 The idea for this episode came from Mike Reiss , who thought it would be funny if the plant went on strike . The writers of the episode , Jay Kogen and Wallace Wolodarsky , would later add the dental plan aspect of the plot . In several scenes , Mr. Burns is portrayed as the Devil who is tempting Homer and showing him what he could have . During the production of this episode , an ABC camera crew was allowed into the rewrite room , which Al Jean says he regrets because they were working on stage direction , and they came off as not being very funny . 
