Home Away from Homer
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- "Goodbye Springfield. The Flanders family has pulled up stakes. You have laughed at us for the last-diddily-ast time."
- ―Ned
"Home Away from Homer"
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Episode Information
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"Home Away from Homer" is the twentieth episode of broadcast season 16 of The Simpsons and the three hundred fifty-fifth episode overall. It originally aired on May 15, 2005. The episode was written by Joel H. Cohen and directed by Bob Anderson. It guest stars Jason Bateman as himself.
Synopsis[edit]
- Needing some extra money, Ned Flanders unknowingly invites two softcore porn actresses to rent his spare room. The humiliation he feels causes him to move to Humbleton, Pennsylvania, where Ned's favorite figurines are made. Meanwhile, a sports coach moves into Flanders' house and causes havoc for the Simpsons.
Plot[edit]
Lisa is listening to Verbal Tea on the radio when Amy Levine-Gonzalez announces a competition to win tickets to the latest film by Mladzieul Klernt. Lisa phones in and wins the competition because she is the only person to actually call. Lisa informs the family that they have tickets to a movie that starts in thirty minutes. Marge points out that they don't have a babysitter for Maggie. Homer goes to ask Ned Flanders if he can look after the baby while they're out. The family goes to Limited Appeal Theater to watch Kosovo Autumn, which most of the family find boring. Meanwhile, Ned shows Maggie his collection of Humble Figurines. However, he is upset to find that Homer has broken most of them.
After the film, Marge goes to pick Maggie up from Ned. Ned reveals that he's having money troubles because business at the Leftorium isn't doing well since Left-Mart opened up. Marge suggests that Ned could rent out his spare bedroom, which he decides to do. After a couple of failed interviews, Ned meets Katja and Vicki, two seemingly innocent college students who need someplace to stay because they didn't like their coed dorms. Ned shows them to their new room, and the two immediately set up a camera to livestream themselves.
Bart and Milhouse are browsing the Internet when they see a link to sexyslumberparty.com. They click on it and are surprised to find that it's an adult website where Katja and Vicki are wearing pajamas and having a pillow fight. On the stream, Ned knocks on the door and enters the room, shocking Bart and Milhouse. Bart starts watching the stream frequently until Homer catches him. Homer is surprised to see what Ned's new lodgers are doing, and he goes around town telling everyone about it. Soon, everyone in town knows about the website and gossips behind Ned's back. Eventually, Marge finds out about the website when she catches Homer and Bart watching it, and she makes Homer tell Ned about it. Ned is shocked by the revelation and kicks Katja and Vicki out. However, a crowd of men has gathered in front of Ned's house and cheers for the girls. Ned is upset that the whole town is laughing at him and thinks that Homer is his only friend until Moe reveals that Homer is the one who told them all about the website.
Feeling betrayed by the townspeople, Ned decides to move to Humbleton, Pennsylvania, because that's where Humble Figurines are made and it's the closest town to his idea of what America should be like. Meanwhile, Marge makes Homer go and apologize to Ned, but Homer is shocked to find that Ned has left. Soon, a new neighbor moves in, and Marge makes Homer introduce himself to make a good first impression. His new neighbor reveals himself to be wrestling coach Clay Roberts, who intimidates Homer. Later, when Marge is trying to settle Maggie for a nap, Clay starts playing loud music in his backyard. Homer goes to ask him to turn it down, but Clay ignores his request and makes Homer hype him up during his workout instead.
In Humbleton, Ned goes to start his new job at the Humble Figurine Factory. However, the supervisor tells him that he needs to shave off his mustache if he wants to work there. That night, Ned debates doing so but chooses not to. He goes back to work the next day with his mustache intact, shocking everyone. He then goes around town flaunting his mustache, and soon, everyone is gossiping about him. He is then given a Humble Figuring that says "You're on Thin Ice". Meanwhile, in Springfield, Homer is having trouble with Clay after his new neighbor accidentally knocks out Homer's power by cutting down a tree onto the power lines. Homer goes to confront Clay, but Clay mocks him instead and then reveals that he stole gas from Homer's car. Homer realizes that he misses Ned, so he goes to try and find him. Eventually, Homer tracks down his new house and asks Ned to return to Springfield. Ned is reluctant to do so until he hears the people of Humbleton gossiping about his mailbox. Ned becomes annoyed at the attitude of the townspeople and goes back to Springfield with Homer.
When Homer and Ned get back, they go to ask Clay to move out. Clay refuses because he likes the house and has already broken Homer in. Ned points out that Clay's check bounced, so technically, Ned still owns the house. Clay goes to punch Ned, but Ned grabs his fist and stops him before forcing Clay to the ground. As Clay begs for mercy, Homer hits him over the back with a chair. With Clay gone, Homer throws a welcome-home party for Ned in Ned's backyard. Mr. Largo plays the church organ, which Homer stole, as everyone gathers for the party. Ned starts wagging his finger to the music, irritating Homer, who tells Ned to stop.
Production[edit]
Producer Joel H. Cohen wrote the episode but could not remember where the idea for it came from.[1] The writers room was apparently obsessed with Hummel figurines for a while.[2] Showrunner Al Jean had the idea of Ned moving away and Homer realizing only afterward that he had a great neighbor.[3]
The sound effect used when Marge pulls Homer by the ear was created by sound effects editor Travis Powers by twisting a balloon. The Humble Figurines having a hometown is based on Hershey, Pennsylvania, the home of The Hershey Company, and Celebration, Florida, where companies have idealized towns.[3]
Reception[edit]
In its original airing, "Home Away from Homer" was watched by 8.16 million viewers and earned a 2.9 rating.[4]
As of October 2026, "Home Away from Homer" has a 7.1 rating on IMDb.[5]
In other languages[edit]
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References[edit]
- ↑ Cohen, Joel H. (2013). Commentary for "Home Away from Homer", in The Simpsons: The Complete Sixteenth Season.
- ↑ Long, Tim (2013). Commentary for "Home Away from Homer", in The Simpsons: The Complete Sixteenth Season.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jean, Al (2013). Commentary for "Home Away from Homer", in The Simpsons: The Complete Sixteenth Season.
- ↑ ABC Medianet - "May 17, 2005" (archived on Wayback Machine)
- ↑ IMDb - "Home Away from Homer"
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