Okay, I know it's one of those futile exercises to try to get people to start watching "The Simpsons" again ... You either fall into the "That show is crap now" camp or the "I will watch that show until the day I die" camp; it's like Elaine Benes trying to get her gay friend to "switch teams", it just doesn't work.
HOWEVER, I would suggest to those members of the first camp that the writers seem to have really made it a priority to bring the show back to the "family-oriented" (for lack of a better term) storylines that made the earlier seasons so endearing ... I don't know if it's the increased inter-family interactions, the cutting back of the "overblown" elements to the show, or all of the little easter eggs that harken back to Simpsons days gone by (check the new opening to the show in slow-mo for a boatload of 'em), but these first two HD episodes are really resonating with me as a long-time Simpsons fan.
Is it as funny as the show was in its glory days? No, I wouldn't say so ... but there is some really solid writing going on here, IMO (Lisa stressing over a test, classic Ralph Wiggum, "Homer gets hurt" montage, etc.).
If you didn't catch Sunday's episode, you should take a look over at Hulu ... If my word isn't enough to get you clicking, though, maybe these two images will entice you:
The thing that jumped out at me this week was The Simpsons stealing their A plot from King of the Hill ("No Bobby Left Behind") and stealing their B plot from King of the Hill ("Mutual of Omabwah").
I haven't watched regularly since about Season 11, but I got a few of the classic seasons for Christmas. Watching those re-ignited my love of the show, so I used the HD transition as a "jumping back on" point. I'm glad I'm back. I laughed quite a bit.
I'm also using Hulu to catch some of the earlier Season 20 episodes. They were pretty good, too.
I'm in the "watch til I die" camp, but I thought the first HD episode was pretty bad, and this one was so-so. A Homer clip montage is NOT a selling point where I'm concerned.
I do think that this season's had some good moments, though.
Originally posted by PeterStorkThe thing that jumped out at me this week was The Simpsons stealing their A plot from King of the Hill ("No Bobby Left Behind") and stealing their B plot from King of the Hill ("Mutual of Omabwah").
Actually, I thought they just stole their A plot from "Whacking Day," where Skinner locks up the bullies to keep them from making him look bad during Superintendant Chalmers inspection. But yeah, not terribly original. The sad thing is that lately, their best episodes are ones that recycle plots from earlier episodes, like the one from last season (or the year before?) where Lisa becomes a dancer. Of course, I'm happy any time they can manage to stay away from either of their stock plots - Homer and Marge fight, or Homer gets a crazy new job. All in all, this episode reminded me of something from around season 11 or 12. Not great, but better than its been.
Terrible news. I had already forgotten he was in bad shape, assuming he was on hsi way to full recovery. I remember seeing him in the Green Mile and being thoroughly impressed by his amazing performance.