Classification of episodes based on plots

[amuller33]

Hello, been a lurker her for several months, but this is obviously my 1st post. I just had to post to ask if anyone has ever classified all episodes based on recurrant plot theme. For instance; Marge gets angry, throws Homer, but in the end realize why they love each other. I think a classification off all like episodes would allow for better comparison between different seasons, writers etc. Has anyone ever tried this? Any thoughts?

AJ

[Nebuchanezzar]

This isn't quite what you were talking about, but with For instance with The Milhouse of Sand & Fog & Bonfire of the Manatees, I watched them and thought that each put a Homer v Marge plot in there for some reason, yet in each episode it really didn't work as well as previous Homer v Marge episodes. In that regard, I'd classified those episodes as Homer v Marge episodes, and it actually influenced my opinion of the episode, in that they seemed lazy, careless, boring and unfunny.

Indeed.

[Number 10767]

This might be the closest thing you can find to the kind of list you're talking about, though I admit it's a bit inadequate compared to what you described:

http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/List_of_The_Simpsons_episodes_by_theme

[Jamie]

Christmas Episode - i.e. Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire, 'Tis the Fifteenth Season

Treehouse of Horror

Homer Gets A Wacky Job or Gets Into a Zany Situation - i.e. Dancin' Homer, Deep Space Homer, Simple Simpson, many, many more

The Simpsons are a Bad Family - i.e. There's No Disgrace Like Home, Brawl in the Family

Sideshow Bob Episode

Krusty Episode - i.e. Like Father, Like Clown, The Last Temptation of Krust

Lisa Has An Ethical Dilemma - i.e. Lisa Gets an "A", A Star is Torn, Lisa's Rival, Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington

Lisa is Sad - i.e. Moaning Lisa, 'Scuse Me While I Miss the Sky, Lisa's Substitute

Homer and Marge's Marriage Is In Trouble! - i.e. Life on the Fast Lane, The War of the Simpsons, Natural Born Kissers, Diatribe of a Mad Housewife

Clip Show - i.e. Gump Roast, So It's Come to This: A Simpsons Clip Show, The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular

Flashback Episode - i.e. The Way We Was, Lisa's Sax, Homer's Barbershop Quartet

Flashfoward Episode - Lisa's Wedding, Bart to the Future, Future-Drama

Sibling Rivalry! - i.e. On a Clear Day I Can't See My Sister, Bart vs. Lisa vs. 3rd Grade, Smart and Smarter

Mystery! - i.e. Black Widower, Who Shot Mr. Burns?, The Great Louse Detective

Marge Episode - i.e. The Twisted World of Marge Simpson, Homer Alone, All's Fair in Oven War

Bart's Crazy Antics - i.e. The Crepes of Wrath, Boy-Scoutz N the Hood, Bart on the Road, Kamp Krusty

Bart Has An Ethical Dilemma - i.e. Marge be Not Proud, Bart Gets an F, The Heartbroke Kid

The Simpsons Are Going To __________! - i.e. Bart vs. Australia, The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson, The Regina Monologues

Springfield Gets Into Zany Hi-Jinx - i.e. Marge vs. the Monorail, 22 Short Films About Springfield, $pringfield

Mr. Burns Episode - i.e. Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish, Rosebud, Fraudcast News

The Writers Tackle A Pressing Social Issue - i.e. There's Something About Marrying, Much Apu About Nothing

Ned Flanders Episode - i.e. A Star is Born-Again, Hurricane Neddy

Deals Mainly With Politics Episode - i.e. Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington, Sideshow Bob Roberts

Apu Episode - i.e. Homer and Apu, The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons, The Sweetest Apu

Skinner and/or Springfield Elementary Episode - i.e. Grade School Confidential, The PTA Disbands, Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadassss Song

Fleshing Out Secondary Character Episode - i.e. Moe Baby Blues, Worst Episode Ever, This Little Wiggy, Sleeping with the Enemy

Grandpa and/or Old People Episode - i.e. Old Money, The Old Man & The Key, Lady Bouvier's Lover

SLH/Snowball II Episode - i.e. Dog of Death, Old Yeller-Belly, Bart's Dog Gets an F

Deals Mainly With Religion Episode - i.e. Homer the Heretic, The Father, the Son, and the Holy Guest Star, Pray Anything

Non-THOH Trilogy - i.e. Trilogy of Error, Simpsons Bible Stories, The Simpsons Spin-off Showcase

Marge Leads a Crusade - i.e. Marge vs. Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens, and Gays; Itchy & Scratchy & Marge

Let's See How Many Guest Stars We Can Cram In An Episode - i.e. Homer at the Bat, When You Dish Upon A Star, Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass

Itchy & Scratchy Episode - i.e. The Day the Violence Died, The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show, The Front

Homer Tries To Be A Good Father - i.e. Staurdays of Thunder, Lisa's Pony, Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder, I, (Annoyed Grunt)-Bot

Look, It's A Long Lost Relative! - i.e. Burns, Baby Burns, Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?, Mother Simpson

Springfield Denizen Woes - i.e. A Milhouse Divided, Alone Again, Natura-Diddly, My Big Fat Geek Wedding

[Binky]

This might be the closest thing you can find to the kind of list you're talking about, though I admit it's a bit inadequate compared to what you described:

http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/List_of_The_Simpsons_episodes_by_theme
Yeah, I started that list on Wikipedia back in late 2004, and it grew quite a bit. Unfortunately, it was succesfully voted for deletion (almost unanimously, mostly by the type of people who don't like any material that's in some way related to pop-culture to be in Wikipedia - check out some of the idiotic reasons given here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/List_of_The_Simpsons_episodes_by_theme)) a few months ago. And yeah, I was thinking of adding more categories, things like episodes based around one of Homer's "schemes", but I never really got around to it.

[amuller33]

Yeah thats what I was thi8nking anout Jamie -- great job