THIS IS INDEED A DISTURBING UNIVERSE: The Simpsons Season 6 Poll

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http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ls0ebfrBuu1qztjn5o1_500.jpg

For a certain Shakey Mo Collier, opportunity knocks, as this is the season with the much-beloved "Lemon of Troy." For the rest of us . . . choices! It's hard not to go for the sentimental but hilarious "And Maggie Makes Three," or for the episode which gave us the name "Bort," or Bart and his telescope, or Bart and a different kind of telescope, or Lisa trying to do anagrams, or Mr. Burns's vest, or Homer vs. his sisters-in law, or Lowenstein . . .

It's going to be very, very, very hard for me not to throw my vote to THOH V, which to me is the standard by which all the other Halloween episodes are measured - genuinely gory and scary, but also hilariously funny, and great voice work throughout with some of the best animation the show ever achieved. (That said, my favorite throwaway gag from this season occurs in "Homer vs. Patty and Selma." See if you can guess what it is - I think you'll be pleasantly surprised!)

Have at it!

http://i.minus.com/iSNTFULos9aky.gif

Season 1 Poll Results
Season 2 Poll Results
Season 3 Poll Results
Season 4 Poll Results
Season 5 Poll Results
Season 6 Episode Descriptions

Poll Results

OptionVotes
Lemon of Troy 8
Treehouse of Horror V 4
Bart of Darkness 3
A Star is Burns 3
Homer the Great 3
Homer Badman 3
Lisa’s Wedding 2
Bart’s Comet 2
And Maggie Makes Three 2
Lisa’s Rival 2
Lisa on Ice 2
Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part One) 1
Two Dozen and One Greyhounds 1
Itchy & Scratchy Land 1
Bart vs. Australia 1
Fear of Flying 1
Sideshow Bob Roberts 1
Homie the Clown 0
The Springfield Connection 0
Round Springfield 0
The PTA Disbands 0
Bart’s Girlfriend 0
Another Simpsons Clip Show 0
Homer vs. Patty and Selma 0
Grandpa vs. Sexual Inadequacy 0


Ian from Etobicoke (Phil D.), Monday, 18 November 2013 14:21 (eleven years ago)

Even though this season gets kinda hit and miss, this is still tough. "Sideshow Bob Roberts" strikes me as the most consistently funny of these, but there are great individual bits scattered throughout the season. Plus, you know, "A Star is Burns" has football in the groin.

a fifth of misty beethoven (cryptosicko), Monday, 18 November 2013 14:26 (eleven years ago)

Also, the ending of "And Maggie Makes Three" never fails to bring a tear to my eye.

a fifth of misty beethoven (cryptosicko), Monday, 18 November 2013 14:28 (eleven years ago)

(That said, my favorite throwaway gag from this season occurs in "Homer vs. Patty and Selma." See if you can guess what it is - I think you'll be pleasantly surprised!)

"I never want to see you again! You either."

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 18 November 2013 14:32 (eleven years ago)

Close!

"You have to understand, Homer is a complicated man."
"Wrong!" *leans out window, breaks plate over head*

Ian from Etobicoke (Phil D.), Monday, 18 November 2013 14:33 (eleven years ago)

YES!

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 18 November 2013 14:34 (eleven years ago)

Fucking love that.

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 18 November 2013 14:34 (eleven years ago)

This never fails to bring tears of laughter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YZDbeu2li8

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 18 November 2013 14:35 (eleven years ago)

"Lisa on Ice" is, for me, the undeniable tearjerker. Plus it has Homer snapping Uter in the ass with a towel.

xp YES, "don't you eat this pie" is something I say at least once a week!

midnight outdoor nude frolic up north goes south (Eric H.), Monday, 18 November 2013 14:37 (eleven years ago)

Still, "A Star is Burns" has a man getting hit in the groin.

midnight outdoor nude frolic up north goes south (Eric H.), Monday, 18 November 2013 14:38 (eleven years ago)

Probably my favorite misdirect:

http://media0.giphy.com/media/REQUMI3igf7AA/200_s.gif

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 18 November 2013 14:39 (eleven years ago)

Whenever I park anywhere, anytime, I say, "Remember: we're in the Itchy lot."

http://www.11points.com/images/embarrass-itchy.jpg

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 18 November 2013 14:40 (eleven years ago)

And this comes up at least twice a week:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ja17JNE4ZU

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 18 November 2013 14:42 (eleven years ago)

Whenever I park anywhere, anytime, I say, "Remember: we're in the Itchy lot."

Me, too. Every single time.

Ian from Etobicoke (Phil D.), Monday, 18 November 2013 14:50 (eleven years ago)

Shortlist, but I need to rewatch a bunch of the others:

Lisa on Ice
Fear of Flying
Homie the Clown
Lemon of Troy

Watched "Bart of Darkness" last night, was still into the biggest jokes as always but it felt a lot rockier than Season 5 suddenly. The Jimmy Stewart bit, for example, just seemed unnecessary or gratuitous, the kind of thing you'd expect them to have the confidence to not go for. Still: "Milpool," "Klassic Krusty,"

"Grandpa Vs. Sexual Inadequacy" was just kind of awkward despite some really good bits.

But man oh man, "Homie the Clown." Would be in my top list of Simpsons episodes even if just for the animation of Marge's mouth when Homer's hearing her go "Doot-doot-doodle-oodle-doodle" etc. And just lots of stupid little gags along the way that tickle the hell out of me. Possibly Krusty's best episode? "A thief, am I? WELL EXCUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSE! ME!" Also:

* "Ehhh, without-a the loop, it is nothing."
* "Stop! Stop! He's already de-e-ead!"
* "I must be seein' double - four Krustys!"
* "You mean like that bozo, Bonko the clown?"
* "...a pretty big wheel down at the cracker factory!"
* Krusty betting against the Harlem Globetrotters: JUST TAKE THE BALL!
* Flanders protected by the Bible/true cross, then looking around with concern before retreating inside

God, I know someone else brought this up, but it is sooooo bizarre to read the old Usenet commentary on these through snpp.com. Just a cavalcade of Comic Book Guy.

Doctor Casino, Monday, 18 November 2013 15:50 (eleven years ago)

OTM re: Krusty's best ep.

Also, this season has two of my favorite gags, both having to do with windows:

From "Bart's Girlfriend," Homer's "Stop him! He's headed for the window!"

and of course
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egebWiYgq8M
(but since Marge is a scab, I can't in good conscience vote for this)

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 18 November 2013 15:55 (eleven years ago)

I almost forgot about this gag:

[Removed Illegal Image]

Ian from Etobicoke (Phil D.), Monday, 18 November 2013 17:44 (eleven years ago)

http://img.pandawhale.com/39710-homer-bart-simpson-kangaroo-me-JU4w.jpeg

Ian from Etobicoke (Phil D.), Monday, 18 November 2013 17:44 (eleven years ago)

Homer the Great, Bart v. Australia, Lemon of Troy

Gonna flip a coin between Homer the Great and Bart v. Australia

乒乓, Monday, 18 November 2013 17:46 (eleven years ago)

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111123223305/simpsons/images/c/c9/Logo.png

Deafening silence (DL), Monday, 18 November 2013 17:47 (eleven years ago)

Oh I forgot about a star is burns

乒乓, Monday, 18 November 2013 17:47 (eleven years ago)

Everybody please leave your lefty politics at the door, goddammit

This is the fucking Simpsons we're talking about!!!!!!!!!!

乒乓, Monday, 18 November 2013 17:48 (eleven years ago)

some less-than-stellar episodes this time around -- not really fond of the grampa one, the greyhounds one, the marge-becomes-a-cop one. agree with doc casino on 'bart of darkness,' which is funny but does seem like a harbinger of the bad trends of the future -- too-obvious parodies, fake suspense, stupid ending. i'm not that big a fan of 'lisa's wedding' either -- much prefer the future where bart is chief justice of the supreme court.

otoh who cares because the rest of these episodes are completely fucking awesome and this was still the best show ever.

(The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Monday, 18 November 2013 17:49 (eleven years ago)

'and maggie makes three' really hit me hard on a recent rewatch -- homer being forced to give up his dream job and trudge back to the factory is maybe the saddest moment in the show's history. the justly famous tearjerker ending works so well because it comes immediately after 'don't forget, you're here forever.'

also love 'lemon of troy,' which is such a great, weird idea for an episode.

(The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Monday, 18 November 2013 17:53 (eleven years ago)

not really fond of the grampa one, the greyhounds one

He's a witch! Burn him!

Ian from Etobicoke (Phil D.), Monday, 18 November 2013 18:11 (eleven years ago)

http://i.imgur.com/rZdNJ.jpg

"let's sacrifice him to our goooood!"

(The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Monday, 18 November 2013 18:19 (eleven years ago)

(That said, my favorite throwaway gag from this season occurs in "Homer vs. Patty and Selma." See if you can guess what it is - I think you'll be pleasantly surprised!)

Is it tethered swimming?

jmm, Monday, 18 November 2013 18:30 (eleven years ago)

I don't think I will *ever* get the stanning for "Homie the Clown" -- it's prime Simpsons, but some kind of transcendent-level godhead? Meh.

Almost certainly going to go for "And Maggie...", but wow, "Who Shot Mr. Burns" was in season SIX? It seems so much more recent than that!

Matt Groening's Cousin (Leee), Monday, 18 November 2013 18:31 (eleven years ago)

And by more recent I mean season TEN or something.

Matt Groening's Cousin (Leee), Monday, 18 November 2013 18:31 (eleven years ago)

Wait, nevermind, it was revealed upthread.

jmm, Monday, 18 November 2013 18:32 (eleven years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us3glFag2C4

xp

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 18 November 2013 18:32 (eleven years ago)

Well only one of us is Matt Groening's cousin.

Matt Groening's Cousin (Leee), Monday, 18 November 2013 18:39 (eleven years ago)

Whenever I park anywhere, anytime, I say, "Remember: we're in the Itchy lot."

Me, too. Every single time.

― Ian from Etobicoke (Phil D.), Monday, November 18, 2013 2:50 PM (3 hours ago) Bookmark

yeah, I really think I'm starting to annoy people. Not gonna stop though

Number None, Monday, 18 November 2013 18:43 (eleven years ago)

With a cool, dry wit like that, you could be an action hero!

Ian from Etobicoke (Phil D.), Monday, 18 November 2013 18:44 (eleven years ago)

"Clowns are funny."

Mr. Snrub, Monday, 18 November 2013 18:48 (eleven years ago)

'when i started this whole clown thing, i thought it would be nothing but glory! you know? the glory of being a clown?"

(The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Monday, 18 November 2013 18:50 (eleven years ago)

"Look, you're going to be having dinner with Groucho tonight if you don't beat it."

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 18 November 2013 18:59 (eleven years ago)

It's weird to me to see a lot of these episodes being in season six; some of them feel earlier ("Lisa's Rival), while others seem much, much later ("Who Shot Mr. Burns?").

A lot of good episodes, but imo it's the start of a long, slow decline in quality. A few episodes that I outright love and lots and lots of great moments scattered through each episode. I'm gonna give this one to "Itchy and Scratchy Land".

"We need more Bort licence plates!"

"In gratitude for stopping the killer robots, here are two free passes."

"But there are five of us?"

"Here are TWO free passes!"

"That's better!"

arctic mindbath (President of the People's Republic of Antarctica), Monday, 18 November 2013 19:00 (eleven years ago)

On the other hand, I forgot that "Homer the Great" was this season...

arctic mindbath (President of the People's Republic of Antarctica), Monday, 18 November 2013 19:01 (eleven years ago)

"We need more Bort licence plates!"

At the Universal Simpsons park:
http://splitsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/aAEVgyi1.jpg

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 18 November 2013 19:04 (eleven years ago)

Repping for THOH V, the guys at Dead Homer Society take a look at how great the animation in that ep was: http://deadhomersociety.com/2013/10/24/animation-alley-treehouse-of-horror-v/

Including calling out the amazing animation poses accompanying Dan Castellanetta's bravura "Go crazy? Don't mind if I DO!"

http://deadhomersociety.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/tohv-04.jpg

Ian from Etobicoke (Phil D.), Monday, 18 November 2013 19:16 (eleven years ago)

agree about bart of darkness but marge's song attempt at the end morals and ethics and carnal forbearance... is amazing

cerealbar, Monday, 18 November 2013 19:29 (eleven years ago)

the Treehouse of Horror ending really freaked me out as a kid.

How has no one mentioned "Bart's Comet" yet?

Simon H., Monday, 18 November 2013 19:37 (eleven years ago)

Different eps; "Bart of Darkness" is the Rear Window pastiche, while "Bart After Dark" is where Bart works in a burlesque house, which I was only at to get directions on how to get away from it.

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 18 November 2013 19:39 (eleven years ago)

(xp)

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 18 November 2013 19:39 (eleven years ago)

"Bart After Dark" has long been my claim for the point of no return for the show.

ryan, Monday, 18 November 2013 20:01 (eleven years ago)

need to rewatch this season but I remember thinking season 7 was actually a little better.

ryan, Monday, 18 November 2013 20:02 (eleven years ago)

Worth mentioning: Even though we already knew about Jebediah Springfield, it's a stroke of writerly genius that the founder of Shelbyville is not a Roger Shelby or somesuch, but "Shelbyville Manhattan."

Ian from Etobicoke (Phil D.), Monday, 18 November 2013 20:07 (eleven years ago)

My second favorite screengrab from this season after the dancing clowns in the first post:

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m10m3k9I721r32wpdo1_1280.png

Vinnie, Monday, 18 November 2013 20:41 (eleven years ago)

Lisa: This is so cool, Bart. We're just like Woodward and Bernstein.

Bart: Yeah, except their dad wasn't waiting in the car reading Archie comics.

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 18 November 2013 20:44 (eleven years ago)

http://i.imgur.com/uvsU5jV.gif

Øystein, Monday, 18 November 2013 20:56 (eleven years ago)

Plus it has Homer snapping Uter in the ass with a towel.
Oh dear god! "Don't make me run, I'm full of chocolate!"

http://i.imgur.com/YJuOA.gif (huh, google led to reddit which led to this = REDDIT RULZ ILX0R DROOLS)

Øystein, Monday, 18 November 2013 21:01 (eleven years ago)

Gah, praising the fedora-site clearly jinxed me...
http://i.imgur.com/uvsU5jV.gif

Øystein, Monday, 18 November 2013 21:03 (eleven years ago)

Oh for pete's sake!
This calls for one of these :(

Øystein, Monday, 18 November 2013 21:03 (eleven years ago)

A Simpsons joke that's actually relevant to my profession:

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6wcip5r2Z1qaj6zko1_500.jpg

Followed by BOWLING HERE! GET YOUR BOWLING!

http://i.imgur.com/Ubip3Gq.gif

Ian from Etobicoke (Phil D.), Monday, 18 November 2013 21:04 (eleven years ago)

Homer: Get out of there. My family needs to use your bomb shelter.

Ned: I kind of figured this might happen, so I built the shelter big enough for both our families.

Homer: No deal. Out.

Mr. Snrub, Monday, 18 November 2013 21:05 (eleven years ago)

I always tear up a little bit when everyone appears behind Flanders singing "Que Sera, Sera."

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 18 November 2013 21:14 (eleven years ago)

Phil, I'm still not sure where Homer went wrong.

Matt Groening's Cousin (Leee), Monday, 18 November 2013 21:26 (eleven years ago)

Radio DJ at 4:00 a.m.: "Top of the hour, time for the morning news. But of course there is no news because everyone's asleep in their comfy, comfy beds. Good night, everybody."

Mr. Snrub, Monday, 18 November 2013 21:52 (eleven years ago)

"Bart After Dark" has long been my claim for the point of no return for the show.

― ryan, Monday, November 18, 2013 3:01 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark

But the very next episode has "Can I borrow a feeling"

乒乓, Monday, 18 November 2013 21:56 (eleven years ago)

...Jeremy's... iron?

emil.y, Monday, 18 November 2013 22:21 (eleven years ago)

You know what? I have a ball. Perhaps you'd like to bounce it.

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 18 November 2013 22:58 (eleven years ago)

I jeer yon Mr.

Matt Groening's Cousin (Leee), Monday, 18 November 2013 23:13 (eleven years ago)

xps oh yeah. bart after dark isn't great either

cerealbar, Tuesday, 19 November 2013 00:21 (eleven years ago)

...and neither is bart of darkness

cerealbar, Tuesday, 19 November 2013 00:21 (eleven years ago)

Milpool is funny

Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 00:25 (eleven years ago)

It's also got canwehaveapooldad?canwehaveapooldad?canwehaveapooldad?canwehaveapooldad?canwehaveapooldad?canwehaveapooldad?

along with, "Hey, Nelson, I think Bart's really hurt!" "I said 'Ha ha'!"

not to mention
http://25.media.tumblr.com/RaAhBBk4Ti2s1zmqi0XXjsQSo1_500.jpg

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 00:27 (eleven years ago)

Astonished that there isnt universal consensus - as should be - that Bart V Australia is easily, no question, the shittest episode in this season. It is beyond cringeworthy and crap.

taxi tomato or bag tomato (Trayce), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 00:50 (eleven years ago)

no

Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 00:50 (eleven years ago)

snazzwozzer

Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 00:50 (eleven years ago)

malungagilderchuck

Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 00:50 (eleven years ago)

It's pretty crappy, I guess.

a fifth of misty beethoven (cryptosicko), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 00:51 (eleven years ago)

I'm prob gonna vote TOH on this one, "The Shinning" is all time.

taxi tomato or bag tomato (Trayce), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 00:52 (eleven years ago)

governor in a kiddie pool with a Fosters.jpg

xp

Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 00:52 (eleven years ago)

Look I like it when they take the piss out of other countries but they did SUCH a fucking lazy job on Australia (compared to the show on Japan which was great, and even the Brazil one was ehhh ok).

taxi tomato or bag tomato (Trayce), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 00:53 (eleven years ago)

It was genuinely as if the writers/animators had no idea what the country even looked like. I hated it so much.

taxi tomato or bag tomato (Trayce), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 00:53 (eleven years ago)

that's why it's funny!

Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 00:54 (eleven years ago)

TBF tho, thats mainly because when americans try to do Aus accents, they fail so miserably every time without fail, it is embarrasing.

taxi tomato or bag tomato (Trayce), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 00:54 (eleven years ago)

I'm with Trayce on Bart vs Australia, though I also dislike And Maggie Makes Three, so maybe nobody should listen to me. My cat's breath smells like cat food.

emil.y, Tuesday, 19 November 2013 00:54 (eleven years ago)

the zings are even lazier than the drunken Frenchmen in Bart goes to France!

xp

Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 00:54 (eleven years ago)

The best thing in that episode is Phil Hartman's one-off character Evan Conover. This affable State Department guy who says "Kno-ock!" when he enters a room.

jmm, Tuesday, 19 November 2013 00:56 (eleven years ago)

Lisa's Wedding in a heartbeat. the most i ever felt sorry for Homer is when he explains to Lisa that maybe his cute piggy cufflinks weren't Hugh's "cup of Tea". :/

piscesx, Tuesday, 19 November 2013 01:02 (eleven years ago)

It was genuinely as if the writers/animators had no idea what the country even looked like. I hated it so much.

― taxi tomato or bag tomato (Trayce), Monday, November 18, 2013 7:53 PM (9 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I know those words, but that post makes no sense.

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 01:03 (eleven years ago)

Fear Of Flying is amazing for a million reasons and it gave the world the phrase "sugar-me-do" for which i'm eternally grateful.

piscesx, Tuesday, 19 November 2013 01:07 (eleven years ago)

Look I like it when they take the piss out of other countries but they did SUCH a fucking lazy job on Australia (compared to the show on Japan which was great, and even the Brazil one was ehhh ok).

never saw the brazil one but the japan one is total unfunny crap from a shitty season, and the australia one is an average-ish episode from an awesome season -- no contest at all imo. they never topped bart goes to france, tho.

(The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 01:08 (eleven years ago)

You're crazy if you think the Japan and Brazil one's were anything but hack, lazy parodies.

I always think Fear of Flying is season 8 or so. It feels so undercooked compared to the rest of the season, in a way that signals the decline soon to come.

Fiddler on a hot tin roof (ed.b), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 01:24 (eleven years ago)

The Cheers parody was fun, but the ending of that episode felt like too-quickly-wrapped-up schmaltz.

Arctic Mindbath, Tuesday, 19 November 2013 01:31 (eleven years ago)

People, people, you're all right: it always sucks when the Simpsons go to some faraway place. The Australia one is definite crap, one of the first outright bad episodes after years of a basically continuous streak.

re: "Lisa's Wedding," I like piscesx's post about the cufflinks, and do find this to be a satisfying episode on a character/family level, but man does it take a lot of chatty scenes to get there. I might have to swing away and vote for "Lisa on Ice" as the one episode here that I think nails both the lolz and the awws.

"Fear of Flying" though - - -

http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/m9I1JemSI2s/hqdefault.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/3770347f770430be0988a6cda7353fec/tumblr_mv1tdhvSdR1qeypmqo1_400.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSGHHcvDNjs

"You heard your mother's ramblings, she's fine! So behave."

Doctor Casino, Tuesday, 19 November 2013 01:37 (eleven years ago)

Also: "Enjoy your DEATH TRAP, ladies!"

And I find the whole opening bit with Homer "taking it too far" with the bar pranks totally cute... a nice absurding-up of a moment I feel like I've experienced countless times.

Doctor Casino, Tuesday, 19 November 2013 01:40 (eleven years ago)

Australia hate is utterly baffling to me. Chokin' on my own rage here.

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 01:46 (eleven years ago)

maaaaaaaayne, the australia episode has so much good stuff, including the outrageously wrong and offensive depiction of australia. slightly diminished in retrospect by being the first in the line of increasingly awful 'the simpsons go to' episodes maybe.

this is tough again but i'm leaning towards homie the clown. this is one of the all time great simpsons facial expressions:

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_laidj3muhx1qztjn5o1_500.jpg

Merdeyeux, Tuesday, 19 November 2013 01:46 (eleven years ago)

"That's not even Michael Nesmith's real hat!"

Maintenance Engineer of Foolhardiness (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 01:47 (eleven years ago)

I say "Yes yes yes, it's all a rich tapestry" pretty much daily.

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 01:50 (eleven years ago)

the trash tv parodies in 'homer badman' are disturbingly not-dated.

(The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 01:57 (eleven years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSfrbqCQr78

Homer Badman is great, but it's kinda second tier to me for this season. Fear of Flying is, if anything, underrated. Along with the "rich tapestry" quote it also gave me the invaluable "Lemme out lemme out lemme out lemme out lemme out!"

Ian from Etobicoke (Phil D.), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 02:19 (eleven years ago)

The writing staff wanted to do an episode where the Simpsons family traveled to Australia, because they thought everyone in Australia had a good sense of humor and that they "would get the jokes".[5] ... They designed Australia and the Australian people very inaccurately and many things were completely made up for fun.[4]

fit and working again, Tuesday, 19 November 2013 02:21 (eleven years ago)

THOH this season also just an amazing tour de force for the voice cast, but especially Dan Castellanetta.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq4ojUJ-jwE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yGJGTjV2WE

Ian from Etobicoke (Phil D.), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 02:24 (eleven years ago)

the trash tv parodies in 'homer badman' are disturbingly not-dated.

Rewatching these, sometimes it feels like the Simpsons have just so accurately predicted how dumbed down and idiotic mass entertainment would get. And at the same time, some of the stuff that was originally satire is now just part of dumbed down, unironic mass culture. I can't really point to specific examples but I do think some of these jokes were more making fun of culture when the show was produced, and now we live in an era where those jokes have all been internalized and resold to us by Simpsons-raised corporations. I guess that's something that all massively popular subversive entertainment goes through.

But some of these early jokes, especially about authority figures like the government, cops, school teachers, bosses, etc., are razor-sharp.

Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 02:39 (eleven years ago)

The Cheers bit in the fear of flying episode was where it all started to go wrong. I remember Fox hyped that episode up like crazy "The cast of Cheers on The Simpsons!"... and it turned out to be like 20 seconds of screen time. And not funny at all.

Mr. Snrub, Tuesday, 19 November 2013 02:46 (eleven years ago)

I love Homer Badman ever so, but sometimes it feels a little adbusters baby's first media analysis. Still, so much of that episode is so on.

Fiddler on a hot tin roof (ed.b), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 02:50 (eleven years ago)

Also prescient of Homer to praise the news story on the Sasquatch as "Fair and Even-Handed". You wonder if someone at Fox heard that and filed it away.

Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 04:09 (eleven years ago)

Newsman: Simpson scandal update: Homer sleeps nude in an oxygen tent
which he believes gives him sexual powers.
Homer: Hey -- that's a half-truth!

Maintenance Engineer of Foolhardiness (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 04:17 (eleven years ago)

Marge: There are only 49 stars on that flag.
Abe: I'll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognize
Missourah!

Maintenance Engineer of Foolhardiness (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 04:19 (eleven years ago)

Rewatching these, sometimes it feels like the Simpsons have just so accurately predicted how dumbed down and idiotic mass entertainment would get. And at the same time, some of the stuff that was originally satire is now just part of dumbed down, unironic mass culture. I can't really point to specific examples but I do think some of these jokes were more making fun of culture when the show was produced, and now we live in an era where those jokes have all been internalized and resold to us by Simpsons-raised corporations.

My bf and I have this very convo quite frequently, actually.

a fifth of misty beethoven (cryptosicko), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 05:12 (eleven years ago)

The Cheers bit in the fear of flying episode was where it all started to go wrong. I remember Fox hyped that episode up like crazy "The cast of Cheers on The Simpsons!"... and it turned out to be like 20 seconds of screen time. And not funny at all.

― Mr. Snrub, Tuesday, 19 November 2013 02:46 (3 hours ago) Permalink

I don't think it's hilarious, but one failed joke doesn't necessarily mean the beginning of the end. And Fox had a habit of hyping episodes not just for the wrong reasons, but sometimes in ways that directly contradicted the point of the episode (cf. ads for "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy" in TV Guide: "Springfield's got a sexy new doll!")

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 05:57 (eleven years ago)

Rewatching these, sometimes it feels like the Simpsons have just so accurately predicted how dumbed down and idiotic mass entertainment would get. And at the same time, some of the stuff that was originally satire is now just part of dumbed down, unironic mass culture.

This is exactly how I feel about The Day Today and Brasseye tbh.

Vic Arpeggio, Private Investigator (stevie), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 10:16 (eleven years ago)

Voted Fear of Flying. Solid gold for me. I still quote this:

Lisa: Look on the bright side, Dad. Did you know that the Chinese use the same word for "crisis" as they do for "opportunity"?

Homer: Yes! Cris-atunity

And this:

The Monkees weren't about music, Marge. They were about rebellion, about political and social upheaval!

Deafening silence (DL), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 10:54 (eleven years ago)

Homer Badman is my all time favourite episode of any television show ever. it is literally perfect.

the Shearer of simulated snowsex etc. (Dwight Yorke), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 11:51 (eleven years ago)

governor in a kiddie pool with a Fosters.jpg

xp

― Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, November 19, 2013 12:52 AM (11 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

my MP's registered address is like 30 metres from my house. whenever I remember this I always think about that scene

too much Michu, not enough meta (DJ Mencap), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 12:04 (eleven years ago)

"EVEN THE MAN IN THE WHITEHOUSE?"

the Shearer of simulated snowsex etc. (Dwight Yorke), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 12:05 (eleven years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSfrbqCQr78

Number None, Tuesday, 19 November 2013 12:07 (eleven years ago)

I bent my wookiee.

emil.y, Tuesday, 19 November 2013 13:11 (eleven years ago)

smh, complaining that the Australia episode is full of inaccurate, lazy stereotypes is like complaining about groundskeeper Willie "omg have these ppl even BEEN to Scotland I hope someone got fired for that blunder"

comic sbans soref (wins), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 13:17 (eleven years ago)

"Nobody from North Kilttown speaks that dialect!"

Ian from Etobicoke (Phil D.), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 13:41 (eleven years ago)

always though Willie was a fairly rubbish character tbh

Number None, Tuesday, 19 November 2013 13:50 (eleven years ago)

Until he tore off his shirt (the first time).

midnight outdoor nude frolic up north goes south (Eric H.), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 13:51 (eleven years ago)

who's got the hotter bod, Flanders or Groundskeeper Willie?

Number None, Tuesday, 19 November 2013 13:54 (eleven years ago)

Flanders is gym-ripped. Willie is au naturel buff.

midnight outdoor nude frolic up north goes south (Eric H.), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 14:00 (eleven years ago)

If anybody can make the "but we make fun of everybody!" argument work it's probably the Simpsons

But I can definitely understand if you're from Ausland or Japan or South Asia or Scotland and you don't like those episodes / characters

乒乓, Tuesday, 19 November 2013 14:03 (eleven years ago)

The Cheers bit in the fear of flying episode was where it all started to go wrong. I remember Fox hyped that episode up like crazy "The cast of Cheers on The Simpsons!"... and it turned out to be like 20 seconds of screen time. And not funny at all.

Yeah this episode was the first time I remember thinking a guest appearance was completely superfluous and unfunny, a complete ratings grab. First of many to come. Some pretty lazy references in this episode too, like the Lost in Space and Alive ones. Probably the worst ep of the season, but Mr. Incognito makes up for a lot of weak jokes.

Vinnie, Tuesday, 19 November 2013 14:21 (eleven years ago)

Homer: Yes! Cris-atunity

Like, this is a joke that works partly because Homer is an idiot, yet nowadays horrible and lazy puns like Cris-atunity are used all the time.

Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 18:03 (eleven years ago)

Homer Badman. "Will you two please stop saying 'gummy'?"

I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Saturday, 23 November 2013 23:17 (eleven years ago)

"Milpool"

Lesbian has fucking riffs for days (Neanderthal), Saturday, 23 November 2013 23:23 (eleven years ago)

Itchy and Scratchy land was great for theme-park weary Floridians such as myself (and I was still a kid at the time). especially the "glad that wasn't us" car crash fakeout.

the video edit in Homer's interview in "Homer Badman" was hilarious too.

Lesbian has fucking riffs for days (Neanderthal), Saturday, 23 November 2013 23:28 (eleven years ago)

Homer: Oh, that man is _sick_!
Marge: Groundskeeper Willy saved you, Homer.
Homer: But listen to the music! He's evil!
Marge: Hasn't this experience taught you... you can't believe everything you hear?
Homer: Marge, my friend, I haven't learned a thing.

Lesbian has fucking riffs for days (Neanderthal), Saturday, 23 November 2013 23:31 (eleven years ago)

governor in a kiddie pool with a Fosters.jpg

Actually it was the PM, plus don't forget he was nude

Sir Lord Baltimora (Myonga Vön Bontee), Saturday, 23 November 2013 23:32 (eleven years ago)

ICE CREAM! ICE CREAM! I'M ALLLLLL OUTTA ICE CREAM!!!!

Lesbian has fucking riffs for days (Neanderthal), Saturday, 23 November 2013 23:36 (eleven years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

System, Sunday, 24 November 2013 00:01 (eleven years ago)

Haha on my recent rewatch the ice cream man joke was definitely the highlight of the ep, had totally forgotten that.

Doctor Casino, Sunday, 24 November 2013 00:53 (eleven years ago)

always though Willie was a fairly rubbish character tbh

GTFO

taxi tomato or bag tomato (Trayce), Sunday, 24 November 2013 07:27 (eleven years ago)

but i agree with you about Bart vs. Australia!

Number None, Sunday, 24 November 2013 12:53 (eleven years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

System, Monday, 25 November 2013 00:01 (eleven years ago)

Thats fuckin right

Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 25 November 2013 00:02 (eleven years ago)

"Eat all our shirts!"

Maintenance Engineer of Foolhardiness (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 25 November 2013 00:09 (eleven years ago)

Must be why we beat them at football nearly half the time.

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 25 November 2013 00:26 (eleven years ago)

Homie the Clown 0

WHAT THE. i guess i forgot to vote again :'(.

Merdeyeux, Monday, 25 November 2013 00:27 (eleven years ago)

this is one of the all time great simpsons facial expressions:

OTM.

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Monday, 25 November 2013 00:28 (eleven years ago)

Omg, wow. My vote for Lisa on Ice was partly on the assumption that Homie the Clown would take it in a landslide.

Doctor Casino, Monday, 25 November 2013 00:37 (eleven years ago)

I voted for "Lisa On Ice" on the assumption more people would be voting for "A Star is Burns."

midnight outdoor nude frolic up north goes south (Eric H.), Monday, 25 November 2013 00:43 (eleven years ago)

Paid off.

midnight outdoor nude frolic up north goes south (Eric H.), Monday, 25 November 2013 00:43 (eleven years ago)

i was sure Homie The Cown was an absolute ILX all-time fave.

piscesx, Monday, 25 November 2013 00:46 (eleven years ago)

http://www.snpp.com/episodes/2F31.html the reviews for 'A Star is Burns' are a lark. "While I can't call this one the *worst* ever, because lots of the individual jokes were funny and because nothing can sink to the depths of "Bart Gets an Elephant" or "Bart Gets Famous" ..."

Merdeyeux, Monday, 25 November 2013 00:51 (eleven years ago)

LOL @ everyone forgetting to vote each round (i voted TOH and I remembered!)

taxi tomato or bag tomato (Trayce), Monday, 25 November 2013 00:58 (eleven years ago)

struggling to find a jpg of bart's failed campaign for class president a few seasons ago

Doctor Casino, Monday, 25 November 2013 01:17 (eleven years ago)

I knew this reminded me of something! Well, that and this:

http://theinfosphere.org/images/2/29/Robo_Nixon.png

taxi tomato or bag tomato (Trayce), Monday, 25 November 2013 02:19 (eleven years ago)

AH crap well you know.

taxi tomato or bag tomato (Trayce), Monday, 25 November 2013 02:19 (eleven years ago)

Homer vs. Patty and Selma 0

Boo!

a fifth of misty beethoven (cryptosicko), Monday, 25 November 2013 02:21 (eleven years ago)

when are people going to learn! democracy doesn't work!

Merdeyeux, Monday, 25 November 2013 02:35 (eleven years ago)

"Shake harder, boy!"

"Lemon" feels kind of unique with its touches of self-reflexive kidhood nostalgia

Sir Lord Baltimora (Myonga Vön Bontee), Monday, 25 November 2013 03:13 (eleven years ago)

I don't have much of "Lemon of Troy" committed to long-term memory, but this. is. eternal.

http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l9i4abLVeD1qc073co1_400.gif

Matt Groening's Cousin (Leee), Monday, 25 November 2013 03:17 (eleven years ago)

Really don't get the overwhelming love for this winning episode.

midnight outdoor nude frolic up north goes south (Eric H.), Monday, 25 November 2013 03:37 (eleven years ago)

Like the episode myself, but yeah, these are some baffling results.

a fifth of misty beethoven (cryptosicko), Monday, 25 November 2013 03:40 (eleven years ago)

Also, my fave gags in this episode all involve Homer in Flanders' RV:

"Something's draining the battery!" [cut to Homer cooking a Turkey]

"I'll be in the shower."

a fifth of misty beethoven (cryptosicko), Monday, 25 November 2013 03:43 (eleven years ago)

They had banished the awful lemon tree forever. Because it was haunted.

Doctor Casino, Monday, 25 November 2013 04:49 (eleven years ago)

Also, my fave gags in this episode all involve Homer in Flanders' RV:

"Something's draining the battery!" [cut to Homer cooking a Turkey]

"I'll be in the shower."

plus: "Aah! Oh, great, now I'm upside down."

Maintenance Engineer of Foolhardiness (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 25 November 2013 05:33 (eleven years ago)

Bart: [on walkie talkie] Milhouse! What's seven in roman numerals?
Milhouse: I'll tell you, Bart, but you really should end each
transmission with the word "over". Over!
Milhouse2: [snatching Milhouse's walkie talkie] Correction: the only
thing that's over is this transmission.
Milhouse: Is this the untimely end of Milhouse?
Milhouse2: [pause] But Milhouse is my name!
Milhouse: But I thought I was the only one!
Milhouse2: [shakes head] A pain I know all too well.
Milhouse: So this is what it feels like...when doves cry.

Maintenance Engineer of Foolhardiness (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 25 November 2013 05:34 (eleven years ago)

The best thing about the show lasting as long and falling off as far as it has is that rewatching these early seasons that I once recorded and watched VHS feels like discovering a time capsule of awesome. Might as well be beamed in from another planet.

Josh in Chicago, Monday, 25 November 2013 14:27 (eleven years ago)

One thing that's funny to me is how many of the Season 6 episodes feel like a decline, which I'm sure I didn't fully feel at the time ("Bart vs. Australia" excepted). It's probably partly that I know where things are headed, but also the boiling-the-frog thing where watching so many of these in a month gives a much clearer indication of the changes (e.g. Homer as lunatic jerk/dummy) which just weren't so obvious when these were new, even though the early episodes were basically airing side by side. I dunno.

Doctor Casino, Monday, 25 November 2013 15:29 (eleven years ago)

Hey everybody an old man's talking!

I'm sure Lemon of Troy grew in my estimation because it was one of the ones that was originally hardly ever run in syndication (I doubt this has changed) - when I was taping all these episodes onto VHS it took *forever* to finally catch that one, it was like the holy grail. and it doesn't disappoint, almost every line is a solid joke, not a second is wasted. The classical references, the childlike logic underpinning everything, all the verbal sparring between the kids and their evil twins, it's just perfect. in conclusion if you don't like this episode you are a weak little baby, you stupid weak baby.

Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 25 November 2013 18:24 (eleven years ago)

^^^ Love this episode so much. So many wonderful, off the wall bits of dialogue.

"Bart's quit his tutoring job and joined a violence gang!"

"They're always eatin' candy. They love the sweet taste."

"Get out here, son. There's a doin's a-transpiring!"

And my alltime favorite: "Faster, son! He's got a taste for meat now!"

parTy friendly (Dan Peterson), Monday, 25 November 2013 18:44 (eleven years ago)

Grampa's the name.

Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 25 November 2013 18:44 (eleven years ago)

one of homer's finest moments:

"now marge, you can't blame all of bart's problems on your one little speech! if anything messed the boy up, it's that time you let him wear a bathing suit instead of underwear! AND, let's not forget your little speech!"

(The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Monday, 25 November 2013 20:48 (eleven years ago)

Definitely one of the all-time best. No one's even mentioned the Nelson-Martin scene.

Vinnie, Monday, 25 November 2013 21:23 (eleven years ago)

"Spring forth, burly protector, and save me!"

Ian from Etobicoke (Phil D.), Monday, 25 November 2013 21:24 (eleven years ago)

running gag re: attractive cousins

Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 25 November 2013 21:33 (eleven years ago)

i use "there's a-doin's a-transpirin'!" way too often in real life

(The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Monday, 25 November 2013 21:38 (eleven years ago)

fwiw I say "spring forth, burly protector, and save me!" way too often irl

Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 25 November 2013 21:57 (eleven years ago)

Really love the failure of cartoon logic in this show, how Bart thinks he can use spray paint as makeshift rockets and Milhouse thinks a camouflage suit will turn him into the Cheshire Cat.

Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Monday, 25 November 2013 21:59 (eleven years ago)

also how graffiti makes one immortal, how Bart assumes he's famous in other towns etc. so much of that in this episode

Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 25 November 2013 22:08 (eleven years ago)

I really dislike that tiger bit more than is necessary, but there's plenty more good stuff to make up for it.

Sir Lord Baltimora (Myonga Vön Bontee), Monday, 25 November 2013 22:18 (eleven years ago)

eleven years pass...

this season definitely feels like a harbinger of the show's decline but it does have a lot of the funniest scenes in the series

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArNxvgiMKeE

frogbs, Wednesday, 23 April 2025 14:55 (one month ago)


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