Flaming Moe's
The drink is wildly successful and boosts Moe's business, but Homer is angry at him for his betrayal and seeks revenge.
The episode was written by Robert Cohen and directed by Rich Moore, with assistance from Alan Smart (who would later work on SpongeBob SquarePants as an animation director).
The main plot of the episode in which Moe's Tavern becomes famous because of a drink is loosely based on the Los Angeles establishment Coconut Teaszer.
American rock band Aerosmith (Steven Tyler, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer, Joe Perry and Brad Whitford) appears in the episode.
In its original airing during the November sweeps period, the episode had a 14.4 Nielsen rating and finished the week ranked 29th.
When ash from Patty's cigarette fell into the concoction and set it aflame, Homer discovered that fire greatly improves its flavor.
Before he can finalize the deal, Homer arrives at the tavern and loudly reveals that the secret ingredient is "nothing but plain, ordinary, over-the-counter children's cough syrup".
Al Jean said the opening two minutes of the episode were inspired by his own childhood where "My sister would have sleepover parties and her friends would always try to kiss me and stuff".
[4] The main plot of the episode, in which Moe's Tavern becomes famous because of a drink, is loosely based on the Los Angeles establishment Coconut Teaszer.
"[8] Jo Ann Harris, a regular voice actor in the show, had recorded a temporary track using an impression of Shelley Long's character (Diane) from Cheers.
The parody was written by Jeff Martin,[8] and the sequence was designed by future Simpsons director Nancy Kruse.
[4] According to Al Jean, they later found out that part of the reason why Aerosmith agreed to appear was the drink's being called the "Flaming Moe".
The scene where Bart runs away from Lisa and her friends makes reference to the Alfred Hitchcock film North by Northwest.
[4] Aerosmith sings "Walk This Way" in Moe's Tavern and "Young Lust" during the closing credits,[2] making them the first band to appear on The Simpsons.
In its original airing on the Fox Network during November sweeps, the episode had a 14.4 Nielsen rating and was viewed in approximately 13.26 million homes.
[12] The authors of the book I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide, Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, called it "Possibly the best Simpsons episode, with a constant stream of gags, inspired animation (in particular the sequence when Homer begins to see and hear Moe everywhere, from Maggie's gurgles to the leaves on the trees), and a superb plot that twists about in every direction but the one you might expect.
"[2] DVD Movie Guide's Colin Jacobson wrote "From Lisa's slumber party at the opening through the Cheers spoof at Moe's, this episode's another real winner.
"[13] Nate Meyers of Digitally Obsessed gave the episode 5/5, calling it "another great chapter in the history of The Simpsons, with tons of laughs throughout".
They wrote, "This episode has tons of standout moments, from the appearance by Aerosmith (the first time a musical act of that caliber appeared as themselves on the series); a funny payoff for all Bart's prank calls to Moe's, when a man named Hugh Jass actually does turn out to be a customer; a deftly done Cheers parody at the height of Moe's success; and Homer turning into a Phantom of the Opera type lunatic.
[...] highlights include a performance by Aerosmith (in a guest-starring role), Bart's actually apologizing to Moe for one of his infamous prank calls, and a memorable spoof of Cheers' theme song.
[25] Real-life equivalents based on food shown in The Simpsons is sold at Universal Studios Florida, including the Flaming Moe.
