The family that doesn't know the meaning of the word "cancelled" - The Simpsons!

[Reply #120 on:]

If it was, then we were misled by the producers.

Show spoiler

The character whose funeral was featured in the episode is called Chip Davis. I haven't watched too many modern era Simpsons episodes, but I'm pretty sure that this character has never been seen nor mentioned at all in the series.

This character does not fit the clues that we were given by the show's producers. So if this really was the death episode, then Mr. Jean stretched the truth quite a bit.

It's not. The "death" episode in question isn't slated to air until season 26.

[Reply #121 on:]

Does anyone actually care?

[Reply #122 on:]

Well, it might as well be the death episode.

Show spoiler

It was showed that Chip Davis was Duffman (1992-1996, 2008), who is voiced by Hank Azaria (has won an Emmy).

   The Couch Gag: part one of six

[Reply #123 on:]

Well, it might as well be the death episode.

Show spoiler

It was showed that Chip Davis was Duffman (1992-1996, 2008), who is voiced by Hank Azaria (has won an Emmy).

I think it was implied that the actor actually won the Emmy for the role of the character who's going to die.

Iffff itwasmeeeeeeeee I'dcallit bom-bom.  

[Reply #124 on:]

Furthermore, the episode was (relatively) great. It advanced nicely and was funny. Conclusion with everyone finding they don't actually regret what they have done/haven't done worked well with plots intersecting with each other.

However, I don't even know what was the purpose of mentioning "Apple" and noting that itself (at least that comment was unnecessary). That was a drawback.

[Reply #125 on:]

Terrible episode. Stop kidding yourselves.

[Reply #126 on:]

I thought it was Okay. Not as good as people here are making it out to be. It really wasn't all that funny. A few chuckles, but that's really it. I did like the writing, it was actually pretty good for once. But it was still bland, and forgettable.

[Reply #127 on:]

What was terrible about it? Believe me, the last thing I want to spend my time on is defending The Simpsons, because it has been an objectively bad show for decades and I really have zero emotional investment in it. I am actively rooting for the show to end.

But...this episode was legitimately good, IMO. What was wrong with the story? Gags are subjective, I know, but there was nothing that stood out to me as being particularly bad...and a lot of the jokes were pretty clever. I am honestly curious what was so bad about it.

[Reply #128 on:]

I wouldn't label it as Terrible, either though.

Like I previously posted, it was Okay. Better than usual,

[Reply #129 on:]

Terrible episode. Stop kidding yourselves.

WAAH! WAAH! DIFFERENT OPINIONS! WAAH! WAAH!

[Reply #130 on:]

Well, my opinion is that it was forgettable, like most new Simpsons.
But yes, this episode didn't do anything bad

It seems to me that they just fill episodes with a lot of backstories, that by now surely must conflict with eachother, and frankly some of them (like the origin of the tire fire and Herman's lost arm) take the fun out of the original mystery.

[Reply #131 on:]

One of the better episodes of the last few Seasons, but still pretty meh. Marges plot went nowhere and felt extremely dated, Burns plot was stale, Kent's plot could've been good, but again, went nowhere, and the rest was just decent. There was more jokes in it than the show usually has which was a big plus (blue balls are the future, Agnes regret, Burns drawings), but also a lot of the same boring jokes and modern references as before (Fox and CNN suck, Apple products are taking over, hahaha).

Overall, just another gimmicky episode that was just slightly better than the average modern Simpsons crap as before. 6/10.

Enjoyed the chalkboard gag at least, made me sad.

[Reply #132 on:]

Holy Pancakes, I missed that Chalkboard gag! They actually reanimated it like that in under a week.

I like it. Wish these episodes could hold up as much promise as these chalkboard gags/couch gags do.

I actually have a feeling Season 26 is going to be the last. I remember some source saying something about only having enough money for one more season after 25. I'm probably wrong though, and it may have been about the Season 23 "last season crisis". It actually would have left off good at Season 23, considering how "Holidays of Future Passed" was supposed to serve as a possible series finale. It would have left off near-perfectly there, in my opinion. To me the episode felt like closure, and would have worked great as closure.

But, if my bad luck continues to get the best of me, they'll probably make it up to Season 30. 

[Reply #133 on:]

It wasn't awful by any means, just mediocre (which, I guess is good by current Simpsons standards). There were actually quite a few moments where I laughed out loud - certainly more than I generally expect from the show these days, anyway - and none of the storylines were actively terrible... I at least liked how Kent/Marge/Homer stories tied together in the end, though the Burns plot just seemed kind of pointless.

Also, what was with the show calling Apple by its actual name here after multiple episodes establishing Mapple as part of the Simpsons universe?

[Reply #134 on:]

Yeah, continuity is an issue that's been with these new eps for quite a while now.

Does anybody else have an episode that they personally designated to serve as a Finale for the show, like in your mental brains? You know, because deep inside we all know this isn't The Simpsons.....

Mine right now is "Holidays of Future Passed". Had a ton of callbacks (GOOD callbacks), good humor, good moments, I loved the episode overall, because it truly felt like a Finale. Also, I pretend the episode was made at the end of Season 10.

Before that episode, it used to be Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious, which I'd pretend would be at the end of Season 10 as well. Again, it had nice callbacks, was funny, and could have worked good as a finale.

Anyone else?

[Reply #135 on:]

"Natural Born Kissers," perhaps? Not only was it the last episode of what arguably should have been the final season of The Simpsons, but it also seems like it could've worked as a finale (from my perspective, anyway).

[Reply #136 on:]

"Natural Born Kissers," perhaps? Not only was it the last episode of what arguably should have been the final season of The Simpsons, but it also seems like it could've worked as a finale (from my perspective, anyway).

I disagree. I think The Simpsons should have ended on Simpsons Tall Tales. I always felt Season 12 was the obvious spot to end the series on, but maybe that's just me.

[Reply #137 on:]

Season 15 was good enough to warrant the existence of seasons 10-14. If it had been rearranged so that The Way We Weren't was the last episode, that would've been a fantastic note to end on.

[Reply #138 on:]

Seasons 11-25 were ugh. I would have liked it if the series went out on a high, good note, with no unreasonably bad Seasons whatsoever. Hence why Season 10 would have been perfect. I actually never watched the 15th, 17th, 18th, or 19th Seasons. I wouldn't really want to bother either, unless somebody could prove to me it's worth the watch.

[Reply #139 on:]

15 is easily the best post-classic season. I agree that 9 should've been the last, though I don't think Natural Born Kissers would make the best finale. I love the episode, it just doesn't have that "final episode" feel to it.

[Reply #140 on:]

I haven't watched that one in ages, and I'd agree with Beamer.

I pretty much used to choose "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious" because of the great musical score at the end, and how the episode kind of relates to the first production episode (the one with the babysitter bandit). It pretty much had nice callbacks, was really funny, and would have worked good as a finale.

I now choose "Holidays of Future Passed" because it relates to the first episode aired, and has classic moments, both comedy-wise and character developing-wise. It would have worked great as a finale, in my opinion. Too bad it wasn't. Hopefully the next one they make is better, which I see could be unlikely.

[Reply #141 on:]

15 is easily the best post-classic season. I agree that 9 should've been the last

Not agreed. In my opinion 11-12 are distinctly better than 13-15, with 10 being on a different level entirely. I'd say 10 is as good if not better than 9 in my view. If I had to rank 9-15 it'd probably be something like 10-9-12-11-15-13-14.

That said, I do agree that The Way We Weren't would have made a decent finale. After rewatching the seasons recently, I completely stand by my statement that season 15 was the last enjoyable season. And although The Way We Weren't wasn't an amazing episode, its flashback nature would have made it an appropriate finale.

[Reply #142 on:]

I still consider 9 part of the classic era, but after that I'd go:

15-10-14-13-12-11

Season 10 had enough good moments to keep it in the "decent" range for me, and while 14 and 13 are incredibly mediocre for the most part, 12 and 11 have some episodes that I actively loathe (Tennis the Menace and Saddlesore Galactica spring to mind here) and so I rate them lower accordingly.

Season 15 is the only Al Jean-produced season that came close to the feel of the classic era, and actually has some genuinely good episodes: The President Wore Pearls, I, (Annoyed Grunt)-Bot, Diatribe of a Mad Housewife, Smart and Smarter, The Wandering Juvie, Catch 'Em if You Can, Simple Simpson, The Way We Weren't and Fraudcast News.

[Reply #143 on:]

See, for me it's seasons 13-14 that have the episodes I really dislike (Jaws Wired Shut, The Frying Game, Strong Arms Of The Ma, Barting Over) and not enough episodes that I consider great. I dislike certain episodes in 11-12 too (Behind The Laughter, Simpson Safari) but there are enough other episodes in those seasons that I consider some of my favorites to override them. Season 15 finds its way in the middle because there aren't as many episodes I dislike as in 13-14 but also not as many that I really enjoy as in 11-12.

Also, I know many will crucify me for this, but I actually don't really mind Saddlesore Galactica. I understand where the hate comes from, the whole jockeys-are-elves things is easily one of the most insane things they'd done in the show in a canon episode at that point, but honestly it's so goofily over-the-top that I can't help but find it amusing. It's got enough jokes in it that actually make me laugh that I just don't consider it that bad. For example, Comic Book Guy's attempts to criticize the family for ignoring continuity, and "Don't worry Bart, I'll take care of those murderous trolls." "What?" "I mean...I'll take care of those murderous trolls."

[Reply #144 on:]

The Comic Book Guy stuff in Saddlesore Galactica really irritated me. The writers straight-up acknowledged that they were aware of the episode's flaws and didn't do anything in the process to rectify them.

I LOVE Behind the Laughter, though. It's quite possibly my favourite episode from the Scully era. The parody of behind-the-scenes specials was absolutely dead-on, and I especially loved the over-narration (namely the nonsensical metaphors, coupled with the complete overkill of literal images to accompany them). I honestly think it's one of the funniest Simpsons episodes ever made, and can't understand why it irks so many fans since it's CLEARLY non-canon.

[Reply #145 on:]

I still consider 9 part of the classic era, but after that I'd go:

15-10-14-13-12-11

Season 10 had enough good moments to keep it in the "decent" range for me, and while 14 and 13 are incredibly mediocre for the most part, 12 and 11 have some episodes that I actively loathe (Tennis the Menace and Saddlesore Galactica spring to mind here) and so I rate them lower accordingly.

Season 15 is the only Al Jean-produced season that came close to the feel of the classic era, and actually has some genuinely good episodes: The President Wore Pearls, I, (Annoyed Grunt)-Bot, Diatribe of a Mad Housewife, Smart and Smarter, The Wandering Juvie, Catch 'Em if You Can, Simple Simpson, The Way We Weren't and Fraudcast News.

No way. Season 10 is leagues ahead of Season 15. It's not even close. The trouble I have mostly with Seasons 13 and beyond is that they try so hard to imitate earlier storylines and make them better, but they mostly fall flat on their face with a lack of decent gags to make up for it. Season 11 and 12 may have had some weak episodes, but gag wise they were pretty solid throughout. I have to admit though, I, (Annoyed-Grunt)Bot and Simple Simpson in Season 15 were surprisingly decent episodes. The rest are not even close though, as it has some godawful episodes like Bart Mangled Banner, My Big Fat Geek Wedding, The Regina Monologues and Marge vs. Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples, and Teens, and Gays.

[Reply #146 on:]

Comic Book Guy's attempts to criticize the family for ignoring continuity, and "Don't worry Bart, I'll take care of those murderous trolls." "What?" "I mean...I'll take care of those murderous trolls."

Those were both good jokes, I liked the Comic Book Guy's comment. However, even when taking jockey thing aside, the episode wasn't very interesting. The whole horse getting new image thing was stupid and typical overwhelming in a race after problems -plot wasn't anything clever. Not to mention repetitive plot of Simpsons with a horse.

I LOVE Behind the Laughter, though. It's quite possibly my favourite episode from the Scully era.
[...]
I honestly think it's one of the funniest Simpsons episodes ever made, and can't understand why it irks so many fans since it's CLEARLY non-canon.

It's probably the funniest, yeah, I really like it. Someone might think it's unnecessary or too out of place, even as a non-canon, but it's simply so well done and funny. (I do like the approach of Simpsons as real-life actors.)

[Reply #147 on:]

Season 10 is leagues ahead of Season 15. It's not even close. The trouble I have mostly with Seasons 13 and beyond is that they try so hard to imitate earlier storylines and make them better, but they mostly fall flat on their face with a lack of decent gags to make up for it. Season 11 and 12 may have had some weak episodes, but gag wise they were pretty solid throughout. I have to admit though, I, (Annoyed-Grunt)Bot and Simple Simpson in Season 15 were surprisingly decent episodes. The rest are not even close though, as it has some godawful episodes like Bart Mangled Banner, My Big Fat Geek Wedding, The Regina Monologues and Marge vs. Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples, and Teens, and Gays.

I agree that most of those episodes are lousy, except for The Regina Monologues, which is insanely retarded but super funny (it's Bart's moon party from outer space!). Not to mention the first five seconds might have made me laugh harder than any other episode opening, with Mr. Burns walking up to a peanut cart and saying "Look Smithers, crackleberries!" Which, for some reason, had me losing my shit for the rest of the entire first act last time I watched it.

But season 10 is when the show starts to lose its wit. I dunno, it just stopped being remotely clever around that time. Not to mention every second damn episode that season having a "Homer gets a job" plot. It's a lot better in overall quality than 11-14 for sure, though nothing really stands out as being particularly incredible for me. Though granted, I have re-watched season 15 quite recently, whereas it's been years for some season 10 episodes, so I might be speaking with a little unintentional bias here.

[Reply #148 on:]

The President Wore Pearls, I, (Annoyed Grunt)-Bot, Diatribe of a Mad Housewife, Smart and Smarter, The Wandering Juvie, Catch 'Em if You Can, Simple Simpson, The Way We Weren't and Fraudcast News.

I think Fat Man and Little Boy, The Seven-Beer Snitch, Future-Drama, The Heartbroke Kid and Home Away From Homer are better than those episodes, though.

[Reply #149 on:]

I think Fat Man and Little Boy, The Seven-Beer Snitch, Future-Drama, The Heartbroke Kid and Home Away From Homer are better than those episodes, though.

Yeah, I think Future-Drama is my favourite episode in between Season 13 and 16. Weird how the Future episodes are always decent for some reason.

Which season has these episodes I liked in Modern Simpsons? Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife, Milhouse of Sand and Fog and The Girl Who Slept Too Little.

[Reply #150 on:]

17, often considered one of the very worst seasons for it's overly mean-spirited humour and bland, sitcommy plots.

[Reply #151 on:]

17, often considered one of the very worst seasons for it's overly mean-spirited humour and bland, sitcommy plots.

"Sentence fragment" is also a sentence fragment.

[Reply #152 on:]

Season 15 is the only Al Jean-produced season that came close to the feel of the classic era, and actually has some genuinely good episodes: The President Wore Pearls, I, (Annoyed Grunt)-Bot, Diatribe of a Mad Housewife, Smart and Smarter, The Wandering Juvie, Catch 'Em if You Can, Simple Simpson, The Way We Weren't and Fraudcast News.

Not one of those episodes doesn't suck. Some suck a lot less than other modern Simpsons episodes, but that, alone, doesn't make them good. Season 15 sucks, just like every season from 13, onwards - though, watching some of the episodes, again, it's apparent that the show got even worse than it already was around the season 17/18 mark.

Yeah, I think Future-Drama is my favourite episode in between Season 13 and 16. Weird how the Future episodes are always decent for some reason.

That's probably my favourite of 13-16, too. I think it's partly down to the future-episodes being non-canon, which means that the stupid, whacky antics are far more forgivable. Also, the future-setting opens up the opportunity for loads of jokes they wouldn't normally be able to do, which means that the show stops feeling so tired and old, briefly.

[Reply #153 on:]

Weird how the Future episodes are always decent for some reason.

Four words: Bart to the Future.

The President Wore Pearls, I, (Annoyed Grunt)-Bot, Diatribe of a Mad Housewife, Smart and Smarter, The Wandering Juvie, Catch 'Em if You Can, Simple Simpson, The Way We Weren't and Fraudcast News.

I think Fat Man and Little Boy, The Seven-Beer Snitch, Future-Drama, The Heartbroke Kid and Home Away From Homer are better than those episodes, though.

I love Future-Drama and The Heartbroke Kid, though I was only speaking about season 15 in my post. If we're talking about the good episodes from 16, I would also add Midnight Rx, Don't Fear the Roofer and Thank Good it's Doomsday.

Season 15 is the only Al Jean-produced season that came close to the feel of the classic era, and actually has some genuinely good episodes: The President Wore Pearls, I, (Annoyed Grunt)-Bot, Diatribe of a Mad Housewife, Smart and Smarter, The Wandering Juvie, Catch 'Em if You Can, Simple Simpson, The Way We Weren't and Fraudcast News.

Not one of those episodes doesn't suck. Some suck a lot less than other modern Simpsons episodes, but that, alone, doesn't make them good. Season 15 sucks, just like every season from 13, onwards - though, watching some of the episodes, again, it's apparent that the show got even worse than it already was around the season 17/18 mark.

Well, obviously I disagree about those episodes sucking, though I definitely agree that 17/18 is where the show's quality went completely off the deep end and never really picked up again (aside from the rare good episode here and there).

[Reply #154 on:]

Season 15 is the only Al Jean-produced season that came close to the feel of the classic era, and actually has some genuinely good episodes: The President Wore Pearls, I, (Annoyed Grunt)-Bot, Diatribe of a Mad Housewife, Smart and Smarter, The Wandering Juvie, Catch 'Em if You Can, Simple Simpson, The Way We Weren't and Fraudcast News.

Not one of those episodes doesn't suck. Some suck a lot less than other modern Simpsons episodes, but that, alone, doesn't make them good. Season 15 sucks, just like every season from 13, onwards - though, watching some of the episodes, again, it's apparent that the show got even worse than it already was around the season 17/18 mark.

So, they were the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked?

[Reply #155 on:]

Does anybody else have an episode that they personally designated to serve as a Finale for the show, like in your mental brains? You know, because deep inside we all know this isn't The Simpsons.....

Does the movie count? Because I've always thought that the first fifteen seasons, capped off with the movie, would make for a really satisfying series with very few lows and oh-so-many highs. The sins of the Scully era (Homer-centricism, over-reliance on slapstick stuff to the occasional detriment of genuine emotion*) are easy for me to forgive because I believe the majority of his episodes are still uproariously funny, and the problems with the early Jean years can also be overlooked because I feel like he helped the show regain its emotional center. And the movie, though flawed, is still very good and ends on a feel-good note befitting a series finale.

*I want to clarify this statement: The Scully years lacked a lot of those tear-jerking emotional moments that the classic era had in spades; however, it contained plenty of genuine, true-to-life character interactions that were very sweet (see, for example, Lisa and Marge in "Lisa the Skeptic," or Bart and Marge in "Bart the Mother," or Homer and Marge in "Natural Born Kissers," or Homer and Lisa in "Guess Who's Coming to Criticize Dinner?"). I can't deny that Scully's seasons went for humor over emotion, but I don't believe anyone was ever really written in a grossly out-of-character way, or that the characters' interactions with one another lacked realism. Probably I'm alone in that opinion, but no matter.

[Reply #156 on:]

Seasons 11-12 was far more lacking in good character moments than 9-10. The only episode from 11-12 I can think of where Homer wasn't being a complete cunt was Hungry, Hungry Homer, which I thought was a fantastic episode.

And yeah, I agree with ending on 15 and then doing the movie. I absolutely loved the movie and think it would've been a really, really high note to go out on.

[Reply #157 on:]

I totally didn't take the movie into account, but I agree with that sentiment. Season 15 and then the movie would have been a perfect way to end the show while keeping its legacy.

It's unanimous. Nobody say anything else!

[Reply #158 on:]

Anything else.

[Reply #159 on:]

Does anybody else have an episode that they personally designated to serve as a Finale for the show, like in your mental brains? You know, because deep inside we all know this isn't The Simpsons.....

Does the movie count? Because I've always thought that the first fifteen seasons, capped off with the movie, would make for a really satisfying series with very few lows and oh-so-many highs. The sins of the Scully era (Homer-centricism, over-reliance on slapstick stuff to the occasional detriment of genuine emotion*) are easy for me to forgive because I believe the majority of his episodes are still uproariously funny, and the problems with the early Jean years can also be overlooked because I feel like he helped the show regain its emotional center. And the movie, though flawed, is still very good and ends on a feel-good note befitting a series finale.

*I want to clarify this statement: The Scully years lacked a lot of those tear-jerking emotional moments that the classic era had in spades; however, it contained plenty of genuine, true-to-life character interactions that were very sweet (see, for example, Lisa and Marge in "Lisa the Skeptic," or Bart and Marge in "Bart the Mother," or Homer and Marge in "Natural Born Kissers," or Homer and Lisa in "Guess Who's Coming to Criticize Dinner?"). I can't deny that Scully's seasons went for humor over emotion, but I don't believe anyone was ever really written in a grossly out-of-character way, or that the characters' interactions with one another lacked realism. Probably I'm alone in that opinion, but no matter.

Yes, it could be the movie if you want it to be. I was kind of meaning more of an "Season stops at _____, last episode should have been _____." kind of thing. But, the movie could be squeezed in there to work too.

And hey, I really respect your list, Gorky. But I just don't exactly like Seasons 11ish-present. Let me explain why.

I don't particularly like how so many guest stars popped up during these seasons (the most obvious flaw of all), and also how the comedy and overall quality suffered. When I say the quality is suffering, I mean the plots and story arcs are beginning to get bad. They never got horrendous, at least not until Season 16 to my knowledge. But what bugged me, is how there was very few character developing, the episodes would sometimes feel dragged on/rushed, barely any emotional moments, and most importantly, it just wasn't that funny anymore. I mean I still get a laugh here and there on some episodes, but I hate when a show that usually makes you laugh gives you a failed attempt at being funny. It happened ALOT during these seasons. Of course, I'm not saying ALL the episodes from these seasons are bad, either. Actually, Season 11 was okay, and Seasons 12-16 (I don't think I watched every episode from season 12) were all mehh. Some of the modern episodes (Which still counts as Seasons 11-25) can actually be really funny, or very well-written. But then, it still feels like I'm watching a completely different show. It just, feels like it'd been better off if it was left off at Season 10. Just the way I would have left it, I guess.

Oh, and please don't get me started on how bad the bad episodes are. (Especially ones from Season 20. *Shivers*)

The movie was pretty good. I liked it, and might even consider that to be a finale as well. But I still stand by my list episode-wise.

Nobody say anything else!

Too bad.