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"Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment" is the 13th episode of the second season of The Simpsons. This episode tells the story of Homer buying stolen cable and the resulting situation with Lisa feeling moral conflict, as well as Bart watching an adult movie channel. It is one of the few Simpsons episodes that have won an Emmy.

Synopsis

Template:Spoilers After seeing Ned Flanders reject an offer to get an illegal cable hook-up, Homer chases after the cable man and wants to be hooked up for free. He likes the new channels he gets, which the family watches with him. Lisa, however, feels suspicious. She fears that because Homer violated the Eighth Commandment (Though "Thou Shall not Steal" is listed as the Seventh Commandment in Catholicism and Lutheranism), he will go to Hell when he dies. She pays a visit to Reverend Lovejoy at church. He suggests to Lisa that she should not watch anything on Homer's cable hook-up.

Homer invites his friends from the power plant, Apu, Moe, and Barney to watch "The Bout to Knock the Other Guy Out!", on pay-per-view. (Mr. Burns and Waylon Smithers show up as well). Homer's conscience bothers him and he gives into Lisa's protests and is unable to watch the fight. He sits the fight out and when it is over, he grudgingly cuts his hook-up. However, he accidentally cuts the electricity to all of Springfield.

Trivia

• This is the first appearance of Troy McClure (voiced by Phil Hartman).
• Although his first official appearance is in the episode "Moaning Lisa", this episode marks the "true" first appearance of Ralph Wiggum as he appears for the rest of the series.
• At one point, Homer watches something that looks like Seinfeld.
• When Homer is flipping through channels, The Itchy and Scratchy cartoon entitled "Porch Pals" from the episode "Itchy, Scratchy, and Marge" can be heard.
• This is the second appearance of Satan in the second season.

Cultural References

• Drederick Tatum is obviously based on Mike Tyson and his manager looks exactly like Don King.

Awards

• This episode was The Simpsons submission to the 1991 Emmys. It won the award, the second for The Simpsons.

Quotes

• Mr. Burns: I can picture it now. The screen door rusting off its filthy hinges, mangy dogs staggering about, looking vainly for a place to die.
  Smithers: Permission to speak frankly, sir.
  Burns: Permission granted!
  Smithers: Well, you are quite wealthy.
  Burns: Thank you, Smithers! Your candor is most refreshing.
  Smithers: No, no. I mean, why don't you pay for the fight, yourself.
  Burns: Ah, Smithers, the big title fight is one of the rare occasions I savor the sights, the sounds, and, oh, yes (sniffing), the smells of other men.
  Smithers: You haven't lost the common touch, Sir.
• Lisa: So, even if a man takes a loaf of bread to feed his starving family, that would be stealing?
  Rev. Lovejoy: Mmm...no. Well, it is if he puts anything on it. Jelly, for example.
  Lisa: I see.
  Rev. Lovejoy: Oh, come now, Lisa. You came here for a reason. Is your father stealing bread?
  Lisa: Maybe. I don't watch him every minute.
• Homer: There's something wrong with that kid. She's so moral. Why can't she be more like...well, not like Bart, but there's got to be a happy medium.
• Marge: So what did you kids learn about in Sunday School?
  Bart: Hell.
  Homer: Bart!
  Bart: But that's what we learned about. I sure as hell can't tell you we learned about hell unless I say hell, can I?
  Homer: Well, the lad has a point.
  Bart: Hell yes!
  Marge: Bart!
  Bart: (sing-song) Hell, hell-hell, hell...
  Marge: Bart, you're no longer in Sunday school. Don't swear.

External links

• "Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment episode capsule". The Simpsons Archive.
• "Homer vs. Lisa and the Eighth Commandment" at IMDb

• The Simpsons episodes, season 2