Rate/Review: Pray Anything (EABF06)

[DotheBartman]

Originally posted by Tomacco


The reviewers who I don't give a crap about and dislike are the ones who bitch and moan about new episodes without offering any insight to the problems or how they could be solved. On the other end of the spectrum, there's the fans who say "5/5 THAT EPISODE RULED!". I don't really take into account what they think, but I'm at least happy that they're supporting the show in general and keeping it going.

Exactly. Al Jean himself has said that he likes to see what fans have to say and take it into consideration, and that he prefers they really speak out rather then just being mindless sheep who love every second, but it doesn't help anyone on the staff to just mindless praise or bash without offering any insight into why it did or didn't work. I like to think, actually, that the CBG "worst episode ever" joke in "Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie" actually does have a point mainly about people that don't give any real insight.

And good to know my opinions aren't going completely unheeded, and that I offer some good thought to this board even with my crazy ravings. Whether the opinion is negative or positive, I always prefer to read comments made by you (Tommacco), Farscaper, NoOneFamous, sometimes Jake, etc. that actually give some real insight rather then just being one sentence wonders all the time.

[HomertheGreat]

ok let me explain my opinion because I guess I didn't do it in the words I wanted too. I don't care about the reviews you can give an episode a 1/5, F or whatever its your opinion. But when you come on and bash and bash the show constantly, why are you even watching the show anymore if you can't sit down and enjoy new episodes on Sunday. If you can't enjoy some episodes there's no point in even watching the show anymore.

[StrideR]

I'll answer that in the best, non-offensive way that I can:

It's too hard to stay away... and I dislike it even more for that. The Simpsons was a phenomenal show. No other show has been able to capture that brilliance that it exhibited for 9 seasons, and I'm hopelessly hooked on it.

Unfortunately, what got me addicted in the first place is no longer there, and it's been replaced by a cheaper substitute. Most shows can make jokes about politics, religion and display some sort of emotion, but I don't watch most shows. I watched The Simpsons because it did more than that: It was intelligent, even handed, artistic, sometimes surreal and overall, earnestly funny. Characters with bulgy eyes, overbites, yellow skin and 4 fingers exploded with more energy and human emotion than "human" characters on most live-action shows. Now I just watch it because I'm addicted, and I don't necessarily like what I'm addicted to. So sue me if I bash new episodes week after week after week. At least, I give the episode a chance... sometimes.

[tim_duncan2000]

Damn, that episode sucked

Here's what I didn't like: (not in any particular order)
- Bart arguing about grammar at the WNBA game
- Homer on the swing repeatedly saying "D'oh" (and the dumb reason why he was doing it)
- The odd gay references with Moe (WTF are they doing with his character? He's been ruined these last few seasons)
- Rod and Todd talking in tongues
- All the stuff with Homer moving into the church
- The flood stuff
- A somewhat PC-thug Lisa at the end
- Homer yelling after only falling in a one-foot deep hole
- Homer being entertained by the "Vengeful God/Loving God" picture
- Lovejoy's collar-grabbing joke (I hate those damn collar-grabs!!)

Here's what I did like
- The lawyer talking about how it was the first time he had a client that was actually injured
- Lovejoy at the bowling alley
- $.30 courtside seats at the WNBA game
- The stuff between Arnie Pie in the sky and Kent Brockman

I know everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but I don't know how anyone can give that crap a good review. It was not much better than some of the worst stuff from Seasons 11-12. 1/5

[Urts]

Originally posted by DotheBartman


Exactly. Al Jean himself has said that he likes to see what fans have to say and take it into consideration, and that he prefers they really speak out rather then just being mindless sheep who love every second, but it doesn't help anyone on the staff to just mindless praise or bash without offering any insight into why it did or didn't work. I like to think, actually, that the CBG "worst episode ever" joke in "Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie" actually does have a point mainly about people that don't give any real insight.

And good to know my opinions aren't going completely unheeded, and that I offer some good thought to this board even with my crazy ravings. Whether the opinion is negative or positive, I always prefer to read comments made by you (Tommacco), Farscaper, NoOneFamous, sometimes Jake, etc. that actually give some real insight rather then just being one sentence wonders all the time.

Yes, I find the fans that refuse to give any episode lower than a 3.5 or 4/5 just as annoying as those who refuse to give any explanation for a "1/5 it sukd!". Still, I have to admit at least partial guilt. Sometimes I'm too easy on episodes simply because I feel that a show as excellent as "The Simpsons" once was, simply couldn't have taken such a nosedive in quality. It doesn't seem possible, it doesn't seem right.

I wish I could simply enjoy OFF as much as I used to, but it pains me to see the greatest show of all time recklessly thrown away. I don't post at this board because I want to complain about the new episodes. I never want to be one of those excessively negative fans that refuses to enjoy the new episodes, but can't the writing staff simply acknowledge a decline? I know they don't want their work insulted, but not noticing a difference in quality between the last few seasons and the first 9 is pure blindness.

I will never stop watching, and I can't see myself ever disliking more than 1/3(about 1/2 in 11 and 12's cases) of a season's episodes. Please note that this post wasn't trying to make argument or criticism, I just felt like saying some stuff.

[Incognito, Guy]

What they need to do is to take all the writers, directors, producers, etc and sit them down in a movie theater. Lock all the doors. Then show every episode of the Simpsons from Season 1 through 8. Repeatedly. Until they come up with an episode that rivals anything from back then. Only then should they be freed

I know they can do it. Most of the great episodes stopped years long ago, but even after that they still came out with "Skinners Sense of Snow". They can do it again.

[Channel Surfer]

Comparison Time: Season 13 vs. 14

Season 14:

Treehouse of Horror XIII B
Special Edna B
Strong Arms of the Ma B
How I Spent My Strummer Vacation B-
The Dad Who Knew Too Little C+
The Great Louse Detectives C+
Large Marge C
Pray Anything C
Bart vs. Lisa vs. the 3rd Grade C-
Helter Shelter D

Season 13:

Half-Decent Proposal A
Sweets and Sour Marge B+
Treehouse of Horror XII B+
Jaws Wired Shut B
The Blunder Years B-
Brawl in the Family B-
She of Little Faith C+
A Hunka Hunka Burns in Love C
Homer the Moe C
The Parent Rap C-

And, for the heck of it, Season 12:

Treehouse of Horror XI A-
HOMR B+
Lisa the Tree Hugger B-
Insane Clown Poppy C+
Skinner's Sense of Snow C+
The Great Money Caper C
The Computer Wore Menace Shoes C
Homer vs. Dignity C
Pokey Mom C-
A Tale of Two Springfields D+

Season 14 doesn't even hold a candle to 13 at this point (though "Half-Decent Proposal" has given it a quick boost). And though it looks like seasons 12 and 14 are comparable, most of my hated season 12 episodes ("Simpson Safari", "I'm Goin' to Praiseland") aired later on, so I still think season 14 will be the better season, considering future plot descriptions.

[Friz]

Laugh Twice, But I liked it.

The Good:
- Moe's random proposal to Gil
- Church Marquees
- Flanders "What makes you lie?"
- Coveting Chili Fries
- Dr. Hibbert playing the claw machine

The Bad:
- Homer EXPLAINING the nickname about Flanders.
- The utterly bad couch gag.
- Sigh... Must we have gay animal jokes?
- L-eye-tening.

The Ugly:
- Speaking in Tongues. Blobble-obble-gobble.


IMHO, 4/5. B-.

[Friz]

Originally posted by Channel Surfer

Treehouse of Horror XI A-

You fairly weird man.

[George Cauldron]

What was the couch gag, and why was it 'utterly utterly bad?'

[Channel Surfer]

Originally posted by Friz


You fairly weird man.

What's wrong with it exactly? 4th best TOH, IMO, behind 4, 5, and 8. Plus, considering how much I enjoy TOH episodes, I'd say it’s a fair grade.

[StrideR]

I thought THOH XI was decent by season 12 standards, much better than THOH X, but nowhere near THOH I & II.

[Simpson Purist]

I know we're getting off-topic, but after "Send In The Clones", THOH turned from a potentially great THOH to a fairly mediocre one. There hasn't been a good all-around THOH since IX IMO. Actually the first nine THOHs were great and then it just went down fast after that.

[Channel Surfer]

Originally posted by Simpson Purist
I know we're getting off-topic, but after "Send In The Clones", THOH turned from a potentially great THOH to a fairly mediocre one. There hasn't been a good all-around THOH since IX IMO. Actually the first nine THOHs were great and then it just went down fast after that.

I'd say that TOH 3, 6, and 7 were also fairly uneven as a whole, even if they may of had one or two good segments. And I still feel TOH 11 was solid, despite its (seeming) unpopularity on this board. A tad crude at points, but still very fun.

And it's probably the 2nd/3rd best episode of season 12 too, IMO.

Anyway, looking at my lists above, I came off a tad more cynical towards season 14 then I probably would've liked to, at least in appearance of the post itself. I'd like to add that the second half of season 12 is, IMO, significantly worse (4 episodes in D range, as opposed to 1) then its first half. Just based off the trends of this season, it should still be better then season 12.

[Mike Scully]

Treehouse of Horror 10 was pretty bad. All of the shorts were uninspired and boring, and tried way too hard to make me laugh, without succeeding. The Y2K one was particularly awful, a rambly bunch of cartoony and outdated sight gags.

Treehouse of Horror 11 was much better. One of the best opening. G-g-ghost Dad had some genuinely enjoyable moments, such as Homer's ghost dying from eating the brocolli. And I liked the dolphin sequence for the reasons that Channel Surfer has stated before. Why does everyone hate that one?

Treehouse of Horror 12 was even better. The House of Whacks short was one of the best Halloween stories they've done in a while, great idea, executed really well. I liked all 3 shorts in this episode thorougly. But I never quite understood the meaning of the opening sequence.

Treehouse of Horror 13 was terrible. Even Send in the Clones wasn't that great. Every joke in that short you could see a mile away (I knew the clones would attack Gil, and Flanders). Fright to Creep was mediocre, but I did like future Homer showing up in the end. The Island of Dr. Hibbert, now that one was a disaster. No plot whatsoever, no laughs, just an excuse to show the Springfieldians as animals (yawn), and must be considered the worst short ever.

[prince jafar allah]

Originally posted by Incognito, Guy

I know they can do it. Most of the great episodes stopped years long ago, but even after that they still came out with "Skinners Sense of Snow". They can do it again.

yeah, what a great episode

cheap fart & sex gags, that ridiculous salt silo contrivance, out-of-character characters, Lisa turning into a camel

it's hardly up there with Lisa's Substitute, is it?

[prince jafar allah]

Originally posted by Simpson Purist
Good point jphh, but a D grade is still passing .

As for how I grade episodes. Well first I don't grade episodes on a score out of 5, I use 10 as a maximum. The reason I do this is because it gives each score a bigger "weight".

hmmm......people seem to have different grading scales......

I consider a C to be "poor", or 5/10 or 2.5/5. C+ is "mediocre" and a fairly flawed episode. the Bs are varying standards of "good", the As are varying standards of "very good". Anything below C, or below 5/10, is worse than just poor, it's very poor. I go as low as a D-, which is rock bottom, or 0/5.

here's examples of what i'd put where

http://www.nohomers.net/showthread.p...threadid=21303

I grade new episodes comparing them to the entire run : in the seasons 10-13, I gave out 5 As in total. Compare that with the four seasons previous, seasons 6-9, when I gave out 37 As.

[Channel Surfer]

Well, I guess I'll post my grading scale, if anyone cares. The actual "value" of the grade doesn't change for the season. I compare grades for the entire series. Not the classic years. Not the extra years. But every year of the show.

A+ to A-: Varying degrees of "classic". All episodes with an A+ and most with an A would make my top 50. They may have one or two undesirable traits (even the A+s) typically are usually a failed gag, but they are usually brief and irrelevant to the greater good of the episode.

B+ to B-: All are solid episodes with perhaps a few minor blotches. Most episodes would fall into the B range, and have a large overall variety of quality.

C+ to C-: C+s are typically decent episodes that leave a bad aftertaste, so to speak, perhaps due to faulty characterizations or a weak plot flow. Cs are mediocre, bland, and forgettable. C-s are bad, but usually have redeemable qualities that keep them from D range.

D+ to F: The bad episodes. Obviously, the lower the D, the worse the episode. An F is reserved for the "worst episode ever", currently "Kill the Alligator and Run".

And, for the total amount of As given throughout the show’s entire run (A+ to A-).

Season 1: 2
Season 2: 9
Season 3: 11
Season 4: 11
Season 5: 14
Season 6: 14
Season 7: 16
Season 8: 7
Season 9: 2
Season 10: 1
Season 11: 0
Season 12: 2
Season 13: 3
Season 14 (so far): 0

Total: 92/300 (haven't seen "Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington" for a very long time)

You can also use Mohammed Jafar's link to see my own grades on page two, though a few episodes are probably out of place (not many, but a couple).

[George Cauldron]

This episode aired in Great Britain today, and I give ita low 3/5, high 2/5. It was hardly special and not very memorable. Some good jokes, all mentioned earlier, but a lot of jokes fell flat, particularly Rod and Todd speaking in tongues, which just wasn't necessary. I didn't find the ending funny either. The opening scene at the basketball game was frankly pointless, with yet another unnecessary guest star. Lisa Leslie anyone?
Come to think of it, I think I was too generous giving the episode 3/5.

[chiefdan]

Originally posted by George Cauldron
The opening scene at the basketball game was frankly pointless, with yet another unnecessary guest star. Lisa Leslie anyone?

AH!!!! FOR FUCKS SAKES WHEN WILL YOU REALIZE THAT THE SIMPSONS HAS PLENTY OF REFERENCES TO AMERICAN CULTURE AND GUEST STARS FROM AMERICA THAT YOU WONT FUCKIN UNDERSTAND BECAUSE YOU'RE FROM BRITAIN!!!!!!

By the way, you're right, Lisa Leslie was yet another unnecessary guest star, and that episode did suck.

Love,
Dan

[Sunday Best Hugo]

4/5 from me. Not the best, but it did have it's moments, and I thought it was prtty much laughable, even if I wasn't always laughing for the right reasons.

[George Cauldron]

Originally posted by chiefdan


AH!!!! FOR FUCKS SAKES WHEN WILL YOU REALIZE THAT THE SIMPSONS HAS PLENTY OF REFERENCES TO AMERICAN CULTURE AND GUEST STARS FROM AMERICA THAT YOU WONT FUCKIN UNDERSTAND BECAUSE YOU'RE FROM BRITAIN!!!!!!

By the way, you're right, Lisa Leslie was yet another unnecessary guest star, and that episode did suck.

Love,
Dan

My point has nothing to do with the fact I don't know who she is. It's because they'll put anybody on the show just to make it better.

[eddie]

Wow, this really sucked. Bad plot, bad script, bad animation...little to no humor...this was just disgusting. They've done better this season. Only "Helter Shelter" and "Treehouse of Horror XII" were worse. 2/5.

[Mike Scully]

This episode put the crap back in...craptacular.

[brentmoney]

Saw it for the first time tonight. Good thing it aired earlier because I would have really been upset with the writers. Man was this bad

1/5

[Tibor]

I just watched this again, and I pretty much stand by my old review for it, though the sheer hatred for this episode surprises me a little. I think Channel Surfer was right on with a C grade, though I think he's being a little generous.

It was extremely uneven with jokes ranging from the hilarious "Jesus Died For This" to, well, everything Moe did. The ending was very reminiscient of Homer the Heretic (reminiscient as in 'recycled', not a good thing) but a lot heavier handed and over the top. It ranges somewhere between bleh and meh.

[Channel Surfer]

Originally posted by Tibor
I just watched this again, and I pretty much stand by my old review for it, though the sheer hatred for this episode surprises me a little. I think Channel Surfer was right on with a C grade, though I think he's being a little generous.

The C was a bit generous (though I had since lowered it to a C- a few weeks later, and a few other grades have been slightly changed as well), but my general feelings still remain the same. The use of the plotline was probably the biggest problem. Though it does satirize the lazy man who prays for the most frivolous of things (sports games anyone) without actually trying to help the world in His name, the episode itself was overly moralistic. It felt like it was trying to "teach" me how to be a better person, by showing what not to do through Homer's wicked deeds, and then punishing Homer and company afterwards.

Still, the episode wasn't God-awful. It did have some working jokes, and the characterizations as a whole were decent (though Homer's character was exaggerated for the context of this episode). But as a whole, it's basically just an empty, preachy episode, though with a few good ideas.

I personally find both "Bart vs. Lisa vs. the 3rd Grade" and "Helter Shelter" to be much worse episodes.

[Tibor]

It felt like it was trying to "teach" me how to be a better person, by showing what not to do through Homer's wicked deeds, and then punishing Homer and company afterwards.

Which was my biggest gripe. And the basic formula (Homer engages in moral misadventures, reaps what he sows) was recycled from HtH, only the latter played it a lot more sublte and smarter.

[Simpson Purist]

Originally posted by Channel Surfer

I personally find both "Bart vs. Lisa vs. the 3rd Grade" and "Helter Shelter" to be much worse episodes.

Nah, "3rd Grade" was a big disappointment, "Pray Anything" just sucked. Suckiness and disappointment are two different terms in my book.

As for "Helter Shelter?" :barf:

[SideshowTim]

First time I watched it it was terrible, When I gave it a second chance my opinion still hadn't changed.