TVSquad

Hasn't The Simpsons already spoofed It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on one of its many "Treehouse of Horror" episodes? You would think it would be a natural for them and it would have been done years ago.

The classic Peanuts show is one of the segments spoofed (it's called "It's The Great Pumpkin, Milhouse") on the annual Halloween episode of the show. The other segments include a Transformers spoof (the robots try to destroy Springfield, of course), and the segment I'm most looking forward to, a Mad Men takeoff. Seems that advertising agencies hire Homer to kill celebrities so they can make a bunch of money off of their likenesses. It's called "How To Get Ahead In Deadvertising." We'll see Homer falling off of a building a la Mad Men's opening credits.

As is often the case, the Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror" episode will actually air after Halloween, on November 2. After the jump, a video retrospective of the show's Halloween episodes and a sneak peek at one of the scenes from the new one.

(S06E24)

Bart: Mom, you won't believe this, but something you said the other day really got through to me. And now, I'm going to teach some kids a lesson.

Marge: I choose to take that literally.

Bart (from outside): Death to Shelbyville!

Homer: Yes, Bart's a tutor, now. Toot on, son! Toot on!

(S06E14) When you see the words "Written by John Swartzwelder" appear on the screen, you know you're in for a great episode.

This episode begins with Bart pulling yet another prank on Principal Skinner by affixing a sign to Skinner's weather balloon that reads, "Hi, I'm big butt Skinner" and is held by a likeness of Skinner constructed so the balloon acts as his butt. Skinner exclaims: "It won't come down for months! Curse the man who invented helium! Curse you, Pierre Jules Cesar Janssen!"

Bart tries to deny he pulled the prank, but the fact that he has blueprints and notarized photos of himself planning it doesn't really help his case. As punishment, Skinner enlists Bart to help him with his amateur astronomy. He tells Bart to meet him at 4:30 the next morning, to which Bart replies, "There's a 4:30 in the morning now?"

(S17E21)

Ned: We want you to teach alternative theories to Darwinian evolution.

Skinner: You mean Lamarckian evolution?

Last night The Simpsons took on creationism versus evolution, pitting Lisa against the rest of the town. This isn't the first time the show has tackled the issue of science and religion, most notably in the "Lisa the Skeptic" episode in which the supposed skeleton of a dead angel is found. Last night's episode had some good moments, but it did feel like they were treading upon somewhat familiar ground and not saying anything especially new.

Now that FOX has ushered the end of The Simpsons season three weeks early thanks to two episodes a week, tonight we say adios to season 16 with another doubleheader. This episode reminded me how sexy stupid Flanders is, how enticing flashing banner ads are and how much I want a “First Allergic Reaction” Humble. And the crazy cat-lady flinging felines is always good for a cheap laugh with me.
Best Homerism: What are you kids laughing at and if you say Jimmy Fallon I’ll know you’re lying.
Blackboard Gag: (When was the last time we saw one of them?): A booger is not a bookmark
Couch Gag: The couch was really the “bait” of a deep sea angler fish and it eats them.