Cape Foure: The Simpsons Madness Goes On...

[Reply #520 on:]

 

Originally posted by DotheBartman:
I'm not saying it isn't a classic.  I'm just saying that they were no better actors then the current guests.  And they had a prominent role.

50 Cent will have a cameo and likely not much else.  Dave Chappelle's character (he's NOT playing himself) should have a bigger role.  The Simpsons has always had small cameos from people that can't act.  Get over it.

I think they got away with it more back in the day, because the show was funnier. I think back to that baseball all-stars episode, and I can't help but laugh. There was a lot of classic stuff there. Did anyone laugh at Yao Ming? Anyone? Seriously.

Most of the guest star one-liners these days range from bland to terrible. Anyway, I thought the superbowl episode was just alright. Average current-era Simpsons.

[Reply #521 on:]

No denying that "Homer at the Bat" is funnier, but was just pointing out the similarity there.  And I do think I laughed at Ming, though I don't remember who each one was very well.

[Reply #522 on:]

Marge: "Yao, would you clear the table?"
Yao: *Says he doesn't speak english in Chinese."
Lisa: "I thought you spoke excellent english."
Yao: "Quiet! I have a good thing going here."

I laughed at it. Though now that I think about it, I have know idea how Lisa knew what Yao was saying.

[Reply #523 on:]

1. Genius
2. Buddhist
3. No real hobbies

Just to clarify, I think she knows basic Chinese/Mandarin at this point.

Also, the old ep I just saw on FOX is great.

[Reply #524 on:]

I know this has been asked before (somewhere), but when is Simpsons Season 5 coming out in Australia?

[Reply #525 on:]

March 23.

[Reply #526 on:]

Just watched it, not the best episode ever, but I did laugh. Some of the celebrations were great. I liked Tom Brady and Yao Ming too.
Probably around a .... B.

[Reply #527 on:]

I don't totally agree with this, but it made me laugh when I saw it...
 

[Reply #528 on:]

Ahahahaha, nice. But the classic era is seasons 1-8. THEN you have the dip with the Scully years.

[Reply #529 on:]

I think seasons 8 through 10 would be lower than the previous seasons, but they would be pretty jagged. Despite what many think, there were some decent to good episodes in that era, just not enough to balance out the crap.

[Reply #530 on:]

Amusing but totally wrong.  Ten should be one of the lowest points on that whole graph.

[Reply #531 on:]

Still, I think we can all agree that "Kill the Alligator and Run" is perhaps one of, if not the, worst episode they've done.

[Reply #532 on:]

I agree with that chart to some extent, and Aligator is the worse. But we have to wait and see if it can get any worse at the moment.

[Reply #533 on:]

I actually didn't hate 'Kill The Alligator And Run' that much. Hell, I even nearly liked it.

I saw an episode yesterday I hadn't seen, where Bart becomes a jockey. Damn, that's a shite episode.

[Reply #534 on:]

I think "Kill the Aligator and Run" was pretty decent, Homer drinking the 40 gallon that Kid Rock was going to pour down the curb for his "lost homies" (or something). Plus the cap bouncing off the ground and going back on the deputies head.  Probally a C plus episode.

But that Duncan the Horse episode was horrible, I did like the Comic Book Guy scenes though.

Plus, when did Bart start liking rap?  I hope they exlain that.

[Reply #535 on:]

While we're on the subject, here are my 5 worst episodes, in order from ultra-crap to super-dooper-shiiiiit:

5. Brawl in the Family
4. Monty Can't Buy Me Love
3. Bart to the Future
2. Saddlesore Galactica
1. Tennis the Menace

Kill the Alligator and Run would probably be in my 10 worst episodes, but it's not ranked in the bottom 5 because it did have a few things that made me laugh ("Hey, you're stealing my trailer! I like that..." ). Still, it is a horribly concieved episode full of terrible attempts at humour and characters constantly going out of character. Plus, it had way too many plot-holes for an episode that essentially had no storyline.

Season 10, while bad, is bearable at most points, but Seasons 11 and 12 are pure shit with a few exceptions (eg. Behind the Laughter, Hungry Hungry Homer, Trilogy of Error, and maybe 2 or 3 more episodes that have skipped my mind).

[Reply #536 on:]

 

Originally posted by Lrrr_2004:
Plus, when did Bart start liking rap?  I hope they exlain that.

Since the days when he liked Michael Jackson songs and had a Rapmaster 5000.

[Reply #537 on:]

Bart's never had a definitive musical taste. In the early 90s, of course, there were the two rap songs he cut for the Simpsons album ("Do the Bartman" and "Deep Deep Trouble" ). Around that time, rap was big, so Bart was into rap. In the mid-90s, Bart liked alternative music. That's why he and Lisa were so excited to go to Hullabalooza.  Either he changes his tastes to coincide with what's cool or he has varying tastes.

[Reply #538 on:]

He changes his tastes to what's cool, like all ten year olds.  Seems simple enough to me.

[Reply #539 on:]

Wow did you two just copy and paste the discussion from the N.H.C.

[Reply #540 on:]

Heh.  Well it definitely made me think of the discussion over there, and I used a similar response yes.

[Reply #541 on:]

Yeah, that Rap Master 5000 bit in "Homer the Vigilante" was pretty funny.  Ah Season 5, we hardly knew ye. (or some crap like that)

[Reply #542 on:]

Just my opinion, I think the worst ever episodes of the Simpsons were "Marge vs. Gays, Teens and Senior Citizens" and "Bart-Mangled Banner".

[Reply #543 on:]

I'm man enough to admit when I was wrong, and I was dead wrong.  This was actually a good episode, even 50 was good in it.

The best was that throw back to "Bart the Daredevil" (the picture of Homer falling down the cliff), pretty funny stuff, plus the Passion of the Salad, or something like that. There was also alot of classic Homer in this episode. (and no jerka** Homer either).  This is probally the best episode that i've seen in awhile.

I thought Dave Chappelle was in this episode, I didn't hear him, and I didn't see his name at the end.

Does anyone think Wiggum will still be the Police Commissioner next week?

[Reply #544 on:]

This weeks episode had some good points, and some really low points.

First the up-sides, the exchange between Wiggum and Barney Fife on the television was good (Avenge me! Avenge me!)and the bit with Homer trying to cover up Lisa's evidence was worth a laugh too. Also, if you could consider it a good point, the cameo by 50 cent wasn't a detestable as I would have thought, I'll bump it's grade a bit for that.

Finally, the bad points. I almost considered changing the station during the concert moments and whenever the characters spoke in "street" talk. Yeah I'm biased, but damn it I am so sick of this rap shit, along with its lingo, that is currently engulfing our culture, I can not help but despise anything on television that mirrors it.

Overall, it had its moments. B-

[Reply #545 on:]

 

Originally posted by BendingUnit4000:
I almost considered changing the station during the concert moments and whenever the characters spoke in "street" talk. Yeah I'm biased, but damn it I am so sick of this rap shit, along with its lingo, that is currently engulfing our culture, I can not help but despise anything on television that mirrors it.

True. But besides that, it was a good episode.  A- from me.

[Reply #546 on:]

Homer's always liked rap...
"Boomchika boomchika boomchika boom! I'm Mister Plow and I'm here to say: I'm the plowinest guy in the USA! I got a big plow and I move a lotta things..."

[Reply #547 on:]

A fun if not especcially involving episode. If the writers wanted me to care about what was going on it didn't work especcially well, but to be fair I don't think the story was really meant to be too involving, and was just supposed to be fun. As such it worked well enough for me. I can't think of any bombed gags offhand, and for the most part it was pretty funny. "Thursday the 20th", Kirk's general behavior, the Marge and Homer "rap" (which could have failed horribly, but was thankfully done well), and various other things provided laughs, and even the guest star wasn't too bad.

The only major criticism I have is the cop-out ending....its no "surf's up", but I think they could have given it a better resolution, especcially since the one here wasn't amazingly funny. I'm okay with a non-resolution in this case, but I just think they should have come up with something better, or executed the "house party" scenes better then they did. Its a minor quibble though.

Not a whole lot to say on this one really. It was just a funny episode without much substance. Based almost purely on the humor, I'd give it a:

B (possibly B+)

[Reply #548 on:]

Great episode! Me, still being partly in a rap phase, could really laugh at all the gangster jokes! Couldn't find Dave Chappelle, though. Wonder what happened.

Rating: A-

[Reply #549 on:]

I didn't much like the rap gags (as I expected), so the first act was pretty forgettable.  50 Cent's appearance was nice and short and actually pretty funny (it's best when guest starts make fun of themselves).

    The rest of the episode was great, with tonnes of great Wiggum/police jokes and moments with Milhouse's father. There were some jokes that I didn't think were handled very well, such as Kirk's stuffed animal coat (it would have been better to show him wearing the coat in a later shot than have Milhouse whip out a picture of it then and there.) and Milhouse's frisbee playing (it didn't really get into the whole "become funny again" stage, it just stayed in the "the episode must have been short" stage, though the capper line was pretty good), but none of the jokes were really bad. 

   The house party resolution was a little... non-resolution-y, but the episode didn't really need much of a resolution considering that everyone was fine with the lie, and it was just Lisa and Skinner that were pushing for it.  I don't know where Chappelle was, it must have been a mistake by the writers of those little blurbs. Perhaps he'll show up in a later episode or something (Wasn't Simon Cowell originally reported to be in Marge Vs. Everyone last season?) All in all, a funny episode with a forgettable first act and a weak ending.  B. 

One last question: is this the first time they have changed the visual style of the end credits? I can't recall any other time, but... that doesn't mean anything.

Edit: it was longer than I thought, so I broke it up a bit...

[Reply #550 on:]

 

Originally posted by Ranadok:
The rest of the episode was great, with tonnes of great Wiggum/police jokes and moments with Milhouse's father.

I loved the fat over the badge bit, in fact, all of the Wiggum stuff was funny.

Wiggum- I should have read these headlines aong time ago.

Wiggum- We don't need an Eddie.

I still wonder if he's still going to be Commissioner, or will it be like the kitchen in an earlier episode, just change back next week as if nothing happened.

 

Originally posted by Ranadok:
There were some jokes that I didn't think were handled very well, such as Kirk's stuffed animal coat (it would have been better to show him wearing the coat in a later shot than have Milhouse whip out a picture of it then and there.)

I agree that that would have been much better, I don't think they give us a lot of credit to remember things like the fact that Milhouse mentioned the coat, then we see it 10 minutes later.

 

Originally posted by Ranadok:
Milhouse's frisbee playing (it didn't really get into the whole "become funny again" stage, it just stayed in the "the episode must have been short" stage, though the capper line was pretty good)

Sort of reminded me of Ralph's duck duck goose.

 

Originally posted by Ranadok:
The house party resolution was a little... non-resolution-y, but the episode didn't really need much of a resolution considering that everyone was fine with the lie, and it was just Lisa and Skinner that were pushing for it.

I liked that, I hate when shows need to leave the show on a good note, let the characters get away with something, not everyone has a conscience.

 

Originally posted by Ranadok:
(Wasn't Simon Cowell originally reported to be in Marge Vs. Everyone last season?)

I remember he was in the episode where they found out Maggie was a genius, then Lisa got jelous, i'm not sure about the "Marge vs Everyone" episode though. 

 

Originally posted by Ranadok:
One last question: is this the first time they have changed the visual style of the end credits? I can't recall any other time, but... that doesn't mean anything.

I don't remember a non-Treehouse of Horror having a unique ending credits like that, but then again.

[Reply #551 on:]

 

Originally posted by Ranadok:
One last question: is this the first time they have changed the visual style of the end credits? I can't recall any other time, but... that doesn't mean anything.

All I can remember is "Viva Ned Flanders," where the credits were on a Vegas marquee.

Anyway, "Pranksta Rap" really surprised me. It was a fantastic episode, with great jokes from Homer, Kirk, Wiggum, Lou and Eddie. The only annoying thing was that it was about rap, and rap, frankly, is awful. But, I was amused (Cover-Up 2005, "Why didn't I read the headlines before I put these up?", the shelves filled with shoes), so I give it a 4/5. Good stuff.

[Reply #552 on:]

 

Originally posted by Lrrr_2004:
I loved the fat over the badge bit, in fact, all of the Wiggum stuff was funny.

It would have been better had his badge not been back to normal in the very next shot... that kind of ruined it.

 

I still wonder if he's still going to be Commissioner, or will it be like the kitchen in an earlier episode, just change back next week as if nothing happened.

Does Homer still own a pro football team or an ambulance?  Of course it'll be back to normal next week, that's the way the Simpsons does things (with the exception of major changes, such as deaths/devorces/births, etc).

 

I remember he was in the episode where they found out Maggie was a genius, then Lisa got jelous, i'm not sure about the "Marge vs Everyone" episode though.

I know that is the episode he eventually appeared in, but I think he was originally reported to be in MvE, back when its synopsis included Marge becoming a talk radio personality (which obvoiously changed).  I was just pointing out that Chappelle may appear in a later episode, like Cowell did.  Of course, that's all baseless speculation to begin with.

[Reply #553 on:]

I wish Chief Wiggums badge had stayed hidden too, it sucked that it didn't.

[Reply #554 on:]

Does Anyone know the name of tonights new episode in Australia? If you know it please tell me.
On the ad, it has lava flowing through Springfield and Chief Wiggum says,"It hasn't hurt anyone" Then A guy screams in the lava and Chief Wiggum says,"Anyone I know".

[Reply #555 on:]

Something about Marg getting jealous at this journo friend of hers who moves into town. Not sure myself, though, hopefully I'll remember to watch it.

[Reply #556 on:]

That's probably "She Used To Be My Girl," which, in my opinion, is not worth watching.

[Reply #557 on:]

Farther up this page there's a graph showing when the simpson's quality took a nose dive. 

Does anybody know if some writers left at that point? If so, who? I've been wondering for a while...

[Reply #558 on:]

 

Originally posted by LoserUser:
Farther up this page there's a graph showing when the simpson's quality took a nose dive. 

Does anybody know if some writers left at that point? If so, who? I've been wondering for a while...

Its nowhere near that simple.  Every season, without exception (except possible season three? I'd have to check into it) there are new writers that come and other writers that leave.  And there's usually a grander switch every 3-4 seasons, where a larger then usual proportion of the staff changes.  And in the meantime there's always the standby's who either never leave (John Swartzwelder, George Meyer with the brief exception of sometime in season six or seven I think) or leave for some time and then come back (Al Jean, Mike Reiss, David Stern for one season, Jon Vitti, etc).  And a lot of the writers/producers who've "left" still act as consultants to this day, as is my understanding.

The better indicator is always the showrunner, because they are the one that dictates the direction of the show.  Which makes that graph (which I think is largely "Wrong" anyway) sort of strange, because it counts the first decline as happening in the middle of Mike Scully's run (seasons 9-12) as opposed to right at the beginning.

[Reply #559 on:]

I dunno, in that sense, I agree with the silly chart. I looked through some of the episodes for seasons 9 and 10, and a lot of them aren't as bad as their reputation. The show wasn't as good as it once was, but it was still pretty funny. It wasn't until season 11, IMO, that the show got really really bad. I would push "the dark period" back to season 11-14.