"Homer Simpson in: 'Kidney Trouble" is the eighth episode of the tenth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. 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. 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. Plot Homer takes the family to a ghost town tourist destination, complaining about how out of the way it is. On their way, their car breaks down in front of the Springfield Retirement Castle, leading Grampa to wrongly assume they have come to visit him on his birthday. Homer is forced to take Grampa with them. Grampa drinks too much sarsaparilla, but Homer refuses to stop to let him use the bathroom, wanting to get home to watch an episode of Inside the Actors Studio. After several hours in the car without stopping, Grampa's kidneys explode. Dr. Hibbert informs the family that the only way Grampa can be saved is if Homer donates one of his kidneys because Homer has conditions, and he is a perfect match. Homer agrees, to the admiration of his family, but becomes frightened after learning the risks from Moe, and runs away from the surgery room via the window. Guilt-ridden, Homer deems himself unworthy of living amongst civilized people and decides to start a new life aboard Captain McAllister's ship. He meets several strange people who have their own tales of misery. Homer tells them his story, but the others are appalled and kick him off of the ship. Homer drifts back to shore, where he