"Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk" ( English translation: "Burns Sell the Power Plant" [sic]) is the eleventh episode of the third season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on December 5, 1991. In the episode, Mr. Burns sells the power plant to two German investors for $100 million. The new owners immediately fire Homer, the plant's safety inspector, for his incompetence. Burns soon realizes his former workers no longer fear him and buys the plant back to regain their respect. The episode was written by Jon Vitti and directed by Mark Kirkland. Originally, the writers wanted to have Burns sell the plant to Japanese investors, but they decided that this would have been too clichéd, and the characters were rewritten as German. The title is an inaccurate German translation of "Burns sells the power plant", the correct version being Burns verkauft das Kraftwerk. In its original airing on the Fox network, the episode had a 12.6 Nielsen rating, finishing the week ranked 38th. "Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk" received generally positive reviews from critics and was praised for several scenes, particularly the "Land of Chocolate" sequence in which Homer dances around in an imaginary land made entirely out of chocolate. The sequence was also remade as a cutscene and level in The Simpsons Game. Plot Mr. Burns sells the power plant to two Germans, Hans and Fritz, while his assistant Smithers remains an employee. Every employee of the plant becomes wealthy after selling their company stock, except for Homer, who sold his shares prematurely and only netted $25. The new owners immediately begin a thorough evaluation of the plant and its employees; Homer worries his lax work ethic as safety inspector will cost him his job. When Hans and Fritz interview Homer, he is unable to intelligently answer their questions and fantasizes about frolicking in "The Land of Chocolate" after hearing Germany being mentioned as such. The owners announce that Homer will be the only employee fired, so the rest of the Simpson family makes budget cuts until he can find a new job. Burns has drinks with Smithers at Moe's Tavern, where Homer has been drinking. Homer and the other patrons except Smithers taunt Burns. Humiliated, Burns realizes that his former employees no longer fear him. Since his ownership of the plant gave him power over ordinary men,