Rate & Review: "Fraudcast News" (FABF18)

[Mafia]

i liked Lisa saying "Don't call me chief" in a Perry White style.

[simplysimpsons]

It was good - but there were a LOT of misfire gags bringing it down, mainly in the 1st act.
Burns flicking his tongue out like a lizard, eating bugs, the whole Mole thing (yeuch - even worse, why the second time?), all bomb gags that should not have made it past the rough draft. I don't like all these "Burns is abnormal" gags, apart from the ant one which I did like because it was continuing the tradition of Burnsie's weakness.
Homer downing the pills was another silly gag, and I thought Homer was a little too stupid too. A couple of other minor things, like the unneccesary strangle, the rehydration thing and Burns being a bit on the senile side at times.

However, there were some amazingly great moments in this ep too. The Itchy and Scratchy cartoon was hi-larious! Principal Skinrash was too, Skinner's reaction made it even better. I also found the dancing on Burns' grave thing really funny. Burns and Lisa's ongoing conflict was handled extremely well. I enjoyed the photo montage at the end (silly but fun).
I also thought the story - once it got going in act 2 and 3 - was extremely strong. Apart from the problems, it could have easily have been classic status. (I enjoyed the animation too!)

Overall, a nice ep that is good for the season finale, although not excellent it is definitely in this season's upper half.
Grade: B+, 4/5

[Steve Allen]

Just one word: Great

4/5

[Roger Myers III]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Channel Surfer
In all fairness, aside from possibly your Burns comment (though as I said above I don't think it's that bad, in the context of the series probably one of his best appearences) those would be very trivial things to complain about, as well as very flimsy (or extremely harsh) criteria to bash either this episode or even "Bart Mangled Banner" with. [QUOTE]

Do you really think I'm the 'exception' for complaining about trivial things, or bashing eps based upon 'flimsy criteria'? My very point was that this is what the fastest posters' reactions are based upon.

Besides, your inference about the board in the R&R threads is quite cynical. While I'm not above making fanbase assessments myself, it's probably more likely that the episode was received this way because it's a character-driven Lisa story with a tyrannical Burns. Much like I'd suspect "Bart Mangled Banner" was maligned because it had the characters acting in blatantly weird ways (mostly in the third act) without much of a coherent plot, similar to "KTAAR" and "Simpson Safari".

I must have completely missed this NHC memo:

1. Assessing the Simpsons writers & producers' motivations and results in a cynical and derogatory manner --> acceptible, even routine.
2. Assessing the NHC members' motivations, ratings and 'reviews' in a cynical and derogatory manner --> unacceptible, remarkable.

and:

1. Channel Surfer making blanket statements of assumptions why NHC members react in a sheeplike fashion to an episode just aired --> good;
2. Roger Myers III making blanket statements of assumptions why NHC members react in a sheeplike fashion to an episode just aired --> bad.

[Channel Surfer]

Originally posted by Roger Myers III
Do you really think I'm the 'exception' for complaining about trivial things, or bashing eps based upon 'flimsy criteria'? My very point was that this is what the fastest posters' reactions are based upon.

No, hardly. In fact, you rarely complain at all about episodes, and more often, you comment on the reactions people have towards episodes, as was the case with this episode. Your suggestions (what I got out of them when responding) of pointing out that...

Its as if no one noticed that there was virtually no Marge in it (*edit* 3 brief scenes, with 4 straight lines & one joke?). Or that there was the same unfunny "tattoo" joke as last week's. Or that Burns was just as "senile" and "feeble" as "evil"- which usually raises alarm bells here. Or that he now believes his mother is dead (there has been indications both ways over the years.)

...was either in an effort to point out things people missed in agreeing with the early notable poster e.g. Tomacco (like you just mentioned above), to point out things people expectedly would complain about that were ignored for perhaps agreeing with the first poster, or to possibly even suggest that these were faults with the episode by listing these examples. Either way, as you did emphasize the expected negative reactions people could have to your examples, I did feel it was worth pointing out that those would be trivial things for anyone to complain about. Imagine the nerd krew's (or perhaps even your own) reactions if people were seriously using Marge's absence, a continuity error, or a recycled gag as a point of serious criticism.

I must have completely missed this NHC memo:

1. Assessing the Simpsons writers & producers' motivations and results in a cynical and derogatory manner --> acceptible, even routine.
2. Assessing the NHC members' motivations, ratings and 'reviews' in a cynical and derogatory manner --> unacceptible, remarkable.

and:

1. Channel Surfer making blanket statements of assumptions why NHC members react in a sheeplike fashion to an episode just aired --> good;
2. Roger Myers III making blanket statements of assumptions why NHC members react in a sheeplike fashion to an episode just aired --> bad.

You know, it's not like I simply disagreed with your assessment because, and only because you generalized most of the fanbase. I disagreed with the generalization itself (after all, my response was based on a generalization of the fanbase, and I'm hopefully not that obvious of a hypocrite, if a hypocrite at all). Episodes centered around Lisa do tend to score favorably, including this season's "Smart and Smarter". People relate to her, I don't think I need to explain why in a community of nerds. On the flipside, "Bart Mangled Banner" did have "KTAAR" tendencies, the whole third act with the family being jailed up, jumpy storytelling, nonsensical ending. If Tomacco's respective reviews had been removed, I do not think the reception those episodes received would have changed much. And while those first two "blanket statements" do have some truth to them, they have little to do with why I disagreed with you.

[Tibor]

Originally posted by Channel Surfer
I did feel it was worth pointing out that those would be trivial things for anyone to complain about. Imagine the nerd krew's (or perhaps even your own) reactions if people were seriously using Marge's absence, a continuity error, or a recycled gag as a point of serious criticism.

there are disproportionate criticisms, but it's not as if the r/r threads are completely loaded with them and as you said they're more often than not called out. and probably called out more often than disproportionate/unsubstantiated praise.

[Channel Surfer]

Originally posted by Tibor
and probably called out more often than disproportionate/unsubstantiated praise.

Booooooobs, lol. 5/5

Though truthfully, I don't think disproportionate/unsubstantiated praise really matters in any way, in the sense that if a person likes an episode, I can't see myself getting annoyed, even if I hated it.

[Simpsons Forever!]

Another good, but not great episode this season. 4/5

[George Cauldron]

A decent finale to round off the fifteenth season. Generally, a mixed season that had strong plots, but a number of the episodes were hit-and-miss on the laughter front. This episode, however, got a more positive response from me because it contained what makes an episode successful – a good plot, good characterisation, and yes, lots of humour, be it visual gags or verbal. Burns takes control of the media, and finds himself in a battle with Lisa, whose personal newspaper he doesn’t own. The classic tale of Lisa fighting Burns again as her nemesis, big man against the little girl worked well here and viewers could more or less feel for Lisa as time and time again, Mr Burns attempted to thwart her plans to just get her voice heard. The ending, with a montage of photographs was reminiscent of the ending to the previous season finale, Moe Baby Blues, but while it worked in the aforementioned episode, here it was less successful and I felt the episode could have had a stronger ending. I especially liked the sucking up to Rupert Murdoch and other isolated gags, so can’t complain.

[moonwalker69]

Terrific Burns episode. I absolutely cracked up laughing when they used the old Burns doesn't have enough strength joke in with the ant (brought back memories). Great laughs and good plot. Some parts of Homer I just didn't like but this episode brought me back to the early seasons which is very hard to do. Few flaws but the greatest episode of season 15. 4.5/5 but I vote 4/5

[Galalimit]

I loved it, a great way to end a great season. 5/5

[Handsome Peter]

Haven't seen the episode since the first airing in May 2004, but from what I remember it's one of Season 15's best, though not a classic. I agree with Tomacco and some others that bad jokes ruined the storyline & satire (which were both excellent). My favourite bit is probably the Rupert Murdoch line at the end. 4/5

(And IMO, Futurama was never quite as good as The Simpsons.)

[Patriot]

Thoguht this episode was just meduiocre. 3/5

[amir05]

Great episode, from a great season. my Favourite from season 15 5/5

[Mr Black]

I can't understand that so many people have voted 1/5 for this. Terrific episode, especially Burns sucking that mole. Crude but funny. A-/5/5

[Channel Surfer]

I can't understand that so many people have voted 1/5 for this.

Those were guest votes from back when we let people who weren't registered vote. Or, probably more accurately in this case, we let some nut who managed to vote about 40 times inflate the totals.

Don't want to go and fix all the polls because it's a very clunky process to do so (especially for the non public polls where I have to dig a bit to find who actually voted). Fixed the numbers for this poll though. If I ever get bored enough, I may fix the rest someday.

[Turambar]

Loved this episode, great plot, great jokes. All round great episode- 5/5

[Xt'Tapalatakettle]

This episode was an 'A' the first time I saw it and it still is one of my favorites from Season 15. But I think the rewatch value isn't as good as I had hoped. It might be down to an A- or so now, but it's still a good episode in a very good season. I think just the fact they even did this topic of media monopolization as an episode really makes me respect the show for it regardless of the episode's actual execution. Though overall it was executed pretty well, especially acts 2 and 3.

[Charlie]

Awesome, awesome, awesome episode, great as a season finale, even though there IS that scene with the mother mole. My favourite part was Homer's five or so seconds of happiness while singing along with the Spice Girls. If only they could do a show like this every single week.

A+

[Stevie V. Scrivello]

Ah...so, another Burns episode...*hides face in shame*. I enjoyed it, it was a nice instance of a well-charaterized Mr. Burns trying to manipulate his public image (refreshing, after the streak of bad characterization that perceeded this ep: Monty Can't Buy Me Love, anyone?) I could start bitching about the nuances of this episode that I didn't like, but they all fall into obssessive fan territory (Burns again), so I'll just leave you with my grade:

4/5

[Imperciph]

Fraudcast News has decent characterization of Lisa and Burns with Burns being closer to his classic evil meglomaniac self than the wacky senile boss we've seen since season 9. While Burns's motivation for buying all media in order to improve his image was slightly contrived, Lisa's motivation was well-done. Burns and Lisa interacted well and produced some great moments (Burns : "Are you always on?" , "Get out of my office", "my mom doesn't come pick me up until 1 hour) and the satire of Burns taking over all media was fairly well-done with the Itchy and Scratchy short and Burns's slandering of Lisa in his newspaper being among the best satirical moments of the Jean Era. The ending of everybody creating their own newspaper to express their own opinion also works well, satirically.

Where this episode falters is in humour. While there are some great inspired gags like Homer's "That was totally worth it", Burns's fight with an ant or Milhouse's "Way to go, moon Milhouse" the episode bombs with some lame gags like "BOOOOBS". And Burns's decent characterization is greatly damaged by an overload of bad anatomy jokes (eating insects, crawling like snakes, his brain falling out of his ear). I mean, how can a character appear to be menacing when he is sucking on a mother mole ? B

[Sniper Squirrel]

Really enjoyed the episode, best season fnale in a long time, absolutely loved Burns' character, really close to the bastard tyrant we came to love in the classic era

[UTW]

brilliant - I don't often watch the new eps, but this episode was one of the sharpest satires I've seen in a while. I can't believe I only saw it for the first time the other day.

[Jens. E]

4/5
A Great episode, Burns was really good in this one. A good way to end the Season

[Radagast the Brown]

Best episode of the season, this one had it all: Mr. Burns, Lisa, and just pretty damn funny.

[homer2121]

great finale, great ep, great jokes,

5/5

[cars01]

Great way to finish what I though an average season 4/5.

[Tamaki Suoh]

Fantastic episode. The story was inspired and entertaining, the humor almost right-on, the classic satire risen from the dead, and the majority of the characterization just as wonderful. Burns was extremely close to being like his old, classic self with just a few moments spent out of character. Smithers too was pretty much in character, although he didn't seem to have his classic-era three-dimensional persona but still, there weren't any contrived gay jokes concerning him (although there were appropriate Smithers-loves-Burns jokes).

There were a lot of golden moments in this episode, including but not limited to the different newspapers that the Springfieldians made (Lenny's paper about Carl, "Are you a Selma or a Patty?", etc), Homer's paper about Lisa, and of course Smithers and Burns' shopping date.

There were only a few parts of the episodes that bothered me. Firstly, Lisa's characterization seemed off. Lisa using words like "stinky-pants" to deride Burns seemed kind of odd, and she generally didn't seem like a very sympathetic character in this one. Secondly, the joke where Burns says that he doesn't have a friend in the world, to which Smithers replies, "You have me," and Burns says, "Stop being so needy," seemed awkward and was already pretty much used in "Monty Can't Buy Me Love". In fact, the initial plot of Burns wanting to be loved seemed redundant, but thankfully, this episode dealt with it much more effectively than the aforementioned terror of an episode.

Overall, a modern classic. 5/5

[Moe Nopoly]

it's a good episode imo, but i didn't like how Mr. Burns survived between the rocks. Was a little bit strange. 3/5

[Jesse Pinkman]

3/5, it wasn't funny enough to raise it