Rate and Review: "Mom's I'd like to Forget" (NABF03)

[The Governor]

January 9, • Moms I'd Like to Forget (NABF03)
When Bart discovers that a fifth grader has a scar identical to one Bart has, Marge tells him about a club of mothers she was in once where they set playdates for their kids; when she tries to reform the club, things turn out better for Marge than they do for Bart

[Dr. Fishopolis]

I enjoyed it more than the previous episode, but the Skype jab was pretty stupid. It didn't seem to have that many jokes anyway. Bart pressuring CBG by destroying a comic was pretty genius. The scar thing is unrealistic though because we never saw it. We get to see Baby Ralph dropped on his head, always a treat. Flanders with the extended moustache really made me laugh. As well as how they got the scar. It was nice to see a drunk Marge. I knew Bart was gonna light it when he said it wouldn't be the same. The conflict with the social life was also pretty good. The fact that the Mom's were lesbians was pretty damn unfunny. Also, it's a pretty predictable ending. I'm sorry. But I can only grant a 3.3/5 on this one.

[IceDoesntHelp]

The couch gag wasn't as long as normal, which is good! The Jets vs. Sharks joke, was silly, and the shine or rain line was kind of humorous. Poor Willy. Homer on the toilet carried on for just a little too long. The already solved crossword book was an alright gag. Found the hot tub gag/line to be funny. I enjoyed how they explained why Ralph is special. Enjoyed the garage scene.
Pretty good episode. Not overly funny though. Story was pretty decent. 3/5

[Financial Panther]

That show was just...weird. I have no idea what to think about that. I gave it a 3/5, but...

[The Governor]

For the most part, this was pretty good. Some of the scenes got run into the ground: Homer and the other Dad's, Moe on Skype, Homer doing his taxes, but the teacher's lounge brawl and Bart being taunted were the highlights. Ironically, the explanation of how the Scars came about was pretty stupid, though. But the best laugh of the night was the Ralph joke.

Eh, I'll be nice and give this a 4/5. (B+)

Also, an eye raising coincidence: Simpsons comics #27 is regarded to be the best Simpsons comic and I wonder if #27 of "Interesting Stories" was a intended to be a joke on that.

[The J Man]

I approve of the Ralph gag.

[Dr. Fishopolis]

For the most part, this was pretty good. Some of the scenes got run into the ground: Homer and the other Dad's, Moe on Skype, Homer doing his taxes, but the teacher's lounge brawl and Bart being taunted were the highlights. Ironically, the explanation of how the Scars came about was pretty stupid, though.

Eh, I'll be nice and give this a 4/5. (B+)

Also, an eye raising coincidence: Simpsons comics #27 is regarded to be the best Simpsons comic and I wonder if #27 of "Interesting Stories" was a intended to be a joke on that.

The Simpsons isn't that clever anymore. So I doubt it.

[The Governor]

Too bad they didn't could make the episode in less than 8 months--Bart taking a picture of his butt with a number "4" scribbled on it and texting it to 5th grade class would've been hillarious.

[Jesse Pinkman]

nothing really terrible in the episode but nothing really good either. i liked ralph falling on his head as a baby, homer doing the finished crosswords book (and sudoku in a later scene). the scars thing doesn't really work because we had never seen bart have a scar before this episode, and homer's line about "never being home this hour" isn't true, he has been home then loads of times, but that's really just me being nitpicky (and no, my grade isn't affected because of this). overall it was OK. 3/5 or so

[HRH Sir Prince Charles]

Yeah, I really liked it. Most of the jokes hit, the plot was interesting. Not much to say, but pretty solid all around.

4/5

[Jims]

I liked this episode but, man, was it inconsistent. Every time I would get on board with the episode, there would be some awkward distracting joke that would take me out of it.

The plot of this episode was one of the more tightly-written ones they've had in awhile. The opening setpiece of the dodgeball game (and the later rivalry) didn't go on for too long and introduced one of the major characters of the episode. The story concept itself is one fairly unique for the series. Young parents sitting around chatting during playdates is a fairly common occurrence, so it seems really logical that something like that happened with Marge in the past. It also isn't something life-changing in their lives, so we can't call foul on "Why didn't they bring this up yet?"

The only real hitch in the plot was Bart's dissatisfaction with the new kids. His change in attitude happened fairly quickly, so I didn't quite buy it. They all jumped off the treehouse, fell down laughing, and then Bart suddenly changes his mind. Just a little too quick. They should've had Bart a little more tentative about it, or maybe had one of them suggest doing it again right afterwards, to which Bart could try to shoot the idea down (unsuccessfully). The conclusion with Marge breaking up with the moms also happened a bit too fast. I think they should've trimmed down some of the stuff at The Android's Dungeon to make more room.

The ending was a bit predictable too, but that isn't that bad. I mean, what other solution can there be to a "mysterious scar" + "moms with preschoolers break-up mysteriously" story?

The real jarring part of this episode was Homer, whose jokes were extremely gimmicky. They were really piling on the "Boy, is Homer eccentric!" jokes tonight. First he eats peanuts in the shower (probably the best of these). Then, he does taxes on the toilet. Then he reads a book of completed crossword puzzles. These kinds of jokes struck me as more weird than funny. His interactions with the other dads were funny, however. I probably could've done without the last one, though.

3.5/5. Was hovering around a 4/5 in Act 2, but the hit-or-miss jokes dragged it down.

[HRH Sir Prince Charles]

The feeling is mutual of Omaha

[biffwestwood]

3/5

Tolerable, but the main problem is that the episode moved too slowly. The dodgeball tourmanent and rivalry were top notch and both Marge and Bart were portrayed nicely and the flashbacks were great. But the scenes where Homer was trying to befriend the husbands of the "cool moms" was unfunny filler scenes we didn't need. Bart's fantasy scene during dodgeball seemed misplaced.

[Xt'Tapalatakettle]

As someone who has had Bell's Palsy, I'd like to say that Skype joke really didn't make sense. It's not like Bell's Palsy acts up and momentarily goes away. The face paralyzation doesn't go in and out, but is consistent and gradually goes away over the course of time. I'm sorry to bitch about something that seems so trivial, but it just irked me. If the joke were funny, I might overlook it.

That being said, I thought this episode was pretty strong overall. The pacing of the jokes was quite good and for some reason I found the Jets-Sharks joke to be hysterical. It did seem a little more like Homer-Think, but I'll accept that Bart's mind could wander the same way (I'm sure the show has done it before). As for Homer, I did enjoy him here. The completed Crossword Puzzles book was hysterical. I'm surprised that joke hasn't been thought of before.

I enjoyed how they jumped into this one with the dodgeball bit in the beginning. I do agree with others that the Bart story felt a little rushed. It seemed like he and the fifth-grader instantly became friends because they had the same scar. Marge explained that they had previously been friends, but that really didn't justify them being friends at this point, especially after the 4th grade vs. 5th grade feud.

For some reason, the lesbian joke wasn't that bad. This show went through its phase of kissing jokes, which were all pretty much horrid. It strangely seemed natural here.

Let's say 4/5, or B/B+.

[Zombies Rise from the Sea]

Only two hours until The Simpsons, and only one and a half hour tills American Dad! in California.

My fingers are at the ready...

[D'ohmer]

I thought it was pretty good. The plot was nothing outstanding, we've seen many of this calibur before, but it was executed in a way to provide good entertainment. I thought Bart's conflict was pretty interesting and I liked the explanation of how he got the scar. Marge's time with the other moms was pretty interesting to watch and I thought that Homer's time with the dads was a fun ny running gag. There were some pretty solid jokes, like Bart's vision of throwing a dodgeball, Marge's brain, the lesbian moms, ect. I also thought the characterizations were pretty good, seeing how Bart does have limits and Marge wanting time away from her kids and it didn't seem too hateful, like it was in Catch 'Em if You Can. I also liked how CBG was in character, he was funny. Overall, 4/5

[zartok-35]

At first, I was thinking this was going to be a rip-off of the 'Not particulalrly desperate housewives' episode of American Dad. Not surprisingly, I was worng. This episode was deeper in some ways, and shallower in a few more ways. Chris Clements is probably my least favorite director on the show at the moment, but I don't hate him like Matt Nastuk. Comic Book guy was good fun for his roles in the episode. I also enjoyed the lesbian wives. Aside from that, this was pretty dull and forgetable for me. 2.4/5