The 8 Silliest Jobs Homer Simpson Has Ever Worked
According to Matt Groening, Homer has had 188 jobs in 400 episodes of The Simpsons. Lots of them aren’t silly, though. In fact, being a snowplough operator or pin jockey is right up Homer’s alley. Instead, here are some of the silliest, unlikeliest, or most off-brand jobs Homer has ever worked.
Internet Service Provider
Episode: “Das Bus”
(to Bill Gates) “Hey, you don’t look so rich.”
After hearing how well Flanders is doing selling religious foot rugs on the Internet, Homer founds CompuGlobalHypermMeganet. Naturally, he gives himself the title of Junior Vice President.
Carny
Episode: “Bart Carny”
“He’s a carny, and part of a noble tradition! Carnies built this country! The carnival part of it anyway.”
You’d think Homer would be able to run a simple ring-toss game, but after failing to bribe Chief Wiggum, he loses the whole thing.
Door-to-Door Spring Salesman
Episode: “The Old Man and the ‘C’ Student”
“Welcome to the kitchen of tomorrow, today! Marge, how much would you pay for a self-flipping hamburger pan?”
Homer buys thousands of springs he intends to sell as mascots for the Springfield Olympics, but the event fails to materialize after Bart offends the Olympic Committee. Stuck with springs, Homer tries getting rid of them door-to-door, which goes about as successfully as his stints as a door-to-door knife salesman or a door-to-door sugar salesman.
Garbage Commissioner
Episode: “Trash of the Titans”
“I never apologize, Lisa. I’m sorry, but that’s just the way I am.”
Homer gives everyone what they want: garbage men who take out the garbage for you. And a fleet of shiny new vehicles and snazzy uniforms, which are great for your parodies of songs from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Sadly, Homer blows through a year’s budget in a month and eventually causes a garbage disaster of such epic proportions that the entire town of Springfield has to be picked up and moved five miles down the road.
Krusty
Episode: “Homie the Clown”
“That’s it! You people have stood in my way long enough! I’m going to clown college!”
Unlike most jobs he does, being an imitation Krusty is something Homer’s actually pretty good at. He has great aim with the water-squirting flower, fools Milhouse into thinking he’s the real Krusty, and even does the spin cycle fantastic trick eventually. Too bad the real Krusty owes Fat Tony money, and Fat Tony mistakes Homer for the real Krusty.
Performance Artist
Episode: “Homerpalooza”
Billy Corgan: “Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins.”
Homer: “Homer Simpson, smiling politely.”
Is getting hit with a cannonball in the belly really performance art? Well, it is at Lollapalooza, where Homer gets to hang out with modern-day rock stars and finally be cool in the eyes of his kids. Fun fact: the band No Doubt appeared in this episode before they were famous because Gwen Stefani’s brother was an artist on the show.
Union Leader
Episode: “Last Exit to Springfield”
Homer: “What does this job pay?”
Carl: “Nothing.”
Homer: “D’oh!”
Carl: “Unless you’re crooked.”
Homer: “Woo-hoo!”
Easily the most quotable episode of The Simpsons ever made. It turns out Homer is a great union leader. Of course, this is entirely unintentional. But that’s okay, he saves the dental plan and doesn’t have to pay for Lisa’s braces.
Emu Farmer
Episode: “Lard of the Dance”
Homer: “Marge, if you don’t mind, I’m a little busy right now achieving financial independence.”
Marge: “With cans of grease?”
Homer: “(sarcastically) No! Through savings and wise investment. Of course, with grease!”
Wait, Homer didn’t have to work on Marge’s proposed emu farm because he stuck with his grease-collecting idea. But wait, his grease collecting ultimately failed, because it was all Willie’s retirement grease. But wait, does that mean he went to work on the emu farm after all?
