"Greats are always trying new things, like Michelangelo, or Shaquille O'Neil!" - Marge Simpson. Maybe I should frame this quote and send it to Al Jean.Airdate: April 11th, 1999
Written By: Al Jean
Plot: Homer's attempts to build a backyard barbecue pit go rather awry when the parts and the instructions fall into the cement. ("Le Grill? What the hell is that?") After his attempts to return the... barbecue, I guess... fail, it winds up crashing into the car of Astrid, a member of the local "Original Art" scene. Taking an interest in the disaster, she invites Homer to a local gallery, where Mr. Burns buys his art (to collect the royalties, presumably). Thus begins his new career as an artist.
Review:
Season 2 of The Simpsons is one of the show's more underrated seasons. I mean, yeah, seasons 2-8 were (with one or two examples later on) sublime all around, but Season 2 is often skipped over, as far as I can see. It doesn't seem to have the rubbery charm of 1, nor is it acclaimed like 3. It's a shame because, in my view, Season 2 is when The Simpsons really began to kick into top gear.Among the episodes in season 2 is "Brush With Greatness", an episode that explores Marge's artistic talent. The episode focuses on Marge rekindling her high-school interest in art - one that was crushed by a callous teacher. Her big challenge in rekindling her love is trying to reconcile her technique - focusing on one's inner beauty and goodness - with a mandate to paint Mr. Burns for his new wing at the museum. It's a fantastic episode, although I could say the same for most of Season 2.
Now, we get something of a sequel. Eight years on, and the overall tone of the show has changed dramatically. Rather than an ensemble focusing on the Simpson family as a whole, we instead get a sequel focusing on Homer's accidental foray into absurdist modern art. So, is this episode a genuine Mr. Burns, or a quick painting of a sad clown?
