Flaming Moe
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Vote for it here. |
- For the drink from the episode Flaming Moe's, see Flaming Homer.
"Flaming Moe" is the eleventh episode of Season 22.
Synopsis
Moe and Smithers turn Moe's into "Mo's", a gay bar. Meanwhile, Principal Skinner uses Bart to get closer to dating a substitute music teacher after finding out that he is dating her daughter.
Plot
After a fight between the day and late shifts of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, initiated by Homer after the late shift worker stole his candy, Mr. Smithers goes to Mr. Burns' office and sees he is signing his will. Smithers looks for the will at night and discovers that he isn't included in the will. When confronted, Burns tells him he only respects "self-made men". An upset Smithers tries to cheer himself up by going to a gay bar called "The League of Extra-Horny Gentlemen" but is denied entrance because he isn't attractive like the rest of the men in the bar. He stops by Moe's Tavern and notices how slow business is. Smithers proposes to Moe that they refurbish the bar and make it into a more accepting gay bar. By doing so, he hopes to earn Mr. Burns' respect by building a successful business in addition to having a place to feel accepted. Moe is first reluctant about the idea, because he doesn't feel like being among so much gays, but soon realizes this will bring money, he decides to turn Moe's into an ultra-trendy gay bar. They change the name to "Mo's". Smithers goes to the gay bar in front of Mo's and tells the gays who were denied the entrance, among which are Grady and Mr. Largo, that they are admitted in Mo's, so they happily visit the new bar. Mo's soon becomes a success amongst gays, but Homer, Lenny and Carl don't like the idea too much.
Meanwhile, Mr. Largo runs away with his new boyfriend, and a new substitute is hired, Ms. Juniper. Juniper takes her class to a field trip to sing near the mountains. Skinner soon arrives to inform Juniper she has the wrong permission cards and gets fainted. When he wakes up, he quickly sees how pretty she is and tries to date her, but to make her happy, he tells Bart to date her daughter, Melody. At an arcade, Bart and Melody play together, but Bart isn't interested in her. However, Juniper is interested in Skinner and they start to dance.
At Mo's, gays dance following the success of the bar, but they think Moe is gay too. Smithers then starts to think Moe is going too far. The gays even invite Moe to a gay parade. However, he doesn't want to admit he isn't gay, because being gay is the reason people go to his bar. Moe then goes on to become even more popular than Smithers, so popular with the local gay community that they push Moe to run for the city council to become the first "openly gay" council member.
Meanwhile, Bart tells Melody he doesn't like her, and Melody thinks he is breaking up with him. She is so sad Ms. Juniper wants to leave town, but offers Skinner to go with her. He accepts, and Willie is made the new principal.
Smithers then attempts to "out" Moe as straight while Moe is announcing his candidacy. At the Springfield Town Hall, Moe is promoting his candidacy with gays, who love him and think he is perfect to be a council. However, Smithers demands that Moe kiss him as proof that he is really gay. Puckering his lips, Moe leans into Smithers, but at the last minute cannot and announces that he was lying. The crowd don't know whether to vote for the man who lied, or for another council who is secretly gay. They soon get upset and leave. Before Moe leaves, he grabs Smithers and kisses him, afterwards saying "Like frisbee golf, I'm glad I tried it once". Moe's Tavern is reverted back to it's old appearance.
Three months later, Skinner comes back, thinking he just went away for one day.
Production
The episode was written by Matt Selman and directed by Chuck Sheetz. It guest stars Kristen Wiig, Alyson Hannigan and Scott Thompson.
Reception
The episode was viewed by 6.47 million household - a low rating for the show but this was due to a NFL overrun.
The episode has received a positive response from TV critics. [1] The A.V Club called it a "strong episode" and went on to say "this was a very good episode of The Simpsons. The guest stars added instead of subtracting, it had a gently satirical inverse of gay panic jokes, and it was pretty damn funny." I was given a B+ rating, the highest rating of the night, beating Bob's Burgers, American Dad, Family Guy and The Cleveland Show.
Gallery
- Flaming Moe promo 1.jpg
Promotional picture for this episode, featuring Grady
- Flaming Moe promo 2.jpg
The second promotional picture for this episode, featuring Bart, Melody, Skinner and Ms. Juniper
References
