| "The Computer Wore Menace Shoes"
|
| Episode Information
|
Homer is the only one to show up to work. Everybody received an e-mail letting them know the nuclear plant was closed for the day, but as Homer tells Lenny and Carl, he has never owned a computer. Feeling left behind in the technological dust, Homer decides to purchase a computer and ends up buying the most exspensive one in the store thanks to a slick salesman. He bibgs it home but quickly throws it away when it is unable to assassinate Ned Flanders. Eventually Lisa helps Homer learn how to use the computer, and in the following days Homer creates a website filled only with spam and internet memes borrowed from other sites. He is upset nobody has visited his site, so Lisa suggests that he should offer something society needs or wants. After Bart dishes some gossip he heard about the pothole repair money being used for Quimby's swimming pool, Homer decides to create a "news" website, calling himself Mr. X so that anonymity could protect him from any angry citizens he may write about. Subsequently, Mayor Quimby is exposed and the pothole repair funds are returned. Mr. X (Homer) is heralded as a hero. They want to reward him but since they don't know who he is they say they'll give ther money to the needy, not being a charitable person Homer unveils his identidy, winning the Pullitzer Prize Award (finally). Soon enough Homers revalation cause people to be more tight lipped around him and he soon runs out of real news and begins making up wild stories and accusations. One of his wild stories state that flu-shots are given only as a form of mind control, and, without him knowing it, this turns out to be true, thats why theres a big shoping craze just before christmas. A group of people kidnap Homer and keep him on an island as part of a massive cover-up so nobody finds out about the flu-shots. Other people are on the island being held for other strange secrets or inventions they have discovered, such as turning water into gas or a peanut bag with no bottom. Meanwhile Homer is replaced with a man who looks identical to him except he needs to shave is head and speaks in a Austrian accent. Homer escapes the island on a crudely made boat he stole from one of the island captives, after running into an anti-escape orb (just a big balloon). This episode marks the first of several appearances for the anti-escape orb. Once home, Homer defeats his clone and re-unites with his family.
