I really think that this season is going to go down as a high point for The Simpsons. With any luck, next season and here on out will be just as good, and we can consider this season the turning point. The one that put The Simpsons back up among the TV royalty, exactly as it deserves to be. Tonight's episode was another madcap Homer adventure, and for at least a little while, I was thinking that he may get a new job. Granted that would have taken away one of the greatest running jokes on the show, but it could have been funny for a couple of episodes. Oh well, a little yellow boy can dream. On with the show!

I always get a little confused as to when Father's Day is, and this episode certainly didn't help. It opened up with Homer celebrating Father's Day Eve, and for a second, I panicked and thought: "Crap, did I miss it again?" Fortunately, I did not. Marge takes Bart and Lisa to the mall to buy Homer some gifts. Once there, Bart finds a Leatherbuddy; a pocket-tool with every appengdage you can think of. Lisa however, doesn't want to get him a commercialized gift, so she decides to make Homer something. The book she makes him pales next to the Leatherbuddy, and Homer accidentally destroys her hard work. Lisa, absolutely distraught, goes on a rampage at school the next day, forcing Homer and Marge to come in and have a meeting with Principal Skinner.

In the principal's office, Homer adopts the identity of the school's safety mascot, Safety Salamander, to both pay for the damages Lisa caused, and to hopefully win back her love. After the worst car wreck in Springfield history, caused because the street sign for Bart Blvd had gone missing (I'll give you three guesses who took it, and the first two don't count), Safety Salamander comes to the rescue of many and becomes a town hero. Shortly thereafter, Mayor Quimby's effectiveness is called into question, and Springfield has a recall election. Safety Salamander is winning over the hearts of many, most importantly, his daughter's (and campaign manager). Marge washes the lizard suit, and when Homer once again dons it, the costume falls to pieces during a debate. The citizens of Springfield, not willing to listen to an actualy human being, leave Quimby in office.

I'm pretty sure I'll never be able to open another beer and drink it without first exclaiming "Expand my brain learning juice!" I already know it will be a "tavern house" staple. I liked this episode a lot. There were a lot of little jokes along the way: Wolfcastle being cheered for all the bad things in his campaign, then booed for bringing up that stem cell research was fantastic. Plus, any story that centers on Homer is almost always a winner. Let me know what you think.

Couch Gag of the Week:
Everyone sits down and the camera pulls back to reveal that they're actually on exhibit in an alien zoo.
Comment: This is the second week in a row that we've had kind of a "creepy" halloween-esque couch gag. Last week was "Attack of the Couches"