Simpson Safari vs. New Kids on the Blecch

[Number 10767]

New Kids on the Blecch and Simpson Safari are usually considered the worst two episodes of season 12, though they tend to be rated quite close together. I just watched them both back-to-back and I think it is quite clear which episode is worse. NKOTB has a dumb sitcom plot, it panders to boy bands, and it features the typical Scully nosedive into a stupid plot twist, but at least it mostly understands basic rules about story and humor. I really did not remember how absolutely awful Simpson Safari was. After the Simpsons get to Africa, the "plot" becomes an awkward, endless string of truly awful "jokes." The whole episode seems like no one on staff had any clue what the hell they were doing. I remember hearing that Mirkin used to speed his episodes up to get more fast-paced humor in; well, Simpson Safari seems like things were slowed way, way down. That's how awkward the episode feels. Navy-recruiting and blowing up Mad Magazine were lame ideas, but the Joan Bushwell subplot with forced chimp labor is just excruciatingly embarrassing.

Seriously, watching the two together, New Kids on the Blecch looks like a well-plotted, hilarious masterpiece. It's still a bad episode, but Simpson Safari is the pits.

[Rich Uncle Skeleton]

New Kids on the Blecch's satire of boy bands and the music industry is pretty funny IMO. I don't remember any specific problems with the episode, there are enough episodes around that time with worse problems.

[Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabado]

What ruins "New Kids on the Blecch" is the horrible ending credits with N´Sync in the recording studio. It was okay that they were in the episode but I couldn´t take more. I must say that "Simpson Safari" may have a rather silly plot but it beats NKOTB, bearing in mind its unpleasant credits.

[Al Jean's Butt]

It's not very scathing satire, though, when they bring in the most popular boy "band" in an episode that is basically written for them... with the purpose of attracting their fans to boost ratings.

[Nameless]

Both are some of the most unwatchable episodes of the series and bottom 25 material.

Simpson Safari D (Winner)
New Kids On The Blecch D-

[Matt B.]

Simpson Safari is by far worse. It was just another episode where the Simpsons go to another country and a bad episode all around with no laughs. New Kids On The Blecch was pretty good

[Number 10767]

What ruins "New Kids on the Blecch" is the horrible ending credits with N´Sync in the recording studio. It was okay that they were in the episode but I couldn´t take more. I must say that "Simpson Safari" may have a rather silly plot but it beats NKOTB, bearing in mind its unpleasant credits.

Ah, ya know what, I didn't watch the ending credits, I just fast-forwarded through them. I'd still have a hard time believing the credits dragged it down below a crapfest like Simpson Safari, though.

[Willmak5389]

I'm not a big boy band fan (who is) so for me it is NKOTB, but Simpson Safari is pretty bad. Jane Goodall is a good person to make fun of, that's probably what sinched it up for me.

[John Jay Smith]

New Kids on the Bleech had some funny jokes (subliminal, liminal, and superliminal messaging). I know many are saying that it was "satire," but come on, it was an excuse to get N*Sync on the show in order to boost ratings among pre-teens.

[Sarcastic Guy II]

New Kids is pretty good. I never really understood the criticism of that one.

Simpson Safari is the worst episode ever for me. Absolutely nothing redeeming there.

[Ivan]

New Kids On The Blecch for me. Probably one of the only people here who found Simpson Safari quite good.

[Haoie]

I'd say both were terrible, but Safari is slightly better.

And the chimps with diamonds? It's a reference to the Crichton novel Congo, also a film.

[Sniper Squirrel]

choosing beetween these two turds is like asking which leg you want to have broken

[bluemoose]

New Kids on the Blecch was better. I've always hate Simpson Safari, and always will. NKOTB wasn't that good, but it was better than that crapfest of an episode "Simpson Safari".

[brody]

They are both horrible episodes, but SS is worse. They just shoved the family into Africa to see what would happen. The result? exactly zero laughs.

[Faucet]

nkotb wasnt' bad in my opinion. SS was bad though.

[Nightshade]

Simpson Safari is worse, the plot doesn't make any sense. Its funny how a bagboy strike ended up with the Simpsons fighting greenpeace or something like that.

[Wezzo]

Simpsons Safari D-
New Kids on the Blecch D

Eh, you pays your money. For me Simpson Safari is worse, but both are poor.

[Rest your giant head]

Call me crazy,but "NKOTB" is one of my favorite episodes,you can see it in my signature. That's mainly because of satire. I felt that the whole episode had many funny moments and hilarious quotes. My favorite is this one,said by Milhouse: "The statue of Liberty? Where are we?". Also,the concert always cracks me up!

"Simpson Safari" is also an OK episode,but still not perfect. Some of the moments are really irritating,such as the scenes with Dr. Bushwell but the rest is very good. I especialy liked the begining - Homer and the kids shoping was hilarious.

[TriforceBun]

I also think Blecch is a little over-bashed. Ignoring the fact that a terribly lame, flash-in-the-pan boy band guest starred on one of the most timeless shows of all time...the episode really isn't too bad. It's got some good gags, an okay premise, and somewhat decent songs. It does fall apart in the third act, but eh, I didn't think it was on the level of suckitude as the big stinkers like KTAAR and Helter Shelter.

Simpsons Safari is just bad from start to finish. Not my worst episode, but pretty close.

[George]

Simpsons Safari for me. I enjoyed most of its gags...especially the discussion with the cracker company.

[Your_Hero]

They are both horrible episodes, but SS is worse. They just shoved the family into Africa to see what would happen. The result? exactly zero laughs.


so meta

[The J Man]

I've never understood why New Kids is hated so much. I remember after it first aired, my friends and I agreed that it was one of the best episodes they had done in a while at the time.