"" is the ninth episode of The Simpsons' sixth season.

Synopsis

Homer and Marge learn of a candy exposition that is taking place in Springfield and decide to attend. They hire Ashley Grant, a college-aged feminist, to baby sit their children. At the convention hall, Homer and Marge are able to smuggle large amounts of candy, but are quickly caught when Homer tries to steal a gummy Venus de Milo from a locked case. Homer is quickly able to elude security guards when he blows up the convention hall (using a MacGyver-type explosive consisting of Pop Rocks and a soft drink).

That night at home, Homer searches for the gummy Venus candy but is unable to find it, when he remembers he nearly forgot to take Ashley home. Homer tries to make small talk but only offends Ashley, which is minor compared to what happens next. As Ashley is exiting Homer's car, Homer sees the gummy Venus stuck to the backside of her pants. Homer innocently grabs the candy. Ashley turns around to see Homer drooling lustily and - misinterpreting his poor tact as a deliberate sexual advance - runs off screaming in terror, fearing that Homer may come after her to sexually assault her. But all Homer is concerned about is eating the gummy Venus.

The next morning, Homer is minding his own business and reminding Bart and Lisa (who have tummy aches from eating too much candy the night before) that plenty of candy is left over from last night. Suddenly, a huge, angry mob marches onto the Simpsons' lawn, armed with pickets and other items. Homer believes they are protesting against him stealing the gummy Venus, but quickly learns that Ashley has started a sexual harassment protest against him.

Homer tries to explain his actions, but the crowd is in not interested in his side of the story. They proceed to make Homer's life a living hell (even showing up at his workplace). Homer cries over his predicament, but is temporarily relieved when Godfrey Jones of "Rock Bottom", a tabloid news show, wants to interview him about his predicament.

However, the interview is edited into a totally inaccurate segment where Homer is portrayed as a sexual pervert, and things go from bad to far worse:

• The mainstream media immediately descend onto his home, and Kent Brockman's news reports begin to resemble coverage of the O.J. Simpson standoff.

• The subject of talk shows (including Sally Jessy Raphael and a Gentle Ben-type show) centers on Homer's actions.

• A made-for-TV movie, "Homer S: Portrait of an Assgrabber," based on Ashley's account of her encounter with Homer. It stars Dennis Franz as Homer Simpson. TV shows and comedians use the fiasco as comedy fodder.

• Homer's friends, Moe and Barney, offer their stories about Homer for money, auction-style.

Finally, Lisa and Marge suggest Homer videotape himself telling his side of the story to air on a public access TV channel, but all he succeeds in doing is angering an old-time bicyclist. However, Groundskeeper Willie also saw Homer's speech, and immediately produces a video that he recorded that shows what really happened.

Ashley sees the video, realizes Homer meant no harm, and apologizes for causing so much anger. All is forgiven — even between Homer and his television set!

Cultural references

• "Hard Copy" (and other exposé-type syndicated news shows) - "Rock Bottom", which features Homer's seeming perversions as its feature story, is a parody of the popular tabloid news program. The theme song and style resemble the actual show.
• "The Little Mermaid" - Homer's imagination of living underwater is a parody of the title theme to The Little Mermaid.
• "'Rowdy' Roddy Peeper" - The feature story on a subsequent episode of "Rock Bottom," focusing on Groundskeeper Willie, gets its title after the professional wrestler, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper.

Quotes

• Homer: See you in Hell, candy boys!

• Marge: ...Take the babysitter home now. She's been sitting in the car for twenty minutes.
  Homer: Relax, Marge, there's plenty for her to do in there.
  [car horn honks outside
  Homer: See? She's having the time of her life.

• (Homer's edited and spliced confession on "Rock Bottom")
  Homer: Ehh, somebody had to take the babysitter home. Then I noticed she was sitting on (spliced) her sweet (spliced) can -- (spliced) -- so I grabbed her -- (spliced) sweet can -- (spliced) Oh, just thinking about (spliced) her (spliced) can -- (spliced) I just wish I had (spliced) her -- (spliced) sweet (spliced) sweet (spliced) s-s-sweet (spliced) can.

Quotes from the ending