Simpsons Did It!: “Marge In Chains”

A standard Marge storyline deals with the idea that she is indefensible to the Simpson household, and the lose of her can cause untold havoc with Homer forced to take charge.

Sometimes the whole town of Springfield has to learn that lesson.

Simpsons Did It!: “Whacking Day”

One of my favorite, but least seen, characters on The Simpsons is an elderly Irishman, who appears for the first of three times here.  When it is pointed out that Whacking Day was created as an excuse to beat up the Irish, there’s a cut to an old man dressed like some sort of leprechaun saying that this is true, he took many a good lump, but it was all in good fun.

That guy cracks me up.

Simpsons Did It!: “The Front”

This episode opens with Krusty the Clown hosting a cooking segment on his show.  What the heck kind of kid’s show does Krusty host anyway?

The episode also needed material and added a weird Ned Flanders bit at the end to pad the show out.  I find it funny in its basic absurdity.

Simpsons Did It!: “So It’s Come To This: A Simpsons Clip Show”

The clip show is one of those TV episodes where there’s a bare sketch of a plot that is mostly there as an excuse to run clips from past episodes.  It’s probably there to help the people making the show when they have episodes they need to produce in a  relative hurry and not enough time to produce new material for all of them.

I don’t think most viewers like them very much.  I know I generally don’t.

Simpsons Did It!: “Last Exit To Springfield”

This episode features a character, the Simpsons’ family dentist, Dr. Wolfe.  Dr. Wolfe was supposed to be a celebrity guest voice.  Both Anthony Hopkins and Clint Eastwood turned down the role.  Tony “Norman Bates” Perkins did take the role, but died before he could record it, so regular cast member Hank Azaria ended up doing it.

They also originally approached O.J. Simpson for the news panel show, but he declined.  People were kinda happy about that.  You know why.  Dr. Joyce Brothers got the line instead.

Simpsons Did It!: “Duffless”

There’s a brief moment in this episode, where Homer is asked by Marge if he drinks to escape reality, and Homer imagines himself really buff and making his pecs dance.  I really like those little moments where we see the really weird world that is the inside of Homer’s mind.

Oh yeah, and in this episode, he temporarily gives up drinking.

Simpsons Did It!: “I Love Lisa”

Ralph Wiggum has, thus far, just been a kid in Lisa’s class.  This episode gives him the spotlight and begins the idea Ralph may be the single dumbest person in Springfield.

Of course, the people behind the show would have you know that Homer doesn’t hold that position.  Nope, there is one adult in Springfield dumber than Homer.  That would be Chief Wiggum.

Simpsons Did It!: “Brother From The Same Planet”

The writers and producers of The Simpsons had come under the impression that Tom Cruise wanted to do the show, so they wrote this episode with him in mind.

Cruise wasn’t interested after all, so they gave the part to Phil Hartman.  I think they’re better off for it.

Simpsons Did It!: “Selma’s Choice”

This episode of The Simpsons is named after a movie where a woman is forced by Nazis to choose which of her two children will be immediately killed.

Nothing that happens in this episode is anywhere near as depressingly awful as that.

Simpsons Did It!: “Marge Vs. The Monorail”

Let’s face it:  whatever your thoughts for this Conan O’Brien-penned episode, they are bound to be better than your thoughts on the last thing we reviewed with a “Vs” in the title.