R&R: Behind The Laughter

[Mira]

This episode is probably the best from either the Scully era or the Jean era. I thought that the parody worked wonderfully and that it had some of the best jokes in the entire series. It also worked as a giant screw you to fans like us here who tend to take the show a little to seriously at times.

I agree totally, it's close to my favorite post season 9 episode.

[Bart2009]

This is one of my favorite of my episodes of the simpsons

[Tamaki Suoh]

This episode was interesting throughout and didn't bore me, but most of the jokes missed their mark and the characters irritated me slightly. There was some good satire and a few more subtle gags that amused me, so this one gets a 3/5. I'm really surprised about how overrated this one is on here.

[Whip-Smart]

Love this episode, the parody of behind the music is done well and lends its self to some great moments. Still makes me laugh out loud. 5/5.

[Moe Nopoly]

It's a funny idea for a episode and i like it.
Sometimes a little bit strange to see the Simpsons acting like that
but always with a funny view of the shwo.

4/5

[CMYK]

3/5.
It had some good bits like homer adicted to pain killers and bart going to rehab. But its good for the show to have these types of episodes now and again.

[Xt'Tapalatakettie]

4/5 I like the imagination put into it, but I have never been a big fan of the idea of The Simpsons being actors. It reminds me of The Simpsons Spin Off Showcase(which I love).

[pizzaanddibs]

I never realized that the announcer guy says where the simpsons live at the end of the episode. Pretty good episode 3/5

[Whip-Smart]

It not as good as I remember but it's enjoyable interesting and has some real funny moments. B

[Fox Executive]

It is great, certainly the best of season 11 and one of my post-classic episodes too. A-

[ThatAsianGuy]

4.5/5, a bit overrated though definitely worthy of its emmy and it at least Mike Skully acknowledged that he destroyed the show by doing what he did.

[Granto]

One of, if not the best Mike Scully episode and certainly the best of Season 11. Witty and funny with a lot of one liners including Huckleberry Hound's "I was so gay."

So.......do the Simpsons live in Northern Kentucky?

[Bassmint Stile]

I Just love it when homer says"...that's how I was raised and I turned out tv."

[Bassmint Stile]

And no thet do not live in Kentucky, if you watch the dvd they have about 6or 7 other alternate places where they're from.

[Kiyosuki]

Maybe Kentucky is where the "real" Simpsons (in the context of the episode) come from...but not where the ones on the "show" come from.

I don't know, but I doubt it. They're never going to give Springfield a single location no matter how much some people want it. If they didn't do it in the movie, they're never going to do it.

I think it's for the best myself. The point of Springfield is that it's everywhere but nowhere.

[TerwilligerBob]

A nice, funny, actually creative format-bender that was gold compared to the puke-a-thon that was season 12. This episode made me laugh, had coherent plot, and wasn't saturated with zaniness and unbelievability. It's a huge breath of fresh air. However, it suffered badly from 1-D characterization, and retarded repititive humor. Also, there are three pieces of "The Simpsons" from after season 9 that I consider very good: this, "Trilogy of Error", and the movie. In all three, Lisa is the despicable, whiny, pretentious, self-absorbed, ultra-liberal, disloyal creep that she is in the rest of the recent era, while the other character absorb some of their old depth and likability. Very, very sad. 3.5/5

[sYnTheTic1-]

i liked the parody of behind the music, and its a first for the simpsons, along with the great jokes and humor i gave it a 5/5 great episode

[Jesse Pinkman]

I kinda liked it. I didn't like much of the metaphors and junk, but i did like most of the last act, including:

Homer's role in that play {"Where is the rent? I MUST have the rent! Dollars dimes and nickels, I need them all right now!}

"To prolong the run of the series, I was secretly given anti-growth hormones!"

And I liked when they made up at the Willie Nelson awareness awards thing.

[Mr Johannson]

I love pretty much everything the narrator says. Especially this line:
"The dream was over. Coming up next, was the dream really over? Yes it was. Or was it?"

5/5

[Léo Pard]

The scenario is quite good and original, but I found that it lacked a few gags. 11/20.

[Castinglove]

I think this is one of the funniest Simpsons episodes ever
Every gag works
One of my all time favourites
5/5

[Jacob]

Being someone who absolutely despises seeing The Simpsons depicted as celebrities, I was shocked at how well this episode turned out. Most of the jokes work, the parody was hilarious, and I found myself laughing throughout the entire episode. Very surprising, as soon as I glanced at this episode I was thinking "Oh no. Another Spinoff Showcase." But I watched it, and it was good.

4/5

[Simpsonsfan1981]

I actually liked this episode. It displayed an imaginative concept and creativity on the part of the writers that has been on display too infrequently in the post-classic era. It was also very well-executed, entertaining, funny and interesting. An engaging story with good dialogue and an excellent parody of these so-called specials. 5/5

[emanuellburnell]

Not to bad of a episode from one of the most and only underrated seasons in the shows entire history,it its a funny and entertaining episode. i give it 5/5

[ArniePye]

The most unique idea for an Episode in Simpsons history and it played out well. 5/5!

[Dylan]

Really funny and imaginative 5/5

[Nauru-1]

I'm torn on what I should rate it, but I guess I'll go with a 4/5. Love the way it mocks the typical documentary. Losing marks only for being a little silly with some gags.

[Mr Black]

For me this totally ruined continuity. Now the simpons are real people? This is even worse than a clipshow. It adds nothing more to the series- if anything it takes away. I really wish this episode didn't exist.
Ruined the show for me- I can understand why people like it but I can't believe this is more popular than principal and the pauper.

F

[Colonel Klink]

For me this totally ruined continuity. Now the simpons are real people? This is even worse than a clipshow. It adds nothing more to the series- if anything it takes away. I really wish this episode didn't exist.
Ruined the show for me- I can understand why people like it but I can't believe this is more popular than principal and the pauper.

F

Your complaining about this episode making The Simpsons real people, when season 8's The Simpsons Spinoff showcase spectacular, did that long before this episode even aired?

Me thinks someone didn't think things through before they posted their reply.

This episode is one of my all time favorites and IMO its the last classic episode the show would produce. And I don't think the show has ever hit the same level after this episode aired.

5/5

[Mr Black]

Your complaining about this episode making The Simpsons real people, when season 8's The Simpsons Spinoff showcase spectacular, did that long before this episode even aired?

Yes but they still produced new material, like chief wiggum in new orleans, a hilarious scene. The love-o-matic grampa as well. But yeah that episode was a bit weird. But then behind the laughter was much worse with making the characters into 2 dimensional cartoon characters- instead of keeping what they were before- people in cartoon form.