Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Rest In Peace, Kevin Curran


 

Kevin Curran, longtime writer on The Simpsons, has passed away at age 59. Mr. Curran won three Emmys during his time on the show, writing the classic Halloween themed segment The Island of Doctor Hibbert.

Friday, October 21, 2016

Fake TV Advertisements

MetLife Insurance has decided to fire the Peanuts gang from its television and print ads. Since they need a new group of company mascots, we've got an idea for them!

 

Friday, October 14, 2016

Lassie in the Water


Flipper was essentially a Lassie who could swim. He seemed to have had a resurgence in the 1990's, spawning a television show that starred a young Jessica Alba and ran for a staggering 88 episodes on the PAX Network. Not too shabby for a show that nobody remembers.

 

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

The Simpsons Episode 5 - Bart the General 7G05


[No Chalkboard Gag]


In the fifth episode of The Simpsons, Bart gets bullied by Nelson Muntz while defending Lisa. This is the first sign of Bart's inner conflict; while he mocks his kid sister relentlessly sometimes, he has a soft spot for her and will defend her when she's threatened. After he inadvertently makes Nelson bleed his own blood, a potentially bloody conflict is setup between Nelson and Bart.

 

In another sign of family ties, Bart turns to his grandfather for help. He then enlists the bizarre military surplus store owner Herman to help plot an attack on the bullies.

 



 

The end result is a truce, though the bullies mostly go down to defeat. Despite its militaristic sounding title, the episode introduces the sweet side of Bart's personality and the strong family bonds that exist between the family.

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

The Simpsons Episode 4: There's No Disgrace Like Home 7G04


"I will not burp in class."

The fourth episode of The Simpsons shows the stark difference in how the characters were at the beginning and how they would eventually be just a season or two later. In this episode, Homer takes his family to Mr. Burns' employee picnic. He is uncharacteristically nervous about how his family will act at the party and asks them to behave themselves.

 

His wishes are not fulfilled by his family; Marge uncharacteristically drinks too much wine and embarrasses herself. Bart and Lisa are no better. Bizarrely enough, Homer is the one who sees his family as demons who need help to act better.

 

Sensing that the family needs help, Homer decides to pawn the family's television to pay for family counseling, an uncharacteristic sacrifice he makes to improve the family. It doesn't work, though the family so infuriates the psychologist he refunds twice what the family paid for their session just to get them to leave. The family is proud that it has really earned its brand new television- better than the one that was pawned.

 


Monday, October 10, 2016

"The Simpsons" Episode #3: "Homer's Odyssey" 7G03

"I will not skateboard in the halls."

This was the first episode of The Simpsons with a completed script, though the third one to actually air on Fox. The episode begins with a Springfield Elementary field trip to the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. Bart Simpson is embarrassed by his father's poor work habits and mocked by Sherri and Terri. Trying to impress his son, Homer causes a minor accident and gets fired- in front of Bart's entire class.

 

Depressed, Homer decides to throw himself off a bridge. Marge hurried to the bridge with the kids to convince Homer not to jump. When the family almost gets run over, Homer decides his calling is to make Springfield safer. He soon begins nagging the city to erect safety signs at various places throughout town.

 

 

When the town tires of Homer's nanny state antics, he sets his eyes on the biggest threat to Springfield- the nuclear plant. This puts him back in the good graces of his fellow citizens and makes Mr. Burns take notice. Rather than destroy Homer, he offers him a new job- as the nuclear plant safety inspector.