The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer

Infobox Simpsons episode
episode_name = The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer


image_caption = Fat Tony and his son, Michael.
episode_no = 379
prod_code = HABF15
airdate = September 10, 2006
show runner = Al Jean
writer = Bill Odenkirk
director = Michael Marcantel
guest_star = Joe Mantegna as Fat Tony
Joe Pantoliano as Dante
Michael Imperioli as Dante, Jr.
Metallica as themselves
blackboard =
couch_gag = The couch is replaced by four wooden chairs. An instrumental version of "Pop Goes the Weasel" plays as the family goes around the chairs. When the music stops, everyone but Homer grabs a seat.cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings.aspx?id=20070112fox15|title=The Simpsons: "The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer"|accessdate=2008-05-25|publisher=The Futon Critic]
season = 18

"The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer" is the season premiere of "The Simpsons"’ eighteenth season and first aired September 10, 2006. Lisa meets Fat Tony's son, Michael, who doesn't want to enter the family business of the mafia, but wants to pursue his dream of being a chef. When Fat Tony is shot by his enemies, Michael refuses to be the new kingpin, prompting Homer and Bart to run the Springfield Mafia. It was written by Bill Odenkirk and directed by Michael Marcantel. The entire band of Metallica guest star as themselves, while Michael Imperioli and Joe Pantoliano guest star as Fat Tony's enemies, Dante Jr. and Dante, respectedly. In its original run, it received a 5.3 Nielsen rating and had 11.5 million viewers.cite news |first=Toni |last=Fitzgerald |title=Star power: Fox's 'Family Guy' roars|url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/Overnights_50/Star_power_Fox_s_Family_Guy_roars_in.asp|publisher="Media Life" |date=September 24, 2007|accessdate=2007-09-28]

Plot

While driving Springfield Elementary School's student's to school, Otto stops to meet the members of Metallica, whose truck broke down. Behind him, however, Bart hijacks the school bus and drives it to school, embarrassing Otto in front of Metallica. The entire band leaves, hitching a ride with Hans Moleman instead of Otto. At the school, a fuming Otto arrives and spanks Bart. Noticing this act of corporal punishment, Principal Skinner suspends Otto from driving the school bus. For this reason, Marge has to drive carpool to several of Bart and Lisa's friends. After picking up Milhouse, Terri, Sherri, and Nelson, she finally picks up an introverted kid named Michael. Michael, clearly an outcast with no friends, is bullied by Nelson in the car. He forgets his math book at home, prompting Marge to drive him back to pick it up. While there, his math book is handed to him by his father, Fat Tony. Nelson immediately takes back all his insults.

News of Michael's "family" spreads, and everyone tries to keep their distance from him. Some, like Ralph, are in fear because Fat Tony shot their parents. Lisa joins a lonely Michael at lunch, and they become friends. She comes to find Michael is a talented cook, which he claims to be his dream, rather than go into the family business of "waste management". After school, Fat Tony drives the kids home (also scaring them with threats, which ends with friendly remarks, such as "sleeping with the fishes. cuz I have this "Finding Nemo" blanket!"), but on the way, goons working for Fat Tony's rivals, the Calabresi family, attack them. Tony manages to slip them, and when they arrive at the Simpson house, Michael invites the family over for dinner. At Fat Tony's mansion, the Calabresis show up unexpectedly for a sit-down during dinner. Fat Tony advises the Calabresis against killing him as his son, Michael, would then take his place and exact a brutal vengeance. Michael, however, arrives, serving souffles to the mobsters, who love it, but are surprised when they find out he made them. The Calabresis laugh at Tony and leave. Fat Tony admonishes Michael for making him look weak in front of his enemies. Suddenly, an attack helicopter appears at the window and guns Fat Tony down.

At the hospital, Fat Tony lies unconscious, and Johnny Tightlips explains to the other mobsters that, with the boss down, the Calabresis would be trying to finish the job. He tells Michael that he should step up, but when he expresses dismay, Homer volunteers to take his place as mob boss. He and Bart proceed to do Mafia dirty work, including rough treatment of Moe and Krusty. However, Michael notices how this amount of power is turning the two more maniacal (they are plotting various ways to injure/kill Ned Flanders) and seeks to put an end to it. One night, he invites the Calabresis to the Simpsons' for dinner, where he informs them that they have won and that he is out of the family business. They applaud his decision, but end up choking and dying over their own meals. Marge discovers the food had been poisoned, and although Michael appears remorseful, Lisa finds out it was intentional. At Fat Tony's mansion, Fat Tony congratulates Michael for taking down their enemies. Outside, Lisa asks Michael why he did not tell Fat Tony it was all an accident. Michael bluntly tells her to never to question his business and disappears into a room with Jimbo, Kearney and Dolph, leaving Lisa alone with a concerned and fearful expression on her face. Lisa opens the door to see Michael and co. playing with Hot Wheels, only to have Kearney close the door on her again.

Production

Homer says the greatest mob film of all time was "Shark Tale".cite web|url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/730/730639p1.html|title=IGN: "The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer" Review|accessdate=2008-05-25|publisher=IGN] The 2004 hit movie took its general storyline from "The Godfather" although it transferred the material into a PG-rated animated film. Guest star Michael Imperioli appeared in "Shark Tale" as the violent, bloodthirsty son of a shark mob boss.cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?vid=35707|title="Shark Tale" interview: Michael Imperioli on his work with Spike Lee|accessdate=2008-05-25|publisher=MTV] Fat Tony's son Michael was first mentioned in "The Seven-Beer Snitch".cite web|url=http://nohomers.net/showthread.php?t=57811&page=5|title=Rate and Review "The Mook, the Chef, the Wife, and Her Homer"|accessdate=2008-05-25|publisher=NoHomers]

Cultural references

*The title of the episode references the 1989 film, "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover".
*Childern perform Antonín Dvořák's New World Symphony during Largo's music class.
*The final portion of the episode is a parody of the final scene of "The Godfather". Lisa plays Keaton, and Michael (whose character resembles a young version of Michael Corleone) plays Al Pacino. "The Godfather" theme is also heard.
*Mob goons in a helicopter attempt to assassinate Fat Tony through a window, mirroring a famous scene in Godfather III.
*Fat Tony uses a Garfield three-ring binder to pop the Dantes' car,cite web|url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2006/09/10/the-simpsons-the-mook-the-chef-the-wife-and-her-homer/|title=The Mook, the Chef, the Wife, and Her Homer|accessdate=2008-05-25|publisher=TVSquad] and claims to have bought a "Finding Nemo" bedspread.cite web|url=http://projectdoh.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!9FCF6280DE01E590!229.entry|title=Premiere of "The Mook, the Chef, the Wife, and Her Homer"|accessdate=2008-05-25|publisher=MSN Spaces]
*When Fat Tony speaks Italian, Homer thinks he talks like Mushmouth from Fat Albert.
*The Dante's quote of "Chef boy-are-gay" references "Chef Boyardee".
*Otto listens to "We're an American Band", by Grand Funk Railroad and refers to both "Deal with the Devil" by Judas Priest and "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple ("music should be about deals with the devil, far off lands and where smoke is found in relation to water").
*"The Sopranos" theme music, "Woke Up This Morning" is heard; guest stars Pantoliano and Imperioli were actors on "Sopranos".
*McDonald's and Burger King are referenced in a scene that meta-explains their absence from the show: Krusty has been paying the Mafia to keep them out of Springfield. Krusty offers Homer and Bart a smaller amount of money to just keep Hardee's out of KrustyBurger territory.
*Homer says that he learned how to be a mobster by watching "the greatest mafia movie ever", "Shark Tale".
*The song played by Metallica while they were driving off was the first 2 measures of Master of Puppets. Kirk says that "We found a bigger fan" - Hans Moleman("I used to sleep with Lars' Grandmother."). Rob says "Never listen to our music again!" to Otto and the band drives off playing "Master of Puppets".
*Bart holds up a bootlegged copy of "Batman Begins".
*Homer smacks Bart on the back of the head like Tony Manero's father in "Saturday Night Fever".

Reception

Dan Iverson of IGN quotes the premiere was "charming", and enjoys the episodes' parody of "The Godfather". He praised Pantoliano and Imperioli's appearances. He quotes that despite the episode being too random, he misses the emotional impact it should have had. He gives the episode a final rating of 7/10.

References