300 Episodes of the Simpsons 697
circletimessquare writes "As we approach 300 Episodes of the Simpsons, Entertainment Weekly tries to pick the 25 best episodes of The Simpsons (and the one episode they consider the worst). They do a pretty good job. But since "best of" lists like this one are always rife with debate and contention, I can't think of a better place than Slashdot to send up EW (pun partially intended)."
Not bad, but... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Not bad, but... (Score:5, Interesting)
Before I'm modded down for heresy, I adore The Simpsons. Yet, I still believe that the show was far greated from seasons 3-7 than from 8-today. The show has lost its ability to be intellectual at the same degree, in losing writers such as Conan O'Brian.
Frankly, I'm not entirely sure they should keep making the series: Homer is now retarded (whereas he's merely simple in the beginning), Homer has no Job (or actually, he's had well over 70 jobs, as listed in a recent episode...which means roughly a quarter of the episodes have been "Homer becomes a "), they no longer make subtle erudite references...its falling apart.
Re:Not bad, but... (Score:3, Interesting)
On one of the DVD commentary tracks, Matt Groening makes it sound like the true creative genious behind early Simpsons episodes was George Meyer. A lot of the great jokes/gags apparently came from him.
Re:Not bad, but... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Not bad, but... (Score:3)
Excellent (Score:5, Insightful)
No more deer for a week (Score:5, Funny)
Marge: " Homer, did you say deer or beer?"
Homer: "Deer."
Re:No more deer for a week (Score:2, Funny)
Homer: D'oh
Marge: A Deer!
Lisa: A Female Deer!
Re:No more deer for a week (Score:5, Funny)
HOMER: "Woo-hoo! Four-day weekend!"
Bah! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Bah! (Score:2, Funny)
Viva la conspiracion!
Re:Bah! (Score:2)
Re:Bah! (Score:2)
Nothing fails like success (Score:5, Insightful)
I can't agree with the reviewer here. The show was MORE satiric at the start - it satirised everything about television and popular culture, which necessarily meant it was mocking itself and its viewers. At the beginning it was clear that Marge and Homer were bad parents, and Homer in particular was a bad person. As the series became popular (and a cash cow) they lost the ability to do that. No satire can survive its own success.
How many Simpsons fans really are the embodiment of Comic Book Guy? Think about it - if they weren't, would all those geeky in-jokes and references succeed? When the show was at its sharpest early on, every time you laughed you were laughing at yourself. Nowadays they just don't do that, mostly because they're too afraid to kill the golden goose. In this respect it's become just like any other show, helmed by fearful TV execs.
I also disagree that the show got "zanier". Zaniness works when it's imposed on a crazy kind of order - sorting that out is where the humour lies. After a while the attempt to be any was simply producing nonsensical scenes with no rhyme nor reason. Not funny, and most of all not satirical - just pointless slapstick and a lot of WTF.
The other way in which the show devolved was to become much outwardly meanspirited, and this is another reason the satire isn't self-directed at the show and its viewers any more. It requires a careful balance to coax people into laughing at themselves, and you can't be too mean. A lot of the stunts in the past five years or so have been basically Itchy and Scratchy for "real". It's like some sort of sick circular progression - now the show really is a dark parody of what it used to be.
halloween episodes. (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:halloween episodes. (Score:2, Insightful)
And I agree about the bowling one, it was kinda bad.
My favorite... (Score:2)
Re:My favorite... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:My favorite... (Score:2)
Lionel Hutz was great. (Score:4, Funny)
LH: Well, I have lots of hearsay and conjecture, those are *kinds* of evidence.
LH: I lost the case, so your pizza's free.
MS: But we won the case.
LH: That's ok, the box is empty.
And of course the "No(,) money down" gag...
NRA 4 EVER (Score:2)
Re:NRA 4 EVER (Score:5, Informative)
From the List of Inquiries and Substantive Answers [snpp.com], aka the alt.tv.simpsons FAQ:
How much does Maggie cost in the opening titles?
Maggie is listed as costing $847.63, a figure once given as the amount of money required to raise a baby for one month in the US.
Re:NRA 4 EVER (Score:2)
Re:NRA 4 EVER (Score:3, Funny)
Re:NRA 4 EVER (Score:4, Informative)
How much does Maggie cost in the opening titles?
Maggie is listed as costing $847.63, a figure once given as the amount of money required to raise a baby for one month in the US.
But the trivia question in The 138th Episode Spectacular said that the cash register read "NRA4EVER". What's going on here?
The trivia questions in The 138th Episode Spectacular are gags made to troll the audience, just like the images of Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, and Sam Simon in the episode are not what those people really look like. The cash register question is a gag referring to the people who have labeled the show as "the most liberal on television" by portraying it as having an ultra-conservative slant.
Like Fine Wine... (Score:5, Interesting)
Other Classics:
Two Bad Neighbors (s7)
Bart vs. Australia (s6)
Deep Space Homer (s5)
Homers Enemy (s8)
2 dozen and 1 greyhounds -- best song ever (see my vest)
Brother From another Series -- "..those years at clown college" "I appreciate you not refer to Princeton that way"
$pringfield "I think we'll keep those jars of urine"
Colonel Homer "The don't call me Colonel Homer because I'm some dumbass army guy"
Anyway, I could do this all day but I think you get my point. (Quotes courtesy of The Simpsons Archive [snpp.com]).
As for eps that shouldn't have been included in the top 25: THOH, Spin-Off Special & Homer's Phobia. But this is purely subjective, so no flames please.
I do agree with they're pick for worst ep though
Re:Like Fine Wine... (Score:2)
My personal highlight was (I shamefully forgot the episode) the one where Homer, Marge and Lisa are rushing to the Springfield Tar Pits when Homer runs over a statue of a deer:
H: D'oh!
M: A deer!
L: A female deer!
Oy, that nearly made me spew the first time I saw it...
Re:Like Fine Wine... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Like Fine Wine... (Score:2)
Re:Stonecutters (Score:4, Funny)
Man, that *is* a great episode, but where I lost bladder control was during the song, which I really think is the very best one:
Best episode ever (Score:5, Funny)
The halloween special with the shinning. It's got 3 super hilarious quotes and is overall the best episode ever.
"no beer no tv make homer something something"
"shhhh, you wanna get suuuued?"
"that's willy's time!"
Homer collects unemployment (Score:5, Interesting)
On a side note, I know that Conan O'Brian wrote several of them (like the monorail one, I think). Does anyone know/have a list of those? And did any other famous people (co)write them also?
Re:Homer collects unemployment (Score:5, Informative)
Ralph Wiggum (Score:2, Funny)
Ralph: Help! She's touching my special area!
quotes (Score:5, Informative)
http://doheth.uzipp.com/opinion/50quotes.shtml [uzipp.com]
Ralph Wiggum as a /. poster... (Score:3, Funny)
What about the "Lemon Tree" episode? (Score:2, Interesting)
I agree with the person above. It seems they felt obligated to include too many "newer" episodes.
Oh well. Their website, their list, I guess.
Another List.... (Score:2)
Nonetheless, why they failed to include the wonderfully poignant Lisa's Wedding [snpp.com] is beyond me.
Science fiction (Score:2)
Who wants the best? (Score:2)
Re:Who wants the best? (Score:2)
I sure did. I was disappointed, too. I consider Alone Again, Natura-Diddly to be the absolute worst episode in the history of the series. It was poorly written, poorly conceived, and just felt rushed and unnecessary. I understand why they thought they had to do it, but it would have been better if Maude had been relegated to background/lineless scenes.
So, in self-mocking summation:
Worst episode ever!
Comic Book Guy (Score:5, Funny)
Bart: "But they provide you with free and quality content!"
CBG: "Worst. Top 25 list. ever."
Bart Sells His Soul... (Score:3, Insightful)
to quote Nate Patrin:
This episode kicked hairy yellow butt, right from the In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida bit to the Uncle Moe's Family Feedbag bit...
"Bart to the Future" the worst? NO! (Score:5, Insightful)
How, Marge? How?
Besides, there were some real stinkers in the first season while they were still trying to find their voice and before the show went Homer-centric (in a fair world, Homer-centric should be a word).
Re:"Bart to the Future" the worst? NO! (Score:4, Informative)
Ditto on Worst Episode Ever... it was called Gump Roast.
My favourite (Score:4, Funny)
(Mr Burns to Homer): "You're the fattest thing I've ever seen. And I've been on safari."
Quality of episodes declining (Score:4, Interesting)
Have all of the creative juices stopped flowing into the Simpsons? Or have they just had a bad run of writers?
Yes, but there's more (Score:4, Interesting)
Have all of the creative juices stopped flowing into the Simpsons? Or have they just had a bad run of writers?
I'm not sure what the difference between these two choices is. But there has definitely been not only a change in writing talent but also in attitude. I couldn't believe my eyes that someone voted "Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie" as one of the best 25. As a long time Simpsons fan, I was actually offended by that. The episode seemed designed to be a big "fuck you" to all the fans who were complaining about how the newer episodes were nowhere near as good as the past ones. I think the writers and producers would have been wise to listen to the feedback they were getting from fans. In fact, I just made this comment the other day about Star Trek [slashdot.org]. In the Poochie episode, Lisa finally goes off on a siloquoy (I know I spelled that wrong) about how Itchy and Scratchy is just as good as it's always been and that the falling ratings are just a result of being too successful for too long. This speech is obviously directed at unhappy fans of the Simpsons and telling them to shut the hell up and that their opinions are wrong (that the Simpsons is as good as it was in Conan's day). I couldn't believe the audacity of the writers!
Also, I don't understand what the hell they were thinking about the episode anyhow. The whole plot is that Poochie is a terrible character and makes I&S even more unwatchable. So then the writers of the Simpsons force us to watch these lame I&S clips and this is supposed to be funny? This is kind of like those awful "annoying man" skits on Saturday Night Live. I guess writers seem to think that shoving annoying stuff at us is going to make us laugh out of nervousness or something. As I see it, the entire I&S&P episode was designed as a "fuck you" to the fans and nothing else. It wasn't even designed to be funny. Why it got voted in the top 25 is beyond me.
GMD
What about ... (Score:5, Funny)
Deep Space Homer
the one where Homer gets fat to work from home
the episode where Bart wins the elephant
any episode where Barney is sober
and now for some classic simpsons quotes (all atributed to Homer of course - who else!):
"I'm a white male, aged 18 to 49. *Everybody* cares what I think!"
"Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try."
"I know I'm not usually a praying man, but if you're up there, Please Superman help me!"
"Homer no function beer well without."
"Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It's what separates us from the animals... except the weasel."
"To alcohol - the cause of, and solution to all of life's problems."
and my all-time favourite
"Maybe for once, someone will call me 'sir' without adding 'You're making a scene'." - Homer J Simpson
Re:What about ... (Score:3, Funny)
"I don't understand, that was non-alcoholic beer..."
My favorites that didn't make the list... (Score:3, Funny)
Homer: I've always wondered if there was a god. And now I know there is -- and it's me.
Marge: You're not a god, Homer.
Lisa: Remember Dad, "All glory is fleeting."
Homer: So?
Lisa: "Beware the Ides of March."
Homer: No!
Lisa: Dad, I know you think you're happy now, but it's not going to last forever.
Homer: Everything lasts forever.
Homer Goes to College [snpp.com]
Marge: [hearing modem noises] Ooh, what's wrong with this phone? it's making crazy noises.
Nerd 2: [contemptuously] Those "crazy noises" are computer signals.
Nerd 3: Yeah. Some guys at MIT are sending us reasons why Captain Picard is better than Captain Kirk.
Nerd 1: Hah! They're outta their minds.
I'll argue about the worst... (Score:2)
Bart throws a firecracker in the fireplace.
Indian: Hey! Stop that!
Bart: Hey I got that on your reservation!
Indian: That's crazytalk!
Bart: No really!
Indian: I know, its CrazyTalk. He's my brother
Oh, and Tree House Horror V is the best episode ever!
Simpson Plot Lines (Score:2, Interesting)
Two more... (Score:2)
No beer and no TV make Homer (Score:2)
Obvious "Best Episode Ever" (Score:5, Funny)
The Shinning! (Score:2)
Coors! (Score:2, Funny)
The 3 frogs sitting in the pond going "Bud... Weis... Er" over and over then the alligator eats them and goes "Coors!" I laughed for a very long time after that one.
Required reference (Score:2, Informative)
Simpson and Delilah (Score:3, Interesting)
It's the one where homer gets hair and suddenly becomes rich and successful. He has that assistant (Karl) who guides him to success.
It highlights some facets of society and life so well.
I like the one (Score:2)
That cracks me up ever time I think about it (tear).
Insert Simpsons Rant Here (Score:4, Insightful)
There's a good reason for this: Seasons 7-9 was during the transition of the writing and production from one staff to another; the original staff had nearly all been there since the concept of the Simpson on the Trace Ullman show, while the new staff was much less versed with the humble beginnings of the show.
Most long-time Simpsons fans that were on the net prior to that change immediately saw the changes that the show had made, and over the course of a few seasons, the fans no longer cared for the show. (I know a few of these people well, including some long time alt.tv.simpsons posters that simply dropped the show like a hot potato). The show became more cartoon-y, and less of a animated family sit-com. (That is, these people saw OFF as a show that could have been done live action if they really tried, but worked better as a cartoon; nowadays, most episodes can't be done live action as they involve too many abuses of the cartoon laws of physics). Plus there were changes in the emotional tone of the stories; the early seasons (at least from 3-7) had a good mix of comedy and emotion, but nearly all of the last 5 or 6 seasons have been strictly out and out comedy. They also changed the characters somewhat, making Homer more of a doofus as opposed to a not-so-bright father trying to do his best for the family, and making Lisa a political busybody, and most recently, dumbing down Marge. Too much focus on the external characters as well, and giving Homer all these crazy antics to do. Sure, if that's the way the show started as, then maybe it would be funny, but it's not the same as what most of us long-time fans would consider to be the heart of the Simpsons.
What's amazing is that there's very few mainstream publications that mention how poor the Simpsons are *today* compared to a decade ago. They all praise the show, it constantly wins awards, etc. The problem is, the Simpsons is a cornerstone of FOX, and to remove it would cause significant problems for its ratings battle on Sunday nights.
I think this list is at least some nod to how the Simpsons had good quality shows to start, and that the last several season have been 'blah' since. There have been good episodes of the last few seasons, or ones that could have worked; I do think "Homer's Phobia" is a good one to be on the list though a bit too high, if nothing else for the classic steel mill scene, and "A Day In the Life" which showed the same events, but from Homer's, Bart's, and Lisa's POV, could have worked if the zany adventures were held back a bit. But really, just like TNG and DS9 and the rest of the Trek universe, the Simpsons need to be retired. To see even 2 more seasons come out of the current staff is going to pull down the overall quality of the show even more.
Re:Insert Simpsons Rant Here - it's all relative (Score:3, Insightful)
Well, take a look around you...frankly, most entertainment-oriented TV (vs. edumacational stuff like Discovery) these days is shit. The Simpsons has definitely slid waaay downhill in the last decade (is the new staff the Family Guy crew perchance?), but it's still hands-down the best show on television today.
Re:Insert Simpsons Rant Here (Score:5, Insightful)
former *president* george bush... (Score:2)
- 'there it is homer, the smartest thing you'll ever say and there's no one around to hear it.'
Seriously, that was my favourite episode. How they could not name it is beyond me. The gags were hilarious, and if you watch closely enough when his memoirs get trashed you see a mention of Dan Quayle.
Brilliant!
Simpsons has sucked in the last 5 years... (Score:2)
What irks me is that The Family Guy had some real spunk and great writing, until it was cancelled (along with Futurama, which had a longer run). But I don't think it's reasonable to cancel those shows when King of the Hill and The Simpsons are still on. Is there no justice in the world?!
The PTA Disbands (Score:4, Funny)
"In this house we obey they laws of thermodynamics"
"I'll have no more of your Vasser bashing young lady."
"I guess I'll just have to go hide in the crawl space"
"I hate it when he does that."
"There's just something so unwholesome about flying a kite at night."
Peaked Too Soon...! (Score:5, Interesting)
90 XXX
91 X
92 XXX
93 XXXXXXX
94 XXX
95 X
96 XX
97 XXXX
98
99
00
01
02 X
Looks like they peaked early in 93 and, despite a brief revival in 97, its been downhill ever since.
Or does anybody's best ever list contain items from 98 - 02 seasons?
Phil Hartman Died in 1998 (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Peaked Too Soon...! (Score:5, Funny)
Man: But presidente, America tried to kill you!
Fidel Castro: Ah, they're not so bad. They even named a street after me in San Francisco!
Man 2: [whispers in Castro's ear]
Fidel Castro: It's full of what?!
Best Simpsons Site (Score:3, Informative)
http://www.snpp.com [snpp.com]
(Springfield Nuclear Power Plant)
M@
Simpsons is dead in the water if EW is covering it (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Simpsons is dead in the water if EW is covering (Score:3, Insightful)
If you don't remember, the PREMIERE issue of Entertainment Weekly, a dozen or so years ago, had a cover story on the making of the Simpsons.
I guess the show must have lost its relevance when it stopped being shorts on the Tracey Ullman show, then.
Favorite quote (Score:5, Funny)
Lisa: A deer!
Marge: A female deer!
Perfect! Just perfect!
Info (Score:5, Informative)
D'oh...Conflict (Score:3, Informative)
For those planning on watching the Simpsons at 8pm Sunday, Bravo will be re-running it at midnight.
In the Garden of Eden (Score:4, Funny)
300th Episode has already aired!! (Score:4, Interesting)
"It should be noted that while Fox is promoting "Barting Over" as the official 300th episode, this is not exactly correct. In fact, the 300th episode to be aired will be "Strong Arms of the Ma," on February 2nd. "Barting Over" isn't the 300th produced episode either, as that title goes to "Strong Arms of the Ma" as well."
We passed the 300th episode Milestone last Sunday! Anyone else celebrate?
OMG, how could they not pick... (Score:4, Insightful)
Highlights:
Aunt Gladys dies, they go to the funeral, and Selma wants a baby.
Lionel Hutz has a good, small part. (You'd be surprised how often that works, you really would)
Selma tries to find a man, including the pimply faced checkout boy.
Homer gets sick from eating a really old, 10-foot hoagie.
Because Homer is sick, the kids go to Duff Gardens with Selma. Classic stuff here, Lisa acid trips by drinking the water, Bart tries on Beer Goggles, the Seven Duffs, rapping Abe Lincoln, etc.
Homercles cares not for beans!
This episode kills me every single time I see it, and for some reason they don't run it very often in syndication. I literally watched for 2 years, 3 times a day trying to tape it. I finally downloaded it from the net. It is the 3rd season, so I am just waiting for the next DVD set to come out.
The thing is, there are sooooo many good episodes. Even recent ones have their "classic" moments that crack me up. Best Show Ever!
Wacking DAY!!!! (Score:3, Funny)
Why is there no wacking day?
Barry White guest stars
"Did you bring the pre-wacked snakes?"
"Should I wack fast or slow, Marge?"
"Oooh slow and then fast!"
"There's nothing I like more than the sexy slither of the lady snake."
"Wacking Day was originally started as an excuss to beat up the Irish"
Not to mention, the classic wacking day kung fu practice by Homer, Bart driving Willy's tractor into superintendent Chalmers. Come on people it deserves at least an honourable mention.
Chili cookoff! (Score:5, Insightful)
Its Different. Cool. Funny. How could they overlook it?
-Sean
Welcome to the Internet! (Score:5, Funny)
"Welcome to the Internet, my friend.
How can I help you ? "
customer:
" I am interested in upgrading my 28.8 KBaud
Internet connection to a 1.5 MBit fiber optic T1 line.
Will you be able to provide an IP router, that's
compatible with my TokenRing Ethernet LAN
configuration ? "
(pause)
Homer: Can i have some money now?
300th already happened (Score:3, Informative)
Note: Although Fox is promoting Feb. 16th's celebration as the night the 300th episode is airing, it is in fact THIS episode that is the 300th by count.
Which is referring to last week's episode when Marge pumped some iron.
What about Scorpio and The Prisoner? (Score:3, Interesting)
Worst episode: Homer and Burns go up a mountain on a team-bulding exercise, which is almost completely devoid of laughs. It was so bad I suspected had it in the can for years and only used it as an "emergency" episode when the Korean animators were unable to complete the latest one on time. Runner up: The episode where Bart shoots a bird and feels all bad about it, which is totally false to his character.
Re:Simpson's is too deep for most people (Score:5, Insightful)
IMHO, Entertainment Weekly did a fine job of picking episodes - much better than most publications do. Now if only the writers would pick up on that and say, "Maybe we should start doing that sort of thing again."
Re:Favorite quote: (Score:4, Funny)
Apu: "Mister Simpson, please do not offer my GOD a peanut."
Stupud tipo.
Re:Favorite quote: (Score:3, Funny)
Homer, after finding out the image of God on the ceiling was realy just a stuck pancake, decides to eat the once-known diety.
Re:Favorite quote: (Score:2, Funny)
My Favorite quote.
Re:Favorite quote: (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Favorite quote: (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Favorite quote: (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Favorite quote: (Score:3, Funny)
Homer: "Kids, kids. I'm not going to die. That only happens to bad people."
Bart: "What about Abraham Lincoln?"
Homer: "Uh, he sold poison milk to school children."
Homer: "No, no, no, Lisa. If adults don't like their jobs, they don't go on strike. They just go in every day and do it really half-assed."
Re:Favorite quote: (Score:3, Funny)
The best one is from the episode where the kids are snowed in at the school.
Homer and Flanders are driving there to rescue them when they run over something in the road.
Flanders: "We just ran over something."
Homer: "Yeah, I hope it was Flanders."
I laughed my ass off for probably 5 straight minutes.
Re:Favorite quote: (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Favorite quote: (Score:3, Funny)
Marge: "Ooh, Lisa is that too spicy for you?"
Lisa: "I can see through time!"
Re:Another one (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Springfield U (Score:2)
IMHO, the clown college was the better of the two, YMMV.
Re:Springfield U (Score:3, Funny)
I'll thank you not to refer to Princeton that way.
Re:So when... (Score:2)
it's a terrible strain on the animators' wrists (Score:2)
June: No, Homer. Very few cartoons are broadcast live, it's a terrible strain on the animators' wrists.
from 4F12 (the Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie Show)