Rate/Review "Springfield Up" (JABF07)

[Corkus]

I just did something I haven't done in over a year. No, it wasn't pirate an episode because I missed it earlier, because that's something I've done plenty of times in the past year. Rather, I actually clicked the 5/5 option on a Rate/Review thread for a new episode.

Season 18 has proven to be even more mediocre than Season 17, and the JABF run has thus far been the worst of it. Yet when I finished watching this episode, my exact thoughts were...HOT DAMN, that was actually fantastic. These types of "gimmick" episodes are often times very refreshing from the standard recycled garbage plots that plague many other episodes, as proven by episodes like TSNES and Behind the Laughter (Though I think BTL is overrated to hell and back, different as it was). Yet it wasn't just the fact that it was different that made this such a good episode.

The episode was able to transition from entirely documentaries to an actual plot relatively nicely. There were no pacing problems whatsoever. We got some nice insight on numerous characters. The origin of Disco Stu was a riot, considering how there's no way you could have seen it coming. In other words, it was the proper way to do a "screw-the-audience" joke. Also, while Declan Desmond's appearance in "Fat Man and Little Boy" felt entirely pointless, it was used well here. However, he's ran his run by this point. He went out with a nice bang, no use whoring him out further.

Most of the jokes were pretty good. Well above the Jean norm. For once I actually laughed at the Crazy Cat Lady. Loved the hounds gag, the entire Wiggum documentary, the gag with the knives, and again, Disco Stu. Only a few jokes were flat, and the only one that really made me cringe was Smithers in the clock. There were also some slight outburts reminiscent of jerkass Homer, but nothing episode-ruining. Really, the same minor types of drawbacks that TSNES had.

A-

Best of the season, first A-range ep since TSNES. Season 18, that's now TWO episodes so far that I would consider "really good". Get another one, and you won't wind up being worse than Season 11.

[Kiyosuki]

Wow, not one single 1/5. I've never seen that before.

[Charlie]

Thanks.

And if you still wanna know what other episodes he wrote:

Three Gays of the Condo
Co-Dependent's Day
The Father, The Son and the Holy Guest Star
Please Homer Don't Hammer 'Em
Moe N'A'Lisa

I think theres a few others but I cannot remember them right now.

[Nebuchanezzar]

Yes, the link provided that information...

Get another one, and you won't wind up being worse than Season 11.

Right on brother. 8-)

[Nameless]

yay an episode that might actually be a classic.

A-

[moeistheirleader]

Well, it was one of the better episodes of the season and there were very few objectionable jokes (except for the Smithers clock one)The plot was also very interesting and it was nice to look into the backgrounds of some of these characters, however it wasn't funny. Once again I didn't laugh once, the best joke was the "devastating edit", but it wasn't good enough to warrant a laugh.

3/5.

[Drunk Barney]

Matt Warburton wrote it. Well I didn't expect I'd see his writing credit again this Season. That's 3 episodes now. Which means 1/4 of the Season so far, has been written by him! Not as much as Vitti and Swartzwelder however. They had 1/3rd of Season 13's writing credit's between them!

I can't wait to see this episode. And with Micheal Price and J. Stewert Burns writing credits to come, things are looking up!

[Green_Peaness]

Not as much as Vitti and Swartzwelder however. They had 1/3rd of Season 13's writing credit's between them!

Actually Warburton has written more...Vitti and Swartzwelder each had 1/6 of the season 13 episodes.

[Drunk Barney]

I'm talking about between them.

[Nameless]

Well both of his previous episodes were holdovers so it wasn't unlikely he'd write another one soon.

[Green_Peaness]

What's your point then? "He wrote 1/4 of the episodes...though it should be noted that he hasn't been able to keep up with the number of episodes two prolific writers wrote combined per season."...?

Seems odd is all

[Drunk Barney]

Oh no nothing like that. I was simply stating he's wrote a lot this Season. And whilst I was on the subject I thought I'd mention the Vitti/Swartzwelder record.

I mentioned Price/Burns just to add a positive contribution. I guess it was kind of a pointless and confusing post. I suppose it was aimed at being seen as a interesting fact and a postive read and that was it. Sorry for the confusion.

[Homerpalooza]

4/5 a good episode.

[Jeff Vader]

That's what I've been waiting for.
It's about time. I thoroghly enjoyed the episode, and even laughed outloud at a few points.

One nit-pick (because I always have to say something bad), I wish they had not put Moe in with the rest of the subjects. Moe is of the generation between Homer and Grandpa. That's only a tiny nit-pick though. I enjoyed the rest of the episode so much, that it's not going to take from the final score.

I was worried. That last few "flash back" or "future look" episodes I did not like very much.

All in all, a good night for Faux.
I enjoyed all 4 shows...even American Dad.

5/5

[Tomacco]

Watched the episode for a 2nd time, and wow, I had forgotten how non-stop funny this episode actually was. There are a number of great lines and moments that I forgot about, like Homer running from Declan repeatedly, 8-year-old Homer trying to look at the camera, "I'll buy a basketball team and a football team and I'll get them to play baseball", and Homer's line, "you can put horse raddish on your dead grandmother for all I care".

[brody]

Here's a question I have: So, did Homer actually invent the condiment pen? Because even if he was pretending to be rich, he could've marketed it and become rich.

[mrjeffy321]

I really liked this episode, lots of funny parts, one of the best of the season.
I liked the origins of the cat-lady and disco Stew; that was well done.

Also, the new Simpson’s movie trailer was the best so far…it actually got me excited about the movie (not that I wasn’t before of course).
And the re-run right before the new episode (The Haw-Hawed Couple) was another excellent episode of the season.

All together, a very good night for The Simpsons.
A+, 5/5

[Snack Related Mishap]

Wow, I have to say the Simpsons writers must be feeling pretty great right now. They just aired two new episodes in the last two weeks that almost everyone loved(even though I wasn't a big fan of Little Big Girl like everyone else), and they just revealed the first trailer, which very, very few people disliked. If I was a Simpsons writer right now, I would feel pretty damn good about myself. Keep it up, guys.

[That Jerk]

Yeah mine was 19:50 too, I think there must be a minute or so missing somewhere because Tomacco said Homer's rock song went on too long but there was a callback to Carl in the time machine and the knives? I didn't have that in the version I downloaded.

Yeah, I don't know what he's talking about either. I'm watching my download now and it's exactly the same as the one that aired last night. The only Homer rock song was young Homer's one man band in the first act, I never saw young Carl again, and the knives falling out of Homer only happened once, so I don't know what "callback" there was.

[bobservo]

I liked last week's episode, but this one was a little disappointing. Not bad, but a little bland. SU was really a character-centered episode, but it seemed to be centered around the characters in a self-indulgent way. I'm a little sick of the "The Simpsons characters as children reflect what will happen to them later in life!" jokes, and the narration by Idle's character was surprisingly unfunny and forced at times. But so I don't piss all over SU, I have to say it featured the only funny use of the cat lady since her introduction, as well as some great interplay between Burns and Smithers that wasn't limited to gay jokes. I know Jean has his problems with Shearer, but Burns and Smithers should really be in more episodes.

I'll give it a 3/5 for being a little bland, but avoiding many of the pitfalls of the modern Simpsons. And was there not a single pop-montage to be seen?

[JoshG]

Yeah, I don't know what he's talking about either. I'm watching my download now and it's exactly the same as the one that aired last night. The only Homer rock song was young Homer's one man band in the first act, I never saw young Carl again, and the knives falling out of Homer only happened once, so I don't know what "callback" there was.

Glad I'm not the only one confused. I read his post and then went back to my recording to see if I could find Carl, but no luck. What's the deal, Tomacco? Whereabouts in the episode is the stuff you mentioned supposed to happen?

Hey, wait... perhaps the episode was slightly shortened to make room for the trailer during the break and individual affiliates were given the option to use the full version of the ep or a teensy bit shorter one?

[Green_Peaness]

Hey, wait... perhaps the episode was slightly shortened to make room for the trailer during the break and individual affiliates were given the option to use the full version of the ep or a teensy bit shorter one?

That makes sense. I downloaded a second version and it was 19:49

[Galalimit]

The full version Tomacco was talking about DID air on Global.

[Larson Something]

^It looks like a couple minutes at the end got cut from the U.S version to make room for the trailer. Canada didn't get the trailer, and so that part aired here.

I'll spoiler it just in case people want to try and track it down for themselves:

  After Homer and Marge hug, Homer says "Hey, is that a mixing board? I want to lay down a few tracks for my demo tape. When you see me in eight years, I'll be the world's richest rock star!" He then picks up a guitar and starts singing a song called "Satan, You're My Lady." While he's singing and jumping around, a knife falls out of his pocket. Then in the corner of the room, Carl briefly appears and disappears in the time machine. Then Declan starts singing backup "shoobie doobies", which Homer doesn't appreciate. He starts trying to sing the actual lyrics along with Homer, but in the end, Homer says "Don't quit your day job." 

[the 'house always wins]

1/5 from me. i don't know how i am so far off from everyone else...but i was just plain bored. the stories jumped around so fast in the first act they didn't have time to be funny. and the whole living in burns house? its been done, why do it again?

smithers in the clock was pretty funny. "the next thing we knew mr. smithers was tied up in a grandfather clock"

overall a real bleh...the movie trailer was way better than the episode in my eyes.

[Green_Peaness]

and the whole living in burns house? its been done, why do it again?

That really bothered you? The context was completely different, don't you agree?

[sacrelicious]

1/5 from me.

Wow, someone brave enough to vote 1/5. Very impressive, but odd.

This was a really good episode, but just not fun enough to be the best of the season. But second best (behind Haw-Hawed Couple) isn't that bad.

I loved the whole plot premise of filming them every 8 years, and everyone's story, no matter how crazy or unbelievable, it was fun. The only part that made it less great than it could have been was the Simpsons pretending to be millionaries and living in Mr. Burns' summer house. Although, it was a set-up for a very good ending (story-wise). I give it B+ and 4/5.

[That Jerk]

Thanks for clearing that up, Larson. That bit actually sounds quite good.

[Xt'Tapalatakettle]

Yeah, I was wondering what people were talking about with the song at the end. I thought I had just missed it or had forgotten it. Now it makes sense because that trailer was pretty long and the first commercial break where I am was really long too. It seems strange that they shortened the episode to allow for more advertising, but I guess FOX wants to make as much money as possible.

And I'm actually sad to see someone vote 1/5. Almost 100 votes without one.

[JoshG]

Thanks for clearing that up, Larson. That bit actually sounds quite good.

Although it seems to negate the positive comments people have had about the episode ending on a sweet note.