Homer's Enemy

think the subplot is the weakest part of this episode. The story works as an "alternative" Simpsons episode, one that shows what the Simpsons universe looks like to an outsider (Grimes). But then they keep cutting to this "B" story that could fit into any normal episode. And as a normal episode, this story doesn't work. So I wish they'd cut that part out and maybe filled the story out with an Itchy and Scratchy cartoon (with Grimes wondering why everyone seems to find this so hilariously funny when it obviously has no comic timing at all).

Making the point that The Simpsons had become cartoonishly silly and a real person couldn't live in the setting was kind of a stupid idea.

He won an Emmy

Homer wasn't annoying. He was genuinely trying to make friends with Grimes, but Grimes thought it unfair that Homer had things so much better and got by work so easily and luckily, and therefore became enemies with Homer.

For S11 E5

Homer’s deserved Emmy

Asian Smithers?

Grimes was a total douche.

I agree that Homer was pretty dumb even for his standards, but not lovable? Never once in that episode did I actually HATE homer for any of his actions, because of the fact that he was too stupid to realise what he was doing. If, on the other hand, he intentially planned to drive grimey insane, I could see justification for people hating him, but that was never the case. So I can't say that I agree that homer was acting like a jerk in this episode, because like lenny said at the end of the funeral, "that's our homer!"

I can see what you mean, but I still have to disagree. He was very stupid, but he did try to be make things up with Grimes, even though they went horribly wrong, and so it's hard for me to not like Homer in this episode.

Homer doesn't really into full jerkass territory, but they did make him a way bigger annoying slob than usual, just to annoy Grimes. (The acid, passed out drunk on a coathook at work, etc.) Also Mr. Burns was suddenly rivalling Homer in stupidity, just to annoy Grimes.

I can dig the idea of showing a normal person getting pissed off at the Simpsons world, but it doesn't work when the writers cheat and break the rules of how the regular characters had always acted.

It wasn't Homer's fault, it was the writers' fault for being lazy.

And why does Matt Groening consider this one of his top 5 favorite episodes of the show?

So how would you have it played out instead?

For your information he happened to like hookers.