R&R: Rosebud..Most absurd Episode ever?

[Alex of Insomnia]

You know what an absurd episode is? Kill the Alligator and Run.

Yes. Yes it is. You know what episodes even more absurd? "Moe Goes From Rags to Riches".

[the_creeper]

Awesome episode.I watched Citizen Kane after seeing this.

[Lionel Hutz]

From beginning to end, there's not a wasted second of screen time.
It's got laughs, emotion, satire, parody, and absurdity all wrapped in one perfect package.
The use of flashbacks and future scenes is amazing.
The fact that this was David Mirkin's 1st episode off the production line, makes me miss him that much more.

Best Quotes (and there are many):

Burns: These minstrels will soothe my jangled nerves.
Ramones: I'd just like to say this gig sucks!
Hey, up yours, Springfield
Go to hell you old bastard.
Hey, I think they liked us.
Burns: Have the Rolling Stones killed.
Smithers: but sir those aren't-
Burns: Do as I say.

Guard: No one termers.
Jimmy Carter: You too, huh. I know a good yogurt place
George Bush Sr.: Get away from me, loser!

Homer: I'll never wiggle my bare butt in public again.
Lisa: I'd like to believe that this time, I really would.
Bart: Dad I know you're discouraged, but please don't deny the world your fat can.
Homer: Don't worry boy, he'll be ready for your Aunt Selma's birthday.
Lisa: I knew it.

Hitler: This is all YOUR FAULT!

Iceman #1: You've got to start selling this for more tha a dollar a bag. We lost 4 more men on this expedition.
Apu: If you can think of a better way to get ice, I'd like to hear it.
Iceman #2: He's got us there.
Iceman #3: beats me.

Apu: Ooooh a head bag, those are chockful of...heady goodness.

Smithers: Here's something that should cheer you up, Sir. It's me Sir, Bobo. hug me, squeeze me, tug at my fur.
Mr. Burns: Enough, stop this grotesque charade. Now find my Teddy. Oh, and .. leave the costume.

Homer: Yes.. we'll send the eye.

Marge: I'm sure he'll offer us a fair award ..Then we'll make him double it!
Family: Huh?
Marge: Well, why can't I be greedy once in a while?

Homer: Mmmmm 64 slices of American cheese......
Marge: Have you been up all night eating cheese?
Homer: I think I'm blind.
Burns: Good day to you.

Lisa: Is it my imagination, or is TV getting worse?
Homer; Eh, it's about the same. Oh, oh, look out Smithers! Haha, I love this show.

Dr. Hibbert: We've given the word MOB a bad name.

Skinner: Hey everybody, let's go sing at the hospital!
Crowd: For we've got HIGH HOPES! We've got HIGH HOPES!

Martin: Look fellas, the first snapdragon of the season.

Mr. Burns: Damn you, Paparazzo!

Highlights include Free Kittens (Inquire within), George Burns (Trust me, it'll be funny ehen I'm an old man), Sheriff Lobo, Smithers Marilyn Monroe style fantasy, the coathangers, the Ramones, the Bobo montage, Homer's recording studio, the family keeping Homer off the phone, Grampa crashing through the living room, Homer's "much worse" duty, Burns and Smithers TV show, Homer playing with the box (No my box, my box), and the self aware ending.

Homer: Marge I'm confused is this a happy ending or a sad ending?
Marge: It's an ending, thats enough.

Some have questioned Homer's decision to give the bear to Maggie, instead of Burns. I think that it was his duty as a parent to make the tough choice and stand by his daughter.
I watched it for the first time in a while today, and it brought a tear to my eye seeing Homer take it away and give it back. A perfectly staged sequence.

[Teddy]

Good episode, but kinda overrated. I mean every time when I type Smithers or Mr. Burns in the search engine, either Smither's wired cake fantasy comes up, or the "How the Rolling Stones killed" scenes/quotes and gets REALLY annoying. That's the thing with Burns/Smithers scenes or jokes, they're either overrated, annoying, or just repetitive and stupid.

Anyway, I give this episode a 4/5 good, but overrated.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

The best episode ever? Possibly. 6/5.

[Insecthero]

I enjoyed this episode much more when I was younger. I don't watch it much these days, as I do find it a little absurd. Still, plenty of great classic bits!

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

After careful analysis this is the single, penultimate, greatest episode of The Simpsons. There's no debate. It is the Citizen Kane of Simpsons episodes. It has one of the greatest joke-hit ratio of anything I've ever seen. Season 5 is otherwise mostly overrated, but this episode is easily the best. I don't know what I was thinking before. Homer's Enemy has gotten very stale for me. Not this one. I have swiftly edited my previous page post to reflect this, as it would do the episode injustice. Once again, 6/5.

[Diversity Pumpkin]

After careful analysis this is the single, penultimate, greatest episode of The Simpsons. There's no debate. It is the Citizen Kane of Simpsons episodes. It has one of the greatest joke-hit ratio of anything I've ever seen. Season 5 is otherwise mostly overrated, but this episode is easily the best. I don't know what I was thinking before. Homer's Enemy has gotten very stale for me. Not this one. I have swiftly edited my previous page post to reflect this, as it would do the episode injustice. Once again, 6/5.

Wait are you serious. I'm going to watch Rosebud right now and see if it's actually that good.

[Bartesque]

4th best episode of all time, yet heartbreakingly only the 2nd best episode of its season.

[Nebuchanezzar]

i think homer's enemy is just as funny, and has more substance behind it. as in, it has something substantial to say. very substantial. rosebud is possibly less impressive to me, because it can't compare to the subject breadth which homer's enemy tackled.

it's in my top 5 though, for sure.
@Bartesque. what's the best?

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Homer's Enemy used to be my favorite. Repeated viewings over the years has not been kind to it.

[Bartesque]

@Nebuchanezzar - I marginally preferred Cape Feare's balance of hilarity and horror to Rosebud.

[Nebuchanezzar]

i too

Homer's Enemy used to be my favorite. Repeated viewings over the years has not been kind to it.

you've watched them a fairly similar number of times, right? fair enough if you have.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

How many times have you watched it?

[Nebuchanezzar]

i don't know: that's why i usually avoid that line of "careful analysis". i'd be more persuaded if you'd outlined some reasons as to why you think homer's enemy doesn't stand up to repeated viewings as well as does rosebud. some observations from the two episodes, and the like.

[Prune Tracy]

Best episode ever? Nah. Great episode? Absolutely.

[Financial Panther]

After careful analysis this is the single, penultimate, greatest episode of The Simpsons.

How in the world is it "penultimate"? You're saying it's the second-to-last episode in the series? Don't throw around words you don't know.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Yeah this is an internet forum about a show that's sucked for 15 years I don't give a shit.

[Frightened Inmate No. 2]

The penultimate Handsome post

Interpret that however you like.

[Financial Panther]

Certainly seems that way.