Unloved by Al its The Simpsons season 15 "And Review Threads Make Three"

[Reply #480 on:]

So many episodes that I haven't seen. I have not been bothering to watch any new Simpsons episodes on Sky One for quite some time now, as the last few ones I had seen were poor, boring and not really that funny. However maybe I should start watching them again. Is the latest season any good?

I love the fact that they got the guy jumping off the bridge shouting "Why did they cancel Futurama?!"!

edit TOTPD   

[Reply #481 on:]

This should give you an idea of how good it was....

Treehouse of Horror XIV: C+
My Mother the Carjacker: A+
The President Wore Pearls: A-
The Regina Monologues: C-
The Fat and the Furriest: C
Today, I Am a Clown: B-
'Tis the Fifeenth Season: A
Marge vs. Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens and Gays: D-
I, D'oh-bot: A
Diatribe of a Mad Housewife: B+
Margical History Tour: D
Milhouse Doesn't Live here Anymore: B-
Smart and Smarter: A-
The Ziff That Came To Dinner: B-
Co-Dependents Day: C
The Wandering Juvie: B+
My Big Fat Geek Wedding: B-
Catch 'Em If You Can: B
Simple Simpson: A
The Way We Weren't: A+
Bart-Mangled Banner: D-
Fraudcast News: A

Top Five:
1. "My Mother the Carjacker"
2. "The Way We Weren't"
3. "Simple Simpson"
4. "Fraudcast News"
5. "I, D'oh-Bot"


Bottom Five:
1. "Bart-Mangled Banner"
2. "Marge vs. Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens and Gays"
3. "Margical History Tour"
4. "The Regina Monologues"
5. "Co-Dependants Day"


Despite a few clunkers, it's the best season since the golden age.

Overall: B+/A-

[Reply #482 on:]

Yes but you are reviewing on a curve and even on that a curve you review some of them too highly.
but yes best since golden age from whats aired in the U.K.


So DTB any more word on that rumoured
'Homer's Prostitue' episode.

[Reply #483 on:]

Excellent, thanks Leelaholic. I'll try and watch the best of the buch from that series if you say its the best since the golden age.

[Reply #484 on:]

 

Originally posted by User_names_suck:
So DTB any more word on that rumoured
'Homer's Prostitue' episode.

 

I have a feeling we'll be seeing some "preview" dialogue soon. 

[Reply #485 on:]

No problem, dimension_8.

Anyway, back to season 16 talk. According to NHC member Vox Nerduli, there's going to be a Super Bowl themed episode after the Super Bowl following the premiere of American Dad. Let's just hope it's more "Lisa the Greek" and less "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday".

[Reply #486 on:]

Not entirely sure if that was confirmed yet, but I know that Vox and another member (I think it was PsycheEnFuego) posted on it.

Anyway, my ratings for each Jean-era episode (yes, some were produced by Scully, but I'm grading the seasons as a whole, including his episodes (they'll be in italics))

Season 13
Treehouse of Horror XII:C+
The Parent Rap:B
Homer the Moe:C-
A Hunka Hunka Burns In Love:B+
The Blunder Years:D-
She of Little Faith:A
Brawl in the Family:C+
Sweets And Sour Marge:B
Jaws Wired Shut:A
Half Decent Proposal:A+
The Bart Wants What it Wants:B-
The Lastest Gun in the West:F
The Old Man And the Key:B
Tales From the Public Domain:A
Blame it On Lisa:A
Weekend At Burnsies:A
Gump Roast:C+
I Am Furious Yellow:A
The Sweetest Apu:C-
Little Girl in the Big Ten:A+
The Frying Game:B-
Poppa's Got a Brand New Badge:A+

Season 14
Treehouse of Horror XIII:B
How I Spent My Strummer Vacation:B
Bart Vs. Lisa Vs. Third Grade:B+
Large Marge:B-
Helter Shelter:C+
The Great Louse Detective:A-
Special Edna:A
The Dad Who Knew Too Little:A+
The Strong Arms of Ma:C+
Pray Anything:B-
Barting Over:A
I'm Spelling As Fast As I Can:A
A Star Is Born-Again:A
Mr. Spritz Goes To Washington:C-
C.E.D'oh:B+
'Scuse Me While I Miss The Sky:A-
Three Gays of the Condo:A+
Dude, Where's My Ranch?:C
Old Yeller Belly:B-
Brake My Wife, Please:B-
The Bart Of War:B-
Moe Baby Blues:A+

Season 15
Treehouse of Horror XIV:C+
The President Wore Pearls:A
My Mother the Carjacker:A+
The Regina Monologues:A-
The Fat and the Furriest:B+
Today, I Am A Klown:A
'Tis the Fifteenth Season:A+
Marge Vs. Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples, and Teens and Gays:C+
I D'oh-Bot:A+
Diatribe of a Mad Housewife:A
Margical History Tour:B-
Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore:A-
Smart and Smarter:A-
The Ziff Who Came To Dinner:B
Co-Dependence Day:A-
The Wandering Juvie:A-
My Big Fat Geek Wedding:B+
The Way We Weren't:A+
Catch 'Em if You Can:A
Simple Simpson:A-
Bart Mangled Banner:D-
Fraudcast News:A-

Season 15 is the best of those three, with 13 close behind. Season 14 is the least memorable of the three. And, yeah, season 15 is the best since season 8. Hopefully season 16 will be better.

[Reply #487 on:]

Something Awful did another article about The Simpsons. Clicky.

[Reply #488 on:]

It was a decent season...

[Reply #489 on:]

Just one comment: "Trash of the Titans" was a "classic"?

[Reply #490 on:]

Yeah, "Titans" has always been a bit of a guilty pleasure for me (and the song is great), but its too flawed to be a true classic.

Anyways, amusing enough but I think its fair to say none of those episodes will ever happen.  It would be funny if some of them ended up being actual episode rumors though.

[Reply #491 on:]

"Trash of the Titans" is okay as a season 9 episode (dig the song), but it shouldn't be regarded as a "classic", in my opinion.

Agreed; amusing ideas. I'm surprised that Scully never actually tried anything of the like. But hey, maybe I'm wrong (they're to good for him).

[Reply #492 on:]

Did they really do an episode called "Helter Shelter"? Goddamn, that was a building title joke waaay back in the day. They're just reusing crap that wasn't funny the first time!

[Reply #493 on:]

 

Originally posted by Shaucker:
Did they really do an episode called "Helter Shelter"? Goddamn, that was a building title joke waaay back in the day. They're just reusing crap that wasn't funny the first time!

Its actually possible they came up with the same joke twice (they even say on the commentary that they occasionally come up with a joke they had already done, and then have to scrap it when someone remembers they already did it).  And even if they reused it I don't think its a big deal.  It fits the episode's theme, and I'm only bothered by reusing of gags if they're in the actual episodes, instead of just the title. 

[Reply #494 on:]

Yeah, exactly. If an episode has a joke that was done in season 2 or 3 in it, then I get annoyed. But, if an episode is just similar in title (i.e. "The Old Man and the Lisa", "The Old Man and the 'C' Student" ), then it really isn't that big a deal. And, if two episodes have the same underlying theme, then similar jokes will be used, but usually not the exact same jokes. There are also running jokes, which really aren't repetition of the same jokes, but more like repetition of the same themes.

[Reply #495 on:]

Just read that article on SomethingAwful. Dear Jebus, is that season gonna be awful...speaking of episodes with the same theme...

[Reply #496 on:]

Hah, that Something Awful article outlines the plots of the Simpsons since Season 8... I like the idea of 'My Brother's Groundskeeper' though... It would be a great way to end the series, as long as you cut out the dream bit.

[Reply #497 on:]

Yeah, but they end it with that horrible "Phoenix Saga" rip...

[Reply #498 on:]

Damn, that episode guide's almost eerily real...

They've certainly got some of the cliches of the past few season down pat. 

[Reply #499 on:]

A bit late and unfair to do a joke like that now.

anyway U.K viewers
'Millhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore' airs this coming sunday at 6:30pm.

[Reply #500 on:]

My reviews of Simpsons season 15:

"The President Wore Pearls"- Okay ep., nice songs, but Skinner was pretty OOC.

"Today, I am a Klown"- Good, but hadn't Krusty ended his show in the 12th season?

"Marge vs. Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens, and Gays"-some funny moments and some of the characters acted in character, but the ep. was just so mean-spirited and anti-children it made mad (esp. since I think the children characters in the Simpsons are adorable). I don't think even Bender would kill children like Roofi did.

"I, D'oh-bot"-I liked this ep., esp. Jessica Lovejoy making a comeback.

"Diatribe of a Mad Housewife"- A great ep.

"Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore"-Decent ep.

"The Ziff Who Came to Dinner"-Liked the 1st act at the movies and the JL characters cameo.

"theWandering Juvie"- Nice ep.

 My Big Fat Geek Wedding- Had some hysterical moments, but I eagerly anticpated this ep. because Enda and Spanky were finally gonnna, and Futurama would be reffed (Yay), and in the end, they didn't get married (WTF?) and the Futurama ref. was short and stupid (Why, oh why, didn't Leela and/or Amy appear in some form?)

Simple Simpson- okay ep.

The Way We Weren't- Very good ep., Cookie Kwan looked remarkably like AMy IMHO (mmm...Amy Wong) and Homer's fantasy was cool.

Bart-Mangled Banner- Liked Cookie Kwan, Janey and Chalmers appearing, but thois felt likea bad FG ep.

Fraudcast News- Loved "Why did they cancel Futurama?!?" and the I&S cartoon, butthis ep. reminded a little too much of the fatally flawed Rocky and Bullwinkle movie, with Burns buying up all the media ouitlets like Fearless Leader bought up all the cable networks.

[Reply #501 on:]

Um... there were more than 13 episodes this season...

[Reply #502 on:]

 

Originally posted by leelaholic:
Um... there were more than 13 episodes this season...

I know, I just didn't see all of the eps.

[Reply #503 on:]

"Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore"- aired in the U.K yesterday.
It was good enough.
The A story at least managed to avoid being too schmaltzy which was one of my main concerns, and it was suprisingly funny with plenty of good lines.
but yet again we have a Homer B- story that veered far too much on the side of a captain wacky adventure. it varied between being fairly funny and very annoying. Still it wasn't entirley reasonless as it did very slighty connect with the main story at one point.

This episode has convinced that I've been grading on a curve because of my expectations. This episode has changed some of them however. So I'm going to be a little tougher on my grades for the rest of the season.
for me this episode gets a 3.5/5

Treehouse of Horror XIV - 3
My Mother the Carjacker -  4
The President Wore Pearls - 4.5 
The Regina Monologues - 2.5
The Fat and the Furriest -  2
Today I am a Clown -  3.5
'Tis the Fifteenth Season - 3.5 
Marge vs. Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens, and Gays - 3
I, (Annoyed Grunt)-Bot - 4
Diatribe of a Mad Housewife - 3.5
Margical History Tour -2.5
"Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore"- 3.5

[Reply #504 on:]

Sorry for the double posting bump. but I've been rewatching a couple of Season 14 episodes and actually enjoyed them a lot more.

Special edna 4.5/5
Mr Spritz goes to washington 4/5
C.E.D'oh 4/5

and for the first time I saw Dude Where's my Ranch
while it has almost every typical complaint people level at new simpsons I enjoyed it and give it a 3/5

[Reply #505 on:]

Eh, gotta review something.

"Insane Clown Poppy"

IMO one of the better Scully episodes, but that certainly doesn't mean that it was flawless. One thing I'd like to point out is that the humor was far better than most of season 12 and we even saw a little bit of emotion. However, this episode was not used to its full potential. It should have just focused on Krusty and his daughter, and not gone off into Homer's crazy sceme, even if that did provoke an odd laugh or two. Characterisation was surprisingly strong considering what era this came from.

B-

[Reply #506 on:]

A Major bump to celebrate tommorows S4 release in the U.K and also to news that there should be many new episodes in the U.K in october. (also people keep starting simpsons threads when this is supposed to be the Miscellanious thread for all that discussion.)

[Reply #507 on:]

Heads up - Harry Shearer slams the Simpsons!

 

Cut and pasted from The Simpsons Channel
August 5 » Posted By Adam » Source: ContactMusic 
The actor behind Mr. Burns, and Ned Flanders has slammed The Simpsons, claiming the last three seasons of the show have been the "worst". Harry Shearer believes the 15-year-old show is beginning to run out of ideas and he is getting bored providing the speech for Flanders, Burns and his assistant Waylon Smithers, Reverend Lovejoy, and Principal Skinner. Shearer says, "I rate the last three seasons as among the worst. It makes me sad. They used to have whole scenes. Season four looks very good to me now. I'd rather not be there right now. Fortunately I'm doing a lot of other things." Shearer has also angrily denied reports the cast threatened to strike over a pay dispute earlier this year. "We were never on strike. The day those stories appeared, I was at FOX doing vocal services for that week's show. What I can say is that's possible to make a very nice living and still get totally screwed."

I'm sorry he feels that way. He's entitled to his opinion of course, but what effects might this have?

[Reply #508 on:]

1.  First off there's some speculation about whether this article is acurate (look around the source site....its a joke).  The general feeling is that it is probably accurate, but we're not %100 sure yet.

2...probably not much.  While its a shame, Shearer did recently renew his contract along with everyone else. He's contractually entitled to work on the show for the next three years (again, it should be noted that that's only if they happen to go for the next three years) as well as any movies. Obviously he's decided to stick with it, for whatever reason.

[Reply #509 on:]

I remember Harry Shearer's voice work being noticeably blander after the first voice actor strike.

His characters used to be so great, but once season 10 started up, Skinners and Hibbert's voices became very flat, and started to sound alike. I've long suspected him to be unhappy with the show, just by how lousy his performances have been.

Plus, wasn't he the one who publicly criticized The Principal And The Pauper? And that's why we love him. He tells it like it is.

[Reply #510 on:]

 

Originally posted by Fishy Joe
His characters used to be so great, but once season 10 started up, Skinners and Hibbert's voices became very flat, and started to sound alike. I've long suspected him to be unhappy with the show, just by how lousy his performances have been.

I think 'lousy' is being a bit harsh...I don't think his perfomances nowadays are quite as sharp as they used to be, but you could say that about the rest of the voice cast. I wouldn't say I'm dissatisfied with the voice work in recent seasons, though. As for the voices starting to sound alike, I guess age might be a part of that, he is 60 years old after all. A similar thing happened to Bugs Bunny etc. as Mel Blanc's voice started to wither.

[Reply #511 on:]

I'd say I'm disatisfied with the voice work in the later seasons, particularly Homer's.

Yes, voices change as series go along, but I feel that Homer's higher pitched whinging was a change for the worse.

[Reply #512 on:]

If true, and Harry Shearer; a major voice actor for the actual show himself thinks the last three seasons are the worst ever, then I'm glad I gave up...

Also, about voice changes... I hate how Homer's voice has gone, not just the higher pitched whinging, but that whole lower piched, and sometimes hard to make out deep voice, which he talks with most of the time now...

[Reply #513 on:]

Sorry Double post.

[Reply #514 on:]

I belive he actually said their among the worst.

But that doesn't mean he doesn't enjoy the show still. he just think its not as good like the rest of us.
and if really hates it that much why did he sign a new four year deal at huge compromise from what the oringal asking price was.
And Why would he "angrily" deny the cast were on strike.

[Reply #515 on:]

 

Originally posted by User_names_suck:
I belive he actually said their among the worst.

Almost the same thing. It just means there's already been not so good seasons in his opinion, on top of these three...

 

Originally posted by User_names_suck:
 ...and if really hates it that much why did he sign a new four year deal at huge compromise from what the oringal asking price was.

Everyone knows that you ask more than you think you'll get, so that you can compromise by meeting somewhere near the middle. And it's still shit loads of money...

 

Originally posted by User_names_suck:
 And Why would he "angrily" deny the cast were on strike.

Because according to him they weren't on strike, and he was recording voices the very day that story was published. Nobody likes to be falseley accused, hence the anger...

[Reply #516 on:]

 

Originally posted by Otis P Jivefunk
If true, and Harry Shearer; a major voice actor for the actual show himself thinks the last three seasons are the worst ever, then I'm glad I gave up...

Yeardley Smith said back in Season 4 that she thought the show was declining. And that season is regarded as being one of the best.

[Reply #517 on:]

Yup. CrazyDoc is right.

Also, she proclaimed "Marge vs. the Monorail" as the Worst Episode Ever.

[Reply #518 on:]

I remember that, but Harry Shearer hasn't just came out with this after one season he thought was bad, he waited until there were three in a row that he thought were bad...

The very fact, as pointed out by User_names_suck, that he thinks they were among the worst Seasons suggests that there have been previous seasons which he's thought of as among the worst. However he didn't say anything back then. Instead, unlike Yeardly Smith, he actually waited and gave the following seasons a chance, until there were three seasons in a row which he thought of as among the worst, and only then did he publicly say this...

[Reply #519 on:]

 

Originally posted by Otis P Jivefunk
I remember that, but Harry Shearer hasn't just came out with this after one season he thought was bad, he waited until there were three in a row that he thought were bad...

He didn't say he thought they were bad. He merely said they were 'among the worst'.