[Repost] A review of "Natural Born Kissers (5F18)" (long)
Benjamin Robinson
<Hmm, FreeAgent said we successfully posted this, but it does not seem to
have appeared on our news server. Try, try again -- BJR>
"I think your mom is hot!"
-Milhouse, who doesn't know how
right he is
[The long of it]
Well, there, now you know. That's what Marge looks like naked. You
can stop asking for pictures of her on the net, now.
At the end of "The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular," Troy McClure
announces he was going to give the viewers what they came for: hard-
core nudity. If that is indeed what viewers want, they won't walk
away disappointed from this episode, as Homer and Marge spend almost
the entire third act in their birthday suits. No one should be
surprised that the prurience factor was part of this episode's
attraction. The more interesting question is if this episode had any
other charms.
Fortunately, it did. Clearly, "Natural Born Kissers" is a sexual
farce, so there's plenty of sex jokes. And since these are relatively
easy to make, the show had a better-than-average chance of being
funny. Look beyond that, though, and you'll see that even the parts
where everyone keeps their clothes on are good. Take, for instance,
the scene where Homer and Marge, after an unromantic anniversary
dinner, attempt to rekindle their passion. They struggle with it for
a short while, and then are almost relieved when Santa's Little Helper
barges in. It's funny, and it captures the spirit of most marriages
where the partners have been a little too close a little too long.
(Or so I gather, anyway.)
Then there's the subplot with the Bart, Lisa, and Grampa's metal
detector. At first, I figured this was going to be an unnecessary
diversion from the main plot. (Well, almost unnecessary. The kids
certainly aren't going to join in on the main plot, after all.) As it
developed, though, it generated some good scenes of its own. I liked
Bart's pirate fantasy, where one unfortunate pirate suggests spending
the booty rather than burying it. Later he had a good line after
unearthing the alternate "Casablanca" film reel; Lisa feels it's a
priceless find, and Bart asks, "Priceless like a mother's love, or the
good kind of priceless?"
Let's face it, though, the reason for "Natural Born Kissers" to exist
is to give the viewers a look at Homer and Marge's love life that is
both titillating and amusing. (Another form of T&A, I suppose.) It
certainly delivers on that account. Admittedly, we've seen this
premise elsewhere on television before. Just a few days earlier,
"Dharma & Greg" covered this same territory. They even had to make
their way home sans clothing, just as Homer and Marge do. This being
a cartoon, however, the producers could take some risks that could not
be done on a live action show, or at least not on a live-action
network show. "Kissers'" climactic third act, for example, contains
enough nudity for a whole episode and a half of "NYPD Blue," while
Dharma and Greg were kept discretely covered up. It helps that the
animators could precisely coordinate the actor's body movements and
the camera angles to ensure we didn't see too much. That's harder to
do with real-life people, who can be an inch or two off.
Even in the racy scenes, however, there's still some good comedy for
our non-voyeuristic side. The reaction of the pastor as Homer and
Marge noticeably go past the Crystal Cathedral is solid gold. Other
scenes don't reach such a height, but still add to the show.
While I didn't have any problem with the material in this episode, I
will concede the possibility that the "Kissers" may have been too
ribald for some viewers. It certainly deserved the "S" (sexual
situations and nudity) and "D" (adult-oriented dialogue) ratings it
pulled. Granted, sexual shenanigans are no longer unfamiliar to the
former "family hour": "Dharma & Greg" aired at 8:30, and sex has been
a staple on "Friends," which airs at 8:00. Still, "The Simpsons" has
never dealt with sex on such a frank level before. Even "Grampa vs.
Sexual Inadequacy (2F07)" was more restrained. It wouldn't surprise
me if some viewers were taken aback by tonight's subject matter. Now,
reviewing a "Simpsons" episode is a little different than viewing a
movie, in that the episode has already aired (for North America,
anyway) so it's too late to decide whether or not to let the kids
watch. If you've somehow missed the show, taped it for later, or are
in the British/Australian market, be forewarned -- this episode is
about as blue as you'd expect from a show about exhibitionism.
I don't have kids, and no other hang-ups about this episode. Instead,
it was about as smart and funny as it was racy, and a good way to wrap
up the season. Part of the mission of a season finale is to keep the
audience talking and looking forward to the next season. "Natural
Born Kissers" delivers on that, and in spades.
Besides, who can resist an episode with a cutie like Marge?
[The short of it]
It's not surprising that this episode had sexual innuendo to spare.
It's a little surprising how far this show goes. It's really
surprising that the show is about as good when everyone keeps their
pant(ie)s on as when they bare it all. The subplot, where Bart and
Lisa search for buried treasure, is also good. Funny instead of just
smutty, "Natural Born Kissers" is a great way to wrap up the year.
Parental advisory: This episode isn't as family-friendly as the
typical "Simpsons" show -- proceed with caution. (A)
[DYNs]
... this episode is rated TV-PG-DLS, the most restrictive the show
has yet received?
... the restaurant captain mispronounces "Simpson" as "Sampson"?
... the "wet look" rather becomes Marge, dontcha think?
... Marge covers herself when the Bed & Breakfast maid walks in,
even though she isn't undressed?
... it's "blink and you miss it," but we twice see Marge's tush?
(A "Simpsons" milestone: This is the first time Marge -- or any
other adult female on the show -- has mooned us)
... this is <really> "blink and you miss it," but Marge's breasts
are exposed for a frame or two, as well?
... we don't see anything, but Marge exposes herself for the
Springfield Shopper photo?
... someone on the Shopper editorial board felt it was necessary to
put a "striker bar" over Homer's chest?
[References]
"Natural Born Killers"
- title a clever take-off of the Oliver Stone flick
"Seinfeld's" Kramer
- Bart claims that this manic character is based on him. It
defies belief, but Kramer is based on a real person -- Kenny
Kramer, a former neighbor of "Seinfeld" writer Larry David
"Up, Up and Away!"
- "Up, Up, and Buffet!" a spoof of this aviator's catch-phrase
Old Faithful
- this geyser inspires the name of "Cold Faithful" brand
refrigerator motor
"The Addams Family" (the TV show)
- Homer borrows the "Cadita" phrase and kissing style from Mr.
Addams
Smuggler's Cove
- "Snuggler's Cove" in spoofs this name
[Previous Episode References]
[1F01], [2F20] Maggie smiles from behind a pacifier
[3F20], [4F18] Moe usurps Helen Lovejoy's line, "Won't somebody
please think of the children?"
[2F07] Marge and Homer try to spark the flames of passion again
[4F19] Frank Grimes' untimely demise mentioned (and what was that
screaming I heard from California?)
[5F06] Gil appears
[8F10] Homer and Marge reminisce about their old make-out place
(but see "Oops" section)
[FFF]
The restaurant doggy bag:
ARF
BAG
(Double word-play here: "Barf," of course, and "Arf! Arf!" as in what
a dog might say about a doggy bag.)
Motor supply sign:
<- ESTHER'S
MOTOR SHOP
NIGHTCRAWLERS (These two are smaller signs are hanging
under the main sign)
FUDGE
Motor box:
COLD
FAITHFUL
REFRIGERATOR
MOTOR
Bart's "finds" from the back yard (that I could identify, at any
rate):
Eyeglasses, license plate (247 BEF), hanger, empty cans, chain, bell
Sign on the car lot balloon:
OUR PRICES
ARE
SKY HIGH
[Oops!]
Homer and Marge get most of the details right, but Bart was really
conceived in the mini-golf course's castle, not the windmill. Who can
forget the line, "Don't worry Marge, this castle is impregnable!"
[Personal Comments & Observations]
>> I knew we should've gone with, "Opaque Metal Catherdral"
There is a Crystal Cathedral -- it's an all-glass church out in
California somewhere. If I'm not mistaken, the Rev. Robert Schuller
used to host a televangelism program from there, and might still to
this day. Also if I'm not mistaken, more that one "Crystal Cathedral"
has been built, so the "Where is Springfield" folks probably shouldn't
pin Springfield's location to close to Schuller's church.
>> Fun with promotion
The person charged with putting together the radio promotion for this
episode evidently didn't feel the episode was ribald enough, so he or
she spiced up the dialog. Marge's "I feel so naughty" line was
juxtaposed with Bart's, "You guys are sick," making it look like the
Simpson children were in the know.
Behind-the-scenes machinations also affected the title. The original
moniker for this show was to be "Margie, May I Sleep with Danger?"
This referenced, "Mother, May I Sleep with Danger?" which was yet
another women-in-jeopardy TV-movie.
>> Miscellaneous, Etc.
Some other tidbits from tonight's show:
* The Iron Cross is a <German> medal for valor and battlefield
merit. Abe Simpson was certainly a deserving recipient!
* Car Watch quickies: One of the cars in the SNPP lot vaguely
resembles a '57 Chevy, especially in the rear fender and
taillight area. Gil's lot has a VW bug on it. Uh, you <were>
looking at the cars on the lot, weren't you?
-Benjamin Robinson
Doc Quack, you left us too soon.
Hey, I got through the whole review without mentioning that "Fox
turned into a hard-core channel" thing!
--
Benjamin Robinson bj...@freenet.tlh.fl.us
This message may or may not contain sarcastic content; your burden to decide
"Why can't people just leave them [the Spice Girls] alone and admire their
talent like everyone else does?" -- Anonymous
Ben Collins
In article <3560aad...@198.69.104.3>, bj...@freenet.tlh.fl.us (Benjamin
Robinson) wrote:
> >> I knew we should've gone with, "Opaque Metal Catherdral"
>
> There is a Crystal Cathedral -- it's an all-glass church out in
> California somewhere. If I'm not mistaken, the Rev. Robert Schuller
> used to host a televangelism program from there, and might still to
> this day.
It's in Orange County, just south of LA. It sends shivers (and slivers) down the
spine, the idea of being in the Cathedral during a big earthquake.
Interestingly, the Cathedral's owners are now promoting it as a tourist
attraction; any visitor to Southern California can see a flyer-style ad at
hotels and airport concourses, buried in with all the "Adults Only Fox Studio
Tour" and "Romantic Helicopter Above the Valley at Night" literature.
___________
Ben Collins
S1.2 OFF+++ MRG! Moe+++# TEE+++@ f+++ n++/+++ Io $+, 9F11 M18
"I want an Internet! Can I have one of those?"
--One of the Spice Girls seeing a computer at a press conference
Paul Tomko
In article <3560aad...@198.69.104.3>,
Benjamin Robinson <bj...@freenet.tlh.fl.us> wrote:
>
>[Oops!]
>
>Homer and Marge get most of the details right, but Bart was really
>conceived in the mini-golf course's castle, not the windmill. Who can
>forget the line, "Don't worry Marge, this castle is impregnable!"
>
along which several golf balls were seen rolling.
Some more DYN?
Several references to ummm...back door shenanigans?
1. The farmer yelling "...in for some serious @$$ forking."
2. Ned saying "It didn't come out of the rear end." (A stretch, I admit)
I thought I noticed a few others. But I don't write these things down.
Paul
--
| Paul Tomko | P.O. Box 1382 |
| President | Bolingbrook, Illinois 60440 |
| Tomko Consulting, Incorporated | (630) 759-8799 |
| to...@xnet.com | http://www.tomkoinc.com |
Nobody
marinaro
> Some more DYN?
> Several references to ummm...back door shenanigans?
> 1. The farmer yelling "...in for some serious @$$ forking."
> 2. Ned saying "It didn't come out of the rear end." (A stretch, I admit)
Ah, but it's not such a stretch when you quote it correctly: "The ball
didn't come out the rear end!"
S2BALL14
>Sorry, I must be living under a rock. What cab scenes are you talking
>about? I did, however, spot the word "sex" in _The Lion King_.
>
>
During a scene with the cab (forgot his name) near the end of the movie,
something happens which allows you to see in Jessica Rabbit's dress, which is
nothing more than flesh colored nothing.
Stuart Parlier
"Compadres, it is imperative that we crush the freedom fighters before the
start of the rainy season. And remember, a shiny new donkey for whoever brings
me the head of Colonel Montoya." - a confused Mr. Burns giving a speech
Noxious
> AFAIK, this is true for ALL countries except the US.
>
> The US is quite lenient on violence (on which kids really don't need to
> be educated) and really strict on sex (which you're going to find out
> about sooner or later. Better from a movie than from
> experimentation...)
Yea, we Americans are funny that way..........
Goof-balls for everybody!
Noxious
> Sorry, I must be living under a rock. What cab scenes are you talking
> about? I did, however, spot the word "sex" in _The Lion King_.
Really? I wonder if there is any list out there that has ALL of the
subliminal sex stuff from pop-cartoons? I know that the old cover of "The
Little Mermaid" had all sorts of stuff on it for falic-symbols and words in
the waves....
...Also, if you listen really closely in "Aladdin" there's a voice saying
"take off your clothing" right after the genie says "how's our little bo
doing?"
BTW.....where is "sex" in the Lion King?
JEdraw
>>DYN...
>> ... this is <really> "blink and you miss it," but Marge's breasts
>> are exposed for a frame or two, as well?
"marinaro" <mari...@gateway.net> writes:
>Really? REALLY?! WHERE?!
In the balloon, before it takes off, just after Homer's line "Oh, the
British tabloids are going to have a field day!", he lets go of Marge to stand
up. As he does this, there are a few frames before Marge covers herself again.
No nipple, though.
>>>>>>>>>>
Jordan Eisenberg -- JEd...@aol.com
<members.aol.com/JEdraw/Simpsons/index.html>
Quimby: Very well. If that is the way the winds are
blowing, let no one say I don't also blow.
-- And he gets paid for it, "Sideshow Bob Roberts"
larry grenier
They should've named the title "As Good As It Got"-Title from James L
Brooks.That title would've worked too.
Michael K. Neylon
Preivously, on 'alt.tv.simpsons',
During the song "I Just Can't Wait To Be King", a heard of zebras tramples
up a cloud of dust which, for a frame or two, can be easily seen as that
word.
A.M. Carson
Hidden on page 37 of file marked Top Secret, dated 21 May 1998
20:31:07 GMT, "Noxious" <mi...@swog.fhcrc.org> let this slip:
>BTW.....where is "sex" in the Lion King?
If you are interested, http://www.snopes.com is a great page with tons
of urban legends, including a whole bunch for Disney, both the parks
and the movies..
Tony
edit replyto to foil spam
http://www.netcom.com/~dtcarson
Raleigh, NC--Home of the 3 minute mile
Benjamin Robinson
In alt.tv.simpsons, on the "Re: [Repost] A review of "Natural Born Kissers
(5F18)" (long)" thread, Noxious wrote:
> I know that the old cover of "The
>Little Mermaid" had all sorts of stuff on it for falic-symbols and words in
>the waves....
From "Biggest Secrets," by William Poundstone:
[begin]
Claims of phallic images in ads and art are so numerous that it takes
something out of the ordinary to get much attention. A case in point is the
supposed penis that appears on the packaging of Little Mermaid toys. When
Disney released "The Little Mermaid" on videocassette, Michelle Couch of
Mesa, Arizona, noted that the illustration of a castle tower on the
packaging resembled a penis. She got a Phoenix supermarket chain to pull
the video from its shelves. Disney received a handful of complaints, but it
was too late to change the design.
"The Little Mermaid" was heavily merchandised, and the ithy-phallic castle
appears on many, though not all, of a diverse line of toys, books, apparel
and school gear marketed primarily to girls aged four to ten. There's even
a Little Mermaid stencil set to give the budding artist a head start toward
creating her own suggestive pictures. The castle in question is yellow and
in the upper left of the video label. It's not so much a proper castle as a
futuristic assemblage of spindly towers. Two of the towers (both directly
below the "r" in "Mermaid" on the video label) are thicker than the others
and have rounded heads. That's about it. The theory that the middling
resemblance was the intentional work of a renegade Disney artist seems
farfetched.
[end]
MutantMan
not like i care dumb freaks but it was drawn by that weirdo who painted a
nazi in a disney world montage of people from around the world or some such
--
http://home.att.net/~mutantman/
Iguess the average T.V. viewer is that dumb
I make no exceptions
She says she hasnt seen my talk show claiming
to have both a job and a life
The clown is dead long live the craig
Benjamin Robinson wrote in message <356634fa...@198.69.104.3>...
Noxious
> not like i care dumb freaks but it was drawn by that weirdo who painted a
> nazi in a disney world montage of people from around the world or some
such
....a 12 year old does NOT use words like "montage" or know facts about the
Disney mural with the Nazi (which was untrue anyways).....
Satmar, I know that MutantMan and you are the same person.....and someday
you're gonna goof up and everyone will know the truth.....and I'll be
there......laughing.....
**rubbing my hands together fervently** ....oh yes.......I'll be
there........
Love Ya.......(now fuck off)
Solon Boomer-Jenks
Noxious wrote:
> ....a 12 year old does NOT use words like "montage" or know facts about the
> Disney mural with the Nazi (which was untrue anyways).....
>
> Satmar, I know that MutantMan and you are the same person.....and someday
> you're gonna goof up and everyone will know the truth.....and I'll be
> there......laughing.....
> **rubbing my hands together fervently** ....oh yes.......I'll be
> there........
>
> Love Ya.......(now fuck off)
I guess it would be like Satmar to hold two different accounts with two
different ISP's just to do something like this. I wouldn't believe it for
anyone else.
Solon
Bartron
> I guess it would be like Satmar to hold two different accounts with two<BR>
>different ISP's just to do something like this. I wouldn't believe it
>anyone else.
I disagree with this theory actually...
If MutantMoron had the brain that Satmar did, he (besides
being even more of a total dick) would post under a fake
ISP as well. We know att.net is a real ISP. Speaking of which,
maybe someone ought to report him to ab...@att.net
Noxious
> I disagree with this theory actually...
>
> If MutantMoron had the brain that Satmar did, he (besides
> being even more of a total dick) would post under a fake
> ISP as well. We know att.net is a real ISP. Speaking of which,
> maybe someone ought to report him to ab...@att.net
That's why I always assumed they were different people also....but then I
thought about it....If I'm gonna use a FAKE ISP name, I'd use one that was
an actual real ISP, such as: att.net
Just a thought. And, yea....we aught to contact ab...@att.net! But then
again, if it's a fake ISP he's got there, ATT will not have his account on
file.....thus solving weather or not Satmar and MutantMan are the same
person.
Bartron
>But then<BR>
>again, if it's a fake ISP he's got there, ATT will not have his account
>file.....thus solving weather or not Satmar and MutantMan are the same<BR>
>person
It's a real account, and MutantMan has it. He has a webpage up under the
att.net domain and I went to it. If you know any of MutantMan's posts you could
spot pretty easily that it is indeed him just by the way the person who owns
the page talks.
Paul Buxton
In article <01bd898b$5e580c50$887d6b8c@mwimer>, Noxious
<mi...@swog.fhcrc.org> writes
>That's why I always assumed they were different people also....but then I
>thought about it....If I'm gonna use a FAKE ISP name, I'd use one that was
>an actual real ISP, such as: att.net
That's because you're smart, this is Mutantman you're talking about.
ab...@att.net will get the job done, no problem. I don't know which
newsreader you use but look for a way to display the headers (most
newsreaders should let you) and look at the path the document took to
get to you, the first entry will be your ISP and the last entry is the
originator. This post from Mutantman originated at att.net.
>
>Just a thought. And, yea....we aught to contact ab...@att.net! But then
>again, if it's a fake ISP he's got there, ATT will not have his account on
>file.....thus solving weather or not Satmar and MutantMan are the same
>person.
>
If they are the same person then there are still two accounts held by
that person. Satmar, at the moment (and if it is Satmar or just another
sick puppy) is reposting old articles from his archives (obviously run
out of ideas), is Mutantman doing the same? (I didn't read enough of his
posts to make this determination). If they are the same schizophrenic
person then maybe the Mutantman facet has become dominant forcing him to
repost old articles as this new brain-damaged persona* can't write new
ones.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Buxton S1.2 OFF++ FRI+++ f+++ n+/++ Ipw $++++ 7F07, 3F05 M33
pa...@kampkrusty.demon.co.uk http://www.kampkrusty.demon.co.uk
"I don't know! I don't know why I did it, I don't know why I enjoyed it, and I
don't know why I'll do it again!" - Bart Simpson
* as opposed to the old brain-damaged persona.