As you can guess, this is the second episode of my blog that is being done for my QU 201 class. Due to the Oscars, the episode of the Simpsons on Sunday was a repeat. Originally airing 12/12/2010, It is entitled "Donnie Fatso." Jon Hamm of Mad Men guest starred on this episode as an FBI agent. Clearly this is a take on "Donnie Brasco," a fantastic movie from 1997.
The general plot of the episode followed Homer as he spends the beginning of the new year in the Springfield Penitentiary after getting caught bribing an official. An FBI investigator offers to reduce his jail time if Homer agrees to go undercover as an informant to investigate Fat Tony. (Really? Why Homer? What sense does that make for the series? It would just as much sense to send in Lenny and Carl) Of course this is where the general plot of any script will take a turn and oh look, it did. Homer begins to forge a liking and bond with Fat Tony and his family. He becomes conflicted between his obligation to the government and supposed created loyalty to his new family. (What about his actual family?) A mixtures of Plot Points happen and end with Homer accidentally causing the death of Fat Tony. Fat Tony's cousin Fit Tony (seriously could not come up with a better or different name?) seeks to settle a score with Homer but as you can guess, he winds up teaching him an important lesson and becoming the new Fat Tony.
It is hard to really care about this episode. It really was just a 14 year later lampoon of good mobster movies. Not a home run episode in my book.
p.s. The joke about the Fox News helicopter saying Merry Christmas and no other holidays? Come on, be smarter than that Simpsons. You have an entire team of writers and the best you can do to try and do an edgy joke is that?
So this post should have been posted a couple weeks ago, but I guess I wasnt typing in the security code to post the comments so it never actually posted so here it is-I would never have guessed that this episode was a play on 'Donnie Brasco.' I never actually saw the movie so I guess I wouldnt know it if it was a spin off. I believe they chose Homer simply because he is probably the most loved character on the show, and as such they try to center episodes around those characters as much as possible. I actually enjoyed the name 'Fit Tony' and found his transistion to 'Fit Fat Tony' then to 'Fat Tony' for short hilarious. Haha he ate so much because of the stress if his new buisness that he took over for the old 'Fat Tony.' Relating to the 'Merry Christmas' statement, honestly I dont think they meant it as a bad thing... Personally I believe there is too much focus on equality, but for a major network show like the Simpsons, they could have just as easily said "Happy Holidays."
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