The worst commentaries for an episode

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Julie Kavner: LOOK AT THOSE ANGLES!!!!1111one

[Lionheart]

Out of the few commentaries I've listened to, I'd say "The Principal and the Pauper." It was just like "The joke is that these people are resistant to change and if you hated this episode, you fell for the joke, so we win" or something along those lines.

[Dark Homer]

Julie Kavner: LOOK AT THOSE ANGLES!!!!1111one

really don't understand all the hate this gets

you people should be looking at the angles and art direction and animation and all that

[The Governor]

Out of the few commentaries I've listened to, I'd say "The Principal and the Pauper." It was just like "The joke is that these people are resistant to change and if you hated this episode, you fell for the joke, so we win" or something along those lines.

I think I said that exact quote in the Principal and the Pauper R&R thread.

[Shaunbadia]

I never really cared much for The Simpsons DVD commentaries, hell, the only one I can even remember is the movie commentary...as far as animated series go, the only commentaries I enjoy are the Futurama, Family Guy and South Park commentaries.

[J Dog]

really don't understand all the hate this gets

you people should be looking at the angles and art direction and animation and all that

I think it stems more from the fact that Kavner sounds like she has never watched the show before, and that every episode she does a commentary, she really lacks any knowledge of "the Simpsons". I'm not saying one should be an encyclopedia on the series, but at least you should know that "Like Father, Like Clown" was not the first episode ever to feature Krusty.

[Sinister Burns]

Except that it was, unless you count "Krusty Gets Busted", but I always thought was more of a Sideshow Bob episode.

[buyonferry]

Yeardley smith seems worse than kavner in the "not knowing about the show"comment

[J Dog]

Except that it was, unless you count "Krusty Gets Busted", but I always thought was more of a Sideshow Bob episode.

The way Kavner said it was that it was the first episode that featured Krusty as a character, not the first episode where Krusty was in the main plot.

Besides, Krusty's official debut in the main series (he appeared in the shorts) was "The Telltale Head".

[Sinister Burns]

Well, it would have been a long time since that when the commentary was recorded and the documentation of the show's history wasn't as robust as it is now. And to be fair, the actors aren't paid to know the show inside and out, unlike the writers and animators.

[J Dog]

Well, it would have been a long time since that when the commentary was recorded and the documentation of the show's history wasn't as robust as it is now. And to be fair, the actors aren't paid to know the show inside and out, unlike the writers and animators.

The commentaries were recordeded a few months prior to the release of the DVDs, so the Season 3 commentaries were done at the end of 2002 or the beginning of 2003.

It's true, but whenever you listen to Dan or Hank (Harry Shearer and Katey Sagal are the only two people that Simpsons/Futurama fans should expect to never do commentaries, since they haven't by now), the two possess good memories and a lot of insight. Some cases, Nancy actually showed up over-prepared.

Kavner and Smith are basically the two "dunces" of commentaries, because they lack even basic knowledge of the show (Smith does have some, but it's all about Lisa).

[Kayla]

no wonder harry shearers never done one

[PT88]

Anyone that has John Lovits on it. I find him to be really annoying and i don't understand the appeal of the guy.

[J Dog]

Anyone that has John Lovits on it. I find him to be really annoying and i don't understand the appeal of the guy.

I actually liked him referring to Al and Mike as "gay". And, at the end of "Homer's Barbershop Quartet", Al gets his revenge by calling Jon "gay".

He's actually pretty good, but I wasn't a fan of "A Star is Burns" because it was more of a gushing about "the Critic" and ignoring the fact that Matt Groening really hated it.

And, this isn't a bad commentary entirely, but Yeardley was godawful in "The Dad Who Knew Too Little" (she was awful in all of the Season 14 commentaries anyway, but this was really bad). Mark Kirkland basically had to treat her like a little kid at the end.

[J Dog]

How do you feel about those hidden commentaries on Season 3 where Jean or Reiss comments alone?

Reiss ("Stark Raving Dad" and "Lisa's Pony"): Really good. But, also because both featured Julie Kavner. I wish he actually did do commentary for "Dog of Death". He also didn't do 12 of the 22 episodes in Season 4 and "Cape Feare" in Season 5.
Jean ("Bart the Lover" and "Seperate Vocations"): Okay. Needs others around him, especially given his knack to repeat stuff.

[zach]

all the ones where bill and josh talk.

i still stand by that, haven't even listened to their commentaries in months and months.

*They Saved Lisa's Brain: Most of the episode's commentary was basically revolved around Marc Wilmore pretending to be the mayor of East St. Louis, Illinois and having a practical joke at the expense of Matt Selman back in the day

but didn't you enjoy hearing that story? without the commentary we would never have known about it. plus the episode isn't that good so i don't really care if they don't address it.

[Wavy Gravy]

I could listen to the commentaries for Seasons 1 through 8 over and over again. They provide so much insight into the making of the classic era, and you can tell that everyone on board is having fun reliving old memories and watching their favorite episodes. But around Season 9, once the episodes start to get worse, nobody in the recording booth wants to admit it, and the scramble for unrelated topics of conversation begins. Like the aforementioned East St. Louis story that eats up half the commentary for "They Saved Lisa's Brain". I was this close to screaming at the TV "I don't care! Get back on topic!"

And that moment in the "Make Room for Lisa" commentary where Mike Scully and his buddies run out of things to say and just crunch potato chips into their microphones for about a minute and a half? That was the exact moment when I lost interest in listening to the commentaries. They don't care about these post-classic episodes any more than we do.

[MrPlowKing]

Im not sure the episode but they have a fan in the studio with them, it was bad.

[Frightened Inmate No. 2]

There haven't been many commentaries that I didn't enjoy, and I'm almost through season 12. I actually enjoyed having Weinstein's kids in the commentary, since it was kind of different. I don't really like Josh Weinstein though, since he doesn't seem very funny, and he's kind of annoying. I like it better when Oakley is there with him. I like any commentary with David Mirkin, especially his season 9 ones. I've liked most of the guests, especially Jon Lovitz, since he is usually pretty funny. I like when the commentaries are informative, but eventually you would run out of things to say, without repeating yourselves, which they have done countless times. I like Scully commentaries because they are usually a little funny, and will give some information about the episode.

[Sinister Burns]

Im not sure the episode but they have a fan in the studio with them, it was bad.

That 'fan' was played by Dave Thomas as a joke.

[Lionel Hutz]

I actually liked him referring to Al and Mike as "gay".

Excuse me?

And, at the end of "Homer's Barbershop Quartet", Al gets his revenge by calling Jon "gay".

DAMN RIGHT!

[We want Herman]

I remember listening to the commentary in season 6 the springfield connection , yeardley smith had no idea who herman was, I mean for christ sake she should know who he is, She's part of the show A lot of people know who herman is even though he is never in the show that much

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

I could listen to the commentaries for Seasons 1 through 8 over and over again. They provide so much insight into the making of the classic era, and you can tell that everyone on board is having fun reliving old memories and watching their favorite episodes. But around Season 9, once the episodes start to get worse, nobody in the recording booth wants to admit it, and the scramble for unrelated topics of conversation begins. Like the aforementioned East St. Louis story that eats up half the commentary for "They Saved Lisa's Brain". I was this close to screaming at the TV "I don't care! Get back on topic!"

I actually loved this story, but I agree. It is a perfect example of just trying to beef up the commentary.

[Bert Stanton]

Im not sure the episode but they have a fan in the studio with them, it was bad.

Think it was Mountain of Madness. It was pretty terrible.

And didn't someone have their kids in for a few of the commentaries? That was shocking too. Was definitely in Mysterious Voyage

[Oh, that's raspberry!]

Yeah I noticed Season 8 has some weak commentaries. I liked Mountain of Madness though once I learned the fan was Dave Thomas. But some of the commentaries with Weinstein alone, The Canine Mutiny and Hurricane Neddy come to mind, are pretty slow and boring.

[Financial Panther]

Ohhh, I was thinking he meant a fan that blows air! As in, it was so loud that we couldn't hear the commentary!

[Bert Stanton]

Also Al Jean's voice makes me want to rip my ears off

[honestabe]

I never really cared much for The Simpsons DVD commentaries, hell, the only one I can even remember is the movie commentary...as far as animated series go, the only commentaries I enjoy are the Futurama, Family Guy and South Park commentaries.

Although I'll still either rent or buy the South Park DVDs, I find it disappointing that Matt and Trey will only leave around 5 min. of commentary before moving onto the next one. There might be a moment later on in the episode that they aren't able to touch on because they end it too early.

[Shaunbadia]

Although I'll still either rent or buy the South Park DVDs, I find it disappointing that Matt and Trey will only leave around 5 min. of commentary before moving onto the next one. There might be a moment later on in the episode that they aren't able to touch on because they end it too early.

Yeah but that's generally because Matt and Trey don't have a lot to say about the episodes. The commentary for the Imaginationland movie actually ends a good bit before the movie itself because they can't think of anything else to talk about.

[Jims]

Yeah I noticed Season 8 has some weak commentaries. I liked Mountain of Madness though once I learned the fan was Dave Thomas. But some of the commentaries with Weinstein alone, The Canine Mutiny and Hurricane Neddy come to mind, are pretty slow and boring.

Hey, The Canine Mutiny commentary isn't all bad! They answered my inane question (from the NHC Q&A session) about Hank ad-libbing the "Jammin'" credits!