Homer and Apu

Homer goes to the Kwik-E-Mart and buys some very spoiled ham (five years and four days past its expiration date at the time of this episode) that Apu has just put on the Bargain Table ("Any Item 10¢"). He eats it, and becomes terribly ill. After recovering, Homer returns to the Kwik-E-Mart to complain angrily, and Apu gives him two five-pound buckets of spoiled shrimp to placate him. Once again, Homer takes it, eats it, and becomes terribly ill. This time, however, as he is recovering, Homer sees the investigative news program Bite Back with Kent Brockman, hosted by Channel 6 journalist Kent Brockman, and Lisa gives him the idea to get the show to investigate the Kwik-E-Mart. Kent gives Homer a giant novelty hat containing a spy camera to expose Apu for selling spoiled food. While inside the store, Apu asks about the hat, commenting on how it sounds like bees are in it. Homer takes the hat off, smashing it on the ground and runs out. Afterwards, the camera catches Apu re-selling a hotdog that recently fell on the ground. Kent Brockman comments how they now have evidence to convict him, but realizes that Homer has gone back into the store to buy the same hotdog. Caught in the act, Apu is immediately fired. He protests that he was simply following company policy with his actions, but company executives explain that policy also calls for some form of scapegoat to place the blame on, should someone get caught. Apu's replacement is actor James Woods, who is doing research for a role in an upcoming film.

After being fired, Apu does chores for Homer because he thinks that he is in debt to Homer for selling him spoiled food, and helping him would pay off his debt of karma. As time goes by, the family begins to love Apu and his traditions. However, Apu begins to miss his job at the Kwik-E-Mart, so Homer decides to help him by accompanying him to the Kwik-E-Mart head office in India, which is also the world's first convenience store — ironically located all the way at the top of the Himalayas. Once they arrive, they meet with the head of the Kwik-E-Mart, a man in white drinking a Squishee with a sign behind him labeled, "The Master Knows All (except combination to safe)." Unfortunately, due to Homer's incompetence, the head of the Kwik-E-Mart does not help Apu with his problems (When the master tells them they can ask three questions, Homer first asked "Are you really the head of the Kwik-E-Mart?" When he got his reply, he asked, "Really?" When the Master once again said, "Yes," Homer asked "You?", wasting all three questions). Apu and Homer are forced to return home disappointed. Apu loses his temper and strangles Homer for his stupidity, causing both to fall off the mountain.

After they get home, Apu decides to return to the Kwik-E-Mart to "face his demons" (and to pick up a box of Lucky Charms for Marge), and a robber bursts in and shoots at James Woods. Apu jumps in front of the bullet, and the grateful Woods then sees to it that Apu gets his job back at the Kwik-E-Mart, while he goes off to battle aliens on a distant planet. The episode ends with the Simpson family hugging Apu as he recovers in the hospital.

[edit] Production

James Woods was one of animation director David Silverman's favorite guest stars. In addition to his humorous ad-libbing, Silverman noted that Woods tendency to hesitate while speaking is "great for animation", explaining that it makes the character feel "more real".^[1]

[edit] Cultural references

Kent Brockman's Bite Back show is a parody of David Horowitz's Fight Back, and features an opening with a cartoon dog who resembles McGruff the Crime Dog.
The scenes of Homer and Apu traveling are similar to that of Lawrence of Arabia.
Lisa's line, "I can see through time," is a reference to Dune.
James Woods becoming a convenience store clerk for a movie is similar to Michael J. Fox becoming a cop in the movie from The Hard Way, in which Woods also starred.
Apu's song is a reference to Ravenal's song "Make Believe" in Kern and Hammerstein's musical Show Boat.
The scene with many passengers clinging outside of railroad cars resembles Flame Over India or Gandhi
The scene with Apu jumping in front of James Woods is a parody of Clint Eastwood jumping in front of the president in In the Line of Fire.

[edit] Trivia

Writer Michael Carrington appears as the voice of the comedian on television (the one who tells the joke about black and white drivers).
The sign taped to the side of the cash register when Apu returns to the Kwik-E-Mart reads: "Do not accept checks from: Chief Wiggum, Reverend Lovejoy, Homer J. Simpson, Homer S. Simpson, H.J. Simpson, Homor Simpson, Homer J. Fong", even though having a "Do Not Accept Checks" list doesn't make sense because the Kwik-E-Mart has a sign in front of the counter that reads: "No Checks, Food Stamps, or Credit Cards".
The undercover news van has "ORDINARY VAN" written on it in huge letters.
The license plate of the ambulance reads: SLIP.
When Apu sees Homer watching TV through the window, the room he is in is actually the Simpson's dining room, not the TV room
In the scene when James Woods is talking to his agent in his cellphone, he then tries to scrape the cheese off the microwave, which he says "Why you no good, freakin' mother-[BLEEP!] [BLEEP!] [BLEEP!] [BLEEP!] cheese!", which he then reassures his agent that he's not talking to him, but to his oven. Channel 4 censored the part from when he starts swearing.