to bed and tells them he would answer their questions another day.

After Homer takes another look at the album, the group reunites to perform a rooftop concert at Moe's. During the concert, George Harrison pulls up in his limousine, sees them and says, "It's been done," referring to the impromptu concert on the Apple offices rooftop performed by The Beatles during their Get Back recording sessions. Before the episode ends, it is implied that Chief Wiggum plans to have to group arrested.

Production[edit]

One of the writers for The Simpsons suggested that they should create an episode that focuses on Homer in a barbershop quartet and "a big parody of The Beatles". Jeff Martin, who was an "obsessive" Beatles fan, was chosen to write the episode, while Mark Kirkland, a "huge" Beatles fan, directed the episode, and ensured that The Beatles' references were accurate. Kirkland enjoyed directing the episode because unlike other episodes he directed, he did not experience any trouble animating "Homer's Barbershop Quartet". The animators liked creating The Beatles' gags and enjoyed the barbershop music. They also enjoyed working on the choreography of The Be Sharps and trying to match the characters' movements with the music.[1]

In a scene of the episode, Lisa grabs a Malibu Stacy doll with big breasts. Raphael tells her "they took [the doll] off the market after some kid put both his eyes out." A censor note from FOX network's censors was sent about the joke, because FOX did not want such jokes on the show. The writers ignored the censors, and the joke was seen in the episode.[1]

Reception[edit]

In its original broadcast, "Homer's Barbershop Quartet" finished 30th in the ratings for the week of September 27 to October 3, 1993, with a Nielsen rating of 12.7, translating to 11,963,400 households.

The episode received generally positive reviews from critics. Many praised the Beatles appearance and the songs.

In other languages[edit]

Language Name Translation
Germany.png Deutsch "Homer und die Sangesbrüder" Homer and the singing brothers
Spain flag.png Español "El cuarteto vocal de Homer" Homer's Vocal Quartet
Hispanic America.gif Español "El cuarteto de Homero" Homer's Quartet
Italy Flag.png Italiano "Il Quartetto Vocale di Homer" Homer's vocal quartet
Flag of Japan.png 日本語 "夢のカルテット" Dream Quartet

References[edit]

The Saga of Carl - title screen.png Wikisimpsons has a collection of images related to "Homer's Barbershop Quartet".
  1. 1.0 1.1 (2004) Audio commentary for Homer's Barbershop Quartet, season 5 DVD.


Season 5 Episodes
Homer's Barbershop Quartet Cape Feare Homer Goes to College Rosebud Treehouse of Horror IV Marge on the Lam Bart's Inner Child Boy-Scoutz 'n the Hood The Last Temptation of Homer $pringfield (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling) Homer the Vigilante Bart Gets Famous Homer and Apu Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy Deep Space Homer Homer Loves Flanders Bart Gets an Elephant Burns' Heir Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song The Boy Who Knew Too Much Lady Bouvier's Lover Secrets of a Successful Marriage