Ep 9. The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson

The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson is the ninth episode of the ninth season of The Simpsons. It originally aired on September 21, 1997. The episode follows Homer, who is frustrated with his dull and repetitive life in Springfield, and decides to hit the open road with his friends. However, things take a turn for the worse when they accidentally park their car in the World Trade Center plaza and can't retrieve it due to numerous parking tickets.

Desperate to get his car back, Homer decides to travel to New York with his family and confront the authorities. Along the way, they encounter a variety of New York City quirks, including the dangerous and grumpy taxi driver, Crazy Vaclav, who is depicted as having a stereotypical Eastern European accent, and the city's subway system, which is shown to be full of rats and graffiti.

As they continue their search for the car, the Simpsons find themselves caught up in a web of bureaucracy, corruption, and over-the-top parodies of New York City landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. The episode includes many memorable gags, such as the classic scene where Homer is chased by a horde of angry New Yorkers after he accidentally throws a giant pretzel at them.

Overall, The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson is widely considered to be one of the best episodes of The Simpsons. It is praised for its clever writing, sharp satire, and hilarious gags, as well as its commentary on the quirks and pitfalls of big-city life. The episode also features some strong emotional moments, particularly towards the end when Homer realizes the importance of his family and their love for each other.

In addition, the episode has historical significance because it originally aired less than a month before the September 11 terrorist attacks. The episode's depiction of the World Trade Center and the city's skyline has become a poignant reminder of what New York City looked like before the tragedy.

Overall, The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson is a classic episode of The Simpsons that showcases the show's strengths in storytelling, satire, and humor. It is a must-see for any fan of the series and a fitting tribute to one of America's most iconic cities.