Cape Foure: The Simpsons Madness Goes On...

[Reply #320 on:]

Finally saw Treehouse of Horror XV. Wasn't as good as last year's one, but still better than others that have been on in past years.

Intro: Ummm... this sucked. Just because you're doing a parody of any crappy sit-com with deliberately bad jokes doesn't excuse the TOTAL lack of humour, and considering it dragged on for a minute... bad. Although I did like how the sit-com's theme ran over the ToH intro screen, simply because it didn't fit. Still, overall, not a good intro at all. D

The Ned Zone: One of the better ones of this episode, despite the fact that it basically went from a Flanders-centric story into a "Captain Wacky" segment. Still, despite Homer's completely overdone stupidity, it had some funny moments, and I enjoyed the bit at the end when Homer's corpse kept moving closer to the Destruct button. The final minute or so in heaven was just plain stupid, though - they should've finished this segment at the explosion. Still, not bad. B

Three Beheadings and a Funeral: I hated this segment. It was as boring as hell, the "twist" was pointless, and completely lacked any Halloween aspects at all. AMERICANS CAN NOT DO BRITISH ACCENTS. STOP TRYING! Nothing more to say about this segment, really. D

In the Belly of the Boss: Probably the best segment in the episode. Lacked any real structure, and was more sci-fi-ish than scary, but had lots of laughs, despite some bad jokes. Once again though, a bad ending. The idea of Homer not managing to escape Mr. Burns before re-expanding was great, but the way it was done just sucked. If it had ended differently, I probably would've given this an A. B+

Overall: Better than ToH XIII, but not as good as ToH XIV. Still, just scrapes in through the standards set by Season 15, and from what I've heard, I am looking forward to the rest of Season 16. Still, not a good start to the season, in my opinion. C

[Reply #321 on:]

 

Originally posted by Beamer:
 AMERICANS CAN NOT DO BRITISH ACCENTS.

Ironically that's sort of the joke....

Edit:  Didn't want to double post, at least not just for this.  In any case, Lauren MacMullen has confirmed that the "N.H.C. Champions" sign was a nod to the No Homers Club board.

[Reply #322 on:]

has anyone got the d'oh song? Homer says do'h about 50 times...or maybe 60...

[Reply #323 on:]

I'm not sure what you're referring to.  Do you remember where you heard it?

[Reply #324 on:]

So I finally caught the episode "Bart-Mangled Banner" tonight.  Boy did it come across as preachy, and this is from someone who agrees with the message of the episode. The whole "Simpsons get really unapologetically partisan" bit hurts, and I'm a liberal saying this.

I understand where all the hate for this episode is coming from. I think there were perhaps two laughs throughout the episode, and those were merely "ha" laughs. The episode was too similar in pacing to "Kill the Alligator and Run," in that it was a million different stupid plots all jammed into one episode and there was only 30 second for each.  I wish I had never seen this episode.

BMB had to compete with "A Taste of Freedom," so naturally it couldn't be that funny or outrageous. D

[Reply #325 on:]

A Taste Of Freedom....tastes like a McDonalds Hamburger. It also raises your blood pressure. It's a step back. And Nurdy hates 1 step back.

[Reply #326 on:]

If freedom tasted like a McDonald Hamburger, is there a chance that freedom comes with cockroaches?

[Reply #327 on:]

If you ask for a certain dressing, Yes. It does.

[Reply #328 on:]

Freedom's cheaper than a McDonald Hameburger, though. A Burger costs like 2 bucks, and freedom only costs a buck-o-five and comes with a large coke.

[Reply #329 on:]

Freedom's like seeing me naked... you only get it if you pay me...

[Reply #330 on:]

But thats where the similarities stop. After all, who'd want to see you naked?

[Reply #331 on:]

That's not what you said last Friday night...

[Reply #332 on:]

 

Originally posted by evan:
So I finally caught the episode "Bart-Mangled Banner" tonight.  Boy did it come across as preachy, and this is from someone who agrees with the message of the episode. The whole "Simpsons get really unapologetically partisan" bit hurts, and I'm a liberal saying this.

I understand where all the hate for this episode is coming from. I think there were perhaps two laughs throughout the episode, and those were merely "ha" laughs. The episode was too similar in pacing to "Kill the Alligator and Run," in that it was a million different stupid plots all jammed into one episode and there was only 30 second for each.  I wish I had never seen this episode.

I echo that sentiment. Unfortunately, Sky One has decided to use this episode (and virtually only this episode) as their current "Looky looky you can only get BrandNewSimpsons(TM) on this channel! OMG!!  Sometimes" advert, which means we get this constant barrage of "Donkey Basketball? Now I've heard everything!". Ugh.

[Reply #333 on:]

Yeah, I want to commit random acts of violence when I see that too. That line it self screams Series 11-14.

[Reply #334 on:]

Bu the way Nurdy unless I'm mistaken THOH XV airs next sunday on sky.

[Reply #335 on:]

 

Originally posted by M0le:
That's not what you said last Friday night...

You ever heard about the gay twin theory?

[Reply #336 on:]

User:
Thanks, I may watch it if I remember.

[Reply #337 on:]

 

Originally posted by newhook_1:
and freedom only costs a buck-o-five

"And if we don't all pitch in, someone's going to have to pay that bill"

Such a great movie.  That's totally off-topic though.

To post something on topic...."Fat Man and Little Boy" airs on Dec. 12th in the U.S.  The plot seems to be of fairly ambiguous nature though (the SNPP and Fox descriptions are both a little different).

[Reply #338 on:]

Simpsons promo card for whatever...


Also, just wondering, does the US get a new ep tonight?...

[Reply #339 on:]

Yeah. "She Used To Be My Girl" airs tonight.

That's a cool card, BTW. I'm looking forward to that episode.

[Reply #340 on:]

As far as I know that isn't from any episode, just a general promo image.  No Christmas episode this year as far as I know.

[Reply #341 on:]

THOH XV aired in the U.K ealier gets a B/B+ from me, maybe another day I'll edit in my NHC review.

[Reply #342 on:]

Yeah Treehouse of Horror XV it really good. I like the Ned one the most I thought it has an excellent story line but I didn’t like it where Homer was teasing him to shoot him.

I’m not keen on the Sherlock Holmes one and the end bit where they go inside My Burns freaked me out.

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[Reply #343 on:]

 

Originally posted by DotheBartman:
As far as I know that isn't from any episode, just a general promo image.  No Christmas episode this year as far as I know.

Wait. I thought there was going to be a three-part Christmas story... wasn't there? 

Well, "She Used To Be My Girl" just aired in America. A pretty good episode, but I'm WAY too tired/lazy to write a review right now. I'll do it in the morning.

[Reply #344 on:]

"She Used To Be My Girl" episode was pure reused crap from other older simpsons episodes. It was really bland too. I'm glad I don't watch the new episodes that much.

That's my review. I watched the whole thing too and I don't know why?

[Reply #345 on:]

To:  All Simpsons writers currently on staff:

There are many plot structures that have become cliche in the last few seasons.  Two examples that were found in tonight's episode, "She Used to Be My Girl" are:

• Marge temporarily thinks how much better her life would have been if she had not married Homer.
• A member of the family is put into a life-or-death situation in a poorly written spot that does not fit with the rest of the episode.

From what was once interesting and tensionful, now they are useless and cause much eye-rolling. Please, do not use these cliches any more.  Any episode that contains these cliches shall herefore be dubbed "bad" by this viewer.

Sincerely,
A long time fan - Evan

[Reply #346 on:]

Oh, well. you know the saying: You have to take the bland with the mediocre.

[Reply #347 on:]

 

Originally posted by leelaholic:
 

Originally posted by DotheBartman:
As far as I know that isn't from any episode, just a general promo image.  No Christmas episode this year as far as I know.

Wait. I thought there was going to be a three-part Christmas story... wasn't there?   

That's next season.

In any case, my NHC review as always:

Like "Sleeping with the Enemy" this provided consistant laughs and a solid story, even if not as well as "Sleeping" did.

Many fans will inevitably complain about several aspects of the plot, but I felt it was very well done. Marge's view was sympathetic, while Lisa was still portrayed sweetly and without her becoming an "antagonist" to Marge (a problem I still feel somewhat plagued "The Dad Who Knew Too Little" ). Even the "fight" scene was well-handled and made sense, even showing the consequences (like Lisa's reaction) to some degree. The main qualm I had, other then that Marge's rivalry with Chloe could have been built up slightly better, was with the "third act plot contrivance" (as Jimbo correctly predicted after all) in the volcano sequence. A more relatively down to earth situation where Marge could win Lisa over probably would have worked better. But with that said even that sequence was pretty well done and I don't feel it really detracted any.

I also, for one, found this to be a really entertaining episode based just on the gags. There was some good character humor again (even if, again, not as good as in "Sleeping" ) and in general a lot of really great moments. I cracked up at the Fox News/Bush Cheney van, Tom Brokaw's odd behavior, just about any good bits of said Marge character humor, etc. Even Sober Barney was funny!

Might want to watch this one again, but I thought it was really solid and entertaining. Let the backlash begin....but personally I think this is a great example of how to do a modern Simpsons episode.

B+

DYN:
-A piece of the "volcano" sequence as shown in that infamous promo actually came from the news van scene. As well, the "back pain" gag with Grandpa had been used in the THOH promos. Fox needs to get its advertising straight.
-Chloe appeared on the same ship (and with the same "Mission Accomplished" banner) where Bush Jr. infamously claimed that "major fighting is over in Iraq".

[Reply #348 on:]

 

Originally posted by homerjaysimpson:
"She Used To Be My Girl" episode was pure reused crap from other older simpsons episodes.

Sorry to double post, but what exactly was reused?

[Reply #349 on:]

I thought I addressed that in my post, but to restate -

1. Marge doubts her relationship with Homer is the right thing.
2. Marge feels she must impress a never-before-heard-of friend from high school. ("Scenes of Class Struggle in S-field." )
3. Homer is actively stupid when Marge is trying to be "respectable."
4. A family member is put in a poorly written life-or-death situation. ("Smart and Smarter" )
    4a.  Barney saves Lisa from a circle of fire via his helicopter. ("Days of Wine & D'ohses" )

And that's already off the top of my head.

-I think there was already an episode that had tv news anchors hanging around like "normal people," too.
-Can they ever keep track of if Barney's sober or not on a given day? It seems like he went from sober to drunk to sober in the span of three seasons.

[Reply #350 on:]

Alot of stuff mentioned by Evan didn't really bother me, I mean they bothered me a little, but what bothered me a lot was the similarties this episode had with "Mad, Mad, Mad, Marge". Not that the humor wasn't better here than in that episode, but it was almost the same god damned plot with an altered 3rd act. It did have some good jokes, but because of uber plot rehashing(which has been one of my biggest grips with season 14-15 and now seemingly 16) I'm only giving it a 2.5/5.

[Reply #351 on:]

Thanks, newhook, I forgot about that episode.  Add to my list:

"Marge thinks an outsider is going to steal her family."

There were some funny parts to this episode, like Homer and the UN Women's Guild (or whatever).  "I'll go get help while you stand in your place."  But the rest is, as newhook and hjs said, repetitive crap.

Probably 2/5.

[Reply #352 on:]

For the record I was mostly going after HJS because I'm getting sick of the word "reused" being used as a buzzword by people who don't want to give real complaints (and thus not be able to think of any and be forced to break their "new Simpsons suck, period" fascade.  Not accusing you of this though, for the record).  I'll still adress those points though.

   

Originally posted by evan:
1. Marge doubts her relationship with Homer is the right thing.

That's just a general theme on the show, and not really the theme in this one anyway.  This was more about Marge questioning her "career" choice (Homer or otherwise) as well as fighting for Lisa's admiration, so Homer didn't really come into play that much. 

   

2. Marge feels she must impress a never-before-heard-of friend from high school. ("Scenes of Class Struggle in S-field." )

Yeah, that makes sense.

   

3. Homer is actively stupid when Marge is trying to be "respectable."

Again just a general theme on the show, and not really a major one in this particular episode.

   

4. A family member is put in a poorly written life-or-death situation. ("Smart and Smarter" )

"Poorly written" aside, life or death situations are a staple of the show since season five, maybe four. 

   

   
4a.  Barney saves Lisa from a circle of fire via his helicopter. ("Days of Wine & D'ohses" )

I took that as more of a callback, especcially given that it seemed like a very concious decision to bring back Barney's helicopter flying for that one scene.  And in this case it seemed like it was done more as a joke anyway, since the only purpose for him to be there was to save a character that was mainly a plot device, as opposed to a really important series character.  (Keep in mind he only saved Chloe here, not Lisa).  It was just supposed to be a funny callback essentially, like whenever they refer to Poochie or show the objects from past episodes in the family attic.

   

Can they ever keep track of if Barney's sober or not on a given day? It seems like he went from sober to drunk to sober in the span of three seasons.

To be honest, I think they're mainly just going with whatever is convenient at this point.  Much like Springfield's geography, they switch around his drunkenness/sobriety to whatever is most convenient for a scene.  Mind you I'd like to see purely Drunk Barney back, though I'm open to seeing him switch back and forth (as many "recovering alcoholics" likely would) if its funny enough.

[Reply #353 on:]

I found this one to be pretty funny, though the plot was a little thin/undeveloped in places, and the volcano ending was a bit too cartoony and convenient for my tastes. Still, a B.  The season seems to be going fairly strong so far.

Edit: was anyone else expecting a electrical shock for Bart with the short TV scene?

[Reply #354 on:]

I thought that Tree House of Horror episode is overrated. Too much Captain Whacky Homer. The first one and last ones made the cut, I winced at the 4 Funeral's one. I only found a few things funny.

[Reply #355 on:]

Fat Man and Little Boy:  Bart's success at selling novelty T-shirts enables Homer to quit his job and help Lisa with her science project - by supplying some plutonium. 

Sounds glowy. And all over the place, especially when this is added to other descriptions. That's from my TV software, BTW. I don't think I've seen the plutonium angle anywhere else before, that's why I mentioned it.

[Reply #356 on:]

Yeah, I didn't like the new one much, either. Except for Kim Catrall, she's awesome no matter what.

Hey, little random, but can someone dig up a picture of "RosenCarl and GuildenLenny" from when the Simpsons did Hamlet?"

[Reply #357 on:]

Ok now I'm pissed off! The wait for The Simpsons Season 5 DVD here in the UK has just doubled! An extra one and a half months which makes it an extra quarter of a years wait behind America! March 21st now! This is fucking ridiculous. I was angry enough having to pointlessly wait until February 7th, while America gets it before Christmas this year. Now though, a quarter of a year later is just utterly pathetic and inexcusable. Also the prospect of a knock-on effect to Season 6 now likely taking much longer here pisses me off highly, because that’s my favorite Season, it’s the Season I’ve been waiting for!

What angers me the most is the utter lack of logical reason behind this. February 7th, knocked back to March 21st. Obviously the commentaries have all been recorded for the set to be released in America before Christmas, and obviously the artwork is all done. Converting to PAL is no cause for delay either. Even for magazine reviews, it wouldn’t take longer than February 7th tops. So what’s the fucking problem here? This is all I have to say for Fox Home Entertainmemts UK department, a big  ...

[Reply #358 on:]

Here you go, Shaucker:

Before:


After:

[Reply #359 on:]

Thanks