Worst Episode - Debate Over
Frank Stanley Gulczinski Iii
I think that we can end the debate over the worst episode ever after
watching Homer Loves Flanders. This one just stunk. It seemed like they
weren't even trying. The only funny scenes were the T2 parody and the
Vertigo/The Deadly Tower sequence. Flame protection on, but I really doubt
that there's anyone who enjoyed this one.
Frank "in search of a .sig" Gulczinski
Don Frega
(Frank Stanley Gulczinski Iii) wrote:
>
> I think that we can end the debate over the worst episode ever after
> watching Homer Loves Flanders. This one just stunk. It seemed like they
> weren't even trying. The only funny scenes were the T2 parody and the
> Vertigo/The Deadly Tower sequence. Flame protection on, but I really doubt
> that there's anyone who enjoyed this one.
>
Oh Frank, don't you realize the danger of forcing your opinion onto
everyone else? Now I have to flame you.
Actually, I can't really work up a clever flame at the moment, so you'll
just have to be content with my ramblings.
I would deving "Homer Loves Flanders" as good, rollicking Simpsons fun.
Not brilliant, but not as unbearably stinky as "Cape Feare". See how our
opinions differ?
As to whether this season is any better or worse than past seasons, who can
say? After 90+ episodes, The Simpsons is simply losing it's novelty. It's
difficult for any show to maintain freshness consistently over the course
of (4? 5?) years. We the audience are getting more and more critical. We
ask ourselves why we're not laughing as hard as we once did. Could it be
that we're too familiar with the comic devices? As long as The Simpsons
doesn't degenerate the way Saturday Night Live or Married With Children
has, I'm not complaining.
Don Frega
m...@brownvm.brown.edu
(Frank Stanley Gulczinski Iii) wrote:
I've seen better too, but hey it could have been a lousy repeat. I liked
the Vertigo scene too. They should do a Homer as "Dave" episode and have
him as pres and Marge as first lady. Grandpa could be a NARP member and
the Mayor could show up...Barney could run for the Senate, anything could
happen in that one!
marc.colten
>
> I think that we can end the debate over the worst episode ever after
> watching Homer Loves Flanders. This one just stunk. It seemed like they
> weren't even trying. The only funny scenes were the T2 parody and the
> Vertigo/The Deadly Tower sequence. Flame protection on, but I really doubt
> that there's anyone who enjoyed this one.
>
I enjoyed it. I loved watching the "trials" of the Flanders,
trying to be good and finding it all turning on them. Ned breaking
his back at the shelter ("Helter Shelter") and Homer getting the
headlines and the hero status in his desperate attempt to get away.
The sheep cartoon Rod and Todd were watching. Their comment to
their dad "Lies make baby Jesus cry." - And most of all Wiggum's
"Where's your Messiah, NOW!" - His voice is so close to Edward G
Robinson's anyway. and of course - our sermon for today
"What Ned Flanders did." The minister never did like Ned, and
I guess he couldn't resist.
Homer was good this time - more subtle (volunteering to tell Ned
when to drop the boat, screwing up and not caring), telling Marge
why he was throwing out their wedding photo ("Stop living in the past").
Good episode.
marc colten
James A. Cherry
m...@brownvm.brown.edu writes:
> They should do a Homer as "Dave" episode and have
>him as pres and Marge as first lady. Grandpa could be a NARP member and
>the Mayor could show up...Barney could run for the Senate, anything could
>happen in that one!
Colonel Klink showed Marge would have been President in 1F07.
And apparently, there's a sixth season episode called "Sideshow Bob
Roberts" coming up.
--
James A. Cherry "Who knew?"
Simpsons defender
you obviously have no clue about quality Simpsons viewing.
Jim Ranlett
: I would deving "Homer Loves Flanders" as good, rollicking Simpsons fun.
: Not brilliant, but not as unbearably stinky as "Cape Feare". See how our
: opinions differ?
: As to whether this season is any better or worse than past seasons, who can
: say? After 90+ episodes, The Simpsons is simply losing it's novelty. It's
: difficult for any show to maintain freshness consistently over the course
: of (4? 5?) years. We the audience are getting more and more critical. We
Well said. I enjoyed the episode myself. I agree that the audience is
becoming more critical as time goes by. Perhaps a brief respite is in order.
Go away from the show for a while and come back to it. After watching some
of the crap on TV now, even the subjectively worst Simpsons episodes will seem
terrific. It just seems that those saying the Simpsons has lost it may be
victims of their own hype. I know the feeling I get when someone tells me
about this awesome movie I HAVE to see. When I see it, I feel like I missed
something. I get the feeling from reading all these posts that's how many are
feeling about the Simpsons of late. Thus, I try to sheild myself from outside
hype (and even try not to set my own expectations too high.)
As always, different strokes for different folks. That's how it is with
anything that's subjective.
Regards,
Jim
Matthew Wyatt
Matt Wyatt
I liked this ep. up untill the ending when they flashed to a clip of
"Next week, on the Simpsons". When they parody themselves, it is only funny
when it is subtle. This, IMHO, was just so incredibly blatant, screaming
"look at me I'm just a cartoon, isn't this hysterical!" well, no it isn't.
Matt Wyatt
Thomas Ford Brown
In article <2mcf98...@srvr1.engin.umich.edu> sv...@tweet.engin.umich.edu (Frank Stanley Gulczinski Iii) writes:
>
>I think that we can end the debate over the worst episode ever after
>watching Homer Loves Flanders. This one just stunk. It seemed like they
>weren't even trying. The only funny scenes were the T2 parody and the
>Vertigo/The Deadly Tower sequence. Flame protection on, but I really doubt
>that there's anyone who enjoyed this one.
The mailman was the only laugh for me in the whole episode.
Definitely one of the worst two or three they've done.
Andrew A Starks
[stuff deleted]
>I would deving "Homer Loves Flanders" as good, rollicking Simpsons fun.
>Not brilliant, but not as unbearably stinky as "Cape Feare". See how our
>opinions differ?
SACRILEGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE CAPE FEAR EPISODE WAS MY ALLTIME FAVORITE!! IT WAS CLASSIC IN EVERY
RIGHT!!!!
HOW DARE YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT OPPINOIN THAN I!! :)
you're just stinky.
--
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
|The Sultry Producer star...@gold.tc.umn.edu|
|If interactive, and it's on cable, don't call me... |
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Joe Panfil
Some of my favorite lines.
Chief Wigum: "High as a kite everybody, Goof Balls!"
Homer: "The Flanderezes are not Geeks"
Todd: "Lies make baby Jesus cry"
Homer after chasing the car and fallling off. "I guess they didn't see me."
The T2 stuff was great.
Sacrelitous.
Martin R. Gonzalez
My own two cents:
"Homer Loves Flanders" Good
"Capre Fear" Bad
Tony Molina
>> THE CAPE FEAR EPISODE WAS MY ALLTIME FAVORITE!! IT WAS CLASSIC IN EVERY
>Hmmm, I thought Cape Feare was actually quite good. The rake scene didn't do
>anything for me, though I can see how a few might find it funny, I didn't
>think its length detracted from the episode, it wasn't that long really.
Like you, I'm in Australia but I don't remember seeing this episode. How long
ago did Channel 10 show this one?
Adios,
Nicholas Adam Geisinger
Halloween episode that did the "Quoth the Raven, Nevermore"
poem? Pretty poor. Didn't laugh much.
Dave Dalle
The poem is the "Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe, and I thought it was pretty
funny having Homer try and say some of the lines. Remember 'Quaff'
and I love his whine 'Ooh Lenore...'
I think the point is that there is no Simpson's episode in existence
that I wouldn't want to see.
Dave
--
True connoisseurs of poetry have been at all times and in all places
exactly so rare as true poets themselves. -Lessing
The whole point of the Doomsday machine is lost...if you keep it a secret
WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL THE WORLD? -Dr. Strangelove
Marc MacNair
Dave,
and don't forget. . .
"Quoth the Raven, 'Eat my shorts.'"
CLASSIC!
Marc
Matthew Kurth
I thought it was a classic for its subtleness. You must admit that "Quoth the
Raven: `Eat my shorts!'" is an all-time classic line. Heck, I can remember
most of that whole story because of it! :)
Matthew W. Kurth | "Lisa, what's this Police Box doing here?" Bart wondered.
-aka The Captain | "Bart, what is a Police Box?" Lisa countered.
------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------
Auf Wiederlesen! | The Ink & Paint Club BBS * (815) 923-2382 * 8-N-1 * 14.4
SCOTT I CHASE
>In article <1994Mar30....@Virginia.EDU> na...@Virginia.EDU (Nicholas Adam Geisinger) writes:
>>As long as the worst episode controversy rages, remember the
>>Halloween episode that did the "Quoth the Raven, Nevermore"
>>poem? Pretty poor. Didn't laugh much.
>
>I thought it was a classic for its subtleness. You must admit that "Quoth the
>Raven: `Eat my shorts!'" is an all-time classic line. Heck, I can remember
>most of that whole story because of it! :)
I have never posted to the "worst episode" threads, because I have always
felt that it was too difficult to judge, and that no one episode stuck out
as a stinker - until today. "Bart Gets an Elephant" was the WORST Simpsons
episode I have ever seen, hands down. It was so bad that it was embarassing.
I could explain why, but you've all seen it and know exactly what I mean.
-Scott
--------------------
Scott I. Chase "The question seems to be of such a character
SIC...@CSA2.LBL.GOV that if I should come to life after my death
and some mathematician were to tell me that it
had been definitely settled, I think I would
immediately drop dead again." - Vandiver
M23...@mwvm.mitre.org
>>>As long as the worst episode controversy rages, remember the
>>>Halloween episode that did the "Quoth the Raven, Nevermore"
>>>poem? Pretty poor. Didn't laugh much.
>>
>>I thought it was a classic for its subtleness. You must admit that "Quoth the
>>Raven: `Eat my shorts!'" is an all-time classic line. Heck, I can remember
>>most of that whole story because of it! :)
>
>I have never posted to the "worst episode" threads, because I have always
>felt that it was too difficult to judge, and that no one episode stuck out
>as a stinker - until today. "Bart Gets an Elephant" was the WORST Simpsons
>episode I have ever seen, hands down. It was so bad that it was embarassing.
>I could explain why, but you've all seen it and know exactly what I mean.
>
and sort of listened while I made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I was
too ashamed to watch. What kind of name is Stampy?????The Bart I know would
have named him Homer or Killer or Lisa or something juevenille(sp) and
immature. I don't think much thought was put into this episode.
Matthew Kurth
>I have never posted to the "worst episode" threads, because I have always
>felt that it was too difficult to judge, and that no one episode stuck out
>as a stinker - until today. "Bart Gets an Elephant" was the WORST Simpsons
>episode I have ever seen, hands down. It was so bad that it was embarassing.
>I could explain why, but you've all seen it and know exactly what I mean.
Quite the contrary, I found it to be second-best this season, just behind
"Lisa vs Malibu Stacy". Please explain, in great detail.
--
Montlick
The Michael Jackson episode was the worst. I was actually embarassed for
Jackson!
Ron Cross
In a previous article, mont...@aol.com (Montlick) says:
>
>The Michael Jackson episode was the worst. I was actually embarassed for
>Jackson!
>
Look. How many times do i have to tell you -- There is no worst
episode. Over and over again i see these postings about which is the
worst. There isn't one. Besides no one mentioned the real worst episode --
the thanksgiving one. I mean have you all seen this. One word: BOOOOring.
It's all sappy and corny and it just sucks. That's the only episode that i
don't really like. Otherwise, i don't want to hear you talking about how
bad it all is. It's the simpsons -- love them for who they are.
Ron
--
They do say verbal insults hurt more than physical pain. They are, of
course, wrong as you will soon find out when I stick this toasting fork in
your head.
Steve L Portigal
> bad it all is. It's the simpsons -- love them for who they are.
I think it's time for a new news.group.
alt.simpsons.only.true.fans.need.apply - we can have those discussions
FREE of negativity there, and the rest of who are slightly more tied
to reality (but only slightly) can post normal critiques of something
we are all fans of.
--
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Steve Portigal ** User-Interface Dude ** looking for work, too!!! |
| View my M.Sc. thesis online at: http://130.43.3.18/ (World Wide Web) |
| Remove Jam...@nevada.edu as the "official" guitar tablature archivist! |
| You were born to rock, you'll never be an opera star |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Matthew Kurth
> Look. How many times do i have to tell you -- There is no worst
>episode. Over and over again i see these postings about which is the
>worst. There isn't one. Besides no one mentioned the real worst episode --
>the thanksgiving one. I mean have you all seen this. One word: BOOOOring.
>It's all sappy and corny and it just sucks.
Okay, now you've gone and done it.
"There is no worst episode. But the real
worst episode is the thanksgiving one".
HYPOCRITE!!!
I have no respect and no sympathy for anyone who offers a dislike of an
episode, and then proceeds to tear it to shreds. Especially "Bart vs.
Thanksgiving", one of the most maligned and misunderstood episodes available.
7F07 is an excellent character piece, and shows that The Simpsons can go
BEYOND being a laugh-a-minute show to being something that is actually
touching and endearing. Sappy it may be, but corny it its not. It does not
fall into the regular trappings of the sitcom cookie cutter as you make it out
to do. Bart's reaction is totally believable and totally in character. In
fact, the episode is nothing more than a character study of the main
characters in the series. All the way down to the end, with the
reconciliation between Bart and Lisa.
That scene is simply the most emotional piece of television I have ever seen
in my 18 years of watching. I have never watched a scene that repeatedly
tugs at my heartstrings every time I view it. As I have said before, for me
it is the defining moment of the series, and proof positive that Bart Simpson
is not merely about mean-spiritedness, but has a "human" side to him with the
same frailties as you and I.
If that is boring to you, then so be it, as it is your loss. But to state
that an episode "sucks" because of it is unacceptible and insulting.
Matthew Kurth
Mean Mister Mustard
Matthew Kurth <mku...@interaccess.com> wrote:
>In article <CnrMq...@freenet.carleton.ca> aq...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Ron Cross) writes:
>> Look. How many times do i have to tell you -- There is no worst
>>episode. Over and over again i see these postings about which is the
>>worst. There isn't one. Besides no one mentioned the real worst episode --
>>the thanksgiving one. I mean have you all seen this. One word: BOOOOring.
>>It's all sappy and corny and it just sucks.
>
>episode, and then proceeds to tear it to shreds. Especially "Bart vs.
>Thanksgiving", one of the most maligned and misunderstood episodes available.
So what is he supposed to do when he dislikes an episode? Pretend he loves
it? And then post irate messages to alt.simpsons.fanboys denouncing anyone
else who dislikes it?
{defense of the Thanksgiving episode deleted}
>
>If that is boring to you, then so be it, as it is your loss. But to state
>that an episode "sucks" because of it is unacceptible and insulting.
Maybe, but he honestly feels that the episode sucks! Frankly, so do I.
It's good that you found some real value in it, but that doesn't mean every-
one else will.
One of my favorite eps (Homer Goes to College) is probably one of the few
that gets *more* maligned than the Thanksgiving one. I disagree with all of
its critics, but that doesn't mean I find it "insulting" when somebody slams
on it. They're entitled to their opinions, too. My opinion on the Simpsons
isn't the final one. Neither, Mr. Kurth, is yours.
Marc
PaulIE
>In article <1994Mar30....@Virginia.EDU> >na...@Virginia.EDU (Nicholas
Adam Geisinger) writes:
>>As long as the worst episode controversy rages, remember the
>>Halloween episode that did the "Quoth the Raven, Nevermore"
>>poem? Pretty poor. Didn't laugh much.
>I thought it was a classic for its subtleness. You must admit that >"Quoth
the
>Raven: `Eat my shorts!'" is an all-time classic line. Heck, I can >remember
>most of that whole story because of it! :)
I agree!!!! And I thought the animators did a KILLER job on making a raven that
looked like Bart, no??? I liked that skit!!! (Of course, I'm a SUCKER for that
deep, bassy voice of Mr. James Earl Jones!!! He does a KILLER job as those
slobbering space aliens in the other specials, too!!!)
Martin R. Gonzalez
mont...@aol.com (Montlick) writes:
>
> The Michael Jackson episode was the worst. I was actually embarassed for
> Jackson!
YES!!! Why hasn't anyone else nominated this as the all-time worst?
Maybe it was so bad everyone just wanted to forget it. I've taped
every show, but I purposely went back and erased this one when it was
over. It really, really sucked!
Matthew Kurth
>Matthew Kurth <mku...@interaccess.com> wrote:
>>In article <CnrMq...@freenet.carleton.ca> aq...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Ron Cross) writes:
>So what is he supposed to do when he dislikes an episode? Pretend he loves
>it? And then post irate messages to alt.simpsons.fanboys denouncing anyone
>else who dislikes it?
Not at all. I'm not saying in the least that everyone has to like every
episode, or even the ones I like. But to condemn an episode because you don't
like it, I just can't subscribe to that. That's like condemning Bill Clinton
because you don't like him, or because he's a Democrat. Condemn Bill Clinton
because he's an idiot or a hypocrite. And condemn "Bart vs. Thanksgiving"
because of poor pacing, or sloppy animation. If that's what you believe.
>Maybe, but he honestly feels that the episode sucks! Frankly, so do I.
>It's good that you found some real value in it, but that doesn't mean every-
>one else will.
If he *thinks* it sucks, that's fine. But to say that something just *sucks*
is something else entirely at base level.
>One of my favorite eps (Homer Goes to College) is probably one of the few
>that gets *more* maligned than the Thanksgiving one. I disagree with all of
>its critics, but that doesn't mean I find it "insulting" when somebody slams
>on it. They're entitled to their opinions, too.
More power to you, sir. However, I insist on drawing the line between
constructive criticism and destructive criticism when dealing in the manner
that we are. My biggest beef, however, lies in the conflicting introductory
paragraph of the original message.
>My opinion on the Simpsons isn't the final one. Neither, Mr. Kurth, is yours.
I agree wholeheartedly.
Mean Mister Mustard
You raise a lot of good points. Since I've already said my $0.02 (which,
in real dollars, is about $0.000002), this isn't a counter-argument -- I
just wanted to thank you for responding and arguing intelligently & with
courtesy. A few posts I've read today are sorely lacking in both of these,
and looking back I see I have much less of a beef with you than I do with
some of our less articulate, less bipedal, and less opposably-thumbed peers.
I hope to keep reading your thoughts on this newsgroup!
Marc
Ron Cross
Look, Matt. IT WAS A JOKE! There *ARE* no episodes of the simpsons
that i don't like. I'm tired of people leaving "worst episode" posts. in
fact i left two "anti-worst episode" posts myself. I figured I'd have to
straighten out a few readers on this one, but you see, I thought most
people who read this group would appreciate a joke, seeing as the Simpsons
is the funniest thing around. Well, Maybe, you don't understand humor. And
if that's the case, I can't be bothered continuing with this response.
Please refrain from flaming me in the future just cuz you don't get a
little fucking sarcasm!
Chris Seale
[stuff deleted]
-> 7F07 is an excellent character piece, and shows that The Simpsons can
-> go BEYOND being a laugh-a-minute show to being something that is
-> actually touching and endearing. Sappy it may be, but corny it its
-> not. It does not fall into the regular trappings of the sitcom
-> cookie cutter as you make it out to do. Bart's reaction is totally
-> believable and totally in character. In fact, the episode is nothing
-> more than a character study of the main characters in the series.
-> All the way down to the end, with the reconciliation between Bart and
-> Lisa.
[more deleted]
I have to agree here. Although I won't say this was the end-all, be-all
of the series, I did very much like this episode. Bart's apology to
Lisa was a great demonstration of a point that many have raised about
the Simpsons: these cartoon characters are the most *human* people on
television.
Another thread on the board right now discusses who would be the ideal
cast of a live-action "Simpsons" movie. Someone said something to the
effect of, "if you want to see live-action Simpsons, just watch Married
With Children." Way wrong. The difference is vivid--the Bundys don't
give a damn about each other. The Simpsons do. Sure, they have
problems, but that makes them that much easier to relate to. They're
more representative of who *we* are. Sitcoms tend towrd the
extremes--inhuman "Married With Children," or inhuman "The Cosby Show."
Both are entertaining, but neither is as close to life as the Simpsons.
The Simpsons are a genuine family. They have disagreements, the parents
don't always know the right thing to do, the kids don't always do what
their parents say, but ultimately, they *do* love each other.
The Thanksgiving episode focused on this aspect, but it's always
present, and it's one more reason the show is so appealing.
cs
Kellyx2
Cross) writes:
In a previous article, mku...@interaccess.com (Matthew Kurth) says:
>In article <CnrMq...@freenet.carleton.ca> aq...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Ron
Cross) writes:
>> Look. How many times do i have to tell you -- There is no worst
>>episode. Over and over again i see these postings about which is the
>>worst. There isn't one. Besides no one mentioned the real worst episode --
>>the thanksgiving one. I mean have you all seen this. One word: BOOOOring.
>>It's all sappy and corny and it just sucks.
>
>Okay, now you've gone and done it.
>
>"There is no worst episode. But the real
>worst episode is the thanksgiving one".
>HYPOCRITE!!!
I have to agree with the above sentiments; I don't see much sarcasm in your
statement, it sounds like your trashing the Thanksgiving episode. Online a lot
of statements that we would easily see as sarcasm because of vocal mannerisms
or body language are more difficult to tell, especially since most of us don't
know the poster, and read them fairly quickly (at least I do, not wanting to
spend all my time online).
Kelly
Matthew Kurth
> Look, Matt. IT WAS A JOKE! There *ARE* no episodes of the simpsons
>that i don't like. I'm tired of people leaving "worst episode" posts. in
>fact i left two "anti-worst episode" posts myself. I figured I'd have to
>straighten out a few readers on this one, but you see, I thought most
>people who read this group would appreciate a joke, seeing as the Simpsons
>is the funniest thing around. Well, Maybe, you don't understand humor. And
>if that's the case, I can't be bothered continuing with this response.
Perhaps I do understand humor, and perhaps I don't, or perhaps I've
encountered too many people that actually think in the manner portrayed in the
original post, but I did not detect one iota of humor in your message, so it
did not appear to be much of a joke. My apologies then for misreading you.
As for your previous postings, I have trouble following the direction of a
thread at times - much less follow the leanings indicated by every person
over a few posts.
>Please refrain from flaming me in the future just cuz you don't get a
>little fucking sarcasm!
My reply was not formulated as, and was intended to be, a flame. Might I
suggest that your "little fucking sarcasm" was laid on a bit too thick..?
At any rate, we have a non-argument on our hands. Shall we return to more
worthwhile pursuits?
Tony Stott
> You read my mind!!! For the first time I actually got up during the episode
> and sort of listened while I made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I was
> too ashamed to watch. What kind of name is Stampy?????The Bart I know would
^^^^^^
> have named him Homer or Killer or Lisa or something juevenille(sp) and
> immature. I don't think much thought was put into this episode.
Maybe I shouldn't say anything, 'cos I haven't seen this episode (come to
think of it, I haven't seen ANY fifth season episodes - damn Channel 10, damn
them to Hell!) :o|
When I read the name "Stampy" I instantly thought of Stimpy. Could this have
been another nod to Ren and Stimpy like we've seen in the past?
Cheers!
Tony.
--
x^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^x
< ### ### >
< # # # O# "I CAN SEE THE MUSIC!" Tony Stott - Melbourne, Australia >
< #O # # # - Lisa Simpson. (to...@xymox.apana.org.au) >
< ### ### >
xvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvx
BIG ALN
(Montlick) writes:
Compared to the eposodes now, the first episode sucked.
Matthew Kurth
>Compared to the eposodes now, the first episode sucked.
The first episode "sucked", eh?
If it sucked so bad, then why the hell has the series made it for 5 years,
with at least 3 more to go? Come on - TV hasn't changed that much.
I'd like to know the license of the turnip truck you just fell off of.
Back in those days, the show was based on a Real Plot (tm). A plot in which
the characters were "human" characters trapped in extraordinary circumstances.
It was, IMHO, a drama about the human condition, and a statement about the
dysfunctional family.
Early Simpsons installments displayed through their developed storylines that
families must work to stay together, but that it can be made to work in an
imperfect world. And, through it all, the family loved one another, if
grudgingly. There is no better example of this than the first episode, 7G08.
The characters had integrity. Homer was the simple, slow-witted father, Bart
was the brat (in a Dennis the Menace kind of way), Lisa was the brainy,
cynical sister, Marge tried to hold the family together through all the
stress, and Maggie was the only one more or less untouched by the madness of a
crazy, cruel world.
Today, what has OFF been reduced to? Homer spouts movie dialogue when he
can't remember his wife's birthday and is now a mean-spirited, idiotic
buffoon, Bart is a more-or-less Good Kid that just can't do good (when did he
last spraypaint something?), Lisa is a mellow, sullen prepubescent, Marge has
lost her edge, and Maggie has all but vanished entirely.
You cannot sit there and tell me that "the first episode sucked". Because it
didn't. The new ones don't either. If that's your opinion, then state it as
your opinion. As it stands, you're stating it as fact. Either way, an
opinion is useless if it cannot be supported. Please support your argument.
--
Matthew W. Kurth | /\ .sig construction ahead - all traffic merge left. /\
-aka The Captain | /\ Give 'em a brake - and mind the barrier horses. /\
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"Faboo Dadoo!" | The Ink & Paint Club BBS * (815) 923-2382 * 8-N-1 * 14.4