Rate/Review "Springfield Up" (JABF07)

[Tomacco]

Only complaint was Homer's rock song, which went on too long, but at least was paired with a reprise of the knife joke and the time machine joke.

Both the cat lady and Disco Stu origins had me laughing because I couldn't identify either characters from the get-go. Also very refreshing to see new spins on those one-note characters. Overall a very good episode.

[McClure]

I'm amazed that the episode has been getting such a positive response. I expected people to be screaming "CONTINUITY ERRORS" and "EW... CRAZY CAT LADY" and "JERKASS HOMER"...

[Jakebert]

That was just plain fun. The segments with the adults as children were really neat. Also, the Crazy Cat Lady was actually funny for once! That alone should be considered a huge success. Also, I loved the "screw the audience" joke with Disco Stu.

The ending felt a tad rushed, but it was still incredibly sweet without being too forced. I loved it. I really can't think of anything from the episode I didn't like.

This was a good night for the Simpsons. 4.5/5.

[That Jerk]

I think this forum has long outgrown moans of "Jerkass Homer". Also, Cat Lady whining is so last year. Get on the Rich Texan hate trolley.

[Nebuchanezzar]

I think this forum has long outgrown moans of "Jerkass Homer".

I do believe it was mentioned in the Ice Cream of Margie or Moe 'n' a Lisa R&R threads. It still lurks around, but it's not as much of a problem. Plus I guess that there are bigger issues in a lot of episodes.

[Gatorgod]

5/5 Great Episode! Good hearing Eric Idle again. I love seeing Lil Homey & Marge (They should get their own Series) The Flintstones did it, the Simpsons should too.
I don't care if invading Burns properties as it were their own was done before, This was good fun!

[Kiyosuki]

25 minutes here. Sounds pretty good, its gotten great reception all around and not just here so far too.

I was an ass and already saw the trailer online. lol But come on...how couldn't I?

[Alpha]

When even the cat lady gets a laugh, you know you have a good episode. I really loved the fake-out with Disco Stu's origin. Just a lot of hilarious, great stuff.

5/5, for both the episode and the trailer.

[elipeli]

5/5 but only because the movie trailer elevated my mood so much that watching "The Anna Nichole Show" would seem entertaining, making this Shakespeare.

[Desperado]

When I first saw Eleanor I was so confused and found it really funny that she is the Cat-Lady as well as Disco Stu being in the navy. I was also confused as to how The Simpsons were rich for a while. I'm glad they used Smithers without making a gay joke and for some reason Mr. Burns having Smithers take the Deragno made me laugh for some reason.

I think they could've done a bit more interesting and funnier documentaries about some other characters. I don't think Frink was a really good choice. They also established he had a wife and a kid back in Season 4 so he didn't really need a time machine. They also established that the time machine works, which I don't think they should have. I wish they would've ended the time machine joke on the ironic note right after Frink from the future got hit by a car.

I also think the ending could have been played up a bit more with Homer knowing that people actually wanted to be him. However, it was still a great way to end the episode. Overall, this is the first episode in a long time that didn't feel like it was so new or that something just didn't feel right. It had a nice flow somehow.

[E.A.R.L]

Yeah I didn't realy like that the time machine worked.
I am a firm beleivable that impossable things shouldm't happen in the simpsons

[Kiyosuki]

Whoooooa.

I'm still watching it, but did anyone notice Milhouse's grandfather's cameo as the judge in Eleanor's trial? If that wasn't him, it sure looks like him.

[The Governor]

Whoooooa.

I'm still watching it, but did anyone notice Milhouse's grandfather's cameo as the judge in Eleanor's trial? If that wasn't him, it sure looks like him.

I thought it was the judge from "Screaming Yellow Zonkers" who said banged his gavel on the dash and said: "I Sentance you to kiss my ass!".

[sung]

If there was an only unique thing about this episode, it started out as 'Behind The Laughter' feeling in the first act, and ended like a normal episode with a plot. I say this episode had Season 8 feeling in it. BTW, I'm late for this review since I watched in other house where the Chinese New Year's Day party was going on.

I think this episode deserves a big role on the characterization study and great humor. Homer being an underachiever gave him more desire to filch out Mr. Burns's summer house, Elenoar's fall eventually led her to be Crazy Cat Lady (lol, so sad...) I really enjoyed some character's past (Frink, Lenny, Marge, Homer and... I forgot) too. To talk about humors... I loved the pain gag when Dr. Frink was ran over by two cars! If there's an episode that deserves to be nominated to Emmy, this is the one... so far. We could have better episodes coming up, folks

Grade: 4.5/5, not 5/5 material, but not 4/5 material either. A-

[The Governor]

I think this episode has set a record for the least amount of 1/5s and 2/5s...ever.

[Ryan]

Um, guys? I think the show really, really wants to keep me as a viewer.

Remember last week? Yeah, when I said I was done? Well, I wanted to see the trailer so I watched this and...damn. This was one fucking good episode. Like...5/5 worthy.

Terrific. No need for any other words, just that was fantastic...they have successfully proven me wrong...

[Stackhouse]

awesome, really just great and stand out. probably the best we've had this season, and there's been some strong contenders 5/5

[Veryjammy]

Cute episode. The show very rarely drops the ball with these types of outings; I think I would have been more surprised if it had been bad. The nature of the concept unavoidably resulted in it being a little bitty, lacking the flowing cohesion of something like TSNES for example, and the ending felt a bit abrupt and underplayed but these are minor issues. Encouragingly the episode had a very healthy amount of working humour; there was a lot that I liked which is rare for this season. I'll probably watch it again tomorrow because it was quite strange coming off the back of a ZOMG EPIC trailer to something so low-key. Anyway, with the trailer and a good episode, this was the best Simpsons night in a long long time.

B/B+

[ScottNak]

Indeed. This was a particularly good episode. And it's a good episode to come back too. I've missed the last few (unfortuantely... apparently I need to get my hands on last weeks episode).

Nothing like a new take on an episode to really boost up its greatness.
Excellently done. 5/5 +1. I don't think I've ever seen a 0 spot on the polls either...

[Upgrayedd]

Great episode.

Solid, engaging, interesting plot. The Seven Up parody plot of the Springfielders was fun and exciting, and even though it didn't have the rapid-fire humor of last week's episode, there were still enough great gags in this episode. For once, a good Crazy Cat Lady scene. The origin of CCL was great to watch. I enjoyed the whole Frink scene, especially child Frink. Disco Stu's origin, and the pasts of Marge, Moe, etc, etc.

Nice, best of S18.

(B+/A-) 8/10 4/5

[bovine_university]

I was really impressed by this episode. I wasn't a big fan of Desmond the first couple of times he showed up and while the premise sounded interesting, I wasn't expecting that much, but I sure got alot. The plot structure of this episode was very creative, but it was pulled off really well, it didn't feel like a gimmick, but instead made the plot feel very fresh and gave some of the scenes a real comedic spark, like the interviews with the children. I was really surprised by the reveal about Homer becoming rich and when the plot deviated away from that thread I was confused a little, but in the end it was a smart decision to have it come back into play later on. Seeing the origin stories of the characters did border on problems with continuity, but I try not to let that bother me anymore; I liked a number of these reveals about the characters (even the Cat Lady managed to make me laugh, I never thought I would say that). By the third act I was wondering where exactly the story would go next, but I liked how things were wrapped up with a nice light dose of humor and sweetness what the the montage and the resolution. At the center of it all was Desmond, who was pretty funny both on and off camera (unlike his first episode where I found him obnoxious). I didn't give this episode a 5/5 however, because I did feel that there were a fair number of jokes that should have been shortened, particularly in the third act. Wiggum and Lou were bickering again, the hounds joke and the clock joke just went on and on, and the blind mountain climber joke was pretty unnecessary. I while I did like the ending, it was awfully fast, and I was expecting a credits sting or something. Still, these problems aren't enough to keep me from calling this episode the best episode of the season along with The Haw-Hawed Couple (how ironic it was re-aired just before this one). 4/5

On the subject of the trailer, I was laughing alot through-out it, which could be a good thing or a bad thing (maybe they put all the good stuff into the trailer and left nothing for the actual movie), but regardless, I am getting more excited about the film.

[Kiyosuki]

"All those years I was dreaming of other things when I was really doing what I wanted. Hanging with my family. Drinking with my friends. Making friends with my family. And hanging with my drinking."

lol

Alright its done. I'm really impressed. I mean really impressed. After Haw Hawed Couple and last week's Little Big Girl now we come to this. These have been some really quality episodes. I don't know what it could be but something's going on amongst the writing staff because they've been improving a great deal lately. Its been rough and not perfect of course, but many of the long going little problems that have been dragging the show, These namely.
-Pacing (Stuffing too much into one episode at a time at random.)
-1 trick wonder humor and personalities
-Too much of Homer at a time
-Irationally crazy Homer
-Story focus

Feel like they're being worked on. I said in the beggining of this season and even a bit in the end of 17 that I feel like in a very, very subtle way the writers are trying to correct some things that have been just really dragging the whole thing down for some years now. Its like breaking a habbit though. In general though it has really felt like an effort is being made to make everything tighter and better constructed even if its been kind of weird feeling at times. Like a time of experimenting.

Now enough of the big picture stuff, looking at this episode's own merits in particular...while I hate to use the term "Going back to", I have to. :silly: I feel like this episode really went back to a lot of the smaller things that make the show great. Namely...it fit everything together wonderfully. Homer was really lovable, everyone's stories were really fun to watch (I like Stu, Wiggum, and Frink's best. But "boring" Lenny made me lol a lot. Poor Lenny.)

More than anything, this episode did something I haven't felt like the series has genuinly done in a really long time. It made Homer sympathetic in a way very reminicent to the first episode, or "Do it for her". Like...things didn't go according to plan, and he isn't perfect but he hasn't done so bad for himself either. He does what he has to do.

While I'm not saying this has to be done all the time for an episode to be good, in this particular case it really went back to a root of the series thats been missing for a while. The thing that Homer will always have over all other cartoon dads and should have over all other cartoon dads.

So...other notes.

-Homer acting like a 36-40 year old quirky but hindered adult who's a child at heart, as opposed to an overgrown maniac with the mind of a 4 year old. No matter the overall quality of the episodes, we've seen this more and more lately. To great effect last week, and to awsome effect here. I'm really liking this Homer you guys in the writing. He's a Homer I can stick with, no matter how many pain gags he goes through or what he gets himself into.
- The two plots were really well intertwined. Fantastically in fact. It all went together to form an overall point to the whole thing. I feared it was at first going to be something where the short stories stop at one point to make room for nothing but Homer for the rest of the episode, but that wasn't so. It kept everything in one big nice package.
-An ending that didn't use a "lets be silliness!!!1" cop-out ending! It just stuck with the moment and ended it there, it was great.
-Stupidity was used sparingly in this episode, and used as thick headedness or for effect...instread of a Loony Toons gag. With Homer moments, and Ralph's one moment it just felt natural and not so tacked on and unplanned.
-Dialogue was particularly well planned this episode. I feel like some of the voices were of a higher quality than usual for this season. Especially Homer.

The "segments"

Homer and to an extent, Marge really made this episode. Perhaps because they were used just so wonderfully this time and I've sort of missed lovable Homer. But everyone had some great moments in this too.

-As said, Lenny's lack of...anything was funny. lol I loved that disgruntled look on him when he appeared later. Its funny because it reminded me of his spotlight thread here...and how we all agreed he really is meant to be the ultimate background character. lol Poor Len.
-Of course Clancy gets a great moment in there. The whole scene at the shooting range, the playtime with young Homer, and now we see the old Wiggum charm extends to what has to be one hell of a back rub. lol The pants dialogue was great too.
-Eleanor really came out of nowhere, that was actually great.
-Frink's was hilarious. We haven't seen a whole lot of him lately have we? It was really nice to get a great Frink moment in there and the thing with the Time Machine and Carl in the end was just great.
-Marge's segment leading to the birth of Disco Stu really was one of the cherries on the pie for this episode.
-The segments from Homer's earlier life moments were great. I loved the commentator part the best and how it went from "You'll never see rugrats holding me down!" To feeding Lisa. That was classic material right there.
-Moe's moment near the climax was one of his best in a while.

This is one of those episodes I feel like I'd show people to show what the series is capable of. Bottom line...why this episode was great is it had a real point to it. Everything in it.

That things may not turn out exactly as any of us want, but you can't look at what did go right in your life and take it with a grain of salt at the same time. Frink may not have gotten his girl, but he invent some stuff and live his dream. Wiggum may have big pants and not be perfect at his job but he did do what he wanted to do and pulled it off pretty well. And Homer may not be filthy rich or impressive by snotty standards, but he has a great family and he does defy his shortcomings by doing a lot for them. And he has something very rare, real genuine love. Especially looking at how Eleanor's life went, Homer really can't complain so much.

Nobody's perfect, but if someone does what they can and realize it, things can work out well. Thats actually a pretty damn beautiful message. This episode was satire on the human condition and it was great. 5/5

[Corkus]

AWW SON OF A *insert 598430571809374 swear words here*

The one episode all season I completely forget to watch. Seriously, I've been home all night, and it completely slipped my mind that there was a new episode on. I'm looking at the scores and just kicking myself right now (not reading any posts for spoiler purposes).

[coltonwiggum]

I feel bad for you, you really missed out. I've seen it twice now (there's always a repeat at 11:00). Its amazing!

[DumHonkey]

Good Times. Clever.

5/5

[Speedy Boris]

Not half bad at all. It was an innovative execution of what is essentially an old type of plot: That a character feels they've wasted their life. There were many funny moments, like the montage of people saying good things about Homer, the running gag about Lenny being dull, the snow movie with the blind guy, and Moe kissing Comic Book Guy ("You could do a lot worse."). Moe's mug shot at the beginning was avatar-worthy stuff, too. Wasn't a fan of Disco Stu or the Crazy Cat Lady's origins, though.

Overall though, probably the best of the season so far, up there with "The Haw-Hawed Couple". There weren't really any cringe-worthy scenes or dialog, and that's always a good sign.

[Green_Peaness]

Wtf, the episode was 19:50 long?

Anyway, it was a very good episode. Best since TSNES. My only complaint was that it felt too short...again, 19:50?! My downloaded episode doesn't have a couch gag but it says "Created by Matt Groening, etc" in after Desmond's intro like it would after the couch gag.

[Veryjammy]

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.

[Kiyosuki]

Wtf, the episode was 19:50 long?

Anyway, it was a very good episode. Best since TSNES. My only complaint was that it felt too short...again, 19:50?! My downloaded episode doesn't have a couch gag but it says "Created by Matt Groening, etc" in after Desmond's intro like it would after the couch gag.

Yes in general the episodes actually have been shorter. I blame the ever growing and inflating monster known as commercialism. But thats another reason I liked this one a lot. Considering the time they have to work with, when something generally fits alltogether and works out well from beggining to end I think thats pretty commendable in itself.

[Mira]

I loved this episode... first 5/5 this season for me. I really liked The Cat Lady Joke, the Frink Joke, the Lenny jokes, Smithers in the clock with absolutely no one helping him, the hounds having names and problems, the Disco Stu joke [obviously I thought it was Sea Captain] and a lot of other stuff. Just great overall, no jokes felt akward and it stayed really entertaining and fun.