The Simpsons

new

Neverending
CS! Platinum

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 65,782
Likes: 8,648
Location:

Last Online
Nov 24, 2024 12:18:02 GMT -5

The Simpsons Oct 8, 2014 7:12:18 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Neverending on Oct 8, 2014 7:12:18 GMT -5

I plan on doing a Top 10 list of The Simpsons best episodes but it might take a few months till I do it, so in the meantime, I'll be doing a Top 10 for each season. So let us begin.

RANKING THE SEASON ONE EPISODES OF THE SIMPSONS!

Season one is only 13 episodes

so I'll rank it instead of doing a Top 10.

#13 - HOMER'S NIGHT OUT

Written by Jon Vitti

Directed by Rich Moore

Original Airdate: March 25, 1990

Bart purchases a spy camera and catches Homer dancing with a stripper at a bachelor party. When Marge sees the photo, she gets upset because - well - that's what she does. The episode is kinda lame because it revolves around a silly premise. The only amusing thing is the photo slowly spreading throughout Springfield. Keep in mind this was before the Internet so it wasn't a simple click of a mouse. The writers were forced to handle that aspect very creatively.

#12 - LIFE ON THE FAST LANE

Written by John Swartzwelder

Directed by David Silverman

Original Airdate: March 18, 1990

Homer gives Marge a bowling ball for her birthday expecting that she will hate it and he'll take it afterwards. It's a sneaky plan except that Homer has done this too many times and Marge turns the tables on him. She accepts the gifts and starts taking bowling lessons. Her instructor is a charming French man who makes his intentions very well known. That's where Marge's conflict begins. She likes this guy but she's still in love with her husband. It's a generally well-executed episode but the ending is a little too abrupt. Marge makes her decision too quickly and Homer makes no real effort to save his marriage.

#11 - THE TELLTALE HEAD

Written by Al Jean & Mike Reiss and Sam Simon & Matt Groening

Directed by Rich Moore

Original Airdate: February 25, 1990

While hanging out with a group of bad kids, Bart decides to pull a prank that will turn the entire town against him. It's a good episode but a little heavy on the morality tale.

#10 - BART THE GENIUS

Written by Jon Vitti

Directed by David Silverman

Original Airdate: January 14, 1990

Bart cheats on an IQ test and gets transferred to a school for the gifted. Here we get an early example of what will become the Simpsons brand of strong social satire. The only drawback is that none of the characters are fully developed yet so a lot of the interactions are a little flat. Plus, it can't be ignored that the animation was terrible in these early episodes and it can be a tad distracting.

#9 - THERE'S NO DISGRACE LIKE HOME

Written by Al Jean and Mike Reiss

Directed by Gregg Vanzo & Kent Butterworth

Original Airdate: January 28, 1990

This episode was my introduction to The Simpsons. And I mean in general. To this day, I've never seen The Tracy Ullman Show except for clips. I also never saw the cartoon shorts aired on The Tracy Ullman Show till that "special" episode hosted by Troy McClure in the late 1990's. But upon re-watching this episode, I noticed one thing. This wasn't my introduction to The Simpsons because these aren't the Simpsons. What we see here is night-and-day compared to what the show eventually became. For starters, Homer is the normal one. That says a lot. In the episode, Homer attends an employee picnic at Mr. Burns house. By the way, this episodes introduces the running gag where Mr. Burns never remembers Homer's name. Anyway, at the picnic, Marge gets drunk while Bart and Lisa constantly fight each other. So Homer is so humiliated that he seeks out to "fix the family." This episode has so many WTF moments that I lost count. And I haven't even gotten to Moe's black hair. NOTE: And yes, I'm aware that 2 or 3 years ago I told JBond this was a Top 10 episode but I hadn't watched it in ages and remembered it very differently.

#8 - KRUSTY GETS BUSTED

Written by Jay Kogen & Wallace Wolodarsky

Directed by Brad Bird

Original Airdate: April 29, 1990

Academy Award Winner Brad Bird directed this episode and he does a great job, but unfortunately, the writing is very weak. As a kid, I loved this episode, as well as all the other Sideshow Bob episodes, but this one seems a bit too lazy. Sideshow Bob gets caught WAY too easily, and as others have mentioned before, how did he transform himself into a near replica of Krusty? Basically, you can tell they half-assed this episode.

#7 - SIMPSONS ROASTING ON AN OPEN FIRE

Written by Mimi Pond

Directed by David Silverman

Original Airdate: December 17, 1989

When Homer doesn't get a Christmas bonus at work, he struggles to get his family some decent gifts. The best he can do is an abandoned greyhound dog he bumped into at the race track. It's a very sitcom-y episode and it also rips-off Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation but it's a very charming episode nonetheless.

#6 - HOMER'S ODYSSEY

Written by Jay Kogen and Wallace Wolodarsky

Directed by Wes Archer

Original Airdate: January 21, 1990

This is the first episode centered around Homer, and while it had a lot of promising material, it's ultimately pretty underwhelming. The jokes are good but the storytelling is flat. Basically, Homer is fired from the Nuclear Power Plant after causing one too many accidents on the job. After struggling to find new employment, he decides to commit suicide but fails to do that as well when he can't cross a crazy intersection that has no stop sign. That's when he discovers his true purpose in life: safety. After successfully convincing the city to put the stop sign, he goes on a safety crusade that ultimately leads him battling his old boss, Mr. Burns, at the Nuclear Power Plant. To get him off his back, Mr. Burns decides to offer him a job as safety inspector. As I said, the "joke" is good but the episode just doesn't flow well. To make matters worse, Homer is off-character. He becomes a town hero and delivers emotional speeches to large rallies. This isn't the Homer we all know and love.

#5 - MOANING LISA

Written by Al Jean and Mike Reiss

Directed by Wes Archer

Original Airdate: February 11, 1990

Lisa is the saddest little girl in grade number two... for virtually no reason. That's the one thing that really holds back this episode. Lisa is just being a drama queen. Other than that, the episode is great. I love Bleeding Gums Murphy and the Blues music featured in the episode.

#4 - SOME ENCHANTED EVENING

Written by Sam Simon and Matt Groening

Directed by David Silverman

Original Airdate: May 13, 1990

This is perhaps the most infamous episode of the first season. Since it was the first episode to be produced, it caused the most technical issues and ended up airing as the season finale. But let's put that aside and focus on the episode itself. The first thing you'll notice is that there's a collision between adult and child-friendly entertainment. Before The Simpsons, only a handful of animated shows aired on primetime television and all of them were made for families to watch together. So it's understandable that FOX and executive producer James L. Brooks wanted a transition first. The meat of the episode is about Bart and Lisa's babysitter turning out to be a notorious bandit who robs homes while the kids are asleep. Naturally, once her identity is revealed, Bart and Lisa try to stop her. It's silly to say the least but it works from a comedic standpoint. The sub-plot, on the other hand, is a little more grounded and grown-up. Homer and Marge spend the night at a hotel and try to re-kindle their romance. Overall, it's an effective episode and offers something for everyone.

#3 - THE CALL OF THE SIMPSONS

Written by John Swartzwelder

Directed by Wes Archer

Original Airdate: February 18, 1990

This is the first episode to feature the Homer we all know and love. After getting jealous that Ned Flanders bought an RV, Homer decides to do the same but he obviously doesn't have the cash for it so he buys a piece of junk that falls off a cliff when it arrives at the woods. Stranded, the family end up roaming around and Homer ends up getting confused for Bigfoot. The episode is hilarious and a terrific breakout moment for Homer.

#2 - THE CREPES OF WRATH

Written by George Meyer, Sam Simon, John Swartzwelder & Jon Vitti

Directed by Wes Archer & Milton Gray

Original Airdate: April 15, 1990

This is the real season finale and they go out with a true gem. In the episode, Bart becomes an exchange student and is sent to at a dilapidated wine making facility in France where he is treated like a slave. Meanwhile, the Simpsons get a boy who is spy trying to steal information from Homer's job at the Nuclear Power Plant. The episode is filled with social and political commentary as well as loads of wackiness.

#1 - BART THE GENERAL

Written by John Swartzwelder

Directed by David Silverman

Original Airdate: February 4, 1990

Bart is bullied by Nelson and his gang but with the help of Grandpa and Herman he forms an army that fights back. The episode is very silly but also done in a way that's very humorous and inspired by reality. Also, this is a breakout episode for Bart because he isn't just "the cool kid with the catchphrases." Here, he's also an average kid that transforms himself into a great leader for those who want to stand-up for themselves. In a way, this episode is very similar to Homer's Odyssey except it stays true to its main character.

twitter.com/blackmerida

blackmerida.bsky.social

Neverending
CS! Platinum

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 65,782
Likes: 8,648
Location:

Last Online
Nov 24, 2024 12:18:02 GMT -5

The Simpsons Oct 8, 2014 7:13:43 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Neverending on Oct 8, 2014 7:13:43 GMT -5

TOP 10 SEASON TWO EPISODES OF THE SIMPSONS!

#10 - BART THE DAREDEVIL

Written by Jay Kogen & Wallace Wolodarsky

Directed by Wes Archer

Original Airdate: December 6, 1990

Bart becomes a skateboarding daredevil and Homer does everything he can to stop him. This is one of the more cartoon-y episodes of "the early Simpsons" but it works.

#9 - TWO CARS IN EVERY GARAGE AND THREE EYES ON EVERY FISH

Written by Sam Simon & John Swartzwelder

Directed by Wes Archer

Original Airdate: November 1, 1990

When a three-eyed fish is discovered, the Nuclear Power Plant is blamed and fined. Since it will cost $56 million to fix the place, Mr. Burns decides to run for Governor and avoid paying the costs. The episode is very good and very clever.

#8 - OH BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?

Written by Jeff Martin

Directed by Wes Archer

Original Airdate: February 21, 1991

Homer discovers that he has a long-lost brother voiced by Danny Devito. His brother, named Herbert, is a rich and successful owner of a car manufacturing company in Detroit. But it doesn't take long for Homer to ruin everything, so Herbert ends up poor and in the streets. It's a heartbreaking episode but also very funny.

#7 - BRUSH WITH GREATNESS

Written by Brian K. Roberts

Directed by Jim Reardon

Original Airdate: April 11, 1991

When Marge becomes an art student at the community college and wins an award for bringing out the inner beauty of Homer in a painting, she is commissioned by Mr. Burns to paint a portrait of him. However, Marge is forced to find an unconventional approach to show Mr. Burn's vulnerable side. The episode is very funny and has a lot of memorable quotes, but the highlight is the sub-plot involving Homer trying to lose weight. They go for a lot of obvious fat jokes but they're still very funny nonetheless.

#6 - STARK RAVING DAD

Written by Al Jean & Mike Reiss

Directed by Rich Moore

Original Airdate: September 19, 1991

In one of the most famous episodes of The Simpsons' 25 year history, Michael Jackson guest stars as a mental institute patient who believes he's Michael Jackson. It's a very hilarious concept but what makes the episode standout is all the heartwarming interactions between Michael Jackson and the family. The highlight being Michael Jackson helping Bart write a song for Lisa's birthday.

#5 - THE WAY WE WAS

Written by Sam Simon, Al Jean and Mike Reiss

Directed by David Silverman

Original Airdate: January 31, 1991

One of my favorite things about the early days of The Simpsons is the flashback episodes. The writers always did a wonderful job of showing us how these characters ended up in their current situation. And in this episode we get to explore how Homer and Marge met and eventually fell in love. Homer is, of course, a slacker and Marge is a good high school student with a promising future. And despite all the odds, they form a strong bond and the rest is history. We've seen this plotline a million times before but the writers inject it with so much emotion and heart that it feels fresh.

#4 - SIMPSON AND DELILAH

Written by Jon Vitti

Directed by Rich Moore

Original Airdate: October 18, 1990

When Homer purchases a product that helps him grow hair, he suddenly finds success in life. I thought the episode was hilarious. It's also one of those early episodes where they focus on Homer's emotional side instead of his stupidity. I prefer these to be honest.

#3 - OLD MONEY

Written by Jay Kogen & Wallace Wolodarsky

Directed by David Silverman

Original Airdate: March 28, 1991

When Grandpa's girlfriend dies, she leaves him $106,000 and he uses it to improve the lives of everyone at his retirement home. It's a pretty good episode that avoids getting too sappy. It also has a lot of funny moments. I feel like this is the first episode where the writers find the right balance between emotion and comedy.

#2 - DEAD PUTTING SOCIETY

Written by Jeff Martin

Directed by Rich Moore

Original Airdate: November 15, 1990

Bart and Todd Flanders enter a miniature golf competition but the feuding between Homer and Ned Flanders drive them crazy. It's a very funny episode because Homer spends most of his scenes FURIOUS at Ned Flanders. It's easily one of Dan Castellaneta's best performances as Homer. I also enjoyed Bart's training montage. It's very silly but loads of fun to watch.

#1 - ONE FISH, TWO FISH, BLOWFISH, BLUE FISH

Written by Nell Scovell

Directed by Wes Archer

Original Airdate: January 24, 1991

The Simpsons go to a sushi restaurant and Homer eats a fish that's potentially poisonous. So he's informed that he might only have 24 hours to live. And then he tries to make his last hours on Earth as special as possible but fails miserably. Then when it's discovered that he wasn't poisoned and will continue to live, he vows to live life to the fullest. But of course, he goes back to being lazy. It's a very emotional episode but also one that's very honest and realistic.

twitter.com/blackmerida

blackmerida.bsky.social

Neverending
CS! Platinum

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 65,782
Likes: 8,648
Location:

Last Online
Nov 24, 2024 12:18:02 GMT -5

The Simpsons Oct 8, 2014 7:14:44 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Neverending on Oct 8, 2014 7:14:44 GMT -5

TOP 10 SEASON THREE EPISODES OF THE SIMPSONS!

Sam Simon, the real creator of The Simpsons, was in charge of the first two seasons but started feuding with Matt Groening because he was taking all the credit. So he put Al "pad the episodes" Jean and Mike Reiss in charge while he sorted things out with James L. Brooks, the show's co-owner. As a result, this is when the show started to become less sitcom-y and more cartoon-y.

#10 - HOMER AT THE BAT
Written by John Swartzwelder
Directed by Jim Reardon
Original Airdate: February 20, 1992

In a Married With Children inspired episode, Homer becomes the star of his baseball team but is replaced by famous players right before the championship game. Then, through bizarre incidents, the famous players are no longer available and Homer wins the game. WAIT A MINUTE! This WAS a Married With Children episode. It was called The Unnatural and aired on October 14, 1990. Remember all the s--t Family Guy got for supposedly ripping off The Simpsons, and yet, here's The Simpsons in Season Three, under the direction of the awful Al Jean, ripping off an episode of Married With Children. But thankfully, there's John Swartzwelder to save the day with his clever writing.

#9 - BURNS VERKAUFEN DER KRAFTWERK
Written by Jon Vitti
Directed by Mark Kirkland
Original Airdate: December 5, 1991

Mr. Burns sells the Nuclear Power Plant to a group of German businessmen but they end up selling it back because it's in terrible shape. And in-between that, Homer gets fired because he's an awful employee. That's all good but this episode will forever be remembered for The Land Of Chocolate dream sequence.

#8 - FLAMING MOE'S
Written by Robert Cohen
Directed by Rich Moore and Alan Smart
Original Airdate: November 21, 1991

Homer creates a new alcoholic beverage and it gets stolen by Moe. It later becomes very popular and Moe's Tavern becomes the most successful bar in Springfield. Since Homer got no credit or revenue for the beverage, he reveals the secret formula and everyone in town creates their own version of it. That leads to Moe becoming a loser again. Overall, Flaming Moe's feels like another Married With Children inspired episode with both Homer and Moe acting very Al Bundy-esque. But the writing staff puts enough of a Simpsons' spin on it to help the episode standout.

#7 - I MARRIED MARGE
Written by Jeff Martin
Directed by Jeffrey Lynch
Original Airdate: December 26, 1991

In this flashback episode, we learn that Marge getting pregnant is what led to her and Homer getting married. I don't think anyone was surprised but it's interesting how Homer is the one who handles the situation realistically. He constantly doubts his ability to be a good husband and father while Marge is overly optimistic the entire time. Except when Homer briefly leaves her. It's a very good episode but it could have been better if they had handled Marge properly.

#6 - RADIO BART
Written by Jon Vitti
Directed by Carlos Baeza
Original Airdate: January 9, 1992

In a very topical episode, Bart pranks everyone in Springfield into thinking a kid fell down a well. But when HE actually falls into a well, no one cares. It's a very funny episode with the signature Simpsons brand of humor.

#5 - HOMER ALONE
Written by David Stern
Directed by Mark Kirkland
Original Airdate: February 6, 1992

This episode is hilarious. Basically, Marge is so stressed out she has a mental breakdown and goes on vacation alone so she can finally relax. In the meantime, Bart and Lisa stay with Patty and Selma which is a nightmare for them. And Homer is put in charge of Maggie and loses her! It's a very zany episode to say the least.

#4 - COLONEL HOMER
Written by Matt Groening
Directed by Mark Kirkland
Original Airdate: March 26, 1992

This is arguably the strangest Simpsons episode. Even as a kid, it left me thinking, "WTF?" Basically, Homer becomes the manager of a country singer who becomes a big star under his leadership. And this isn't like in Deep Space Homer where it's done for laughs. No, here, it's done very seriously. But wait, it gets weirder. Throughout the episode, Homer is tempted to leave Marge for her. And again, this isn't done as a joke. It's done VERY seriously. Then at the end, Homer realizes he still loves his wife and kids so everything returns back to normal. Under regular circumstances, I'd be okay with that but considering how serious the episode was, there's no way to believe everything went back to normal. Seriously, even as a child I was like, "yeah... that's bulls--t." So, I don't know, I feel very conflicted about this episode. On one hand, I think it's very ballsy that they made a very serious Simpsons episode with country music. On the other hand, the abrupt ending kinda ruined it.

#3 - SEPARATE VOCATIONS
Written by George Meyer
Directed by Jeffrey Lynch
Original Airdate: February 27, 1992

In terms of pure entertainment value, this is one of my favorite episodes. I love how Lisa becomes a bad kid while Bart turns into an awesome Hall Monitor. And the jokes are all great.

#2 - BART THE LOVER
Written by Jon Vitti
Directed by Carlos Baeza
Original Airdate: February 13, 1992

This episode was a life changer for me. As a kid, I took teachers for granted. So this was the first time I saw a teacher portrayed as a human being. And the funny thing is that Bart Simpson went through the same exact thing. Bart hated Mrs. Krabappel and played an awful prank on her. But when he saw the effects of his prank, he began to treat her with respect. Under the wrong direction this could have been a sappy, sitcom style episode, but it's handled realistically and it's one of the most memorable episodes in the show's 25 year history.

#1 - A STREETCAR NAMED MARGE
Written by Jeff Martin
Directed by Rich Moore
Original Airdate: October 1, 1992

When Marge is cast in a local stage production of A Streetcar Named Desire, she uses her anger towards Homer as inspiration. Meanwhile, Maggie ends up in a strict daycare where she isn't allowed to suck on her pacifier. Both plots are excellent and VERY funny.

twitter.com/blackmerida

blackmerida.bsky.social

Neverending
CS! Platinum

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 65,782
Likes: 8,648
Location:

Last Online
Nov 24, 2024 12:18:02 GMT -5

The Simpsons Oct 8, 2014 7:15:44 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Neverending on Oct 8, 2014 7:15:44 GMT -5

TOP 10 SEASON FOUR EPISODES OF THE SIMPSONS!

Al Jean and Mike Reiss were still in charge but this season is mostly credited to Conan O'Brien who electrified the writer's room with his wacky sense of humor and a lot of it ended up in the episodes.

#10 - LISA'S FIRST WORD
Written by Jeff Martin
Directed by Mark Kirkland
Original Airdate: December 3, 1992

In a flashback episode, we learn that Lisa was born during the 1984 summer Olympics and Bart gets super jealous of her. There's also a great running gag that spoof's McDonald's infamous contest where they gave away free food for every gold medal America won. It's a very funny episode but the ending, unfortunately, is a bit corny.

#9 - MR. PLOW
Written by Jon Vitti
Directed by Jim Reardon
Original Airdate: November 19, 1992

Homer starts a successful snow plowing business but then Barney shows up and steals all his customers. It's the first time we see Barney do something other than get drunk. That immediately makes the episode standout. Then there's all the comedy involving their rivalry which ends with them becoming friends again as the snow melts. It's a very well-written episode.

#8 - LAST EXIT TO SPRINGFIELD
Written by Jay Kogen & Wallace Wolodarsky
Directed by Mark Kirkland
Original Airdate: March 11, 1993

Lisa needs braces just as Mr. Burns decides to eliminate Homer's dental plan. So, Homer becomes head of his workers union and convinces everyone to go on strike. The humor mostly comes from two places: the interactions between Mr. Burns and Homer and the horrors of Lisa getting braces. It's good stuff, although, I feel that many people overrate this episode.

#7 - WHACKING DAY
Written by John Swartzwelder
Directed by Jeffrey Lynch
Original Airdate: April 29, 1993

This episode begins with Bart being expelled from school and Marge home-schooling him afterwards. Then, it turns into a story about Bart and Lisa rescuing snakes from a Springfield holiday known as Whacking Day. It's such an hilariously random episode that only John Swartzwelder, with a little help from Conan O'Brien, could pull off.

#6 - HOMER THE HERETIC
Written by George Meyer
Directed by Jim Reardon
Original Airdate: October 8, 1992

During a terrible snow storm, Homer stays at home while everyone suffers at church. He has such an amazing day that he decides to quit church. Then, when his house is on fire and he gets rescued by the most religious people in town, he see's that as a sign and returns to church. The story is a little weak and eye-rolling but the scenes of Homer having fun at home are so funny and relatable that it elevates the episodes. Plus, I love all the scenes between Homer and God.

#5 - ITCHY AND SCRATCHY: THE MOVIE
Written by John Swartzwelder
Directed by Rich Moore
Original Airdate: November 3, 1992

Bart is misbehaving so much that Homer punishes him by refusing to let him watch the Itchy and Scratchy movie. What follows is torture as everyone in town watches and discusses the movie while Bart is totally left-out. Now obviously, this episode doesn't work in our current era because the Internet and piracy would easily allow Bart to watch the movie. But for those of us who were actually alive in 1992, this episode hits a cord.

#4 - I LOVE LISA
Written by Frank Mula
Directed by Wes Archer
Original Airdate: February 11, 1993

In season 4, we saw Barney do something other than get drunk. Now it's Ralph's turn. Instead of just being the classroom idiot, he's a fully developed character with real emotions. In the episode, he falls in love with Lisa and then gets his heart destroyed when she rejects him. But then he wins her respect - as a friend - when he delivers a great performance in a school play. It's a strangely relatable episode. You can tell the writers were basing this on past experiences.

#3 - MARGE VS. THE MONORAIL
Written by Conan O'Brien
Directed by Rich Moore
Original Airdate: January 14, 1993

In one of the all-time funniest Simpsons episode, the town of Springfield agrees to spend $3 million on a monorail that doesn't work. The episode is largely famous for being the first time The Simpsons fully embraced being a cartoon. It also paved the way for the David Mirkin years. However, let's not ignore the fact that it's poorly written. It's an hilarious episode but the actual story is VERY weak. That is even discussed on the DVD commentary track. So it's an incredibly good episode but also deeply flawed.

#2 - NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
Written by Conan O'Brien
Directed by Wes Archer
Original Airdate: November 12, 1992

Bart falls in love with his babysitter and is heartbroken when she starts dating Jimbo Jones. However, the real highlight of the episode is the sub-plot about Homer suing a seafood restaurant for falsely advertising their all-you-can-eat buffet. It leads to my favorite line on the show: "t'was a moonless night, dark as pitch, when out of the mist came a beast more stomach than man."

#1 - CAPE FEARE
Written by Jon Vitti (with LOTS of contributions by Conan O'Brien)
Directed by Rich Moore
Original Airdate: October 7, 1993

This episode is famously known as the original writing staff's final episode. But that is a bit misleading. Some of the original writers were already gone at this point. And some of them remained afterwards. Plus, Conan O'Brien, the episode's biggest contributor, wasn't in the original staff. But anyway... this episode definitely lives up to the hype. For starters, it's a breakout moment for Sideshow Bob. Secondly, it has some of the funniest scenes in the show's 25 year history. And lastly, it's a very good spoof of Cape Fear. The only drawback is the ending where Bart defeats Sideshow Bob by tricking him into singing an entire Broadway musical till the cops show up. I thought that was a bit lazy. Other than that, it's an excellent episode.

twitter.com/blackmerida

blackmerida.bsky.social

Neverending
CS! Platinum

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 65,782
Likes: 8,648
Location:

Last Online
Nov 24, 2024 12:18:02 GMT -5

The Simpsons Oct 8, 2014 7:16:37 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Neverending on Oct 8, 2014 7:16:37 GMT -5

TOP 10 SEASON FIVE EPISODES OF THE SIMPSONS!
(OR DAVID MIRKIN: YEAR ONE)

#10 - BOY SCOUTZ `N THE HOOD
Written by Dan McGrath
Directed by Jeffrey Lynch
Original Airdate: November 18, 1993

Bart joins The Junior Campers and everything is great till Homer goes with him on a river-rafting trip. In Season 5, many people have complained that Homer is a bit of a jerk but in this episode it's not too bad and we get some good comedy out of it.

#9 - TREEHOUSE OF HORROR IV
Written by Conan O'Brien, Greg Daniels, Dan McGrath, Bill Oakley, Josh Weinstein and Bill Canterbury
Directed by David Silverman
Original Airdate: October 28, 1993

In a tribute to the works of Rod Sterling, Bart introduces three tales: Homer selling his soul in exchange for a donut, a spoof of Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, and in a change of pace, Dracula. Overall, it's a very good Halloween special. FUN FACT: This is the first Halloween special without Sam Simon. So, it is here where the running gag of Sam "Sayonara" Simon in the opening credits began.

#8 - MARGE ON THE LAM
Written by Bill Canterbury
Directed by Mark Kirkland
Original Airdate: November 4, 1993

In an episode inspired by Thelma and Louise, Marge and her neighbor Ruth Powers become female empowering outlaws. Meanwhile, Homer feels empty without Marge by his side. Oh, and Lionel Hutz is the worst babysitter ever. Wow! With Al "pad the episodes" Jean gone, there's a lot going on in this episode. Overall, it's a very good episode.

#7 - LADY BOUVIER'S LOVER
Written by Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein
Directed by Wes Archer
Original Airdate: May 12, 1994

Grandpa and Marge's mother start dating which freaks out Homer cause it's super creepy. But he doesn't have to worry for very long because Mr. Burns shows up and steals away Marge's mom from Grandpa. But here's the funny part: Mr. Burns is usually portrayed as a very weak old man but here he's a very energetic and hip old guy. It's so out-of-nowhere that I can't help but laugh.

#6 - BART OF DARKNESS
Written by Dan McGrath
Directed by Jim Reardon
Original Airdate: September 4, 1994

During a heat wave, the Simpsons build a pool in the backyard and Bart becomes the most popular kid in the neighborhood. But when he hurts himself doing a stunt, he has to spend the remainder of his summer vacation indoors. That leads to a Rear Window spoof where Bart suspects that Ned Flanders murdered his wife. So once again, with Al "pad the episodes" Jean gone, David Mirkin creates a meaty episode that fills up the 20-minute running time.

#5 - DEEP SPACE HOMER
Written by David Mirkin
Directed by Carlos Baeza
Original Airdate: February 24, 1994

If you thought Conan O'Brien wrote some wild episodes then brace yourself for David Mirkin. In perhaps the most ridiculous episode of The Simpsons 25 year history, Homer goes to space! In order for Mirkin to get away with the episode, he had to revolve the story around Homer doing something to make his family proud. But that's all nonsense. The highlight of this episode is all the jokes about NASA and Homer as an astronaut. That's what made this episode a classic.

#4 - HOMER LOVES FLANDERS
Written by David Richardson
Directed by Wes Archer
Original Airdate: March 17, 1994

Homer's hatred for Ned Flanders is one of the biggest running gags on the show. But in this episode, Homer befriends Flanders and becomes so obsessed with him it drives Flanders crazy. Overall, the writer's pull-off this concept beautifully.

#3 - THE LAST TEMPTATION OF HOMER
Written by Frank Mula
Directed by Carlos Baeza
Original Airdate: December 9, 1993

If you thought Colonel Homer should have been - you know - FUNNY then this is the episode for you. Here, Homer has a very attractive female co-worker who has the same personality and interests as him. So when he develops a crush on her, he feels guilty cause he has a wife and three kids. Then like in Colonel Homer, the episode ends with a bulls--t resolution. But the episode is SO funny that it doesn't really matter. Ultimately, the episode doesn't standout as much as Colonel Homer but it's definitely better and more enjoyable to watch.

#2 - HOMER THE VIGILANTE
Written by John Swartzwelder
Directed by Jim Reardon
Original Airdate: January 6, 1994

This is the only Swartzwelder episode on the list but it's one of his best nonetheless. In the episode, a cat burglar is robbing almost everyone in Springfield so Homer starts a very violent watchdog group. The episode is filled with great social commentary and there's even room for a spoof of It's a Mad Mad Mad World at the end.

#1 - LISA'S RIVAL
Written by Mike Scully
Directed by Mark Kirkland
Original Airdate: September 11, 1994

In perhaps the first truly Family Guy style episode, a series of events occur. First, Lisa gets a new classmate who's better than her at everything so she tries to sabotage her at the school's diorama contest. Secondly, Bart, for s--ts and giggles, sends the FBI after Milhouse. And finally, Homer steals hundreds of pounds of sugar and tries to sell it. In a strange way, this episode is more ridiculous than Deep Space Homer and that's why I love it. Under the direction of David Mirkin, The Simpsons finally became a cartoon. Some people hate that and prefer the early sitcom-y days of Sam Simon, Al Jean and Mike Reiss. But to me, this is when I had the most fun watching The Simpsons.

twitter.com/blackmerida

blackmerida.bsky.social

Neverending
CS! Platinum

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 65,782
Likes: 8,648
Location:

Last Online
Nov 24, 2024 12:18:02 GMT -5

The Simpsons Oct 8, 2014 7:17:51 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Neverending on Oct 8, 2014 7:17:51 GMT -5

TOP 10 SEASON SIX EPISODES OF THE SIMPSONS!
(OR DAVID MIRKIN: YEAR TWO)

This might be my favorite season of The Simpsons, and as a result, it was a very difficult list to make. Several classic episodes had to be left-out. So, I apologize if one of your favorites was excluded.

#10 - WHO SHOT MR. BURNS? (PART TWO)
Written by Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein
Directed by Wes Archer
Original Airdate: September 17, 1995

In The Simpsons' 25 year history, there has only been one two-part episode and it centered on a spoof of Dallas' famous Who Shot J.R. cliffhanger. In order to justify this, David Mirkin created a summer contest to see which hardcore fan could identify the right shooter. So with this episode we get to explore the thought process that went into that contest and they did a very impressive job.

#9 - BART VS AUSTRALIA
Written by Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein
Directed by Wes Archer
Original Airdate: February 19, 1995

The Simpsons was a groundbreaking animated series but it was, and continues to be, quite tame by today's standards. Shows like South Park, Family Guy, and Archer have created a new landscape for "adult cartoons." So The Simpsons, alongside shows like King of the Hill, have gotten a reputation for being "sophisticated." The Simpsons have been put on a pedestal for having high-brow humor and multi-dimensional characters. But here's an episode where that is thrown out of the window. In this episode, they insult a country for no reason whatsoever and the Simpsons family does nothing redeeming whatsoever. And yet, it works because the comedy is at a very high level. If it's funny it's funny. There's just no way around that.

#8 - RADIOACTIVE MAN
Written by John Swartzwelder
Directed by Susie Dietter
Original Airdate: September 24, 1995

This episode is a good representation of the David Mirkin years. Under Sam Simon, the show was very sitcom-y. And then with Al Jean and Mike Reiss, the episodes suffered because they struggled to fill the 20-minute running time. Or at least that was the case before Conan O'Brien joined the writing staff. But with David Mirkin in charge, The Simpsons became a full-fleshed cartoon and he packed every episode with lots of jokes and storylines. In this episode alone you have the Hollywood production of Radioactive Man, Springfield taking advantage of the production, Milhouse being miserable as Fallout Boy, Bart being jealous of him, some Homer shenanigans, AND there's even time to throw in some VERY EARLY Internet jokes. You may like or dislike this episode, but we can all agree that it wasn't boring.

#7 - HOMER THE GREAT
Written by John Swartzwelder
Directed by Jim Readon
Original Airdate: January 8, 1995

In one of the most classic episodes of The Simpsons' 25 year history, Homer becomes the leader of a secret society and when he pisses them off they start a No Homer's Club. Most people would put this episode at #1 or even in their overall #10, and while they do have valid reasons for that, I don't love the episode THAT much. It's a very funny and clever episode but it's missing certain elements that would have helped it resonate on an emotional level.

#6 - BART'S COMET
Written by John Swartzwelder
Directed by Bob Anderson
Original Airdate: February 5, 1995

In another example of David Mirkin packing it in, we get an episode that begins with some funny shenanigans between Bart and Mr. Skinner. Then it transitions into a story about a comet hitting Springfield and how the government handles it. And when they fail, it becomes an observation of how the people of Springfield deal with impending doom. It's a funny episode. It's a creative episode. And it's very strong in the story and character department.

#5 - LISA ON ICE
Written by Mike Scully
Directed by Bob Anderson
Original Airdate: November 13, 1994

This isn't a particularly funny episode or even a creative one, but it's VERY relatable. Mike Scully does a wonderful job of exploring certain truths behind sibling rivalries, competitive sports, and other related issues that many of us have experienced. We're gonna see more of these down-to-Earth type episodes in the Oakley and Weinstein years coming up next.

#4 - ROUND SPRINGFIELD
Written by Al Jean, Mike Reiss, Joshua Sternin and Jeffrey Ventimilia
Directed by Steven Dean Moore
Original Airdate: April 30, 1995

Season 6 had 25 episodes which was a bit over-whelming for the writing staff so Al Jean and Mike Reiss were brought in to help out. Their most famous episode for this season was the cross-over between The Simpsons and The Critic, and while that's a very fun episode, this one is much better. Basically, it revolves around the death of Bleeding Gum's Murphy and Lisa's crusade to give him a proper memorial. It's a very touching episode with lots of great music.

#3 - TREEHOUSE OF HORROR V
Written by Bob Kushell, Greg Daniels, Dan McGrath, and David S. Cohen
Directed by Jim Reardon
Original Airdate: October 30, 1994

This is the first Halloween special without an introduction to the segments. Although there is a running gag featuring Groundskeeper Willie trying to save the day. It's also the first special where violence becomes a prominent feature. But most importantly, it's the first Halloween special that can be considered GREAT. The segments which are all CLASSICS include: a spoof of The Shining, Homer turning a toaster into a time machine and Springfield Elementary turning its students into lunch meals. Many people consider this to be the best of the Halloween specials and I might agree.

#2 - HOMER BADMAN
Written by Greg Daniels
Directed by Jeffrey Lynch
Original Airdate: November 27, 1994

Once again, David Mirkin packs these episodes with a lot of stuff. First, we get an hilarious segment where Homer takes a trip to a candy convention. Then, we get an exploration of feminist over-reaction with Homer being accused of groping Bart and Lisa's babysitter. And finally, the meat of the episode is a critique of the tabloidization of TV news. Overall, it's a beautifully executed episode that's still relevant to this day.

#1 - WHO SHOT MR. BURNS (PART ONE)
Written by Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein
Directed by Jeffrey Lynch
Original Airdate: May 21, 1995

Before David Mirkin could turn this two-part episode into a contest, he had to get people hooked and create a compelling argument about who could be the shooter. He and his writing partners accomplished that by giving almost everyone in Springfield a legitimate reason to shoot Mr. Burns. Also, this is the ultimate Mr. Burns episode because we get to explore his evilness and how it's a burden for everyone in town. So I'm giving this the #1 spot for its strong writing and great use of characters.

twitter.com/blackmerida

blackmerida.bsky.social

Neverending
CS! Platinum

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 65,782
Likes: 8,648
Location:

Last Online
Nov 24, 2024 12:18:02 GMT -5

The Simpsons Oct 8, 2014 7:18:42 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Neverending on Oct 8, 2014 7:18:42 GMT -5

TOP 10 SEASON SEVEN EPISODES OF THE SIMPSONS!
A/K/A RISE OF THE INTERNET

In season 7, Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein took over as showrunners and they encountered a new thing called the Internet. Apparently, the Internet is a place where geeks like to b---h and moan about the world of entertainment. So The Simpsons, being a very popular TV show, was often the target of their criticism. And so, Oakley & Weinstein decided to have some fun with that and took The Simpsons to interesting places.

#10 - YOU ONLY MOVE TWICE
Written by John Swartzwelder
Directed by Mike Anderson
Original Airdate: November 3, 1996

This is my all-time favorite concept for a Simpsons episode. Basically, Homer gets an amazing new job in a beautiful upstate town but his boss is a James Bond villain. However, Homer is completely clueless about it. It's f---ing hilarious! But sadly, the episode is ultimately hurt because the focus tends to be on how the rest of the Simpsons family hate their new life. And honestly, I could care less about that. I just wanna see more of Homer and Hank Scorpio. By the way, the episode ends with Homer owning the Denver Broncos which is very amusing considering recent NFL history.

#9 - THE DAY THE VIOLENCE DIED
Written by John Swartzwelder
Directed by Wes Archer
Original Airdate: March 17, 1996

The Simpsons has a very fascinating backstory, and with the rise of the Internet, it started to be discussed heavily. Technically, The Simpsons was inspired by The Flintstones and The Jetsons, which were both based on The Honeymooners to a certain extent. And Bart Simpson, the marketing icon of the show, was based on Dennis The Menace. Then of course, there's the on-going debate about how much credit Matt Groening deserves. It's no secret that Sam Simon is the true creator of the show. So with that in mind, here's an episode about the man who created Itchy from The Itchy & Scratchy Show and how he successful sues the company that makes the cartoons for billions of dollars. Then he goes off and lives as a rich man while the company struggles to get back on its feet. So the argument could be made that the character is based on Sam Simon who did successfully sue the show and makes millions of dollars every year for doing nothing. Meanwhile, there's Matt Groening who has remained with the show and earns his money every year by contributing whatever he can. That leads me to the ending of the episodes. According to the commentary track on the DVD, many fans were confused by it. Basically, two characters who look like Bart and Lisa save Itchy and Scratchy from its financial troubles. These two characters are modeled after the design from The Tracy Ullman Show. In other words, Matt Groening's Bart and Lisa are successful and Sam Simon's Bart and Lisa fail. It's all a big "f--k you" to Sam Simon and all the geeks on the Internet that question the show's origin. So if you have some knowledge of the show's background, you might be able to enjoy the episode.

#8 - TWO BAD NEIGHBORS
Written by Ken Keeler
Directed by Wes Archer
Original Airdate: January 14, 1996

Here's another episode made specially to piss people off on the Internet. As I mentioned before, Bart is based on Dennis The Menace and in this episode he literally becomes Dennis The Menace while Ex-President George Bush takes over the role of Mr. Wilson. It's a very silly and strange concept that gets even wackier once Homer starts feuding with the former President. ALSO keep in mind that when The Simpsons debut, George Bush badmouthed the show so there's some inside humor thrown in as well. So again, if you enjoy The Simpsons and its history you're gonna love the episode. Otherwise, you might think it's kind of weird.

#7 - MOTHER SIMPSON
Written by Richard Appel
Directed by David Silverman
Original Airdate: November 19, 1995

I find it very annoying when there's a missing parent on a sitcom and the characters never reveal what happened. The Simpsons were very guilty of that for 6 seasons but in the 7th they rectified that by finally telling us what happened to Homer's mother. Basically, she's a fugitive from the law after destroying a biological weapon Mr. Burns was developing in the 1960's. The episode works because the emotions are high as Homer and his mother bond for the first time in 30 years.

#6 - LISA THE ICONOCLAST
Written by Jonathan Collier
Directed by Mike Anderson
Original Airdate: February 18, 1996

I wouldn't call myself a history expert like IanTheCanadian but I do love history and an episode like this is up my alley. Here, Lisa discovers that town founder Jebediah Springfield was actually a murderous pirate who attacked George Washington. But when given the opportunity to reveal the truth, she follows the great advise from John Ford's Liberty Valance movie, "when the legend becomes fact, print the legend."

#5 - MARGE BE NOT PROUD
Written by Mike Scully
Directed by Steven Dean Moore
Original Airdate: December 17, 1995

This is one of those relatable episodes that stick with you. Mike Scully was great at that. In the episode, Bart disappoints Marge by stealing a video game so he tries everything he can to make up to her. Apparently, this was based on a real-life experience that Mike Scully had as a child so the emotions are very accurate and connect with the audience.

#4 - SIDESHOW BOB'S LAST GLEAMING
Written by Spike Feresten
Directed by Dominic Polcino
Original Airdate: November 26, 1995

Call me crazy, but I think this Sideshow Bob episode is ALMOST as good as Cape Feare. Cape Feare is definitely funner but I feel that this episode is better written. It's meatier, it's much more epic and it has a superior ending. Plus, I feel that Kelsey Grammer delivers his best performance as Sideshow Bob in this episode. You can feel that the man has been driven to insanity and will do almost anything to kill Krusty The Clown. Even if it means flying the Wright brother's plane into a shed in the middle of nowhere. So... I consider this one a classic even though some people may have started to get tired of Sideshow Bob at this point.

#3 - KING SIZE HOMER
Written by Dan Greaney
Directed by Jim Reardon
Original Airdate: November 5, 1995

90% of the credit for this episode goes to the animators. This episode is hilarious on a visual level. Maybe it's just me but I laugh at almost everything Homer does because he's just so funny looking. But I'm gonna throw the writers a bone too. I do enjoy the concept of Homer becoming obese and working at Home. Some very good comedy came out of that. So overall, this is one of the funnier episodes in the show's 25 year history.

#2 - RAGING ABE SIMPSON AND HIS GRUMBLING GRANDSON IN
"THE CURSE OF THE FLYING HELLFISH"
Written by Jonathan Collier
Directed by Jeffrey Lynch
Original Airdate: April 28, 1996

Grandpa Simpson has always been a joke but in this one episode he's a badass. It tells the story of Grandpa in World War II as a member of a platoon called The Flying Hellfish. They steal expensive paintings from the Nazi's and make a pact that whoever lives the longest gets to keep it. So when it comes down to Grandpa and Mr. Burns, well, you know what happens. Overall, this is an exciting and highly entertaining episode that deserves more recognition.

#1 - TREEHOUSE OF HORROR VI
Written by John Swartzwelder, Steve Tompkins, and David S. Cohen
Directed by Bob Anderson
Original Airdate: October 29, 1995

It's safe to say that this is the most famous installment in the Treehouse of Horror series. And all because of Homer's journey into the 3rd dimension. But before I get there, let me acknowledge the first two segments. Both of which are quite brilliant as well. The first one is about giant billboards coming to life and attacking Springfield. The amount of hilarious satrical humor is a prime example of why The Simpsons used to be so awesome. The second segment is a spoof of Nightmare on Elm Street with Groundskeeper Willie playing the Freddie role. Although calling it a spoof is a bit misleading. It's basically NOES but with Simpsons characters. And that's why it's so effective. Now for the main event: Homer in 3D. At the time, this segment was mindblowing. 3D Animation was in its early days so just seeing it on television was super cool. But what's even cooler is that nearly two decades later, it's still one of the highlights in the show's history. I find it incredibly amusing that almost all the jokes and gags rely on the fact that they're using CGI. It's so self-aware and meta that one can't help but laugh. For example, I really love this line, "wow! This place looks expensive. I feel like I'm wasting money just standing here."

twitter.com/blackmerida

blackmerida.bsky.social

Neverending
CS! Platinum

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 65,782
Likes: 8,648
Location:

Last Online
Nov 24, 2024 12:18:02 GMT -5

The Simpsons Oct 8, 2014 7:19:42 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Neverending on Oct 8, 2014 7:19:42 GMT -5

TOP 10 SEASON EIGHT EPISODES OF THE SIMPSONS!
A/K/A THE LOVE-HATE FOR OAKLEY & WEINSTEIN CONTINUES

#10 - BURNS, BABY BURNS
Written by Ian Maxtone-Graham
Directed by Jim Reardon
Original Airdate: November 17, 1996

Comedy legend, Rodney Dangerfield, guest stars as Mr. Burns' son - and for whatever reason - the episode is played out like a Rodney Dangerfield movie. It's very funny but also very strange. Some fans will love it and others will hate it.

#9 - BART AFTER DARK
Written by Richard Appel
Directed by Dominic Polcino
Original Airdate: November 24, 1996

Bart gets a part-time job at a burlesque house and no one cares except for Marge who is outraged and wants the place shut down. She almost succeeds but the place is saved by a classic song-and-dance number. Overall, it's a very fun episode.

#8 - MOUNTAIN OF MADNESS
Written by John Swartzwelder
Directed by Mark Kirkland
Original Airdate: February 2, 1997

At a corporate retreat, Homer and Mr. Burns are trapped by snow in a cabin and are then slowly driven into insanity. It's classic Swartzwelder to say the least.

#7 - BROTHER FROM ANOTHER SERIES
Written by Ken Keeler
Directed by Pete Michels
Original Airdate: February 23, 1997

In a change of pace, Sideshow Bob is the good guy. He saves Springfield, and Bart & Lisa, from his equally evil brother who's voiced by David Hyde Pierce. It's not a "classic" Sideshow Bob episode but it's still loads of fun to watch.

#6 - TREEHOUSE OF HORROR VII
Written by Ken Keeler, Dan Greaney and David S. Cohen
Directed by Mike Anderson
Original Airdate: October 27, 1996

Bart has an evil twin, Lisa is a God and the lack of 3rd Party support destroys America. It's another standout Treehouse of Horror episode.

#5 - HOMER VS. THE EIGHTEENTH AMENDMENT
Written by John Swartzwelder
Directed by Bob Anderson
Original Airdate: March 16, 1997

When alcohol is banned in Springfield, Homer becomes a very successful bootlegger. This is an interesting episode because Homer manages to out-smart everyone while still retaining his goofy and idiotic personality.

#4 - THE ITCHY & SCRATCHY & POOCHIE SHOW
Written by David S. Cohen
Directed by Steven Dean Moore
Original Airdate: February 9, 1997

As I said during the season 7 list, Oakley & Weinstein became showrunners when the Internet was beginning to conquer mainstream America. So as you can imagine, The Simpsons was one of the earliest shows targeted by angry geeks and nerds. We think of 90's Simpsons as the classic era, but in reality, people were already b----ing and moaning back then. So this episode is a f--k you to fans and nervous network executives. This is an episode that should be preserved by the Library of Congress as an essential work of art.

#3 - GRADE SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL
Written by Rachel Pulido
Directed by Susie Dietter
Original Airdate: April 6, 1997

If you enjoyed Bart The Lover then you're gonna like this episode as well. It's the same tone and style. But this one revolves around Principal Skinner and Mrs. Krabappel having an affair. What's great about season 8 is that the writer's aren't scared to explore the side characters and this is the best example of that.

#2 - HOMER'S ENEMY
Written by John Swartzwelder
Directed by Jim Reardon
Original Airdate: May 4, 1997

This is the episode that divided the fanbase. There's the folks who enjoy the sitcom-y era by Sam Simon and Al Jean & Mike Reiss. Then there's the people who prefer the boundary-crossing era by David Mirkin and Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein. The fans of seasons 1-thru-4 felt that this episode was WAY too "meta" and that it destroyed the show. And the fans of seasons 5-thru-8 felt it was a groundbreaking idea to put a realistic character like Frank Grimes into the cartoon-ish world of The Simpsons. Both sides make a valid point but I mostly agree with the latter group. This episode is too unique to hate. Plus, calling this the "shark jumping" episode is just ridiculous.

#1 - HOMER'S PHOBIA
Written by Ron Hauge
Directed by Mike Anderson
Original Airdate: February 16, 1997

"Zap Zap!"
"We work hard, we play hard."
"A bunch of guys alone in the woods? That seems pretty gay."

The premise of this episode is very simple. Homer thinks that Bart is gay and tries to cure him. I'm sure other TV shows and movies have dealt with similar concepts but what makes this one standout is the high-level of comedy. Even 17 years later, this episode STILL makes me laugh like an idiot.

twitter.com/blackmerida

blackmerida.bsky.social

Neverending
CS! Platinum

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 65,782
Likes: 8,648
Location:

Last Online
Nov 24, 2024 12:18:02 GMT -5

The Simpsons Oct 8, 2014 7:20:39 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Neverending on Oct 8, 2014 7:20:39 GMT -5

TOP 10 SEASON NINE EPISODES OF THE SIMPSONS!
A/K/A THE MIKE SCULLY ERA BEGINS

Towards the end of season 8, fans were divided because of the Frank Grimes episode. Some called it the "shark jumping" episode while others felt it was revolutionary. But then came Mike Scully and fans united once again to proclaim him as the man who officially killed The Simpsons. Personally, I always felt that was an exaggeration. Several classic episodes were made under Scully's supervision. Also, if anyone "killed" The Simpsons, it would be Al Jean who took over in season 13 and never left. However, that being said, I understand where people are coming from. There's no denying that is when The Simpsons began to decline in quality. Although, that didn't technically happen till season 10. This season is actually pretty good. I consider it the conclusion of The Simpsons' classic era.

#10 - TREEHOUSE OF HORROR VIII
Written by Mike Scully, David S. Cohen, and Ned Goldreyer
Directed by Mark Kirkland
Original Airdate: October 26, 1997

The three segments here are: Homer as the sole survivor of a nuclear bomb, Bart as The Fly, and the origin of trick-or-treating with Marge as a witch. All three segments are enjoyable to watch, especially the third one which I think is great.

#9 - THIS LITTLE WIGGY
Written by Dan Greaney
Directed by Neil Affleck
Original Airdate: March 22, 1998

A few seasons ago, there was an episode where Ralph Wiggum is treated like a respectable character in a plotline involving him falling in love with Lisa. But this episode is the other side of the coin. We get the quintessential Ralph Wiggum as a main character and it's very disturbing. However, it's also a very interesting episode so I'm giving it credit for standing out.

#8 - THE WIZARD OF EVERGREEN TERRACE
Written by John Swartzwelder
Directed by Mark Kirkland
Original Airdate: September 20, 1998

Inspired by Thomas Edison, Homer quits his job and becomes an inventor. And unlike his brother, he finds no success but does help Edison's family get even richer. Poor, Homie.

#7 - THE TROUBLE WITH TRILLIONS
Written by Ian Maxtone-Graham
Directed by Swinton O. Scott III
Original Airdate: April 5, 1998

When Homer is arrested for tax fraud, he makes a deal with the FBI to spy on Mr. Burns. This plot would have made a great David Mirkin episode, but Mike Scully does a very good job nonetheless. There's definitely a lot of memorable jokes and I consider the episode a semi-classic.

#6 - LISA THE SKEPTIC
Written by David S. Cohen
Directed by Neil Afflect
Original Airdate: November 23, 1997

Springfield gets into a big science vs. religion debate when Lisa finds the fossil of what many believe to be an angel. Scully and his writers tackle the subject matter very well and the episode is another semi-classic.

#5 - REALITY BITES
Written by Dan Greaney
Directed by Swinton O. Scott III
Original Airdate: December 7, 1997

Marge becomes a real estate agent but the true highlight of the episode is a sub-plot about Homer buying Snake's car at a police auction. "She needs premium, dude. PREMIUM!" I love that line.

#4 - TRASH OF THE TITANS
Written by Ian Maxtone-Graham
Directed by Jim Reardon
Original Airdate: April 26, 1998

In the 200th episode of the series, Homer becomes the Sanitation Commissioner and he ruins the city so badly that the entire town of Springfield has to re-locate. It's definitely a classic Homer-centric episode.

#3 - GIRLY EDITION
Written by Larry Doyle
Directed by Mark Kirland
Original Airdate: April 19, 1998

Bart and Lisa become rival co-anchors of a kids' TV news program while Homer befriends a monkey. It's an episode that's down-to-Earth but also very wacky and outlandish. Kudos to Scully and his team for pulling it off.

#2 - DAS BUS
Written by David S. Cohen
Directed by Pete Michels
Original Airdate: February 15, 1998

Homer decides to start a business in this new thing called the Internet but Bill Gates has different plans for him. Meanwhile... Bart, Lisa and their classmates are stranded in a deserted island and slowly turn into a Lord of the Flies civilization. But in the end, they are rescued by - I don't know - let's say Moe. Das Bus is an hilarious episode and one of the highlights from the Mike Scully era.

#1 - BART STAR
Written by Donick Cary
Directed by Dominic Polcino
Original Airdate: November 9, 1997

Love him or hate him, there's no denying that Mike Scully is the best when it comes to sports-themed episodes on The Simpsons. And now that he's the boss, these type of episodes are given the opportunity to shine. In this one, Bart joins a successful pee-wee football team with Ned Flanders as the coach and Nelson as the quarterback. But when Homer takes over and tries to make Bart the star player, the team's winning streak is put in jeopardy. Just like in Lisa On Ice, Scully perfectly captures the world of competitive sports, but instead of focusing on sibling rivalries, we get parents who blindly force children to over-achieve.

twitter.com/blackmerida

blackmerida.bsky.social

Neverending
CS! Platinum

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 65,782
Likes: 8,648
Location:

Last Online
Nov 24, 2024 12:18:02 GMT -5

The Simpsons Oct 8, 2014 7:21:54 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Neverending on Oct 8, 2014 7:21:54 GMT -5

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR
Written by John Swartzwelder, Jay Kogen & Wallace Wolodarsky, Sam Simon and Edgar Allan Poe
Directed by Wes Archer, Rich Moore, and David Silverman
Original Airdate: October 25, 1990

After trick-or-treating, Bart and Lisa go into the treehouse and tell each other scary stories. Hence the title. Although this is the only Halloween special to feature the treehouse. The first tale is about the Simpsons moving into a possessed house that rather destroy itself than live with them. The second story introduces Kang and Kodos who kidnaps the family and intends to eat them. Or atleast that's what Lisa suspects. And the finale is a re-telling of Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven. Overall, the episode works. It's a nice start to a series of specials. By the way, this was the first episode to be scored by Alf Clausen who has been with the show ever since.

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR II
Written by Al Jean & Mike Reiss, Jeff Martin, George Meyer, Sam Simon and John Swartzwelder.
Directed by Jim Reardon
Original Airdate: October 31, 1991

Marge warns Homer, Bart, and Lisa that if they eat too much candy, they will have nightmares. They don't listen, of course. Lisa's nightmare is about the families trip to Morocco where Homer buys a monkeys hand that will grant 4 wishes. Things don't work out as you can imagine. Bart's nightmare is that he spends quality time with his father and they love each other. And finally, Homer's dream involves him being turned into a lazy robot and waking up to discover Mr. Burns as a second head. For the most part, this is a step-down from the previous special with the exception of Homer's segment which is quite awesome.

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR III
Written by Al Jean & Mike Reiss, Jay Kogen & Wallace Wolodarsky, Sam Simon & Jon Vitti
Directed by Carlos Baeza
Original Airdate: October 29, 1992

During a Halloween party at the Simpson's home, Marge and the rest of the family decide to tell scary stories. All of them end up being spoofs of horror films. They include Child's Play, King Kong, and Night of the Living Dead. Like the previous special, only one of the segments standout. This time being the Chucky spoof with Krusty the Klown as an evil doll trying to kill Homer. By the way, this is the last special to feature the original writing staff.

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR IV
Written by Conan O'Brien and some other people
Directed by David Silverman
Original Airdate: October 28, 1993

In a tribute to the work of Rod Sterling, Bart introduces three tales: Homer selling his soul in exchange for a donut, a spoof of Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, and, in a change of pace, Dracula. Like the original Halloween special, this one is good overall. By the way, this is the first special without original showrunner Sam Simon. It is here where the running gag of Sam "Sayonara" Simon began. For those who don't know, Simon is the true creator of the show. And he was getting very upset that Matt Groening was taking all the credit and profits.

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR V
Written by Greg Daniels, the creator of Futurama, and some other people.
Directed by Jim Reardon
Original Airdate: October 30, 1994

This is the first Halloween special without an introduction to the segments. Although there is a running gag featuring Groundskeeper Willie trying to save the day. It's also the first special where violence becomes a prominent feature. But, most importantly, it's the first Halloween special that can be considered GREAT. The segments, which are all CLASSICS include: a spoof of The Shining, Homer turning a toaster into a time machine and Springfield Elementary turning its students into lunch meals. Many people consider this to be the best of the Halloween specials. I need to re-watch all of them before I arrive to that conclusion.

Last Edit: Oct 8, 2014 7:22:21 GMT -5 by Neverending

twitter.com/blackmerida

blackmerida.bsky.social

Neverending
CS! Platinum

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 65,782
Likes: 8,648
Location:

Last Online
Nov 24, 2024 12:18:02 GMT -5

The Simpsons Oct 8, 2014 7:24:27 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Neverending on Oct 8, 2014 7:24:27 GMT -5

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR VI
Written by John Swartzwelder, Steve Tompkins, and David "Futurama" Cohen
Directed by Bob Anderson
Original Airdate: October 29, 1995

It's safe to say that this is the most famous installment in the Treehouse of Horror series. And all because of Homer's journey into the 3rd dimension. But before I get there, let me acknowledge the first two segments. Both of which are quite brilliant as well. The first one is about giant billboards coming to life and attacking Springfield. The amount of hilarious satrical humor is a prime example of why The Simpsons used to be so awesome. The second segment is a spoof of Nightmare on Elm Street with Groundskeeper Willie playing the Freddie role. Although calling it a spoof is a bit misleading. It's basically NOES but with Simpsons characters. And that's why it's so effective. Now for the main event: Homer in 3D. At the time, this segment was mindblowing. 3D Animation was in its early days so just seeing it was super cool. But what's even cooler is that nearly two decades later, it's still one of the highlights in the show's history. I find it incredibly amusing that almost all the jokes/gags rely on the fact that they're using CGI. It's so self-aware and - meta - that one can't help but laugh. For example, I really love this line, "wow! This place looks expensive. I feel like I'm wasting money just standing here."

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR VII
Written by Ken Keeler (of Futurama fame), Dan Greaney, and David S. Cohen
Directed by Mike B. Anderson
Original Airdate: October 27, 1996

Bart discovers he has an evil twin. Lisa becomes "God." And Earth is destroyed by the two-party political system in America. All three are great with brilliant doses of satrical humor. But considering that we are in an Election year, I have to single out the third segment. Every four years it seems like we're complaining about the lack of support for a third political party and here is The Simpsons creating great humor out of it all those years ago.

twitter.com/blackmerida

blackmerida.bsky.social

Neverending
CS! Platinum

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 65,782
Likes: 8,648
Location:

Last Online
Nov 24, 2024 12:18:02 GMT -5

The Simpsons Oct 8, 2014 7:25:34 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Neverending on Oct 8, 2014 7:25:34 GMT -5

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR VIII
Written by Mike Scully, David S. Cohen, and Ned Goldreyer
Directed by Mark Kirkland
Original Airdate: October 26, 1997

Treehouse of Horror 5, 6, and 7 are AMAZNG! The holy trio of the series. Any of the installments will have a tough time competiting with those three. Especially one made under the supervision of the much-debated Mike Scully. The three segments here are: Homer as the sole survivor of a nuclear bomb, Bart as The Fly, and the origin of trick-or-treating with Marge as a witch. All three segments are good, especially the third one which I think is great. But the episode, in general, is missing the on-point comedy and creativity that made 5 thru 7 so brilliant.

twitter.com/blackmerida

blackmerida.bsky.social

Neverending
CS! Platinum

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 65,782
Likes: 8,648
Location:

Last Online
Nov 24, 2024 12:18:02 GMT -5

The Simpsons Oct 8, 2014 7:26:03 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Neverending on Oct 8, 2014 7:26:03 GMT -5

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR IX
Directed by Steven Dean Moore
Written by Donick Cary, Larry Doyle, and David "Futurama" Cohen (his last)
Original Airdate: October 25, 1998

One segment prevented this installment from being one of the best. I'm referring to the third segment which features Homer and Kang the Alien at the Jerry Springer show. Apparently, Maggie is Kang's daughter and he's fighting for custody. The other two, thankfully, are very funny. In the first segment, Snake the Criminal is killed on Death Row and his body is donated to hospitals. So, Homer finally gets the hair transplant he always wanted. But the hair is possessed by the spirit of Snake and he uses Homer to get revenge on those who got him arrested. The second segment is one of the best. Bart and Lisa transport themselves to an episode of Itchy & Scratchy and then become potential victims when the cat and mouse decide to team-up and murder them.

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR X
Directed by Pete Michels (who later became a director on Family Guy)
Written by Donick Cary, Tim Long, and Ron Hauge
Original Airdate: October 31, 1999 (great timing)

This one suffers the same fate as the previous installment. One segment holds it back. However, it's the first one, so at least the bad taste of it is gone by the end of the episode. The first segment is a spoof of I Know What You Did Last Summer with Ned Flanders as the Fisher Man. The second and third segments are among the best. In the second one, Bart and Lisa become superheroes and battle Comic Book Guy when he kidnaps Lucy Lawless a/k/a Xena Warrior Princess. The third segment makes fun of Y2K. What show didn't back then? But it stands the test of time by including a gag in which two space ships escape the planet. One has all the important people of Earth. And the other has the worst and it's heading towards the sun. When Homer and Bart realize they got on the wrong ship, they prefer to commit suicide than stay on the ship. Overall, a memorable way for The Simpsons to end their glory decade of the 1990's.

twitter.com/blackmerida

blackmerida.bsky.social

Neverending
CS! Platinum

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 65,782
Likes: 8,648
Location:

Last Online
Nov 24, 2024 12:18:02 GMT -5

The Simpsons Oct 8, 2014 7:26:46 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Neverending on Oct 8, 2014 7:26:46 GMT -5

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR XI
Directed by Matthew Nastuk
Written by Rob LaZebnik, Mike Scully, John Frink, Don Payne, and Carolyn Omine
Original Airdate: November 1, 2000

After 10 Halloween specials that aired during October, here is the first one to air in November. Only three episodes have aired in October in the last 12 years. And all because of baseball. The producers have, of course, found the humor in this and a new Treehouse of Horror gag was born. In every other installment, a joke is made about it. Usually, it's the highlight of the episode. But anyway... the first Halloween special of the 21st century features Homer as a ghost, Bart & Lisa in a Grimm's adventure, and dolphins rebelling against humans. It's a pretty decent episode and the last to be made by the infamous Mike Scully. The Bart & Lisa segment is kinda weak but the other two are very strong and memorable. The Dolphin one, in particular, would probably make a few people's Top 10. In fact, it's one of Matt Groening's favorites.

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR XII
Directed by Jim Reardon
Written by Joel H. Cohen, John Frink, Don Payne, and Carolyn Omine
Original Airdate: November 6, 2001

This episode aired almost two months after the terrorist attack of September 11. To be more sensitive, it doesn't feature the "scary names" during the credits. That makes no sense... but whatever. The three segments here are Homer getting hexed by a gypsy, an "ultrahouse" voiced by Pierce Brosnan, and a spoof of Harry Potter which is amusing since the first movie hadn't been released yet. Only the Ultrahouse segment is good. The other two are among the worst the series has produced. Overall, a pretty lousy episode. Which shouldn't be a surprise since this season of The Simpsons, the 13th, marked the return of Al Jean as showrunner. The guy has never left and is the main reason the show sucks now. Many blame Mike Scully, and while there are pros and cons to his tenure, he didn't allow the series to jump the shark.

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR XIII
Directed by David Silverman
Written by Marc Wilmore, Brian Kelley, and Kevin Curran
Original Airdate: November 3, 2002

This episode features three important changes: it's the first to be digitally colored, it's the first Halloween special that's actually titled "Treehouse of Horror", and it's the first time they make fun of Family Guy. The three segments feature an army of Homer clones (one of the clones is Peter Griffin), Lisa successfully advocating that the ban of guns and later regretting it (amusing since that was an episode of Family Guy 3 years earlier), and Dr. Hibbert creating a human-animal hybrid. The Homer Clones is pretty funny but everything else sucks. Although, I do like the animation in the Dr. Hibbert segment.

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR XIV
Directed by Steven Dean Moore
Written by John Swartzwelder
Original Airdate: November 2, 2003

Remember that episode of Family Guy where Peter Griffin injures death (played by Norm MacDonald) and suddenly people realize they cannot die, so Peter is forced to take over and do the deeds himself? Well... only one year after The Simpsons ignited a feud by calling Family Guy a rip-off, they had the balls to rip-off an entire episode of the show. If this isn't the worst of their Halloween specials then I don't know what is.

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR XV
Written by Bill Odenkirk
Directed by David Silverman
Original Airdate: November 7, 2004

If you're in trouble, you better call Saul. But if Saul isn't available, then call his brother. After three terrible Halloween specials, they rebound thanks to Mr. Bill Odenkirk who wrote all three segments and ties them up nicely at the end. The first segment is a spoof of The Dead Zone titled The Ned Zone. Believe it or not, it's one of the funniest Halloween segments the show has made. Basically, Ned gets a vision that Homer, being the horrible Nuclear Plant employee that he is, will blow up the city. So, he must stop him at any cost. The end result is one of the most hilarious gags I've seen in these specials. The next two segments are a spoof of Sherlock Holmes and Fantastic Voyage. Both are very good as well. Overall, it's the show's best Halloween special since #7.

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR XVI
Directed by David Silverman
Written by Marc Killmore
Executive Produced by Al "Family Guy" Jean
Original Airdate: November 6, 2005

Here's another well-made Halloween special from the post-Shark Jumping era. The three segments are a spoof of A:I where Bart is replaced by a robot child, Mr. Burns hunting Springfield citizens in a televised FOX special, and an angry witch turning the town into their Halloween costume. All three are really good and very funny.

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR XVII
Written by Peter Gaffney
Directed by David Silverman and Matthew C. Faughnan
Original Airdate: November 5, 2006

Two of the segments here are great: Homer as The Blob and Springfield reacting to Orson Welles' radio broadcast of War of the Worlds. The segment ends with an actual invasion and some eyebrow raising Iraq war commentary. The middle segment about a Jewish golem is a weak link. The only thing preventing the overall episode from being great.

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR XVIII
Written by Marc Wilmore
Directed by Chuck Sheetz
Original Airdate: November 4, 2007

After three above-average Halloween specials, the show returns to a mediocre one. Although, thankfully, not as bad as 12, 13, and 14. Two spoofs are featured. One of E.T. (late to the game, guys) and Mr. & Mrs. Smith (which is pretty stupid). The standout segment is the third one. Bart and his friends decide to pull pranks on Halloween and then Ned turns into the devil and teaches them a lesson. I'm surprised it took them that long to come up with a story like that.

twitter.com/blackmerida

blackmerida.bsky.social

Neverending
CS! Platinum

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 65,782
Likes: 8,648
Location:

Last Online
Nov 24, 2024 12:18:02 GMT -5

The Simpsons Oct 8, 2014 7:28:49 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Neverending on Oct 8, 2014 7:28:49 GMT -5

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR XIX
Written by Matt Warburton
Directed by Bob Anderson
Original Airdate: November 2, 2008

The 19th Treehouse of Horror begins with a Transformers spoof that is okay at best. But it bounces back with a semi-spoof of Mad Men where Homer is hired by a marketing firm to kill celebrities so they can use their images for free in their commercials. And the last segment is one of the best. It's a spoof of The Great Pumpkin with Milhouse in the Linus role. But this time, the great pumpkin actually shows up and gets upset when he discovers what humans do to pumpkins on Halloween and goes on a killing spree to get revenge. Overall, it's a pretty good episode.

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR XX
Written by Daniel Chun
Directed by Mike Anderson and Matthew Schofield
Original Airdate: October 18, 2009

The 20th Halloween special is the first one to air in October during the 21st century. It's also the first one in HD. So you'd expect them to do something special but unfortunately it didn't happen. The first segment is a Hitchcock parody that's okay. The second segment is a zombie spoof that's pretty good. And the final segment is a Sweeny Todd spoof that's very forgettable. So it's an uneven episode and a bit of a disappointment.

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR XXI
Written by Joel H. Cohen
Directed by Bob Anderson
Original Airdate: November 7, 2010

The first segment is a spoof of Jumanji which is okay. The second segment is a spoof of Dead Calm which is okay. And the final segment is a spoof of Twilight with Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) in the Edward role. This one is a bit more memorable but it's ultimately okay as well. Overall, it's an okay episode.

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR XXII
Written by Carolyn Omine
Directed by Matthew Faughnan
Original Airdate: October 30, 2011

This episode opens with a spoof of 127 Hours where Homer's hand gets stuck in a boulder and he can't reach his bag of candy. It's very amusing to say the least. Then we get a segment where Homer is paralyzed by a spider's bite and can only communicate through his farts. It's very juvenile but kind-of funny. The following segment is a spoof of Dexter with Ned Flanders in the role of the serial killer. It's good. And the final segment is a spoof of Avatar which is okay. Overall, it's an enjoyable episode.

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR XXIII
Written by David Mandel and Brian Kelley
Directed by Steven Dean Moore
Original Airdate: October 7, 2012

This episode received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Animated Program. And that was probably because of the black hole segment which is one of the best. The rest of the segments are a parody of the Mayan's prediction of the end of the world in 2012, a Paranormal Activity spoof and a time travel story where Bart changes his father. Overall, it's a pretty good episode.

TREEHOUSE OF HORROR XXIV
Written by Jeff Westbrook
Directed by Rob Oliver
Original Airdate: October 6, 2013

The highlight of the episode is the intro and couch gag written by Guillermo del Toro. Everything else is okay. The first episode is a Dr. Seuss spoof with a killer cat in the hat. The second segment is about Bart and Lisa sharing a body which was already done with Homer and Mr. Burns in the early days. And the final segment is a spoof of the 1930's movie, Freaks. Like I said, it's an okay episode but a major step-down from the Emmy nominated Halloween special from the previous year.

twitter.com/blackmerida

blackmerida.bsky.social

SnoBorderZero
CS! Silver

Join Date: Jan 2004

Posts: 17,626

Likes: 3,182
Location:

Last Online
Nov 24, 2024 17:07:20 GMT -5

The Simpsons Oct 8, 2014 18:28:24 GMT -5

Quote

Post by SnoBorderZero on Oct 8, 2014 18:28:24 GMT -5

Good stuff Neverending, your reviews plus the show's "revival" on FXX has inspired me to watch all the episodes I either haven't seen or haven't seen in a long time once they launch them all online.

In regards to the newest season, yeesh what a couple of lousy opening episodes. I mean I liked the one where Bart and Homer go on the ship more than the scathingly disappointing opener, but that's not saying much. When they were hyping it up that they were going to kill off a character I thought it would be someone important, not a character we hardly ever see and certainly could give a fuck less about. FXX's marathon has renewed interest, but the newest season is reminding me why I stopped consistently watching. I'm hoping they've got more up their sleeves but so far it's been a bit of poo.

Why am i a racist if anything i am a sexist. - RedVader

John CS! Platinum Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 33,858 Likes: 174 Location: Last Online Aug 22, 2018 10:50:23 GMT -5	The Simpsons Oct 11, 2014 11:25:26 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by John on Oct 11, 2014 11:25:26 GMT -5 Yeah your lists make me want to revisit some of the older seasons again. When FXX ran their marathon I debated buying a huge external hard-drive and DVR'ing the whole series, but I decided against it. Kind of regret it now.
	I have a life, and it only goes in one direction. Forward.

Jibbs Administrator Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 75,725 Likes: 1,657 Location: Last Online Feb 20, 2024 18:06:23 GMT -5	The Simpsons Oct 11, 2014 14:17:17 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Jibbs on Oct 11, 2014 14:17:17 GMT -5 They cropped the first 19 and a half seasons into widescreen. Don't worry about it.
	Jibbs: Oof, got a bad feeling about this. IanTheCool: Yeah, but you kinda stopped liking things a while ago, didn't you?

hazelrabbit Intern Posts: 15 Likes: 0 Location: Last Online Nov 10, 2014 13:42:10 GMT -5	The Simpsons Oct 26, 2014 10:50:56 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by hazelrabbit on Oct 26, 2014 10:50:56 GMT -5 Well done.
	I'm a crazy rabid squirrel!

Neverending CS! Platinum Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 65,782 Likes: 8,648 Location: Last Online Nov 24, 2024 12:18:02 GMT -5	The Simpsons Oct 26, 2014 18:25:14 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Neverending on Oct 26, 2014 18:25:14 GMT -5 By the way, every episode of The Simpsons is officially online. www.simpsonsworld.com
	twitter.com/blackmerida blackmerida.bsky.social

Fiverrabbit2014 Executive Producer Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,921 Likes: 19 Location: Last Online Mar 13, 2016 16:47:57 GMT -5	The Simpsons Nov 13, 2014 6:56:27 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Fiverrabbit2014 on Nov 13, 2014 6:56:27 GMT -5 Well done.
	Hammy the Squirrel: I like the cookie!

Neverending
CS! Platinum

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 65,782
Likes: 8,648
Location:

Last Online
Nov 24, 2024 12:18:02 GMT -5

The Simpsons Dec 19, 2014 18:57:56 GMT -5 IanTheCool likes this

Quote

Post by Neverending on Dec 19, 2014 18:57:56 GMT -5

If "The Simpsons'"characters had aged in real time, Homer would be 62 years old, Marge 61, Bart 36, Lisa 34, Maggie 26, and Santa’s Little Helper would be 196 in dog years.

www.today.com/popculture/25-years-simpsons-25-things-you-never-knew-about-hit-1D80353418

Long ago "The Simpsons" ceased being The Little Engine That Could. At this point, it is The Gigantic Engine That Can Never Be Shut Off. Today, nearly halfway through its 26th season, it's aired 561 original episodes and earned billions of dollars for a lot of people — despite featuring characters with four fingers on each hand.

But even the most loyal "Simpsons" viewers can't know everything about the beloved series, which premiered 25 years ago, on Dec. 17, 1989 — so here's a collection of those lesser-known tidbits.

Honorary Squishees to all who recognize more than 20!

1. Paul and Linda McCartney agreed to lend their voices to the 1995 episode “Lisa the Vegetarian”on the condition that the character of Lisa remain a vegetarian throughout the run of the series. She still is.

2. Substitute teacher Mr. Bergstrom, from the 1991 episode “Lisa’s Substitute,” was voiced by Dustin Hoffman, but the actor preferred to use the cheeky alias Sam Etic (a.k.a. “semitic”) instead.

3. Groening himself provides the pacifier-sucking sound for baby Maggie.

4. The names Marge, Homer, Lisa, Maggie and Patty are all taken from creator Matt Groening’s real-life parents, sisters, and aunt. But Bart is simply an anagram of “Brat.” As for the name “Simpson,” Groening found it appropriate to feature a surname that literally described “the son of a simp.”

5. The “The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson” episode of the series (from 1997) didn't air in syndication for five years after the 9/11 attacks due to its focus on the World Trade Center.

6. Why are the Simpsons characters yellow? Because Groening thought seeing flashes of yellow would stop channel surfers in their tracks.

7. God and Jesus are the only "Simpsons" characters with five fingers. The others all have four.

8. Conan O’Brien was a writer-producer on "The Simpsons"from 1991-93.

9. Each of the six principal "Simpsons" voice stars — Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Hank Azaria, Yeardley Smith and Harry Shearer — earns $300,000 per episode, after taking pay cuts from $400,000 in 2011. When the show launched in 1989, they earned $4,000 each per episode.

10. Principal Seymour Skinner’s real name is Armin Tamzarian. And Comic Book Guy's name is Jeff Albertson.

11. The series features a coffee house called Java the Hut, a soup kitchen called Helter Shelter, a pastry shop called The French Confection and the gun store Bloodbath and Beyond. (And that's just a smattering of the punny store names.)

12. Dan Castellaneta’s “D’oh!” is an homage to Jimmy Finlayson’s “Doooh!” in the Laurel & Hardy films. It is written in scripts simply as “annoyed grunt.”

13. Danny Elfman required just two days to compose the now-iconic "Simpsons" theme song in 1989.

14. Groening called the town Springfield because there are literally dozens of Springfields across the country, so the series would be identified with no single state.

15. Krusty the Klown was originally created to be Homer’s secret identity, as Homer knew Bart worshiped Krusty, if not him. But Groening ultimately thought the disguise gambit too complicated, so it was scrapped.

16. In 1998, Time magazine named Bart Simpson one of the most influential “people” of the century.

17. In 1997, there was a contest to win a fully-furnished exact replica of the “Simpsons” house in Clark County, Nev. The winner could choose to either stay in the home or trade it for $75,000. The winner took the money. The house was ultimately stripped of its "Simpsons” décor before being sold.

18. The voice actors who play Homer and Marge in the French dubbed version of the show, Phillipe Peythieu and Veronique Augereau, got married in real life in 2001 after having met on the show in 1989.

19. Following Phil Hartman’s death in 1998, the show retired all of his characters, including actor/eternal spokesman Troy McClure and attorney Lionel Hutz.

20. The 1992 episode “Stark Raving Dad” features the voice of Michael Jackson talking, but not singing. It was Jackson’s idea to use sound-alike Kipp Lennon instead.

21. Prior to "The Simpsons," the longest running prime-time animated series on network television was "The Flintstones," which ran for six seasons between 1960-66.

22. Bart’s best friend, Milhouse Van Houten, has a unusual middle name: Mussolini.

23. The sale of "Simpsons" toys and figurines is illegal in Iran.

24. Since launching in 1989, the series has featured more than 600 guest stars, easily the most of any scripted series in television history.

25. If "The Simpsons'"characters had aged in real time, Homer would be 62 years old, Marge 61, Bart 36, Lisa 34 and Maggie 26. And family pet Santa’s Little Helper would be 196 in dog years.

twitter.com/blackmerida

blackmerida.bsky.social

Jibbs Administrator Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 75,725 Likes: 1,657 Location: Last Online Feb 20, 2024 18:06:23 GMT -5	The Simpsons Dec 19, 2014 20:18:31 GMT -5 Neverending likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Jibbs on Dec 19, 2014 20:18:31 GMT -5 I knew most of those
	Jibbs: Oof, got a bad feeling about this. IanTheCool: Yeah, but you kinda stopped liking things a while ago, didn't you?

Deexan CS! Silver Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 18,196 Likes: 2,995 Location: Last Online Nov 13, 2021 19:23:59 GMT -5	The Simpsons Dec 19, 2014 20:22:41 GMT -5 Neverending likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Deexan on Dec 19, 2014 20:22:41 GMT -5 I knew less than half. Some fan I am!
	DOROTHY MANTOOTH IS A SAINT.

Batman
Gaffer

Join Date: Oct 2014

Posts: 153
Likes: 34
Location:

Last Online
Oct 4, 2014 18:54:10 GMT -5

The Simpsons Jan 5, 2015 7:03:49 GMT -5

Quote

Post by Batman on Jan 5, 2015 7:03:49 GMT -5

www.vulture.com/2015/01/judd-apatow-simpsons-episode-barts-new-friend.html

Judd Apatow's 25-Year-Old Simpsons Script Is Set to Air

Back in 2012, Judd Apatow revealed that he was working with The Simpsons producers on a spec script he had written back in 1990, after just six episodes of the show had aired. Now, 25 years later, Apatow's episode, "Bart's New Friend," is set to air. In the episode, Homer undergoes hypnosis and believes he's 10 years old. "He has such a great time being Bart's friend that he doesn't want to become an adult again," Apatow told TV Guide. "I have always been fascinated with how difficult it is to grow up. In fact, everything I've done on film and TV is pretty much based on my Simpsons idea." Apatow worked collaboratively to turn the "pretty rough script" into "Cinderella." The episode airs Sunday, January 11.

The Dark Knight. The Caped Crusader.

Shoutbox

1godzillafan: I want to make a movie in Yugoslavia. I don't think your offer matches my needs. I bid you good day, sir. Apr 22, 2022 9:46:06 GMT -5

Doomsday: It's been 7 months since anyone posted in this thing so I need to ask, Batman Returns is definitely a Christmas movie right? Nov 27, 2022 0:55:28 GMT -5

scottysair: Hey guys! Haven't you watch Three Wise Man and a Baby movie? It's on TV. Free movie! Nov 28, 2022 20:38:52 GMT -5

thebtskink: I saw it scotty. I want those 2 hours of my life back.

Dec 23, 2022 16:41:02 GMT -5

John: Batman Returns is definitely a Christmas movie. Jan 6, 2023 11:46:34 GMT -5 *

IanTheCool: Forum is acting up on me. did my Andor rant go through? Jan 15, 2023 11:52:07 GMT -5

Doomsday: Yeah, lots of threads aren't available. I saw that you responded to the thread but haven't been able to open it so can't see what you wrote. I assume it's a doosey. Jan 15, 2023 12:57:04 GMT -5

IanTheCool: damn it, it was Jan 15, 2023 14:26:25 GMT -5 *

IanTheCool: oh it is there, good. i thought it got erased. Jan 15, 2023 17:48:13 GMT -5

scottysair: Hey guys, thought you would like to see this. It's very interesting movie. www.comingsoon.net/movies/trailers/1269586-exclusive-bunker-clip Feb 23, 2023 16:11:09 GMT -5

scottysair: Hey guys! Thought you would like to watch this. You can watch MH370: The Plane That Disappeared movie. It's on Netflix. www.comingsoon.net/tv/news/1272088-mh370-the-plane-that-disappeared-netflix-release-date-time Mar 7, 2023 18:03:31 GMT -5

IanTheCool: Has anyone watched MH370: The Plane That Disappeared yet? Jul 17, 2023 20:36:20 GMT -5

PG Cooper: "The Plane That Disappeared" has big "The Bus That Wouldn't Slow Down" energy. Jul 22, 2023 18:35:00 GMT -5

Doomsday: If I could like Coop's comment I would. Jul 30, 2023 0:54:00 GMT -5

IanTheCool: The Despicable Me movies really are garbage, aren't they? Nov 18, 2023 13:31:17 GMT -5

John: FYI guys there's a new documentary about "MH370: The Plane that Disappeared" in case you didn't know Dec 4, 2023 13:48:21 GMT -5

Doomsday: Tornado's back? The OGs are coming around! Dec 7, 2023 21:35:07 GMT -5

scottysair: Haven't you guys watch Once & Always Power Rangers on Netflix movie? The former Power Rangers is back. Rita is a robot now. Jan 16, 2024 16:21:07 GMT -5

scottysair: Hey guys, thought you guys like to see this. You can watch Montreal Expos on Netflix. Feb 21, 2024 22:45:27 GMT -5

scottysair: www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1558134-netflix-announces-baseball-documentary-on-montreal-expos-exit-from-canada Feb 21, 2024 22:45:32 GMT -5