"The Book Job" was smart, funny, and as biting a commentary on the state of publishing today as you're likely to find anywhere.

 

"All the books you kids love are conceived in executive boardrooms."

 

It also - like last week's episode - lacked an intro and a couch gag. And - also like last week - the episode was crammed full of great stuff. There were literally dozens of book titles in view in various scenes. Here's a sample of JUST the books in view on Patty's bookcase:

 

Even more funny fake book titles are shown in the background of the bookstore scenes. Including a book titled "Death to Freezeframers." (!!) There is also a book fair, which has tons of riffs in the background, including "Cocktail Party Make-You-Thinks, by Malcolm Gladwell" and a pretty vicious zinger about the Rock Bottom Remainders.

 

We begin at a dinosaur show which terrifies all the kids, reminiscent of this hilarious YouTube clip that made the rounds earlier this year. Homer and the kids find themselves backstage (where they pass a group of dinosaurs recreating a canonical Far Side comic). 

 

One thing leads to another (as it does) and the next thing you know, Homer has slipped into an "Ocean's Eleven" style group of elite, um, writers of teen fiction. It's Homer, Bart, Patty, Professor Frink, and Neil Gaiman (who ironically doesn't do any of the writing). They concoct a focus-grouped story and churn out the words, determined to inject themselves into the publishing mill.

 

Meanwhile, Lisa takes the high road and decides to write a book herself, from scratch. She discovers the true life of a writer: endlessly distracted from her writing by a parade of meaningless diversions. She organizes her CD collection (a bit archaic?), plays online Boggle, watches cute kitty videos on YouTube, and more.

 

The whole thing culminates in a heist complete with robotic guard dogs, attack tarantulas, a final showdown, and a triple-reverse-double-cross.

 

Neil Gaiman did a great job as celebrity star, although anyone who has listened to his work for the audiobook of Smoke and Mirrors won't be surprised. He attacks his lines with relish ("I don't like the taste… of poison.)  I have no doubt he will be known as "British Fonzie" for years hence.

 

Best Lines: So hard to choose! I'm smitten with Homer's description of "The Pope's private naked dude murals."