The Man in the Blue Flannel Pants

"The Man in the Blue Flannel Pants" is the seventh episode of *The Simpsons*' twenty-third season, airing on Fox on November 27, 2011, to an audience of about 5.6 million viewers. The story follows Homer, who becomes an account manager for Mr. Burns after successfully hosting a viral marketing event for Krusty the Clown. As Homer grows distant from his family, he must choose between his new job and his loved ones. Meanwhile, Lisa teaches Bart to read classic novels like *Little Women*. The title is a reference to *The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit*, and the episode primarily parodies the TV show *Mad Men*.

Written by Jeff Westbrook and directed by Steven Dean Moore, the episode features guest voices from *Mad Men* actor John Slattery and creator Matthew Weiner. Critics rated it average, noting wasted potential in the parody. In the plot, Krusty's vodka brand, Absolut Krusty, faces trouble, prompting a tastemaker party at a Springfield trendsetter's home. Mr. Burns scares the guests, but Homer saves the party by singing karaoke with him, earning a promotion to "Accounts Man" at the nuclear plant. Veteran account man Robert Marlow mentors Homer, showing him the high life, but the job turns Homer into a sad, distant figure who drinks in the dark. A family vacation helps him realize family comes first. Lisa introduces Bart to literature; after initial struggles, Bart learns to read and is forced by bullies to read *Little Women* to them. Marge and Burns both want Homer on the same rafting trip. Homer double-books, swimming between rafts until Marge discovers his deception near a waterfall. Homer saves his family's raft, while Marlow rescues Burns on a jetski. Burns forgives Homer for cutting costs by six percent, and Homer returns to his family, though he trips over the waterfall himself, unharmed, and finds gold. Back home, he tells Marge he is a safety inspector again, and fireworks outside reveal a fire at the nuclear plant, likely due to his failure.

The episode was written by Jeff Westbrook and directed by Steven Dean Moore, with guest voices from John Slattery, Matthew Weiner, and Kevin Michael Richardson. Weiner created *Mad Men*, where Slattery plays Roger Sterling. The A-plot parodies *Mad Men*, with Homer becoming like Don Draper and Slattery's character Robert Marlowe resembling Roger Sterling.