Homer gets into great shape and is really excited, but when McCarthy leaves to train another client, he starts over-eating again and ultimately this leads to the film's failure.

"Homer the Whopper" has received mixed reviews from television critics and acquired a Nielsen rating of 4.3 in its original broadcast.

Although the premiere is a disaster, the executives offer to let Comic Book Guy direct a sequel as long as he gives the film a good review.

[1][2] In 2006, Ricky Gervais, co-creator of The Office, received credit for writing the season 17 episode "Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife".

"[4] Rogen also noted that the plot mirrors the situation he was in while working on the film The Green Hornet, when he had to lose weight and do physical training for his role.

[1] Show runner Al Jean commented that the writers tried not to repeat the comic book film theme from the "Radioactive Man" episode.

[6] Rogen later said that "we sat down for a read-through and three hours later I'm in a studio improv-ing with Homer Simpson, it was the single greatest day of my life.

[9] In its original American broadcast in the United States on September 27, 2009,[8][10] "Homer The Whopper" was watched in 8.31 million homes and acquired a 4.3 Nielsen rating/12 share.

Overall, Canning thought "Homer The Whopper" was a good start to the twenty-first season, and although the plot may not be very original, the writers added "freshness to the proceedings.

Club's Emily VanDerWerff did not think the script was as good as Gervais', but commented that Rogen and Goldberg "managed to make a mostly amusing season premiere."