It was on this date in 1990 that the "Dancin' Homer' episode of THE SIMPSONS, written by me and David Isaacs first premiered on Fox. Yes, I'm also the voice of the Isotopes. Still one of my favorite scripts. Back when creative genius Sam Simon was running the show. Here's a clip. Enjoy. Plus, we all need a little baseball fix. It's been almost a whole week since the World Series.
Dancin' Homer from Mark on Vimeo.
19 comments :
Nice one!!! Ken, do you still get the residual from this voice acting gig?
Spielberg's latest crapfest's trailer has released, saw it Ken?
Always loved the phrase, "Mediocre slugger Big McClosky"... and we use it all the time whenever an average big fella smacks a HR or gets a big hit.
RIP Roy Halladay.
"As soon as he pops out, we'll go right to the post-game show..."
I've got to believe Skip Caray said this at least once in his career.
Ditto to what WP81955 wrote. Roy Halladay was one of the great ones.
Dancin' Homer was also the very first SIMPSONS episode directed by Mark Kirkland, who has gone on to direct over 80 episodes of the show and counting. He also supervised a couple of seasons while the movie was being made - and half the show's animators were busy with it.
It's almost jarring to see all these weirdly drawn background characters in the stadium. By the fourth or fifth season, there were enough secondary characters to fill these areas that animators no longer needed to come up with these unknown designs.
First baseball game my dad took me to: Exhibition Stadium, 1979. Tough day for this lifelong Blue Jays fan.
My dad took me to Exhibition Stadium in 1979 for my first baseball game. This is a tough day for this lifelong Jays fan. Roy Halladay was three years younger than me. I really hope the Hall of Fame invokes the Clemente clause and inducts Doc immediately.
Still one of my favorite episodes, after all these years. Hard to believe it's been twenty-seven years, but the calendar tells no lies.
Happy Danciversary!
Happy Danciversary
I love the expression on Big Bill McCloskey's face when the announcer refers to him as a "mediocre slugger". That remark, in combination with the introductory pep talk about how the game will be over as soon as he pops out, really did the trick.
So you see Ken, it wasn't Dancin' Homer's antics that saved the 'Topes, it was your acerbic but accurate sports coverage.
You were lucky to have worked within the first five seasons. (i.e. before David Mirkin took over.) Those are still the best years. And let's not forget that you introduced the Capital City Goofball. John asked if you get residuals for your voice work. But I'm curious to know if you get any form of remuneration when the C.C.G.B. appears in subsequent episodes?
Really cool clip.
Skip Carey must have said just that.
My favorite Skip moment was when he was on TV and during a lull the director kept cutting to comely beauties in the stands. As it lingered on one especially amazing one, she reached in and stuck her finger halfway up her nose.
Carey: Beat. Beat. Beat. "Well, she was *almost* perfect."
Like sands through the hourglass...so are the dances of our Homer
(they celebrated their silver anniversary on that day--and both are still chugging along)
Late in Harry Caray's career, the Cubs/WGN/Budweiser/somebody gave him a televised roast-&-toast.
Skip Caray came in from Atlanta to lead things off, thusly:
" I've known Harry Caray all my life.
For most of that time, he was almost like a father to me ..."
My husband is a lovely man of many talents and abilities (being an Eagle Scout and all), but sadly, dancing is just not one of them. Not terribly rhythmic, mostly a lot of bouncing and flapping his arms like a chicken... you know, the White Guy Dance. And every time I catch him, I always say "Lively up yourself, Dancin' Homer!"
And I have been known to proposition him with a simple "How 'bout it?"
Damn, I love this episode.
Cheers, thanks a lot,
Storm
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