Full Heart, Empty Pool
| "Full Heart, Empty Pool" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 36 Episode 17 |
| Directed by | Chris Clements |
| Written by | Jeff Westbrook |
| Production code | 36ABF10 |
| Original air date | May 11, 2025 |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Full Heart, Empty Pool" is the seventeenth episode of the thirty-sixth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 789th episode overall. It aired in the United States on Fox on May 11, 2025. The episode was written by Jeff Westbrook and directed by Chris Clements.
In this episode, Homer and Grampa invent a sport,[1] but Homer is forced to cut out Grampa to ensure its popularity. Robert Smigel as guest starred as Razelton. Former basketball player Blake Griffin, former football player Andrew Luck, former soccer player Megan Rapinoe, and travel writer Rick Steves appeared as themselves.
Plot
[edit]Squeaky-Voiced Teen is subpoenaed to testify in court that, as part of his job, he rented a backhoe to Homer. He wanted to build a swimming pool in his backyard but accidentally severed the town's utility lines. Homer uses Teen's testimony to prove that he is incompetent and gets compensation from Teen's employer. He uses it to buy pool noodles and balls. Marge is worried about Homer's legacy, which leads him to think he will not be remembered. Depressed, he sits in the unfinished pool while hitting a ball against the walls with a folded pool noodle. Grampa comforts him, and they create a game with the noodles and ball. They call it Noodleball. They invite the seniors at the retirement home to play and hope it will be their legacy.
The game becomes popular with senior citizens, who play in empty pools in town. However, they lose access to the pools to children who want to swim and to teenagers who skateboard in them. Trying to save their legacy, they meet Gabriel Razelton, who represents a consortium that wants to support Noodleball. He unveils a model of a Noodleball stadium complex sponsored by the avocado industry. However, he tells Homer that he wants to cut out Grampa, so he can market Noodleball as a sport for the wealthy instead of seniors. Homer accepts to ensure his legacy.
The stadium complex opens with a celebrity tournament featuring retired athletes. Marge forces Homer to tell Grampa that he was cut out. Grampa says legacy is meaningless since the dead will not know. Lisa argues that growing avocados wastes natural resources, and the industry is using Noodleball to improve its reputation. Feeling guilty, Homer wants to play in the tournament with Grampa. As the match starts, Homer and Grampa are immediately injured, ruining the sport and its sponsor, but Marge is proud that Homer reconciled with Grampa.
Production
[edit]Robert Smigel as guest starred as Razelton. Former basketball player Blake Griffin, former football player Andrew Luck, former soccer player Megan Rapinoe, and travel writer Rick Steves appeared as themselves.[2]
The episode was dedicated in memory of musician Jill Sobule, who performed in the thirty-first season episode "Marge the Lumberjill".[3]
Reception
[edit]Viewing figures
[edit]The episode earned a 0.17 rating and was watched by 0.69 million viewers, which was the second-most watched show on Fox that night.[4]
Critical response
[edit]John Schwarz of Bubbleblabber gave the episode a 6 out of 10. He liked the dialogue and the athlete appearances but thought the plot was similar to the 1998 film BASEketball. He was more interested in the subplot of Squeaky-Voiced Teen.[5]
Cathal Gunning, a journalist for Screen Rant, notes a confusing inconsistency in the episode's portrayal of Homer as desperate to leave a legacy, even though he describes episode as a "solid, fun outing."[6][7]
References
[edit]- ^ Panda, Sayan (May 14, 2025). "Homer criticized the writing in The Simpsons season 36, episode 17 — and he had a point". www.soapcentral.com. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
- ^ "(SI-3610) "Full Heart, Empty Pool"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
- ^ Gunning, Cathal (May 12, 2025). "Who Was Jill Sobule? The Simpsons Season 36, Episode 17's Dedication Explained". Screen Rant. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
- ^ Pucci, Douglas (May 14, 2025). "Sunday Ratings: 'Tracker' on CBS Rises from Recent Weeks with Second Season Finale". Programming Insider. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ Schwarz, John (May 12, 2025). "Review: The Simpsons "Full Heart, Empty Pool"". Bubbleblabber. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
- ^ Gunning, Cathal (May 13, 2025). "The Simpsons Season 36 Episode 17's Story Makes 1 Big Inconsistency Even More Confusing". ScreenRant. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
- ^ Valdez, Nick (May 12, 2025). "The Simpsons Brings Back a Character Fans Haven't Seen for Nearly a Decade". ComicBook.com. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
