Homer Simpson in: "Kidney Trouble"

"Homer Simpson in: "Kidney Trouble"" is the eighth episode of The Simpsons' tenth season. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on December 6, 1998. In the episode Grampa's kidneys explode, leaving him in urgent need of a donor. His son Homer initially agrees to donate one of his kidneys, but after hearing of side effects of only having one kidney, he begins to have second thoughts about the operation.

"Homer Simpson in: "Kidney Trouble"" was directed by Mike B. Anderson and written by John Swartzwelder, although the episode's premise was pitched by former staff writer George Meyer. Meyer also pitched the sequence involving the "ship of lost souls", which received mixed reactions from The Simpsons staff members. The episode contains references to Night of the Living Dead and North by Northwest, among other things. In its original broadcast, the episode was seen by approximately 7.2 million viewers and finished in 54th place in the ratings the week it aired. Following the release of The Simpsons - The Complete Tenth Season, "Homer Simpson in: "Kidney Trouble"" received mixed reviews from critics.

Homer takes Marge and the kids down to Bloodbath Gulch, a ghost town turned tourist destination. On their way there, his car breaks down in front of the Springfield Retirement Castle, leaving Grampa to assume they have come to visit him on his birthday. Homer is forced to take Grampa with them. Grampa drinks too much sarsaparilla and as the family is leaving, says he needs to go to the bathroom. Homer refuses to stop, saying he needs to get home in time to watch an episode of Inside the Actors Studio. Grampa is forced to hold it in for hours and as a result, his kidneys explode. Dr. Hibbert informs the family that Grampa does not have much time to live and the only way he can be saved is if Homer donates one of his kidneys. Homer happily agrees and is admired and pampered for it by his wife and kids. However, he becomes frightened after finding out about the risks involved in the operation from Moe and his friends at the bar and jumps out a window at the last minute in the surgery room.