(S18E07) I usually take on the role of apologist when it comes to The Simpsons, defending it against those who say it's not as good as it was in the early years. I still maintain the series is the funniest and smartest thing on network television, but even I can admit when an episode isn't quite up to snuff, and this one was nowhere near snuff, up to it or otherwise.
I'm enough of a fan of the show that even a mediocre episode still has enough to entertain me, and there were a few moments in this episode I thought were pretty funny, such as the dead ice cream man being buried with a giant ice cream scoop, or Homer taking Polaroids of himself to show Marge how sad he was that he wrecked her popsicle stick sculptures, but the basic plot had been done before (Homer upsets Marge by not taking enough of an interest in her and finally redeems himself in the end) and it's been done better.
I don't, however, think that once a certain aspect of the character's lives has been dealt with the show should never return to it again. Marge is much less selfish than Homer, and that dynamic has plenty of comedic possibilities and it's worth revisiting when a substantive story can be constructed from it, but this episode just felt kind of light to me.
Giveaway Monday: How I Met Your Mother season three DVD
Oops! Newspapers around the world use SNL pic as official Palin one - VIDEO
The evolution of TV Squad
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-27-2006 @ 11:38AM
mike said...
big fan, but it's not must see tv anymore. The season has been very weak so far. I fear the movie has drained this season's ideas.
The Ali-G transformation of Homer was great. If anyone has seen that on Youtube, please post it.
Reply
11-27-2006 @ 11:58AM
jq said...
decent episode. family guy-like areas/gags/moments scattered about. yeah, the whole homer disapoints marge and marge then takes him back in the end, is getting dull.
Reply
11-27-2006 @ 12:10PM
Tim Dorr said...
Mike, here you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8_MEFJGNiI
Reply
11-27-2006 @ 12:40PM
David4 said...
I'm still amazed people watch this shit.
"(Homer upsets Marge by not taking enough of an interest in her and finally redeems himself in the end)"
No shit! That's EVERY episode in the past several years. it's no longer "The Simpsons" it's really "Homer is a Dumbass".
Reply
11-27-2006 @ 12:46PM
Will said...
Simpsons has gone way downhill recently, infact I think they started going downhill along time ago. Simpsons just isn't like what it used to be (the older, better episodes), and i've just lost interest in the show completely. Even thought i've never seen this episode, it doesn't seem like i'm missing on much from what i'm hearing. Also Family Guy is better.
Reply
11-27-2006 @ 1:41PM
Dwacon said...
I must admit that the scene where Homer was licking Mister Burns was major gross-out.
The episode had a "deja vu" feel -- although there was one LOL moment.
Anybody wonder how the Simpsons 2D movie will fare?
--
dwacon
http://www.dwacon.com
Reply
11-27-2006 @ 3:30PM
J-Spot said...
This was actually the last of the holdovers from last season. The real season 18 starts next week. Hopefully they'll have cooked up some fresh ideas during the break.
Reply
11-27-2006 @ 4:24PM
Jim said...
Personally. I'm sick of The Simpsons using hopelessly out-of-date pop culture references. "Pimp My Ride"? Wasn't that over two or three years ago? "Da Ali G Show"? Sure, it's having a renaissance due to "Borat", but come on... It's not 2000 any more.
Reply
11-27-2006 @ 4:31PM
Gwin said...
My favorite part was the "future" scene at the end with the iPods whipping the poor humans...
Reply
11-28-2006 @ 6:56AM
rudebadger said...
"The Simpsons" have been sputtering on fumes for the last several seasons. I still watched because of an ocassional good episode or at least to see a good "Simpsons" gag on as otherwise average or marginal episode.
But with this new season, all the episodes have lacked any sense of humor.
And its not my imagination that the first three have had a distinctly anti-American plot or slap in the story.
After this last episode I've given up on them. Thank God for re-runs.
Reply