Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
How I Spent My Strummer Vacation
I often think about the road not travelled. Most of it is simply wish fullfillment fantasies. Maybe if I spent my whole life applying myself to it from a young age I could have been a writer or director or the creator of a hilarious refrigerator alarm. But that's just a pie in the sky fantasy, which is fun and harmless to do. But then there are moments were you make bigger choices that shape your life. About 5 years ago, I dedicated myself to looking after my sister's kid and while I don't regret it, I could have had other opportunities had I not. No regrets but it is easy to see looking at your life and wondering about how we could have gone in a different route.
In this episode, Homer ends up appearing in a reality show where in an unguarded moment he expresses his regrets on getting married and having kids. Understandably, his family is upset but then his family comes together and admits that while what he said was hurtful, they appreciate the sacrifices he made for the family and are rewarding him with a trip to a rock and roll fantasy camp. Homer loves it, being taught to be a rock star by legendary rock stars. However, the final day has Homer despondent that the fantasy is over. Seeing him sad, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards offer to let him come on stage for their Springfield show. It is only at the event, though, that Homer realizes his role is as honorary roadie. Homer goes on stage, feeling embarrassed just to test the mic in front of his friends and family and then decides to steal the show. The rock stars attack him for his hijacking, which makes the show a disaster. Homer and the rock stars make up and Homer makes peace with his place.
How I Spent My Strummer Vacation is a better episode than it needs to be, to a certain extent. It's obvious that the show is simply a guest star showcase, with the writers getting to get the heroes of rock to say goofy things and play with their image. Having Homer's issue come from a mid-life crisis is pretty much the same as the similar "Homerpalooza", save that even in 2002, pretty much every guest fell well within the Dad Rock camp. But the Taxicab Confessions intro, really nothing more than an impetus for plot that allows guest stars to happen, is actually interesting, with Homer in an unguarded moment, admitting his regrets in a way that is incredibly hurtful when his loved ones. And I also feel like the Simpsons' conclusion that despite being hurtful, one of Homer's good points is that he does a lot of sacrificing for his family. Lisa saying "we do stuff that you don't like" works a lot better here in a single sentence than "Make Room for Lisa" an episode about that which is completely undermined by Homer's emotional abuse of Lisa.
But while there is a heart in this, it's pretty much in the short section before what we are REALLY here for, the guest stars. The Simpsons have a lot of guest star heavy episodes and often they can be a bit embarrassing, especially the latter day ones (the best one is definitely Homer At the Bat). This one, however, knows how to use it's guest stars properly. The characters are fawning, but it doesn't feel like the show is, unlike some (the one with Lady Gaga comes to mind). Instead, the game is making the rock stars likable but kind of uncool in the way their fans measure it. I'd say the last bit is a little weaker than the rest but the episode is carried very well by strong middle act antics that it is easy to forgive.
I guess the big question is "are these rock stars doing a good job?" Well, it depends on the rock star. Most of them are clearly not actors, by nature with Brian Setzer having the most "non-actor" vibe. It's hard to tell if they are "game" but they are also not disinterested, not incompetant and they seem to be putting in the work. Sometimes, this can be weirdly charming, watching these people try to struggle with wacky dialogue but coming off stilted. The big two names of the episode are Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. Richards also doesn't quite feel like an actor but Richards himself has his weird aura and definitely feels game that he makes it work. But of all of them Jagger definitely feels like the one who just gets what this is. Jagger never exceeds but he's clearly the most suited to acting of the group. I have no doubt the episode was envisioned as a finale and feels like it, just another victory lap with guest stars to put on the ads. And by that metric, the episode is a fun success.
Other great jokes:
"Oh, I don't resent you, sweetheart. What I was trying to say and maybe I wasn't using the right words is that marriage is like a coffin and each kid is another nail. But as coffins go..."
Yeardley Smith puts some extra acting into her response.
"For once in my life, I'm confused."
"Now, you're all here for one reason."
"To rock!"
"WHO SAID THAT!?"
...
"That's right Otto."
"He's just like you or me or Jesus over there."
"And I've got to put up the storm windows. Winter's Comin'."
Other notes:
I love that Mick Jagger actually runs the camp, doing day-to-day budgeting and such.
Pizza and pop IS a winning combination.
I often think about the road not travelled. Most of it is simply wish fullfillment fantasies. Maybe if I spent my whole life applying myself to it from a young age I could have been a writer or director or the creator of a hilarious refrigerator alarm. But that's just a pie in the sky fantasy, which is fun and harmless to do. But then there are moments were you make bigger choices that shape your life. About 5 years ago, I dedicated myself to looking after my sister's kid and while I don't regret it, I could have had other opportunities had I not. No regrets but it is easy to see looking at your life and wondering about how we could have gone in a different route.
In this episode, Homer ends up appearing in a reality show where in an unguarded moment he expresses his regrets on getting married and having kids. Understandably, his family is upset but then his family comes together and admits that while what he said was hurtful, they appreciate the sacrifices he made for the family and are rewarding him with a trip to a rock and roll fantasy camp. Homer loves it, being taught to be a rock star by legendary rock stars. However, the final day has Homer despondent that the fantasy is over. Seeing him sad, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards offer to let him come on stage for their Springfield show. It is only at the event, though, that Homer realizes his role is as honorary roadie. Homer goes on stage, feeling embarrassed just to test the mic in front of his friends and family and then decides to steal the show. The rock stars attack him for his hijacking, which makes the show a disaster. Homer and the rock stars make up and Homer makes peace with his place.
How I Spent My Strummer Vacation is a better episode than it needs to be, to a certain extent. It's obvious that the show is simply a guest star showcase, with the writers getting to get the heroes of rock to say goofy things and play with their image. Having Homer's issue come from a mid-life crisis is pretty much the same as the similar "Homerpalooza", save that even in 2002, pretty much every guest fell well within the Dad Rock camp. But the Taxicab Confessions intro, really nothing more than an impetus for plot that allows guest stars to happen, is actually interesting, with Homer in an unguarded moment, admitting his regrets in a way that is incredibly hurtful when his loved ones. And I also feel like the Simpsons' conclusion that despite being hurtful, one of Homer's good points is that he does a lot of sacrificing for his family. Lisa saying "we do stuff that you don't like" works a lot better here in a single sentence than "Make Room for Lisa" an episode about that which is completely undermined by Homer's emotional abuse of Lisa.
But while there is a heart in this, it's pretty much in the short section before what we are REALLY here for, the guest stars. The Simpsons have a lot of guest star heavy episodes and often they can be a bit embarrassing, especially the latter day ones (the best one is definitely Homer At the Bat). This one, however, knows how to use it's guest stars properly. The characters are fawning, but it doesn't feel like the show is, unlike some (the one with Lady Gaga comes to mind). Instead, the game is making the rock stars likable but kind of uncool in the way their fans measure it. I'd say the last bit is a little weaker than the rest but the episode is carried very well by strong middle act antics that it is easy to forgive.
I guess the big question is "are these rock stars doing a good job?" Well, it depends on the rock star. Most of them are clearly not actors, by nature with Brian Setzer having the most "non-actor" vibe. It's hard to tell if they are "game" but they are also not disinterested, not incompetant and they seem to be putting in the work. Sometimes, this can be weirdly charming, watching these people try to struggle with wacky dialogue but coming off stilted. The big two names of the episode are Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. Richards also doesn't quite feel like an actor but Richards himself has his weird aura and definitely feels game that he makes it work. But of all of them Jagger definitely feels like the one who just gets what this is. Jagger never exceeds but he's clearly the most suited to acting of the group. I have no doubt the episode was envisioned as a finale and feels like it, just another victory lap with guest stars to put on the ads. And by that metric, the episode is a fun success.
Other great jokes:
"Oh, I don't resent you, sweetheart. What I was trying to say and maybe I wasn't using the right words is that marriage is like a coffin and each kid is another nail. But as coffins go..."
Yeardley Smith puts some extra acting into her response.
"For once in my life, I'm confused."
"Now, you're all here for one reason."
"To rock!"
"WHO SAID THAT!?"
...
"That's right Otto."
"He's just like you or me or Jesus over there."
"And I've got to put up the storm windows. Winter's Comin'."
Other notes:
I love that Mick Jagger actually runs the camp, doing day-to-day budgeting and such.
Pizza and pop IS a winning combination.