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"Half-Decent Proposal" is the tenth episode of The Simpsons' thirteenth season. The episode aired on February 10, 2002.

Synopsis

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Marge is irritated when Homer is snoring, causing her to sleep less. She sees Dr. Hibbert about the problem, and asks about a surgery, but he says it is expensive. Developing a sleep problem, she sleeps for a night with Patty and Selma, and hears on the news that her old boyfriend, Artie Ziff, is one of America's five richest people. She dictates an e-mail to Artie to congratulate him on his appearance, but Patty and Selma doctor it to use sex terms. Artie, who over the years seems to have devoped a rather frightening obsession with Marge (his house is decorated with a large number of 'Marge sculptures/paintings), flies in his helicopter to the Simpson house to see Marge.

After arriving, Artie offers Marge a $1 million proposal to spend a weekend with him, just to see what life would be like if they were married. Marge rejects the offer, but eventually can no longer stand Homer's snoring. She chooses to spend the weekend so she can get the money for the surgery. They have a good time until Artie makes out with Marge in a fake prom made to mirror the one they attended in "The Way We Was". Homer, having just arrived to check up on them, is dejected, and leaves with Lenny. Little does Homer know that Artie tricked Marge into kissing him.

Lenny seems similarly dejected about his relationship with Carl, to get a job in an oil field in West Springfield, a likely death spot for the two of them. On the way there, they discuss the loves they left behind. All cacti resemble Marge to Homer, and Lenny mournfully points out Mount Carlmore that he carved one blissful summer. Meanwhile, Marge leaves Artie and discovers what Homer had done when she gets home.

While working on an oil rig, Lenny and Homer accidentally set fire to an ant, who in turn sets fire to all his ant companions, who jump in a puddle of oil to dowse the flames. Their brief sighs of relief are replaced with screams as the whole rig catches fire. Marge, Bart, and Lisa go with Artie and Carl to West Springfield to save Homer and Lenny. At first, they are reluctant, as Homer still thinks that Marge and Artie are having an affair and Lenny feels that there is nothing for him in Artie's helicopter. However, Artie admits defeat to Homer and Carl reveals that he is in the helicopter, and the pair are saved. Homer and Marge's marriage is also saved when Artie offers a solution to Homer's snoring problem, a device which converts snoring to music and anti-Homer subliminal messages.

Trivia

• West Springfield is shaped like Texas on the map.
• This episode marks the third appearance of Principal Dondelinger, who was the principal at Homer and Marge's school when they were teenagers.
• The music that plays on Homer's "sleeping" device is Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This).
• Homer says to Dondelinger he's been drinking for 25 years. This would make him 13 when he drank his first beer. However, another episode maintains he was 17.

Cultural references

• In the opening scene with Comic Book Guy, two signed pictures of Mark Hamill can be seen on the wall.
• As Marge flies away in the helicopter with Artie Ziff, the theme song to M*A*S*H plays and the scene pans out to a shot of Homer next to a stone message that reads, "Keep Your Clothes On". This is a nod to the final scene of the final episode of M*A*S*H, only the stone message read, "Good-Bye".
• The scene in which Dr. Hibbert and Dr. Nick smash mailboxes while driving is comparable to a scene in the movie Stand By Me.
• "Nookie in New York" is an obvious parody of Sex and the City.
• The title and storyline parody the 1993 movie Indecent Proposal.
• When Homer is running to the fake prom, the background music is "Mrs. Robinson" from "The Graduate".
• Seeing the fake prom, Homer apparently gets confused between real life and Back to the Future.

Quotes

• Homer: Oh, God! It's our high school prom...and once again I have no date!
  Harlan Dondelinger: Simpson!
  Homer: Oh, hello Dondelinger.
  Dondelinger: You're not on the guest list, Simpson. Orders of prom king Ziff. And have you been drinking?
  Homer: Just for 25 years.
  Dondelinger: Let's go, mister!
• Comic Book Guy: Oh, Jar Jar, everyone hates you but me.
• Homer: This job will be perfect. I'm gonna leave this world the way I entered it. Dirty, screaming and torn away from the woman I loved!
  Lenny: Quick and pointless. That's the death for me.
• Homer: Marge, if you're watching this, then it means I've found out how to work the camera.
• Homer (on the burning oil well): Oh no! This is how Faceless Joe lost his legs!

• The Simpsons episodes, season 13