In this episode, Bart attempts to trade nuclear secrets to China in exchange for a dirt bike when Homer refuses to give him one.
Michael Paul Chan, James Lipton, writer David Mamet, and Garry Marshall guest starred.
After Bart leaves the flashdrive with the downloaded data at the zoo and takes the bike, Homer reveals to him that he has bought him a mini-bike for being such a good child.
Back at the house, Bart tells Homer how much he appreciates him, and that they have "the best kind of bonding": sitting in front of the television while making no eye contact at all.
"[3] In its original American broadcast, "Homer the Father" was viewed by an estimated 6.5 million households with a 3.1 rating/7 share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49.
[4] The number of viewers increased slightly from the previous week and the 18-49 demographic stayed steady, in spite of going up against the hugely-viewed AFC Championship.
[5] TV Fanatic[6] gave the episode a 3.8 out of 5, stating, "This week's installment was loaded with plenty of hilarious meta jokes about the television industry, thanks to its storyline about Homer mimicking his favorite '80s sitcom father, who seemed to be a mishmash of every fictional patriarch from that decade."