The Simpsons: 10 Greatest Rock Star Moments
4. The Smashing Pumpkins (S7 E24 “Homerpalooza”)
In one of the show's best episodes, Homer finds out that his taste in music is no longer considered "cool", and ultimately decides to take Bart and Lisa to the Hullabalooza music festival, where he accidentally lands a job in the festival’s freak show, taking cannonballs to the stomach.
This episode, from the Golden Age of the series, perfectly satirises nineties youth culture, and is packed with clever one-liners. Despite being one of several musical guests in the episode, The Smashing Pumpkins steal the show, helping provide some of the best laughs; as in this awkward introduction: “Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins”, “Homer Simpson, smiling politely”.
As Homer tours the festival circuit with Sonic Youth, Cypress Hill, Peter Frampton and The Smashing Pumpkins, his stomach becomes increasingly weaker from a constant barrage of cannonballs. After a check up from the local vet, Homer is told not to perform again, or he's likely to die.
Onstage, Homer dodges the cannonball at the last second, and before leaving the festival, says farewell to the Pumpkins, who respond by saying, "We envy you, Homer. All we have is our music, our legions of fans, our millions of dollars, and our youth". Sarcasm at its best.