Shoddy Heat
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"Shoddy Heat"
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Episode Information
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"Shoddy Heat" is the fourth episode of broadcast season 36 of The Simpsons and the seven hundred seventy-second episode overall. It originally aired on October 27, 2024. The episode was written by Jeff Westbrook and directed by Gabriel DeFrancesco. It guest stars Topher Grace as Billy O'Donnell.
Synopsis[edit]
- When an unearthed corpse is found stuffed in a coffin with another body, Grampa is called in for questioning. Grampa tells the story of his past as a private investigator alongside Billy O'Donnell, and his brief romance with Agnes Skinner.
Plot[edit]
It's a really hot day in Springfield, and when the cooler breaks down at their house, the Simpson family goes to the Retirement Castle, a place where old people are always complaining about being too cold. There, Grampa blocks the cool air from Homer, who threatens to put him in a nursing home for veterans. Grampa cries out about elder abuse, and the police arrive, but for a different reason—they need help with an investigation at Shady Oaks. While digging graves, Chief Wiggum reports finding two bodies in one grave, one of which has a business card for the "Simpson and O'Donnell Detective Agency," and Grampa reveals that he was a private detective.
In 1982, Agnes Skinner showed up at the Simpson and O'Donnell Detective Agency and asked Grampa and Billy O'Donnell to follow her boyfriend, Mr. Burns, because she suspected him of cheating. Since Grampa had to babysit Homer, Billy proposed going with Agnes, but Grampa said he never got back and made new cards that read "Simpson and Nobody." Wiggum leaves Grampa alone, but Lisa doesn't want to stop and uses her forensic kit to look for traces of blood, finding it to be AB-negative. At the DMV, with the help of Patty and Selma, they discover that Billy was AB-negative.
Lisa takes the folder to Grampa and tells him they found Billy's car near the Power Plant. Grampa warns her that she's meddling in things she should leave alone. But Lisa keeps insisting, and he begins to share more, stating that he searched for Billy and Agnes but couldn't find them until a clerk at Leg Warmers and Nothing Else tipped him off that he would find her at the Springfield Squidport. After some romance between the two, Agnes tells him what happened that night: they were following Mr. Burns and Smithers to see what he was up to, and Billy told her to wait in the car. In the morning, she was woken up by Cletus, but Billy never returned.
Grampa then calls Bart to help him sneak out without being seen by the cops, with the plan for Lisa to cut their tires. They escape and go to Agnes' house. Agnes tells him that the road was covered in something, and after having some extra fun, Grampa heads to the Burns' manor. During their conversation, it's revealed that Billy was killed by Mr. Burns. To hide the truth, Grampa and Burns signed a deal in which Burns would hire Homer at the plant, ensuring he wouldn't be fired no matter how badly he messed up—currently totaling 742 times.
At that moment, the family arrives, and Homer realizes what Grampa has done for him. After recalling some memories of his past mistakes, Homer embraces Grampa. Before leaving, Grampa tells Burns he has discovered his real secret: he built the power plant with shredded phone books and then killed him. Burns replies that he only paid Grampa to keep quiet, revealing that he is alive on a tropical island, which Grampa confirms when Burns calls him.
Agnes knew all along and lied to Grampa so he would kill Burns because his heart was ugly, and she sneaked her name into his will. She pulls out a gun, but Grampa stops her and receives a kiss in return. In the end, Homer and Grampa go to eat ice cream together, but after one bite, Grampa is done. Meanwhile, Lisa goes to the police to ask about the other body in the coffin, which turns out to be the business card printer, Harold Baumgartner, who requested to be buried with his wife. Wiggum suggests she join the force, but Lou points out that she's too young. Then Ralph starts pointing a gun at the people talking, and Lisa runs away.
Production[edit]
When promoting the episode, showrunner Al Jean said that the episode would solve a mystery that has puzzled him since the beginning of the show.[1] Jean also offered to send a signed script to the first person who guessed what the mystery would be correctly.[2] This mystery turned out to be how Homer keeps his job at the Power Plant.[3]
Reception[edit]
In its original US airing, the episode was watched by 0.98 million viewers and earned a 0.26 rating. It was the most watched show on Fox that night.[4]
JM McNab of Cracked.com pointed out that the Homer not being fired from his job rule has been broken multiple times previously in the show, both by Burns himself and other superiors at the Power Plant.[3] Nick Venable of CinemaBlend also spoke about this point, saying that he didn't think the show needs to explain every bit of its lore.[5]
As of June 2025, the episode has a 6.3 rating on IMDb.[6]
Gallery[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ Al Jean on Twitter - "This Sunday a new @TheSimpsons will solve a mystery that has puzzled (me at least) since the beginning of the show..."
- ↑ Al Jean on Twitter - "Tonight new @thesimpsons with long running mystery solved at this point in the show. Will send signed script (by me) to first person guessing mystery and answer."
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cracked - "'The Simpsons' Latest Twist Doesn't Jibe with the Show's History"
- ↑ Programming Insider - "Sunday Ratings: Cowboys-49ers on NBC Delivers Best Week 8 'Sunday Night Football' Audience on Record"
- ↑ CinemaBlend - "The Simpsons Finally Answered A Homer Question Fans Have Always Wondered About, And My Fandom Is Split Down The Middle Over It"
- ↑ IMDb - "Shoddy Heat"
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