The Simpsons 5th Thread Spectacular!

[Reply #280 on:]

I agree that guest stars aren't the greatest part of the show....with, however, the stipulation that it's really no worse now then it was in older seasons.  Seasons 16 I think had about the same or less guest stars then season five.  There was an increase around seasons 11 and 12, but that trend has been dead for some time.

Anyway, if anyone cares, my full review:

Very iffy, had to watch it again to nail down how I felt.

Plot was, to be frank, pretty bad. As Homer himself says in the episode, "we've been down this road before", and much much better, even in recent years. Aside from feeling repetitious and recycled, it had a lot of pretty lame elements, like the whole thing with "rubes" attacking Homer toward the end, and some cringeworthy dialogue ("you're the real endangered species", etc). Plus, once again I had problems with the way Marge was characterized. So many of these episodes basically side with Marge, having Homer do something terrible to make her angry (before ultimately redeeming himself), and while this isn't an inherit problem outside of all the repetition, Marge has to be likeable for it to work. Why should we side with her after she abandons her kids completely (let alone Homer also), smashes the car, etc., especcially when Homer himself meant no harm? Her anger was justifiable, but some of her behavior wasn't, and didn't seem in character to me. Homer himself came off as much more likable then Marge in some ways too, which is alarming.

As for the humor....I gues it was alright, but kind of a mixed bag. Biggest problem is that there just weren't many laughs, mostly just chuckles and smiles, with some really awful moments here and there (including some things that just kind of left me thinking "that's barely even a joke" ). But aside from the few really bad moments it was actually consistent enough, particularly in the first half or so of the episode. Closer to the end it seemed to bail a lot more, with more of the duds coming, and some gags feeling blatantly recycled (anyone else catch the "we don't have an outhouse" gag from "Who Shot Mr. Burns"? And of course Thorne talking to the manatee at the end, which seemed recycled from the ending with the loch ness monster, among others).

So, I dunno....basically consistent though not great humor, coupled with a lousy plot. I'm thinking a C/C+ at the moment, with the prediction that it will probably play worse on repeat viewings. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season, and fully expect most episodes to be better then this, but not a great start.

[Reply #281 on:]

C+

A high mark for the Simpsons recently... I liked the manatees. When I was younger, they used to be one of my favourite animals.

[Reply #282 on:]

I still think the show should have been canned a while ago.

[Reply #283 on:]

I did to, but they had fixed most of the problems that had been bugging me from season 15 in season 16, so now I'm kind of on the fence again. I thought 14 and 15 were in many ways one step forward (With regards to emotional plots) and two back(With regards to humour and originality) from season 13. I missed the premiere for this season, but they seem to have fixed these problems in season 16. Sure, the humour isn't the classic Simpsons style we're accustomed to, but it's still pretty damn funny.

[Reply #284 on:]

Well, I liked tonight's episode. Of course, I'll probably need to see it again and pay more attention to the geeky things before I give a good review.

[Reply #285 on:]

I loved tonight's show.  It had a lot of fun gags,a  great dream sequence, and even had Susie Dietter as the retake director.  I noticed an "in memory of James O'Brien" at the end of the credits.  Who was he?  I'm sure I've seen his name before in the credits.

[Reply #286 on:]

There was a new Simpsons episode?

[Reply #287 on:]

Really enjoyable I thought. May have to give it an extra viewing, but it was really solid and funny, and the best Lisa episode in some time, probably since "Little Girl in the Big Ten". The story was well handled and paced despite everything going on (I was concerned about how much time the stamp-museum/graveyard being built thing would take, but it went by quickly while also making sense). Good simple and relateable Lisa story, with lot's of great lines. "When mommies and daddies have been married for a long time and have run out of anything else to talk about, they badmouth their closest friends!", "I started when Playboy wouldn't publish my cartoons because they were too dirty!", the Dr. Nick scene, etc.

I also noticed notably good animation and direction....not just in the dream sequence either, through the whole show. Really excellent acting and staging, use of angles, etc. I don't quite remember the director's name, but I think it was a new guy. Hopefully they keep him around for a long time.

Anyway, final grade possibly pending, but for now probably a B+.

[Reply #288 on:]

Last nights show wasn't great but it gave me hope that this season could be better than the last few. I liked how the animation looked but I didn't care for the "SouthPark" style swearing.

I don't know if there is a topic for King of the Hill but since it is also a sunday night show I will give my opinion here [just like American Dad is talked about in the Family Guy thread],
I felt as if K.o.t.H. is still going strong, I actually enjoyed it more than The Simpsons last night and I am glad that they showed that the guys are getting sick of Hank and are finally doing something about it.

[Reply #289 on:]

I watch one of my fave classic episodes last night that made me laugh. It the one where Homer has hair and has a gay assistant called Karl {he also my fave character) what was the episode called and which season is it from?

Also I watched On A Clear Day I Can't See My Sister and there one scene that got me laughing hysterically where this was in the video telling about the restraining order and he was laughing hysterically. I fell down to the floor laughing when I saw that. Was he a special guest or just a character?

[Reply #290 on:]

1. Season 2. The episode was titled Simpson And Delilah.

2. Guest star, playing himself.

On a side note, the upcoming episode, Milhouse of Sand and Fog, has a storyline in which Homer invites children over his house to catch Chickenpox from Maggie while they're still young. South Park did it! South Park did it!

[Reply #291 on:]

Most if not all Simpsons episodes are ripped off from something else. If you have the episode guide [the book] it tells you were they got the idea from for each episode.

[Reply #292 on:]

Milhouse of Sand and Fog was pretty good.
Spoiler tags for all Pacific Coasters who haven't seen it yet or those who don't want to know the plot of the episode since they haven't seen it either...

Show spoiler

I remember Milhouse saying "Sweet Lizzie McGuire" in reaction to seeing
his parents making out, which I saw as a nod to the Professor. The whole plot of trying to break up his parents again by using television and movie plots was good, though the long cut to the The OC spoof was a bit too Family Guy-ish for me. I want to see the season now to see what happens to Milhouse's parents. I'd give this episode a B-.

[Reply #293 on:]

Please, please, please...no more episodes teasing Homer and Marge breaking up!! This is already the second episode this season dealing with the exact same premise. And somehow an episode concerning Milhouse turns into an episode about Homer and Marge's marriage.

[Reply #294 on:]

Tonights episode sucked ass. There was nothing funny, most of the joke were lame outs. That's mostly what The Simpsons do anymore and also Family Guy. Now I know why I never watch TV anymore.

[Reply #295 on:]

A weird episode to say the least, and one that probably would have been slightly better with a different third act. I really have no inherit problem with the Homer and Marge fights, but it's just getting so repetitious now. They once again split up and get back together abruptly? AND via another "Simpsons in danger" plot device? Aside from actually being funny in this case, almost the exact same ending could have been aired in the premiere two weeks ago and made about the same amount of sense.

Despite this, the whole episode (third act and Marge/Homer fight included) was thoroughly funny and entertaining. Just too many funny moments to mention, with a generally clever and funny plot (even the Homer/Marge thing was handled in a "light" way, which kept it from being a problem in the same way was, say, "Manatees", and the Bart and Milhouse involvement helped keep it funny and fresh). Once again good animation, along with some good callbacks (anyone else notice Sideshow Raheem in the black church?). So....yeah. Generally really funny and entertaining despite the cliche elements towards the end.

B+

[Reply #296 on:]

I think the whole episode was based around a wanna-be OC episode, All the breaking up and getting back together plus watching it in the show [just like on the OC they watch a show about themselves kinda]


I give it a, C [average and nothing special]

[Reply #297 on:]

 

Originally posted by evan:
Please, please, please...no more episodes teasing Homer and Marge breaking up!! This is already the second episode this season dealing with the exact same premise. And somehow an episode concerning Milhouse turns into an episode about Homer and Marge's marriage.

Really... the episode the following Sunday, the one with Homer riding a lawnmower with breezy short-shorts was very blase' to me.. I didn;t bother watching it...The scenes, in my opinion, skipped from one thing to the next too fast for my liking, just as Family Guy does.

[Reply #298 on:]

LOVED last nights ep. FINALY they made fun of the OC!!!! 

[Reply #299 on:]

I actually rather liked last night's episode. With Milhouse's parents' divorced for like 10 seasons now, it was nice to see them get back together. However, Milhouse's disliking this I found stupid, and act three left my unfullfilled as to what happened to Milhouse's parents. Am I to assume they broke up again, cause that sucks.

B+

[Reply #300 on:]

PLOT: B-
WRITING: A-
GENERAL JOKES: A
ACTING: A
FINAL GRADE: A-

[Reply #301 on:]

I was watching the simpsons last night and thought I saw a futurama reference.  It was the episode where abraham simpson inherits $100,000 from his friend Beatrice when she dies.  He decides to let everyone in springfield explain to him why they deserve the money. While the camera is panning the line of people waiting to talk to him I caught a glimpse of a woman with what looked like Leela's purple hairdo.  It might have been my imagination, and it went by quick.  Has anyone else seen this?

[Reply #302 on:]

I'm almost positive that that episode came out way before Futurama.  I'm no Simpsons expert, but it had Dr. Marvin Monroe in it, meaning it was in the first four seasons or so (as well as other things like the low image quality and the fact that it was good.)  I think it's a coincidence brought on by the minimalism of Groening's drawing style (i.e. there's only so many distinct hairdos he can draw) and the weirdness of his color palette.

[Reply #303 on:]

Yeah, that was a 1991 episode.  Like Nerd-O-Rama said the similarity probably just came out of the limitedness of Groening's style, like how the Space Mutants and the Horrible Gelatanous Blob look basically the same.  As of now only Fry, Bender, and I think Kif have appeared on The Simpsons.  No Leela appearances just yet.  But I'd be a little surprised if Fry, Bender, and Leela didn't all appear in the Simpsons movie.

For those interested Tv Shows on DVD has info and images of the alternate Season six box here:
 http://tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=4215

I got the box yesterday.  What TSODvd doesn't show is the spine with Wiggum and Burns on it (just like on the slipcover) and the back, which shows Burns lying on the sundial with all the episode titles above him.  The box is about the width of Season one, so not as wide as 2-5 were.  Despite being a little different it accomplishes the task of matching up with the other boxes well.

Also, Region 2 buyers may want to see if Fox establishes the alternate box thing there too....apparently they were going to make the heads limited edition versions with the "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" boxes as the default, but they seem to have abandoned that and are advertising the head as the default.

[Reply #304 on:]

Sorry for the double post.  Season seven dvd info here:
 http://tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=4233

Comes out December 13th.

[Reply #305 on:]

I'd just like to make a public servie announcement...
Anyone that is losing respect for The Simpsons because of the new episodes (which are still pretty good) need to go back and watch the older, classic episodes and remember how great the show can be.
I was losing my enthusiasm for the show and then started watching the weekday reruns again and they're just great.  That is all.

[Reply #306 on:]

 

Originally posted by DotheBartman:
Sorry for the double post.  Season seven dvd info here:
 http://tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=4233

Comes out December 13th.

Awesome, I think I'll get that one to complete the cliffhanger since I have S6.

Also, what's with the no new eps this week.

[Reply #307 on:]

 

Originally posted by GreyThinkyWhale:
 

Also, what's with the no new eps this week.

Bah!  Who knows... I was all excited for new Simpsons and Family Guy episodes... then it's reruns!       They were still pretty good episodes but it was disappointing.

edit: about the post below this:
So if they're stopping because of baseball, why didn't they take last Sunday as a chance to do one more episode before the break?   

[Reply #308 on:]

Simpsons at least is taking all of October (I think) off for baseball...I have no idea about FG though.  The next episode should be the new Treehouse of Horror....in early November.  Lousy baseball.

[Reply #309 on:]

You have the Halloween episodes a whole month late?  We get them in June.

[Reply #310 on:]

Well, to be fair, we usually get them when the season begins in February. We only got this one in June this year since the episode was postponed due to the fact that Channel 10 couldn't decide what to rate it, with the drug use. M rating my ass, The Simpsons has gotten away with far worse in other episodes, and the opium scene wasn't even that bad anyway.

[Reply #311 on:]

And another thing that I have noticed, Beamer. Is that channel ten doesn't air them in order and sometimes when there is supposed to be a new episode (and its not the end of the new season) channel ten puts on this old season episode. Getting really annoying   

[Reply #312 on:]

Actually, it IS the end of the new season. The Father, The Son and The Holy Guest Star aired last week, which is the last episode of Season 16. The new season won't be until next year.

[Reply #313 on:]

Uhh, what season is the episode where Marge goes to the insane asylum and Homer starts singing "I am a lineman for the county"?

[Reply #314 on:]

I don't recall that "lineman for the county" bit, but I think you're talking about It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Marge, since that's the only episode I can recall Marge going to an insane asylum (if it is, that might be why I don't recall that part, I don't watch that episode when it's on because it's shit). If so, that episode's right near the end of *shudder* Season 11.

[Reply #315 on:]

Damnit, freaking time difference thingys. Anyway thanks Beamer

[Reply #316 on:]

Ah, thanks Beamer. 

[Reply #317 on:]

I saw Bonfire of the Manatees a few days ago. Meh, nothing special - the storyline was old and tiring, lacked any particularly funny moments, and was definitely not a good choice for a season premiere. Just an average episode.

C-

[Reply #318 on:]

 

Originally posted by DotheBartman:
So anyway, I hear "A Streetcar Named Marge" recently screened uncut in the UK.....um, what were they thinking?

My local FOX station showed that one yesterday.  In your face, political correctness.

[Reply #319 on:]

To me, it seemed, cliched. Not my choice of a premiere either...