Mayored to the Mob

[1] The episode was written by Ron Hauge and directed by Swinton O. Scott III,[1] and received positive reviews from critics overall.

[citation needed] While watching television, the Simpson family sees a commercial for the "Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con", a science-fiction convention featuring Mark Hamill and others, and decide to attend.

In gratitude, Quimby employs Homer as his bodyguard, whilst firing his current security detail for cloud watching instead of rescuing him.

Scared at having to defend Quimby due to the death threats, Homer attempts to reassure the Mayor by taking him to a dinner theater to see Hamill portray Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls.

[5] When Comic Book Guy meets a girl with similar interests to him at the convention, Alexander Courage's piece "Under the Spell" from the original Star Trek pilot "The Cage" plays.

[6] Throughout the episode, Hamill wears the costume of his Star Wars character Luke Skywalker,[7] and tells Homer to "use the forks," spoofing the line "use the Force" from the franchise.

[8] Leavelle sings the song "I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton, which was popularized by Whitney Houston as the theme for The Bodyguard; it also plays at the end.

[1][4] After believing he has killed Mayor Quimby, Homer decides to take inspiration from the film Weekend at Bernie's (1989) and "use the body to stage an elaborate farce.

[10] Empire named Hamill's performance in the episode as the tenth-best film gag in the show, commenting: "As a rule, celebrity cameos are rubbish, but good sport Hamill is hilarious when singing 'Luke, be a Jedi tonight' in a production of Guys and Dolls, and makes this list for urging bodyguard Homer to 'use the forks.

[14] The authors of the book I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide, Warren Martyn and Adrian Wood, wrote that "the best bits all involve either the convention or Mark Hamill's repeated attempts to not be mobbed.

Sadly, the main thrust of the story – Homer's protection of Quimby from Don Tony – falls a bit flat.

"[1] In his review of The Simpsons' tenth season, James Plath of DVD Town notes "Mayored to the Mob" to be "one of the funnier episodes.