Homer's Enemy

"Homer's Enemy"
The Simpsons episode
Frank Grimes (left) confronts Homer Simpson
Episode no.	Season 8 Episode 23
Directed by	Jim Reardon
Written by	John Swartzwelder
Production code	4F19
Original air date	May 4, 1997 (1997-05-04)[1]
Guest appearance
Frank Welker as Executive Vice President dog
Episode features
Chalkboard gag	"I did not learn everything I need to know in kindergarten" (recycled from "You Only Move Twice")
Couch gag	Bart turns lime green when he sits on the couch. Homer fixes the TV, only to make Bart appear red, and Homer slaps Bart on the head to make him appear in his regular way.[2]
Commentary	Matt Groening Josh Weinstein Hank Azaria Jim Reardon
Episode chronology
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The Simpsons season 8
List of episodes

"Homer's Enemy" is the twenty-third episode of the eighth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It was first broadcast on the Fox network in the United States on May 4, 1997. "Homer's Enemy" was directed by Jim Reardon and written by John Swartzwelder, based on an idea pitched by executive producer Bill Oakley.

In the episode, Frank Grimes is hired as a new employee at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. Despite Homer's attempts to befriend him, Grimes is provoked by Homer's laziness and incompetence. He decides to make Homer his enemy, and tries to expose his flaws through public humiliation. In the subplot, Bart buys a run-down factory for a dollar. The episode explores the comic possibilities of a realistic character with a strong work ethic hired for a job where he has to work alongside a man like Homer.

Grimes was partially modeled after Michael Douglas's character in the film Falling Down, while Hank Azaria based aspects of his portrayal of the character on actor William H. Macy. Frank Welker guest stars as the voice of the dog whom Burns wants as his executive vice president. In its original broadcast on the Fox network, "Homer's Enemy" acquired a 7.7 Nielsen rating. It was viewed in approximately 7.5 million homes, finishing the week ranked 56th. "Homer's Enemy" is considered to be one of the darkest episodes of The Simpsons, and it split critical opinion. It is a favorite of several members of the production staff, including Swartzwelder, Bill Oakley, Josh Weinstein and Matt Groening, but it is one of the least favorites of Mike Reiss.