The Simpsons - General Discussion

[AimingforYoko]

Apu gets discovered by the Sungazer much like whatshisface & Journey.

Arnel Pineda. That happened in 2008. The Simpsons, current as ever.

[Kaboom 2.0]

I think I enjoyed Sammy Hagar's cameo best of all, first his inclusion in Heaven with the other rock greats, being brought back to life by that waiter followed by his explanation of where he just was (and he had the right wristband!), and then spinning a  yarn of incredible-ness at the end in the jail cell with the others. I know, I'm shocked too, lol. Second best: Moe vs King Toot.

[Taeolas]

By my count, there were two B-Sharps references, so they didn't completely forget their previous music experience. :) (First was in the spinning paper, with the announcement of Covercraft's formation, there was a mention of B-Sharp's breakup; and then there was a picture of the B-Sharps at Paris IIRC in the warmup room at CostingtonCentre at the end). 

 

Overall, I liked the episode; I do wish they could have done more with King Toot, but the overall story was decent and held together well, and the wrapups weren't bad at all. 

[mtlchick]

Unfortunately my Fox station cut from Mulaney straight into the show so i didn't see the couch gag :/  But I did appreciate "And that is the tragic story of how the Quebec Nordiques became the Colorado Avalanche."

[Lugal]

I liked this one. As someone who has to listen to the classic rock station at work, I can appreciate Apu's situation, maintaining his sanity.

[opus]

Homer was in Sadgasm. He should play lead.

[dusang]

Can anyone tell me where exactly the line "Why now? Why not ten years ago?" came from?

 

I feel like it was "The Critic" speaking to McBain about his retirement. Am I hallucinating?

[M. Darcy]

Tomorrow is a tribute to Phil Hartman.

Which means monorail!!

[dusang]

Thanks!

[honeywest]

Lisa: "You're a latter-day Clarence Darrow!"

 

Lionel Hutz: "Was he the black guy on The Mod Squad?"

[Iboatedhere]

Ray Patterson: You know, I'm not much on speeches but it's so gratifying to leave you wallowing in the mess you've made- you're screwed. Thank you, bye.

 

Lisa: You know the Chinese use the same word for crisis that they do for opportunity?

Homer: Yes. Crisitunity!

 

Ralph: Do you want a hint?

Lisa: I don't need a hint, Ralph.

Ralph: But you're suffering!

[honeywest]

Moe (reading Team of Rivals at Bookacino's): "I ain't never paid for Doris Kearns Goodwin in my life, and I ain't gonna start now!"

[radishcake]

After Moe convinces Homer to stay out drinking on Christmas Eve, Marge tells Homer not to come home. This leads to Homer's sad trek through lonely Springfield, where he learns that the only place where one should truly get drunk on Christmas is home.

[radishcake]

Sunday December 7 it's a Holiday Block Party! (All times EST)

http://youtu.be/4riW8XnT0PI

4pm: Season 7 Episode 11: Marge Be Not Proud
Bart is accused of shoplifting and panics when Marge plans a family portrait at the same store. Voice cast includes Julie Kavner, Dan Castellaneta and Nancy Cartwright.
4:30pm: Season 9 Episode 10: Simpsons Christmas - Miracle on Evergreen Terrace
Bart accidentally destroys the family's Christmas presents and evades blame by claiming they were stolen by a burglar, prompting the Springfield residents to open their hearts and wallets in an overwhelming show of charity towards the family. With the guest voice of American TV presenter Alex Trebek
5pm: Season 12 Episode 8: Skinner's Sense of Snow
A snowstorm leaves Bart, Lisa and their fellow students trapped inside Springfield Elementary and it is not long before the pupils are running amok. Homer and Ned Flanders are left to mount the rescue operation to save the kids - and Principal Skinner
5:30pm: Season 13 Episode 6: She of Little Faith
Mr Burns takes over the running of the local church and turns it into a profit-making business, prompting a disgusted Lisa to leave the congregation in protest and become a Buddhist instead. Featuring the guest voice of Richard Gere
6pm: Season 15 Episode 7: Simpsons Christmas - 'Tis the 15th Season
When Homer spends all the family's Christmas money on himself, he is forced to spend a night on the couch and consider his actions. He resolves to turn over a new leaf and become a do-gooder. However, his kindness rivals that of Ned Flanders' and the neighbours embark on a battle for supremacy
6:30pm: Season 17 Episode 9: Simpson Christmas Stories
Three animated shorts with Homer and the family as they get up to their usual misadventures during the festive season. The Rev Lovejoy's car breaks down, meaning Homer must deliver the nativity sermon. Grampa vows to exact revenge on Santa Claus for breaking a promise in years gone by, and the Springfield residents celebrate Yuletide in their own chaotic way
7pm: Season 22 Episode 8: Simpsons Christmas - The Fight Before Christmas
Four tales celebrating the festive season. Bart hatches a plan to hold Santa Claus hostage, while in a 1940s-set story, Lisa refuses to give in to the holiday spirit until her mother returns home safe from the Battle of the Bulge. Home improvement expert Martha Stewart helps out a desperate Marge, and Katy Perry leads the family in a rendition of The 39 Days of Christmas
7:30pm: Season 23 Episode 9: Holidays of Future Passed
In an episode set 30 years in the future, Bart and Lisa now have families of their own and decide to spend Christmas with Homer and Marge. However, when they turn to their parents for advice, the pair discover they have more in common with their mother and father than they realised

[BatmanBeatles]

When I watched both of the new Planet Of The Apes movies, I sang songs from the "musical".

[Galileo908]

Loved that Christmas opening. You can catch the ghost of Rabbi Krustofsky and Joan Rivers at one point. Also a nice catch: The gingerbread Simpsons are the Tracy Ullman versions. Plus there were gingerbread Kang & Kodos.

 

So many great Christmas gags: The Frozen gag, the kids ice skating on top of the radioactive lake, the verdict at the end of "Miracle on 34th Street" being overturned in the sequel. I so want to watch "A Vin Scully Christmas."

 

So CBG is still married to Kumiko, plus she stuck by him when watching the Star Wars Holiday Special. She's a keeper.

 

Oh man, the just HAD to remind us that Edna was killed off.

 

"Jerkass Homer has become Ass-jerk Homer."

 

I loved how the "walk past neon signs" trope turned out to be a neon sign store this whole time.

 

This was a sweet episode, but there's lots of stuff that could've been better. Like, Homer & Marge's marriage was in trouble...again.

 

NEXT TIME: "The Man Who Came to Be Dinner" (aka "The Simpsons are going to Rigel 7") is finally airing!

[Blakeston]

I liked this one, but damn was it weird.

 

The Jesus/Santa thing at the end was one of the strangest things I've ever seen on this show. I suspect that it, and the promo for the next episode, were there because the episode was short on time. (I know the next episode is a special case because it was pushed back, but I can't recall them ever doing that for any episode.)

Edited December 8, 2014 by Blakeston

[futurechemist]

I liked this one, but damn was it weird.

 

The Jesus/Santa thing at the end was one of the strangest things I've ever seen on this show. I suspect that it, and the promo for the next episode, were there because the episode was short on time. (I know the next episode is a special case because it was pushed back, but I can't recall them ever doing that for any episode.)

The only time I can recall a preview for another episode was as a joke in an early Halloween episode when Burns' head was put on Homer's body.

 

Maybe I'm not knowledgeable, but is there that much activity 12:01 Christmas morning?  I'd have thought that malls would close early. and there wouldn't be so many random people around, other than Midnight Mass and night shifts at mundane places that never close like hotels.  Also, since when has going to the movies on Christmas been a sad loner thing?  We Jews have been doing that since before it was cool.

 

I think my favorite joke was that Halloween merchandise goes on sale December 26.  Holiday sprawl has gotten ridiculous with stores changing the Halloween aisle to the Christmas aisle November 1.  Also gingerbread Sideshow Bob getting hit with a rake.

 

Overall a decent episode, if a bit unfocused.  I liked how it turned out Marge was wrong this time.  The Fox commercials made it seem like this was the Simpsons doing A Christmas Carol (again), so it surprised me that this was a fairly original episode.

Edited December 8, 2014 by futurechemist

[CMH1981]

I couldn't figure out why Kirk was alone on Christmas then they brought in Milhouse as well at the end. Did Luann and Kirk break up again?

I didn't realize they killed off Edna. I thought she was just retired as a character and we wouldn't see her any further but she and Ned would still be married. I know they showed Ned mourning her, w/her photo next to Maude's, but I thought that was just an out of continuity tribute to Marcia Wallace.

I liked this episode, especially Maggie trying to fix the broken star. I didn't realize the plot would continue past Maggie realizing the star was the shape of her head. It paid off well, not that anybody in the family noticed.

[Kaboom 2.0]

Gingerbread Sideshow Bob stepping on the gingerbread rake was perfect, that may have been my favorite scene. And the kids ice skating on the radioactive lake, hee!

 

I am SO sick and tired of Frozen but I knew there was going to be at least one reference to it last night (as there already is if you play Tapped Out) so at least it didn't play out too long.

 

I guess it was an ok episode, I need to rewatch to catch the stuff I know I missed the first time, like the opening. I think I'm just over the Homer and Marge having trouble in their marriage SLs at this point.

[elzin]

I loved how CBG had a Festivus Pole.

[emma675]

Every time I have to drag the trash cans to the curb, I say Homer's garbage rant from "Trash of the Titans" in my head:

"Stupid trash, rotten, stinky, hate world, revenge soon, take out on everyone. Eeeewww, garbage water! *shakes fist at sky* You're pushing me, baby!"

[Spartan Girl]

 

I think I'm just over the Homer and Marge having trouble in their marriage SLs at this point.

 

Preaching to the choir.  I'm also sick of Marge acting like a self-righteous resentful bitter bitch as far as Homer is concerned, but she doesn't say boo to Moe kissing her twice.  Couldn't she have at least kicked him in the groin the second time?

 

And while I'm nitpicking, she never actually used the words "I'm sorry" to Homer at the end.  Just sayin'.

Edited December 8, 2014 by Spartan Girl

[Iboatedhere]

I named my cat Bart. He also commonly goes by El Barto, Bartman, or Bart-Bart.

[JTMacc99]

I named my cats Lenny and Carl.

[Iboatedhere]

I named my cats Lenny and Carl.

 

Awww, that's perfect.

[Iboatedhere]

Homer: Before I show you who wants to guess how I got the money?

Bart: Dealing drugs?

Lisa: Drugs.

Marge: I'll have to say drugs, too.

Homer: Close but you're way off.

 

Homer: Oh lord, protect this rocket house and all that dwell in the rocket house.

 

Homer: No one man can do all that. You're a liar, honey. A dirty, rotten, liar.

 

Bart: Ding, dong, ditch means you kill her than you throw that ding dong into a ditch.

 

Bart: Did you know the holes only natural enemy is the pile?

[honeywest]

Homer: "Sorry, son. I didn't know you, Jay Leno, and a monkey were bathing a clown."

[radishcake]

Sunday December 14th, 4pm - 8pm (All times EST) My brain is fried so someone make the connections on the theme of this block party! :D

 

4pm: Season 6 Episode 2: Lisa's Rival
Lisa applies for a prestigious position in the school band, but loses out to new classmate Allison - who starts outstripping her in the popularity stakes. Upset at being relegated to second place, she resorts to sabotage in a bid to beat her rival. With the guest voice of Winona Ryder
4:30pm: Season 11 Episode 5: E-I-E-I-(Annoyed Grunt)
The family relocates to an abandoned farm, where Homer discovers he has a talent for growing tomatoes - which prove highly addictive and soon attract the attention of unscrupulous rival businesses. Featuring the guest voices of the B-52s
5:00pm: Season 13 Episode 10: Half-Decent Proposal
When Homer's snoring becomes too much to bear, a drunken Marge makes contact with her super-rich high-school prom date Artie Ziff. He offers Homer $1million for the privilege of spending a weekend with Marge to see what his life would have been like had they stayed together. With the guest voice of Jon Lovitz
5:30pm: Season 16 Episode 5: Fat Man and Little Boy
Bart loses his last baby tooth, and as a final gift from the tooth fairy, a donation is given to charity in his name. Depressed at getting old, he wears a T-shirt to school bearing an adult joke, and is accosted by a marketing manager wanting to commercialise the new product. Eric Idle guest stars
6:00pm: Season 21 Episode 11: Million Dollar Maybe
Homer wins $1million on the lottery, but keeps it a secret from his family, fearing Marge's reaction if she discovers his reasons for missing their date. He and Bart set about spending the money, and buy front-row tickets to a Coldplay concert. With the guest voice of Chris Martin
6:30pm: Season 23 Episode 6: The Book Job
Homer creates a team, including author Neil Gaiman, to write the next hit 'tween' book; after receiving an advance copy of the work from his publisher, Homer learns there's more to the business than he imagined.
7:00pm: Season 24 Episode 21: The Saga of Carl Carlson
Homer, Moe and Lenny go in pursuit of Carl when he skips town with $200,000 in winnings from a lottery ticket he bought with them. However, their search makes them realise how little they know about their friend and almost reaches a dead-end until Lisa points them in the direction of Iceland. Featuring music by Sigur Rós
7:30pm: Season 25 Episode 15: The War of Art
When Lisa's new guinea pig destroys a painting in the family's living room, Marge and Homer pick up a replacement at the Van Houtens' yard sale. However, when they realise their purchase could be a lost, valuable masterpiece they must decide whether to keep all of the possible windfall or share it with Milhouse and his family

[opus]

Something to do with money?

[M. Darcy]

Money makes sense because the other story in the Lisa's Rival is when Homer sells the sugar he stole from Hans Moleman.

[radishcake]

Oh the Sugar!! I love that one. :D

[Kel Varnsen]

I named my cat Bart. He also commonly goes by El Barto, Bartman, or Bart-Bart.

If the cat has kittens, one of them can be Bart Jr. 

[rubaco]

Yikes, CNN. Number 17 is incorrect.

 

www.cnn.com/2014/12/17/showbiz/tv/the-simpsons-25-years-feat/

[emma675]

Yikes, CNN. Number 17 is incorrect.

Oh good, I thought I was losing my mind! Several of those seemed weird to me.

Edited December 26, 2014 by emma675d

[radishcake]

During a trip to "Dizzneeland" the Simpsons board the wrong ride, Rocket To Your Doom, and are transported through the galaxy to Kang and Kodos' home planet, where they are held captive at the local zoo and the inhabitants decide to eat Homer.

 

[elzin]

Does the breath of these cats smell like cat food?

[honeywest]

Marge: "Fine! I admit it, you nipple Nazis: I give my baby formula!"

 

Hipster father to Homer: "You've transformed a slaughterhouse into a place of violence!"

[beadgirl]

I say that every time my cat meows in my face.  Also, I will never not say "Or-eh-GA-no? What the hell?" when cooking.  (I use oregano a lot, too.) My kids are affectionately (and sometimes not-so-affectionately) called "my damn wiener kids."

[qtpye]

Sorry...I mixed up two bad episodes... "D'OH"!

[Iboatedhere]

Bart: Aren't we forgetting the true meaning of Christmas? You know...the birth of Santa.

 

Marge (singing): Christmas is a family day.

Homer: I told Grandpa we'd be away.

Lisa: He's at the door.

Bart: Let's hit the floor.

All: 'Cause Christmas Eve is here.

[Spartan Girl]

I hate "She of Little Faith" mainly because of everyone's narrowminded reactions to Lisa converting to Buddism.  I don't know why in the end it had to be Lisa learning the lesson that she could still celebrate Christmas with her family when it was everyone else -- especially Marge, I cannot stress that enough -- that needed to check themselves.  Homer was the only one who said he was fine with Lisa doing whatever she wanted while paying lip-service to the church.

[honeywest]

Mayor Quimby: "That sweater is gorgeous! I'll take one in wife size and three in mistress size."

[honeywest]

Marge: "There's no shame in being a pariah!"

[JTMacc99]

I fired up the fxx every Simpsons ever app on the roku today. It is pretty damn cool to have the whole set available at any time.

[radishcake]

Ooh I keep forgetting about that! :D I need to clear space on the dvr so I will check out the app! 

[JTMacc99]

Ooh I keep forgetting about that! :D I need to clear space on the dvr so I will check out the app! 

I'm not sure when it became available on the Roku, but I don't think it was that long ago. I looked for it when I first heard that FX had launched it, and then I looked for it again on Xmas eve because I wanted to watch a couple of the Christmas episodes. Between that and Futurama on Netflix, I got to watch a few non-Rankin & Bass specials to get me in the mood.

[radishcake]

Sunday Dec 28, 4pm - 8pm All times are EST

The theme is MOE! or How I Learned to Never Stop Drinking and Love the Bomb

4:00pm Season 3 Episode 10: Moe: Flaming Moe's
Moe steals Homer's idea for a new cocktail and uses it to revive his tavern's flagging fortunes - a move that does not go down too well in the Simpson household. Featuring the voices of rock band Aerosmith, who make Moe's their official nightly hang-out
4:30pm Season 4 Episode 16: Duffless
Lisa schemes to get her own back on Bart for destroying the prize tomato she grew for a science project. Meanwhile, Homer is arrested for drink-driving and finds himself having to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Animation, with the voices of Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner and Nancy Cartwright
5:00pm Season 8 Episode 18: Homer vs. the 18th Amendment
Strong men are left quaking by the news that alcohol has been made illegal in Springfield. Luckily salvation is at hand in the form of prohibition-busting bootlegger Homer, who brews his own beer to meet demand. Featuring the guest voice of Joe Mantegna
5:30pm Season 11 Episode 18: Days of Wine and D'Oh'ses
Barney decides to clean up his act and stop drinking - much to the dismay of Moe. The bartender fears his profits will nosedive, and recruits Homer to become Springfield's new resident alcoholic
6:00pm Season 13 Episode 3: Homer the Moe
Moe refurbishes his bar, turning it into a swanky establishment for Springfield's beautiful people. Unfortunately, he alienates all his regulars in the process - so Homer begins selling booze from his garage. With the guest voices of REM
6:30pm Season 15 Episode 15: Co-Dependent's Day
Bart and Lisa are so disappointed by the latest Cosmic Wars film that they decide to visit the creator Randall Curtis at his ranch in California. Meanwhile, Homer and Marge take a trip to the local vineyard - a jaunt that ends with a drunken Homer crashing the car. He hauls a comatose Marge into the driver's seat - where she wakes up and convinces herself she needs rehabilitation
7:00pm Season 22 Episode 11: Flaming Moe
Moe achieves massive success when he turns the tavern into a gay bar, but keeps his hetrosexuality a secret to remain in his new clientele's favour. However, the decision backfires when the pub's new regulars encourage him to run for office and become Springfield's first openly gay councilman. Meanwhile, Principal Skinner falls for a new music teacher. Guest starring Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids) and Alyson Hannigan (How I Met Your Mother)
7:30pm Season 24 Episode 19: Whiskey Business
Homer and Marge help a suicidal Moe get a new lease on life and Moe's homemade alcohol pings the radar of venture capitalists. Elsewhere, Grandpa gets hurt at home and finds Bart takes better care of him than the nursing home staff does, and Lisa complains about the "exploitation" of her dead jazz mentor Bleeding Gums Murphy after he 'performs' at a concert as a projected image.

[BatmanBeatles]

Every time I start to watch a documentary I say, "Awwww, a documentary!"

[honeywest]

Krusty: "Kid, you're the best thing that's happened to this business since--"

 

Lisa: "Mitzi Gaynor?"

 

Krusty: "I was gonna say 'cheap Korean animation,' but sure."

Edited January 2, 2015 by honeywest