It's back... in "Pog" form: The Simpsons, Season 15 (part 2)

[Reply #80 on:]

I thought the 138th episode spectacular was the best clip show personally.

1) "The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular"
2) "So it's Come to This- A Simpsons Clipshow"
3) "Another Simpsons Clipshow"
4) "Gump Roast"
5) "All Singing, All Dancing" (I personally love the music numbers shown, and I loved the paint your wagon part, but the stuff with Snake in between segments was just god awful.)

[Reply #81 on:]

Guess I'll post my list too for no raisin.

1. 138th Episode Spectacular: B+/A-
Gets more points then a usual clip show would, since its almost all "new" material basically and the wraparound stuff is so funny and creative.

2. So its Come to This: A Simpsons Clip Show: B+
For some reason I'm really partial to this one and actually like it more then a few other season four episodes.  The wraparound stuff is very good, but also all the clips and the format for them are very good I think.  Aside from creative "138th" type tangents I think this is the way to go with these, presenting simply what the producers thought the most memorable clips were, as opposed to having a "theme".

3. All Singing, All Dancing: B
Controversial grade I guess.  For some reason I'm partial to this one too.  Again I found it to be a creative concept for a clip show.  The songs are all great of course (and again it feels more or less like a "best of" as opposed to simply retelling episodes), but I also think the wraparounds were very underrated.  I liked all the clever lyrics during them, and all the Snake stuff.

4. Gump Roast: C
Touch call between this and Another Simpsons Clip Show; they're more or less even really, but I think this actually has the edge.  Simply, I found that this one was decently enjoyable but never special as a clip show.  The wraparound stuff was hit and miss, never hilarious but generally amusing otherwise (I didn't care about Kang and Kodos since this was obviously not "canon" ).  The clips are iffy in some respects though.  I felt they picked too many from seasons ten and eleven especcially (even aside from those being the worst seasons and not something I'd want to reminisce about, it just needed more variety).  Still, again it at least sparks some good memories and is enjoyable, if only pasably so.

5.  Another Simpsons Clip Show: C
The main problem with this one is that it basically just "retells" several episodes, but takes away much of the original humor and charm since it doesn't(and of course can't) show the whole episodes.  Basically, instead of feeling like a bunch of scattered short moments of hilarity that could bring back memories, it ended up feeling like watching severly hacked up versions of the actual episodes.  There's some decent moments though, including a couple nice montages (like the phone prank one) and some decent dialogue in the wraparounds (even if it sometimes feels stiff).  Still, with even most of the wraparounds being made up of old animation, you can tell the production qualities on this one weren't throught he roof.

[Reply #82 on:]

Holy crap. Three pages and only one new ep? Calm down with the posting guys, or we're gonna have like twelve threads by the end of the season.

[Reply #83 on:]

Okay, okay.
Anyway, in the last thread, there was a discussion about how not only episode quality has decreased, but the quality of the titles has, too. You know, parody titles that serve no purpose?
Well, Sunday's episode is "Smarter and Smarter" ("Dumber and Dumber" ). Personally, I think that the title is bad, but the episode actually sounds pretty good. What do you guys think?

[Reply #84 on:]

Okay, I was writing my newest "Homer the Cop" season with American Idol on in the background, when what do I hear but Homer saying "You jerk!" They were showing the clip where he beats up Simon! Personally, i liked it. It wasn't violent, It was extremely funny, and Barney was in a maid's dress! A maid's dress! Do you realize what this means?? He's drunk again!! 

[Reply #85 on:]

Do you mean that he hasn't had a drink since "Days of Wine and D'ohses"? (I think that's the episode). I really don't think that the producers did a good job of being consistent with his new clean life.
For example, in "I'm Spelling as Fast as I Can" in season 14, as Lisa is spelling across town, Barney is back to his drunk self, lying on a street corner.

Barney: (to Lisa) "Relapse"!

Lisa: R-e-l-a-p-s-e!

Barney: That's what beer has done to me! Sock it to me, sock it to me!

[Reply #86 on:]

Exactly. He had a relapse. Meaning, he was sober, then drunk, then sober. Also, he took a drink in "The Sweetest Apu", but it didn't get him drinking again.

[Reply #87 on:]

Al Jean said he was toying with making Barney drunk again around the time of "Spelling".  Hence that joke.

As for the ridiculous posting levels, I think this thread (included with the maxed-out first one I mean) has just kind of become the official Simpsons discussion thread.  Not to say that other one David A. posted the link to is ancient, but it is three months old now and seemingly abandoned.  Having one thread for the reviews and everything else allows us to go on tangents like the clip show lists and technically never go "off topic".  Plus, the mods are already complaining about how many Simpsons threads there's been.  I think this might as well just be the thread for all Simpsons discussion here.

[Reply #88 on:]

Either way, I win. I made both threads. 

Anyway, in case you were wondering, "Homer the Cop" is actually called "Poppa's Got a Brand New Badge". I just called it that so you'd know what it was.

[Reply #89 on:]

Agreed. Plus, when someone posts a bad review and leelaholic posts a super-duper-best-episode-ever review, there's bound to be some sort of argument. It's a lot more convenient to argue here than to alternate between threads.

[Reply #90 on:]

I never said you should use the other thread. I'm just saying a lot of this thread seems pointless and advising people to think before you post.

[Reply #91 on:]

 

Originally posted by FishyJoe:
Agreed. Plus, when someone posts a bad review and leelaholic posts a super-duper-best-episode-ever review, there's bound to be some sort of argument. It's a lot more convenient to argue here than to alternate between threads.

Yeah, and then he gets the chair.

[Reply #92 on:]

I have a sarcastic way to settle this. We open a third off topic forum based around the Simpsons. leelaholic could be a mod.

[Reply #93 on:]

Can I be the Admin?

[Reply #94 on:]

 

Originally posted by Guy:
I have a sarcastic way to settle this. We open a third off topic forum based around the Simpsons. leelaholic could be a mod.

Yeah, then I'm sure that would calm down the ridiculous amounts of posts in no time...

[Reply #95 on:]

I liked the new episode, Milhouse Doesn't Live here Anymore, mainly because it was a realistic situation that was only backed up by a zany adventure. There were a couple of continuity goofs, but I didn't notice anything too blaring. It wasn't the greatest, I'll admit, there were some jokes that had been done before which bothered me and the 20 second Jeffersons ending really sucked, but it's an improvement over most of season fifteen. It's above average.

[Reply #96 on:]

 

Originally posted by Nurdbot:
 

Originally posted by FishyJoe:
Agreed. Plus, when someone posts a bad review and leelaholic posts a super-duper-best-episode-ever review, there's bound to be some sort of argument. It's a lot more convenient to argue here than to alternate between threads.

Yeah, and then he gets the chair.

"That wasn't what I meant"
"It was Marge admit it."

You know I was thinking of starting a miscellaneous simpsons thread.
I didn't really see a need to start this new thread, there's no point, just because The other one has lot of posts doesn't mean you cant use it.

[Reply #97 on:]

 

Originally posted by User_names_suck:
You know I was thinking of starting a miscellaneous simpsons thread.
I didn't really see a need to start this new thread, there's no point, just because The other one has lot of posts doesn't mean you cant use it.

I think the reason this was started was in fact that we couldn't use the other one anymore.  From what I gather there's a 20 page max on threads.

[Reply #98 on:]

I am looking forward to see the episode with Simon Cowel in:





Thank to Robiben for hosting it for me.

[Reply #99 on:]

In the promo he looked more like Mel Gibson, and now, in the advert he looks more like Sylvester Stallone!...

[Reply #100 on:]

You're right! No offense to the great artists, but that is really NOT Simon Cowell.

[Reply #101 on:]

Eh, it looks close enough to me.  Although in recent years they have seemed to have more trouble properly "Simpsonsizing" them.  But, remember that in this case he's not technically playing himself (just a self-parody), so he doesn't need to look exact.

[Reply #102 on:]

Wouldn't hurt though, better than having him look like two other famous actors...

[Reply #103 on:]

That's what I was wondering. If it's just a self-parody, then the crew probably wanted the character to somewhat look like Cowell, but not exactly like him. If that's the case, then it's pretty good.

[Reply #104 on:]

But he's not Simon Cowell. He's a character resembling him and voiced by him. The same with Ben Stiller, it doesn't work so well, since the character is basically Simon or Ben, despite what the creators say. It's funnier when guest stars play characters that are so not them, the most extreme example being Michael Jackson as Leon, the 300-pound mental patient.

[Reply #105 on:]

Definitely.
Hey, since we're all talking about guest-stars, which one was your favorite? It could be the actor themself or the actor playing another character.

[Reply #106 on:]

Hmmm... it's hard to say. A really good one was Barry White in "Whacking Day." That's a great instance in where the guest star has a impact in the episode, as they all should, unlike now, where they're thrown in for no reason.

[Reply #107 on:]

Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep and Kelsey Grammer are all great.

[Reply #108 on:]

I forget to consider Grammer a guest star, since he's been on the show countless times. Sideshow Bob is such a great character. Come to think of it, David Hyde Pierce also did a great job as Cecil.

[Reply #109 on:]

   

Originally posted by Shadowstar:
But he's not Simon Cowell. He's a character resembling him and voiced by him. The same with Ben Stiller, it doesn't work so well, since the character is basically Simon or Ben, despite what the creators say. It's funnier when guest stars play characters that are so not them, the most extreme example being Michael Jackson as Leon, the 300-pound mental patient.

I agree, it's much much better and funnier when the guest stars play characters that aren't themselves. Micheal Jackson as Leon is a classic example of how well this works. But what bugs me about this Simon Cowell version, is that like you said, it resembles him. It just seems totally pointless to neither be one or the other, just to go half way and try and get the best of both worlds, but instead come off looking more like someone else. And yet, at the same time, it still resembles Simon Cowell, sure, but what's the point in meeting it half way. Why not make him look totally different all together, but with the same characteristics?...

[Reply #110 on:]

[Burns]Agreed. First prize![/Burns]
Also, if a guest star doesn't play a critical role, it's also acceptable if they play a bit role, but not irrelevant from the story. Conan O'Brien comes to mind.
Bart: You know Conan, I have a lot to say. I'm not just a one-line wonder. Did you know a section of rainforest the size of Kansas is burnt every single-
Conan: Just do the line.
Bart: ...I didn't do it. [crowd cheers]
Conan: [laughs] Great material! We'll be right back. [dances. Bart half-heartedly joins] Sit perfectly still. Only I may dance.
I LOVE THAT SCENE!

[Reply #111 on:]

I went to see Late Night With Conan O' Brien in NY and I have to say he's far more entertaining on The Simpsons and Futurama than he is on his own show! 

[Reply #112 on:]

 

Originally posted by Gorky:
Definitely.
Hey, since we're all talking about guest-stars, which one was your favorite? It could be the actor themself or the actor playing another character.

Albert brooks as Scorpio

[Reply #113 on:]

Otis, the point is that he's a PARODY of Cowell.  The character is supposed to be similar and thus have a similar look (thus making it a parody), but being different enough to make it his own character.  Like Birch Barlow (Rush Limbaugh) or to a lesser extent McBain (AH-Nuld) for instance.  He just happens to be playing his own self parody this time, as opposed to an impersonation.

Anyways, I'm partial to Kelsey Grammar as Bob the most.  Joe Mantegna is also great as Fat Tony, and Albert Brooks was always completely genius in all of his roles (Jacques, Propetier Bob, Brad Goodman, Hank Scorpio).  Lovitz was usually great too.  Meryll Streep as Jessica Lovejoy was a big suprise; I would never have guessed it was her, and she did a great job.  Those are the non-self played ones that come to mind the most at the moment.

Self played: The Ramones were hilarious, as have been all the Beatles (although McCartney was a little useless).  O'Brien's guest appearance actually was hilarious.  Larry King was oddly hilarious as well.  Others come to mind too.

[Reply #114 on:]

As for me, I love Mr. Grammar as Sideshow Bob.
Although he hasn't appeared since (I think) season 8, Albert Brooks was always wonderful, as was the late, great Phil Hartman.

[Reply #115 on:]

 

Originally posted by Gorky:
As for me, I love Mr. Grammar as Sideshow Bob.

"The Day of the Jackenapes" in season 12, and "The Great Louse Detective" in season 14.

I can't believe I forgot Hartman though.  Sweet Zombie Jesus.  I guess he was kind of a regular anyway though, same with Marcia Wallace for instance.

[Reply #116 on:]

I thought Michael Jackson was voiced by an impersonator

[Reply #117 on:]

Nope. He just had a contract that forbid them from confirming that it was actually him. He was listed as "John Jay Smith". He also wrote the song "Do the Bartman", which he didn't get credit for, either.

[Reply #118 on:]

leelaholic is right.  However, as a side note the singing in "Stark Raving Dad" was done by Kipp Lennon, an official Michael Jackson voice impersonator that he used sometimes for whatever reason.  I'm not sure if its ever been explained why he had Lennon sing instead of him, other then maybe some legalities.  Lennon was also apparently a short white guy.

Jackson did, however, sing back up in the "Do the Bartman" song.

[Reply #119 on:]

 

Originally posted by DotheBartman:
Otis, the point is that he's a PARODY of Cowell.  The character is supposed to be similar and thus have a similar look (thus making it a parody), but being different enough to make it his own character.  Like Birch Barlow (Rush Limbaugh) or to a lesser extent McBain (AH-Nuld) for instance.  He just happens to be playing his own self parody this time, as opposed to an impersonation.

I think there's a fine line between self-parody and fawning over. For instance, would Birch Barlow and Rainer Wolfcastle be as funny as they are if they were voiced by Limbaugh and Schwartzenegger, respectively? I think having someone parody themself kind of dulls the edge in a way. A joke's not as funny if the target is 'in on it.'