The Simpsons Season 21 Episode 23: Judge Me Tender
The season 21 finale features the guest voices of American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, Idol judges Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres, and the voice of Rupert Murdoch, Chairman and CEO of News Corp, the parent of Fox News and Fox Entertainment.
Bart and Homer work on making Santa’s Little Helper look ugly for the ugliest dog contest in Springfield. They finally decide to turn the dog around and tape a face on its rear end, calling the dog Satan’s Little Helper. As the contest begins, Moe tries to find a seat and is rebuffed by everyone he tries to sit next to. Krusty the Clown is the guest judge and not doing a great job of it. Moe says something sarcastic and the crowd starts to laugh. The more Moe says, the more the crowd responds. Krusty tells Moe if he thinks he can do better as a judge, go ahead, and Moe takes him up on his offer. Moe is a hit with the crowd and has found a new talent as a judge. Moe declares Satan’s Little Helper the winner of the ugliest dog show. Santa’s Little Helper feels depressed because everyone thinks he looks ugly. After the contest Lisa gives Santa’s Little Helper a pep talk to convince him he is an attractive and loveable dog.
Moe discovers he has a talent for judging contests and is invited to judge contests throughout Springfield. A television agent see Moe judging a contest and asks him to join the ‘American Idol’ judges’ panel. Moe closes the bar while judging, leaving Homer no choice but to go home directly after work. Homer starts driving Marge crazy being home so much, she wishes he’d go back to the bar so she can cook dinner. Marge even takes him to another bar but Homer’s experience at the sports bar doesn’t work and soon he’s back home and irritating her. Marge realizes golf may be a way to occupy Homer’s time. At the golf course a die-hard golfer confesses to Marge that with one swing he was hooked and never spent time with his wife and kids. Marge stops Homer from swinging the golf club before she is a golf widow and they head home, finding once there that sex is a better way to spend their time together.
Moe travels to Los Angeles and is met by Simon Cowell. Moe relies on Simon to help him learn the ropes of being an American Idol judge. When Moe appears with the American Idol judges, Simon suggests Moe not play the mean, snarky judge and offer compliments instead. Simon then tells the contestant they were lousy, and tells Moe he’s keeping the mean judge role for himself. Moe is upset and threatens Cowell, which gets him tossed from the show.
Moe is back at the bar with Homer and the regular customers and Marge is happy to have Homer at Moe’s bar instead of under her feet at home. Moe has given up his life of being a judge and is satisfied with his bartending life.
