Overrated Episodes

[CJman327]

Just like the "underrated" thread just the complete opposite. You know the drill! What episodes do you think are the most overrated?

Burns Verkaufen Der Kraftwerk-This episode was excellent but it seems like the only thing that famed it was a straight-forward plotline, few great jokes and the Land Of Chocolate sequence.

All I got so far.....

[Thats A Paddlin]

4 words....

The President Wore Pearls.

[do what donny dont does]

Little Girl in the Big Ten. Just my opinion.

[TheForbiddenDonut]

Marge vs the Monorail
Cape Feare
Boy Scoutz N the Hood
Kamp Krusty
Some others I'm forgetting....

[Jake]

1. Future-Drama
2. HOMR
3. Homer's Enemy
4. We're On the Road to D'ohwhere

[Nebuchanezzar]

The President Wore Pearls
The Girl who Slept too Little
Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire
$pringfield or: How I learnt to stop worrying and love legalized gambling.

[SideshowTim]

last exit to springfield is a very good episode yet it's incredibly overrated. nowhere near the best episode ever for me.

[TheFlandersMan]

Whacking Day, and Selma's Choice.

Everyone loves these episodes, I think they are easily the weakest of Season 4.

[Thats A Paddlin]

Whacking Day, and Selma's Choice.

Everyone loves these episodes, I think they are easily the weakest of Season 4.

I could'nt agree more. I dont mind myself laughing at either of those.

[Jamie]

Sleeping with the Enemy

[garret]

Cape Feare. It's just not all it's cracked up to be for me, still good, but not as good as people say it is.

[TriforceBun]

Marge vs the Monorail
Cape Feare

I agree with these two. I think they're both good episodes, but they wouldn't be in my top fifty. Both have way too many predictable, cartoony gags, and the Wile E. Coyote treatment of Bob in Cape Feare really bothers me. Marge Vs. the Monorail is simply way too silly for the show, particularly the absolutely crazy third act, though I did love the song.

[Rest your giant head]

"30 minutes over Tokyo".
I hate this episode!
It's so overrated!

[Drunk Barney]

last exit to springfield is a very good episode yet it's incredibly overrated. nowhere near the best episode ever for me.

Yeah, I agree. I've watched the episode a few times, a while back to proove I wasn't missing anything. Whilst it's very good (A-) there are as you say, many other episodes that are better.

[Nameless]

HOMR
30 Minutes Over Tokyo
Viva Ned Flanders
Lisa Gets An 'A'
Mayored To The Mob
E-I-E-I-D'oh through to Eight Misbehavin'

probably more. all average to awful Scully episodes.

[Paul]

Marge vs. the Monorail
The Girl Who Slept Too Little
Milhouse of Sand and Fog
The Seemingly-Never Ending Story
Homer Simpson, This is Your Wife

The first was good but not as great as most people think. The rest, however, were awful.

[Semaj]

-Lisa's Substitute
-A Streetcar Named Marge
-Viva Ned Flanders
-My Big Fat Geek Wedding

[Paul]

-Viva Ned Flanders
-My Big Fat Geek Wedding
Who thinks these episodes are good?

[Nameless]

i don't know where MBFGW is coming from, but there is quite a lot of like for viva ned.

[Galalimit]

Every episode from seasons 13 to 17.

[The lesson is never try]

The president wore pearls is incredibly overated, as is bart sells his soul, its a good episode, but many people rate it as one of the best which it isnt.

[Homer Jay]

Moe Baby Blues
Life on the Fast Line

[Reverend Lovejoy]

last exit to springfield is a very good episode yet it's incredibly overrated. nowhere near the best episode ever for me.

Sorry, I've got to agree with that.

[Semaj]

Who thinks these episodes are good?

Viva Ned Flanders got an Emmy nomination in 1999, something I've NEVER been able to understand. My Big Fat Geek Wedding got a lot of positive reviews in the Rate & Review (http://www.nohomers.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39119) thread, which is also puzzling.

[thesimplerules]

Cape Feare
Viva Ned Flanders

[Veryjammy]

These aren't necessarily terrible but I feel they get more credit than they deserve.

Bart The General - It's ok but it feels a bit kiddy for me. Solid but nowhere near the 'first true classic' or other terms that get thrown around.

Homer's Barbershop Quartet - Second worst of season 5, just holds next to no appeal for me. I get the Beatles references but that doesn't mean I find them funny, and the plot is boring and thin.

Homer Goes To College - Dumbest episode of the classic era.

The Boy Who Knew Too Much - I find this kinda dull. Solid B-range because it has some good jokes but the conflict doesn't interest me at all.

The City Of New York Vs Homer Simpson - somewhat funnier than most vacation episodes but Homer is a total jerkass and the subplot is embarrassingly unfunny, the musical aside.

The Cartridge Family - Can't get past Homer on this one.

Das Bus - Tedious, childish, stupid subplot, little to no parody.

This Little Wiggy - Pointless, tired, poorly executed conflict between Bart and the bullies, lame deus ex machina last few minutes.

The Trouble With Trillions - Braindead.

Mayoured To The Mob - ok but very very generic.

Homer To The Max - Crude, terrible structure, overrated satire.

I Am Furious Yellow - Crushingly easy and obvious satire, the sequence of Homer getting hurt near the end is downright awful and I don't like the way he was portrayed in this episode just to cater for the plot.

Today I Am A Clown - Muddled and sleep-inducing.

[CJman327]

I know! God! What is with all the like lately for Homer Goes To College??????

[LionelBrockman13]

Two gag episodes where (for me) most of the gags misfire:


Homer the Great - Aside from the admittedly funny song, I don't see what's so great about this one. Homer is far too "wacky" and stupid for my tastes, and the scenes of "club life" and Homer as exalted leader are disappointing (dressing up monkeys to reenact the Battle of Gettsyburg).

Homie the Clown - The lampooning of Krusty/kid's show host's/spendthrift celebrities in the first act is enjoyable, but after that the episode always fails engage to me. The impetus for Homer becoming a clown is just as weak as any Season 10 Scully plot (he sees a billboard and suddenly he rushes off to Clown College). There are some good lines thrown in ("kicked by kids, bit by dogs, respected by the elderly", Wiggum's reminiscining with Homer/Krusty, the mobsters taking over the Clown College, Homer's repeated failed attempts to provide the mobsters with a false name), but the ep always feels like a "Homer gets a new job and hilarity ensues" type with no point behind it.

[Wonderlicious]

These aren't necessarily terrible but I feel they get more credit than they deserve.

Bart The General - It's ok but it feels a bit kiddy for me. Solid but nowhere near the 'first true classic' or other terms that get thrown around.


I love that episode and hate to dub it "overrated", but that particular term bugs me a bit too. A few more that spring to mind...

Bart's Inner Child My personal least favourite episode of Season 5. It's still not bad, and I like the trampoline part, but it just seems a little bland.

The 138th Episode Spectacular I notice that it does get quite a hefty dose of love, which I'm not sure is actually totally deserved.

Homie the Clown Okay, but never really loved it.

[OfficerJimmy]

Whacking Day

I think if anything this episode is underrated. Its always been one of my favorites and contains my favorite Itchy and Scratchy cartoon.

Marge vs. the Monorail

I used to think its overrated too, but now considering I must have watched it at least 75 times since I was about 5 and still enjoy it I think different.

[Cartoonnetwork]

I agree on Homie The Clown. I just don't find it so funny. I love the animation in this one and it's entertaining, but I don't find it so laughable.

I find Veryjammy's list a little harsh but I agree on Barbershop Quartet, Cartridge Family, Mayored To The Mob and Today I'm A Clown. And I don't find Homer To The Max so terrible but I mostly agree.

Furious Yellow and City Of New York are not excellent, but they are both pretty good and funny for me. I think Homer is perfectly ok in the first one and though his characterization is not excellent in the second one (he's too dumb and too agressive) almost everything he does is funny. I actually think it's an hilarious episode, though I recognize the plot is weak, it's not especially clever and there are flaws in characterization. And I can't see the problems in IAFY, I think Homer's characterization is similar to his season 1/2 self and he has always been portrayed as an angry character, especially in Swartzwelder's episodes. In fact I don't think he's portrayed like that to cater with the plot. I actually have the feeling it was the oppossite, that they came up the plot because they wanted to explore this side of the character.

[do what donny dont does]

Two gag episodes where (for me) most of the gags misfire:


Homer the Great - Aside from the admittedly funny song, I don't see what's so great about this one. Homer is far too "wacky" and stupid for my tastes, and the scenes of "club life" and Homer as exalted leader are disappointing (dressing up monkeys to reenact the Battle of Gettsyburg).

Homie the Clown - The lampooning of Krusty/kid's show host's/spendthrift celebrities in the first act is enjoyable, but after that the episode always fails engage to me. The impetus for Homer becoming a clown is just as weak as any Season 10 Scully plot (he sees a billboard and suddenly he rushes off to Clown College). There are some good lines thrown in ("kicked by kids, bit by dogs, respected by the elderly", Wiggum's reminiscining with Homer/Krusty, the mobsters taking over the Clown College, Homer's repeated failed attempts to provide the mobsters with a false name), but the ep always feels like a "Homer gets a new job and hilarity ensues" type with no point behind it.

Are you out of your freaking mind?

[Mira]

Homie the Clown
A Streetcar named Marge
Little Girl in the Big Ten
We're On the Road to D'ohwhere
Sleeping with the enemy
The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson

[TerrorK]

Behind the Laughter
Trilogy of Error
Jaws Wired Shut
Half-Decent Proposal
Weekend at Burnsie's
I Am Furious (Yellow)
Little Girl in the Big Ten
Special Edna
I'm Spelling As Fast As I Can
A Star is Born-Again
Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington
C.E.D'oh!
Three Gays of the Condo
Moe Baby Blues
The President Wore Pearls
I, D'oh-bot
Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore
The Ziff Who Came to Dinner
My Big Fat Geek Wedding
Catch 'Em If You Can
The Way We Weren't
Fraudcast News
Fat Man and Little Boy
Midnight RX
Mommie Beerest
On a Clear Day I Can't See My Sister
Future-Drama
Don't Fear the Roofer
We're On the Road to D'ohwhere
The Seemingly Never-ending Story
Homer Simpson, This is Your Wife

[do what donny dont does]

"Homie the Clown" must not be overrated, because so many people have said it is.

[Channel Surfer]

Behind the Laughter
Trilogy of Error
Jaws Wired Shut
Half-Decent Proposal
Weekend at Burnsie's
I Am Furious (Yellow)
Little Girl in the Big Ten
Special Edna
I'm Spelling As Fast As I Can
A Star is Born-Again
Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington
C.E.D'oh!
Three Gays of the Condo
Moe Baby Blues
The President Wore Pearls
I, D'oh-bot
Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore
The Ziff Who Came to Dinner
My Big Fat Geek Wedding
Catch 'Em If You Can
The Way We Weren't
Fraudcast News
Fat Man and Little Boy
Midnight RX
Mommie Beerest
On a Clear Day I Can't See My Sister
Future-Drama
Don't Fear the Roofer
We're On the Road to D'ohwhere
The Seemingly Never-ending Story
Homer Simpson, This is Your Wife

That long list and no mention of "HOMR"? And I thought I knew you...

Actually, I think I'll try to pick some choices different from my normal selections in these threads.

"We're On the Road to D'ohwhere" - Is it wrong of me to feel more sorry for Bart and Homer that their stuff was planned to be sold behind their back rather than from any of the actual stuff going on? That said, I don't really like this one, and am somewhat surprised it was as well received as it was. The Homer/Bart bonding was tacky sitcom styled stuff, cued emotional moments based off a few one-liners and jokes. But that unfortunately qualifies as the highlight when compared to a Marge/Lisa rummage sale which yields less laughs than the similar opening of "Little Big Mom", and features a wonderfully defining Marge moment of her selling drugs. Combine that with a number of not just bad but a number of really long, drawn-out gags (Ned and the flowers, Homer repeatedly driving in circles, Homer and Bart during the cliff scene), a Bart gets kicked out of school opening that felt like it was written on auto-pilot (and so soon after "Guest Star") with some of lamest Bart/Milhouse exchanges of all time. Senseless episode.

"Treehouse of Horror IX" - Only one good segment. Half of "Terror of Tiny Toon" is just listening to Bart and Lisa scream, while the other half is centered around obvious cartoon conventions (parody or tribute, still not that funny). The third segment has Jerry Springer.

"Days of Wine and D'oh'ses" - What exactly is good about it? They did less with Barney going sober here than in his few minutes in "Deep Space Homer". And was Barney becoming a helicopter pilot supposed to be endearing somehow. Or his fight with Homer supposed to pass as a conflict?

[Malachy]

4 words....

The President Wore Pearls.Seconded to the max. It's one of the weakest of the Jean years.

Thirty Minutes Over Tokyo - one of my least favorite episodes, without a doubt an F, and everyone seems to love it.
Whacking Day
Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife

[TerrorK]

That long list and no mention of "HOMR"? And I thought I knew you...

D'oh! You're right, "HOMR" should be there too. Though I don't see it as raved about as it once was to be honest. Still... overrated for sure.

[Mike Scully]

The City of New York vs Homer Simpson - New York stuff was all right, but I can't understand how Homer's antics while waiting by his car can be seen as anything other than tedious and dull. By the time Homer was driving through the city with a boot on his car, I was extremely bored.

The Trouble With Trillions - Incoherent, pretentious, and paper-thin the whole way through; this should be recognized a one of the worst episodes. What was the point? Pretty sad that Homer placing the guy's hand on the other guy's butt was the most I laughed at.

Weekend at Burnsies - Waste of potential with a lot of typical bland stoner humor which was only mildly amusing, though it had bits of good satire here and there. Still would have been good, but any episode with an ending so criminally dumb can't be considered good IMO.

I D'ohbot - The Bart/Homer storyline was dull and non-genuine. Homer going through torture and risking death so his son could win some robot competition staggers belief.

[Gay4Moleman]

I enjoy every episode, but if I had to choose an overrated one it'd have to be "Secrets of a Successful Marriage".

[TheFlandersMan]

but the ep always feels like a "Homer gets a new job and hilarity ensues" type with no point behind it.


Hey, that story is good enough for me. Simple, to the point. I think that it's one of the funniest episodes they've ever done.

Might I also add Bart Has Two Mommies. Everyone was so surprised at how "great" it was, meanwhile I thought it was about as crappy as any other Jean episode.

[GrandmaBird!!!]

Seasons 1 through 17 are always so overrated.

:-& (Sarcasm detector nearing breaking point) :-&

[LionelBrockman13]

Are you out of your freaking mind?


On which ep, Donny? (Or both, I guess?)

[Imperciph]

Homie the Clown - The impetus for Homer becoming a clown is just as weak as any Season 10 Scully plot (he sees a billboard and suddenly he rushes off to Clown College).

Not really. He just doesn't rush off to clown college : it is shown in several scenes that his warped mind is gradually overwhelmed by advertisement of the billboard. It is funny in the sense that only someone with a mind as warped as Homer can have all of his thoughts overshadowed by something as silly as a clown college.

And I enjoy this episode because I really like well-executed slapstick humour and this episode really delivers in that department. I feel all the slapstick humour in this episode are on par with a classic surreal Looney Tunes short.

[bluemoose]

plus it's just really funny.

[Mazzi_rules]

umm an overrated episode would have to be
Last exit to springfield

[Reverend Lovejoy]

I know! God! What is with all the like lately for Homer Goes To College??????

I agree.

[Monty Burns]

Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire
The Regina Monologues

That's all I'm saying for now

[Rest your giant head]

I also think that "My sister,my sitter" is overrated. I love a Simpson episode that makes you laugh - but this episode is sad and morbid! And that's not funny!!!

[Adamm R)))]

The third segment has Jerry Springer.
This made me laugh. Best instant dissmissal ever.
And as for overrated, all of the 'popular' episodes in season 15 and 16, except There's Something About Marrying and Diatribe of a Mad Housewife.

[H Thompson]

HAHA yes for all CS's in depth and well thought out criticisms, that has to be the one line that best expresses why something is bad.

[Adamm R)))]

^I assume you're being sarcastic and the laughter's only directed at me. I'm not saying it's the best criticism CS has ever used, there's a lot of better stuff and I enjoy reading his in depth stuff a lot. I just thought that line was funny is all.

[H Thompson]

What a strange thing to assume.
I don't really know how to make it clearer, I was agreeing you that it was funny, then I joked that simply saying "It had Jerry Springer in it" Is better than a whole essay.

[jim]

I find a lot of post season 10 episodes that are considered good to be highly overrated, and are highly regarded because they are half decent episodes surrounded by terrible episodes, but are pretty bad when put alongside the entire run of the show. This isnt scully bashing, there are some later episodes I think are actually underrated but some, such as Behind The Laughter, Trilogy Of Error, Half Decent Proposal etc. get more credit then they deserve.

[Homer4President]

I reckon Trash of the Titans, it just didn't appeal to me!

[Adamm R)))]

What a strange thing to assume.
I don't really know how to make it clearer, I was agreeing you that it was funny, then I joked that simply saying "It had Jerry Springer in it" Is better than a whole essay.
Sorry. Maybe I'm being paranoid or something.

[CJman327]

I don't see what was THAT amazing about Homer Vs. Lisa And The 8th Commandment.

[H Thompson]

^ I sort of agree. I do think it's very funny and well done, but I hate Homer and Lisa in it.

[Imperciph]

I sort of find Lisa The Simpson to be overrated. I never found that episode to be off that great empathetic value, found the concept of the simpson gene to be hokey and contrived and interfering with character continiuity (this maybe a personal nitpick) and I think Bart is quite badly characterised in that one : he's more like a junior version of Homer than his own self. Good episode, but I never consider it as a classic.

[Nightshade]

Whacking Day and The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson seem overrated.

[mike_donnelly]

Last Exit to Springfield.

Can anyone explain what is so great? all i ever hear is "dental plan!" when people talk about this.

[jim]

Well theres the great main storyline, funny B story, probably the most perfect characterisation of all the main characters in any episode ever, a ton of classic jokes and some of the best ever cutaways (McBain, Don Homer in Little Italy, Burns as a kid during the industreal revolution and how Homer got his scar). Its just a very good all round episode. Some have been funnier, others have been more emotional, but not many have achieved the near perfection of LETS.

[Kiyosuki]

This is going to be an unpopular opinion, but I think Last Exit's main appeal is mostly nostalgic.

Its one of those Simpsons episodes EVERYONE's seen and remembers while growing up. Die hard Simpsons fans and the most casual watchers alike. The Dental plan thing, Lisa's horrific braces, and Ralph's little scene with the dentist are all like..moments etched into an entire generation's mind.

When watching the episode now...it is very well done. Its funny, its plot rolls out in a nice and clean way and ends in a nice and clean way, it shows Homer during his absolute best years and no one is out of character even a little yes...but speaking as honestly and as neautrally as possible its really one of the more straight forward episodes in the series. It is a very good episode but its definitely overrated just because of the fact its one of the most remembered episodes. I say personally because its jokes and funny scenes are so simplistic and easy to remember. I mean...who didn't have "DentalPlanLisaneedsbraces" burned into their memory for months on end afterwards?

[do what donny dont does]

So many people say LETS is overrated, it has become underrated.

[zippy]

I can't believe this hasn't already been mentioned. The main reason why LETS is so great, is mainly down to the revolutionary socialist/''pinko'' storyline. This is the original struggle of the workers against the ''tyrant''. The funny thing is, the ep appeals to a lot of people, when in fact, most people scorn socialism.

It's a classic example of how Simpsons can take an ideology that is less than popular and make it the basis for a ledendary show. Maybe, the subliminal msgs do work! *evil laughter*

[Imperciph]

I say personally because its jokes and funny scenes are so simplistic and easy to remember. I mean...who didn't have "DentalPlanLisaneedsbraces" burned into their memory for months on end afterwards?

Actually I feel LETS gets too much of a bad rep just for being elected "best episode ever" several times. No matter how much people say it is overrated, very few can really come up with valid criticisms as to why it shouldn't be known as a great episode. Its appeal is mainly due to the fact it is one of the most accessible episodes ever. It is one of the few episodes which contains every aspect that makes the show so great. I don't think LETS is the best episode, but I am aware that my personal favorite Bart Sells His Soul will not appeal to a large chunk of simpsons fans. But LETS certainly will : both to casual and hard-core fans alike. It contains great parodies and homages, great gags, some very well-observed social observations, great character interactions and a very sweet character story. In fact, I didn't even know about LETS fame when I first saw it and after watching it the for the first time it quickly became one of my favorite episodes. Overrated or not, it cannot be denied it is one of the few episodes that completely represents the best aspects of the series.

[The Homer]

Last Exit to Springfield
The President Wore Pearls

[Kiyosuki]

Actually I feel LETS gets too much of a bad rep just for being elected "best episode ever" several times. No matter how much people say it is overrated, very few can really come up with valid criticisms as to why it shouldn't be known as a great episode. Its appeal is mainly due to the fact it is one of the most accessible episodes ever. It is one of the few episodes which contains every aspect that makes the show so great. I don't think LETS is the best episode, but I am aware that my personal favorite Bart Sells His Soul will not appeal to a large chunk of simpsons fans. But LETS certainly will : both to casual and hard-core fans alike. It contains great parodies and homages, great gags, some very well-observed social observations, great character interactions and a very sweet character story. In fact, I didn't even know about LETS fame when I first saw it and after watching it the for the first time it quickly became one of my favorite episodes. Overrated or not, it cannot be denied it is one of the few episodes that completely represents the best aspects of the series.

Yeah thats true....its a very nice episode. I still find it overrated though because while everyone has thier distinct favorite or opinion, so far I've noticed most say that Last Exit is one of the top best not because they liked it necessarilly...but because its habit or something. Thats what I get anyways, with this episode more than any other.

[TriforceBun]

Actually I feel LETS gets too much of a bad rep just for being elected "best episode ever" several times. No matter how much people say it is overrated, very few can really come up with valid criticisms as to why it shouldn't be known as a great episode. Its appeal is mainly due to the fact it is one of the most accessible episodes ever. It is one of the few episodes which contains every aspect that makes the show so great. I don't think LETS is the best episode, but I am aware that my personal favorite Bart Sells His Soul will not appeal to a large chunk of simpsons fans. But LETS certainly will : both to casual and hard-core fans alike. It contains great parodies and homages, great gags, some very well-observed social observations, great character interactions and a very sweet character story. In fact, I didn't even know about LETS fame when I first saw it and after watching it the for the first time it quickly became one of my favorite episodes. Overrated or not, it cannot be denied it is one of the few episodes that completely represents the best aspects of the series.

I agree with essentially everything you say here, including Bart Sells His Soul being my favorite. LETS is just an all-around great episode, capturing pretty much everything that makes The Simpsons great. While it's not quite an A+ for me, it's definitely a top 30 episode. Basically, great jokes, a great story, and excellent screentime for all the major characters equal perhaps the most well-rounded, "representative" episode in the series.

I think Lemon of Troy is another episode that has a little bit of everything.

[jim]

The thing with LETS is that it is possibly the quintessential Simpsons episode. If only one episode could be saved to show future generations what the show was, this is it. Everyone is in perfect character, the jokes are the perfect example of what made the show great and why it appealed to all people. It has butt crack jokes as well as marxist satire. It has laugh out loud humour as well as emotion.

Like I said before, other eps have outdone it in various areas, but I dont think any are as perfect an example of why the show was so great, it has everything.

[mike_donnelly]

yeah, i suppose you have a point with the summing up what simpsons is about, because i can admit some of my favorite episodes probably contain material which has been a bit exagerated and probly wouldn't really represent what simpsons is all about.

[Kiyosuki]

Another thing that always got me about Last Exit...and it not a fault of the episode but rather just something general...is that one of its most famous funny scenes, the Dentalplan(Lisa needs braces!) thing. It was a repetitious joke. It was funny yes but it is essentially a joke that relies on repetition. What I think about and find kinda funny is one of the things a lot of fans critisize the newer seasons for is any use of repetitious jokes. I just think its ironic considering one of the most remembered and often praised scenes is similar really.

[box elder]

I can't believe this hasn't already been mentioned. The main reason why LETS is so great, is mainly down to the revolutionary socialist/''pinko'' storyline. This is the original struggle of the workers against the ''tyrant''. The funny thing is, the ep appeals to a lot of people, when in fact, most people scorn socialism.

It's a classic example of how Simpsons can take an ideology that is less than popular and make it the basis for a ledendary show. Maybe, the subliminal msgs do work! *evil laughter*


depicting a union strike is "revolutionary" now? besides, if its message is so pinko, why would it have a line about unions going too far and becoming lazy and shiftless?

[Imperciph]

Another thing that always got me about Last Exit...and it not a fault of the episode but rather just something general...is that one of its most famous funny scenes, the Dentalplan(Lisa needs braces!) thing. It was a repetitious joke. It was funny yes but it is essentially a joke that relies on repetition. What I think about and find kinda funny is one of the things a lot of fans critisize the newer seasons for is any use of repetitious jokes. I just think its ironic considering one of the most remembered and often praised scenes is similar really.

Valid observation, except for the fact half of those jokes that are griped about aren't that funny to begin with. When a lame joke is dragged on and on, it bombs even more. For example, Homer's infamous "Either grow a penis or get out" wouldn't have been half-bad as it is now if that bad joke hadn't continued by showing Lisa try to grow a peni for several seconds and then giving up. The priniciple isn't inherently wrong, it is the execution that matters.

[Klia]

Cape Feare...I actually thought it was extremely unorganized and most of the jokes fell flat for me.

Well now I have to add, Homer's Phobia. I felt that they went the easy way out with the whole gay aspect by not dealing with it and not really looking at it any differently than anyone else. The ending felt forced with the hunting trip and I did not laugh once. That was the first and only time that has happened.

[H Thompson]

Well Jean said that Sam Simon's philosophy behind the idea is that "something is funny, then not funny then funny again" But often these days the idea being stretched out isn't funny, so it can't become unfunny and then funnier as is the case in LETS and Cape Fear. It's just gets more and more annoying.
There's also the fact that they seem to do at least one of these kinds of jokes in every episode these days so the impact it had in LETS is gone.

[Veryjammy]

And the joke is funny to begin with. You have the two sentences rattling around in his head over and over again, and it is immediately obvious to everyone but him what the significance of the two sentences are. And then the way he snaps back to it after they drop a pencil in his pants. Whereas something like Ned singing that song in Road To D'ohwhere for about a minute....well there was nothing funny about it in the first place, he's just singing a song.

And yes I do think LETS is the quintissential Simpsons episode. It's my personal favourite, and it was even before I knew of its reputation.

[zippy]

depicting a union strike is "revolutionary" now? besides, if its message is so pinko, why would it have a line about unions going too far and becoming lazy and shiftless?

Actually I think you’ll find that trade unions stem from the idea of socialism. ‘’so pinko’’…are you even aware of what pinko means?

‘’Since pink is a lighter shade of red, the color most associated with communism, pink could be thought of as a "lighter form of communism" practiced by mere supporters of Marxism or socialism as opposed to card-carrying communists.’’

So no, it’s not ‘’so’’ pinko to the extent of being communist, just a leaning towards socialism.

The whole point of socialism is giving the power back to the people. I.e. ‘’workers of the world unite’’ etc. Since the whole point is that workers have been exploited. ‘’they have the plant, but we have the power’’.

If you’re contedning that it isn’t revolutionary but reformist, then I actually agree. I suppose I was using hyperbole. But the plain and simple fact is that even within reformist ideologies, the slow progress through strikes is the main point.

Finally, I’m not sure who said the line about unions going to far - but who said it matters in my opinion. It depends whether it was supposed to be taken in an ironic or in a straight forward way. But as it stands, without clarification that example means little.

(long post, for a relatively small topic, sorry! :) )

[CJman327]

Lisa's First Word. Excellent episode, period. It's just so awesome and great! :D It doesn't have enough recgognition.

[Channel Surfer]

CJman327, don't bump up your own threads after several days of inactivity.

[Lisa's First Word]

The President Wore Pearls... Well it's a great episode on MUSICS. I don't really like story of it, but I like the "Evil Plan" song

[The Foot]

Lisa's Substitute
Bart the Lover
A Streetcar Named Marge
Last Exit to Springfield
The Presisent Wore Pearls
Sleeping with the Enemy

[CJman327]

Woopsy-doodles. :D

I posted an UNDERRATED episode in an OVERRATED episode thread I made!!! :)

[CJman327]

and by the way, I wasn't trying to bump my thread.

[Lisa's First Word]

Here's one:

Barting Over (just because it's 300th episode)

[manashima]

I think Seasons 5 and 6 are Definately overatted seasons, Especially 5.
I Loved laid back, unintelligent Homer in seasons 3/4, hated stupid Agressive Homer of 5/6. Heres some episodes from the top of my head.
(No, I dont loathe these like the scully seasons, just arent classic IMO)

Homer Simpson go's to College
Boy-Scoutz'N the Hood
$pringfield
(Especially) Homer the Vigilante
Good difference in these episodes is that Homer always redeems himself of his crude and awful behaviour somehow, unlike in the scully years.

Homer the Great
Homie the Clown
Thats all for now.

[Aussiboy]

i love them all

[I_love_potatoes]

Cape Feare
Viva Ned Flanders

no i loved Cape Feare - sure it wasnt one of the best ones, bt i loved it all the same.

Is Viva Ned Flanders the one where homer and ned get drunk and get married in Las Vegas? If so, I agree, that episode wasn't very good, bt the idea was funny, they jst didn't structure it very well - especially the end.

An episode I really didn't thinkg was good was Homer vs. Patty and Selma, because, like many of the new episodes (but this episode in particular) the end was annoyingly unsatisfying and predictable. Some of these new episodes are real disappointments.

[Ivan]

How in the heck was the ending to Homer vs. Patty and Selma predictable? You wouldn't have realized what Homer was going to do until that lady turned up and asked if they were Patty and Selma's cigarettes!

[Joel Duffman]

Marge vs. The Monorail- Some funny parts but is missing that little umph.

Boy Scouts N the Hood- Episode goes from bad to worse, jerkass Homer should have been thrown overboard in the life raft.

ANY CLIP SHOW EPISODE

[I_love_potatoes]

How in the heck was the ending to Homer vs. Patty and Selma predictable? You wouldn't have realized what Homer was going to do until that lady turned up and asked if they were Patty and Selma's cigarettes!

o come on! he's always going to do something to help marge! And as if Homer would ever be able to pay back that money? And I refuse to believe that even Homer could be stupid enough to think that the pumpkins would be worth MORE after halloween! (And please, I beg of you, can no one list for me all the stupid things that Homer has done over the years, then say at the bottom "Isn't this stupid enough for you?!"). It was just such a ridiculous plot.

What season was the Homer Vs. Patty and Selma episode?

[garret]

6... And you're way off here... You don't seem to have a very big understanding of the show...

[K-Web]

You wouldn't have realized what Homer was going to do until that lady turned up and asked if they were Patty and Selma's cigarettes!

Regardless of the rest of the episode (which I do like), this can't possibly be overrated to me just becuase of the CLASSIC line following Homer picking up the cigarettes, "And you, sir, are worse than Hitler"! The reading of that line always makes me LOL (was that Tress McNeille?).

[K-Web]

A Streetcar named Marge


!!! "Streetcar" being my Best Episode Ever, I'm interested in knowing why you think it's overrated. To me, this episode is the essence, in every way, of why the Simpsons is so great.

I can't argue with your other choices; I agree with them, so "Streetcar" seems to me so incongruous with those that I'd like to hear your take.

[CJman327]

I may not live in New Orleans, but that song was so horribly offensive! :angry:

And if you're a pretty hardcore fan like me, you'd know that there were many upset people in New Orleans about the song, which resulted in the chalkboard saying in the next episode "Homer The Heretic", I WILL NOT DEFAME NEW ORLEANS. :)

[worstmemberever]

The most overrated episode i have seen is a rather recent one really... ;-/

Didn't anybody else think the Ricky Gervais episode (Don't know the title) was really pretty poor. Sky one were promoting it with the writer in it's ads for at least a month before it was aired, which got many (including myself) rather excited abot it.

But in the end the whole episode lacked any depth whatsoever, and was ended very quickly and poorly too. I found Ricky's love song to marge (which he admitted was awful anyway) just a complete joke, but not in a good way at all. The simpsons being used to emulate Reality TV like wife swap (as shown here) seems to not work very well.

The one thing though that i really find very, very odd is the fact that Matt groening left Gervais to write the whole episode himself, and i think it would have worked better if maybe Gervais had just thought of lines and left the original writers to complete what could have been a great episode.

This travesty of an episode really left people right at the bottom after being forced straight to the top.

I notice im a bit over the top with my criticism and writing.. heh heh... :(

[Widgets and doobobs]

Hands down, the most overated episode is Mother Simpson

[brody]

Hands down, the most overated episode is Mother Simpson


Seconds later, he was brutally slaughtered by Nameless.

[CJman327]

Homie The Clown comes in there as a very overrated episode.

[Channel Surfer]

This thread's usefullness is long gone CJman327 for virtually everyone here. Bumping it up every now and then to mention a random episode you may think is overrated is not going to change that fact. So I'm closing it.