HABF11 "The Wettest Stories Ever Told" Preview/Speculation thread.

[Nameless]

Extra week to wait on this one, remember.

A dinner at the Frying Dutchman gone wrong turns into an excuse for another anthology show, this time with a nautical theme - Lisa tells about the Mayflower voyage, Bart tells about mutiny in Tahiti, and Homer tells about capsizing cruise ships

Sounds like another pretty bad trilogy, although Homer's tale sounds like it could be entertaining.

The writer is hard to predict...at a guess I'm going to say Matt Warburton. Even though he already has two holdovers confirmed.

[DotheBartman]

All the previous trilogies are pretty much just the same episode over and over to me. I know it isn't fair to be this judgemental but I just don't see this being any good. If I wanted to watch this kind of episode I'd watch repeats of "Garfield and Friends" or something. Not looking forward to this at all. :-/

[George Cauldron]

I like the trilogy episodes and I'm willing to give them a chance, though the Halloween episodes have become increasingly poor over the last five years, Simpsons Christmas Stories was a little uneven, especially in the second part, and Margical History Tour was quite possibly the most Boring Episode Ever. I think this episode will have more freedom for the writers to be creative, rather than having to completely stick to a historical tale or such and such. I personally think this one has potential and I may well be one of the few here who likes the trilogy episodes on the whole (even if it does mean they're running out of ideas).

[Veryjammy]

LAME....can't believe we're getting yet another trilogy episode. Could it be any more obvious they're running out of ideas? Sigh, I know what to expect even before the episode airs.

[Rich Uncle Skeleton]

Christ, seems like the only way to make the show interesting now is to make "special" episodes. This will undoubtedly suck.

[Reverend Lovejoy]

I don't think it sounds that bad. :uhh:

[Rowdy Roddy Peeper]

Who would have thought Bart getting apeknapped or Grampa becoming an 80+ matador would be anything but awful, but them episodes seem to have gotten well recieved here. You just can't predict the Simpsons anymore, the worst synopsis's can still turn into great episodes.

[Wonderlicious]

Did anyone think that when they first heard the title a few months back, the episode was going to be a trilogy of Disney/fairy tale parodies? I thought when they meant "wet" they meant "soppy" and "sentimental". Obviously, I'm wrong. :uhh:

[AngryDad33]

Doesn't sound bad. I like all the trilogy episodes and it sounds like Homers tale will be very good.

[Cartoonnetwork]

What DoTheBartman and Veryjammy said, basically. Though I did like Tales Of The Public Domain a lot, so if they manage to do this one as funny as that one I could still enjoy it. On the other hand, Margical Story Tour had a good amount of lame gags.

[Corkus]

Like I've said in the past, while most of these trilogy episodes have been decent, none have been fantastic. The two best for me, "Public Domain" and "Christmas Stories", only got B's. One every two seasons was bearable. Two in a single season is absolute overkill. Lisa's tale sounds like something that didn't make it into "Margical History Tour", which is arguably the weakest trilogy episode. Bart's tale...sounds far too vague at this point to make a solid speculation. Homer's sounds like he has no idea what the hell he's talking about, so it could be funny.

That said, on the whole, I'm not looking forward to this one. The writer? Matt Selman hasn't written one all season, but his plots are usually more creative than this, so I'm gonna say no. I'm gonna predict Jeff Westbrook.

[California Prunes]

I'm gonna predict Jeff Westbrook.

But remember Westbrook is already confirmed as the writer of "Girls Just Want To Have Sums" in the HABF run. He only wrote one ep for the GABF run so I don't see any change here. Nowadays the number of eps per production run that a writer contributes tends to stay consistent for each season.

[Nameless]

Matt Warburton was only writing 1 episode previously and now he's got 2 in a row confirmed for S18, Tim Long appears to be all over the place...with J. Stewart Burns it looks like there's only 1 episode per production line, but Westbrook is quite new so it might be him.

It sounds like something Warburton might be credited to, but it's hard to predict with these trilogy episodes. Easier now there's only one writer for the whole thing, but still hard.

[moed'oh]

i think these types of episodes are good every few seasons. hopefully future sesons wont go overkill on the trilogy stuff

[Moe Gets a Cellphone]

It is a bit of a letdown after a nice solid episode like last night's will be followed by a trilogy episode which I've never been a big fan of. That being said, I dig nautical history and the old sea captain so I have a shred of optimism.

[Good Moleman To Robert]

I don't expect this to be good, but since they arn't following any pre-written stories (atleast it doesn't seem like they are), there is a chance this could come out with a 3/5...maybe.

[Drunk Barney]

Matt Warburton is writing 2 episodes in a row at the end of HAB, so I doubt it's him. I'm predicting Matt Selman.

[Rjones]

Could have many sea captain moments!

[SSBOB]

It just all depends. It can suck, or be really good. Hopefully it's taken in the right direction. We'll see.

[grissom]

The trilogies don't bother me that much. I don't think it'll be great, but I don't think it'll be really horrible either. I'm predicting a B-

[Stackhouse]

I get that they want to do trilogy episodes with a common theme... christmas, bible, history, hallowe'en, etc..

but a "water"-themed episode? if anything, why not do politics? or movies? or ANYTHING with a solid, workable theme. not that i'd look more forward if they were doing those others, but water? Weird, weird weird.

[Garp]

Two episodes of this type in the same season? Well, I shouldn't complain because I've liked all the trilogy episodes so far (though I haven't seen Christmas Stories yet), but it sounds quite repetitive.

[Rich Uncle Skeleton]

Could have many sea captain moments!
Judging by his last few appearances, that's not a good thing. All they do now is make him say as many things with an "arrrr" syllable in them. It's not funny.

Who would have thought Bart getting apeknapped or Grampa becoming an 80+ matador would be anything but awful, but them episodes seem to have gotten well recieved here.
That's no surprise. There's never more than two episodes a Season that aren't well-received.

[Mike Scully]

These trilogy episodes, like any other type of episode, can be great if done right; Tales From the Public Domain is one of the best from recent years. I'm not immediately poo-poo-ing this, and I'm at least looking forwad to scenes with Captain Mcallister (who'se been underused lately).

[Rjones]

scottvivian, when was his last appearance? was it in the THOH

[HellKat666]

Other than "Bible Stories" and "Tales from the Public Domain", I've never really liked the three-story format outside of THOH. And even those episodes were merely okay. I've been missing the show lately mainly due to being busy and I don't think I'll make a special exception for this episode.

My prediction? Homer's story could be entertaining, Bart's could go either way, and Lisa's sounds pretty dull as it's just the same tired formula of telling a historical tale with Simpsons characters. I don't think it really matters who the writer is, since I can't see that making much of a difference with this type of episode. I see this one being about low C-range in quality, if that.

[Nameless]

but a "water"-themed episode? if anything, why not do politics? or movies? or ANYTHING with a solid, workable theme. not that i'd look more forward if they were doing those others, but water? Weird, weird weird.

i predict the next one will either be "simpsons movie stories" or "simpsons dream stories".

Could have many sea captain moments!

and the old sea captain

remember now people, he has a name.

[StarskyMaxwell]

I'm gonna say Carolyn Omine. Or perhaps Stephanie Gillis (was she a one-time writer?).

And it doesn't look good. Not by a long shot.

[Cartoonnetwork]

Starsky, you are almost as obsessed with Carolyn Omine as I am...A three parter written by Carolyn Omine? Dear God, let's hope that's not true...Hi, Carolyn! I'm your biggest fan! :D (Actually A Star Is Torn was ok)

[bluemoose]

It doesn't sound that good, but like Rowdy Roddy Peeper said, some really bad synopsises have turned out pretty good (The matador one, e.g.)

[Jamie]

Sounds terrible!

[Channel Surfer]

My feelings are between Jammy's and Scully's here.

I've never really had much of an inherent problem with these episodes. They're a nice break from some of the typical "Simpsons" rules I'm used too, allowing the show to dive into situations that are virtually untapped. And, if done right, scathingly satirize them and mine them for every bit of their comedic worth. "Simpsons Spin-off Showcase", "Simpsons Bible Stories", "Tales From Public Domain", and "Simpsons Christmas Stories" I'm glad to have, and hopefully this episode comes through too. But recycling this format multiple times, especially twice a season, wears off some of their novelty, it's not really refreshing when it becomes a norm. And because these episodes IMO are inherently gimmicky, they lose a lot of their value with each installment, and this episode is going to have to work more than any of the others to overcome that.

I still expect something decent to be honest. But after this one, I would be more than content if the staff retired this format.

[TerrorK]

I'm guessing Omine will be writing "Regarding Margie", since she wrote last season's 13th production episode, and also the fact she usually writes episodes based around the Simpson women. In fact, the only one she hasn't so far is "The Great Money Caper."

My guess is either Matt Selman, unless he's been too busy with the movie. In which case, I'd guess either Stephanie Gillis or Lawrence Talbot.

There is, of course, the chance they've used it as the intro for three new writers. It's been common recently for new writers to start with a trilogy segment, THoH or otherwise. Joel H. Cohen, John Frink and Don Payne, Andrew Kreisberg, Matt Warburton, Josh Lieb, Marc Wilmore, Brian Kelley, and Kevin Curran all started that way. Also, I recall Jim Brooks saying that there were new writers this season, though he may have just been referring to those that did the holdovers.

[H Thompson]

Wasn't Lawrence Talbot a psedonym for Dana Gould that he used on Goo Goo Gai Pan?
In which case he's already had an episode this season.

[Nameless]

yep, he was credited as that for some unknown reason.

i don't think they've got three different writers, it looks like one writer is writing the whole thing when it comes to 3-segmenters now.

[TriforceBun]

I usually like the three-parters, but I agree that this does seem like overkill.

Now time to take the thread in a new direction...I'm going to post my grades for every non-THOH three-parter thus far! And now everyone will want to do the same! *tweaks villain mustache* This thread is now ruined...nyeh heh heh heh!

The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase: B-
Simpsons Bible Stories: Only saw the latter half, seemed B-/B -ish
Simpsons Tall Tales: C+
Tales From the Public Domain: B
Margical History Tour: C
Simpsons Christmas Stories: A-

[Sarcastic Guy II]

If I'm not mistaken, this will be the first time in my life that an episode airs on my birthday.

And of course, it just has to happen to be a trilogy episode.

All the trilogy episodes have sucked in my opinion, aside from the Spinoff Showcase, Christmas Stories and a few of the early THOHs.

This sounds like the worst of the season to me. I predict 1/5 or 2/5. I hate the fact that this episode even exists.

The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase: A
Simpsons Bible Stories: D
Simpsons Tall Tales: F
Tales From the Public Domain: F
Margical History Tour: D-
Simpsons Christmas Stories: B+

[Nameless]

The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase: B-
Simpsons Bible Stories: Only saw the latter half, seemed B-/B -ish
Simpsons Tall Tales: C+
Tales From the Public Domain: B
Margical History Tour: C
Simpsons Christmas Stories: A-

Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase C+
Simpsons Bible Stories C
Simpsons Tall Tales C
Tales From The Public Domain B-
Margical History Tour C
Simpsons Christmas Stories B-

Really these haven't been the best ever concepts for episodes. They would be OK if they spaced them out between seasons and kept them on topics like christmas, the bible, tall tales, history and spin-offs, but two in one season? And "sea-themed"?

[TerrorK]

Wasn't Lawrence Talbot a psedonym for Dana Gould that he used on Goo Goo Gai Pan?
In which case he's already had an episode this season.

Really? How was that one discovered?

[vox]

Really? How was that one discovered?
In the Australian airing and the repeat US airings, Dana Gould was credited as the writer. And, when asked, Roger Myers III explained:
"Lawrence Talbot" is the name of the Wolfman played in the classic films by Lon Chaney Jr., and just a one-time fill-in that Gould used. If and when I'm able to explain more, I will. (But its not that exciting a story)
I don't think he ever elaborated, but that's pretty sufficient.

[bluemoose]

Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase B+
Simpsons Bible Stories C
Simpsons Tall Tales F
Tales From The Public Domain D+
Margical History Tour F
Simpsons Christmas Stories A-

I've never found found 3-parters to be that good, except for the recent "Simpsons Christmas Stories". However, the last 3 or 4 episodes have been quite good, and sometimes really crappy synopsises have turned out pretty good. So I'll reserve judgment on this one until it airs, although I'm not all that excited about it.

[garret]

These don't have to be bad, but if they're based on history it's usually abysmal. If they were to parody a movie or story like they sometimes do, it would probably turn out OK. I predict that I'll like Homer's segment, Lisa's sounds like crap, and Bart's is far to vague to speculate.

[Handsome Peter]

Extra week to wait on this one, remember.

That kinda sucks... after a total of three episodes in the first 10 weeks of 2006, we had a five-episode run of all-new episodes (even though I missed two of them, which ended a three-week run of myself boasting having seen every single Simpsons episode in existence for the first time in my life). I guess this "March sweeps" period was a result of Torino 2006?

Anyway, trilogy episodes are usually pretty good in my books, but I was one of the few here not to like "Simpsons Christmas Stories", and the idea for the episode seems the most farfetched since "Bart Has Two Mommies" (one of the two I didn't see; the other was "Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife"). I am interested in watching this one, but I'm not anticipating it like the Metallica episode.

[Simpsons Forever!]

I don't know if this has already been mentioned, but this episode is Al Jean's 100th episode as Executive Producer since he took over from Scully back in S13. So, congratulations, Jean on reaching this landmark number and saving The Simpsons from the Scully seasons!

As for the episode itself, it's a trilogy of tales episode, so immediately will get no higher than a B - that's if it's good. I can't help being pessimistic, as all the other non-THOH 3-parters have been bland at best. I'm much more looking forward to Girls Just Want To Have Sums.

[TerrorK]

So, congratulations, Jean on reaching this landmark number and saving The Simpsons from the Scully seasons!

Bullshit! :-@

[DotheBartman]

Bullshit! :-@

Well! I expect that kind of language at Denny's, but not here!

[H Thompson]

Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase B+
Simpsons Bible Stories B-
Simpsons Tall Tales C
Tales From The Public Domain C+
Margical History Tour C-
Simpsons Christmas Stories B-

[Nameless]

I don't know if this has already been mentioned, but this episode is Al Jean's 100th episode as Executive Producer since he took over from Scully back in S13. So, congratulations, Jean on reaching this landmark number and saving The Simpsons from the Scully seasons!

I just counted and got 99...

[TerrorK]

I just counted and got 99...

I haven't counted, but perhaps Simpsons Forever fell into the trap of counting How I Spent My Strummer Vacation as a Jean show? Just like the "One Step Beyond Forever" book makers did.

[DotheBartman]

Technically, though, both the book writers and Simpsons Forever might be correct. I remember Roger once suggesting that the Scully credit on that episode was done as a sort of courtesy to him for being so dedicated to the show and for being the show's longest running showrunner (until now of course). In that case, Jean might have still been the showrunner.

[Channel Surfer]

Technically, though, both the book writers and Simpsons Forever might be correct. I remember Roger once suggesting that the Scully credit on that episode was done as a sort of courtesy to him for being so dedicated to the show and for being the show's longest running showrunner (until now of course). In that case, Jean might have still been the showrunner.

If you're referring to what I think you're referring to, I don't believe he suggested that. Here's what I know he said on the episode anyway.

Yes, it was entirely his fantasy ep - his story based on his own actual experience - and wrangling all of the guest-stars for recordings and re-recordings -- while his labor of love - was extra-time consuming, and made it desirable to hold-over for promotion as well. It was the least they could do for the longest-running EP, despite his rep. here.

http://www.nohomers.net/showthread.php?p=761610

[DotheBartman]

^You're right, I guess I misremembered that. Thanks for the correction.

[Rest your giant head]

That one sounds terrible! Another trillogy episode? Come on,it's enough! There are too many special episodes in recent seasons.

The show needs new executive producer!

[Simpsons Forever!]

Maybe I was wrong then - I did count How I Spent My Strummer Vacation - so that means Girls Just Want To Have Sums will be Jean's 100th episode.

[Faucet]

is this the easter one... cuz it seems according to how you write an episode was pushed back.

[Heub]

Unlike many people here, I have to admit that I like three-parters, I think they bring some freshness to the show.

For this one I'm foreseing a ship on fire that will sink, forcing Skinner to ride a sea turtle to pull through :shifty:

[Adamm R)))]

Sounds like a big ol' yawn-fest. Non-THOH trilogy episodes need to be hunted down and killed before they make it to the air.

[Rest your giant head]

Unlike many people here, I have to admit that I like three-parters, I think they bring some freshness to the show.

I like those from Scully era ("Trilogy of error","Simpson tall tales"),but the later three-parters are pretty bad.

[Simpsons Forever!]

Unlike many people here, I have to admit that I like three-parters, I think they bring some freshness to the show.

I suppose they make us appreciate how good normal episodes still are in comparison. :)

[TriforceBun]

Trilogy of Error wasn't really a three-parter, more of a format-bending episode that linked together three different viewpoints.

Again, I generally like the three-parters (with the exception of Margical History Tour), but too many of them can get boring, especially if they simply replace historical figures with Simpsons characters and make gags off of that.

[Magnum]

The HABF series has been great for taking terrible ideas and then bringing them to Adam West levels of insanity.

[coltonwiggum]

I wonder how much time will be spent in the frying dutchman that we can see (obviously the family is inside when telling the story). Hopefully more than just a minute or two.

[Imperciph]

Yarrrr! Hope this one won't be a stinkerrr!



I am sorry. That was plain retarded.

[DotheBartman]

So did you hear about the next "Pirates of the Carribean" film?

I hear it's going to be rated Arrrrrrrrrrr.

[Nameless]

I wonder how much time will be spent in the frying dutchman that we can see (obviously the family is inside when telling the story). Hopefully more than just a minute or two.

If their meal is ruined, it's unlikely that they'll be inside the place when telling the stories...

[Imperciph]

On a more serious note, I hope this episode satirically mocks the source it is lampooning with excellent character usage like Tales From the Public Domain and Spin-off Showcase instead of using it as an oppurtunity for placing characters as historical figures and opting for comedic zanyness like Marigcal Histroy Tour or Tall Tales.

[Kiyosuki]

It does sound a bit gimmicky, but I will only judge it as so when I see it. This season's been the season of surprise awsome episodes.

I love sea faring adventures though...so while this may be a bit of a stretch for that it could be funny in a random sort of way.

[Binky]

And here's the FOX Sunday promo for next week.

http://www.springfieldpost.com/index.php?topic=97.0

[Nameless]

The animation looked pretty good, which is at least one good thing to say about this episode.

[Simpsons Forever!]

The promo wasn't bad, but it's still a 3-parter, so I don't expect too much.

[Galalimit]

This episode looks awful. These kind of episodes have always been garbage and this one looks just as bad.

[alt.nerd.obsessive]

Looks like Burns and Smithers will be involved in the retelling of the Titanic? Or most probably the story of capsizing cruise ships by Homer, wonder if "Gone Fission" will make an appearance...

Still, the animation looked good once again, from what can be gauged from a 5-second clip(s).

[Binky]

Another promo:
http://www.springfieldpost.com/index.php?topic=97.msg125#msg125

[garret]

The animation looks great, that's really all I can say. Thanks Binky!

[Gay4Moleman]

I can't believe there's such disdain shown for an episode you haven't even seen yet. You guys act as if "The Simpsons" haven't kept you enthralled for almost twenty years now. That must be why you post messages on their fansite every day, because you never watch the show and don't own all the DVDs, you ungrateful SOBs. All the people in Springfield are SOBs. Why join a fansite just to rip on the show? I'm stumped as to why you would waste your energy on something you hate, instead of praising the show that has kept you interested for twenty freaking years!!!!

[Nameless]

I can't believe there's such disdain shown for an episode you haven't even seen yet. You guys act as if "The Simpsons" haven't kept you enthralled for almost twenty years now. That must be why you post messages on their fansite every day, because you never watch the show and don't own all the DVDs, you ungrateful SOBs. All the people in Springfield are SOBs. Why join a fansite just to rip on the show? I'm stumped as to why you would waste your energy on something you hate, instead of praising the show that has kept you interested for twenty freaking years!!!!

...what sense is this post supposed to make, if any?

[Jayrayman]

I dont think it looks that bad actually, judging from the second promo.

[H Thompson]

I can't believe there's such disdain shown for an episode you haven't even seen yet. You guys act as if "The Simpsons" haven't kept you enthralled for almost twenty years now. That must be why you post messages on their fansite every day, because you never watch the show and don't own all the DVDs, you ungrateful SOBs. All the people in Springfield are SOBs. Why join a fansite just to rip on the show? I'm stumped as to why you would waste your energy on something you hate, instead of praising the show that has kept you interested for twenty freaking years!!!!
*sigh* the consensus here is that the first 8/9 years were good, 10-12 were terrible, and 13 and onwards has been mixed with some mediocre, bad and good episodes. Most people don't think the recent non-thoh 3 part episosed have been good so they don't think this will be good either.

It's ok to be pessimistic you know, better than mindless optimism, even writers that read this forum have said thing to that effect.

Also if you want an argument to be taken seriously don't go off on unrelated tangents where you quote the show for no reason, it kind of detracts from your point.

[Reverend Lovejoy]

I can't believe there's such disdain shown for an episode you haven't even seen yet. You guys act as if "The Simpsons" haven't kept you enthralled for almost twenty years now. That must be why you post messages on their fansite every day, because you never watch the show and don't own all the DVDs, you ungrateful SOBs. All the people in Springfield are SOBs. Why join a fansite just to rip on the show? I'm stumped as to why you would waste your energy on something you hate, instead of praising the show that has kept you interested for twenty freaking years!!!!

We don't hate the show, it's just that most people don't like the idea of this episode.

[grissom]

Promos don't look too bad

[Gibbles]

Actually looks pretty good, well at least from the animation stand point. There were also no cringe wealthy gags in the promo which gives me a little hope.

Thanks for the Promos Binky as usually.

[coltonwiggum]

The second promo looks pretty good. I'm guessing this ep won't suck, but won't be great.

[Channel Surfer]

I can't believe there's such disdain shown for an episode you haven't even seen yet. You guys act as if "The Simpsons" haven't kept you enthralled for almost twenty years now. That must be why you post messages on their fansite every day, because you never watch the show and don't own all the DVDs, you ungrateful SOBs. All the people in Springfield are SOBs. Why join a fansite just to rip on the show? I'm stumped as to why you would waste your energy on something you hate, instead of praising the show that has kept you interested for twenty freaking years!!!!

You better get used to the negativity, it's part and parcel with almost every "Simpsons" site, and many internet fansites in general.