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America's Favorite Non-prehistoric Cartoon Family - The Simpsons Thread
- Thread starter Johnny Unusual
- Start date
Ludendorkk
(he/him)
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
They Saved Lisa's Brain
I've known good people have bad takes when they are young. I know I did. I knew someone who felt that cons should be legal since it is the victims fault for falling for it. This person certainly doesn't feel that way now but I feel like there's is a specific arrogance to youth. It can be a good things at time, a rebellious spirit in the face of a stupid status quo upheld by pointless tradition. But it also means that you might cling to some stupid philosophy that doesn't take into account human empathy or realistic expectations. Some people never grow out of this phase, sadly, but I have seen bad takes and surely have had bad takes (that I probably blocked out) about how things SHOULD be, assuming a stupid kind of justice. It doesn't mean that the people who thinks these ways aren't intelligence but they aren't being wise.
In this episode, Springfield has a riot at a gross-out contest that tests her faith in the people of Springfield. She writes a think piece encouraging self-improvement. She gains the attention of the Springfield branch of MENSA, who invite her to join. Lisa enjoys time with her new friends but they all find themselves frustrated by being pushed around by the bullying dullards of Springfield. Deciding to take a stand on a minor issue, Mayor Quimby assumes he's been caught in another scandal and skips town, leaving the mayoral seat vacant. According to the old town charter, a council of learned men are to be put in charge and since MENSA Springfield fit the bill, they do. At first, their clever ideas and innovations do wonders for the town but soon infighting begins to tear the team apart, culminating in a public event where individual members unilaterally start creating unrealistic and unfair new rules. Stephen Hawking arrives to shame them and Lisa learns that everyone has a different idea of what a better world entails.
This was an episode I was kind of dreading since the two things I remember most from the episode are a transphobic slur being used as a big punchline and Stephen Hawking. Now, I like Stephen Hawking, but its been a long time so while I remembered broad details, I couldn't quite remember how ableist the humour might be in the guise of "hey, we are all having fun here." The latter actually isn't that bad. Its still there and though Homer is the real but of the joke confusing him with probably the only celebrity in a wheelchair he knows and calling him a "robot". Frankly, I think the show mostly does right more than wrong with Hawking and he comes off as a cool dude (and would continue in about a year or so later on Futurama). The transphobic joke, though... woof.
As a whole... I had mixed feelings on this one. It had a fair number of legit good jokes but I also think that its faults are a little similar to the characters. I get simplification for the sake of comedy but it essentially splits the world into "smart people" and "the unwashed masses". The episode is definitely aware of this as a shitty way of looking at things with some low key lines showing some assumed superiority by MENSA Springfield but it also feels like even though they are proven to be childish... they are kind of right, by the logic of the episode? It more comes across as "everyone sucks" rather than "intelligence does not equal being correct". This shouldn't be too surprising, as the empathy towards the characters seems to be on the wane by season 10. Springfield's mob mentality has always painted it ugly but somehow here it doesn't work for me when it reads as intellectual classist.
Though this aspect kind of cuts the main message wrong, its not a bad message. Intelligence doesn't equal wisdom and Lisa does have wisdom but lacks enough to differentiate the two. And she's 8, so its hard to blame her. I do think its a shame because it is also a theme that could easily work in a more emotional context, with Lisa realizing having a condescending attitude towards the people she wants to help is a step in the wrong direction but as I said, the point of view of the episode isn't much different, save that smart people are equally unwise at times. Its easy to see this when actual smart people have bad, stupid takes on politics or perhaps fields that they aren't in fact experts in. But this interesting idea results in an episode that's often quite funny but rubs me the wrong way with the way it presents.
Jokes I missed before:
"We hold you sub-omeguloids in the highest regard."
Other great jokes:
"Ethnic Mismatch Comedy #644 has been cancelled. In its place is an encore presentation of Princess Di's funeral."
Think how recent that event was at the time the episode aired.
"The low fat pudding that's approved for sale... BY THE GOVERNMENT!"
"Our most disgusting contestant will win a free trip to Hartford, Connecticut."
"I thought it was Hawaii."
"No one said Hawaii."
The dictionary joke has been done like five times already but I still kind of like it.
"Well, I'm sure someone had the time to read it."
"I envy them."
I also has how the Book Burning Mobile has an already raging fire in it. For burning books.
"Even the microfilm?"
"Even the microfiche."
"Only one person in a million would find that funny."
"Yes, we call that the Dennis Miller ratio."
The joke didn't age funnier but it aged more correct.
"Well, excuse this jaded reporter if he says he's heard that before."
"Well, we really mean it."
"*gasp* you do?!?"
"Wow, I'm making great time! If only I has somewhere to be..."
"Larry Flint is right."
This... this still makes me laugh.
"Let's make litter out of these literati."
"That's to clever, you're one of them!"
"Even the smartest of us can be the most childish."
"Even you?"
"No. Not me. Never."
Other notes:
Blond Lindsay Nagel is here. She is complete. Now... when will they decide on Judge Snyder's skin?
Lisa's rescue at the end makes her look dumb as fuck, just standing around with a CLEAR exit while people destroy the gazebo.
"Does the opening scene mirror the themes of the episode" watch 2021:
More demonstrative of the first plot point which sets up the themes.
I've known good people have bad takes when they are young. I know I did. I knew someone who felt that cons should be legal since it is the victims fault for falling for it. This person certainly doesn't feel that way now but I feel like there's is a specific arrogance to youth. It can be a good things at time, a rebellious spirit in the face of a stupid status quo upheld by pointless tradition. But it also means that you might cling to some stupid philosophy that doesn't take into account human empathy or realistic expectations. Some people never grow out of this phase, sadly, but I have seen bad takes and surely have had bad takes (that I probably blocked out) about how things SHOULD be, assuming a stupid kind of justice. It doesn't mean that the people who thinks these ways aren't intelligence but they aren't being wise.
In this episode, Springfield has a riot at a gross-out contest that tests her faith in the people of Springfield. She writes a think piece encouraging self-improvement. She gains the attention of the Springfield branch of MENSA, who invite her to join. Lisa enjoys time with her new friends but they all find themselves frustrated by being pushed around by the bullying dullards of Springfield. Deciding to take a stand on a minor issue, Mayor Quimby assumes he's been caught in another scandal and skips town, leaving the mayoral seat vacant. According to the old town charter, a council of learned men are to be put in charge and since MENSA Springfield fit the bill, they do. At first, their clever ideas and innovations do wonders for the town but soon infighting begins to tear the team apart, culminating in a public event where individual members unilaterally start creating unrealistic and unfair new rules. Stephen Hawking arrives to shame them and Lisa learns that everyone has a different idea of what a better world entails.
This was an episode I was kind of dreading since the two things I remember most from the episode are a transphobic slur being used as a big punchline and Stephen Hawking. Now, I like Stephen Hawking, but its been a long time so while I remembered broad details, I couldn't quite remember how ableist the humour might be in the guise of "hey, we are all having fun here." The latter actually isn't that bad. Its still there and though Homer is the real but of the joke confusing him with probably the only celebrity in a wheelchair he knows and calling him a "robot". Frankly, I think the show mostly does right more than wrong with Hawking and he comes off as a cool dude (and would continue in about a year or so later on Futurama). The transphobic joke, though... woof.
As a whole... I had mixed feelings on this one. It had a fair number of legit good jokes but I also think that its faults are a little similar to the characters. I get simplification for the sake of comedy but it essentially splits the world into "smart people" and "the unwashed masses". The episode is definitely aware of this as a shitty way of looking at things with some low key lines showing some assumed superiority by MENSA Springfield but it also feels like even though they are proven to be childish... they are kind of right, by the logic of the episode? It more comes across as "everyone sucks" rather than "intelligence does not equal being correct". This shouldn't be too surprising, as the empathy towards the characters seems to be on the wane by season 10. Springfield's mob mentality has always painted it ugly but somehow here it doesn't work for me when it reads as intellectual classist.
Though this aspect kind of cuts the main message wrong, its not a bad message. Intelligence doesn't equal wisdom and Lisa does have wisdom but lacks enough to differentiate the two. And she's 8, so its hard to blame her. I do think its a shame because it is also a theme that could easily work in a more emotional context, with Lisa realizing having a condescending attitude towards the people she wants to help is a step in the wrong direction but as I said, the point of view of the episode isn't much different, save that smart people are equally unwise at times. Its easy to see this when actual smart people have bad, stupid takes on politics or perhaps fields that they aren't in fact experts in. But this interesting idea results in an episode that's often quite funny but rubs me the wrong way with the way it presents.
Jokes I missed before:
"We hold you sub-omeguloids in the highest regard."
Other great jokes:
"Ethnic Mismatch Comedy #644 has been cancelled. In its place is an encore presentation of Princess Di's funeral."
Think how recent that event was at the time the episode aired.
"The low fat pudding that's approved for sale... BY THE GOVERNMENT!"
"Our most disgusting contestant will win a free trip to Hartford, Connecticut."
"I thought it was Hawaii."
"No one said Hawaii."
The dictionary joke has been done like five times already but I still kind of like it.
"Well, I'm sure someone had the time to read it."
"I envy them."
I also has how the Book Burning Mobile has an already raging fire in it. For burning books.
"Even the microfilm?"
"Even the microfiche."
"Only one person in a million would find that funny."
"Yes, we call that the Dennis Miller ratio."
The joke didn't age funnier but it aged more correct.
"Well, excuse this jaded reporter if he says he's heard that before."
"Well, we really mean it."
"*gasp* you do?!?"
"Wow, I'm making great time! If only I has somewhere to be..."
"Larry Flint is right."
This... this still makes me laugh.
"Let's make litter out of these literati."
"That's to clever, you're one of them!"
"Even the smartest of us can be the most childish."
"Even you?"
"No. Not me. Never."
Other notes:
Blond Lindsay Nagel is here. She is complete. Now... when will they decide on Judge Snyder's skin?
Lisa's rescue at the end makes her look dumb as fuck, just standing around with a CLEAR exit while people destroy the gazebo.
"Does the opening scene mirror the themes of the episode" watch 2021:
More demonstrative of the first plot point which sets up the themes.
I always confused this one with Lisa the Simpson.
I also forgot about the surprise transphobia when it came up on my rewatch. Really hits ya extra hard when you aren’t braced for it
I also forgot about the surprise transphobia when it came up on my rewatch. Really hits ya extra hard when you aren’t braced for it
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
30 Minutes Over Tokyo
I've lived in Japan twice in my life. One was for a mere month when I was 8 years old. I mostly remember walks and ice cream night and some of the traditional Japanese toys we brought home. The next time was when I was 25 and I was teaching English. I was a bit lonely but my experiences were mostly positive. Being an anime nerd, I spent a lot of time in arcades or hanging around a used game/manga store. I do feel like I missed out on some opportunities being such a homebody but I did do things that were a lot of fun and interesting. I don't have much to say beyond that except if you are in Hokkaido, eat the fuck out of some Soup Curry. That shit is delicious.
In this episode, the Simpsons are having a financial crisis and end up getting tips from a "mega-savings" seminar. They extend this to their family vacation, which results in a cheap impromptu vacation to Tokyo. The family ends up exploring the country but after Homer ends up attacking the Emperor, the family ends up losing most of their funds. With no money and few ways to make ends meet, the family hedges their bets on a game show that promises to grant their hearts desire. The game show proves to be cruel but the Simpsons manage to win and return home.
30 Minutes Over Tokyo is an episode I was kind of dreading and my takeaway is... its not as problematic as I was fearing, but it runs with old standbys I found HILARIOUS at the time and now find hacky and kind of offensive today. JAPAN IS WEIRD AND EVEN WEIRDER IS THEIR TAKES ON THE WEST. I feel like its a take that doesn't hold as much water considering pretty much every example can be countered with the West being weird. Yes, Japan has some weird game shows but I've definitely seen weird game shows and in particular reality shows in the West. Remember THE SWAN. A show that outdid parody and was a look into the ugliness of the human soul.
I will say while it doesn't defend parts where it is weirding out about the "other", it actually did bother to have a lot of actors of Asian descent this episode, which is something I feel they would not do often. There is George Takei as the evil game show host but a lot of the other actors fill in for some of the smaller roles in the episode. Considering the current actions being taken for characters having voice actors actually representative of their race, I appreciate this small favor, even if its to somewhat questionable ends.
The episode itself isn't superclear what its about. I do think there is something in there but it really isn't about Japan but rather the nature of trying to get by with very little cash. Living frugally is hard and an episode about the Simpsons trying to do so is a potentially interesting one. After all, with current discussions about the minimum wage, it feels like a better time than ever to discuss what it actually means to survive on very little money. The Simpsons used to be a show about that but the storytelling inconvenience is why it was largely jettisoned but really, I think its OK to explore this a bit. The game show is also further taking advantage of the poor in order to humiliate them in exchange for cash. Unfortunately, like a lot of later episodes, I don't feel like it comes to a proper conclusion to its point. It has a climax but I feel like it doesn't say anything interesting about the pain of living frugally other than it sucks if you have to do it and the Japan element that the episode is hung on doesn't connect to it well beyond "vacationing is expensive".
Jokes I missed before:
Other great jokes:
I like how Homer immediately defaults to "Sorry sir" the second Ned catches him in the most avuncular way possible.
"See this tux? I got it cheap because Roy Cohn died in it."
"You fat cats didn't finish your plankton. Now its mine!"
"You liked Rashomon!"
"That's not how I remember it."
Smartest joke in the episode.
"Toga! Toga! Toga! 2000!"
"Marge! They stole my idea."
"In jail, we had to be in this dumb kabuki play about the 47 Ronin and I wanted to be Oshii but they made me Orii."
"Does the opening scene mirror the themes of the episode" watch 2021:
Not at all. Maybe someone else can find a connection but not I.
Other notes:
Chuck Garabedian just looks like Jason Bateman.
I also appreciate how his spiel feels very prefect to the clickbait age. I'm assuming the things he is a parody of probably was a big influence on clickbait. The kind of clickbait those Wall Street fat cats DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW!
Great, another transphobic joke. Sigh. These are going to start coming more frequently, aren't they?
I've lived in Japan twice in my life. One was for a mere month when I was 8 years old. I mostly remember walks and ice cream night and some of the traditional Japanese toys we brought home. The next time was when I was 25 and I was teaching English. I was a bit lonely but my experiences were mostly positive. Being an anime nerd, I spent a lot of time in arcades or hanging around a used game/manga store. I do feel like I missed out on some opportunities being such a homebody but I did do things that were a lot of fun and interesting. I don't have much to say beyond that except if you are in Hokkaido, eat the fuck out of some Soup Curry. That shit is delicious.
In this episode, the Simpsons are having a financial crisis and end up getting tips from a "mega-savings" seminar. They extend this to their family vacation, which results in a cheap impromptu vacation to Tokyo. The family ends up exploring the country but after Homer ends up attacking the Emperor, the family ends up losing most of their funds. With no money and few ways to make ends meet, the family hedges their bets on a game show that promises to grant their hearts desire. The game show proves to be cruel but the Simpsons manage to win and return home.
30 Minutes Over Tokyo is an episode I was kind of dreading and my takeaway is... its not as problematic as I was fearing, but it runs with old standbys I found HILARIOUS at the time and now find hacky and kind of offensive today. JAPAN IS WEIRD AND EVEN WEIRDER IS THEIR TAKES ON THE WEST. I feel like its a take that doesn't hold as much water considering pretty much every example can be countered with the West being weird. Yes, Japan has some weird game shows but I've definitely seen weird game shows and in particular reality shows in the West. Remember THE SWAN. A show that outdid parody and was a look into the ugliness of the human soul.
I will say while it doesn't defend parts where it is weirding out about the "other", it actually did bother to have a lot of actors of Asian descent this episode, which is something I feel they would not do often. There is George Takei as the evil game show host but a lot of the other actors fill in for some of the smaller roles in the episode. Considering the current actions being taken for characters having voice actors actually representative of their race, I appreciate this small favor, even if its to somewhat questionable ends.
The episode itself isn't superclear what its about. I do think there is something in there but it really isn't about Japan but rather the nature of trying to get by with very little cash. Living frugally is hard and an episode about the Simpsons trying to do so is a potentially interesting one. After all, with current discussions about the minimum wage, it feels like a better time than ever to discuss what it actually means to survive on very little money. The Simpsons used to be a show about that but the storytelling inconvenience is why it was largely jettisoned but really, I think its OK to explore this a bit. The game show is also further taking advantage of the poor in order to humiliate them in exchange for cash. Unfortunately, like a lot of later episodes, I don't feel like it comes to a proper conclusion to its point. It has a climax but I feel like it doesn't say anything interesting about the pain of living frugally other than it sucks if you have to do it and the Japan element that the episode is hung on doesn't connect to it well beyond "vacationing is expensive".
Jokes I missed before:
Other great jokes:
I like how Homer immediately defaults to "Sorry sir" the second Ned catches him in the most avuncular way possible.
"See this tux? I got it cheap because Roy Cohn died in it."
"You fat cats didn't finish your plankton. Now its mine!"
"You liked Rashomon!"
"That's not how I remember it."
Smartest joke in the episode.
"Toga! Toga! Toga! 2000!"
"Marge! They stole my idea."
"In jail, we had to be in this dumb kabuki play about the 47 Ronin and I wanted to be Oshii but they made me Orii."
"Does the opening scene mirror the themes of the episode" watch 2021:
Not at all. Maybe someone else can find a connection but not I.
Other notes:
Chuck Garabedian just looks like Jason Bateman.
I also appreciate how his spiel feels very prefect to the clickbait age. I'm assuming the things he is a parody of probably was a big influence on clickbait. The kind of clickbait those Wall Street fat cats DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW!
Great, another transphobic joke. Sigh. These are going to start coming more frequently, aren't they?
2000s comedies could really only punch in the one direction
I feel like there is the universal need to "joke" about other cultures getting your own culture wrong that is generally very funny in the micro of a moment, but terrible under any kind of scrutiny. This episode is the kind of episode that highlights why this kind of humor should be retired (or at least not extended to practically a full half hour).
Anecdote from my own life: my wife is from Poland, and her sister still lives there. We went to visit Poland in the Before Times, and my sister-in-law's partner was bragging about this great "American Pizza Place" that we had to try, because we could properly judge it as Americans. Its name? Colorado Pizza.
Now, I'm from New Jersey, and I'm pretty confident about my place in the pizza wars. Additionally, I've asked around, and, fun fact, nobody thinks Colorado is the place for pizza. It's not even in the top ten. But this restaurant had all sorts of cowboy imagery on display, "American" foods like buffalo wings, and was super stoked about the whole "Authentic Colorado Experience" (in English on the menu!) for pizza. My wife and I spent nearly the whole meal mocking the idea of authentic Colorado pizza to our Polish hosts.
But, my sister-in-law's partner ate there a lot, and knew the owner. And he was a younger dude, and we were told he was a good sport about things, so the owner was called over, and we asked him "Why Colorado?" And he said that it wasn't too complicated, he had some family in Colorado, he had visited them once or twice, and they sent over some of the random "American" knickknacks that were around the store. He knew damn well that Colorado wasn't the pizza capital of the USA, but it was familiar, and he figured nobody in Poland was going to check CO's credentials. It was just kind of a fun thing, vaguely intended to be "funny" from the beginning. If there was a joke here, he was in on it.
And that's what I always think of on this topic. Like, we immediately assume people are seeing "our" culture as some whacky, foreign "other", but a lot of the time, they know exactly what they're doing. "They" are a lot more familiar than anyone wants to admit, and making the whole joke that they are out of touch with a culture is actually the complete reverse of the reality.
Funnily enough, Colorado has a distinct pizza style.
That joke referencing the huge seizure incident the Pokémon anime caused is not funny.
I really feel like The Simpsons lost a lot when they cut back on the emotional core and reality stuff in favor of more and more wacky stacking. The family's financial difficulties in another country are secondary (or worse) compared to "Hey look how crazyour baka gaijin writers' take on Japan is" as far the ep goes.
Not to say there wasn't some real wacky stuff before this (Last season did have the entire town relocated 'cuz Homer flooded it with trash as garbage commissioner), but I mean, this season has seen stuff like an out of nowhere reveal that Ned Flanders is a senior citizen being used as a vehicle to get Homer and Ned to have wacky misadventures in Las Vegas with a non-ending stranded in the desert with buzzards, and Homer flooding the entire frickin' town for an art project with no consequences.
The balance between reality and wackiness has been going more over to the wacky side, and it's not too hard to see how we went from this to stuff like "Bart is a fortune teller this week".
I really feel like The Simpsons lost a lot when they cut back on the emotional core and reality stuff in favor of more and more wacky stacking. The family's financial difficulties in another country are secondary (or worse) compared to "Hey look how crazy
Not to say there wasn't some real wacky stuff before this (Last season did have the entire town relocated 'cuz Homer flooded it with trash as garbage commissioner), but I mean, this season has seen stuff like an out of nowhere reveal that Ned Flanders is a senior citizen being used as a vehicle to get Homer and Ned to have wacky misadventures in Las Vegas with a non-ending stranded in the desert with buzzards, and Homer flooding the entire frickin' town for an art project with no consequences.
The balance between reality and wackiness has been going more over to the wacky side, and it's not too hard to see how we went from this to stuff like "Bart is a fortune teller this week".
By "our" do you mean the tourist's, or specifically American? Because if the former, well, it's like the Guac chat we had the other day. If there's a hundred shops or restaurants that knowingly and deliberately make light of "culture X" to draw in their clientele, well, said clientele is likely not going to know any better, and "culture X" itself is supplanted by its own parody.
How so?
Here in Canada, we have a restaurant chain named Boston Pizza.
Kylie assures me that Boston doesn't have a pizza style of its own, nor does the Boston Pizza menu seem to bear out any uniqueness on the part of its pizza preparation.
jpfriction
(He, Him)
Boston pizza is always fun to me because we don’t have a ton of national bar/restaurant chains left down here that are pizza focused so our closest analog is probably Old Chicago. Nice little rivalry there. (I’ve never actually eaten chicago style pizza at old chicago).
I’ve never eaten at Boston Pizza, but I sometimes walk past one when they have the ovens and the pizza musk can be smelled from outside.
You know the smell you get when walking past a bakery?
Imagine the exact, complete opposite.
You know the smell you get when walking past a bakery?
Imagine the exact, complete opposite.
Purple
(She/Her)
It's really weird how many radically different types of pizza you get in New England in general and how it's not at all regional enough to even really say like [city] style pizza. Except I guess "New York" style but really, New York style pizza is just the comic relief minion everyone else fights for a season before the real villains get properly introduced.
CO style pizza focuses a lot more on the crust; it's a really puffy crust around the rim that you then put condiments on, usually honey or something else sweet. So the pie sauce and toppings are usually chosen as a compliment to that.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
I don't know whether you'd call it a specific "style" but a lot of pizzerias in my home province are Greek run. I don't know what effect it has on the way it is made, if any, but a lot of pizza places also sell "donairs", a kind of gyro-esque treat with a sweeter sauce (similar to Japanese mayo). The biggest Canadian Maritime chain is even called "Greco".
Oh, and since we've passed the 10 season mark, I'm going to be slowing down my output... to a mere 4 episodes a week. Apologies for my laziness.
Oh, and since we've passed the 10 season mark, I'm going to be slowing down my output... to a mere 4 episodes a week. Apologies for my laziness.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Beyond Blunderdome
Its always disappointing when someone you are a fan of turns out to be a monster. I was definitely a fan of Mel Gibson. I really enjoyed his movies but after discovering what we know about him now, it kind of casts a pall over the great works he's been involved with, such as the Mad Max movies and, heck, Maverick (I liked that one). Frankly, I'm never stable about how I want to engage with the work of an artist who turns out to be a creep. Like, I think I have less of a problem going back to Mad Max than his other works for reasons I'm not sure of. Perhaps despite being the lead, it is very much George Miller's "vehicle" (this might be why I think I might be able to go back to Baby Driver, despite featuring TWO monsters). But even the ones I feel I can return to have a taint on them. I can still get some enjoyment, but now there's a bitter, acrid taste. A nagging in my brain. I can watch again but it will never be as good. The quality of the work might be the same but it is impossible for me to ignore how the real world informs my taking in of the art.
In this episode, Homer and Marge get movie tickets to a special sneak preview screening of a remake of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington directed by and starring Mel Gibson. Everybody likes the movie except Homer, who finds it dull, and when Mel, who is already nervous about the lack of action in his movie, reads Homer's review, he invites him to Hollywood to try to fix it. Eventually, the two come to the mutual decision that the ending needs to be changed and end up creating an ultra-violent and offensive finale. The studio executives freak out and try to destroy the film but Homer and Mel work to save it. Eventually they succeed but the film is universally panned.
Going in, I remembered this as an episode that was funny but had an unfortunate focal point. Its not QUITE as bad as the Michael Jackson episode in every respect but it is in most respects a much weaker episode than I remember. The message and satire aren't very compelling, fewer jokes land than I remember (though there are some really good ones) and like a LOT of episodes about how great the guest star is (a tone that never really works for a show that is supposed to be pretty cynical about fame, authority and hero worship), it looks pretty bad in retrospect. There's a bit when he talks about how he's TOO beloved that people don't want to be critical of him and cops don't give him a ticket when they pull him over. Its almost perfect in its "This don't look good." As much as I don't want to give Mel kudos, he is doing some decent joke delivery (certainly compared to some other movie stars asked to play themselves) with a lot of the problems laid at the feet of its fawning script. It feels like the fawning is intentionally absurd but fawning is still fawning and it looks even worse knowing what we know about him.
The message seems to be mocking the idea of focus groups and letting a loudmouth rando like Homer decide the direction of the picture with some weaker subversion being it is the creative force rather than the business side leading the film astray. I feel like focus group jokes were kind of big at the time (MST3k had a segment related to their own woes in making their movie in this regard) with the message of the folly of trying to please a large demographic of people rather than simply making something artistically complete. But as a cheeky subversion of this premise, it's comedy is a bit more miss than hit with some tired Hollywood jokes ("Now where is that kid with my latte") and weird non-jokes ("We're lesbians!").
There are other ideas that I think the episode looks to explore but kind of... doesn't. Homer doesn't want to look at a film with a real critical eye, he just wants a distraction and I think the episode, while mocking Homer's buffoonish taste, might have an interesting idea that its completely OK to just enjoy a movie for the basest, stupidest reasons like car explosions. Some people just want escape and have different ideas. But while this idea bubbles up, there's not a lot there and I would like to see an episode exploring the idea that shallow enjoyment is still valid and that some people aren't seeking "art", they just want fun and how the ideas can crash against each other. But instead, its more a generic and unfocused parody of Hollywood. I suppose it also doesn't help that the adventure is about the sanctity of a remake that seems like people want to be slavishly echoing the original, which, generally, seems like the exact wrong way to do a remake. I mean, I'm pretty sure the general consensus is to repurpose old ideas to forge a new identity instead of a dull echo. But maybe it makes sense that the Simpsons would value the latter at this point.
"Does the opening scene mirror the themes of the episode" watch 2021:
Yes, I think. Homer watches a commercial that tries to appeal of his sense of humanity but instead he only responds to his basest desires (a free gift)
Jokes I missed before:
Less a joke but I finally checked out the dialogue in the scene where Homer fast forwards it. Clearly, this film had problems before Homer jumped aboard.
Other great jokes:
"Good evening, I'm Edward Christian, assistant VP of finance and distribution at Polystar Pictures."
"Dang, I should have brought the camera."
"Also with me tonight are the dynamic duo William Milo and Robin Hanna who greenlighted all of Shaquille O'Neill's movies including Kazaam! How's the popcorn guys."
"Needs salt!"
*Uproarious laughter*
"At least the Jimmy Stewart version had the invisible rabbit who ran the savings and loan."
"Hollyood here we come! Hollywood here we are!"
"Quit doing that Mom."
"This is worse than Godfather III."
"Whoa, let's not say things we can't take back."
"Movies aren't stupid. They fill us with romance and hatred and revenge fantasies. Lethal Weapon taught me that suicide is funny."
"That really wasn't my intention."
"Before Lethal Weapon 2, I never thought there could be a bomb in my toilet. But now I check every time."
"Its true, he does."
"Wait a minute, he's just a dummy."
"Yeah, but he sells tickets."
*long pause to soak in a very stupid joke*
"Let's go."
"Will you tell me the rest of the plan?"
"It's your plan from Braveheart. Your army mooned the enemy until they could take no more and surrendered."
"No, they didn't. They attacked us in a horribly bloody battle, remember?"
"Actually, I didn't see it but on the poster--"
"When did we stop rooting for the man with the flame thrower or the acid shooting gun of some kind."
"I blame the Internet and the return of swing music."
Other notes:
I don't think Homer driving an electric car into the ocean is too stupid for Homer but the logical consistency of Homer's reasoning is lazily not there even for this show. There has to be a joke or even an anti-comedy bit to explain it and "Relax, its an electric car" doesn't cut it on the latter.
Homer calling Marge his property is a little too gross for a "clueless oaf" joke, a fact more pointed that he's telling this to Mel Gibson.
"We're lesbians!" is such a bizarre non-joke. I can't tell if the writers were jazzed if they could finally say "lesbian" or if they were thought they were sticking it to the couple for... being too conspicuously lesbian, maybe?
Not quite a transphobic joke but in the same ballpark very nearby is the show having a joke about Marge confusing "Judge Judy" with a man. So I'm going to say "three for three" at this point in the bad LGBTQ+ takes run in this series.
Its always disappointing when someone you are a fan of turns out to be a monster. I was definitely a fan of Mel Gibson. I really enjoyed his movies but after discovering what we know about him now, it kind of casts a pall over the great works he's been involved with, such as the Mad Max movies and, heck, Maverick (I liked that one). Frankly, I'm never stable about how I want to engage with the work of an artist who turns out to be a creep. Like, I think I have less of a problem going back to Mad Max than his other works for reasons I'm not sure of. Perhaps despite being the lead, it is very much George Miller's "vehicle" (this might be why I think I might be able to go back to Baby Driver, despite featuring TWO monsters). But even the ones I feel I can return to have a taint on them. I can still get some enjoyment, but now there's a bitter, acrid taste. A nagging in my brain. I can watch again but it will never be as good. The quality of the work might be the same but it is impossible for me to ignore how the real world informs my taking in of the art.
In this episode, Homer and Marge get movie tickets to a special sneak preview screening of a remake of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington directed by and starring Mel Gibson. Everybody likes the movie except Homer, who finds it dull, and when Mel, who is already nervous about the lack of action in his movie, reads Homer's review, he invites him to Hollywood to try to fix it. Eventually, the two come to the mutual decision that the ending needs to be changed and end up creating an ultra-violent and offensive finale. The studio executives freak out and try to destroy the film but Homer and Mel work to save it. Eventually they succeed but the film is universally panned.
Going in, I remembered this as an episode that was funny but had an unfortunate focal point. Its not QUITE as bad as the Michael Jackson episode in every respect but it is in most respects a much weaker episode than I remember. The message and satire aren't very compelling, fewer jokes land than I remember (though there are some really good ones) and like a LOT of episodes about how great the guest star is (a tone that never really works for a show that is supposed to be pretty cynical about fame, authority and hero worship), it looks pretty bad in retrospect. There's a bit when he talks about how he's TOO beloved that people don't want to be critical of him and cops don't give him a ticket when they pull him over. Its almost perfect in its "This don't look good." As much as I don't want to give Mel kudos, he is doing some decent joke delivery (certainly compared to some other movie stars asked to play themselves) with a lot of the problems laid at the feet of its fawning script. It feels like the fawning is intentionally absurd but fawning is still fawning and it looks even worse knowing what we know about him.
The message seems to be mocking the idea of focus groups and letting a loudmouth rando like Homer decide the direction of the picture with some weaker subversion being it is the creative force rather than the business side leading the film astray. I feel like focus group jokes were kind of big at the time (MST3k had a segment related to their own woes in making their movie in this regard) with the message of the folly of trying to please a large demographic of people rather than simply making something artistically complete. But as a cheeky subversion of this premise, it's comedy is a bit more miss than hit with some tired Hollywood jokes ("Now where is that kid with my latte") and weird non-jokes ("We're lesbians!").
There are other ideas that I think the episode looks to explore but kind of... doesn't. Homer doesn't want to look at a film with a real critical eye, he just wants a distraction and I think the episode, while mocking Homer's buffoonish taste, might have an interesting idea that its completely OK to just enjoy a movie for the basest, stupidest reasons like car explosions. Some people just want escape and have different ideas. But while this idea bubbles up, there's not a lot there and I would like to see an episode exploring the idea that shallow enjoyment is still valid and that some people aren't seeking "art", they just want fun and how the ideas can crash against each other. But instead, its more a generic and unfocused parody of Hollywood. I suppose it also doesn't help that the adventure is about the sanctity of a remake that seems like people want to be slavishly echoing the original, which, generally, seems like the exact wrong way to do a remake. I mean, I'm pretty sure the general consensus is to repurpose old ideas to forge a new identity instead of a dull echo. But maybe it makes sense that the Simpsons would value the latter at this point.
"Does the opening scene mirror the themes of the episode" watch 2021:
Yes, I think. Homer watches a commercial that tries to appeal of his sense of humanity but instead he only responds to his basest desires (a free gift)
Jokes I missed before:
Less a joke but I finally checked out the dialogue in the scene where Homer fast forwards it. Clearly, this film had problems before Homer jumped aboard.
Other great jokes:
"Good evening, I'm Edward Christian, assistant VP of finance and distribution at Polystar Pictures."
"Dang, I should have brought the camera."
"Also with me tonight are the dynamic duo William Milo and Robin Hanna who greenlighted all of Shaquille O'Neill's movies including Kazaam! How's the popcorn guys."
"Needs salt!"
*Uproarious laughter*
"At least the Jimmy Stewart version had the invisible rabbit who ran the savings and loan."
"Hollyood here we come! Hollywood here we are!"
"Quit doing that Mom."
"This is worse than Godfather III."
"Whoa, let's not say things we can't take back."
"Movies aren't stupid. They fill us with romance and hatred and revenge fantasies. Lethal Weapon taught me that suicide is funny."
"That really wasn't my intention."
"Before Lethal Weapon 2, I never thought there could be a bomb in my toilet. But now I check every time."
"Its true, he does."
"Wait a minute, he's just a dummy."
"Yeah, but he sells tickets."
*long pause to soak in a very stupid joke*
"Let's go."
"Will you tell me the rest of the plan?"
"It's your plan from Braveheart. Your army mooned the enemy until they could take no more and surrendered."
"No, they didn't. They attacked us in a horribly bloody battle, remember?"
"Actually, I didn't see it but on the poster--"
"When did we stop rooting for the man with the flame thrower or the acid shooting gun of some kind."
"I blame the Internet and the return of swing music."
Other notes:
I don't think Homer driving an electric car into the ocean is too stupid for Homer but the logical consistency of Homer's reasoning is lazily not there even for this show. There has to be a joke or even an anti-comedy bit to explain it and "Relax, its an electric car" doesn't cut it on the latter.
Homer calling Marge his property is a little too gross for a "clueless oaf" joke, a fact more pointed that he's telling this to Mel Gibson.
"We're lesbians!" is such a bizarre non-joke. I can't tell if the writers were jazzed if they could finally say "lesbian" or if they were thought they were sticking it to the couple for... being too conspicuously lesbian, maybe?
Not quite a transphobic joke but in the same ballpark very nearby is the show having a joke about Marge confusing "Judge Judy" with a man. So I'm going to say "three for three" at this point in the bad LGBTQ+ takes run in this series.
I genuinely want to watch Homers movie more than anything
jpfriction
(He, Him)
Who is the non Kevin Spacey monster involved in Baby Driver?
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Ansel Elgort, a woman accused him on Twitter of sexually assaulting her while he maintains it was "consensual".
jpfriction
(He, Him)
Sounds about right. Was a bit worried Edgar Wright did something I missed.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Nah. I think if the director does something, generally that's going to make me more likely to quit the art. Though I still am a fan of the films of Hitchcock.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Brother's Little Helper
As a boy, I had ADHD and had a lot of trouble in school. Eventually, I was put on Ritalin, which I finally stopped taking in early university. For the first four years or so, taking it had a zombifying effect on me and while I paid more attention, it acted as a downer, leaving me feeling somewhere between emotionally numb and just sad a lot of the time. Eventually the effect of the Ritalin became more stable but noticable as I became older. I didn't need it as much but I could feel an effect so I kept taking it. By university, I was already engrossed enough in lessons that I could pick, I figured correctly I didn't need it. It was something my parents struggled with: they wanted me to be emotionally happy and well but they also wanted me to be able to actually do well in school. I'm not certain if they would make the same decision based on the effect it had on me but its probably easier to say they wouldn't than do that and see a different kind of suffering in school. And based on my personal experiences, I'm not myself sure what decision I would make.
In this episode, Bart's misbehaviour reaches a new height and Skinner gives the Simpsons an ultimatum: Bart gets expelled or he tries a new drug to help treat ADHD. Marge is eventually able to try to get Bart to try the drug, Focusyn, and Bart finds himself improving almost immediately. Bart is not only studying harder, but he seems driven and ambitious. However, when Marge and Homer return home from an outing, they return to find Bart unhinged and seemingly delusional. He becomes convinced that Major League Baseball is spying on everyone. Eventually, Bart escapes loaded on Focusyn on a mysterious mission. Bart steals a tank and eventually Bart fires it into the air, knocking out a satellite. It turns out Major League Baseball IS spying on everyone and is off the drugs, now taking Ritalin.
Some episodes age well and some not so much. Brother's Little Helper fits into a weird middle spot that is both. The obvious problem is its portrayal of Bart as now having paranoid delusions (which turn out to be true) induced by the drugs that feels insensitive to people who have real mental issues that might be caused by drugs. Weirdly, the part that aged better is it turns out Bart's paranoia is founded and it is more prescient since he is paranoid about what we now call data mining, which is something we should all be more concerned about. In the middle ground is a discussion about giving children powerful drugs to help them, which the show makes errors on but raises interesting points.
Interestingly, I believe it is around the same time that South Park had an episode where all the kids are given Ritalin with the conclusion being "kids don't need drugs because the problem is that they are just being kids." I haven't done all the research on ADHD but I know that like many South Park takes, this is a bad and certainly extremely simplistic take. But I do think it is something, from personal experience, that needs to be discussed. I like that in this episode, Marge wants to discuss it with Bart and though she talks Bart into it with "guilting" said "guilting" is pretty deft from her, placing the decision in Bart's hands while letting him know that she feels it will help. Then Marge has to contend with being responsible with Bart's current state and her desire to see Bart helped brought him into a bad place thanks to her trust in the drug company. Its an interesting journey. Homer, meanwhile, is mostly in the episode just to offer wacky asides and barely be a character. I kind of prefer this to him straight up being a jerk but it still makes him look like an albatross on Marge as a parent. Homer might have always been the kind of guy to "throw a whisky bottle at the referee." but I feel like he used to have genuine concerns about things, even when they were misplaced.
So I kind of have weird, conflicting feelings with the drug based on my personal experience. I think it is something that works and I'm definitely not anti-Ritalin. My experiences have been better than a lot of other peoples and I read that it can increase psychosis amongst some peoples and other harsh effects. For me it was zonking me out and that's a Hell of a thing to ask a child to do to themselves but not treating ADHD or denying it is also incredibly unhealthy. In this episode, it's a little weird; it seems like an excuse to send Bart on a wacky spree, which... yeesh not a good look. But at the same time, I don't know if the episode is anti-medication (unlike South Park, the episode does seem to make it clear Bart needs some kind of serious intervention before he starts the drugs) but I think using it to make a "crazy Bart" episode is a bit irresponsible. There's a much more nuanced episode in here speaking to my experience but I think that it is also something season 11 Simpsons isn't quite able to handle.
"Does the opening scene mirror the themes of the episode" watch 2021:
Still trying to sort through that. Obviously it quickly dives into Bart having ADHD and being unfocused. I guess maybe the idea that the tools used to help people can be used in destructive ways.
Jokes I missed before:
The squalor index
Other great jokes:
Despite my complaints, this is a pretty funny episode and despite my concerns, I like it more than I don't.
"Principal Skinner, what would you say is the most important fire fighting tool? Would you say prevention?"
"Oh, absolutely, Lisa. That and the sand bucket."
"You're not going to start any fires, are ya?"
"In our house, we call them uh-ohs."
I love the choice to have Krabappel act to Bart's good behaviour like it was a jump scare.
"Did you know that most people use 10% of their brain? I am now one of them."
"I'm not a 'Time Burglar'."
I liked the exchanges between the two army guys in the shower.
"I'm sure I'm alive but why?"
"What a day! First the drinking fountain squirts me and now this."
"No. Stop. Think of the Children."
"Not the church! Jesus lives there!"
"Not the sky! That's where clouds are born."
Other notes:
No real transphobia in this one. Sideshow Mel is in a dress but that isn't the joke so much as a "joke" within a scene on the Krusty the Klown Show. It does have a joke that implies extreme ignorance on Marge and Homer's part in regards to homosexuality, which Marge thinks is "cute".
BTW, while I have feelings on Ritalin, I admit they aren't particularly educated and mostly anecdotal. I would love to hear takes from people more educated than I on the subject.
As a boy, I had ADHD and had a lot of trouble in school. Eventually, I was put on Ritalin, which I finally stopped taking in early university. For the first four years or so, taking it had a zombifying effect on me and while I paid more attention, it acted as a downer, leaving me feeling somewhere between emotionally numb and just sad a lot of the time. Eventually the effect of the Ritalin became more stable but noticable as I became older. I didn't need it as much but I could feel an effect so I kept taking it. By university, I was already engrossed enough in lessons that I could pick, I figured correctly I didn't need it. It was something my parents struggled with: they wanted me to be emotionally happy and well but they also wanted me to be able to actually do well in school. I'm not certain if they would make the same decision based on the effect it had on me but its probably easier to say they wouldn't than do that and see a different kind of suffering in school. And based on my personal experiences, I'm not myself sure what decision I would make.
In this episode, Bart's misbehaviour reaches a new height and Skinner gives the Simpsons an ultimatum: Bart gets expelled or he tries a new drug to help treat ADHD. Marge is eventually able to try to get Bart to try the drug, Focusyn, and Bart finds himself improving almost immediately. Bart is not only studying harder, but he seems driven and ambitious. However, when Marge and Homer return home from an outing, they return to find Bart unhinged and seemingly delusional. He becomes convinced that Major League Baseball is spying on everyone. Eventually, Bart escapes loaded on Focusyn on a mysterious mission. Bart steals a tank and eventually Bart fires it into the air, knocking out a satellite. It turns out Major League Baseball IS spying on everyone and is off the drugs, now taking Ritalin.
Some episodes age well and some not so much. Brother's Little Helper fits into a weird middle spot that is both. The obvious problem is its portrayal of Bart as now having paranoid delusions (which turn out to be true) induced by the drugs that feels insensitive to people who have real mental issues that might be caused by drugs. Weirdly, the part that aged better is it turns out Bart's paranoia is founded and it is more prescient since he is paranoid about what we now call data mining, which is something we should all be more concerned about. In the middle ground is a discussion about giving children powerful drugs to help them, which the show makes errors on but raises interesting points.
Interestingly, I believe it is around the same time that South Park had an episode where all the kids are given Ritalin with the conclusion being "kids don't need drugs because the problem is that they are just being kids." I haven't done all the research on ADHD but I know that like many South Park takes, this is a bad and certainly extremely simplistic take. But I do think it is something, from personal experience, that needs to be discussed. I like that in this episode, Marge wants to discuss it with Bart and though she talks Bart into it with "guilting" said "guilting" is pretty deft from her, placing the decision in Bart's hands while letting him know that she feels it will help. Then Marge has to contend with being responsible with Bart's current state and her desire to see Bart helped brought him into a bad place thanks to her trust in the drug company. Its an interesting journey. Homer, meanwhile, is mostly in the episode just to offer wacky asides and barely be a character. I kind of prefer this to him straight up being a jerk but it still makes him look like an albatross on Marge as a parent. Homer might have always been the kind of guy to "throw a whisky bottle at the referee." but I feel like he used to have genuine concerns about things, even when they were misplaced.
So I kind of have weird, conflicting feelings with the drug based on my personal experience. I think it is something that works and I'm definitely not anti-Ritalin. My experiences have been better than a lot of other peoples and I read that it can increase psychosis amongst some peoples and other harsh effects. For me it was zonking me out and that's a Hell of a thing to ask a child to do to themselves but not treating ADHD or denying it is also incredibly unhealthy. In this episode, it's a little weird; it seems like an excuse to send Bart on a wacky spree, which... yeesh not a good look. But at the same time, I don't know if the episode is anti-medication (unlike South Park, the episode does seem to make it clear Bart needs some kind of serious intervention before he starts the drugs) but I think using it to make a "crazy Bart" episode is a bit irresponsible. There's a much more nuanced episode in here speaking to my experience but I think that it is also something season 11 Simpsons isn't quite able to handle.
"Does the opening scene mirror the themes of the episode" watch 2021:
Still trying to sort through that. Obviously it quickly dives into Bart having ADHD and being unfocused. I guess maybe the idea that the tools used to help people can be used in destructive ways.
Jokes I missed before:
The squalor index
Other great jokes:
Despite my complaints, this is a pretty funny episode and despite my concerns, I like it more than I don't.
"Principal Skinner, what would you say is the most important fire fighting tool? Would you say prevention?"
"Oh, absolutely, Lisa. That and the sand bucket."
"You're not going to start any fires, are ya?"
"In our house, we call them uh-ohs."
I love the choice to have Krabappel act to Bart's good behaviour like it was a jump scare.
"Did you know that most people use 10% of their brain? I am now one of them."
"I'm not a 'Time Burglar'."
I liked the exchanges between the two army guys in the shower.
"I'm sure I'm alive but why?"
"What a day! First the drinking fountain squirts me and now this."
"No. Stop. Think of the Children."
"Not the church! Jesus lives there!"
"Not the sky! That's where clouds are born."
Other notes:
No real transphobia in this one. Sideshow Mel is in a dress but that isn't the joke so much as a "joke" within a scene on the Krusty the Klown Show. It does have a joke that implies extreme ignorance on Marge and Homer's part in regards to homosexuality, which Marge thinks is "cute".
BTW, while I have feelings on Ritalin, I admit they aren't particularly educated and mostly anecdotal. I would love to hear takes from people more educated than I on the subject.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
No no no, see, Homer ate a bunch in candy and merely had a series of strokes that he immediately recovered from.
Ludendorkk
(he/him)
I've been struggling all my life with convincing people the mental illness I struggle with is real, up to and including being denied medical care by doctors, so as far I'm concerned any media encouraging people to see ADHD as "not real" is fucking garbage that has measurably made my life worse, so put in in the bin
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Unlike South Park, I don't think this one is trying to convince anyone that it isn't "real" (though the words ADD/ADHD aren't actually used, "hyperactivity" is) but it is one of those questionable "fear of the medication" episodes and I feel Bart's reaction to it is definitely problematic in presentation.
EDIT: Also an issue is a joke that implies that the drugs effect could be replicated "with regular exercise."
EDIT: Also an issue is a joke that implies that the drugs effect could be replicated "with regular exercise."
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