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| {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}} | |||
| {{Infobox Simpsons episode |
{{Infobox Simpsons episode | ||
| |
| image = Dont Fear the Roofer.jpg | ||
| episode_no = 351 | | |||
| | caption = Homer and Ray Magini | |||
| ⚫ | |
||
| ⚫ | | season = 16 | ||
| ⚫ | |||
| | episode = 16 | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| | director = ] | |||
| ⚫ | | writer = ] | ||
| blackboard = None | | |||
| ⚫ | | production = GABF10 | ||
| couch_gag = A five-fingered hand completes a ] of the living room and a voice, presumably that of ], exclaims "Woohoo!" | | |||
| ⚫ | | airdate = {{Start date|2005|05|01}} | ||
| |
| guests = ] as himself<br/>] as Ray Magini | ||
| image = ] | | |||
| | couch_gag = The couch scene is a ], with ]'s and ]'s heads missing. Two hands (with five fingers instead of four and a peach skin tone instead of the Simpsons' yellow) put the heads in place, then, noticing Homer and Maggie are switched, fixes them and says, "Woo-hoo!" | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| | commentary = ]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>] | |||
| | prev = ] | |||
| | next = ] | |||
| }} | }} | ||
| "'''Don't Fear the Roofer'''" is the sixteenth episode of the ] of '']''. |
"'''Don't Fear the Roofer'''" is the sixteenth episode of the ] of the American animated television series '']''. It first aired on the ] in the United States on May 1, 2005. The episode was written by ] and directed by ]. | ||
| In this episode, Homer becomes friends with a roofer when his roof needs to be fixed but no one else seems to encounter him. Meanwhile, Santa's Little Helper is left at the retirement home because the residents like him. Comedian ] and physicist ] guest starred. The episode received positive reviews. | |||
| ==Synopsis== | |||
| {{spoiler}} | |||
| There's a very bad ] in ]. Many roofs have sprung leaks as a result, including ]. ] uses beer mugs and ]'s open mouth to catch the drops. At the ] place, their roof is not better. The dripping water collects in ]'s hair and eventually splashes on her face. She wakes up ] and asks him to do something about it. Homer has an idea to solve the problem by using an old ] track set, where the water flows over the tracks, and out the mail slot in the front door. However, ]'s ] falls on the tracks and is washed away outside. ] is unhappy that the leaks have made all the snacks soggy and ] is angry that her favorite ] is wet. Marge rebukes Homer for not putting a roof over his family's heads. Homer, angrily, leaves for Moe's. | |||
| ⚫ | ==Plot== | ||
| There, he finds a surprise party being set up for ]. However, he ruins the surprise and then sits on the cake (shaped like Lenny's favorite bar-stool) and gets kicked out. Homer feels lonely until he sees an even seedier bar named Knockers (a spoof of ]), located on Route 98. The one-eyed bartender is too busy to talk to him, but he meets another guy, Ray Magini, who offers to share his ] and beer with him. Ray just happens to be a roofer, so Homer asks him to fix his roof, to which Ray readily agrees. | |||
| A major ] hits ], and ] demands that ] fix their leaking roof. Homer attempts to solve the problem by using ] ramps to transport all the draining water from the roof to the front yard through the hallway, the stairway and the mail slot on the front door. Though this plan seems to work well, ]'s hamster slides down the ramps to the front yard by accident. Shocked, Lisa opens the front door to save her hamster, breaking all the ramps, and leaving the house all wet, ruining Bart's preparations for the homework party and leaving Maggie's teddy bear wringing wet. Marge berates Homer for not providing a more sensible solution to fix the roof. Angered, Homer decides to go to ], but is kicked out when he ruins ] surprise birthday party and sits on his ] by accident, shaped in the form of Lenny's favourite bar stool. Feeling depressed, Homer finds another bar, "Knockers" (a parody of the restaurant ]), where he meets a friendly man named Ray Magini. The two talk, and Homer finds out that Ray is a roofer, so Homer asks him to fix his leak. Ray agrees. | |||
| The next day, |
The next day, Homer assures Marge that his new friend will be taking care of the roof. Ray, however, does not arrive until everyone else has left. The two of them get up on the roof and use ]s to nail the boards onto the roof, but they start shooting nails at each other, some hitting ]' ride-on lawn mower next door. Ray leaves later and, as Homer runs on the roof to see him off, he crashes through the small part of the roof that they fixed, making the hole bigger. Meanwhile, Marge and the kids leave ] with ] and the Springfield Retirement Home residents, because they seem to like him. When Marge sees the hole, she tells Homer to fix it himself, because she sees no reason to believe that his friend will. | ||
| The next day, ] and Homer go to the ], and Homer meets Ray there. Ray apologizes to Homer for having not finished the job and promises he will stop by soon to work on the roof. ], Marge, and ] arrive back at the retirement home, only to discover that Santa's Little Helper has become one of the old people. After Lisa succumbs to the same effect, they permanently take him back home. After waiting a long while for Ray to show on the roof, Marge becomes worried about Homer, and tells him that Ray is just a ]. When Homer refuses to believe it, he falls off the roof and is knocked unconscious. | |||
| When Marge returns, she is surprised to see the hole even bigger. She tells Homer that Ray is not a very good roofer, and she hasn't even met him yet. Later, Bart and Homer go to the ], and Homer meets Ray there. Ray apologises to Homer for not having finished the job. He promises that he will stop by soon to work on the roof. | |||
| The next day, Homer awakens inside Calmwood ], having been admitted there by Marge. ] tells him that Ray does not exist; he was created by Homer's mind as Homer was feeling lonely and unappreciated because of the previous events he had endured. All the people that Homer thinks saw Ray - Bart, Ned, and the "Knockers" bartender - claim they did not, and Lisa reveals that "Ray Magini" is an ] for "imaginary". When Homer spots Ray outside from the window of his hospital room, Hibbert assigns him to "electro-shock" (or ]). Six weeks later, Homer is now sure that Ray does not exist. As he is being discharged, he sees Ray again in the room. Angered by the pain the "figment of his imagination" has caused him, he assaults him. In retaliation, Ray knocks Homer out and everyone is surprised they can see him too. | |||
| At home, Homer sits on the roof, looking at each car passing by, hoping Ray's in it. Finally, late at night, Marge tells him that Ray is not real, only a figment of his imagination. She then takes him (with Ned's help) to the Calmwood Mental Hospital (as seen in "]"). ] tells Homer that Ray doesn't exist; he was created by Homer's mind as Homer was feeling unappreciated. The family says that the bartender at "Knockers" saw Homer alone. Bart says he saw his dad talking to himself. Ned says he never saw anyone besides Homer on the roof. Further making Homer crazy, Lisa reveals that "Ray Magini" is an ] for "imaginary." | |||
| He did really exist the whole time: the bartender did not see Ray as he had an ] on (while looking in the direction of Homer and Ray that night, Ray was before his covered eye), and Ray could not be seen by Ned because he was behind the chimney. Bart still viewed Homer with skepticism for talking to thin air, but ] arrives and says that Bart could not see Ray at the hardware store because of a miniature ] caused directly behind Ray which absorbed the light from Ray. Marge asks Ray why he started fixing the roof and then just disappeared, to which Ray says he is a contractor. Everyone laughs, and Marge says "That's right, you're all crooks!" Hibbert, seeing how angry Homer is as he was made to go through shock treatment for nothing, offers to make it up to him by doing a free eye scraping for him. Homer agrees on it, but also forces Hibbert to fix the roof without any breaks while Ray and Homer discuss '']'' on the roof during the credits. | |||
| Homer suddenly sees Ray, on top of another roof outside. He starts babbling incoherently, making himself look even more nuts to those around him. Hibbert administers ]. Finally six weeks and several hours of shock therapy later, Homer is now sure that Ray Magini does not exist. As he is being discharged, he sees Ray in the room and, believing that he doesn't exist, smashes a chair on his head. Ray, angered at this questioning of his existence, retaliates with a punch to the mouth. But this time, everyone has seen Ray and they figure that Homer was telling the truth after all. | |||
| ==Production== | |||
| The whole scenario is explained: The bartender did not see Ray as he had an ] on. Ned did not see Ray as he (Ray) was behind the chimney on the roof. ] says that Bart could not see Ray, at the hardware store, because of a miniature black hole caused directly behind Ray which absorbed the light from Ray and made it look like Homer was talking to himself. Marge asks Ray why he kept disappearing all the time and never showed up to meet them. It is pretty easy, according to Ray, he's a contractor, i.e, a crook. Everyone understands and laughs. | |||
| Although it was advertised as the 350th episode, it was actually the 351st episode to air ("]" is the 350th and "]" is the 352nd).<ref>{{cite web|title=(SI-1610) "Don't Fear The Roofer"|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20050415fox03/|website=]|access-date=October 25, 2024}}</ref> The real 350th episode (in production code order) is "]", which was temporarily shelved following the death of ]. | |||
| ] guest starred as Ray Magini.<ref name="Canning"/> The character also appeared on the 20th anniversary poster of the series in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|first=Kate|last=Ward|date=December 16, 2009|title=EW Exclusive: New poster from 'The Simpsons' celebrates 20th season|url=https://ew.com/article/2009/12/16/simpsons-poster-exclusive/|website=]|access-date=October 25, 2024}}</ref> Physicist ] reprised his role as himself. Hawking first appeared on the show in the ] episode "]".<ref>{{cite web|first1=Kenneth|last1=Bachor|first2=Joseph C.|last2=Lin|date=August 21, 2014|title=The 30 Best Celebrity Cameos on The Simpsons|url=https://time.com/3154233/simpsons-television-celebrity-entertainment/|website=]|access-date=October 25, 2024|archive-date=June 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606023744/https://time.com/3154233/simpsons-television-celebrity-entertainment/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| Hibbert apologizes to Homer for all the electroshock therapy sessions and asks how he can make it up to Homer. Homer has an idea. He makes Hibbert fix his roof for him, while he and Ray lounge on the roof. Ray then plugs a TV show he's been watching where ]. Regardless how many times Ray patiently tells him, Homer keeps confusing the day (Monday), the time (9:00), the channel (CBS) and whether it's on TV or the radio. | |||
| ==Trivia== | |||
| *This is the 350th episode (despite being the 351st to air). Originally "]" was to be the 350th, but they were switched. | |||
| * This episode aired the same year that guest star Ray Romano's own television series '']'' had its ] which Ray mentions during a confusing argument. | |||
| * The mental hospital scene is a parody of '']''. | |||
| ==Cultural references== | ==Cultural references== | ||
| The title of the episode is a reference to the song "]" by ]. The song played over the end credits of "]". | |||
| * The song that plays from the jukebox is "Do That To Me One More Time" by ]. | |||
| Homer and Ray discuss guest star Ray Romano's sitcom '']'', which aired its final episode two weeks later. In the original airing of the episode, Ray begins telling Homer to watch the show "while you still can" as the episode ends, and keeps repeating to Homer when ''Everybody Loves Raymond'' airs (aired) on CBS, while Homer keeps messing up the day and time, during the closing credits. While some repeats have included this material, other viewings have edited out both parts because of ''Everybody Loves Raymond''{{'}}s having finished its network run long ago.<ref name="Canning"/> | |||
| The episode is a parody of the 2001 film '']''.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ryan|last=Parker|date=March 14, 2018|title=Stephen Hawking Had a Single Joke Request When He Appeared on 'The Simpsons'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/stephen-hawking-had-a-single-joke-request-he-appeared-simpsons-1094383/|website=]|access-date=October 25, 2024|archive-date=August 20, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240820043005/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/stephen-hawking-had-a-single-joke-request-he-appeared-simpsons-1094383/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| ===Edits=== | |||
| On the United Kingdom's ], and in American syndication on ], as well as on the season 16 DVD boxset release, the entire post-credit conversation between Homer and Ray about CBS's ''Everybody Loves Raymond'' was re-dubbed with the traditional end music for the show. However, when the episode aired on ], the original end credits were used.<ref name="Canning"/> | |||
| ==Reception== | |||
| ===Viewing figures=== | |||
| The episode earned a 3.9 rating and was watched by 10.79 million viewers, which was the 33rd most-watched show that week.<ref name="Weekly Program Rankings">{{cite web|publisher=] Medianet|date=May 3, 2005|url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=050305_05|title= Weekly Program Rankings|access-date=November 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227112449/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=050305_05|archive-date=December 27, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| ===Critical response=== | |||
| Robert Canning of '']'' gave the episode a 7.7. He liked the scene with Stephen Hawking and Homer's solution of using a race track to divert the water from the roof, but he thought the episode became less funny as the plot became more convoluted.<ref name="Canning">{{cite web|first=Robert|last=Canning|date=September 15, 2008|title=The Simpsons Flashback: "Don't Fear the Roofer" Review|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/09/15/the-simpsons-flashback-dont-fear-the-roofer-review|website=]|access-date=October 25, 2024|archive-date=March 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324080326/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/09/15/the-simpsons-flashback-dont-fear-the-roofer-review|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| Colin Jacobson of ''DVD Movie Guide'' thought the main plot was original but "fails to take flight" while he felt the subplot at the retirement home was funnier.<ref>{{cite web|first=Colin|last=Jacobson|date=December 11, 2013|title=The Simpsons: The Complete Sixteenth Season (2004)|url=http://www.dvdmg.com/simpsonsseasonsixteen.shtml|website=DVD Movie Guide|access-date=October 25, 2024|archive-date=September 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927063408/http://www.dvdmg.com/simpsonsseasonsixteen.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | == |
||
| *Bart was on the other side of Homer, not Ray. | |||
| On ''Four Finger Discount'', Guy Davis and Brendan Dando liked Ray Romano's performance and liked seeing Homer have a friend. However, they were not satisfied with Stephen Hawking's explanation to resolve the plot.<ref>{{cite podcast|first1=Guy|last1=Davis|first2=Brendan|last2=Dando|title="Don't Fear The Roofer" Podcast Review (S16E16)|work=Four Finger Discount (Simpsons Podcast)|date=November 10, 2022|url=https://www.fourfingerdiscount.com.au/episodes/dont-fear-the-roofer-simpsons-podcast-review|time=10:15|access-date=October 25, 2024|archive-date=October 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241015020846/https://www.fourfingerdiscount.com.au/episodes/dont-fear-the-roofer-simpsons-podcast-review|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| *Unless Ray's equipment is of supreme antiquity, his nail guns would have a safety feature preventing them from firing unless pressed against something. The safety can be removed, but he would probably lose his roofing contractor's license. | |||
| Sim Bernardo of '']'' called it the best episode of the 16th season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/the-simpsons-best-episodes-ranked/|title=The Simpsons: The Best Episode In Every Season, Ranked|last=Sim|first=Bernardo|date=2019-09-22|website=]|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-22|archive-date=September 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926054611/https://screenrant.com/the-simpsons-best-episodes-ranked/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| ==Quotes== | |||
| *'''Dr. Hibbert:''' Do you see anyone here that isn't here? <br/> '''Homer:''' Nope. Just you, Marge, and ]. Kidding! <br/> '''Dr. Hibbert:''' Well, I see your ] isn't affected. ''(grin)'' That's a very bad sign. ''(continues electro-shocking Homer)'' | |||
| *'''Homer:''' What's ] doing here? <br/> '''Stephen Hawking:''' I live here now. You are looking at the new owner of the ] down the street. Pizza, pizza. Pizza, pizza. Pizza, pizza. Pizza, pizza. Sorry, that button sticks. | |||
| *'''Homer:''' Ray will come, and when he does, we'll have ever so much fun! | |||
| *Sign at "Knockers": "No staring at our waitress' enormous ]s." | |||
| *'''Bart:''' Hey dad, remember when you told me that if I used the ] unsupervised I'd hurt myself? Well, you were wrong. I hurt someone else. ''(points to the Squeaky Voiced Teen, pinned down by a ])'' <br>'''Puberty Guy:''' I have 45 minutes to get ready for the ]! | |||
| *'''Marge:''' First, we're taking the dog to the ]. ''(Santa's Little Helper goes "huh?")'' And then, we're taking Bart to be ].<br/>'''Bart:''' Huh? <br/> '''Marge:''' I'll tell you what it means when it's over. | |||
| *'''Ray''': No one calls me a monster and questions my existence! | |||
| *''The following lengthy exchange was used in the first run of the episode only. In reruns and syndication, it cuts off after Ray's second line or maybe because Everybody Loves Raymond is cancelled already. and so they replace it with regular music:''<BR>'''Ray:''' So as I was saying, Homer, Mondays, 9 o'clock, ]? They say everybody loves that guy, but I don't get it. <br/> '''Homer''': What are you talking about? <br/> '''Ray''': Hey, I'm just saying, catch it while you still can. <br/> '''Homer''': What time is this show on? <br/> '''Ray''': It's Monday, 9 o'clock, CBS. <br/> '''Homer''': And what's the network?<br/> '''Ray''': CBS. <br/> '''Homer''': At what time?<br/> '''Ray''': 9:00.<br/> '''Homer''': And if I wanna watch it, what day?<br/> '''Ray''': Monday. Monday, 9:00.<br/> '''Homer''': And this is on the radio?<br/> '''Ray''': No, it's television. Mondays at 9. On CBS.<br/> '''Homer''': And if I wanna see it, what time should I watch it?<br/> '''Ray''': 9:00.<br/> '''Homer''': On what channel?<br/> '''Ray''': CBS.<br/> '''Homer''': What day?<br/> '''Ray''': Monday.<br/> '''Homer''': On the radio?<br/> '''Ray''': Television.<br/> '''Homer''': Turn the television to what channel?<br/> '''Ray''': CBS.<br/> '''Homer''': At what time?<br/> '''Ray''': 9:00 on Monday.<br/> '''Homer''': Now if I wanted to see it on a certain day, what would be the best day to see it?<br/> '''Ray''': It's only on on Monday.<br/> '''Homer''': And what time would be a good time to...<br/> '''Ray''': 9:00. It's from 9 to 9:30.<br/> '''Homer''': So if I turn my radio on at 9:00...<br/> '''Ray''': Not the radio, television.<br/> '''Homer''': So it's: Mondays at 9, on NBC...<br/> '''Ray''': CBS.<br/> '''Homer''': CBS...<br/> '''Ray''': 9:00.<br/> '''Homer''': On the radio...<br/> '''Ray''': Television.<br/> '''Homer''': Television, at 3:00. | |||
| *'''Ray:''' I'm Ray, Ray Magini. <br/> … <br/> '''Homer:''' Ray, how can I save my marriage? <br/> '''Ray:''' Beats me, I'm no marriage counselor. Just a licensed and bonded roofer. <br/> '''Homer:''' Hmm… ''(has a thought bubble in which "Ray + Damaged Roof = Marge kissing Homer")'' Ray, can you fix my roof? <br/> '''Ray:''' Sure, as long as you help me finish off this pitcher of beer. <br/> '''Homer:''' Hmm. ''(has another thought bubble in which "Homer + Beer = Car wreck")'' Wait, did I add that right? ''("Homer + Beer =...President Homer"!)'' <br/> '''President Homer:''' And as my first act as President... ''(]s)'' | |||
| *'''Ray:''' (''coming down a ladder with a box of shingles'') Hi Homer, I just came down with a case of shingles.<br />'''Homer:''' HA HA that's funny! So what's in the box? | |||
| == |
==References== | ||
| {{ |
{{Reflist}} | ||
| ==External links== | |||
| from ] | |||
| {{Wikiquote|The_Simpsons/Season_16#Don.27t_Fear_the_Roofer|"Don't Fear the Roofer"}} | |||
| {{Portal|The Simpsons}} | |||
| * {{IMDb episode|0701089}} | |||
| {{The Simpsons episodes|16}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
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Latest revision as of 22:44, 26 December 2024
16th episode of the 16th season of The Simpsons
| "Don't Fear the Roofer" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |||
 Homer and Ray Magini | |||
| Episode no. | Season 16 Episode 16 | ||
| Directed by | Mark Kirkland | ||
| Written by | Kevin Curran | ||
| Production code | GABF10 | ||
| Original air date | May 1, 2005 (2005-05-01) | ||
| Guest appearances | |||
| Stephen Hawking as himself Ray Romano as Ray Magini | |||
| Episode features | |||
| Couch gag | The couch scene is a jigsaw puzzle, with Homer's and Maggie's heads missing. Two hands (with five fingers instead of four and a peach skin tone instead of the Simpsons' yellow) put the heads in place, then, noticing Homer and Maggie are switched, fixes them and says, "Woo-hoo!" | ||
| Commentary | Al Jean Dana Gould Kevin Curran Ian Maxtone-Graham Matt Selman Nancy Cartwright Tom Gammill Max Pross David Silverman Mike B. Anderson Mark Kirkland | ||
| Episode chronology | |||
| |||
| The Simpsons season 16 | |||
| List of episodes | |||
"Don't Fear the Roofer" is the sixteenth episode of the sixteenth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on May 1, 2005. The episode was written by Kevin Curran and directed by Mark Kirkland.
In this episode, Homer becomes friends with a roofer when his roof needs to be fixed but no one else seems to encounter him. Meanwhile, Santa's Little Helper is left at the retirement home because the residents like him. Comedian Ray Romano and physicist Stephen Hawking guest starred. The episode received positive reviews.
Plot
A major thunderstorm hits Springfield, and Marge demands that Homer fix their leaking roof. Homer attempts to solve the problem by using Hot Wheels ramps to transport all the draining water from the roof to the front yard through the hallway, the stairway and the mail slot on the front door. Though this plan seems to work well, Lisa's hamster slides down the ramps to the front yard by accident. Shocked, Lisa opens the front door to save her hamster, breaking all the ramps, and leaving the house all wet, ruining Bart's preparations for the homework party and leaving Maggie's teddy bear wringing wet. Marge berates Homer for not providing a more sensible solution to fix the roof. Angered, Homer decides to go to Moe's Tavern, but is kicked out when he ruins Lenny's surprise birthday party and sits on his birthday cake by accident, shaped in the form of Lenny's favourite bar stool. Feeling depressed, Homer finds another bar, "Knockers" (a parody of the restaurant Hooters), where he meets a friendly man named Ray Magini. The two talk, and Homer finds out that Ray is a roofer, so Homer asks him to fix his leak. Ray agrees.
The next day, Homer assures Marge that his new friend will be taking care of the roof. Ray, however, does not arrive until everyone else has left. The two of them get up on the roof and use nail guns to nail the boards onto the roof, but they start shooting nails at each other, some hitting Ned Flanders' ride-on lawn mower next door. Ray leaves later and, as Homer runs on the roof to see him off, he crashes through the small part of the roof that they fixed, making the hole bigger. Meanwhile, Marge and the kids leave Santa's Little Helper with Grampa and the Springfield Retirement Home residents, because they seem to like him. When Marge sees the hole, she tells Homer to fix it himself, because she sees no reason to believe that his friend will.
The next day, Bart and Homer go to the Builder's Barn, and Homer meets Ray there. Ray apologizes to Homer for having not finished the job and promises he will stop by soon to work on the roof. Lisa, Marge, and Maggie arrive back at the retirement home, only to discover that Santa's Little Helper has become one of the old people. After Lisa succumbs to the same effect, they permanently take him back home. After waiting a long while for Ray to show on the roof, Marge becomes worried about Homer, and tells him that Ray is just a figment of his imagination. When Homer refuses to believe it, he falls off the roof and is knocked unconscious.
The next day, Homer awakens inside Calmwood Mental Hospital, having been admitted there by Marge. Dr. Hibbert tells him that Ray does not exist; he was created by Homer's mind as Homer was feeling lonely and unappreciated because of the previous events he had endured. All the people that Homer thinks saw Ray - Bart, Ned, and the "Knockers" bartender - claim they did not, and Lisa reveals that "Ray Magini" is an anagram for "imaginary". When Homer spots Ray outside from the window of his hospital room, Hibbert assigns him to "electro-shock" (or electroconvulsive therapy). Six weeks later, Homer is now sure that Ray does not exist. As he is being discharged, he sees Ray again in the room. Angered by the pain the "figment of his imagination" has caused him, he assaults him. In retaliation, Ray knocks Homer out and everyone is surprised they can see him too.
He did really exist the whole time: the bartender did not see Ray as he had an eye patch on (while looking in the direction of Homer and Ray that night, Ray was before his covered eye), and Ray could not be seen by Ned because he was behind the chimney. Bart still viewed Homer with skepticism for talking to thin air, but Stephen Hawking arrives and says that Bart could not see Ray at the hardware store because of a miniature black hole caused directly behind Ray which absorbed the light from Ray. Marge asks Ray why he started fixing the roof and then just disappeared, to which Ray says he is a contractor. Everyone laughs, and Marge says "That's right, you're all crooks!" Hibbert, seeing how angry Homer is as he was made to go through shock treatment for nothing, offers to make it up to him by doing a free eye scraping for him. Homer agrees on it, but also forces Hibbert to fix the roof without any breaks while Ray and Homer discuss Everybody Loves Raymond on the roof during the credits.
Production
Although it was advertised as the 350th episode, it was actually the 351st episode to air ("Future-Drama" is the 350th and "The Heartbroke Kid" is the 352nd). The real 350th episode (in production code order) is "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Guest Star", which was temporarily shelved following the death of Pope John Paul II.
Ray Romano guest starred as Ray Magini. The character also appeared on the 20th anniversary poster of the series in 2009. Physicist Stephen Hawking reprised his role as himself. Hawking first appeared on the show in the tenth season episode "They Saved Lisa's Brain".
Cultural references
The title of the episode is a reference to the song "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Öyster Cult. The song played over the end credits of "The Parent Rap".
Homer and Ray discuss guest star Ray Romano's sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, which aired its final episode two weeks later. In the original airing of the episode, Ray begins telling Homer to watch the show "while you still can" as the episode ends, and keeps repeating to Homer when Everybody Loves Raymond airs (aired) on CBS, while Homer keeps messing up the day and time, during the closing credits. While some repeats have included this material, other viewings have edited out both parts because of Everybody Loves Raymond's having finished its network run long ago.
The episode is a parody of the 2001 film A Beautiful Mind.
Edits
On the United Kingdom's Channel 4, and in American syndication on Fox affiliates, as well as on the season 16 DVD boxset release, the entire post-credit conversation between Homer and Ray about CBS's Everybody Loves Raymond was re-dubbed with the traditional end music for the show. However, when the episode aired on Sky1, the original end credits were used.
Reception
Viewing figures
The episode earned a 3.9 rating and was watched by 10.79 million viewers, which was the 33rd most-watched show that week.
Critical response
Robert Canning of IGN gave the episode a 7.7. He liked the scene with Stephen Hawking and Homer's solution of using a race track to divert the water from the roof, but he thought the episode became less funny as the plot became more convoluted.
Colin Jacobson of DVD Movie Guide thought the main plot was original but "fails to take flight" while he felt the subplot at the retirement home was funnier.
On Four Finger Discount, Guy Davis and Brendan Dando liked Ray Romano's performance and liked seeing Homer have a friend. However, they were not satisfied with Stephen Hawking's explanation to resolve the plot.
Sim Bernardo of Screen Rant called it the best episode of the 16th season.
References
- "(SI-1610) "Don't Fear The Roofer"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ Canning, Robert (September 15, 2008). "The Simpsons Flashback: "Don't Fear the Roofer" Review". IGN. Archived from the original on March 24, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- Ward, Kate (December 16, 2009). "EW Exclusive: New poster from 'The Simpsons' celebrates 20th season". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- Bachor, Kenneth; Lin, Joseph C. (August 21, 2014). "The 30 Best Celebrity Cameos on The Simpsons". Time. Archived from the original on June 6, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- Parker, Ryan (March 14, 2018). "Stephen Hawking Had a Single Joke Request When He Appeared on 'The Simpsons'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. May 3, 2005. Archived from the original on December 27, 2008. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
- Jacobson, Colin (December 11, 2013). "The Simpsons: The Complete Sixteenth Season [Blu-Ray] (2004)". DVD Movie Guide. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- Davis, Guy; Dando, Brendan (November 10, 2022). ""Don't Fear The Roofer" Podcast Review (S16E16)". Four Finger Discount (Simpsons Podcast) (Podcast). Event occurs at 10:15. Archived from the original on October 15, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- Sim, Bernardo (September 22, 2019). "The Simpsons: The Best Episode In Every Season, Ranked". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on September 26, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
