Simpsons Whacking Day Song
Socorro Henson
As we close out season 14, we've got returning guest Chris Cabin from the podcast We Hate Movies! Together we celebrate what most call the best episode of the season, thanks to Emmy-winning acting by Hank Azaria, not to mention the stunning direction of Lauren MacMullan. But can this sweet tale of Moe connecting with Maggie survive a whacky third act with the mafia? Grab an orange peel and listen along to find out!
Bart is expelled from school as animal cruelty is celebrated, and for such heady topics we welcome back the cohost of The Flop House Podcast/Emmy-winning writer, Dan McCoy! After Dan explains to us how he won the same award as this episode did, we then detail the origins of Superintendent Chalmers. Then we talk about the less-fun IRL origins of whacking day, explain the many dirty jokes in this ep, and much more, so listen now to see if the bullies win mountain bikes!
The Talking Simpsons Network is taking a week off, so to fill the content gap, we've decided to post an episode of our Patreon-exclusive Talking Futurama podcast miniseries! If you like this episode and want to hear the rest (with more to come every month), head over to Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and sign up at the $5 level. Once you do, you'll have immediate access to all of our limited miniseries, covering animated shows like King of the Hill, Mission Hill, The Critic, and Batman: The Animated Series. So visit Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and sign up today!
The Talking Simpsons Network is taking a week off, so to fill the content gap, we've decided to post an episode of our Patreon-exclusive Blabbin 'Bout Batman: The Animated Series podcast miniseries! If you like this episode and want to hear the other 20 installments, head over to Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and sign up at the $5 level. Once you do, you'll have immediate access to all of our limited miniseries, covering animated shows like King of the Hill, Mission Hill, The Critic, and Futurama. So visit Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and sign up today!
We're joined again by journalist/podcaster Brendan James, cohost of the leftist history podcast Blowback, just in time for an episode inspired by America's wars. After the unexpected reveal that Ned love The Beatles, Bart joins the Pre-Teen Braves. That then leads to an extensive F Troop parody that's a gateway to the secrets of one lead actor on the show. Then it all comes to a head with a line that Fox tried to censor. All that, plus Ralph crashing through a window is born in this week's nondenominational podcast!
In an episode parodying the process of TV comedy writing, we welcome back WGA writer Nick Wiger (also from the podcasts Doughboys and Get Played)! Bart and Lisa get hired to secretly write Itchy & Scratchy in a plot referencing Tiny Toons/the blacklist, all while Abe does the iggy. Meanwhile, Homer goes back to high school for a short time before a Ned Flanders adventure. Listen now to learn all the big changes and deleted scenes in this classic show!
In an ep about asking questions about health and relationships, we're lucky to be joined by Alex Ptak and Jeremy Kaplowitz to answer these queries just like they do on their podcast, Quorators! After Homer takes up walking, Marge takes up an understandable amount of repressed rage leading to a horrible injury. Can the random appearances of Steve Buscemi and Jackson Browne save the day? Listen to this in your own backyard party (or Montana) and find out!
We had a huge May of Simpsons news to deal with in this extra-long community podcast! Not only the season 35 finale and a new Disney Plus short, but also a ton of headline-grabbing interviews that sparked a lot of discussion. Then we chat about all we watched and played this month, tease some upcoming podcasts, and (as always) respond to our favorite Patreon comments!
This week we're joined again by the podcaster Kole Ross, cohost of the many great Duckfeed.tv podcasts including Watch Out For Fireballs, and we discuss an ep about beer and cowardice. As season 14 nears the end, it's an ep focused on the family's pets, along with a big dose of history on Spuds McKenzie. Plus some talk about Jaws parodies, 2003 video games, and our love of Database. Tap into the peppermint glacier and listen now!
First-time guest, the brilliant TV writer Eva Anderson, is here to help us deconstruct one of the most celebrated eps in Simpsons history! Often ranked high on "best Simpsons ever" lists, we deconstruct how it got that reputation and if the highly quotable scenes hold up. Plus Eva helps us with the show's WGA strike history (which was the style at the time), we explain the multiple guest stars cut from the early scripts, and debunk British smiles. Listen now for the best of times and the blurst of times in this exciting podcast!
We welcome back the award-winning artist (and our good friend) Nina Matsumoto for an ep about horses and novelty songs! After some unseasonable Christmas talk, we dig into a tale of how David Byrne helps drive the family to vacation with Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Will we play the "Take that, Lisa's beliefs" jingle? Listen now to find out (but the answer is "yes")!
As we explore a sobering adventure for Homer, we welcome back the fantastic Eric Szyszka from the We Hate Movies podcast! In this memorable episode, not only does Homer get a DUI after defeating a giant spider, but Bart battles a hamster after destroying Lisa's giant tomato. Plus, many more tangents about Reefer Madness, Nixon/Kennedy debates, Herman's Head, and lots more trivia in this podcast about an uneven season 4 classic!
Another queer-themed episode of Simpsons means we again called upon two experts, Drew Mackie and Glen Lakin from the excellent Gayest Episode Ever Podcast! After Homer gets mad at Marge for reasons he thinks are defensible (they aren't), he moves in with two gay characters who both become key parts of Springfield. We deconstruct this 2003 approach to gay sitcom characters and their legacy (that Drew & Glen are connected to. Plus we detail how Harvey Fierstein wasn't in this while Weird Al was, with tons more trivia in this week's queer podcast!
Not only do we have a Valentine's Day classic this week, but we're also joined by the great first-time guest Mike Maronna from The Adventures of Pete and Pete, Home Alone, and the returning podcast The Adventures of Danny and Mike! Mike reflects on how his career intersected with Bartmania, and then we dig into this iconic ep of misplaced crushes when Ralph falls for Lisa. Plus we talk filming in The White House, anniversary specials, orange drink, mediocre presidents, and so much more
Spring began for the Talking Simpsons Network with a light dusting of Springfield news in addition to a whole lot of fun had by us and the listeners. For this installment of the community podcast, we chat about the most recent new Simpsons episode, then discuss our reactions to Dune, X-Men '97, and other March media. Then we react to some great Patreon comments about Bigfoot, charity programs, Michael Keaton, and more!
It's time for another Lisa-centric episode that speaks to all of the gifted kids who grew into confused adults. A documentarian played by Eric Idle shatters Lisa and Bart's sense of self, leading Lisa to battle light pollution (something your hosts never heard of before this 2003 ep). Listen for a podcast dissertation on that plus the Up series, Python troupe rivalries, songs about Vincent Van Gogh, and much more!
In an episode full of movie references, we happily welcome back Andrew Jupin from the We Hate Movies podcast! Written under slight protest by the brilliant Jon Vitti, Bart gets revenge on Homer by teaming up with a man who was once Tom Cruise. All that plus addiction to Corey and a massive brawl all over town. We promise, this podcast is LESS painful than it looks!
A lonely Valentine's Day leads Homer first to grease and then an Alec Baldwin parody in one of the funnier episodes of season 14. As Homer steals the nuclear plant from Mr. Burns, we reflect on the show's many references to birds, Poe, Star Wars prequels, and much more in this week's podcast. Just be sure you brought enough oil for the whole class!
We've reached the end of the month, which means it's once again time for another installment of our community podcast! Join us as we discuss new episodes, WGA nominations, Yeardley Smith's thoughts on acting with Dustin Hoffman, and more. And, as always, we read and respond to your questions and comments from the most recent round of episodes. It's all happening on Talk to the Audience?!?, where roaming gangs aren't a big problem anymore!
We hope you enjoyed our recent Selma's Choice podcast as much as we did, and we decided to share even more of our chat with our amazing guest, the creator of Steven Universe, Rebecca Sugar! Hear almost 20 more minutes of conversation with Rebecca about her new album, Spiral Bound, (out now!), as well as some new details on how some Simpsons productions compared to Steven Universe, what classic Simpsons says about gender, more of Sugar's thoughts on her Simpsons-inspired comic "Don't Cry For Me, I'm Already Dead," and so much more!
For this special episode about Selma Bouvier, we have a big-time returning guest, the creator of Steven Universe, Rebecca Sugar! (Check out her new album, Spiral Bound, now!) After discussing her history with the show, we dig into this story of parenthood, theme parks, funerals, and lizards that all have something to do with the fourth season of Murphy Brown. Learn about all of that and whether grocery employees wear belts in this week's podcast!
To understand how this happened, you need to know that I belong to a rock band called the Rock Bottom Remainders, which consists mostly of authors. The other members include (in alphabetical order) sports columnist Mitch Albom, humor writer Roy Blount Jr., media escort and singer Kathi Goldmark, Simpsons creator Matt Groening, rock-book author Dave Marsh, thriller writer Ridley Pearson, one-person horror industry Stephen King, rock critic Joel Selvin and actual literary person Amy Tan.