August 08, 2007

"Magic Powers! Wedding After Wedding After Wedding! And Did Someone Say 'Long-Lost Triplets'?"

Ozmodiar! ... and a tiny green space alien named Ozmodiar that only Homer can see!

Prompted by the general summer malaise which has seen the interest in most conventional topics on politics (which I can barely bring myself to care about) and sports (fine, I admit I've been wasting your time) wane severely, leading the bones of the site to be picked at by people wanting to see Condi Rice naked or pictures of Blythe Danner. Therefore, inspired by the ongoing LLPoN series, Friday Random Simpsons, I've decided to put together a four-parter of my favorite episodes of the animated series (created when "since an old drunk made humans out of his rabbit characters to pay off his gambling debts") that informs or provides quotes for about half of my miserable posts.

I'll end up listing 30 of the 203 episodes produced in the first nine seasons (they're all listed here); trust me, I've been through the episode list, and nothing from Season 10 onwards even comes close. Or maybe they do, but you won't be able to make that argument until you see everything listed. Even seasons 8 and 9 might have only 1 or 2 episodes each, as the balance of quality (Homer's Enemy) had been irrevocably tipped.

For me, the basic metrics of quality are, in order: (1) good, in-character jokes, (2) decent pacing, (3) a modicum of heart, and (4) bonus points for an innovation that propelled the show forward before it came crashing back to Earth, laden with shitty writers, no-purpose guest stars, Homer's tired "loud whispering" convention, and headline-of-the-week non-ideas that might appear in the last 30 minutes of Saturday Night Live were it live action.

So, as of know, I'm just tinkering with my own subjectivity, but should have the first installment (30-21) ready for the weekend. Start preemptively and loudly weighing in for absolutely no reason in the comments!




Posted by Norbizness at August 8, 2007 05:19 PM
Comments

I just saw the word 'naked' near 'Blythe Danner', and now I won't be able to get anymore work done today. (Trust me--she was incredibly hot in her day.)

Posted by: Tom Hilton at August 8, 2007 02:24 PM

ok, so, i can weigh in on my favorite simpson's episode here? is that what we are supposed to do?good. i have no criteria, nothing to really base my choice on (just my gut, much like GW, scary)--- except the episode has stayed with me all these years: Season 4: "Selma's Choice." i think it's the catchy DUFF GARDENS tune..."duff beer for me, duff beer for you, i'll have a duff, you have one,too.." --- it's echoed inside my head for years. i am sure there's meds for it.

Posted by: jenniferesque at August 8, 2007 02:34 PM

*types loudly & preemptively*
One of my favorites is Two Dozen and One Greyhounds.

Posted by: Nancy in Detroit at August 8, 2007 02:37 PM

Ooh, I remember when the Frank Grimes episode first aired. There was a stunned silence in the fandom for a few minutes, much like what happened after the premier of the Sven Hoek episode of "Ren & Stimpy". Then all hell broke loose. I think the show's created enough crap episodes since then that people have forgotten the Frank Grimes episode, but I don't think I ever will, because that's when I finally gave up on "The Simpsons".

Posted by: Stacia at August 8, 2007 03:03 PM

The ring came off my pudding can!

That episode, plus Homer in space are probably the best ones in my book. But that's without having gone back and re-watched all 9 of the early seasons. I'm sure I'd change my answer if I did.

Posted by: Alex at August 8, 2007 04:52 PM

ahhh yer all curmudgeons ;) Season 10 just came out yesterday! "...the beautiful part is, when winter rolls around, the gorillas simply freeze to death"

Posted by: stupidBaby at August 8, 2007 06:52 PM

My favorite episode is the one where Bart goes to France, because it has a) actual information about Albania, and references to b) Jean de Florette and c) a whole slew of 19th century French paintings (in the background, as they drive from the airport to the farm).

Posted by: Tom Hilton at August 8, 2007 07:08 PM

We're honored to inspire you. We feel like John the Baptist!

Posted by: Otto Man at August 8, 2007 10:29 PM

I pretty much killed myself when both A.O. Scott and the head reviewer at the Onion used "Homer's Enemy" as an example of a great classic episode.

Posted by: Toadmonster at August 9, 2007 03:49 AM

fond of the habanero episode - it made Homer an honorary Texan for a little while.

Posted by: paperpusher at August 9, 2007 07:53 AM

Just resist the urge to say, "The first season didn't have developed characters", which I've heard offered about a hundred times as a criticism instead of a discription of the way things work in the physical world, though admittedly always by cultural observers lacking your sagacity. Krusty Gets Busted (and replaced by "Sideshow Bob's Cavalcade of Whimsy"), and Marge's affair with Jacques, the bowling instructor, stand with the best of 'em.

Posted by: doghouse riley at August 9, 2007 08:25 AM

Yeah, ignore the reviewers' references to Homer's Enemy -- the movie is still great, even with that warped perspective.

Posted by: Otto Man at August 9, 2007 12:19 PM

Saw is when it came out; far from great, but much better than expected (expected: two laughless hours, funereal final goodbye), which is to say, it was surprisingly decent. Definitely in the tone of modern Simpsons, but some solid laughs, and an impressive revival of convincing James L Brooks sentimentality. (Plus the whole "I know it's not that great, but I'm finally watching the Simpsons movie!!!" giddiness. Also, a theory: tolerable because the over-the-top stuff is more forgivable in a movie format.)

Posted by: Toadmonster at August 10, 2007 08:30 PM