Do Pizza Bots Dream of Electric Guitars (Johnsonverse)
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"Do Pizza Bots Dream of Electric Guitars" is the 15th episode of the thirty-second season of the American animated sitcom The Simpsons, and the 699th episode overall. It aired in the United States on Fox on March 14, 2021. The episode was directed by Michael Price, and written by Jennifer Moeller and Tim Johnson. In this episode, Homer attempts to reunite an animatronic band from his youth, but TV and film producer J.J. Abrams gets ahold of them first. Meanwhile, Bradley Thornton (the creator of the band) attempts to sabotage its comeback.
J.J. Abrams guest-stars as himself, and Aaron Fechter guest-stars as Bradley Thornton. The episode is dedicated to the memory of David Richardson, a writer and producer of The Simpsons who died on January 18, 2021.
Plot
In a flashback to Homer's adolescence, 14-year old Homer goes to work at his job at Razzle Dazzle's Pizza-Tainment Palace and helps fix a short-circuiting problem by having the animatronic band sing hip-hop and rap. The audience love it, but the FBI shuts the business down due to Homer's boss Gil Gunderson using the band for trafficking cocaine.
Back in the present day, Marge sees that something has changed in Homer since the flashback. Moe visits the house and agrees with Marge. Bart and Lisa decide to search for the animatronics, beginning by contacting Gil. Gil had tracked the animatronics down which were sold by the FBI at an auction: Marge takes Hippie Hippo from Professor Frink, Moe takes Foxy Lady from Sideshow Mel, Lisa takes Jive Turkey from Disco Stu, and both Bart and Lisa go to obtain Wakkety Yak from Herman's Military Antiques.
Herman reveals he just sold Yak to J.J. Abrams to create a new Mission: Impossible movie. Lisa and Bart arrive at one of Abrams' buildings and attempt to steal Yak but are caught. Homer arrives and overcome with emotion upon seeing Yak. Abrams appears and understands Homer's situation, only for him to plan an nine-movie franchise involving the animatronics, giving Homer the same trauma as before.
Homer encounters Comic Book Guy, who advises Homer to take his complains to the internet. Homer spends months complaining online, only to have Abrams announce a screening of the movie in Springfield. Homer enters the theater to stop Abrams, but Grampa arrives after being called by Marge. Grampa says that he ruined Homer's childhood by neglecting Homer's dreams. They reconcile and Abrams surprises Homer as he had reprogrammed the animatronics and brought them on stage now to dispense frozen yogurt at the after party.
The ending credits feature Comic Book Guy having formed the Troll Force Five, Earth's spite-iest heroes.
Production
Casting
J.J. Abrams guest-stars in the episode as himself, while Professor Frink appears, voiced by Hank Azaria. Aaron Fechter (the co-creator of the Rock-afire Explosion) also guest-stars as Bradley Thornton.
Release
The episode aired on March 14, 2021. It was supposed to air on March 7, but due to "Diary Queen" being pre-empted to February 21, 2021 due to the 2021 Daytona 500 delays, it was moved back to March 14, competing with the 63rd Grammy Awards that night.
Reception
Viewing figures
In the United States, the episode was watched live by 1.43 million viewers.
Critical response
Tony Sokol with Den of Geek said, "“Do PizzaBots Dream of Electric Guitars?” is the best episode of the season so far, and a classic installment to The Simpsons repertoire. Clearly up to par with the best of the classics. It is so satisfying, it feels as if it was individually made to suit me, just like J.J. Abrams would’ve done." He also gave the episode five out of five stars.